Albertsons Media Collective and NBCUniversal introduced a closed-loop measurement capability that promises to give advertisers better insight into CTV ad performance. While the partnership benefits both companies, there’s arguably more at stake for Albertsons. Like the vast majority of retail media networks, it is looking for ways to keep its ad business competitive as the majority of dollars flow to Amazon and Walmart. Albertsons aims to stay competitive by leaning into fast-growing CTV, strengthening its loyalty program, and leveraging its store footprint for in-store activations.

Home Depot’s Q3 results highlight a difficult operating environment as a stalled housing market, muted storm-related demand, and higher living costs limited shopper activity, leading to soft comparable sales and another earnings miss. While revenues slightly exceeded expectations, adjusted EPS declined and the retailer lowered its full-year outlook. The results point to broad, persistent headwinds—ranging from sluggish housing activity to tariff-driven cost pressures—that are expected to keep any recovery gradual and uneven even with added revenue contributions from the GMS acquisition.

Kroger is overhauling its ecommerce strategy, closing three Ocado automated fulfillment centers after underperformance and leaning more on stores and third-party partners like Instacart, DoorDash, and Uber. Though initially costly, Kroger expects $400 million in ecommerce profit gains by 2026, helping fund price cuts and store improvements. The shift highlights the high cost of competing with Amazon and Walmart on delivery speed and the appeal of using delivery platforms' existing last-mile networks. The new model should cut costs, add flexibility, and support a stronger customer experience as online demand grows.

Global ecommerce is tightening as major markets close de minimis loopholes and China increases tax scrutiny, putting fresh pressure on platforms like PDD and its international arm Temu. Nearly 1 in 5 US consumers say shifting trade policies may discourage them from buying internationally, adding to the company’s challenges amid uneven spending in China. PDD delivered mixed Q3 results, with earnings beating expectations but revenue slightly missing. The overall picture suggests the company must transition from relying on duty-free advantages to strengthening marketplace fundamentals, even as improving user trends signal early signs of resilience

Amazon has partnered with Ford to list certified pre-owned “Blue Advantage” vehicles on its Amazon Autos platform, allowing shoppers within 75 miles of participating dealers to browse inventory, arrange financing, and complete most paperwork online. The move adds momentum to Amazon’s push into the automotive space following its deal with Hyundai and aligns with its marketplace strategy of scaling without owning inventory. Despite a softening used-car market, the collaboration could strengthen Amazon’s foothold in auto ecommerce, helping it compete with Carvana and CarMax by offering convenience and dealer-backed credibility.

Google is expanding its AI-powered travel planning and booking tools, introducing Canvas itineraries and broader agentic booking features directly within AI Mode in Search. The update brings real-time flight and hotel data, personalized recommendations, and streamlined reservations across major platforms, with full flight and hotel bookings coming soon. Google is also rolling out its Flight Deals tool globally. The shift toward surfacing these capabilities in Search should boost adoption and intensify pressure on travel companies that lag in AI-driven decision-making.

Starbucks unveiled a new holiday drink available exclusively at Target stores. The release of the limited-edition Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate marks the first time the two companies have collaborated on a holiday drink. While the holiday exclusive won’t address their deeper challenges, it’s the right note to hit at a time when shoppers need extra motivation to visit a Starbucks or Target store.

TikTok Shop is now almost as large as eBay, according to EchoTik. The marketplace’s global gross merchandise value (GMV) hit $19 billion in Q3, not far off eBay’s $20.1 billion. Between $4 billion and $4.6 billion of those sales took place in the US, up 125% QoQ, making it TikTok Shop’s largest single market. TikTok’s ability to blend shopping and entertainment is turning the platform into an ecommerce powerhouse. While price concerns and value are top of mind for consumers this holiday season, so too is the desire to shop for fun—an itch that TikTok Shop is perfectly placed to scratch.

Amazon quietly introduced agentic shopping capabilities to its Rufus chatbot last week. Customers can now ask Rufus to monitor products and make a purchase when an item reaches a target price or discount level. Amazon’s “Auto Buy” feature could make Rufus more useful for deal-seeking shoppers this holiday season—provided they know the option exists and trust the chatbot’s accuracy. Over the long term, adding more agentic features to Rufus—which has been used by 250 million active customers this year alone—could enable Amazon to satisfy shoppers’ desire for AI assistance without ceding ground to platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity.

Richemont’s jewelry sales growth accelerated in the three months ended September 30, as global demand for Cartier watches and Van Cleef & Arpels necklaces held up despite what the company called “unprecedented headwinds.” Jewelry is proving to be one of the most resilient luxury categories, largely due to its durability. It goes out of fashion more slowly than most apparel and leather goods, and retains its value better, especially with gold prices soaring. Jewelry will be the fastest-growing personal luxury category in the US this year, according to our forecast, thanks to its stronger value proposition and the resilience of wealthy shoppers.

