65% of US adults plan to begin their holiday shopping before Black Friday this year, according to August data from McKinsey & Company.
Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days failed to spark early holiday shopping, with only 23% of consumers buying holiday items and just 7% picking up Halloween goods, according to a Numerator survey. Most shoppers used the event for everyday essentials, apparel, and beauty products rather than seasonal purchases. Despite 59% planning future holiday buys on Amazon, many were cautious due to inflation and economic concerns. With weaker engagement and no sales statement from Amazon, this year’s event likely underperformed expectations, highlighting a shift toward more deliberate, budget-conscious consumer behavior ahead of the holidays.
The Bank of North Dakota and Fiserv launch the “Roughrider Coin,” the first stablecoin from the state of North Dakota. While its individual use case may be limited, it opens the door for a stablecoin issued by Fiserv on behalf of a major retailer with significant use case for processing sales. A retailer like Starbucks would be a prime candidate—it’s already ingrained the habit of loading a wallet that can only be used at Starbucks in its most loyal customers. In that case, a limited network isn’t nearly as much of a liability—it’s the whole point.
Affirm announced 0% Days, a three-day promotion running from October 22-24 for eligible Affirm consumers, guaranteeing 0% interest and no late fees for shopping completed through the Affirm app or Affirm Card. Affirm’s inability to compete with rewards from either PayPal or card-linked installment plans may stymie its promotion’s success. If it can expand its merchant partnerships to offer better cash back at more in-demand retailers, Affirm may be able to win over consumers who may have otherwise chosen another provider for their seasonal shopping.
Most US consumers are already using digital tools for healthcare purposes, but three-quarters would prefer more personalized solutions, per a new Harris Poll sponsored by Verily. Healthcare marketers and brands need to use generative AI (genAI) tools, like remote monitoring, predictive analysis, and chatbots, to deliver personalized consumer experiences.
Linear TV ad spending grew in Q3 despite total TV ad impressions declining, per iSpot data. Ad spend increased 4% YoY, reaching $8.77 billion—but total impressions fell 2.7% to 1.67 trillion. Total ad minutes rose 2.4% YoY to 5.3 million, driven by the rise of sports inventory. Marketers must understand that a successful ad strategy requires a balance— investing in linear to drive outcomes while slowly shifting toward CTV for better targeting and to align with audience viewing habits.
Amid a challenging economic climate, luxury brands seek new ways to prove value to and win over young shoppers. By serving food and drink alongside products, retailers are turning stores into places where consumers can linger, connect, and spend. Coach’s coffee strategy is a prime example.
Fast Retailing, the parent company of Uniqlo, reported record profits for the fiscal year ended August 31, with sales up 9.6% and operating income rising 12.6%, surpassing forecasts. Growth was driven by strong performance in North America and Europe, where revenues jumped 24.5% and 33.6%, respectively. As China’s economy slows, the company is accelerating expansion in Western markets with new flagship stores planned in major cities. Despite potential challenges from US tariffs, Uniqlo’s focus on value, strategic retail investment, and market discipline positions it to gain share as rivals face rising regulatory and cost pressures.
In this podcast episode, we discuss how Primark’s US and UK customers see the brand differently, what’s kept the retailer relevant as price pressures have intensified competition, and why its famously store-first strategy is working so well. Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and guest host, Suzy Davidkhanian, Senior Analyst, Carina Perkins, and Head of US Marketing for Primark, Rene Federico.
The growth of commerce media investments promises to connect brands with customers for longer stretches of the customer journey, especially when shoppers are close to purchasing. Though much of this extended digital journey leaves out the physical store, this strategy is changing.
Square updated its AI, Bitcoin, and food and beverage platforms to help businesses tackle economic pressure and shifting customer expectations. AI features are no longer a strong differentiator for POS providers. But Square’s features are the first time we’ve seen a provider use AI for hyperlocal insights that it can use to maximize opportunities like community events—rather than just gleaning insights based on things like recent sales patterns.
Cash App launched Neighborhoods, a network aimed at connecting local Square sellers with Cash Apps users in their stomping grounds. Leaning into local business support could help drive customer acquisition for mobile wallets. Consumers prioritize the convenience and personal connections fostered with neighborhood vendors, making transacting all the more possible when storefronts are within easy walking or driving distance.
AppLovin’s launch of Axon marks its transformation from mobile gaming to full-scale AI ad platform — and one of ad tech’s boldest pivots yet. The new Axon Ads Manager promises real-time AI bidding, Shopify integrations, and transparent attribution as the company positions itself as a performance-driven alternative to Meta and Google. The rollout comes as the SEC investigates AppLovin’s data practices, spotlighting the tension between AI-powered innovation and compliance. Marketers see opportunity — regulators see risk.
Performance channels are gaining traction among B2B marketers, with 84% now shifting from traditional, impression-focused approaches, per a Madison Logic survey. Brands should keep investing in performance marketing for its resilience amid economic headwinds. The added flexibility will let them adapt based on rapidly shifting economic signals and consumer behavior changes.
Amazon is closing four Fresh supermarkets in Southern California, following earlier shutdowns and a UK conversion of all Fresh stores into Whole Foods locations, signaling potential retreat from its mass-market grocery experiment. Despite Fresh’s struggles, CEO Andy Jassy remains bullish on grocery, focusing on expanding same-day delivery and launching the low-cost Amazon Grocery line to attract inflation-hit shoppers. Yet Amazon’s limited physical footprint—far smaller than Walmart’s or Kroger’s—continues to hinder its offline ambitions. While digital efforts show promise, the company still lacks a cohesive grocery formula without a major acquisition.
Most (53.7%) visits to US fashion and apparel websites came from direct traffic between July 2024 and June 2025, per an August SimilarWeb report.
Commercetools has debuted Cora, an AI shopping assistant that enables conversational commerce directly on retailers’ sites. Available in preview, Cora interprets natural language queries (e.g., “a red dress under $150”) and maintains context across devices, guiding users through search, filtering, and checkout. Unlike static chat widgets or keyword search, Cora reduces friction in the path to purchase by making AI a functional part of the shopping journey. The white-label model helps brands retain control and identity while tapping into Commercetools’ infrastructure—positioning Cora as both a conversion tool and a brand-safe alternative to third-party discovery engines.
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.
Ikea’s parent company Ingka Group is acquiring US logistics tech firm Locus to strengthen its ecommerce operations and speed up deliveries. Locus’ AI-driven tools will optimize route planning, real-time tracking, and resource use, potentially saving Ikea around €100 million annually. The deal reflects Ikea’s push to improve digital experiences and compete with online retailers like Wayfair as ecommerce rises to 28% of sales. Combined with its smaller urban stores and new retail partnerships, the investment underscores Ikea’s strategy to create a more flexible, customer-focused model for long-term growth in the US market.
This year’s Amazon Big Deal Days sale is shaping up to be another success, according to multiple forecasts. Bain and Adobe both forecast healthy growth, while we expect Amazon's ecommerce sales to rise 8.8% YoY to $8.84 billion. A strong consumer appetite for October sales could bode well for the holiday season, although we—and most other forecasters—expect growth to slow as uncertainty weighs on spending.