In five years, Instacart’s retail media network (RMN) has transformed from a simple performance engine into a full-funnel, end-to-end marketing ecosystem.
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the moving target that is consumers’ perception of using AI in advertising, how marketers feel about the technology, and the share of ad buying that is likely to be delegated to AI. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host, Marcus Johnson, Analyst, Marisa Jones, and Senior Analyst, Gadjo Sevilla. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
Nearly half (49%) of middle-income US holiday shoppers are concerned that gifts will be more expensive this year, according to July 2025 data from Bankrate.
PayPal will make its Pay Monthly installment loans available in-store in the US ahead of the holiday season. For competing BNPL providers, PayPal’s rewards structure now far outstrips what most of them offer. Competitors should consider more strategic partnerships with desirable Gen Z and millennial brands to strike directly at the root of where young consumers are shopping, and cut deals with those merchants for more favorable cash back rewards.
To modernize its image, Cracker Barrel swapped its heritage-rich logo for a sleek, simplified wordmark. The change sparked immediate backlash, forcing the company to reverse course days later. The rebrand faltered for several reasons, chief among them a failure to understand its core audience.
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Adobe Analytics projects US holiday ecommerce sales to grow 5.3% year over year to $253.4 billion, marking a sharp slowdown from last season’s 8.7% gain as higher prices and cautious consumer sentiment curb spending. Retailers are expected to mirror last year’s steep discounts, using strategic markdowns to entice shoppers toward higher-value purchases. At the same time, AI-powered shopping and social commerce are transforming buying behavior, with AI-driven traffic forecast to jump 520% and social sales up 51%, reshaping how consumers discover and decide what to buy.
DoorDash rolled out a series of updates to make it easier for advertisers to purchase inventory and measure campaigns. Intermediaries like DoorDash are benefiting from advertisers’ frustrations around walled gardens and measurement challenges. We expect US commerce intermediary media network ad spending to jump 20.2% this year to $2.74 billion—nearly 40% higher than the combined retail media revenues of Target, eBay, and Etsy.
Walmart’s OnePay will reportedly offer crypto trading and custody through its banking app, per CNBC. Major retailers like Walmart and Amazon can save substantial margin on each transaction if they can get consumers to use their own crypto instead of traditional payment rails. While the ramp up to stablecoin issuance would take time, more operationally ready ventures like crypto-powered remittances stand as easier plays to execute.
American Express debuted Amex Ads, a new digital advertising platform that allows brands to connect with its 34 million customers, per a press release. Amex Ads will go live on AmexTravel.com before spreading to other Amex platforms. Amex has the power to link advertisers with high-spending consumers, which are driving the bulk of US spending during a period of economic uncertainty—and Amex’s earnings. By granting access to consumers who already are interested in prestige travel and dining experiences, advertisers can attach themselves to Amex’s strong brand halo for luxury experiences, delivering strong ROI for ad spend.
Starbucks and Target tapped into the buzz around the release of Taylor Swift’s latest album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” to help fuel their turnaround. The stakes are high for both companies as they struggle to get customers excited about their offerings. At the same time, the question for both Starbucks and Target is whether they can turn the short-term bump into lasting growth.
Drone delivery is finally taking flight in the US, with major quick-service chains launching pilot programs to test airborne burrito and chicken deliveries. Uber Eats and Flytrex plan drone pilots by late 2025, while Dave’s Hot Chicken, Chipotle, and GoTo Foods are running tests across California and Texas with partners like Matternet, Zipline, and Wing. Looser regulations and better tech are driving momentum, though most efforts remain small-scale. Still, even if drone delivery doesn’t revolutionize logistics, the buzz positions these brands as forward-thinking innovators gaining valuable PR lift.
Microsoft overhauled its Digital Direct Sales operation—responsible for selling all first-party products on Microsoft.com across 100+ markets—to run on an AI-first, agent-driven assistant model that drives the company’s ecommerce. The next battle for customer intent won’t happen on search bars or landing pages—it will happen inside conversations. The brands that train their AI agents to listen, reason, and personalize at scale will own those moments of intent. Every chat should be a transaction—brands need to train their AI agents to listen, reason, and personalize at scale.
For years, the commerce media conversation has centered around one theme: Measurement. But that may be changing. “We are finally moving past just talking about measurement,” said Collin Colburn, vice president, commerce and retail media at the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). “It’s a horse that’s been beaten over the head a little bit too many times.”
The news: The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) lowered its 2025 US ad spending forecast from 7.3% growth to 5.7%, citing “macroeconomic pressures” and tariffs. What brands can do next: The most effective marketing strategies will vary dramatically across industries. Low-cost, high-ROI channels can squeeze the most out of limited budgets, but marketers shouldn’t underestimate the value of branding and loyalty.
Blackhawk Network (BHN) launched a gift card mall in the Google Play Store, per a press release. Android users will be able to buy and transfer virtual gift cards from BHN’s merchant network, including its exclusive Original series. Virtual gift cards can be securely sent to recipients by email or text. Tie-ins like this make it even easier to pick prepaid cards as a gift, especially for procrastinators trying to send presents at the eleventh hour. But BHN is still missing the core of the US population without an Apple integration.
OpenAI’s launch of Instant Checkout, which enables direct purchases through ChatGPT, has triggered a competitive push among ecommerce giants to streamline online shopping. Google unveiled AI Mode, allowing conversational product searches, Amazon introduced Add to Delivery for one-tap Prime orders, and Meta rolled out Business AI to enhance chat-based shopping across its platforms. While Instant Checkout currently supports only single Etsy purchases and lacks utility for everyday shopping, its debut signals the potential of AI-driven commerce. For now, Amazon and Google’s scale and infrastructure give them the edge, but the arms race to own the purchase path is intensifying.
Shein and Amazon are making bold retail moves in France as economic stagnation fuels demand for low-cost goods. Shein will open its first permanent French stores in November through a partnership with Société des Grands Magasins, marking a shift from its online-only model. Meanwhile, Amazon plans to roll out its budget-friendly Haul offering in France, featuring clothing, cosmetics, and household items priced under €20. Both initiatives face backlash—Shein from regulators and the fashion industry, and Amazon from critics of its impact on local retailers—but France’s appetite for affordable shopping suggests both efforts will gain traction despite opposition.
Trust in news media is at a record low in the US, with just 28% of Americans across age groups and party affiliations showing a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in television, radio, and newspapers to report news fully, fairly, and accurately, per Gallup. Creating content that aligns with core audience values will be critical to sustain advertising success as consumer trust in media declines.
Jack in the Box introduced an in-app, AI-powered “choose your own adventure” game to deliver more deals to customers and increase engagement. More quick-service restaurants (QSRs) are turning to gamification to reverse slumping traffic, spotlight value offerings, and attract more diners to their apps. Offering gamified experiences is an effective way for QSRs—and even retailers—to get new customers into their orbits while encouraging existing ones to order more frequently.