Why the Consumer Discretionary Sector Matters
The consumer discretionary sector covers goods and services that are not essential to everyday life, from specialty retail and hospitality to luxury goods, automobiles, and leisure activities. Demand rises when the economy is strong and consumers have disposable income, and contracts during downturns, making it a key indicator of economic health.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment in leisure and hospitality, a major segment of this sector, will grow 16.4% between 2022 and 2032, adding more than 800,000 jobs. This combination of scale, cyclicality, and growth potential makes consumer discretionary a cornerstone for sourcing and tracking deals that deliver long-term value creation.
How Consumer Discretionary is Represented in dakota marketplace
dakota marketplace’s portfolio company dataset which includes 117,000+ sponsor-backed companies, and growing every day, across a broad range of industries.
|
Industry
|
Portfolio Companies
|
|
Diversified Consumer Services
|
4,600
|
|
Specialty Retail
|
2,697
|
|
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure
|
2,233
|
|
Household Durables
|
1,162
|
|
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods
|
1,016
|
|
Automobile Components
|
719
|
|
Leisure Products
|
443
|
|
Automobiles
|
161
|
|
Distributors
|
100
|
|
Broadline Retail
|
89
|
Sub‑Industry Breakdown
Drilling down further, dakota marketplace categorizes companies into detailed sub-industries to reveal concentration areas and niche opportunities.
|
Sub-Industry
|
Portfolio Companies
|
|
Consumer Service Platforms
|
2,670
|
|
Specialty Retail Boutiques
|
1,364
|
|
Restaurant Chains
|
967
|
|
Luxury & Fashion
|
918
|
|
Film & Entertainment Studios
|
913
|
|
Auto Parts Manufacturing
|
688
|
|
Recreation Center Operators
|
639
|
|
Apparel Retail Outlets
|
524
|
|
Leisure Equipment Brands
|
443
|
|
Car Dealership Chains
|
411
|
|
Consumer Device Brands
|
400
|
|
Interior Design Brands
|
375
|
Beyond sub-industries, dakota marketplace also offers 50,000+ segments, highly specific descriptions of what each company does and all keyword-searchable. This added layer of granularity makes it easy to pinpoint exactly the type of company you’re targeting within the consumer staples sector.
Market Content and Trends
The consumer discretionary sector is shaped by shifting economic conditions and evolving consumer preferences. E-commerce, mobile, and social platforms are transforming specialty retail and consumer services, while experiences such as travel, dining, and entertainment are gaining share over physical goods. High-income consumers continue to drive demand for premium and luxury brands, and innovation in electrification, autonomous driving, and connected-car technology is reshaping the automotive market. At the same time, growth in remote work and personal well-being is fueling demand for home furnishings, electronics, and leisure equipment, all areas where dakota marketplace provides granular company intelligence.
dakota marketplace’s Value Proposition
dakota marketplace was built by investment professionals for investment professionals. Our Consumer Discretionary dataset, encompassing more than 13,000 sponsor-backed portfolio companies across retail, hospitality, leisure, luxury goods, and automotive, gives users a comprehensive view of the sector.
→ Target precisely: Filter companies by sector, sub-sector, geography, revenue, and ownership.
→ Know the players: See who owns them today, their investment history, and the key decision-makers to contact.
→ Spot opportunities: Track competitor portfolios and identify new entrants in niche discretionary segments.
→ Act faster: Streamline due diligence with integrated notes, lists, and collaboration tools.
Because the data is continuously updated, you can identify new opportunities and track competitors’ portfolios with confidence.
Getting Started
As the consumer discretionary sector evolves with economic cycles and shifting preferences, having a real-time view of the market is a competitive advantage. By leveraging dakota marketplace’s Consumer Discretionary dataset you can:
- Identify and segment sponsor-backed companies for platform or add-on acquisitions.
- Pinpoint investors with active mandates in retail, hospitality, luxury goods, or automotive.
- Receive real-time updates so your sourcing pipeline is always fresh.
Explore dakota marketplace’s Consumer Discretionary sector and see how it can accelerate your deal sourcing, book a demo!
