Retail & Ecommerce

On today's episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss the retail media implications of a Kroger-Albertsons pairing, why in-store retail media is such a big deal, and the likelihood of this merger going through. Then for "Red-Hot Retail," our analysts give us their very specific—and potentially risky—predictions about three potential big deals in retail media. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analysts Andrew Lipsman and Zak Stambor.

Victoria’s Secret turns to acquisition to bolster its inclusivity push: The lingerie retailer plans to buy Adore Me, a D2C intimates brand known for inclusive sizing and body positivity.

Made.com nears collapse: While the D2C furniture retailer’s sales soared early in the pandemic, it couldn’t overcome the challenges posed by rising inflation and ongoing supply chain issues.

Balances returned to pre-pandemic levels in September. Card issuers should keep an eye on spending as economic storm clouds form.

Despite setbacks, the unionization movement keeps chugging along: But anti-union rhetoric from executives may cause many to prioritize job security over collective bargaining.

Shein takes on Zara and H&M: The fast-fashion company owes its astronomical rise to cheap clothes and a unique manufacturing model, but concerns over its environmental and labor practices could bring it back down to earth.

In 2024, robots will be used by just under half of medium to large operators of warehouses and fulfillment centers in the US. That’s up slightly from 44.9% this year and significantly from 28.0% in 2019.

Pinterest is bright light in dim Q3 for social platforms: Company delivers better-than-expected revenue and notes deeper engagement with users.

Visa’s payments volume grew 10% YoY, and Mastercard’s increased 11% YoY. Both firms benefited from strong travel spending, among other factors.

In-store retail media’s power isn’t dependent on personalization: That makes it significantly easier to deploy.

Apple’s 30% payments fee condemned: Meta, Spotify, and Elon Musk rail against Apple’s App Store policy changes. It signals a need for diversification amid Big Tech’s declining ad revenues.

Amazon’s Q3 earnings are a mixed bag: Strong sales and ad growth helped return the retailer to profitability, but the company’s retail business continues to lose money.

Shopify exceeded expectations for the third quarter, reporting higher-than-expected revenues and a smaller-than-expected loss.

Insider Intelligence spoke with Julie Van Ullen, Managing Director, Rakuten Rewards about the current shift in consumer behavior as a result of inflation and the recent challenges many brands have been facing.

The most informative sessions unpacked providers’ increased alertness around fraud, the next era of BNPL, attendees’ excitement over open banking innovation, and fintechs’ efforts to align with regulators.