Amazon plans to replace over 500,000 human jobs with robots as part of a major automation drive aimed at speeding up deliveries and cutting costs, according to The New York Times. After years of workforce expansion, the company is now focused on streamlining operations, with new robotic warehouses like its Shreveport, Louisiana facility already reducing staffing needs by 25%. Amazon expects to replicate this model nationwide by 2027, maintaining headcount while doubling sales by 2033. The shift toward automation is designed to boost efficiency, cut per-package costs, and reinforce Amazon’s dominance in US ecommerce through faster, cheaper fulfillment.
Now that consumers can make direct purchases within ChatGPT, marketers and retailers must reimagine the customer journey once again.
Walmart has expanded its Scintilla Digital Landscapes platform with new capabilities that give suppliers a clearer, data-rich view of how customers move from discovery to purchase.
Consumers have grown more accepting of sponsored ads—according to a recent survey by Bain and ROI Rocket. Roughly 3 in 5 US consumers (61%) say they don’t mind seeing sponsored ads for relevant brands and products, up 14 percentage points from last year. But just 42% agree that the sponsored ads they see are usually pertinent to them, showing that advertisers—and the retailers they’re buying inventory from—have a lot more work to do to deliver maximum outcomes from their ads, and consequently ROI.
Citi and American Airlines debuted the Citi AAdvantage Globe Mastercard, a mid-tier travel credit card with a $350 annual fee, per a press release. With airlines revising their year-end forecasts optimistically, issuers have a chance to get in on lucrative travel volume. While front-of-cabin sales have benefited from wealth-effect spending, mid-tier travel cards could help boost main cabin sales with slightly pared down reward structures.
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss what it means to have an authentic relationship with your customer, the benefits of collaborating on loyalty, and how to make folks feel like they are getting the most out of their rewards app. Join our conversation with analyst and guest host, Arielle Feger, GM of CPG Partnerships at Fetch, Carmen Gonzalez-Meister, and Director of Category and Ecommerce Strategy at Nestlé, Nicole Lesinski. Listen everywhere you find podcasts and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
Saks Global has halved its full-year profit forecast to about $150 million after reporting a 13% year-over-year sales drop and a $77 million quarterly loss, Bloomberg reports. Less than a year after acquiring Neiman Marcus, the merger’s promise of creating a luxury powerhouse is faltering as Saks struggles with vendor payments, mounting debt, and withheld merchandise ahead of the holidays. The company’s weakened position gives competitors like Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s an opening to capture its customer base, underscoring how fragile even top-tier retailers can be in today’s shifting luxury market.
As the oldest members of Gen Alpha prepare to turn 16 next year, they have more purchasing power than ever before. For retailers, that means the race is on to understand how to connect with a generation that is not only digitally native but has grown up with an expectation for an active, back-and-forth relationship with brands.
Klarna rolled out Klarna balance and Klarna Card in the UK. Credit cards aren’t as big a market in the UK as they are in the US, but issuers should be concerned by what Klarna calls its “balances.” Klarna is a real bank in the EU and recently was granted an Electronic Money Institution license in the UK. That means even without getting a bank charter in the UK—or the US for that matter—it can use its existing bank infrastructure to offer a robust suite of bank-like services in the style of Cash App or even Apple Wallet.
Retailers expect 15.8% of annual sales, or about $849.9 billion, to be returned this year, a slight drop from 16.9% in 2024, according to a new report from the National Retail Federation and Happy Returns. The shift suggests stricter return policies, such as charging fees, are discouraging some returns but also risking customer loyalty. With most shoppers prioritizing free and flexible return options, retailers are expanding in-store, QR-based, and “no box, no label” methods to boost convenience. Balancing return costs with shopper expectations remains key to maintaining satisfaction and long-term loyalty.
While many Amazon Big Deal Days shoppers sought savings on essentials, nearly one in three participated “just for fun,” per a new CivicScience survey. About 41% planned purchases in advance, while 38% made impulse buys, showing a mix of deliberate and spontaneous shopping. Despite signs the event may have underperformed, it still offered strategic value by driving engagement, boosting retail media investment, and generating incremental sales. Retailers can build on this momentum by personalizing offers, sustaining engagement post-event, and using campaign data to refine future promotions and deepen shopper loyalty.
