Retail & Ecommerce

eBay recently posted ad revenues of $367 million in Q2 2023—a growth of 35% YoY—in its latest earnings. But much of that can be tied to innovation in its ad types, improved measurement capabilities, and expanded third-party ads. eBay’s market also gives it a retail media opportunity outside of consumer packaged goods (CPG). Let’s break down what eBay is doing right.

A lack of standardization across platforms was cited as US marketers’ No. 1 challenge with retail media networks (RMNs) as of last summer, according to the Association of National Advertisers.

Apple uses safety and security to win over consumers. Birkenstock focuses on education, showcased through a three-part docuseries. And Taco Bell, with the help of Pete Davidson, apologized for “over-innovating” its breakfast menu.

Ant Group’s cross-border payments arm will help wallets from across Asia-Pacific operate in mainland China during the 2022 Asian Games.

Store closures jumped in H1 2023 thanks to high-profile retail bankruptcies: But the overall brick-and-mortar landscape remains healthy as discounters seize expansion opportunities and retailers move off-mall.

Halloween sales start early for a growing number of retailers: Home Depot, Lowe’s, Bath & Body Works, and Michaels are among those releasing Halloween products in the summer to capitalize on demand from enthusiasts.

Target expands Starbucks curbside pickup partnership to boost sluggish sales: The retailer is expected to post its first quarterly sales decline in six years as discretionary spending remains under pressure.

Retailers can’t afford to ignore the post-purchase experience: If merchants don’t meet consumers’ high expectations, those shoppers may not return.

Physical retail must adapt to intensifying competition from ecommerce. Every physical retail incumbent feeling heat from Amazon recognizes the need to better compete with digital’s informational and convenience advantages. But they must do so without losing the experiential edge offered by brick-and-mortar.

Newegg is using ChatGPT to generate product review summaries: But the pervasive issue of fake reviews and tech snafus are limiting the feature’s usefulness.

But the new pricing partnership will cut into Marqeta’s revenue growth as it struggles to achieve profitability

It’s now available in Vietnam and Chile, adding to the long lists of markets it’s launched in this year

They are the latest BRICS nations to make CBDC inroads, which could give them more influence over global CBDC policy

Although OOH is still primarily a traditional medium, outdoor advertising’s future is digital. US DOOH ad spend will grow by double digits annually through the end of our forecast period in 2027. In the near term, DOOH is overcoming its pandemic slump.

Macy’s looks to private labels to boost its bottom line: As consumers pull back on discretionary spending, retailers are turning to private labels to differentiate their merchandise and improve margins.

Farfetch is quietly winding down its beauty division: The luxury ecommerce retailer’s big bet on beauty is fizzling out due to stiff competition and shoppers’ preference for physical retail.

China’s sluggish economy is bad news for everyone: While many retailers had been optimistic that a resurgent Chinese economy could offset slowing US growth, that now looks unlikely.

On today's episode, we discuss whether Amazon can keep expenses down while also keeping customers happy, where the company will place its bets on grocery, and how its advertising arm has performed of late. "In Other News," we talk about why most retailers site searches aren't working and how many streaming viewers will watch ads to save a few bucks. Tune in to the discussion with our director of Briefings Jeremy Goldman and analyst Zak Stambor.