The pandemic ecommerce boom that drove online sales is over. But marketplaces will continue to expand their share of US retail ecommerce, contributing almost 40% of the $588 billion in US online sales growth that we forecast over the next five years.

Walgreens attempts to cut down on retail theft: By putting most products behind counters, the retailer is also increasing the burden on store associates.

The 15 biggest US ecommerce players aren’t a surprise (here’s looking at you, Amazon, Walmart, and Apple). User-friendly mobile apps, quick delivery, innovation, and converting sales are what turn retailers into ecommerce powerhouses. Here are the companies our analysts believe best exemplify those features within the 15 largest ecommerce players.

Target offers a year-long return policy for its private labels: That’s a very different approach from most retailers, which have made steps to clamp down on returns.

Target pulls LGBTQ-themed items ahead of Pride Month: The retailer succumbs to pressure after store associates experienced threats.

Amazon and big-box stores are likely to win from Bed Bath & Beyond’s collapse, while fast-fashion retailers could score displaced David’s Bridal customers. But keep a lookout for underdogs like Etsy, which may bring in shoppers looking for personalized party supplies in Party City’s absence.

Moving across the US-Canada border can be the first step toward international expansion for retailers. Canadian brands like lululemon athletica and Aritzia are thriving in the US. Meanwhile, US-based companies Lowe’s, Nordstrom, and Bed Bath & Beyond recently announced they were leaving Canada. And let’s not forget Target’s famous Canadian failure. Here’s a look at how brands on both sides of the border have fared, and the lessons you can learn from them.

Walmart is shuttering four stores in Chicago: The retail giant says that the stores lose “tens of millions of dollars a year,” and their annual losses nearly doubled in the last five years.

Warehouse inventory levels remain a significant hurdle for many retailers: While there’s progress, only 36% of supply chain managers expect inventories to return to normal this year.

L’Oréal’s Aesop purchase is the company’s biggest yet: The beauty giant is spending $2.53 billion to stake a larger claim to the highly profitable luxury skincare category.

Over the next two years, the four ecommerce companies with the largest shares of US retail ecommerce sales will hold their spots. But moves by smaller players will shake up the rankings.

China’s manufacturing expertise is difficult to compete with: That has led some retailers to rethink supply chain diversification even as India, Latin America, and Vietnam gain traction as production hubs.

Smaller retailers are gaining share and reshaping the ecommerce landscape, but will they be able compete with giants like Amazon?

The rise of in-store retail media will prove that the physical store is the next major media channel for brands.

Despite the word “recession” hanging in the air, US retailers had an okay Q4 in 2022. But some recurring themes persisted: Shoppers pulled back on discretionary spending, opted against home renovations, and generally avoided high prices. Here’s a look at how those trends affected earnings.

The labor market is extremely challenging for retailers and restaurants: Quit rates are on the rise, which is making it difficult for companies seeking to improve the customer experience.

Tighter economic climate forces companies to focus on profitability: The paradigm shift away from long-term bets has driven changes everywhere from Amazon to Wayfair to Sweetgreen.

Macy's and Best Buy are seeing a drop in sales of nonessential goods: Economic uncertainty, inflation force consumers to focusing on necessities like groceries.

People aren’t moving as much as they used to: That poses a challenge to home improvement retailers like Lowe’s and Home Depot, as well as retailers that sell home-related items.

Deal-seeking by consumers, heavy discounting from retailers, and a longer holiday shopping season drove an uptick in returns during the 2022 holiday season. Retailers will need to plan their promotional calendars carefully to manage returns in 2023.