There were 414 mergers and acquisitions across a number of sectors, particularly marketing technology (martech), in 2024, and they increased every quarter, according to this month's "2024 Full Year Market Report" from Luma Partners.
Traditional prompt-driven AI is giving way to agentic AI, which consists of autonomous agents capable of independently performing tasks, making real-time decisions, and learning from experience. Though it’s still in its early phases, agentic AI enables marketers to enhance operational efficiency, personalize customer interactions, and drive innovation.
On today's podcast episode, we discuss the most interesting 2025 retail trends that we heard at NRF, and expect to hear at eTail, ShopTalk, and other events. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Chief Content Officer Zia Daniell Wigder and Vice President Suzy Davidkhanian.
While 2024 saw the rise of “Sephora kids”, in 2025 more beauty brands may target Gen X consumers to grow sales amid a challenging economy.
Netflix’s Q4 revenues rise 16%: Record 19M new subscribers boost ad-tier uptake and live sports engagement.
60% of US retail professionals say charging customers for returns has resulted in an increase of adoption in their free return methods, while 54% say it has cut down on return rates, according to a September 2024 survey from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Happy Returns.
On today's podcast episode, we discuss how much we will actually be using AI agents this year, what happens when they start talking to each other, and how much Apple is likely to move the smart glasses adoption needle. Tune in to the conversation with Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Technology Analyst Jacob Bourne and Senior Briefings Editor Gadjo Sevilla. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
With the holiday season in the rearview mirror, our analysts are already looking ahead to what the rest of this year—including the 2025 holiday season—will look like. This year will be defined by unpredictability, as President Trump begins his second term during a time of mixed consumer sentiments. Here are four trends our analysts expect will continue in 2025.
Instead of casting a wide net on social platforms and pursuing the creators with the highest follower accounts, marketers are now more focused on resonating with the right audience.
In 2025, there will be a stronger focus on performance marketing as advertisers seek to prove their efforts are worth the investment.
This natural disaster could cost more than any in US history, raising profitability questions.
India’s weak consumer purchasing power: The country’s slowing economic momentum presents a challenge for retailers and brands relying on the market for growth.
Kantar Media is sold for $1 billion as measurement heats up: Private equity sees a big opportunity in the rapidly changing landscape.
Kohl’s new CEO faces a tough challenge: The department store’s sales have declined for 11 consecutive quarters as it struggled to attract new shoppers without alienating long-standing customers.
Instagram is looking more and more like TikTok: The company is launching a video editing app, Edits, which is strikingly similar to TikTok’s CapCut.
Trump’s first days in office exacerbate uncertainty over tariff plans: While Mexico and Canada are firmly in the administration’s sights, other tariffs are up in the air.
Now that Trump is in office again, crypto regulations could boost crypto ownership and payments momentum—slowly