Retail media networks (RMNs) are using APIs to give advertisers more control over the management, measurement, and optimization of their campaigns.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss what happens when a shelf is empty, how retailers can stay ahead of this, and how signals translate into actionable store-level decisions. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Principal Analyst Sky Canaves, Senior Analyst Blake Droesch, and Chief Revenue Officer at Trax David Gottlieb. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss the unofficial list of the most interesting retailers for the month of March. Each month, our analysts Arielle Feger, Becky Schilling, and Sara Lebow (aka The Committee) put together a very unofficial list of the top eight retailers they're watching based on which are making the most interesting moves: Who's launching new initiatives? Which partnerships are moving the needle? Which standout marketing campaigns are being created? In this month's episode, Committee members Senior Director of Content Becky Schilling and Analyst Sara Lebow will defend their list against Principal Analyst Sky Canaves and Analyst Rachel Wolff, who will dispute the power rankings by attempting to move retailers up, down, on, or off the list.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how Walgreens went from “pharmacy behemoth to distressed retailer”, the biggest lesson from its downfall, and where the company goes from here. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, and Senior Analysts Rajiv Leventhal and Zak Stambor, for the conversation. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

Last week, Best Buy Ads launched Social+, an offering that allows brands and agencies to leverage Best Buy’s first-party data for social media campaigns. The tool is currently only available for Meta campaigns on Facebook and Instagram, but will expand to other social media networks in the future, per a press release.

Inside Puma’s biggest campaign to date: The “Go Wild” campaign takes a multichannel approach and could help Puma exceed its 2025 expectations.

Essential goods categories will run out of steam, leading to a slowdown in ecommerce growth.

This year’s festival highlighted a maturing creator economy, a reality check for AI, and bigger and bolder brand activations and marketing trends.

Historically, brands used upper-funnel channels like connected TV (CTV) for brand awareness, while relying on lower-funnel tactics such as retail media to drive conversions. But with shoppable CTV ads, brands can do both, leveraging retail media network (RMN) data to target consumers across CTV platforms, connecting the moment of discovery directly to the point of purchase.

Amazon and Walmart dominate the landscape, but the other half of US ecommerce sales is still up for grabs.

Issuers are relying more than ever on this segment to bolster payment volume and revenues.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss what malls are doing well (and why), the reasons folks have been skipping the mall, and why IKEA and Walmart bought one each. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Analysts Emmy Liederman and Rachel Wolff.

Connected TV (CTV) is already a wild west of providers, platforms, and inventory. Add retail media networks (RMNs) into the mix, and measuring success becomes even more complicated.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss what a tariff even is, what might happen when they’re implemented, and how best to prepare for them. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Principal Analysts Paul Briggs and Matteo Ceurvels, and Analyst Rachel Wolff.

In a competitive retail landscape, alcohol brands are turning to AI-powered image recognition to optimize in-store execution. This technology provides real-time insights on shelf conditions, helping brands keep products well-stocked, properly displayed, and positioned to capture shoppers’ attention—boosting visibility and sales.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how GenAI is changing the customer shopping journey the most, the impact of AI agents, and how to maintain brand messaging in a more conversational universe. Tune in to the episode with Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, our Analyst Jacob Bourne, Vice President Suzy Davidkhanian, and Global Digital Commerce Senior Director, Strategy & Execution, Todd Hassenfelt. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

Foot traffic to Aldi stores grew 12.3% YoY in Q4 2024, over twice the growth of low-cost competitor Trader Joe’s, according to data from Placer.ai.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the elements of the Lego flywheel, how its remained relevant across demographics, and what other brands and retailers can learn from its success. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Principal Analyst Sky Canaves and Senior Analyst Zak Stambor.

On today’s special edition podcast, we discuss the evolution of creator content, how content is migrating off social channels, brand partnerships and the implications of AI on content. Join Vice President and Principal Analyst, Jasmine Enberg as she hosts Nicole Weltman, Head of Social from Taco Bell, Bryan Reisberg, Creator, CEO, and Co-Founder of Little Chonk, and Sarah Crockett, Senior Vice President and CMO of DSW. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

Non-retail commerce media channels typically mean payments, travel, and intermediaries that overlap with retail. But more nontraditional commerce media networks have been popping up from places like Mohegan’s casinos, RE/MAX’s real estate websites, and Planet Fitness’ gyms.