Two years after its US debut, TikTok Shop has become a dominant force in social commerce by turning discovery into conversion, with nearly half of its American user base expected to make purchases in 2025. While livestream shopping initially gained traction, its appeal quickly faded as US consumers resisted scheduled shopping events, unlike in China. Instead, TikTok Shop’s growth has been fueled by short, authentic creator content, which now drives two-thirds of its revenues and has attracted more than 184,000 sellers. It seems increasingly clear that TikTok Shop’s strength lies in its creator-driven, recommendation-based model rather than putting a fresh spin on QVC-style livestreams.
Elevated interest rates, high prices, and weak consumer confidence are straining the housing market and, by extension, furniture sales. RH CEO Gary Friedman called the current climate the third worst he’s seen in nearly four decades, with industrywide discounting becoming a survival tactic. Tariff uncertainty is adding pressure after Donald Trump threatened new levies on imported furniture, a move Friedman warned could be devastating. RH is mitigating risks by diversifying sourcing and boosting US output, but tariffs are still set to cut $30 million from forecasts and delay Sourcebook shipments, shifting revenues into future quarters.
Amazon’s push into fresh grocery delivery is more of an opportunity than a threat for Instacart, according to CEO Chris Roger. But while Instacart is right to see enterprise opportunities from chains worried about Amazon’s grocery expansion, it is also vulnerable to the retailer’s encroachment on its turf and similar efforts from Uber, DoorDash, and Walmart.
Cracker Barrel and Jaguar faced fierce backlash over recent rebrands, including criticism from Donald Trump, but their responses diverged sharply. Cracker Barrel scrapped its new logo, ended DEI initiatives, and restored traditional elements after customers accused it of abandoning its heritage. Jaguar, however, doubled down, unveiling a bold redesign and luxury EV despite Trump’s attacks, signaling a pivot toward younger, wealthier buyers. The contrast underscores how brand reinventions can either alienate loyalists or attract new audiences, with success hinging on timing, cultural awareness, and a clear long-term strategy.
“If there’s one thing I want my team to get right, it’s the cohesion of messages,” said Minyi Su, head of marketing at Bluemercury. “While personalized messaging is important, we need to make sure that personalization all ladders up to the same theme.” Balancing broader brand identity with customized recommendations was one of many themes Su focused on at EMARKETER’s Future of Digital Summit on Tuesday.
American Express and UPS partnered to help ease the cost of shipping for small and midsize businesses (SMBs), per a press release. Amex and UPS’ partnership can help SMBs save on shipping costs and could make UPS a more attractive logistics partner—especially as other mailing providers, such as Korea Post, Norway and Finland’s carriers, Deutsche Post, and DHL Parcel Germany plan to stop US-bound deliveries due to confusion over duty charges and required data submissions.
Klarna Started trading on the NYSE on Wednesday under the ticker symbol KLAR. Klarna’s stock opened at $52 per share—well above anticipated levels of $35-$37 per share—and closed at $48.82. By the end of the day, the buy now, pay later (BNPL) player was valued at $17.3 billion. Klarna’s IPO outperformance signals investor hunger for major tech listings, following Circle and Figma’s standout public offerings. As Klarna moves deeper into the US BNPL market, Siemiatkowski said that different use cases between the Affirm and Klarna Cards will determine the future of each fintech player.
Leaders in fintech gathered at Finovate Fall in New York City to discuss emerging trends facing the industry. The payments industry is experiencing multiple points of disruption with agentic AI, new modalities of payments, and regulatory changes all placing pressure on ecosystem participants. Players who understand how to leverage their value during this transition period will cement their relevancy in the coming years.
Confidence among higher-income consumers is rising, boosting their desire to spend on premium airline tickets, luxury goods, and everything in between. Retailers are rushing to premiumize, targeting higher-income households with the means and willingness to spend. But these shoppers are discriminating: Companies looking to earn their spending must deliver products and experiences that meet their high standards—and prepare for the possibility of buyer’s remorse.
The digital ad market is shifting fast. In court, Google admitted the “open web is already in rapid decline,” contradicting its public claims, as AI Overviews erode publisher traffic. The Trade Desk’s stock plunged 12% after Netflix’s Amazon DSP deal, with Morgan Stanley citing CTV headwinds and higher fees. Meanwhile, Reddit is positioning itself as a publisher ally, rolling out Reddit Pro to help offset traffic losses from search. Together, these moves underscore a fractured open web ecosystem: Google under pressure, The Trade Desk undercut by Amazon, and Reddit stepping up as publishers seek new discovery sources.
