Airbnb opted against launching a third-party app integration with ChatGPT because it “didn’t think [the technology] was quite ready,” CEO Brian Chesky told Bloomberg. While the company hasn’t ruled out joining the platform, its measured approach contrasts sharply with the enthusiasm of competitors like Expedia and Booking.com. Airbnb is prudent to have reservations about OpenAI’s commerce capabilities. While chatbots could reshape travel discovery and booking, early reports indicate ChatGPT’s utility for now is hampered by a clunky, finicky interface that is more frustrating than helpful. Rather than forge commerce partnerships with AI companies, Airbnb is focused on making its service an indispensable travel resource to keep its platform sticky.

Amazon plans to replace over 500,000 human jobs with robots as part of a major automation drive aimed at speeding up deliveries and cutting costs, according to The New York Times. After years of workforce expansion, the company is now focused on streamlining operations, with new robotic warehouses like its Shreveport, Louisiana facility already reducing staffing needs by 25%. Amazon expects to replicate this model nationwide by 2027, maintaining headcount while doubling sales by 2033. The shift toward automation is designed to boost efficiency, cut per-package costs, and reinforce Amazon’s dominance in US ecommerce through faster, cheaper fulfillment.

Consumers’ desire to find “better for you” versions of their favorite products is working in Coca-Cola’s favor. Sales of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar soared 14% YoY in Q2, while Diet Coke sales grew 2%. Reconfiguring CPG portfolios for the MAHA (Make American Healthy Again) and GLP-1 consumer may be less daunting than brands think. Shoppers are extremely receptive at the moment to products with purported health benefits—so rather than rolling out high-protein versions of every product, companies should look for ways to emphasize the health or functional benefits of their existing assortment.

Latin America’s retail ecommerce market is set to surge 12.2% in 2025 to $191.25 billion, outpacing global growth and making it the fastest-growing region worldwide. Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico will drive 84.5% of total sales, with Argentina rebounding strongly, Brazil expanding through fierce platform competition, and Mexico surpassing the US in ecommerce penetration next year. Despite tariff threats and softening consumer sentiment, steady inflation and wage gains sustain momentum. EMARKETER analysts note that future success will depend on retailers’ agility amid shifting political and economic conditions across key Latin American markets.

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.

Kering is selling its beauty business to L’Oréal for €4 billion ($4.3 billion). The move will give Kering a much-needed cash infusion as it carries out a turnaround under new CEO Luca de Meo, while positioning L’Oreal to become a leader in luxury fragrance and beauty. The sale marks a bold first step by de Meo, who has the challenge of revitalizing Kering’s business amid considerable uncertainty in the luxury market. And it is a major strategic move for L’Oréal, positioning it as one of the world’s top producers of luxury fragrances at a time when the category is a driving force behind beauty growth.

Consumers have grown more accepting of sponsored ads—according to a recent survey by Bain and ROI Rocket. Roughly 3 in 5 US consumers (61%) say they don’t mind seeing sponsored ads for relevant brands and products, up 14 percentage points from last year. But just 42% agree that the sponsored ads they see are usually pertinent to them, showing that advertisers—and the retailers they’re buying inventory from—have a lot more work to do to deliver maximum outcomes from their ads, and consequently ROI.

Starbucks is piloting a new rewards initiative called Coffee Loop, which offers customers a free drink after every nine purchases, according to Modern Retail. The invite-only test, hosted on a separate website, aims to reengage customers amid six consecutive quarters of declining US sales. CEO Brian Niccol has criticized the current rewards model as too generic, signaling a push toward simpler, more targeted incentives. While Coffee Loop mirrors the punch-card approach used by smaller cafés, it’s just one part of Starbucks’ broader effort to reignite growth through faster service, refreshed menus, and stronger store experiences.

The vast majority—86%—of citations from AI-generated responses come from sources that brands either directly control or strongly influence, according to an analysis by Yext. That includes their own websites, listings, and reviews. It’s imperative for companies to act quickly to optimize their websites, product listings, and other content for AI-driven discovery.

Twitch introduced livestream shopping ads powered by Amazon’s advertising platform. The ad launch reflects the burgeoning popularity of livestream commerce, which despite being slow to take off in the US is now gaining traction thanks to TikTok, a booming collectibles market, and the rise of “shoppertainment.” Amazon is betting that an easier path to purchase will encourage more viewers to pull the trigger on products they discover via livestreams. However, a successful live shopping strategy requires thinking about the channel less as an avenue for direct conversions and more as an opportunity to engage potential customers and build lasting relationships.

