US consumer spending accelerated in July: Low unemployment, pandemic-era savings, and wage gains helped consumers continue spending, even as they pulled back in some categories.
Dollar General is struggling: After reporting disappointing Q2 results, the retailer slashed its sales and profit outlook for the rest of the year.
Walmart expands third-party seller features as it tries to take on Amazon: The retailer is seeing early results from its marketplace initiatives, but its share of the market will remain at just 2.2% this year compared with Amazon’s 72.4%.
Lululemon’s strong momentum continued in Q2: The retailer raised its full-year sales and profit outlook as demand for its premium athleisure remains strong across all markets.
Global digital services taxation is intensifying with New Zealand aiming to tax companies like Meta and Google 3% of profits by 2025.
Amazon’s advertising division ranked highest in our Power of Amazon in 2023 report. Its retail ecommerce division, Amazon’s biggest business by dollars, lost share between our initial rankings in 2021 and our current forecast.
Michaels and Shutterstock are navigating growth through a blend of creative initiatives and hard metrics. Michaels is focused on enhancing its customer experience and its new online marketplace. Shutterstock is leaning into SEO, automated dashboards, social listening, and collaboration.
Estée Lauder, Uber Eats, Walmart see internal and external opportunities for generative AI: But others are expressing caution due to the technology’s inconsistencies.
The service lets companies create and push virtual cards to their employees’ mobile wallets
Best Buy warned that rising net credit losses could become a problem if the financial health of the consumer deteriorates in the coming quarters
The deal is part of Trustly’s strategy to expand into open banking payments in Europe as the payment method’s use explodes
Instacart's IPO filing highlights its shift: From a grocery delivery service to a booming retail media platform covering 85% of the US grocery industry.
Gopuff opens up ad platform to UK advertisers: The rapid delivery startup is betting on retail media revenues to make up for softening demand.
The holiday season is starting earlier than ever this year: With consumers tightening their wallets, they’re on the hunt for deals.
Lego captured market share in the first half of 2023: The company’s appeal to consumers of all ages enabled it to defy a broader slowdown in toy sales.
On today's podcast episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss how toy brands are using TikTok as a marketing channel for children and adults alike, and how brands are making their toy stores more experiential to drive sales. Then, for "Pop-Up Rankings," we rank toy brands whose creative marketing strategies are making their toys stand out. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analysts Sky Canaves and Carina Perkins.
As consumers hunt for the best deals, generative AI will drive $194 billion in consumer spending by enabling brands to provide personalized customer service, marketing promotions, and commerce experiences, per Salesforce. Social media advertising will also have an outsized impact on purchase decisions versus traditional marketing efforts.
Best Buy believes we’ve hit a low point in tech demand: The combination of inflation and shifting spending patterns has made for a tough environment for the consumer electronics retailer.
Amazon makes shoppers spend more to get free shipping: The higher threshold may drive up the retailer’s average transaction volume and/or drive Prime signups.
E.l.f. Beauty’s Naturium acquisition will double its share of the fast-growing skincare market: The company is looking to take full advantage of the lipstick effect as shoppers continue to splurge on beauty.