TikTok continues to attract a lot of attention, both good and bad. The hype around its heavily engaged and coveted Gen Z audience is real. But concerns over alleged privacy violations have made it a target for regulators, and user trust of the platform has suffered as a result.

Fewer than a third of US shoppers turn to department stores’ websites (31%) or brick-and-mortar locations (24%) when conducting beauty research, according to a May survey conducted by PowerReviews. In contrast, 71% turn to a specialty retailer’s website when researching new products.

Embracing mobile gives consumers access to a branded experience both online and in-store, while in-store technologies bring the digital world into the physical. To cater to shoppers no matter where or how they shop, brands should also make sure they’re balancing in-store and online rewards as well as D2C and wholesale commerce.

Generative AI helps brands distill consumer insights to create personalized products while AR virtual try-on solutions give customers the ability to try before buying. Beauty brands like Ulta Beauty and Sephora are finding ways to draw consumers into their apps with exclusive content or services.

Behind the hype around composable commerce, there are pros and cons that retailers should consider before shaking up their business operations.

Marketers have a wealth of opportunities throughout the buyer’s journey to leverage generative AI. Here's how to use it effectively at each stage of the customer life cycle.

As sales growth of luxury goods slows in established markets, brands will expand in emerging regions like the Middle East. There, rising wealth among a young population that’s bringing their spending home will boost demand.

US consumers' appetite for luxury is beginning to fade: But rapidly recovering demand from Chinese consumers will allow LVMH, Prada, Kering, and others to maintain their strong momentum.

In an unlikely collaboration, Zappos and Sephora join forces: The partnership gives Sephora access to Zappos’ considerable shopper base, but may benefit the latter more as demand for beauty grows.

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.

Macy’s strong quarter underscores the difficulties facing Kohl’s: While the former is making a name for itself as a one-stop shop ahead of the holidays, Kohl’s lack of brand identity is hurting its chances of recovery.

The store-within-a-store’ concept gains momentum: The partnerships work well when there’s clear synergy between the brands involved, such as Target and Apple.

Insider Intelligence spoke with Kate Biancamano, director of events and experiential marketing at Sephora, about expanding the beauty brand’s offerings into the virtual world.

Kohl’s makes a move to attract holiday shoppers: The retailer is expanding same-day in-store pickup options to all locations, but the move likely won’t be enough to reverse its slide.

Digitally native brands focus on physical expansion, but costs are mounting: Allbirds, Warby Parker, and Glossier are shedding workers and expanding retail partnerships to grow sales and stay afloat.

It’s a volatile retail environment out there: That’s driving many retailers to make changes to their executive teams as they look for fresh strategies to navigate the difficult terrain.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion is seen as a marketing imperative: Verizon announced the results from its initiative to drive DEI change.

The beauty industry is getting a digital makeover, thanks to Gen Z, viral TikTok trends, AR capabilities, and new consumer behaviors. Brands will need to take a multichannel approach to keep up.

Nearly 1 in 5 Black consumers in the US view brands as generally disingenuous for holding Black History Month promotions, recent research shows. A partnership with Black consumers should start with a deep understanding and appreciation of the elements that make them, as individuals and as a group, unique.

Clashes between retailers and activist investors are heating up: Kohls, Macy’s, and grocer SpartanNash are some of the companies pushing back against investor demands.