Retail & Ecommerce

US consumers are cutting back on retail subscriptions as costs bite: That’s driving retailers to focus on subscriber retention over growth.

Tyson faces headwinds as beef, pork demand falls: The company posted a surprise loss in Q2 due to inflation, rising operating costs, and shifting consumer habits.

There’s a gap between consumer wishes and brand DEI efforts: Consumers are saying more than ever that brands should prioritize social issues and inclusion.

TikTok is going all-in on in-app purchases; Meta is focused on shoppable ads; and YouTube hopes to gain a competitive advantage through its strong creator relationships. All of this is happening as we forecast US retail social commerce sales will grow nearly 30% this year to hit $68.92 billion

Stripe can benefit from Uber’s global reach, while Uber can cut checkout friction for customers.

Influencer marketing is getting more expensive. While rates vary based on factors such as the platform, the content type, and creator follower counts, the overall trend for pricing is up.

Sweetgreen sales beat expectations as workers head back to the office: The fast-casual chain is leaning into loyalty, menu enhancements, and automation to power profitable growth.

Eurozone retail sales contracted in March: Persistent inflation caused food sales volumes to drop 6.8% YoY, while non-food sales posted a smaller decline.

Uber and Instacart expand retail media offerings: Both companies are giving CPGs more advertising opportunities. (This article was written with the assistance of ChatGPT.)

Generative AI is the topic of the moment, and the dollars are following: Spending on AI-centric systems worldwide will jump to $154 billion this year from $121 billion last year, according to the International Data Corporation. If you’re not already using the tech, it’s time to get startedHere’s how retailers are using the AI.

This is part of the payment network’s small business program, which can help it diversify its revenues

It launched crypto transfers between Venmo users and through external wallets and exchanges.

Even after the retailer slashed many of the app’s rewards, convenience and brand loyalty sent the mobile wallet’s use soaring.

Mercado Libre more than tripled its net income in Q1: The company’s high-margin retail media business grew 62% YoY.

Shopify is exiting the logistics business: The company is selling its fulfillment assets to Flexport and Ocado to focus on its core ecommerce products and AI.

DoorDash and Uber Eats deliver solid results: That’s thanks to their strong customer retention, which will prove important if the economy worsens.

Shoppable media is gaining momentum as brands look for ways to narrow the gap between discovery and purchase. Just this month, Pinterest, NBCUniversal, Meta, and Yahoo announced shoppable media updates. From AI to QR codes, we dive deeper into these developments and why they may give companies an edge.

Interoperability between the markets pits geopolitical tension against India’s payments expansion bid