In this podcast episode, we discuss retailers’ priorities this holiday period, how they can stand out from the crowd, and how to balance sharp pricing with creating an emotional connection that lasts beyond the season. Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and guest host, Suzy Davidkhanian, Principal Analyst, Sky Canaves, and Senior Analyst, Zak Stambor.
China’s deflation shows no signs of going away. The consumer price index (CPI) fell 0.4% YoY in August, more than expected, as the country struggles through its third straight year of slumping prices. With US trade talks yet to yield definitive results, Beijing will have to move from lip service to direct action on the country’s economic problems. But in the meantime, retailers must gird themselves for drawn-out, costly price wars—and make sure they stay attuned to the changing needs, preferences, and desires of Chinese consumers.
Google and commerce media company Criteo announced an onsite retail media integration on Tuesday, marking the first of its kind for Google and opening opportunities for brands across digital commerce. Criteo and Google’s integration provides clear direction for advertisers struggling to capitalize on retail media’s potential, offering a seamless ecosystem that will connect brands with customers likely to take action.
Holiday sales forecasts for 2025 show wide disparities, with Deloitte projecting slower growth at 2.9%–3.4%, Bain at 4%, and PwC warning of a 5% drop in average spending. Ecommerce is expected to grow, but at a more modest pace than recent years. A cooling labor market, persistent inflation, and weak consumer sentiment weigh heavily on outlooks, especially for lower- and middle-income households, whose spending power lags behind wealthier groups benefiting from wage growth and asset gains. Our view aligns with PwC’s caution, stressing that retailers should prioritize value-driven promotions, loyalty incentives, and strategic October campaigns to navigate an uneven season.
RaceTrac will acquire sandwich chain Potbelly in a $566 million cash deal expected to close in Q4, with both brands continuing to operate separately. The acquisition boosts RaceTrac’s foodservice offerings at a time when convenience-store meals are driving growth, accounting for nearly 28% of in-store sales in 2024. For Potbelly, going private could accelerate its ambitious plan to expand to 2,000 shops while avoiding public market pressures. The move is a strategic play in the convenience-store foodservice arms race, positioning RaceTrac against competitors like 7-Eleven and Wawa in the battle for meal-focused customers.
Weak consumer sentiment in Europe is hurting fast fashion sales, with both Primark and Zara owner Inditex reporting slowdowns. The challenging environment in Europe increasingly favors Shein and Temu, whose ability to undercut competitors on price and deliver a steady stream of trendy products positions them to take more fast fashion share. But as in the US, both companies could fall afoul of geopolitical tensions as European governments raise concerns about Chinese overcapacity—and President Trump pushes the EU to implement 100% tariffs on China imports.
Higher-income shoppers are driving higher return rates in 2025, with a 5.3% rate compared to 3.7% for lower-income consumers, according to Bank of America data. Analysts suggest this stems from wealthier buyers’ heavier discretionary spending, speculative purchases, and even wardrobing to test styles. Fraud is also a factor, with one in four higher-income shoppers engaging in first-party fraud during the holidays versus just 11% of lower-income peers. While retailers often look to affluent consumers for growth, their elevated returns create added costs, pushing companies toward AR try-on tools and stronger fraud detection instead of stricter policies.
Consumers exhibit across-the-board confusion about their eligibility for different credit products, per a report from i2c and PYMNTS. BNPL providers are losing their messaging campaigns if consumers think credit cards are more attainable than a pay-in-four plan. As issuers maintain tight underwriting, BNPL providers can also swoop up consumers who need credit but don’t qualify for new lines of traditional credit. If BNPL platforms can advertise their accessibility for the average consumer, they can capture spend from incumbents.
Nuvei partnered with Early Warning Services so merchants can integrate Paze into their checkout experiences.Wallets like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and PayPal should be on notice as Paze becomes a more capable competitor. Paze may finally be able to take a bigger bite out of PayPal and Apple Pay’s market share as its merchant adoption rises. The rise of Paze won’t come easily: Over 60% of US adults already use at least one mobile wallet, per our forecast.