Amazon and Walmart follow a similar playbook: The retailers use exclusive access to events like Prime Day and Walmart+ Early Access to showcase the value of their membership programs.

Discounts are the leading reason consumers currently participate in a loyalty or reward program, cited by 48% of US adults, according to October 2023 data from Merkle.

Digital grocery will become the largest ecommerce category by 2026, according to our US Digital Grocery 2024 report. To grow their share of digital grocery sales, brands need to understand what motivates consumers to buy groceries online, how the digital grocery experience can be improved, and where growth opportunities lie.

The No. 1 issue US adults have with loyalty or reward programs is it takes too long to earn rewards, according to an October 2023 survey from Merkle.

Like last year, we expect deal-hunting consumers and mobile-forward brands to drive the 2024 holiday season, according to our US Holiday 2023 Recap and 2024 Preview report.

Last year, Kroger found success embracing omnichannel shoppers and personalizing digital promotions, which helped it grow its identical sales (without fuel) 0.9% YoY. Looking ahead, the retailer is counting on its digitally engaged customers to fuel its retail media network, which Kroger expects to grow 20% next year.

Target announced it will launch a paid membership program April 7, following Amazon and Walmart’s lead.The move comes asTarget struggles to keep up with competitors.

Over half (55%) of adults worldwide say that offering points or reward systems are the top way to keep them coming back, according to a November 2023 survey from Marigold in conjunction with Econsultancy.

Last December, TikTok user Lukas Battle posted a video proclaiming that 2024 is all about loud budgeting, which encourages consumers to open up about how they spend their money and take pride in saying no to unnecessary purchases.

Cash is no longer king in Brazil after being dethroned by the central bank’s instant payments system, Pix. This report explores who’s using Pix (nearly two-thirds of the population), what’s fueling its immense popularity, and how it will reshape Brazil’s payments landscape this year and beyond.

Deal-seeking shoppers spent $222.1 billion online this holiday season: Elevated discounts drove spending across the electronics, apparel, furniture, and toy categories.

Disparities in which groups receive these deals led the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to ask questions about fair lending practices.

TikTok Shop has rapidly emerged an important channel for some merchants: But whether those early gains are sustainable remains a question given the significant discounts that drove those results.

Gen Z is ready to spend this season. Millennials may be a bit cautious. YouTube is the place to go if brands want to get on Gen Alpha’s radar. And for older consumers, trust is the key to getting them to spend. Here’s how retailers can appeal to each generation as the holiday season readies for Cyber Five.

As the top two retailers in the US, Walmart and Amazon are battling for holiday success by rolling out the best deals, the fastest delivery, and the best in-store experience. Here’s who we expect will come out on top in each of those areas, plus a post-holiday outlook.

As ecommerce growth returns to pre-pandemic levels, it will continue to drive total retail sales over the next few years. Retailers looking to drive sales need to focus on a seamless omnichannel experience and use deals to convince consumers to spend. Meanwhile, retail media’s growth shows no signs of slowing, but advertisers and retailers must work together to ensure future success.

As retail media grows, it is changing. At the moment, search remains retail media’s bread and butter and sales ads are the best awareness drivers. In the future, in-store media and shoppable video ads may take on a bigger role. But no matter how ad formats change, one thing is for certain: Measurement will be key for retail media’s continued growth.

As consumers hunt for the best deals, generative AI will drive $194 billion in consumer spending by enabling brands to provide personalized customer service, marketing promotions, and commerce experiences, per Salesforce. Social media advertising will also have an outsized impact on purchase decisions versus traditional marketing efforts.

Though growth is slowing, digital grocery will continue to fuel overall ecommerce growth in the US. “Growth is no longer driven by new adopters, but heavy digital grocery users,” our analyst Blake Droesch said on a recent “Reimagining Retail” podcast episode. Here’s how retailers like Instacart, Amazon, and Walmart can capitalize on frequent buyers.

The 15 biggest US ecommerce players aren’t a surprise (here’s looking at you, Amazon, Walmart, and Apple). User-friendly mobile apps, quick delivery, innovation, and converting sales are what turn retailers into ecommerce powerhouses. Here are the companies our analysts believe best exemplify those features within the 15 largest ecommerce players.