Retail & Ecommerce

Amazon wants to be where all ecommerce journeys begin: The company is testing an agentic AI-powered feature that helps shoppers buy select products directly from other brands’ websites.

The large card program is in flux, with both its issuer and network partnerships up for grabs

The payments giant is expanding its financial media network to monetize its data and push profitability efforts forward

The tie-up can help Affirm’s strategy of building out its debit card to grow its overall payments volume

HBO's hit show “The White Lotus,” is extending its off-screen influence with a series of retail partnerships. Though the show revolves around miserable rich people on vacation, it keeps viewers engaged with fashion, scenery, and unattainable luxury. Brands including Banana Republic, H&M, and Kiehl’s have seized the opportunity.

Retailers cut 57,804 jobs in Q1: That’s up an eye-popping 370% YoY as the number of retail bankruptcies grows amid an increasingly uncertain macroeconomic climate.

Trump’s “Liberation Day” provides little clarity: The tariff announcements, while far-ranging and punitive for the US’ largest trading partners, failed to lift the cloud of uncertainty hanging over businesses and consumers.

Trump’s tariffs roil the retail industry: Reciprocal measures will touch virtually every sector, leading to higher prices for the consumer.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how to increase basket size, how to break out of category while staying true to brand identity, and how to respond to TikTok trends without seeming like a brand responding to a TikTok trend. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Vice President and Principal Analyst Suzy Davidkhanian and the CMO of True Religion Brand Jeans Kristen D’Arcy.

Skai launches Celeste AI to streamline commerce media: Celeste combines cross-channel analysis and optimization, cutting task time from hours to seconds.

“Today’s shoppers are like savvy jugglers,” Ben Galvin, senior director of omnichannel retail sales and ecommerce at Monster Energy, said during a recent Path to Purchase Institute webinar. “They’re balancing budgets, bouncing between in-store and online. Convenience continues to be king, but value is what they’re really looking for.” But value means different things to different people.

QVC partners with TikTok as time runs out on second ban deadline: The retailer’s bet on the platform reflects both the growing importance of social commerce as well as confidence in TikTok’s future.

Domino’s inks deal with DoorDash to expand delivery reach: The partnership will put the pizza chain on track to reach its goal of $1 billion in sales from aggregator platforms by 2026.

Every $1 lost to fraud costs US merchants $4.61, up 47% over prepandemic 2019: That sharp rise underscores the growing challenge of fighting fraud without compromising the customer experience.

Rivian and Tesla see demand weaken in Q1: The two companies are struggling amid growing competition as more consumers opt for cheaper hybrid and gas-powered models in an uncertain economic and political climate.

GenAI adoption complicates retailers’ customer acquisition strategies: Brands are struggling to optimize their websites and product listings to account for rising traffic from genAI tools.

The P2P player was able to make this pivot thanks to the success of its integration in banks’ apps, which currently lead to 98% of its transactions

Many may turn to BNPL to make these purchases, providing a growth opportunity for providers

As the deal gets close to being finalized, banks and payment players need to prepare for a new competitive landscape

Once valued at $100 billion in 2015, Walgreens Boots Alliance has seen its market value plummet to approximately $10 billion today, with shares down 45% in the last 12 months—making it the worst-performing stock in the S&P 500 in 2024.