On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how Amazon has made themselves even more essential to customers, why “they can’t make physical stores work”, and how its advertising business is getting on. Tune in to the episode with Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Analyst Rachel Wolff, and Senior Director of Briefings Jeremy Goldman. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
This week, small businesses express concerns about President Trump’s policies, private label brands gain traction, and Gen Z embraces AI for shopping. Meanwhile, TikTok music influences purchases, and excessive advertising drives cart abandonment.
Learn what Chase and other digital competitors have done to outrank traditional banks.
Neiman Marcus is the latest department store to shutter a prominent flagship location: The closure highlights legacy retailers’ struggles to adapt to the shifting retail environment.
They have higher customer satisfaction rates, adding to the competitive pressures
US Black adults spend the greatest share of their total TV time watching cable (22.4%), followed by broadcast (21.8%), according to a 2025 Nielsen report.
This week, new advertisers enter the podcast space, consumers discourage brand desperation, and brands take notes from Netflix.
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how GenAI is changing the customer shopping journey the most, the impact of AI agents, and how to maintain brand messaging in a more conversational universe. Tune in to the episode with Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, our Analyst Jacob Bourne, Vice President Suzy Davidkhanian, and Global Digital Commerce Senior Director, Strategy & Execution, Todd Hassenfelt. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
Meta plans dedicated chatbot app: The move aims to compete with AI leaders ChatGPT and Gemini, but its success remains uncertain.
Google’s latest move disrupted product review sites: That change challenged retailers reliant on those sites’ affiliate traffic.
Walmart looks to make it easier for advertisers to buy its display ads: Walmart Connect’s new API should help it attract more ad dollars from smaller brands and marketplace sellers.
Reels may get its own app: Instagram is reportedly exploring a standalone platform as it vies to draw attention away from TikTok.
Foot traffic to Aldi stores grew 12.3% YoY in Q4 2024, over twice the growth of low-cost competitor Trader Joe’s, according to data from Placer.ai.
US ticketing service Ticketmaster had more unique visitors in December 2024 than the next nine sites/apps combined, according Comscore data.
Walmart recently bought Monroeville Mall near Pittsburgh, signaling either a massive retail expansion plan or a shrewd real estate grab. Either way, the purchase strengthens Walmart's market foothold while adding rental income. This isn't a random acquisition but a calculated move.
"You're spending a lot of money. Do you know where your ads are?'" Jonah Goodhart, co-founder and CEO of Mobian, said on our "Behind the Numbers" podcast, evoking the classic PSA. Meta announced in January it would replace fact checking with Community Notes, worrying advertisers about brand safety.
Despite the investment from ad sellers, shoppable ads are still a niche format for brands.
The challenging retail environment is fuel for TJX: The off-price retailer sees greater opportunities to attract shoppers amid tariff threats and declining consumer confidence.
YouTube strives to make ads less disruptive: The platform is changing its approach to mid-roll ads to appease viewers, creators, and brands alike.