UK consumers are feeling OK, while Canadian shoppers pull back: That’s reflected in August retail sales rising 0.8% in the UK and falling 0.3% in Canada.
Apple is hiking retail employees’ pay about 4% this year: That’s a deceleration from the atypically large increases it provided throughout the pandemic.
On today's podcast episode, we discuss what to make of Google turning 25 years old, how US shoppers feel about stores, why tiered rewards are all the rage, how Hispanic people think their values are reflected by advertisers and Americans, taxi drivers turning into robots, some mind-bending facts about US geography, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our forecasting writer Ethan Cramer-Flood, forecasting analyst Zach Goldner, and director of forecasting Oscar Orozco.
Private labels are narrowing the gap with national brands: Nearly five in 10 shoppers prefer store brands due to quality and variety.
The beauty market is poised for strong growth: L’Oréal’s CEO expects industry sales to reach over $425 billion by 2030. But the growth will be concentrated among sustainability-focused brands.
This year’s Groceryshop 2023 event in Las Vegas focused on marrying in-store and digital experiences, the growing retail media wave, and the benefits of personalizing messaging based on each consumer’s motivations, among many other takeaways. All of that comes as US food and beverage retail sales are expected to reach $1.378 trillion this year and surpass $1.578 trillion in 2026, according to our June forecast.
ChatGPT use has declined over the past few months, but AI isn’t going anywhere. Retailers are innovating with their own homegrown and acquired AI tools to scale listings, improve search, and enhance personalizations.
Halloween spending is poised to hit a record high this year: NRF’s forecast expects sales to jump over 15% as more consumers participate in holiday-related events.
H&M is the latest fast-fashion retailer to charge for online returns: While the move could help cut costs, it could also dampen consumers’ desire to shop.
Uber Eats looks to expand its customer base: It plans to begin accepting SNAP benefits next year, as well FSA Cards, Flex Cards, and relevant waiver payments.
Darden Restaurants calls out uneven dining demand: While the restaurant chain’s casual brands are thriving, fine-dining sales fell as customers trade down or avoid eating out.
The firm added new payment methods, a dynamic express checkout, and an A/B testing system
The Block CEO’s return to Square could include a crypto push
RFID technology makes Just Walk Out compatible with clothing and other softline shopping categories, opening it up to new use cases
Walmart is opening a pet services center: The move positions the retailer to grab a share of some of the most lucrative areas of the pet industry: health and other services.
WhatsApp continues its push to become an end-to-end shopping platform: The messaging app is rolling out new features to make it easier to purchase items and services via chat.
Key stat: 43% of US adults say discounts are the main reason they sign up for subscription services, per May data from SurveyMonkey.
On today's podcast episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss how younger Gen Z consumers are most likely to discover grocery products, whether this new wave of celebrity-backed brands is different from previous ones, and what social media's role in all of this is. Then, for "Pop-Up Rankings," we rank the four elements a celebrity- or creator-led consumer packaged goods (CPG) brand needs to succeed. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analysts Blake Droesch and Carina Perkins.
Quick-commerce companies face shrinking valuations as investor interest cools: Jokr’s valuation fell nearly 40% in its latest funding round, while Getir’s could plunge by as much as 80%.
The second-largest employer in the US will hire 250,000 logistics workers, offering higher wages and bonuses despite sluggish retail and past layoffs.