Target’s plan to win holiday sales relies heavily on in-store activations and a steady stream of deals throughout the last two months of the year. All of Target’s nearly 2,000 stores will be transformed into “nostalgic Alpine villages,” complete with festive décor and weekend events throughout the season. The retailer will also offer weeklong deals and host an earlier Black Friday sale to accommodate consumers' price sensitivities. Target is hoping that an emphasis on joy and whimsy—and discounts—will help it recapture some much-needed spending.
Amazon is continuing to see success with its maturing ad offerings. Q3 advertising services reached $17.7 billion, up 24% YoY, while net sales increased 13% to $180.2 billion. Q4 guidance points to continued confidence, with Amazon expecting growth between 10% and 13% YoY. Amazon’s ad success indicates that it will continue to be a promising opportunity for marketers that offers a unique proposition combining data-driven targeting, commerce integration, innovative ad formats, and the ability to reach consumers both onsite and offsite.
Visa and Mastercard reported strong growth in their most recent earnings. Visa’s net revenues increased 12% YoY in its Q4 2025, per its earnings release. Mastercard’s net revenues grew 17% YoY in Q3, per its earnings release. Lower-income consumers are more sensitive to tariff-induced inflation and other economic events. If lower- and medium-tier cardholders pull back on spending, their premium counterparts who are more insulated from economic pain can keep spending afloat. Issuers are following the same strategy: Citi, Chase, and American Express all launched or revamped premium cards this year.
Amazon beat expectations in Q3, helped by an extended Prime Day sale, expanded rural access to same- and next-day delivery, and healthy cloud and advertising growth. The company's AI investments are taking center stage as the company looks to improve efficiency, boost engagement, and keep third-party AI agents at bay. From a retail standpoint, Amazon is on firm footing. The retailer’s ability to offer unparalleled convenience, wide selection, and Prime membership perks are enabling it to gain share in an uncertain environment.
The global beer industry is confronting a sharp downturn as leading brewers like AB InBev, Heineken, and Carlsberg report falling volumes amid inflation, changing tastes, and growing alcohol moderation. With US beer production down and more breweries closing than opening for the first time in 20 years, consumers are shifting toward cheaper brands or alternatives like canned cocktails and THC drinks. AB InBev’s response—a $6 billion buyback, expanded no-alcohol lineup, and investment in premium RTDs—signals a broader industry pivot toward diversification and reinvention under mounting pressure.
Sprouts Farmers Market projects flat to 2% same-store sales growth in Q4, signaling a sharp slowdown after strong midyear gains as consumer spending cools. Q3 results missed expectations, with 5.9% growth versus forecasts of 7.4%. In response, Sprouts is emphasizing value through expanded private labels, unique product innovation, and affordable prepared foods, while leveraging its new loyalty program to drive repeat visits. Despite broader retail pressure and cautious shoppers, Sprouts remains optimistic—opening more stores than planned and leaning on its differentiated, health-focused positioning to sustain long-term momentum amid an industry-wide pullback.
Estée Lauder topped analysts’ profit and revenue expectations, aided by sales and market share gains in China and customer growth in the US. The parent of brands such as Clinique, Tom Ford, and Aveda said its results marked the start of its return to growth under a turnaround plan. Estée Lauder’s stronger-than-expected quarter shows that accessible pricing and product innovation is essential to growth in beauty, especially as competition continues to intensify. Gap Inc., for instance, is launching Old Navy Beauty, a youth-focused line of body mists and scents. Its move shows that even apparel retailers are muscling into beauty to lure Gen Z consumers, providing new pressure on established beauty brands.
Most video game players treasure the end of the year, both to splurge on their favorite hobby and to spend more time in-game.
Nearly half (49%) of US holiday shoppers earning $80K–$99K are worried that gifts will cost more this year, found a July survey from Bankrate.
