In this podcast episode, we discuss if ‘Summerween’ is here to stay, which retail shopping holiday is most likely to expand, and how all of this affects shopping behavior. Listen to the discussion with Senior Director of Podcasts and guest host, Marcus Johnson, Principal Analyst, Sky Canaves, and Vice President of Content Suzy Davidkhanian.
Almost half (49%) of US Gen Zers are much more likely to pay attention to ads that make them laugh or use music they like, per a June report from Edison Research and SiriusXM Media.
Dupes are being purchased at high rates among affluent consumers, even more than those with lower incomes. 70% of high-income US adults (earning $150,000 or more) have tried a dupe private label product, per April 2025 First Insight data. This outpaces the 53% of mid-income consumers ($51,000 to $149,000) and the 41% of low-income consumers (under $50,000) that bought dupes.
The news: McDonald’s delivered strong Q2 results that topped analysts’ expectations, signaling a rebound in its core US market. Our take: McDonald’s regained its footing in Q2 after posting its steepest same-store sales drop since the pandemic. While rivals like Yum Brands and Chipotle struggled with consumer pullback, McDonald’s played to its strengths by leaning into value, nostalgia, and limited-time promotions.
The news: US-based rewards app Fetch opened the waitlist for the Fetch American Express Card. Our take: Fetch is positioned to take off for consumers who want rewards that help ease cost concerns when buying everyday essentials.
The news: Serious delinquency rates held steady YoY, while credit card volume growth continued to slow, per a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Our take: As middle-class educated professionals are slapped with resumed student loan payments, many will falter in the face of reaccelerating inflation and a weakening job market—especially if faced with possible wage garnishment.
Kroger has consolidated its retail media, consumer insights, and loyalty marketing capabilities under the Kroger Precision Marketing (KPM) brand.
Ulta Beauty is tapping into trends like Korean beauty and wellness to stay relevant with younger consumers while Pop Mart has created viral excitement around its collectibles through smart digital marketing and gamification. In addition, Urban Outfitters has launched a back-to-school dorm makeover contest and Away Luggage is enhancing the travel experience with a giveaway. Here are the eight most interesting retailers and brands from last month, as ranked on our “Behind the Numbers” podcast.
The news: JPMorgan Chase and Coinbase partnered to offer Chase's customers new ways to access crypto. This fall, customers will be able to link Coinbase directly to their bank accounts, buy crypto with Chase credit cards, and convert rewards points to USDC, per a press release. Why this matters: This partnership is a big step toward bridging the gap between traditional finance and crypto. By letting customers use their credit cards to buy crypto or redeem their Chase Ultimate Rewards points for USDC, the companies could accelerate crypto adoption. It’s also another salvo from JPMorgan against data aggregators and open banking firms after the bank announced that it would charge these companies to access customer data—particularly around payments. JPMorgan is integrating directly with Coinbase rather than using APIs from a company like Plaid.
The news: United is hosting five days’ worth of exclusive deals for United Chase cardholders beginning August 4. Each day will have its own exclusive, time-sensitive international travel offer. Cardholders will have the chance to fly one way to a mystery location for only 30,000 miles (plus about $35 in taxes and fees). Our take: United, along with its competitors, are looking for ways to reverse slumping sales. Targeting international and premium products, while also strengthening its loyalty program, could be a sage way to turn things around.
The news: Klarna might push its IPO date up as late as September, per a report from Bloomberg. Our take: Whenever Klarna schedules its IPO, it can bank on the strength of its partnerships—like DoorDash, Walmart, Stripe, and Walmart—to sustain its growth. Fintechs have faced a tough environment for IPOs ever since the high-water mark of 2021. Firms are now required to demonstrate better pathways to profitability before going public. However, despite tariffs and geopolitical disturbances, fintechs have the ability to outperform expectations: Take Circle’s blockbuster IPO back in June. With investors hungry for AI-focused companies, Klarna may be well positioned to ride the wave of its peers’ earlier success in the market.
The number of retail media networks (RMNs) worldwide offering competitive conquesting (the ability to target campaigns to competitors’ shoppers) has risen from 10 in Q2 2024 to 15 in Q2 2025, a 50% increase, according to data from Mars United Commerce.
As parents prepare their kids for the new school year, they’re tightening budgets, reusing last year’s supplies, and looking for ways to efficiently check off their lists.
Etsy and eBay see opportunity to gain share as tariffs burden their competitors and consumers adjust their spending habits. Both companies are well-positioned to benefit from renewed interest in resale as tariffs make buying new more expensive for shoppers. The two platforms also now face less competition from Shein, Temu, and Amazon in online ad auctions—allowing them to be more efficient with marketing spend and reach more potential customers. While neither eBay nor Etsy is fully immune from the effects of tariffs—and their potential drag on the economy and consumer confidence—they are less exposed than most other retailers.
The news: Mastercard and Visa reported strong revenue growth in their most recent quarters. Visa’s net revenues rose 14% YoY in its fiscal year Q3 (ended June 30, 2025). Mastercard’s net revenues for the period rose 17% YoY. Our take: Both Visa and Mastercard understand that they need to innovate to keep their infrastructure competitive in light of the explosion of alternative payment rails—most recently stablecoin initiatives, made possible by the recent passage of the Genius Act.
The news: PayPal posted net revenue growth of 5% YoY at $8.3 billion due to strong performances of Venmo, its debit card, and Braintree, per its earnings report. Our take: PayPal is leaning into its branded experience and tech innovations to power its way through 2025.
The news: JPMorgan Chase is reportedly in late-stage talks to take over the Apple Card portfolio from Goldman Sachs, per The Wall Street Journal. Our take: Apple needs a stable financial partner after a rough road with Goldman Sachs’ regulatory scrutiny and failed experiment with consumer banking.
Consumer goods giants Kraft Heinz and Unilever are moving to stimulate demand in a challenging sales climate by increasing marketing spending on their most popular products. Both companies are betting on marketing to spur demand and improve brand equity in a slower-growth climate. But the question is whether stepped-up marketing will be enough to overcome rising consumer caution, particularly in categories like snacks and personal care, where purchases are more discretionary in a tariff-driven environment. Increased investments in promotions could pressure margins in coming quarters.