Retail & Ecommerce

Sweetgreen experiments with store formats to deepen connections with digital customers: The salad chain wants to bring the in-store experience and added convenience to drive-thrus.

Younger consumers turn to social media to inform their purchases: 45% of Gen Z shoppers use Instagram for product research, 1.5x more than look to Facebook and TikTok.

The definition of cinema changed this weekend: With a Best Picture win for “CODA,” Apple showed that a streamer can deliver high-quality movie-going experiences—without going to the movies.

Spotify could break away from Google and Apple’s payment duopoly: Google’s alternative payments pilot program might only serve higher-profile apps, leaving smaller developers in the lurch.

TV audiences are fragmented, and the Oscars won’t change that: Though the 2022 ad inventory is sold out, a modest bounceback from last year’s disappointing show is probably the best ABC can hope for.

Politically unaligned voters are a valuable customer segment: This moderate customer base plans to increase spending at a higher rate than the average voter.

Its new secured card can appeal to small-business owners with poor credit histories and lead to upgrade opportunities.

Restaurants scramble to roll out loyalty programs: Hardee’s, IHOP, and Carl’s Jr. are the latest chains to leverage loyalty to offer personalized experiences and deepen relationships with consumers.

US food and beverage ecommerce sales will approach $80 billion in 2022, up 20.7% from nearly $65 billion last year. While the growth is impressive, it’s far slower than the 99.0% surge the category saw in 2020, when wary consumers pivoted to buying online at the onset of the pandemic.

FedEx’s electric cart plans are strategically sharp: Last-mile fulfillment is a major pain point, and the company plans to innovate while simultaneously improving capacity.

Apple acquired UK-based open banking fintech Credit Kudos—here’s what it can do with the new tech.

50 million data points are great, but only if they’re actionable: That’s according to Ashley Ross, head of CX at Bank of America, who we sat down with for an exclusive interview.

Platforms are cracking down on fake reviews: Meta and Amazon have taken legal action against businesses that post misleading or fraudulent customer reviews.

The pet industry isn’t worried about inflation: Booming adoption numbers and changing attitudes toward pet ownership are fueling growth, even as shoppers adjust spending in other categories