Retailers expect 15.8% of annual sales, or about $849.9 billion, to be returned this year, a slight drop from 16.9% in 2024, according to a new report from the National Retail Federation and Happy Returns. The shift suggests stricter return policies, such as charging fees, are discouraging some returns but also risking customer loyalty. With most shoppers prioritizing free and flexible return options, retailers are expanding in-store, QR-based, and “no box, no label” methods to boost convenience. Balancing return costs with shopper expectations remains key to maintaining satisfaction and long-term loyalty.

While many Amazon Big Deal Days shoppers sought savings on essentials, nearly one in three participated “just for fun,” per a new CivicScience survey. About 41% planned purchases in advance, while 38% made impulse buys, showing a mix of deliberate and spontaneous shopping. Despite signs the event may have underperformed, it still offered strategic value by driving engagement, boosting retail media investment, and generating incremental sales. Retailers can build on this momentum by personalizing offers, sustaining engagement post-event, and using campaign data to refine future promotions and deepen shopper loyalty.

Temu’s European expansion—and advertising blitz—is delivering substantial growth. Over 25% of the EU’s population—115.7 million people—made at least one purchase on Temu in the first six months of 2025, according to the company’s most recent transparency report. The challenging economic climate is a prime opportunity for Temu to extend its hold on European shoppers—but its ability to do so may soon be hampered by regulatory efforts to change its pricing and advertising tactics.

United Airlines is forecasting record-breaking Q4 profits as CEO Scott Kirby credits international travel and high-spending passengers for driving growth, with premium cabin and loyalty program revenues up 6% and 9% year over year. The optimism echoes Delta’s positive outlook, but the broader travel market shows strain: only 21% of US adults plan to travel this holiday season, according to Bankrate, down from 27% last year. As costs rise and options shrink, especially for younger travelers, the industry faces a widening divide—prospering at the top while losing price-sensitive consumers it can’t afford to ignore.

AI is rapidly becoming central to retail operations, with 45% of organizations using AI tools daily and nearly all planning to sustain or increase investments next year, according to an Amperity survey. While fears of mass job losses have yet to materialize, ongoing economic pressures—including weak consumer sentiment, rising inflation, and a softening labor market—are driving a surge in layoffs. As companies turn to AI to boost efficiency and manage costs, the challenge lies in balancing automation with the human expertise needed to navigate uncertain times.

Small business optimism dipped in September due to growing concerns about inflation, tariffs, and weakening consumer demand, according to the NFIB. This holiday season could be a make-or-break moment for many small businesses. Nearly all—93%—think that their sales during the period will be essential to their survival this year, according to an Intuit QuickBooks survey. That’s up 52% from last year, underscoring how tariffs and economic uncertainty are threatening small businesses’ ability to survive.

Dollar Tree projected earnings per share to grow up to 15% annually over the next three years, boosted by operational efficiencies and the absence of recent one-off costs. The retailer reaffirmed Q3 guidance for 3.8% comparable-store sales growth and expects a high-teens EPS increase in fiscal 2026. With more affluent shoppers trading down amid inflation, Dollar Tree’s recent Family Dollar divestiture sharpens its focus on the core brand. Its growth strategy emphasizes value, convenience, and an expanded price mix—but long-term success will hinge on elevating the in-store experience for higher-income customers.

Demand for Korean beauty products is soaring, helping buoy industry sales even as growth slows. US shoppers spent $2 billion on K-beauty products in the 12 months ended July, up 37% YoY, per Nielsen data shared with Business Insider. The Hallyu wave shows no signs of ebbing. Korea’s rising cultural influence is being felt on everything from films to music to food, with global spending on Korean cultural exports expected to nearly double by 2030.

Storm clouds are rolling in for several of the world’s largest economies. The US, China, and EU are all under pressure due to tariffs, depressed consumer confidence, and economic uncertainty. That is creating serious challenges for retailers, which are struggling to convince shoppers to open their wallets while facing diminishing margins.

Black Friday is set to dominate the 2025 holiday shopping season once again, with Bain forecasting that 55% of US consumers plan to shop the day after Thanksgiving, driving online sales up 5.2% to $12.04 billion. Despite economic uncertainty and waning consumer confidence, value-driven shoppers are expected to flock to early promotions extending into a “Cyber Dozen” period. Retailers like Amazon and Best Buy are likely to continue early deals, while strategic discounting around the Cyber Five will be critical as consumers tighten spending. Retailers' focus should be timing promotions for maximum impact amid cautious holiday sentiment.