On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how the beauty industry is venturing into untapped markets, how the conversation of ageism in beauty fits or diverges with the greater trend away from diversity and inclusion, and how brands market to older people while staying relevant with younger audiences. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Principal Analyst Sky Canaves, Analyst Arielle Feger, and CEO and Founder of Ageism Is Never In Style® Jacynth-Bassett.
Returns will pass the trillion dollar mark this year, with US ecommerce returns growth outpacing sales growth, per our forecast. “It’s important for retailers and brands to look at their returns, because those ultimately eat into their margins,” said our analyst Sky Canaves.
Forever 21’s long-shot plan to emerge from bankruptcy involves copying Shein: The fast-fashion retailer plans to adopt an ecommerce-only model if it fails to find a buyer to manage its stores.
Economic uncertainty ate into General Mills’ quarterly results: Consumers’ sharp focus on value is causing them to consume fewer snacks.
Secondhand apparel delivered its strongest annual growth since 2021 last year: The category is poised to continue its up-and-to-the-right trajectory as tariffs push up the price of new clothing.
Alimentation Couche-Tard is determined to buy 7-Eleven parent Seven & i amid c-store headwinds: The two companies are discussing divestitures, but antitrust concerns could scuttle the deal.
New pre-home- screen video ads are sparking backlash as Roku’s monetization push clashes with users’ expectations for a paid device experience.
GenAI is playing a bigger role in the shopping experience: Consumers are turning to AI tools for product recommendations, research, and inspiration.
The newly rebranded “Cash App Afterpay” will help Block more tightly integrate its products into one ecosystem
They may not break the deal, but it highlights the uncertainty left before the two cross the finish line
The partnership will give the BNPL provider a boost and help it better compete against rival Affirm
50% of US adults are likely to cut back on spending at fast food restaurants if tariffs lead to higher prices, according to a February 2025 CivicScience survey.
Rivals set their sights on Southwest Airlines customers: Frontier is temporarily offering perks that consumers associate with Southwest, including a free checked bag and no-fee flight changes.
Hudson’s Bay looks to liquidate its stores: While the pandemic dealt a severe blow to its sales, the escalating US-Canada trade war may have delivered the final hit.
Costco tries to shift tariff burden onto China suppliers: But that strategy comes with increasing risks as Beijing takes a more active role.
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the next waves to hit the streaming world: which platform will emerge as the streaming hub, how will “content tiers” change viewer behavior and subscriptions, and can streaming maintain sizeable enough audiences for awards shows and Presidential debates? Tune in to the conversation with Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, our Senior Editor Daniel Konstantinovic, and Vice President Paul Verna. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
Shopify is on an AI acquisition spree: The company’s latest purchase, Vantage Discovery, will enable it to offer brands genAI-powered search capabilities and improved product discovery.
As the mall's place in consumers' lives changes, brands are left to focus on bringing people in through experiences and attractions, or on forging their identities outside of those retail spaces. "A lot of people are going to malls, but they're not necessarily going there to shop," said our analyst Rachel Wolff on a recent episode of "Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail." Instead, people are visiting malls for restaurants, to socialize, or for experiential attractions.
Historically, brands used upper-funnel channels like connected TV (CTV) for brand awareness, while relying on lower-funnel tactics such as retail media to drive conversions. But with shoppable CTV ads, brands can do both, leveraging retail media network (RMN) data to target consumers across CTV platforms, connecting the moment of discovery directly to the point of purchase.