Retail & Ecommerce

Q3 US auto sales fell around 2% YoY: Sticker shock is restraining demand and causing some consumers to opt for lower-priced vehicles.

55% of US agency and marketing decision-makers expect AI to improve retail media by offering greater insights and recommendations, according to a July 2024 study from Quartile and NewtonX.

The startup’s platform helps retailers predict and adjust to disruptions, reflecting a growing reliance on AI tools to prevent costly breakdowns.

Nike pulls FY guidance amid sales slump: Incoming CEO Elliott Hill has the difficult task of reinvigorating the brand and ramping up innovation to win back market share.

Last month, JCPenney announced it was partnering with Bazaarvoice Visual Syndication Network to collect and post user-generated content (UGC) on its website’s product display pages. The department store is hardly the first retailer to recognize the value of UGC—over a quarter (28.4%) of ecommerce marketers in North America believe that images/video from real customers (aka UGC) is the type of visual content that impacts purchase decisions the most, according to a May 2023 survey from Nosto.

Its full rollout has been a long time coming. Now, it needs to expand its merchant network before it can really take off

The buy gives Mastercard access to Minna’s relationships across Europe as it pilots a similar subscription service

The solution gives consumers greater visibility into their transaction data, improving the customer experience and saving banks money on customer service costs

Google will fall below a 50% share of the US search advertising market next year for the first time since we started tracking it in 2008, per our forecast. It’s a pivotal time for paid search, with Google’s ad dominance threatened by generative AI, social media, retail media, and lawsuits. Meanwhile, ad-averse consumers are becoming hesitant to click search ads. Here are four trends our exclusive KPI data reveal about Google, retail media, and the future of paid search.

EBay scores a significant win for online marketplaces: A federal judge ruled the site isn’t liable for items sold on its platform that violate environmental laws.

Port strike notwithstanding, companies are confident in their abilities to weather supply-chain disruptions: But a drawn-out shutdown could test that resilience as backlogs grow and costs rise.

Gopuff enhances retail media capabilities to help advertisers reach Gen Z, millennial audiences: The retailer hopes the moves will differentiate it in a crowded market.

Trump puts retail theft back in the spotlight: The timing is curious given the growing evidence that retail theft rates have improved or stabilized.

The company’s AI assistant aims to simplify sales and marketing processes and boost efficiency.

US visitors spent an average dwell time of 37.3 minutes in H1 2024, outpacing both Walmart (31.8 minutes) and Target (28.7 minutes), per data from Placer.ai. Costco was the only one to increase dwell time between H1 2021 and H1 2024.

Consumers are starting their Halloween shopping earlier, but they are expected to spend slightly less than last year, indicating that while excitement is high, consumers are more budget-conscious. Retailers can capture this early and cautious spending by offering competitive prices, prioritizing in-store promotions, and creating a one-stop Halloween shopping destination.

To take on retail media giants like Amazon and Walmart Connect, smaller networks need to constantly show what sets them apart and step up their media game.

59% of US consumers want details on costs and promotions from a commerce video ad, according to July 2024 data from the Interactive Advertising Bureau in partnership with Alter Agents. Nearly as many (58%) want clear product demos and details.

UK consumers see economic storm clouds ahead: That’s driving them to splurge on small luxuries such as high-end perfumes and cosmetics.

American Eagle sues Amazon for trademark infringement in fight against product dupes, knockoffs: The retailer accused the ecommerce giant of unauthorized use of its “Aerie” trademarks, which it said helped drive traffic and sales on the marketplace at American Eagle’s expense.