Retailers struggle with online returns, but charging won’t help: Brands like Asos and Boohoo should focus on improving the customer experience to help mitigate the effects of inflation and bracketing.

On today's episode, we discuss what it would be like to live in the metaverse, where you'd likely hang out, what you could and couldn't do, and who you would be. "In Other News," we talk about how to rein in retail returns and why Nordstrom is doing really well as of late. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Andrew Lipsman.

Food delivery platforms in China struggle to maintain their pandemic gains: As consumers venture out to restaurants and stores, platforms like MissFresh and Meituan are looking for new ways to keep customers on the platform.

Zara is charging UK customers £1.95 to return online orders: The fee may help preserve Zara’s margins, but it could come at a cost to brand loyalty.

Meta juggles its Facebook present and metaverse future: The social network gains users, but recent losses could mean less money for metaverse R&D, giving VR platform competitors an opening.

Kellogg looks to snacks for growth: The CPG company will spin off its weaker cereal and plant-based divisions into separate entities to increase profits and return value to shareholders.

Snap believes AR can transform the online shopping experience: Our principal analyst spoke with the company’s global AR product strategy lead about how Snap is helping brands increase conversions and reduce returns.

The neobank will refund customer deposits and return its banking license, adding another headstone to the Australian neobank graveyard.

Brand marketers worldwide are most confident in their ability to measure return on investment (ROI) in social media marketing—64% are either extremely or very confident in this. Video online and mobile was the No. 2 most effective platform for measuring ROI (59%), while search and display tied for No. 3 (54%).

Mineral moon pies: Humans haven’t set foot on the moon in half a century, but plans are accelerating to return, this time for resource extraction. Geopolitical conflict could be a barrier.

Retailers need multiple approaches to curb the cost of returns: With online returns costing retailers 21% of their order value on average, retailers need several ways to lower associated fees.

For growth marketers, TV advertising is a logical path forward, offering massive reach, efficiency, and returns. A typical campaign investment of $150,000 may deliver over 30 million impressions and reach upwards of 15 million people.

As the lines continue to blur between digital and physical channels, retailers will need to master both to entice consumers to continue to return to their brand. Here are five trends they should keep an eye on.

SXSW’s return reemphasized the importance of experiential marketing activations: Prime Video and others made big splashes, though pandemic-era virtual experiences remain.

Learn about remote-controlled stores, the most popular retail membership programs, the right way to rethink your augmented reality (AR) strategies, whether home returns are the future, how many Americans make lots of money, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our analysts Suzy Davidkhanian, Dave Frankland, and Paul Verna.

Retail sales for the 2021 US holiday season will soar as brick-and-mortar shopping returns with a vengeance and ecommerce maintains double-digit growth rates.

This weekend’s Super Bowl sees legacy brands return and new players emerge: High consumer spending and TV ratings have both old favorites and new industries buying ad spots.

On today's episode, we discuss how buy now, pay later (BNPL) adoption will continue to evolve and what's next for these services. We then talk about what retailers' first step into the metaverse should look like and what retailers should be doing with their avalanche of returns. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Sky Canaves.

Buyer's remorse intensified in 2021 as ecommerce adoption rose: High return rates are cutting into retailers’ margins and increasing inventory pressure.