Twitch introduced livestream shopping ads powered by Amazon’s advertising platform. The ad launch reflects the burgeoning popularity of livestream commerce, which despite being slow to take off in the US is now gaining traction thanks to TikTok, a booming collectibles market, and the rise of “shoppertainment.” Amazon is betting that an easier path to purchase will encourage more viewers to pull the trigger on products they discover via livestreams. However, a successful live shopping strategy requires thinking about the channel less as an avenue for direct conversions and more as an opportunity to engage potential customers and build lasting relationships.
Citi’s Strata Elite rollout has been pockmarked by poor customer service, per a report by The Wall Street Journal. Amex’s Platinum and Chase’s Sapphire Reserve products look increasingly desirable as competitors fumble their entrance into the premium space. To win over former Strata Elite cardholders, Amex and Chase should advertise their card portfolios’ solid customer service performance records in combination with their impressive reward packages. In addition, both issuers should highlight their cards’ travel rewards compatible with flying American Airlines. Former Citi cardholders may have joined specifically for AA frequent flier benefits, making travel rewards preferences critical for those members who might switch to a new product.
American Express’ total revenues increased 11% in Q3 2025, per its earnings release. Increased card member spending, higher net interest income, revolving loan balances, and card fees supported growth, the company said. The uptick in dining indicates that even the wealthy are looking to pull back on bigger indulgences like vacation and looking for more local opportunities to splurge. To make up for lost travel volume, issuers should encourage spending on fine dining with exclusive dining pop-ups and experiences through their dining apps, focusing on local vendors—similar to Square’s Neighborhoods’ launch, but elevated.
Pinterest is giving users control over the flood of genAI content on the platform with a new tuner that allows users to control how much genAI content they see in specific categories, per a Thursday announcement. By giving users control over how much genAI content they see, Pinterest is creating a safer environment for advertisers, reducing the risk for brands by ensuring ads don’t appear alongside content that audiences dislike or want to avoid.
Small business optimism dipped in September due to growing concerns about inflation, tariffs, and weakening consumer demand, according to the NFIB. This holiday season could be a make-or-break moment for many small businesses. Nearly all—93%—think that their sales during the period will be essential to their survival this year, according to an Intuit QuickBooks survey. That’s up 52% from last year, underscoring how tariffs and economic uncertainty are threatening small businesses’ ability to survive.
Temu’s European expansion—and advertising blitz—is delivering substantial growth. Over 25% of the EU’s population—115.7 million people—made at least one purchase on Temu in the first six months of 2025, according to the company’s most recent transparency report. The challenging economic climate is a prime opportunity for Temu to extend its hold on European shoppers—but its ability to do so may soon be hampered by regulatory efforts to change its pricing and advertising tactics.
Bank of America’s revenues rose 11% YoY to $28.1 billion in its Q2 2025 earnings, outstripping analysts’ expectations at $27.5 billion, per CNBC. While consumers are demonstrating resilience, leaning into flexibility as the holiday season approaches could give issuers more loyalty from consumers who are skittish about holiday shopping. 0% interest holidays and card-linked buy now, pay later offers can help banks compete against fintechs offering similar promotions.
Synchrony reported $1.1 billion in net earnings during Q3 2025—a notable increase from Q4 2024’s $789 million, while net revenues were flat at $2.8 billion YoY, per a press release. Buy now, pay later platforms like Klarna, Affirm, and PayPal have an opportunity to pick off consumers from co-brand and private label issuers as the holiday season approaches. While these cards often boast high interest rates, PayPal’s in-store eligible Pay Monthly offers 5% cashback, and Affirm’s 0% interest days likely connect with Gen Zers trying to avoid revolving credit. As long as these fintechs can offer more competitive interest rates, installment plans, or rewards, co-brand cards are caught on the back foot for securing this consumer segments’ loyalty.
United Airlines is forecasting record-breaking Q4 profits as CEO Scott Kirby credits international travel and high-spending passengers for driving growth, with premium cabin and loyalty program revenues up 6% and 9% year over year. The optimism echoes Delta’s positive outlook, but the broader travel market shows strain: only 21% of US adults plan to travel this holiday season, according to Bankrate, down from 27% last year. As costs rise and options shrink, especially for younger travelers, the industry faces a widening divide—prospering at the top while losing price-sensitive consumers it can’t afford to ignore.