Consumers are constantly in search of convenience, particularly in the form of timesaving. In the past 12 months, numerous direct-to-consumer (D2C) meal plan services have emerged, offering consumers an alternative solution to home cooking without paying a dreaded visit to the grocery store—or spending time trying to figure out a recipe.

Aptly named D2C brand Brandless, an online purveyor of minimalist grocery, wellness and home goods, has oriented its brand around the rise of digital-first shoppers who prefer products that include fewer, more natural ingredients. These shoppers have an evolving view of brands and don’t harbor any particular affinity for household names they grew up with.

The retail industry is transforming at both physical stores and in digital. This report examines 10 trends that will most shape retail in the year ahead.

While our 2019 prediction of digital’s influence on the reinvention of brick-and-mortar has materialized, it may have also undersold Amazon’s omnipresence in the space. The 800-pound gorilla of retail will continue to cast a wide shadow.

Retailers rely on a variety of marketing channels to engage customers. But identifying the most effective channels is a process, which requires establishing clear objectives and key performance indicators.

Direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands continue to disrupt the retail space. The companies use an array of tactics to attract business, from offering low prices to targeting shoppers who care about ethical consumption to simply providing a more convenient experience.

Scrolling through social media, it’s hard not to be influenced by influencers. Do you need another carry-on bag? Probably not. But do you have to have it after you saw an influencer capturing its essence on the hills of Santorini, and you suddenly saw yourself there? Of course you do.

US consumers dig digital audio, and as listenership heats up, so does advertiser investment. For direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands, podcasts are top-of-mind as they provide engaging and influential ad opportunities.

Loyalty marketing goes beyond loyalty programs, but they are still an important part of the customer experience and a vital channel for keeping customers engaged and spending.

This report series explores how companies are building a data-driven, 360-degree customer view to support relevant customer experiences across every touchpoint.

One thing hasn’t changed in the shift to digital marketing and advertising: It’s still cheaper to keep current customers loyal than to acquire new ones. This report explores how marketers are messaging to current customers to keep them coming back.

We forecast that US retail ecommerce sales of health, personal care and beauty products will surpass $53 billion this year, up 18.6% from 2018, making it the second-fastest growing category among those we track—slightly slower than food and beverage.

Furniture is one of the fastest-growing categories in ecommerce today. More consumers have come around to the idea of purchasing furniture online, and new direct-to-consumer (D2C) companies are entering the space, hoping to win market share by streamlining aspects of the customer experience like cost, shipping and installation.

Direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands thrive on their abilities to build strong customer relationships, optimize data and identify the unmet needs of modern customers. More and more, brands see these digital natives as a threat.

Direct-to-consumer (D2C) companies continue to disrupt traditional retail, and taking note of their marketing investment strategies might benefit traditional retailers that see these digitally-native newborns as competition.

As retail store closures continue at an alarming rate, consumer goods brands have fewer channels to sell their products outside of retail and ecommerce behemoths like Amazon, Walmart and Costco. This reality has many in the consumer goods industry looking to sidestep retail and online marketplaces altogether with hopes of selling to their customers directly.

This year, ecommerce is set to be 10.9% of total US retail spending—about one-eighth the size of retail brick-and-mortar. The general merchandise category will account for about 50% of total retail sales this year, and that number climbs to roughly 67% when you look at strictly online general merchandise sales.

Brands that focus on supply chain sustainability—by showcasing factory conditions, production processes and waste solutions—bode well with young consumers.

In the latest episode of "Behind the Numbers," we sit down with Matt Alexander, co-founder of Neighborhood Goods, which mixes department store concepts and digital native brands. What do D2C brands want from a retail presence? And does the department store format have a future?

Maturing direct-to-consumer brands struggling to scale social channels find a cost-effective solution in TV ads.