Old Navy wants to stand out for consumers with convenience, now offering same-day delivery on items including jeans, beanies, and dress shoes through DoorDash. “It’s a classic win-win,” said Nishith Rastogi, founder and CEO of Locus, a logistics tech provider recently acquired by IKEA parent company Ingka Group. “The retailer gets speed, and the platform gets density and stronger utilization across its network.”

Ikea’s parent company Ingka Group is acquiring US logistics tech firm Locus to strengthen its ecommerce operations and speed up deliveries. Locus’ AI-driven tools will optimize route planning, real-time tracking, and resource use, potentially saving Ikea around €100 million annually. The deal reflects Ikea’s push to improve digital experiences and compete with online retailers like Wayfair as ecommerce rises to 28% of sales. Combined with its smaller urban stores and new retail partnerships, the investment underscores Ikea’s strategy to create a more flexible, customer-focused model for long-term growth in the US market.

Ikea is proceeding with its $2.2 billion US expansion, undeterred by new tariffs on lumber, kitchen cabinets, and other furniture. The company is confident that its reputation for affordable furniture and home goods will help it thrive, even in a challenging housing market. However, expanding Ikea’s share of the market is contingent on the company expanding its brick-and-mortar presence.

The news: Discount furniture retailers are stepping up their expansion as much of the industry contracts. Our take: Consumers are focusing more on value, and that push could change US perceptions about shopping for furniture—emphasizing value and simplicity over stylish but costly designs

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss what malls are doing well (and why), the reasons folks have been skipping the mall, and why IKEA and Walmart bought one each. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Analysts Emmy Liederman and Rachel Wolff.

Ikea thinks small: The retailer plans to open eight smaller-format stores this year to get closer to where its customers live and work.

Uniqlo, Ikea join luxury companies’ real estate spending spree: The two retailers snapped up prime space on Fifth Avenue to lock in their spots in a busy retail corridor.

Ikea’s price cuts led to lower revenues but higher sales volumes and traffic: Ecommerce’s share of sales also grew, as the retailer added more pick-up-only locations to its store fleet.

Retailers adjust China strategies to coax cost-conscious shoppers to open their wallets: Ikea and Pizza Hut will open more small-format stores to reach new customers, while H&M set up shop on Pinduoduo and Douyin.

Major retailers like IKEA, Walmart, and ThredUp are launching peer-to-peer resale marketplaces, aiming to capture a slice of the booming secondhand market. This trend comes as US marketplace ecommerce sales are projected to surpass $500 billion next year, according to our forecast.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss why many retailers are choosing now to launch peer-to-peer marketplaces, why consumers might choose IKEA’s resale platform versus the already established players like Facebook Marketplace and eBay, and what they need to be successful. Listen to the conversation with our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analysts Sky Canaves and Sarah Marzano.

Small-format stores are gaining popularity among retailers trying to get closer to where consumers live and work. Some retailers, like Macy’s, are using small-format stores to reach consumers in more urban locations. But others, like Target, are going for a slightly different demographic—college students.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss how news on social media is different, if the movies are dead yet, the promise of new digital price tags, IKEA paying virtual employees in its virtual Roblox store, the most visited places in the world, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our vice president of content Suzy Davidkhanian and analysts Blake Droesch and Sarah Marzano.

The challenges in last-mile delivery have intensified. To meet consumer expectations while maintaining margins, UK retailers need to innovate by embracing technology and establishing partnerships.

By focusing on deals, value, and experiences, retailers can build a perception of value that resonates with discerning consumers. “The unremarkable retailers and brands are going to struggle because consumers are only spending when it's enjoyable, when they derive some pleasure from the purchase,” our analyst Zak Stambor said on the ”Behind the Numbers” podcast.

Retailers turn to virtual experiences to boost engagement, awareness: Walmart, Ikea, and Skechers are among the many trying to increase their appeal to younger shoppers while driving sales.

Mall foot traffic is returning to pre-COVID-19 levels. In 2023, visits to indoor shopping malls were down 5.8% from 2019 levels, an improvement from the 15.3% decrease in 2021, per Placer.ai’s The Comeback of the Mall in 2024 report.

Consumers care about sustainability, but often aren’t willing to buy environmentally friendly products if they’re deemed lower quality, especially if it costs more. One solution for retailers and consumers is resale, an industry worth $108.64 billion in 2024, per our December 2023 forecast. Not all environmental initiatives have to be at the consumer level, though.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss what comes after the end of search as we know it, what generative AI (genAI) is best at today, who the right partner for Paramount+ is, what Ikea's plans to save the mall entail, the most popular alcoholic drinks in the US, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our director of reports editing Rahul Chadha and analysts Ross Benes and Max Willens.

2024 is shaping up to be the year of the AI-powered shopping assistant. Just two months in, retailers from Walmart and Amazon to Ikea and Chevron have released a flurry of AI-based updates, hoping to make the shopping experience easier and more relevant.