AI moves into the mainstream: The gender gap in adoption is fading, but divides in usage and chatbot type could determine who builds lasting AI habits.
Grocery spending falls while apparel gets a lift from changing wardrobes.
Consumers favor AI utility: Americans use AI mainly for search and work, giving marketers more reason to prioritize discoverability over image tools.
GenAI is one step in shopper journey: AI is joining shoppers’ research, not replacing it, as buyers still rely on reviews, Amazon, YouTube, and brand sites.
More flexible loyalty benefits could strengthen both customer retention and retail media appeal.
Social commerce gains value: One-third of Western consumers shop via social as AI referrals convert 31% better, rewarding structured product data.
Affluent users are becoming BNPL’s biggest customer base, making larger purchases the next revenue lever.
At this week's CommerceNext Growth Show in New York City, executives from Ulta Beauty, Tapestry, Stitch Fix, and Novi shared how they're using AI to deepen customer relationships and why winning loyalty now means appealing to both consumers and the AI models guiding product discovery.
Live sports was supposed to be streaming's killer app. The content that would justify the subscriptions, lock in the loyal audiences, and finally settle the cord-cutting debate in favor of digital. And by raw adoption numbers, the bet has paid off. The trouble is that arriving somewhere doesn't mean you can find what you're looking for once you get there.
The back-to-school season is gaining momentum for retailers in 2026. It’s worth $85.42 billion in US retail sales, according to EMARKETER. And the season keeps starting earlier as price-conscious families spread purchases out across the summer. This FAQ covers the season's timeframe, top categories, and channel preferences, and how marketers should position campaigns in 2026.
In-store retail media, which includes digital screens, smart carts, audio, and product sampling inside physical stores, remains the least developed segment of retail media. Yet demand is rising as advertisers seek to reach shoppers in the aisle, where most retail purchases still occur. High infrastructure costs and organizational silos, however, continue to limit the channel's growth. This FAQ covers the market's size, the grocery opportunity, and how retailers and advertisers should invest.
This FAQ explores the scale of the ecommerce returns challenge, the policies that most influence shopper behavior, and the strategies retailers should prioritize in 2026 to reduce costs without sacrificing loyalty.
This FAQ covers private label's scale, where it is winning, and what the shift means for retailers and brand manufacturers.
This FAQ covers the recommerce market's size, the consumers driving it, and how brands should respond.
Retailers expect 15.8% of annual sales, or about $849.9 billion, to be returned this year, a slight drop from 16.9% in 2024, according to a new report from the National Retail Federation and Happy Returns. The shift suggests stricter return policies, such as charging fees, are discouraging some returns but also risking customer loyalty. With most shoppers prioritizing free and flexible return options, retailers are expanding in-store, QR-based, and “no box, no label” methods to boost convenience. Balancing return costs with shopper expectations remains key to maintaining satisfaction and long-term loyalty.
Amazon and Walmart widen their lead as shoppers raise their standards.
Creative brands are capturing attention without official rights.
Bath & Body Works, Nordstrom, and Staples seek new shoppers through partnerships.
Rollbacks risk lasting customer losses as more shoppers shun brands they believe abandoned inclusion.
Investing in an up-and-coming travel destination satisfies adventurous cardholders and deepens network ties in a key emerging region.