Our benchmarking report series provides critical data to help retailers calibrate their own retail and ecommerce sales against the wider market.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss the unofficial list of the most interesting retailers for the month of January. Each month, our analysts Arielle Feger, Becky Schilling, and Sara Lebow (aka The Committee) put together a very unofficial list of the top eight retailers they're watching based on which are making the most interesting moves: Who's launching new initiatives? Which partnerships are moving the needle? Which standout marketing campaigns are being created? In this month's episode, Committee members Analyst Arielle Feger and Senior Analyst Sara Lebow will defend their list against Senior Analyst Zak Stambor and Analyst Rachel Wolff, who will dispute the power rankings by attempting to move retailers up, down, on, or off the list.

Retail media’s growth will continue to be fueled by two complementary advertiser needs: the need for measurable sales, and the need for privacy-compliant data that can be used to reach consumers at the top or middle of the purchase funnel.

Grocery is the second-largest ecommerce category we track, garnering $220.48 billion in 2025, according to our “US Digital Grocery Forecast 2025” report. Walmart is the top digital grocery retailer, capturing 31.6% of US grocery ecommerce sales in 2025, followed by Amazon (22.6%) and Kroger (8.6%).

A series of major milestones are on tap for total media and digital media ad spending around the world in 2025, although growth will be uneven across countries and regions.

Retailers face big hurdles in 2025. From competing with Amazon's advertising empire to figuring out generative AI (genAI) technology to keeping shoppers on apps, these challenges are forcing retailers to adapt quickly. Here's what these problems look like today—and how they could potentially be resolved.

Google takes aim at fake reviews: The company will improve detection and impose stricter penalties on UK businesses and individuals.

Amid economic uncertainty and trade concerns from abroad, Canada’s digital ecosystem is expected to remain strong, fueled by innovation from publishers, advertisers, and retailers.

Amid leadership upheaval and falling stock, it could be an attractive target for Amazon or Spotify, which could benefit from Sonos’ hardware expertise.

Oracle surged 6% amid AI collaboration news. Apple, SpaceX, and Microsoft align with government priorities, leveraging investments for strategic gains.

In 2025, there will be a stronger focus on performance marketing as advertisers seek to prove their efforts are worth the investment.

Amazon scores a win with “Beast Games”: The reality series from controversial YouTuber MrBeast attracted 50 million viewers.

A lot can happen in a week. Rue21’s customer overlap with TikTok Shop could position the brand to benefit from a potential TikTok ban. Meanwhile, Gen Z consumers are increasingly choosing alcohol-free lifestyles, reflecting health-conscious preferences. Cost-consciousness drives brand switching, but convenience remains key in purchase decisions. Here are five stats that caught our eye this week.

Job cuts at Meta and Microsoft could strain remaining workers as companies shift focus to AI amid changing corporate and political dynamics.

Amazon faces technical and factual challenges as it transforms Alexa into an advanced AI agent, delaying progress and risking its market relevance.

Currys expands retail media network into stores: The electronics retailer is betting that its unique access to 80% of UK households and extensive network of digital screens will appeal to advertisers.

TikTok Shop’s demise could benefit Amazon, Etsy, and Temu: All three retailers are poised to scoop up spending in the event of a TikTok ban.

NBC launches early NBA campaign: $2.4 billion annual rights deal includes WNBA games, Peacock exclusives, and 'Sunday Night Basketball' debut in 2026.

Temu tests search ads in latest attempt to chip away at Amazon’s dominance: The lucrative revenue opportunity could offset rising costs related to de minimis crackdowns and tariffs.

In today’s episode of The Banking & Payments Show podcast, we talk about who the BaaS compliance crackdown will hit the most, why Walmart and Amazon will pilot pay-by-bank at checkout in 2025, and how consumer privacy will change under a second Trump administration. Join the discussion with host and Head of Business Development, Rob Rubin, and Principal Analysts Tiffani Montez and David Morris.