Retail & Ecommerce

Providing a glimpse into the strategies behind a year marked by economic uncertainty, ecommerce disruptors, and rising competition for consumer loyalty, our “Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail” podcast’s unofficial retail awards offer lessons for brands to make more informed decisions in 2024. Our analysts discuss the winners that caught their attention—for better or worse.

US regulators face tighter timelines to challenge App Store exclusivity and payments dominance while global agencies ramp up pressure.

Retailers’ restrictive returns policies are paying off: The total return rate fell in 2022, despite ecommerce’s growing share of sales.

US livestreaming commerce sales could reach $50 billion in 2023 and potentially account for more than 5% of total ecommerce in the country by 2026, per Coresight Research as cited by CNBC. With help from platforms like TikTok Shop, TalkShopLive, and Firework, brands should start experimenting with livestream commerce as adoption grows, especially among younger consumers.

Retailers face additional supply chain pressure as shippers suspend Red Sea crossings: The move is driving up delivery times as well as freight costs.

A growing share of consumers want companies to take positions: That’s particularly true among younger consumers. But missteps by Bud Light and Target demonstrate the challenges of navigating that terrain.

What trends will we be talking about this year? Consumer behaviors will be shaped by continued uncertainty and cultural trends spilling over into commerce.

Retail media is both a huge opportunity and a huge headache for brands: Advertisers spent $46.38 billion on retail media this year, but frustrations over lack of standardization could threaten future growth.

Digitally native D2Cs will continue losing ground to established brands in 2024: But partnerships with wholesalers and marketplaces like Amazon, as well as a brick-and-mortar presence, could help narrow the gap.

Ads hit Prime Video on January 29: Amazon's move to bolster ad revenues should allow it to better compete with the likes of Netflix and Disney+.

AI complicates the legal battlefield for Big Tech companies: Regulatory scrutiny intensifies over monopolistic practices, content moderation, and the complexities of emerging generative AI technologies.

US leads RMN adoption with 87% usage, 83% spending increase: Challenges include ad quality, costs, targeting.

We look back at three of the biggest trends that influenced the credit card space this year.

Walmart ends 2023 on a high note: The retailer is firing on all cylinders, as its strong value proposition drives healthy growth across its grocery, ecommerce, and advertising businesses.

Amazon’s 2023 highs and lows: The retailer’s ad business and supply chain optimization helped rejuvenate growth, but physical retail, groceries, and the FTC are proving to be more challenging to conquer.

Which retailers and brands will win (or lose) in 2024? With consumer confidence still under strain, retailers will have to once again prove their value—either in terms of price or convenience—in order to win shoppers over.

Media union activity picks up: Contract wins and membership gains show labor’s strength, but industry turbulence remains.