On today’s podcast episode, we discuss whether Walmart and Target were ever truly competing on the same promise of mass retail, or whether they were solving different consumer needs all along. We also explore the differences in their loyalty program strategies and consider whether their recent success has been driven more by business models or by execution. Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian, Principal Analyst Sky Canaves, and Analyst Rachel Wolff.
Resilient affluent shoppers and revamped stores lift early 2026 sales.
Agent Kit promises cleaner traffic and compliant automation amid privacy and power worries.
Amazon’s pullback from USPS could leave rivals facing higher costs and worse service.
The brand expects sales in the region to decline for the third-straight year as product missteps erode its competitive edge.
Lower prices fail to revive sales as value shoppers trade down and health-conscious consumers trade up.
Better measurement is the top unlock for digital audio ad investment: 45% of marketers worldwide say more robust measurement and attribution tools would drive greater spending, and 43% cite improved ROI transparency and benchmarking, according to a November 2025 survey from Amazon Ads and EMARKETER.
1- and 3-hour delivery options add urgency—and a revenue stream—on top of the free same-day option.
Consumers are shopping with AI assistants on retailer sites and through third-party chatbots like ChatGPT and Perplexity, and retailers are paying attention.
PowerMac and low-sugar Capri Sun aim to refresh iconic brands as better-for-you rivals crowd shelves.
Shoppers are researching more than ever, forcing brands to prove value beyond specs and splashy upgrades.
By launching an integrated jewelry platform, the luxury goods giant aims to rival LVMH and steady group sales.
Paze still must combat entrenched consumer checkout habits with competitors like PayPal
Collections from John Galliano will help elevate perception and fend off Shein.
The financial system is staring down a stablecoin glut, but few consumers want to navigate a world where they need bespoke denominations of US dollars for every financial or retail entity they interact with.
Distribution won’t be enough to turn Clover around in such a fiercely competitive sector.
Efficient and enjoyable digital experiences are the top loyalty program priority across every generation, cited by 77% of millennials, 75% of Gen Z, 66% of Gen X, and even 45% of baby boomers, according to a January report from Deloitte.
Brands will face more pressure to prove results, pushing them toward cleaner data and AI tools that improve spending decisions.
Starbucks went live with its overhauled loyalty program last week, shifting from a single-tier model to a multi-tiered structure that fundamentally changes how members earn and redeem rewards.
Marketers must plan media around the full travel journey and tailor their messaging based on where a traveler is at that moment. However, most travel media strategies remain overly concentrated on the early stages of travel.