Conference panelists discussed changes in the maturing industry as it ripples across the payments space
Users can now add their US passports and more transit cards to their wallets, and Google is getting more companies to accept these passes
Marketers project Q4 revenue gains: Sales to outpace ad spend growth, driven by focus on more efficient spending strategies.
General Mills sharpens its focus on high-margin core brands: The company agreed to sell its North American yogurt business, which includes the Yoplait brand, for $2.1 billion.
Deloitte expects holiday sales to grow 2.3% to 3.3% this year: That’s well short of our forecast, which projects 4.8% growth. Both reflect the complicated environment ahead.
Kroger benefited from shoppers’ deal-seeking behaviors in Q2: Despite a difficult operating environment, the grocer won over consumers with lower prices and expanded private label selections.
On today's podcast episode, we discuss why many retailers are choosing now to launch peer-to-peer marketplaces, why consumers might choose IKEA’s resale platform versus the already established players like Facebook Marketplace and eBay, and what they need to be successful. Listen to the conversation with our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analysts Sky Canaves and Sarah Marzano.
Ad spend continues to grow faster than the GDP, fueled in no small part by connected TV (CTV), retail media, social media, and search.
McDonald’s, Starbucks refocus on core strengths: McDonald’s added kiosks for faster service, and Starbucks enhanced its stores’ ambiance to encourage longer customer visits.
Marketer and consumer priorities don’t align: An iHeartMedia report shows that marketers live in a vastly different world than their target audiences.
Three in four consumers are concerned about fake reviews, according to January 2023 data from Bazaarvoice. Amazon and other retailer websites have a fake reviews problem, and it’s driving consumers—Gen Zers in particular—to seek information about products on social media sites like TikTok and Reddit.
Paramount expands shoppable TV capabilities with Shopsense AI partnership: The two companies team up to enable viewers to shop the MTV VMAs, with plans to install similar features in other Paramount content in the coming months.
Inditex bounces back after a rainy summer dented sales growth: The Zara parent reported a strong start to Q3 as shoppers responded positively to its product assortment.
Retailers invest in virtual reality, mobile apps, and AI to improve the customer experience: Walmart, Levi’s, and Family Dollar are among the companies turning to tech to boost sales.
The actor’s appeal across generations can help attract users for the company’s debit card and in-store offerings
It’s a concerning buildup for one month, but it merits some skepticism—consumers may be faring better than one data point suggests
The retailer’s Great Value branded products are now harder to sneak by self-checkout thanks to barcodes embedded in their packaging
Dollar store consumers, especially lower-income households, are facing financial difficulties, relying on credit cards to cover necessities. Retailers like Dollar General and Dollar Tree are focusing on pricing and promotions to keep customers shopping, but there has been a decline in discretionary spending from middle- and high-income consumers, who may be turning to mass retailers like Walmart.
China and the US are so far in front that the status quo at the top will likely remain the same for decades to come.
Under Armour’s turnaround won’t be quick: The company lowered its FY25 outlook, saying its restructuring plan will cost about twice as much as expected.