Wayfair’s US sales rose 1.6% YoY in Q1: Despite growing macroeconomic headwinds and a frozen housing market, demand remained strong.
Whether brands are aligning their product with comfort food, launching fragrances, or prioritizing scent in their retail spaces, marketers are embracing multisensory experiences as another way to stand out in the digital noise.
Shoppers’ snack budgets are shrinking due to economic uncertainty: With little relief in sight, Mondelez, Kellanova, and Hershey’s are bracing for impact
Middle- and low-income consumers pulled back on fast food in Q1: That posed a significant challenge for McDonald’s, which reported its US same-store sales fell 3.6%.
Epic Games forced Apple to unwind App Store rules, setting a precedent that weakens Apple’s payment monopoly and threatens its fastest-growing services revenue stream.
On today's podcast episode, we discuss the unofficial list of the most interesting retailers for the month of April. Each month, our analysts Arielle Feger, Becky Schilling, and Sara Lebow (aka The Committee) put together a very unofficial list of the top eight retailers they're watching based on which are making the most interesting moves: Who's launching new initiatives? Which partnerships are moving the needle? Which standout marketing campaigns are being created? In this month's episode, Committee members Analysts Arielle Feger and Sara Lebow will defend their list against Vice President of Content Suzy Davidkhanian and Senior Analyst Blake Droesch, who will dispute the power rankings by attempting to move retailers up, down, on, or off the list.
Shein considers restructuring to minimize tariff, de minimis impact: But any move to shift production out of China could provoke Beijing’s ire—and derail its long-awaited IPO.
Etsy expects to benefit as tariffs hit competitors: A sizable domestic seller base and growing ad business offer protection, but declining consumer and business sentiment could still sting.
Weakening demand hits QSR same-store sales: Starbucks, Chipotle, and Pizza Hut are among the chains reporting a slowdown as consumers pull back.
53% of US Gen Z adults say they have, are, or will participate in an economic boycott—more than any other generation, per a March 2025 Harris Poll.
Brands redefine customer acquisition through tech partnerships: Retailers tap nontraditional channels to connect with new audiences in a challenging economy
Tariffs cast a shadow over consumer spending in Q1: Growth slowed from 4.0% in Q4 to just 1.8% in Q1 as households sharply cut back on goods.
New tariffs will create ripple effects across retail—and returns will be no exception. With US retail returns predicted to exceed $1 trillion this year, according to a December 2024 EMARKETER forecast, the pressure is on retailers to adapt.
Amazon insists it won’t display tariff costs on products after White House backlash: Despite political heat, radical transparency may be best for retailers in an uncertain environment.
Agent Pay could transform the payments experience for consumers with hyperpersonalized recommendations
Marketers face rising pressure from tariffs, triopoly dominance: Growth is coming from mid-tier platforms and smarter strategies, EMARKETER analysts say at Possible conference.
Economic uncertainty could derail its efforts to reinvigorate growth
ChatGPT's shopping tool threatens retail media revenues: Its product search could siphon ad dollars from retailers struggling with tariffs, higher prices, and weak demand.
TikTok makes a bid to encourage creators, agencies to livestream: The push is part of the platform’s strategic effort to avoid a US ban.
Nobody knows what’s ahead: Macroeconomic turmoil and shifting tariff policies make forecasting a guessing game that many consumer brands are opting out of.