Retailers have built lucrative revenue streams from retail media networks (RMNs), leveraging on-site ad inventory and first-party transaction data. As the potential grows for consumers to shop through AI agents instead of retailer sites or apps, those data streams and ad surfaces are at risk.

Only 40% of US retail media networks (RMNs) offer self-service sales data, according to Q2 data from Mars United Commerce.

The trend: Brands are ramping up legal action over perceived infringements of their intellectual property. Our take: With brand loyalty ebbing as price concerns take priority, more companies are leaning on the law to keep rivals from undercutting their business. But there are limits: Ecommerce marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, Temu, and Shein are crammed to the gills with dupes that are incredibly difficult to crack down on. While companies should protect their IP wherever possible, they also need to make clear to shoppers why their products are better than knockoff versions—and why they’re worth full price.

The report: Amazon is reportedly keeping its Prime Big Deal Days event to two days, per Modern Retail. If true, that’s a bit of a surprise—and runs counter to our prediction of a longer sale on a recent episode of Reimagining Retail—after Amazon touted that doubling Prime Day to four days in July produced its “biggest Prime Day event ever,” with record sales and more items sold than any previous four-day Prime Day stretch. Amazon could not be reached for comment. Our take: If Amazon limits Big Deal Days to two days, it underscores the pressures retailers face in the back half of the year as tariffs squeeze consumers and sellers. We expect Amazon’s sales to rise 8.8% during the event, a considerable slowdown from last year’s 32.0% surge. But with holiday sales forecast to grow just 1.2%, that performance may be a relative win. The bigger challenge will be sustaining momentum into Q4, as Amazon and its rivals juggle sharp discounts with the need to preserve profitability amid restrained consumer spending.

The trend: Paper coupons are making a comeback as brands zig while their competitors zag. Direct-to-consumer upstarts like Viv For Your V, Culture Pop, and Blume are experimenting with print coupons to drive awareness and trial, per Modern Retail. The move runs counter to an industry leaning heavily digital, where advertising costs are climbing and consumer attention is fragmented. And it’s not just startups. Kroger recently introduced paper versions of its weekly digital deals after hearing from shoppers who struggle with online access, aiming to bridge the so-called “digital divide.” Our take: Brands’ use of paper coupons mirrors retailers like Dollar General, Neiman Marcus, and Amazon, which have experimented with print catalogs to grab attention in a digital-first world. With shoppers increasingly price-sensitive, less brand loyal, and actively seeking deals, a tangible coupon in hand may be just the nudge that turns browsing into buying in today’s cautious consumer climate.

Execution missteps remain a stubborn issue in grocery retail. Nearly half (48%) of shoppers have encountered pricing mismatches or promotional errors at checkout—a frequent frustration that quietly undermines trust, per a consumer survey commissioned by store intelligence provider Simbe. At a time when brand loyalty is waning, strong execution and a seamless in-store experience can be a powerful competitive advantage.