As fintechs capture credit-thin consumers, issuers must make their intro cards more robust.
In today’s podcast episode, we discuss what summer travel will look like for Americans this year, where people go online to book their vacations, and how AI is helping travelers plan and manage their trips. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Vice President of Research Jennifer Pearson and Principal Analyst Zak Stambor. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube or Spotify. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Vice President of Content Suzy Davidkhanian, Analyst Paola Flores-Marquez, and Senior Analyst Gadjo Sevilla. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube or Spotify.
YouTube/YouTube Music is the most-used digital audio platform, reaching 51% of US digital audio listeners and standing alone as the only option to clear the halfway mark, according to a March 2026 Harris Poll and EMARKETER survey.
China’s luxury goods market is poised for a return to growth as government policies and easing economic pressures boost demand. But this positive sentiment is not equally shared, and changing consumer preferences will continue to challenge luxury brands.
Americans are spending more on health and wellness, and the reasons have less to do with income than with institutional skepticism. That dynamic is creating a significant retail opportunity, one that major retailers are already moving to capture. "[Wellness] has evolved into a much broader concept that combines physical health and mental health and emotional balance and lifestyle habits and longevity," said EMARKETER analyst Rajiv Leventhal in a recent episode of "Behind the Numbers."
Marketers have a clear idea of what channels deserve their energy, like AI ad spending, retail media, and influencer marketing. So instead of heading into Cannes Lions with concerns on where to invest, they're more focused on how to make those investments work. Some 38.7% of US marketers say that while creative is important, measurement gaps prevent it from meaningfully influencing investment decisions, according to a February EMARKETER and Perion survey.
AI shopping assistants such as Amazon's Alexa for Shopping (formerly Rufus), Walmart's Sparky, ChatGPT, and Google Gemini are reshaping how consumers discover and evaluate products. Retailer-owned assistants are already lifting order values and conversion, while standalone AI platforms struggle to convert recommendations into purchases. This FAQ covers how AI shopping assistants work, what they mean for brand loyalty, and how brands earn a place in AI-generated recommendations.
Buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS) has quietly become the workhorse of omnichannel retail. Pickup now outpaces same-day delivery among grocery shoppers, according to FMI and NielsenIQ. The benefits are clear: Retailers save on last-mile costs while gaining foot traffic and the fee-free economics fit a value-conscious consumer. This FAQ covers how click-and-collect works, why it is winning, and where retailers should invest in 2026.
The company is expanding live shopping capabilities and ad formats on Instagram and Facebook as the format gains traction.
To boost frictionless payments, merchants need to drive consumers to mobile app offerings.
Younger members and digital tools are reshaping the brand.
The hotel chain’s push into the premium co-brand market shows the tension between providing both value and luxury.
Standalone shops offer brands more control over experience and positioning.
Drive-thrus, pickup shops, and in-store cafes turn everyday routines into new growth opportunities.
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how ThredUp markets to both of its customer groups—the buyer and the seller—how it balances brand storytelling with performance marketing, and where AI is actually making the biggest difference for its customers right now. Tune in to hear a discussion featuring Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian, Principal Analyst Sky Canaves, and Kristen Brophy, Senior Vice President and Head of Marketing at ThredUp.
Key stat: News and media topped all verticals with a $7.93 video ad CPM in Q4 2025, the priciest audience to reach via video, according to an April report from BIScience.
After more than 80 years in business, Turtle Wax faced a familiar challenge: staying relevant with a new generation of consumers. "We'd lost a little bit of touch with the younger consumer," said Steve Millard, global marketing and ecommerce director at Turtle Wax. For many younger consumers, the brand was associated with products their parents or grandparents used.
Reddit’s consideration play: As buyers seek trusted peer input, exclusive data shows that Reddit offers brands a chance to influence decisions before purchase.
Live sports keep delivering: But record audiences and billions of ad impressions are making premium rights harder to secure—and costlier.
Consumers continued spending in May despite higher prices and fuel costs.