Despite being a leader in AI use, the BNPL provider said leaning on AI for customer service lowered support quality

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how tariffs will impact private labels, if private label still a synonym for “affordable”, and some unofficial awards for the 5 most interesting private label players. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Principal Analyst Sky Canaves and Analyst Arielle Feger.

In retail, digital twins are virtual replicas of real-world products, stores, or processes, helping retailers model everything from supply chains to store layouts. Digital twins may play an even bigger role in retail now that retailers must navigate the uncertainty around tariffs. Here are four ways they can help retailers prepare and respond.

Microsoft moves to kill the password for good: New accounts skip passwords entirely, and users can delete old ones—part of a bigger push to make passkeys the new normal.

A flurry of interest and an unexpected announcement from PayPal show where banks see the biggest value of their own stablecoins.

This is the first installment of our “UK Ad Spending Benchmarks” series, which helps ad buyers and sellers calibrate their spending and revenue mix against the market.

This is the first installment of our “UK Ad Spending Benchmarks” series, which helps ad buyers and sellers calibrate their spending and revenue mix against the market.

Gaming audiences are a powerful force in back-to-school shopping, influencing both digital and in-store purchases. Activision Blizzard Media’s latest research reveals how this often-overlooked group—many of them parents—are planning early, spending big, and responding to mobile-first ads.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss what traveler media can do that retail media can’t, what makes travelers more receptive to personalized ads, and the possibilities that emerge once fast, free WiFi becomes ubiquitous on planes. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Principal Analyst Sarah Marzano, and the CEO of MileagePlus, United Airlines Richard Nunn. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

The BNPL provider is racking up partners in a major expansion push before its now-delayed IPO

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss (now that tariffs are here), how they’re impacting consumer behavior, some unexpected outcomes, and the numbers that will guide retailers in the months ahead. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Analyst Rachel Wolff and Senior Analyst Zak Stambor.

Consumer spending for the 2025 back-to-school shopping season will slow for the second year in a row as growth aligns with full-year retail. Ecommerce and K-12-focused purchases will drive overall spending.

TikTok-fueled impulse buying is redrawing the affiliate marketing landscape. As shoppers skip the research phase and rely on creator recommendations, brands are rethinking how they build trust, drive conversions, and stay ahead of trends.

This is the Q1 2025 installment of our quarterly “Ad Spending Benchmarks” series, which helps ad buyers and sellers calibrate their spending and revenue mix against the market.​

This is the Q1 2025 installment of our quarterly “Ad Spending Benchmarks” series, which helps ad buyers and sellers calibrate their spending and revenue mix against the market.​

Retailers are feeling the ripple effects of new tariffs as consumers brace for higher prices. While some shoppers accept the trade-off, many are already adjusting their habits—from cutting back on fast food to seeking out deals. To stay competitive, brands must focus on value, transparency, and smart messaging. Here are five key stats on how tariffs are shaking things up.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how department stores are getting on, how they’re evolving, and what the contemporary department store needs to do to stick around. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Vice President of Content Suzy Davidkhanian and Senior Analyst Carina Perkins.

Anxiety around inflation, a deteriorating labor market, and trade war consequences have deepened consumer uncertainty about the US economy, with wide-ranging implications for retail.

Online resale merchandise value will reach $40 billion in the US by 2029, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13%, according to March data from thredUP.