Last week, Amazon announced it would shut down its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go locations. While this doesn’t signal a full retreat from physical retail, it does underscore Amazon’s growing emphasis on digital grocery, which has clear implications for its retail media strategy. Instead of prioritizing advertising tied to physical stores, Amazon is doubling down on media formats that can scale well beyond its owned retail footprint.
This FAQ examines how shoppable media works, where consumers engage with it, and how marketers should evaluate these emerging formats.
As software standardizes, AI features emerge as key differentiators for survival-focused SMBs.
US lawmakers draft bill to revive easy-cancel rules as consumer budgets are pinched.
Brands from PepsiCo to Ulta are leaning on wellness framing to nudge cautious consumers to spend.
61% of US Gen Alpha children spend 2 or more hours daily on mobile devices, the highest multi-hour usage rate across all platforms, according to August 2025 data from Morning Consult.
The ecommerce partnership failed due to limited buy-in from Saks’ brand partners.
The deal could be mutually beneficial as both look to grow their ecommerce influence.
Shoppers will spend $29.1 billion—nearly $200 per person—on loved ones, friends, and pets.
Saks Off 5th’s struggles show that clear value and disciplined assortments fuel off-price growth more than brand pedigree.
International and commercial spending, along with value-added services, drove the network’s revenues.
Visa promises cardholders cash-back rewards in new accounts, but lacks the ability to enforce.
Visa promises cardholders cash-back rewards in new accounts, but lacks the ability to enforce.
Removing delivery and service fees targets cart abandonment and larger orders.
71% of US marketers say establishing ethical and privacy standards is the top step for preparing for AI agent-led commerce, according to an October 2025 survey from ANA and The Harris Poll.
After years of digital acceleration, US retailers are heading into 2026 facing a more complicated reality. Tariff-related cost pressures still exist, retail media is maturing from experimentation to discipline, and AI is moving from back-end efficiency to front-of-house influence. Across all three forces, one theme is emerging for retail leaders: The physical store is becoming more, not less, central to how retailers protect margins, influence decisions, and differentiate experiences.
Gen Z trades data for personalization; bland targeting threatens trust and long-term spend.
With workers and consumers demanding action, staying quiet may be the riskiest move retailers can make.
Lack of consumer engagement felled the palm-based payments amid privacy concerns.