This is the Q4 2025 installment of our “Retail and Ecommerce Sales Benchmarks” series, which helps retailers and brands gauge their sales mix against the market.

This is the Q4 2025 installment of our “Retail and Ecommerce Sales Benchmarks” series, which helps retailers and brands gauge their sales mix against the market.

This is the Q4 2025 installment of our “Retail and Ecommerce Sales Benchmarks” series, which helps retailers and brands gauge their sales mix against the market.

This is the Q4 2025 installment of our “Retail and Ecommerce Sales Benchmarks” series, which helps retailers and brands gauge their sales mix against the market.

This is the Q4 2025 installment of our “Retail and Ecommerce Sales Benchmarks” series, which helps retailers and brands gauge their sales mix against the market.

This is the Q4 2025 installment of our “Retail and Ecommerce Sales Benchmarks” series, which helps retailers and brands gauge their sales mix against the market.

This is the Q4 2025 installment of our “Retail and Ecommerce Sales Benchmarks” series, which helps retailers and brands gauge their sales mix against the market.

This is the Q4 2025 installment of our “Retail and Ecommerce Sales Benchmarks” series, which helps retailers and brands gauge their sales mix against the market.

Swiss sneaker brand On Holding will skip holiday discounts to reinforce its premium positioning, co-founder Caspar Coppetti told CNBC. The strategy follows a strong Q3, with adjusted EPS up 300% YoY and revenue rising 24.9% to 794 million francs, beating expectations. While rivals like Nike and Hoka are cautious about global demand, On raised its full-year forecast for the third consecutive quarter. Positioned in the “accessible luxury” segment, On continues to benefit from affluent consumers’ spending power and consistent innovation, helping it sustain growth despite broader economic softness and market headwinds.

Starbucks Workers United is planning an open-ended strike in more than 25 cities on November 13, aligning with Red Cup Day, one of the company’s busiest annual events. The move comes after months of stalled contract talks and the union’s rejection of Starbucks’ economic proposal earlier this year. With key issues like pay, hours, and staffing unresolved, the strike threatens to disrupt Starbucks’ lucrative holiday season, potentially affecting sales of gift cards, merchandise, and seasonal drinks amid ongoing pressure on consumer spending.

Hasbro and Mattel enter the 2025 holiday season on divergent paths after contrasting Q3 results. Hasbro outperformed expectations and raised its outlook, fueled by strong growth in its Wizards of the Coast and digital gaming divisions, while Mattel missed estimates and kept guidance steady amid cautious retailer orders and tariff pressures. Despite broader industry growth, slowing consumer demand and higher costs pose headwinds. With Hasbro’s diversified mix offering resilience if toy sales weaken, Mattel’s reliance on traditional toys could make it more vulnerable to price-sensitive shoppers this holiday season.

Saks Global has halved its full-year profit forecast to about $150 million after reporting a 13% year-over-year sales drop and a $77 million quarterly loss, Bloomberg reports. Less than a year after acquiring Neiman Marcus, the merger’s promise of creating a luxury powerhouse is faltering as Saks struggles with vendor payments, mounting debt, and withheld merchandise ahead of the holidays. The company’s weakened position gives competitors like Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s an opening to capture its customer base, underscoring how fragile even top-tier retailers can be in today’s shifting luxury market.

Despite brands increasing influencer marketing spending, creators are struggling to grow their content business and earn more from sponsorship deals, per Digiday. And while holiday season typically provides a boom, 70% of creators expect traditional sponsored posts to account for under a quarter of their holiday content as focus shifts to performance-driven efforts, according to Collective Voice. Influencer marketing continues its growth trajectory, and the future of the sector relies on how creators adapt to the rise of third-party inventory solutions that divert brand spend away from traditional sponsorships.

The news: Saks Global—the roughly year-old troubled parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus—says it is finding its footing and has no plans to close stores, Retail Dive reports. Our take: Saks Global needs more than fresh financing—it needs a clear strategy that will make clear how it can navigate economic headwinds and rebuild trust with suppliers. With luxury spending softening as consumers grow more cautious, execution in the months ahead will be critical—not just for stability, but for long-term survival.

Shopify’s Q4 sales accelerate 31%: The company expects Q1 sales to grow in the mid-20% range as it ramps up efforts to attract major brands like Goop and Reebok to its ecosystem.

Department stores face an uphill battle as discounters, online retailers take share: Our Industry KPIs show foot traffic declined during the holiday season, emphasizing the sector’s challenges.

With the holiday season in the rearview mirror, our analysts are already looking ahead to what the rest of this year—including the 2025 holiday season—will look like. This year will be defined by unpredictability, as President Trump begins his second term during a time of mixed consumer sentiments. Here are four trends our analysts expect will continue in 2025.

The holiday box office competes with the couch: Audiences are returning to theaters, but Netflix is offering blockbuster content.

Off-price retailers pushed past weather-related headwinds in Q3: Shoppers’ sharp focus on value helped Burlington, Ross, and Nordstrom Rack deliver solid results in Q3.

TikTok Shop wants to be a holiday season shopping hub: The platform’s Brand Palooza campaign features steep discounts, an extended returns window, and TikTok Lives from celebrities, brands, and creators.