The explosive rise of dupe videos—where shoppers hunt for budget versions of luxury items—is reshaping how retailers compete for customers. With rising financial pressures, shoppers are increasingly turning to store brands and lower-priced alternatives that mimic higher-end products. This shift is not just a matter of necessity but has also evolved into a culture where consumers proudly share their budget-friendly finds.

Victoria’s Secret’s rebooted fashion show resonated with Gen Z: That, alongside the company’s efforts to expand and refresh its assortment, resulted in a solid holiday performance.

Younger banking customers care more than their older counterparts about banks’ diversity.

Retailers face big hurdles in 2025. From competing with Amazon's advertising empire to figuring out generative AI (genAI) technology to keeping shoppers on apps, these challenges are forcing retailers to adapt quickly. Here's what these problems look like today—and how they could potentially be resolved.

Card spend from these factors helped lift revenues 9% YoY

From avatars to real-life purchases: Roblox’s branded worlds deliver deeper consumer interaction and emerging 3D ad standards for marketers.

The marketing funnel isn’t dead—it’s evolving. Today’s consumers rely on communities and authentic partnerships to guide decisions. To stay ahead, marketers must rethink measurement and focus on building lasting connections that drive advocacy and loyalty.

The tie-up can help attract younger travelers and aids in Venmo’s monetization journey

Nearly half (49.4%) of US Gen Z consumers skip events due to high ticket prices, according to a September report from Merge.

A lot can happen in a week. Rue21’s customer overlap with TikTok Shop could position the brand to benefit from a potential TikTok ban. Meanwhile, Gen Z consumers are increasingly choosing alcohol-free lifestyles, reflecting health-conscious preferences. Cost-consciousness drives brand switching, but convenience remains key in purchase decisions. Here are five stats that caught our eye this week.

The National Retail Federation’s (NRF) Big Show closed earlier this week, bringing together retailers, tech companies, and industry experts to discuss the future of retail. Key takeaways included Gen Z’s influence on shopping, which will last even if TikTok goes away, the accelerating trend cycle, hesitation to adopt new payment technologies, and the transformation of digital grocery. Here are four takeaways from the event.

High-quality visuals or graphics would be the highest factor for AI-generated ads to grab the attention of both millennials (45%) and Gen Zers (50%), according to an October survey from Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and Sonata Insights. While celebrity or influencer endorsements would be the least effective way to get millennials (12%) and Gen Zers (17%) to take note.

They’re designing their own pathways toward achieving financial goals and could use banks’ expertise.

Beauty’s run of strong retail sales growth is winding down, but new audiences and sales channels will offer opportunities for savvy brands and retailers to regain momentum.

The National Retail Federation (NRF)’s Big Show is happening in New York City this weekend, and will offer an opportunity for retail media networks (RMNs) to pitch themselves to advertisers. Even though retail media is huge—exceeding $62 billion in US ad spend this year per our forecast, most of those ad dollars will go to the biggest RMNs. The remaining players are vying over the same $8.58 billion that isn't scooped up by Amazon, Walmart, or Target.

“Underconsumption core” trends on TikTok: 3 in 5 Gen Zers are following the trend, leading many to cut back on online shopping.

Voice assistants fumble the AI revolution: Despite genAI advancements, Big Tech’s assistants face stalled growth and disinterest from older users—Gen Z and parents of Gen Alpha might be their saving grace.

Increased time spent on CTV, social video’s shopping influence, and a larger share of working Gen Zers will give advertisers new opportunities for growth. Here are five charts to help your business understand these changes and kick-start the new year.