News about delayed tariffs, activist pressure on retailers, and a failed JC Penney deal closed out 2025.

The news: Discount furniture retailers are stepping up their expansion as much of the industry contracts. Our take: Consumers are focusing more on value, and that push could change US perceptions about shopping for furniture—emphasizing value and simplicity over stylish but costly designs

The partnership highlights the importance of individual merchant deals and larger platform tie-ups

Furniture retail squeezed by high acquisition costs: Industry KPI data shows the sector at a disadvantage as economic uncertainty and tariffs drive up the cost of winning customers.

This deck provides an in-depth analysis of the home furnishings sector in ecommerce, including forecasts for sales growth, digital ad spending, and KPIs. It also highlights consumer shopping behaviors, spending trends, and the growing influence of social media.

Trump’s tariff proposals will eat into consumers’ discretionary spend: The price of goods such as shoes, toasters, and mattress and box springs will soar under the across-the-board tariff plan.

Walmart tests a new locking system to combat retail theft: The retailer needs to ensure its solution isn’t worse than the problem itself.

Retail has come off its lengthy run of outperforming overall US ad spending growth. While growth will dip below the average for all industries in 2024, the pace is set to pick up again in 2025 and 2026.

Small-format stores are gaining popularity among retailers trying to get closer to where consumers live and work. Some retailers, like Macy’s, are using small-format stores to reach consumers in more urban locations. But others, like Target, are going for a slightly different demographic—college students.

Walmart bets on AR: The retailer experiments with several use cases for the technology that it hopes can make shopping online as immersive, interactive, and social as in-person experience.

Amazon will continue to gain market share, but new competition from Temu, Walmart, and other retailers could stunt future dominance.

Earlier this month, Beyond Inc. (formerly Overstock) acquired ecommerce retailer Zulily, which went out of business in late 2023. Beyond Inc. also plans to bring back the Overstock brand, which it sunset after acquiring the rights to Bed Bath & Beyond last year.

Growth has slowed, but bright spots remain in key categories.