Retailers try to rein in return fraud: Ecommerce’s growth this holiday season increases the pressure on retailers to combat fraud without pushing consumers away.

46.6% of US internet users are also Amazon Prime members, nearly two times as many as Costco (25.1%), the No. 2 biggest retail membership , according to data from Comscore.

Consumers care about sustainability, but often aren’t willing to buy environmentally friendly products if they’re deemed lower quality, especially if it costs more. One solution for retailers and consumers is resale, an industry worth $108.64 billion in 2024, per our December 2023 forecast. Not all environmental initiatives have to be at the consumer level, though.

It’s getting hard to ignore the organized retail theft problem: Home Depot, Walmart, and Target are among the retailers ringing alarm bells about the growing crime issue.

DNVB companies have multiple paths for growth: Warby Parker’s sales rise 12% in Q1 thanks in part to the company’s growing physical presence, while Allbirds’ turnaround focuses on differentiating its brand.

Nordstrom is shuttering its downtown San Francisco stores: Crime concerns have driven Whole Foods, Nike, and REI to close urban locations, while others attempt to address those issues without annoying customers.

Online fashion resale remains a fast-growing retail channel despite ongoing economic headwinds—and Gen Z is the driving force. How can brands and retailers venturing into fashion resale find success amid pullbacks on discretionary spending?

Digitally native D2C brands’ ecommerce growth is decelerating: That’s forcing these retailers to adopt new strategies such as opening stores and selling wholesale.

The REI Co-op Mastercard lets users earn 5% cash back for REI purchases and 1.5% cash back for all other purchases.

Resale is on-brand for outdoor retailers REI, Patagonia, and Dick’s: It’s also a massive opportunity as consumers are increasingly looking to buy pre-owned items.

Large brands shift their focus to direct sales: Meanwhile, many digital-native retailers are turning to wholesale as they look for cost-effective ways to attract new customers.

Unionization efforts pose a challenge to brands’ images: Labor efforts at Amazon, Apple, REI, and Starbucks show a side of these popular brands that could turn off consumers.

Even though PR stunts can be polarizing, brands keep foisting them onto the public. In a survey conducted by OnBrand and Bynder, only 12% of US and UK marketers considered guerrilla marketing an exciting trend to explore this year. Tangentially related tactics like influencer marketing and brand activism had far more appeal.

It's not easy to quantify whether consumers are spending more on minimalist lifestyles or just becoming more discerning about the things they do spend money on. The rise of private labels and consumers caring less about specific brands of household goods, food and clothing speaks to a shift in values.