Google continues to lose ground to Amazon: Amazon is holding steady as shoppers’ search engine of choice for products, even as TikTok and other social platforms attract Gen Z consumers.
The Christmas Tree Shop is closing its doors. Overstock.com is becoming Bed Bath & Beyond. Party City went bankrupt and is closing stores. More than 50,000 stores that are open now may be closed by 2027, according to UBS. But what actually happens to retail spaces, brand identities, and competitors when a brand goes out of business?
Gen Zers in the US want their brands to support mental health more than any other cause, cited by 53% of those surveyed by ICSC and Big Village. Tied for second place are environmental causes, including climate change and sustainability, and racial and gender equity (47% each).
TikTok wants a cut of #BookTok successes: ByteDance has launched a unit called 8th Note Press in a move that could disrupt publishing.
The RealReal is looking for cost savings: The online luxury reseller will begin charging sellers a fee for items they no longer wish to sell.
Google Pay QR support in Brazil could spur growth globally: This could expand the wallet’s ambit for both consumers and merchants—and send a warning signal if it expands in developed markets, too.
Biometric tech adoption picks up momentum: A pending new patent on palm recognition will help AntGroup’s Alipay stay apace with rival WeChat Pay and advance global acceptance of the tech.
Diversity gives strength to FedNow’s initial roster: In advance of the much-anticipated instant payment service’s launch later this month, the Fed shared a list of certified early adopters.
TikTok aggressively courts sellers: The company aims to grow its social commerce sales by offering merchants free listings and shipping, along with zero commissions.
The FTC gets serious about cracking down on fake reviews: A new rule would punish companies that attempt to deceive customers using fake or misleading reviews.
New vehicle sales grew between 12% and 14% in the first half of 2023: By exceeding analysts’ expectations, the auto sector is providing more evidence that the US economy remains fairly strong.
Cosmetics and beauty make up a nearly $100 billion industry in the US, and next year more than one-fifth of those sales will come from ecommerce, according to our forecasts. In order to win over beauty shoppers, and Gen Z ones in particular, brands need to pay close attention to where their digital ad dollars go. Here are five charts to help you out.
JD.com, Alibaba bet on grocery as China’s economic recovery stalls: Both companies hope demand for necessities will offset slowing ecommerce sales.
Computer and consumer electronics purchased during the pandemic are due for an upgrade, which is good news for Amazon and retail as a whole. But besides that possible bright spot, this year’s Prime Day event will likely be “unremarkable” as other retailers steal Amazon’s spotlight.
On today's episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss big brands going out of business: what happens to the brand, the opportunity for competitors, and whether a brand’s bankruptcy can change consumer behaviors surrounding life milestones. Then, for "Pop-Up Rankings," we rank retailers or brands that are innovating really well and brands that are at risk. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts vice president of content Suzy Davidkhanian and analyst Carina Perkins.
On today's episode, we discuss how time spent on smartphones is changing, what people do on different devices, and what digital time spent in your car might look like. "In Other News," we talk about the significance of Amazon's Sidewalk network and what to make of two new pieces of potential AI legislation. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Yory Wurmser.
Adding Tap to Pay functionality will help PayPal attract more SMBs and better compete against other providers that are doing the same
The acquisition will help the card giant grow its presence in South America
The “gift card” keychains replace single-use cards and can encourage repeat use among recipients
Pride Month draws business support despite anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment: 2023 brought hard lessons for some brands.