Chinese sellers are facing intensifying pressure as the EU fast-tracks the closure of its de minimis loophole amid a rapid rise in low-value parcel imports, complicating efforts by platforms like Shein and Temu already contending with poor reception, legal scrutiny, and safety violations in Europe. With Chinese regulators also tightening oversight by demanding detailed sales data, sellers built around rock-bottom pricing are encountering diminishing returns. The environment is pushing brands to pivot toward stronger compliance and higher product quality, a shift that mirrors the success of players like Anker and is becoming increasingly necessary as global rules harden.

Walmart and Target will both transition to new CEOs on February 1, but the circumstances behind the changes diverge sharply. Walmart is handing John Furner a business with strong momentum, expanding ecommerce capabilities, rising membership adoption, and continued innovation, including its partnership with OpenAI. Target, by contrast, is passing leadership to Michael Fiddelke as sales soften, traffic slows, and its digital efforts lag behind key rivals. The continuity approach aligns with Walmart’s stable trajectory, but Target’s persistent challenges suggest it would benefit from broader strategic shifts to regain competitiveness.

Chinese tax authorities are requiring Amazon, Temu, Shein, and other major platforms to submit Q3 sales data from Chinese merchants as regulators intensify efforts to curb tax evasion in cross-border ecommerce. The information is expected to reveal higher actual sales than those reported, potentially leaving sellers liable for up to 13% VAT plus back taxes. The move aligns with Beijing’s broader push to recover tax revenue, and it comes as global markets tighten de minimis rules. These shifts could reshape marketplace dynamics as Chinese sellers reassess pricing, participation, and ad spending amid rising compliance pressures.

JD.com beat analyst expectations in Q3 as subsidies, lower prices, and a more diversified revenue base encouraged spending despite China’s soft consumer climate. Growth in users and shopping frequency supported double-digit retail gains, while the company’s push into food delivery lifted sales but squeezed margins. JD is also testing its Joybuy platform in Europe and investing in Ceconomy AG to expand its footprint. While these moves help the company outpace a slowing market, the momentum relies heavily on subsidized growth, raising doubts about how sustainable the gains will be once incentives scale back.

Google is adding agentic checkout to its shopping capabilities in time for the holiday season, alongside other genAI tools. These updates defend Google’s core search ad business as shopping queries move toward conversational interfaces, even as the company still dominates the search journey. They also position Google to benefit from increased genAI adoption this holiday season.

Quick commerce startup Gopuff raised $250 million at an $8.5 billion valuation—a significant downgrade from the $15 billion it commanded four years ago. Gopuff claims to be in the “strongest financial position in company history,” with record revenues and continued growth for its core businesses. To get to that point, the company has forged partnerships with companies like Amazon, Starbucks, and Disney, a strategy that has broadened its audience and the appeal of its advertising platform. However, consumers’ reluctance to use quick commerce platforms, coupled with competition from DoorDash and Uber, could hamper Gopuff’s growth prospects.

Airbnb and Instacart plan to launch a pilot program that would enable guests in select cities to order grocery delivery before and during their stays, per Bloomberg. The partnership is a win-win, offering Airbnb the chance to improve the guest experience, and giving Instacart an opportunity to expand its reach and boost ad revenues. As competition between delivery platforms heats up, deals like these are poised to become more common as companies look for new ways to win over customers.

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.

Singles Day transactions in China rose 17.6% YoY to 1.7 trillion yuan ($240 billion), according to Syntun, marking a slowdown from last year’s 26.6% gain despite extended campaigns and heavy promotions from Alibaba and JD.com. Platforms poured billions into vouchers and discounts, but longer sale periods diluted urgency and limited impact. The event’s waning momentum highlights China’s broader economic challenges—rising frugality, youth unemployment, and deflationary pressures. To reignite excitement, platforms may need to move away from drawn-out promotions toward shorter, high-impact campaigns that restore Singles Day’s original urgency and appeal.

Skims is now valued at $5 billion after raising $225 million, per The New York Times. The company plans to use the funds to open stores in international markets, grow its intimates and shapewear lines, and expand into other categories. The fundraising round cements Skims’ status as the buzziest brand in undergarments. The company is now valued at nearly twice as much as Victoria’s Secret, despite having less than one-sixth of its revenues. While Victoria’s Secret has struggled to find a middle ground between sex appeal and comfort, Skims has managed to do both—earning customers’ loyalty in the process.