On today’s podcast episode, we discuss what stood out most about how people shopped this past holiday season, what feels fundamentally different about the upcoming holiday season, what real personalization at scale looks like for retailers, and why AI matters even more during the holidays. Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian and Principal Analysts Sky Canaves and Zak Stambor.
66% of UK/US parents say their children ages 10-15 significantly influence clothing, shoes, and accessories purchases, making it the top category where Gen Alpha sways family spending, according to a November 2025 study from Teneo.
Creator marketing has evolved from a nice-to-have resource for generating buzz to an essential part of a retailer’s commerce strategy. Gap Inc. serves as a prime example.
Two massive sites test whether offline retail can finally complement its ecommerce clout.
The warehouse club’s pursuit of wealthier shoppers, localized product strategy, and competitive pricing are driving outsize growth.
It is a threat to customers’ engagement with their banks.
Super-apps threaten banks as they merge lifestyle features with banking.
Toast is leaning on Toast IQ’s AI as a central strategy.
Going platform-agnostic allows Cash App to reach Gen Zers for P2P payments.
Klarna’s deepening investment in the UK shows EU-forward approach.
Visa nets majority visibility but could consider more experience-forward exposure.
Despite the noise around agentic commerce, discovery isn’t fully automated. Consumers may encounter products through digital platforms, but they aren’t yet handing over curiosity or preference-setting to AI.
Frito-Lay’s flavor mashups and TikTok-first drops turn chips into social moments, not just snacks.
Price cuts alone may not be enough to counter consumer caution and slowing category growth.
McDonald's leads all US food and grocery sites and apps with 57 million unique visitors, outpacing DoorDash (52.8 million) and nearly doubling the top traditional grocer Kroger (31.3 million), according to November 2025 data from Comscore.
Travel is increasingly driven by events, fandoms, and personal goals rather than traditional leisure. That shift is creating high-intent moments where consumers are more engaged, more receptive, and more willing to spend.
This FAQ covers what marketers and retail strategists need to know heading into 2026.
This FAQ addresses the fundamentals of mcommerce and the trends shaping 2026.
This FAQ addresses how AI fits into customer experience strategy in 2026.
With US retail media ad spend hitting $60.32 billion in 2025, retailers and advertisers alike are exploring how non-endemic partnerships can expand reach, unlock new revenue streams, and deliver relevant advertising experiences to shoppers.