The third quarter was a hard one for many US retailers, as inflation, supply chain strain, and more normalized post-pandemic consumer behaviors set in. We checked up on five major retailers on our “Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail” podcast to get a nuanced take on who took a hit in the short term and what our experts expect looking further out.
The share of online purchases that shoppers return keeps rising: That’s a growing challenge for retailers seeking to rein in costs without hindering the customer experience.
It’s official. The Cyber Five (the five-day period between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday) have not lost their touch. Let’s dig into the data as retailers take a deep breath and ready themselves for what’s shaping up to be a pretty busy holiday season.
Email and TV may not be flashy, but they were critical to Black Friday and Cyber Monday: Both marketing channels may be older—but they’re far from deprecated.
Amex Business Link lets suppliers accept card and noncard payments and cross-border transactions. We break down how it can help Amex attract more issuing partners.
Toy, apparel sales drove strong Cyber Five results: But shoppers were also willing to spend on everything from furniture to electronics, buoying retailers for the holiday season.
DoorDash turns to layoffs to combat ballooning operating expenses: While delivery revenues continue to grow, the platform will cut 6% of its employees to get its balance sheet under control.
Kroger lifted its full-year outlook: The grocer delivered strong Q3 results, which it attributed to its strong value proposition.
US households boosted spending in October as inflation eased: That’s a positive harbinger for the holiday season.
Close to a third of US adults don’t like anything about in-store holiday shopping, according to CivicScience. Meanwhile, for more than a fifth, experiencing the products is the biggest appeal. About the same share most enjoy the holiday music, decor, and displays, while 17% are after in-store deals.
Though year-over-year growth of social buyers is slowing slightly following a two-year surge, US social commerce sales will continue to climb through 2025. We take a look at what’s driving this growth, which platforms are emerging as leaders, and what social buyers really want.
Consumer habits are changing, and Gen Zers are a major driving force. Their shorter attention span, social buying habits, and lack of brand loyalty will push several industries to evolve—especially as Gen Z’s spending power grows. These shifts in financial services, advertising, and social make up four of our top trends for 2023.
Small-business and BNPL growth underscores two holiday trends and could direct investment for 2023.
Retailers see community engagement as the path to driving sales: Rite Aid, Our Place, Herschel Supply Co., and others are taking a local approach to get shoppers through the door.