Consumers are constantly in search of convenience, particularly in the form of timesaving. In the past 12 months, numerous direct-to-consumer (D2C) meal plan services have emerged, offering consumers an alternative solution to home cooking without paying a dreaded visit to the grocery store—or spending time trying to figure out a recipe.

It also acquired the largest home health provider in the US, Kindred at Home, for $5.7 billion in April 2021. This cushioned its revenue streams and grew the MA members enrolled in its program. The bigger picture: Payers targeting the fast-growing Medicare Advantage (MA) market. In 2021, 42% (26 million) of all Medicare members were enrolled in an MA plan.

DSW, Ann Taylor, and dozens of other retailers use third-party returns management platform Narvar’s Home Pickup service that allows shoppers to schedule a courier to pick up return packages from their home. Ulta Beauty is teaming up with PayPal-owned Happy Returns to enable shoppers to return items at over 1,300 stores across the US.

The service will allow consumers to get care at a retail clinic, virtually, or in their home. The offering, CVS Health Virtual Primary Care, is being sold to Aetna fully-insured, self-insured plan sponsors, as well as clients of Caremark, CVS’ pharmacy benefit manager. Eligible members can start using the service next year.

In 2020, ecommerce buyers were all about spending on the home, home offices and classrooms, eating in, and DIY projects. Those trends will shift this year: 2021 is about experiences, dressing up again, and being social—or as The Wall Street Journal described it, “joy dressing.”

Two major health systems poured $100 million in hospital-at-home care startup Medically Home—here’s why so many health systems are lunging for hospital-at-home solutions and a glimpse at what could hold them back.

Home improvement retailer The Home Depot is continuing to build on its loyalty program to create more personalized in-store and online experiences.

Among US employees who are currently working and/or working from home, nearly nine in 10 believe that companies will now be working more virtually.

eMarketer principal analyst Mark Dolliver and senior forecasting analyst Oscar Orozco discuss how digital adoption has made it possible—or not—for people to work, study and entertain themselves from home during the COVID-19 outbreak. Who doesn't use the internet? Do people spend more time watching Netflix or YouTube? And which platforms get the most social media attention? They then talk about Spotify Kids, faster same-day delivery and Sling TV losing customers.

For many consumers who have seen early ads for Handy, they may know the company solely for house cleaning. It focused mostly on marketing that segment in the beginning, but it also provides a range of other services, including home renovation and installations.

Home is where the work is

As consumers continue to spend more time at home, it's no surprise that some are eyeing popular services to help pass the time.

Many adults worldwide are feeling the effects of the pandemic, particularly on their mental health

eMarketer principal analyst Mark Dolliver, junior analyst Blake Droesch and vice president of content studio at Insider Intelligence Paul Verna discuss what it might be like to work from home forever, Hulu's new transactional ads, Google paying select publishers, America's diversity, switching brand loyalty, YouTube's short videos, an eerie fact about corn and more.

That said, China’s May numbers were a marked improvement from an 11.1% MoM decline in April, when millions of residents were confined to their homes due to COVID-19 lockdowns. Looking ahead: US retail sales (excluding auto) are expected to jump 7.5% YoY during the critical mid-July to Labor Day back-to-school period, per a forecast by Mastercard SpendingPulse.

The trend: Food delivery apps like MissFresh and Meituan exploded during lockdowns as Chinese consumers stuck at home had few alternatives to obtain groceries and other food. But as restrictions begin to ease, these platforms’ ability to keep their user base and order volume steady is in doubt.