We may see the companies increase their reliance on AI in response to their workforce reductions
The annual charges increased across all six cards, but Amex is hoping the enhanced rewards will offset the added consumer costs
The vast majority (81.5%) of retail media ad spend will go toward on-site formats this year, per our October 2023 forecast. As advertisers seek to target consumers whenever and wherever possible, other formats are emerging, particularly in-store, streaming, and social.
Uncertainty in the Chinese economy will hang over Lunar New Year: Nearly half of Chinese luxury consumers express concerns about the economy, which is leading them to watch their wallets.
Starbucks, Sweetgreen tweak membership programs to boost customer appeal: They’re not alone—54% of retailers plan to enhance their loyalty offerings this year.
Retailers are going big on innovation. AI-powered improvements to the customer journey, ambitious market expansion, and viral partnerships and marketing campaigns have caught our attention, just in time for the first edition of our monthly ‘unofficial’ ranking of most interesting retailers.
Meta rings in two decades of Facebook: The company has undergone major transformations, and 2024 will bring more changes as AI and regulation shape its trajectory.
Amazon shoppers, meet chatbot Rufus: It’s part of a broader trend of Big Tech weaving AI into existing products and services. But it’ll have to live up to customer expectations.
Target’s Black History Month products miss the mark: The retailer pulled an item celebrating Black history from its shelves that misidentified several historical figures.
Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching (a helpful reminder), and ahead of the romantic holiday, Sweethearts put out a collection of “situationship” hearts with “messages as blurry as your relationships.” The candies are targeted at Gen Zers in an aim to get buy-in from consumers who may not be head over heels for celebrating Valentine’s Day.
It’s continuing to expand these services, including by investing in AI-powered fraud solutions, to further spur growth
The company is investing in AI and rewards partnerships to bring in more active customers to its mobile wallet
Elective cosmetic procedure are expensive and not covered by insurance, creating demand for financing solutions like Synchrony’s CareCredit
It’s easy to understand the appeal of brand extension: Carhartt, lululemon, and Christian Louboutin are among the brands pushing into new markets to accelerate growth.
Booming demand for Uggs and Hokas lifts Deckers to record quarter: The company sees plenty of opportunity for growth ahead as it focuses on its D2C business.
Mattel faces activist pressure amid falling toy sales: The company is being pushed to offload its struggling American Girl and Fisher-Price brands.
Shopify leans on AI to drive growth: AI is powering everything from the company’s new media editor to semantic search to ad-targeting tools.
US grocery store displays averaged 80.3 per store in 2023, a decline 10.2 from 2018, according to Q3 2023 data from Circana.
But regulatory challenges could dampen Amazon’s growth prospects: The retailer, along with other ecommerce marketplaces, could soon become responsible for the safety of all items sold on its platform.
Shoppers made a record number of Amazon purchases this holiday season: Strong consumer spending coupled with momentum in its ad business helped propel Amazon’s earnings well past expectations.