AI-powered search and AR try-ons promise a smoother buying journey, but with social commerce on the rise, Google has to fight for attention.
Abercrombie & Fitch sees slowdown looming as tariffs take effect: The retailer expects sales growth and profits to be seriously pressured in 2025.
Adidas’ CEO says Q4 results were ‘much better than we had expected’: The company’s sales rose 19% YoY, ahead of analysts’ expectations, helping it gain ground on Nike.
DeepSeek, a genAI chatbot that originated from China, astonished the world with its capability to match ChatGPT while costing significantly less to build and using less powerful GPUs. The launch has triggered an industry soul search that could potentially accelerate AI adoption worldwide.
Nordstrom ended the year on a high note: The retailer’s banner comparable sales rose 5.3% YoY in Q4, and off-price Rack’s comps increased 3.5%.
Target looks to add $15 billion in sales by 2030: However, 2025 is shaping up to be a tough year, as tariffs dampen discretionary demand and shoppers push back against its DEI policies.
First-party data is becoming essential: As third-party cookies disappear, brands like The New York Times, Disney, and McDonald’s are leveraging direct consumer relationships to improve ad targeting and measurement.
The explosion of softPOS is reshaping the POS landscape and forcing hardware and software providers to pivot
The BNPL provider has made strong inroads in the US but faces steep obstacles in growing its market share
It’s a major win for the P2P player as the Trump administration dismantles the agency
Best Buy faces stiff headwinds: The consumer electronics giant warned of higher prices due to President Trump’s new tariffs, which will likely crimp demand.
On Running’s marathon win streak continues in Q4: The buzzy running brand reported record profits and a 36% YoY jump in sales, with some help from Roger Federer and Zendaya.
25% of US adults consider Facebook the most influential social media platform for purchasing decisions, putting it just ahead of TikTok (21%) and Instagram (20%), according to Relex.
This earnings season revealed retailers with strong value propositions and efficient omnichannel operations are positioned to outperform, while those relying on middle-market discretionary spending face challenges.
BNPL will count more than 100 million users by 2027. Its high-growth days are in the past, with both the number of BNPL users and overall payment value decelerating. But it remains an important financing tool for consumers and has a long runway ahead: BNPL payment value will account for just 1.4% of overall retail sales in 2025, per our forecast.
Google, OpenAI, and Opera are embedding AI agents into devices and browsers. These tools can browse, compare, and purchase products with minimal user input.
Canadian consumers boycott American products as tariff threat looms: Anti-US sentiment is pushing consumers to buy local—a trend likely to continue in countries targeted by Trump’s tariffs.
Amazon plots Haul expansion in spite of de minimis crackdown: The retailer plans to launch its low-cost marketplace in Europe and Mexico.
Brand strength bubbles up: Even as inflation squeezes budgets, many consumers are not trading down from name-brand sodas.
Connected TV (CTV) is now an integral part of retail media. Media networks can offer rich third-party data, while CTV platforms have advanced targeting capabilities and an engaged audience. But just how big is the opportunity?