China’s retail sales picked up in January and February: But consumers’ buoyant spending during the Lunar New Year is unlikely to hold as confidence is slow to recover.
Returns are a challenge for all retailers, including Amazon: That’s why the retail giant reportedly discussed a deal that would enable its customers to return items at FedEx stores.
On today's podcast episode, we discuss what finding products online will look like in 2025, if Target's new membership program can stack up against Amazon Prime and Walmart+, how ads on chatbots will change advertising, how to make stores more fun places to shop, what the world's first "ketchup insurance" offers, how Americans use dating apps, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our vice president of content Suzy Davidkhanian and analysts Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf and Carina Perkins.
As a potential TikTok ban looms, brands are considering what a world without TikTok Shop would look like. I probably won’t look all that different, but there are a few places where TikTok’s absence will be felt more than others.
Consumers feel squeezed: Elevated prices and the high cost of credit have left shoppers reluctant to open their wallets.
Retail theft won’t chase Home Depot out of major US cities: While the issue has driven Target, Taco Bell, and In-N-Out to leave major US cities, the home improvement retailer is staying put.
A TikTok ban could deal a blow to social commerce: Without the platform’s extensive investments, social buying and live shopping adoption could fade.
Ulta looks internationally for growth as US competition heats up: Promotional activity is rising as retailers rush to capitalize on the lipstick effect.
The ecommerce giant’s launch of ads on Prime Video instantly gave it the largest audience for an ad-supported subscription video service in the US.
If TikTok is banned, can ByteDance bring Douyin to the US? The company is trying to answer that question by testing Douyin on US browsers.
The cost of advertising on Amazon spiked in 2023: Our industry KPIs show that while CPCs are rising, healthy consumer demand is stabilizing return on ad spend.
McDonald’s positions itself as a place to score a cheap meal: That’s familiar terrain for the fast-food giant, which should help convey that message to consumers.
Dollar General plans to open 800 stores this year: That’s a stark contrast to rival Family Dollar, as the retailer is well-positioned to benefit from consumers’ growing cost-consciousness.
Amazon announces Big Spring Sale as consumers show signs of spending fatigue: The retailer is counting on the event to jolt sales and give its ad business an edge over Meta and Google.
Walmart looks to monetize supply chain capabilities with new AI logistics solution: The company is expanding its suite of retail tech solutions as it focuses on boosting profitability.
On today's podcast episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss Walmart's purchase of Vizio, its brick-and-mortar strategy, and whether they can attract more upper income shoppers. Then, in a mini "Shark Tank"-style segment, we predict what the next big move for Walmart will be. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts senior director of media content Becky Schilling and analyst Zak Stambor.
With third-party cookies on the way out, access to customer data is more valuable to brands than ever. By leveraging loyalty programs, brands can collect first-party data, including customer demographics and shopping habits, in exchange for targeted offers or deals. But in order for brands to get access to customer data, they need to be sure their loyalty program resonates with their audience.