The back-to-school season generates revenues brands and retailers count on, as the second-highest shopping volume of the year ahead of holiday. This year, though, back-to-school growth will be harder to come by as spending in key channels slows.
Target won’t sell Pride Month merchandise in some stores: The move comes at a time when right-wing groups are pushing shareholders to scrutinize companies’ DEI and ESG efforts.
Amazon expands into new markets: The retailer opens its marketplace in South Africa, and plans to launch an Irish version of its platform next year.
Planet Fitness lowers outlook while wealthy shoppers buoy Life Time: The two companies’ diverging earnings highlight the growing rift between cost-conscious and affluent consumers.
Profitability proves elusive for Gopuff: The company lost $400 million last year as initiatives like its ad business failed to cover its hefty operating expenses.
On today's podcast episode, we discuss how Amazon was able to sell even more things online, how their ad business is getting on, and whether the retail giant is right to keep focusing so much on delivery speed. Tune in to the discussion with our director of Briefings Jeremy Goldman and analyst Zak Stambor.
OpenAI considers creator privacy features and whether ChatGPT should engage with adult content: The genAI sector faces tension over content moderation and profitability. A technical fix remains elusive.
“The restaurant industry is still reeling from the impact of the pandemic,” our content director Becky Schilling said on an episode of “Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail” podcast. On top of that, inflation and economic uncertainty has made for a tough four years. In face of these persisting challenges, restaurants are turning to AI and unified commerce solutions to improve the customer experience, build loyalty, and supercharge personalization.
A few of the company’s biggest tie-ups are up in the air—losing them could be devastating to Affirm’s future business
But a slowdown suggests the company can no longer rely on its verticalization angle to stand out from competitors
This will help it stay competitive with other providers that have launched similar AI features
For many consumers, Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the moms in their lives and treat them to something special. However, for others, it can be an emotionally challenging time. “Over the past few years, I’ve seen more and more people comment on Mother’s Day campaigns about how it is triggering for them, reminding them how they’ve lost their mother or mother figure,” said Shianne Smalling, senior manager of growth marketing at New York City-based bakery, Levain.
Tapestry lowers outlook due to weak demand in North America and China: The company is struggling to draw spending as more shoppers either trade down or go upmarket.
Warby Parker and Allbirds trend in opposite directions: Demand remains strong for Warby Parker glasses, while Allbirds struggles to revive interest in its shoes.
Promotions were tied to 28% of Applebee’s transactions in Q1: That’s up from 19% in the previous quarter as casual dining customers spend cautiously.
Consumer spending rose in the first four months of 2024: Shoppers are becoming more deal-conscious as cost-of-living pressures weigh heavily.
Microsoft enhances 365 Copilot AI: It’s effectively tapping into its enterprise customer base. But future demand for AI tools could skew toward specialization.
On today's podcast episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss why the restaurant industry is facing another year of uncertainty and how restaurants are boosting loyalty. Then, for "Pop-Up Rankings," we rank the top restaurant loyalty programs. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analyst Blake Droesch and senior director of media content Becky Schilling.
Shopping should be easy, according to Ryan Fagan, vice president of digital at Lowe’s. “Our job is to guide them through their shopping trip as seamlessly as possible.” Fagan shared three ways Lowe’s is enhancing its ecommerce experience, from tailoring the digital experience to specific customer segments to surfacing other relevant products throughout the shopping journey.
Walmart Connect, Disney team up to give advertisers proof of performance: Instacart and NBCUniversal are similarly joining arms to empower brands to better target consumers and get closer to closed-loop attribution.