Retail & Ecommerce

Dollar General’s Popshelf format announces app, loyalty, and store updates to attract wealthier shoppers: The retailer will also close all locations in DG Market stores after the assortment failed to win over the dollar store’s core customer base.

Ghost eyes an opportunity helping brands move surplus goods: The private B2B marketplace aims to address market inefficiencies by connecting brands with buyers of surplus and goods online.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss why it has become so hard to get a read on consumer sentiment, the indicators we pay closest attention to to try and make sense of it, and how we expect consumers to feel for the remainder of the year. Tune in to the discussion with host Marcus Johnson, Director of Briefings Jeremy Goldman and Analyst Zak Stambor.

Amazon tests yet another grocery format: Amazon Grocery, which is located next to a Whole Foods Market, aims to fill the hole left by the sister brand’s restrictions on certain ingredients.

Consumers aren’t ready to quit cash yet: The shift to digital delivery of services hasn’t relieved banks of their duty to manage cash—particularly if they’re seeking to win over cash-carrying millennials and Gen Zers.

Retailers face unprecedented challenges this year. From extreme weather events to political uncertainty, brands must prepare for disruption while still meeting consumer demand for value, our analysts said on a recent episode of the “Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail” podcast.

The BNPL industry’s explosive growth is a thing of the past. The number of US BNPL users will grow only 6.9% in 2024, a major slowdown from prior years. And while payment value will rise at a still-strong rate of 20.8% this year, it too marks a significant deceleration.

They seem to be responding well to Amex’s 40 product revamps this year, shrugging off higher annual fees

Block has been working to grow Cash App Pay, but the buy button still trails competitors

Co-brands can be a valuable loyalty and revenue driver for merchants, and there’s plenty of room for them to grow

UK retail sales rose unexpectedly in September, thanks to the new iPhone and Oasis: Back-to-school shopping and entertainment spending boosted demand for non-essential items, although poor weather and consumer caution dented supermarket sales.

Amazon, Temu, and other marketplaces sold toys that failed EU safety standards, investigation finds: That could open the retailers up to stricter regulatory oversight.

Nestlé and P&G have diverging views of the US consumer: While P&G’s customers are happy to shell out for premium, effective products, Nestlé is losing ground to private labels.

Retailers can distinguish their brands via the post-purchase experience: A handwritten note, branded packaging, or free gifts with an order are more likely to inspire repeat purchases.

Failing to improve its consumer risk profile may lead to concerns with its proposed Capital One merger

The service makes purchasing age-restricted items online easier and can help merchants speed up checkout times

It’s a large volume opportunity for the BNPL player and helps Klarna compete with. It can also help keep users loyal to Apple as its NFC tech opens up

TikTok Shop doubles down on livestreaming as ecommerce sales grow: The platform sees an opportunity to grow order frequency and drive more impulse purchases.

September’s strong retail sales report underscores consumers’ resilience: Spending remains solid as higher-income households’ strength makes up for lower-income shoppers’ price-sensitive behaviors.

Starbucks’ staffing shortages pose challenge for new CEO Brian Niccol: Just one-third of workers believe stores are sufficiently staffed, hurting employee satisfaction and the customer experience.