Lunar New Year is approaching, providing another opportunity for brands to deliver culturally relevant campaigns. Successful brands can forge meaningful connections with diverse audiences, such as the AAPI community, communicate values of inclusion, and engage consumers in new markets. Unsuccessful brands risk losing equity, loyalty, and, ultimately, sales.

Sometimes two is better than one. Especially when trying to capture consumer attention in a world of seemingly endless options. Here are four retail partnerships we think could occur in 2024, ranked from most likely to happen (e.g., Pinterest and Ikea) to least likely (e.g., Chewy and Blue Apron), and why we think they make sense.

The UK’s resale economy is thriving as shoppers look to save money and live more sustainably. Retailers and brands need to act—or risk losing out.

This year, furniture and home furnishings will make up a $179.75 billion ecommerce market in the US, according to our forecast, and growth is accelerating. With challenges coming from big names like Amazon and Walmart and resale platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, Ikea has no choice but to innovate to keep up.

On today's episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss why Ikea has fallen behind on ecommerce, what to expect from its new store formats, and how the company developed its cult-like following. Then, for "Pop-Up Rankings," we rank Ikea's top four biggest challengers. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analysts Carina Perkins and Zak Stambor.

Sales fulfilled via click and collect are growing faster than total ecommerce sales in the UK as cash-strapped consumers avoid delivery costs and retailers race to make their services faster, cheaper, and more efficient.

As consumers continue to grapple with inflation and economic uncertainty, our inaugural forecast shows that the US resale market will remain one of the fastest-growing segments in retail.

Inflation in the UK is easing but remains near a 40-year high. That’s tamping down consumer spending across all categories—with total retail sales set to grow by just 1.7% in 2023, versus a pre-pandemic growth rate of around 4%.

The share of online purchases that shoppers return keeps rising: That’s a growing challenge for retailers seeking to rein in costs without hindering the customer experience.

Consumers now expect more from brands and their loyalty programs, which need to incorporate value, ease of use, and personalization to stand out in a crowded market.

TikTok aims to generate $12 billion in ad sales this year: Reaching that goal requires the social video platform to lure more large advertisers.

Singles’ Day, the online shopping festival invented by Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba and held on November 11, is widely known in the West. Now, a series of similar “double-digit” shopping festivals from digital powerhouses Lazada and Shopee are driving ecommerce growth in Southeast Asia.

“Try before you buy,” AR and an improved online experience will breathe new life into established ecommerce categories like apparel and accessories, furniture and home furnishings, and toys and hobbies by the end of our 2023 forecast period.

It's not easy to quantify whether consumers are spending more on minimalist lifestyles or just becoming more discerning about the things they do spend money on. The rise of private labels and consumers caring less about specific brands of household goods, food and clothing speaks to a shift in values.

The share of consumers using mobile devices for retail purchases is lower in France and Germany than in several other nations in Western Europe. Yet together, the two countries will account for over $45 billion in mobile sales in 2018.