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.

Amazon’s new Retail Ad Service, announced last week, is certainly the biggest retail media news of the year so far. In offering its ad-tech to power other retailers' media networks (RMNs), Amazon could disrupt how retail media operates for retailers, advertisers, vendors, and consumers alike.

Meta, Amazon join list of companies ditching DEI efforts: Evidence shows consumers reward commitment to social causes, but companies are making political calculations.

US paid retail membership fee revenues will be higher than ever before in 2025, reaching $46.39 billion, according to our May 2024 forecast. That’s an increase of 10.8% YoY, with over half (51.8%) of these revenues going to Amazon.

Beauty’s run of strong retail sales growth is winding down, but new audiences and sales channels will offer opportunities for savvy brands and retailers to regain momentum.

But the solution may struggle to gain traction given consumers’ unreadiness to adopt the technology