On today's podcast episode, we discuss the unofficial list of the most interesting retailers for the month of October. Each month, host Suzy Davidkhanian, Arielle Feger, Becky Schilling, and Emmy Liederman (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 Suzy Davidkhanian and Arielle Feger will defend their list against Senior Analyst, Blake Droesch and Analyst, Rachel Wolff, who will dispute the power rankings by attempting to move retailers up, down, on, or off the list.
Citi is partnering with Coinbase to build stablecoin payment capabilities for institutional clients. The partnership will focus initially on crypto on- and off-ramps, which enable clients to convert between digital assets and fiat currencies. It’s unlikely that many banks will build their own integrations with crypto rails. But with infrastructure partnerships, native on- and off-ramps should become more common. Cryptocurrencies and blockchain infrastructure will be increasingly complementary to the traditional financial system.
Etsy is betting on a new CEO to help revitalize its business after years of sluggish growth. Kruti Patel Goyal, the company’s chief growth officer, will take over the job from Josh Silverman next year. Etsy is in a tough position. The combination of economic uncertainty and a cost-of-living crisis are dampening demand for the discretionary items that it sells, while tariffs and the end of de minimis make it harder for sellers to operate. While Depop’s success is a bright spot, the platform is not large enough to offset Etsy’s broader GMS declines.
Fiserv ’s adjusted revenues grew 1% to $14.9 billion, per its Q3 earnings release. Fiserv took a massive hit from the Argentinian economic crisis. However, its investments in other avenues have yet to come to fruition. The payments giant has slowly collected the pieces to successfully issue tokens on the behalf of major retailers, which could become a stable pillar of its business and decrease Fiserv’s reliance on certain markets for growth.
If Amazon’s October Prime Big Deal Days event was any indication of the upcoming holiday season, consumers will keep spending on beauty products for themselves and others.
Major casual dining chains are bracing for weaker Q4 sales as the government shutdown and broader economic headwinds weigh on consumer spending. Brinker International maintained its outlook despite Chili’s gains, while Cheesecake Factory reported slowing momentum and Chipotle cut its sales forecast for the third straight quarter. With real income growth stagnating and menu prices continuing to rise, many consumers are cutting back on dining out. To stay competitive, restaurants need to focus on value-driven promotions and loyalty programs designed to attract price-sensitive diners and encourage repeat visits.
Heading into peak season, D2C ecommerce professionals are as concerned about technology limitations as they are about tariffs (37%), according to a July survey from Passport and Drive Research.
Retailers and brands face a unique challenge this year as Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) approaches: Understanding how AI has changed the game for both consumers and sellers.
Wayfair extended its 2025 winning streak with Q3 earnings that far outpaced expectations, posting 70 cents per share and $3.12 billion in revenues, driven by rising orders and strong US demand. The retailer’s strategic pillars—Wayfair Rewards, Wayfair Verified, and new physical stores—continue to enhance customer loyalty and omnichannel strength. AI innovation, including its Muse engine and Discover tab, is boosting engagement and conversion. Despite housing headwinds and tariff pressures, Wayfair’s results underscore resilience, though sustaining momentum amid tightening consumer budgets remains a challenge.
Amazon is cutting 14,000 roles from its corporate workforce as it reshapes its organization to prepare for an agentic AI future. The layoffs are unusual for a company still posting strong growth, but Amazon framed them as part of a broader move to gain efficiencies from genAI. While most retailers have thus far refrained from citing AI as a reason for mass layoffs, that could change as tariff pressures and other headwinds force companies to cut costs—and headcount—where possible.
PayPal’s revenues grew 7% YoY to $8.4 billion in Q3 2025, driven by the success of branded experiences, PSP, and Venmo, per its earnings report. While PayPal notched a successful quarter, storm clouds are on the horizon. Basket sizes are shrinking and average order value is sinking, per PayPal CFO Jamie Miller. Leaning into payment flexibility and desirable rewards like cash back can help payment providers earn loyalty from squeezed middle- class consumers.