Convenience continues to outweigh cost savings for many shoppers, driving strong growth across the grocery delivery market. Instacart led the sector in Q3 with a 14% increase in orders and a 10% rise in gross transaction value, while Uber and DoorDash also posted solid gains. As online grocery adoption accelerates, Instacart is doubling down on affordability through price parity and loyalty integrations to counter economic pressures. Convenience remains a powerful growth driver, but its durability will depend on how effectively delivery platforms balance ease with value as consumers grow more price-conscious.

Holiday shoppers are stressed and overwhelmed, per Accenture’s 19th Annual Holiday Shopping Survey. And this is leading to lower conversion rates: 85% of consumers are likely to abandon their carts due to frustration or indecision, according to the survey. To best meet customer needs quickly, retailers can partner with providers like Checkout.com on its one-click checkout solution Flow Remember Me or PayPal-owned Honey as it integrates AI-powered product recommendations based on users’ conversations with chatbots.

Heading into peak season, D2C ecommerce professionals are as concerned about technology limitations as they are about tariffs (37%), according to a July survey from Passport and Drive Research.

Our exclusive research reveals what factors are influencing the path to purchase for personal care and beauty products.

This sponsored article by PartnerCentric will explore AI’s impact on affiliate marketing.

Now that consumers can make direct purchases within ChatGPT, marketers and retailers must reimagine the customer journey once again.

As Primark celebrates its 10-year anniversary in the US, the European retail giant navigates the challenges of building brand awareness in a competitive American market while staying true to its core value proposition that made it a cultural institution in the UK and Ireland.

This sponsored article by Fetch will explore AI in the consumer goods sector.

Shein’s US sales fell 8% YoY in September, marking its second-worst month in three years and underscoring the impact of the Trump administration’s decision to end the de minimis trade loophole for Chinese shipments. The policy shift, which ended tariff-free imports under $800, stripped away a key cost advantage that had powered Shein’s $18 billion in sales last year. In response, the retailer has raised prices, refocused on Europe, and launched its Xcelerator program to attract brands. The company’s future now depends on evolving beyond its low-cost model as trade rules tighten.

Gen Z’s path to purchase differs considerably from older generations, but the physical store remains a cornerstone of their shopping experience.

This sponsored video by Awin will explore how affiliate and referral marketing are driving digital buyer growth among Gen Z.

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.

This sponsored video by Contentful will explore the strategies driving success this holiday season.

Gen Zers and millennials will lead the charge in shopping with AI agents, but not without guardrails. Nearly half of Gen Zers (47%) and millennials (48%) say they are at least somewhat likely to let AI agents buy things for them, per a YouGov survey. Among likely AI agent adopters, 53% would require approval before letting AI buy anything under $100. For brands, deploying responsible AI agents is key. That means constantly monitoring customer-facing products for hallucinations, keeping humans in the loop to establish accountability and accuracy, and ensuring customers are getting the experiences they want.

The digital ad market is splitting into a two-speed dynamic. Retail and a few fast-growing sectors are surging, while others are stalling slightly under regulation, weak demand, and economic strain.

B2B digital ad spending is rising as marketers lean into formats that build visibility and engagement. Video and display are growing faster than search, reshaping strategies to reach decision-makers.

This year, retail will underperform overall US ad spending growth for the first time since 2018 as advertisers cut budgets amid tariffs and economic uncertainty. But the outlook for 2026 is more optimistic.

The Klarna Card crossed 1 million signups after 11 weeks, per a press release. Affirm and Klarna need a firmer plan to combat consumers’ preference for card-linked installment plans, which can offer lucrative rewards that BNPL firms’ margins can’t support. Until Klarna and Affirm can find a way to increase their margins to compete on the level of issuers, they’ll be hard pressed to take meaningful share from incumbents.