Retail & Ecommerce

Attentive’s findings challenge SMS frequency fears: Holiday shoppers welcome more personalized, frequent messages, doubling retailer revenues with minimal opt-outs.

7-Eleven plans to open 115 larger-store formats by year-end, offering customers an expanded assortment of food options. The retailer also plans to add 51 new fresh food SKUs by the end of 2025.

Amazon, Best Buy, and Google will launch sales on November 21: The shorter-than-usual period between Thanksgiving and Christmas is driving retailers and brands to start their holiday pushes early.

Unified commerce aims to provide a complete picture of the customer experience across channels. By integrating the underlying tech stack that powers in-store and online operations, retailers can compile comprehensive and accurate shopper data that can be applied to a variety of revenue-boosting use cases, including personalization, loyalty programs, and the development of AI tools.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how AI is shaping internet search, what social commerce will look like in two years’, how hotels are planning for shifting travelers expectations, a new approach to combating retail theft, the origins of London, and more. Tune in to the discussion with Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Vice President of Content Suzy Davidkhanian, Principal Analyst Bill Fisher, and Senior Analyst Carina Perkins.

Nike's recent struggles highlight the risks of an ill-timed shift to direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales. The sportswear giant's sales slumped 10% YoY for the quarter ending August 31 as competitors gained market share.

The evolution of connected car technology is driven by consumer expectations for seamless digital experiences. Drivers are willing to pay for advanced connectivity, though significant gaps remain between consumer demands and current capabilities.

A record number of people plan to shop over the Cyber Five: The NRF’s forecast dovetails with stronger-than-expected October sales, suggesting retailers have momentum heading into the holidays.

China’s retail sales ticked up in October: But mixed results from JD.com and Alibaba show that retailers still face significant headwinds.

Amazon launches Temu competitor Haul to maintain price advantage against online retailers: However, growing pains like shoddy AI-generated imagery could limit its traction with customers.

It will be a while before consumers feel the Fed’s interest rate cuts, and an unknown regulatory environment could roil expectations

The added perks will likely appeal to Gen Zers and help meet their credit card reward demands

The CFPB is trying to supervise large payment apps as the lines between Big Tech and payments blur. But it’s unclear how Trump will shake up the agency

Some 88% of worldwide consumers say not trusting a brand is a dealbreaker when it comes to buying a product or using a service, according to Edelman. But building trust isn’t easy. Trust requires protecting consumer data, being thoughtful about third-party platform use and partnerships, and advertising through the right channels. Here are five key stats marketers can use to improve their brands’ consumer trust.

Traditional in-store activations tied to events like Black Friday are becoming increasingly crowded and predictable. To connect more meaningfully with consumers, brands are rethinking the retail calendar to engage shoppers year-round.

Baby boomers are more brand-loyal than US adults across multiple categories, according to Morning Consult. They show the highest brand loyalty (76%) for groceries and household goods.

Sports betting is on a roll: Quarterly results show growth catalysts, signaling opportunities for platforms and advertisers.

The BNPL provider has been prepping for this for years. Its profitability push and cost-cutting initiatives should set it up for a strong listing

His aggressive antitrust approach could delay—or stop—the proposed merger. But his confirmation is a long shot

The wallet is pushing new features to help increase app engagement and maintain customer loyalty