Retailers aren’t likely to get certainty any time soon: The Trump administration is considering slashing China tariffs down to a still-astronomical 50% or 65%, leaving merchants to stay cautious on merchandising.
Could OpenAI turn ChatGPT into a shopping hub? The company is reportedly partnering with Shopify in an effort similar to other genAI shopping efforts by Perplexity and Microsoft.
Wealthier consumers are trading down: This could favor retailers that blend value and premium offerings with tailored merchandising and pricing.
Planning for the holidays may be harder this year as tariffs cast a shadow over both consumers and retailers. “As of right now, we’re seeing a lot of unusual consumer behavior that’s likely to persist as long as tariff uncertainty persists,” said our analyst Sky Canaves, author of our “US Holiday 2024 Recap and 2025 Preview” report. Still, there are steps retailers can take to prepare. Here are three key strategies to help navigate a challenging holiday season.
Tariffs will hurt US economic growth this year: The IMF expects growth of just 1.8%, as the trade war and rampant uncertainty chill consumer and business spending.
The issuer’s confidence in its cardholders and business could be upended by tariffs
The transition risks alienating customers who are frustrated by the app or uncomfortable with the AI surveillance tech
The BNPL provider is taking the lead on credit reporting as the industry waits for regulatory clarity
Kimberly-Clark forecasts $300 million hit from tariffs: But the company will not pass the cost onto consumers as it looks to maintain volume growth in a difficult environment.
“Made in USA” is front and center for new Men’s Wearhouse collection: Tariffs are sharpening consumers’ focus on sourcing—and the menswear and rental products retailer leans in.
Delta SkyMiles members can now earn points on Uber and Uber Eats: The tie-up aims to cement loyalty at a time when consumers are increasingly price-sensitive.
Social media plays a major role in product discovery, with 51% of global consumers discovering a new brand or product on social media in the last six months, per November 2024 data from Capgemini. But convincing consumers to purchase on a social platform is more complicated. Here are three key ways brands can convert social media discovery into sales.
With Amazon accounting for 76.7% of the US retail media industry’s $60.81 billion in ad spend, smaller retail media networks (RMNs) have to innovate to differentiate themselves in the longtail of the marketplace.
Inflation causes Gen Z shoppers to rethink when and where they shop: Growing financial strain is forcing shoppers to adjust their spending habits.
Omnicom expands Creo into a global brand: The agency will unify creator strategy across markets, blending AI tools, media partnerships, and performance goals.
JD.com challenges Meituan’s food delivery dominance: The Chinese ecommerce giant will hire 100,000 workers to help break the latter’s hold on the industry.
Walmart announces lengthy beauty sale as it looks to protect its advantage: The retailer is expanding its assortment and refining the in-store experience to appeal to a wider variety of shoppers.
Barnes & Noble is expanding its footprint: Riding a wave of strong sales—and buoyed by the #BookTok phenomenon—the bookseller expects to open more than 60 new stores this year.
Meta enhances its retail media tools: New APIs and ad formats aim to drive in-store and ecommerce sales while offering retailers better attribution data.
Tariffs drive ad pullbacks: Temu and Shein reduce US ad spending ahead of policy shift, signaling fallout across ecommerce and social platforms.