Retail & Ecommerce

Best Buy, CNET partner for unique retail media offering: Advertisers will be able to purchase and measure ads across both sites, while CNET content will be featured across Best Buy’s stores, site, and app.

The company is going all in on AI and diving further into crypto with a rollout of stablecoin payments

It faces a mountain of opposition to overcome—all while dealing with rising net charge-offs and other consumer financial health concerns

Demand for this feature may be limited due to cash-flow concerns and overall crypto risks

Amazon and Walmart follow a similar playbook: The retailers use exclusive access to events like Prime Day and Walmart+ Early Access to showcase the value of their membership programs.

Google’s and Microsoft’s Q1 reports stoke generative AI frenzy: They both have at least one key advantage over rivals like Meta and startups in the AI race.

Most restaurants are unconvinced by virtual brands: But while Chipotle backs away, IHOP sees an opportunity to expand beyond the breakfast business.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss what happens now that the TikTok ban bill has been signed into law, whether AI is ready to significantly change search, the likelihood that Threads ads will be a hit, what social commerce's ceiling will be, the WNBA and the sports gender pay gap, and more. Tune into the discussion with analysts Jasmine Enberg, Minda Smiley, and Max Willens.

Prior to TikTok Shop’s launch last September, live shopping platform Whatnot earned nearly 100% of social shopping gross merchandise value in 2023, according to a recent Earnest Analytics report. What’s Whatnot? Whatnot is a livestream marketplace platform, specializing in the sale of collectibles including sports cards, sneakers, comics, and vintage clothing.

US consumers keep spending: However, slower-than-expected GDP growth and hotter-than-expected inflation make it increasingly likely that borrowing costs will remain high for at least the next few months.

The payments giant wants to convert more cash and check payments, ACH and electronic transactions, and global card transactions

The latest move in the neverending swipe fee fight focuses on foreign interference in the US market

It’s faced a rocky start to 2024, but the issuer expects bad debt will turn around in the second half of the year

Shoppers are beginning to trade back up to premium CPG brands: While volume growth is recovering at Unilever and Kimberly-Clark, pressure on lower-income consumers is hurting Nestlé and PepsiCo.

Chinese consumers splash out on Hermès, Prada as travel demand recovers: But economic uncertainty is causing aspirational shoppers to pull back, hurting mid-tier brands.

Recent data suggests that baby boomers, often stereotyped as technologically challenged, are instead simply selective in the digital media they consume.

Canadian consumers keep tightening their belts: Retail sales fell 0.1% MoM in February after contracting 0.3% in January.

Apple adjusts Vision Pro expectations after lackluster sales: The device’s expensive price tag is likely to blame—opening an opportunity for Meta to focus on affordability in the AR/VR space.

Hasbro and Mattel reined in costs in Q1: Looking ahead, the toy companies plan to wring more value out of iconic brands such as Dungeons & Dragons, Hot Wheels, and Barbie.

Starbucks resumes talks with union as public opinion forces concessions: But a Supreme Court ruling could shift power in the company’s favor by making it harder to challenge unfair labor practices.