In this report, CMOs share how they’re transforming influencer strategies to deliver business impact—and what solution providers can do to help.

As retail spending slows down, consumers are increasingly using the same feeds that fuel impulse shopping to bond over the collective desire to curb their spending. This makes an influencer strategy embedded in value and relatability crucial.

Amazon Haul expands overseas as de minimis uncertainty clouds domestic prospects: The low-cost marketplace is now available to UK and Saudi Arabian shoppers.

Private label sales growth outpaced national brands last year: Consumers' growing appetite for value is driving grocers to elevate their brands to compete against established names.

Planning for the holidays may be harder this year as tariffs cast a shadow over both consumers and retailers. “As of right now, we’re seeing a lot of unusual consumer behavior that’s likely to persist as long as tariff uncertainty persists,” said our analyst Sky Canaves, author of our “US Holiday 2024 Recap and 2025 Preview” report. Still, there are steps retailers can take to prepare. Here are three key strategies to help navigate a challenging holiday season.

Brands face a current environment where consumers are increasingly loosening ties and changing shopping habits due to economic pressures and shifting expectations. Customers are less brand loyal today than they were five years ago, pushing brands to build stronger communities through providing emotional connections and support.

The impacts of the Trump Administration’s new tariffs are already rippling through global supply chains and consumer markets. "US retailers should be dusting off their inflation playbooks and brace for erratic shifts in spending patterns," warned our analyst Blake Droesch.

“Today’s shoppers are like savvy jugglers,” Ben Galvin, senior director of omnichannel retail sales and ecommerce at Monster Energy, said during a recent Path to Purchase Institute webinar. “They’re balancing budgets, bouncing between in-store and online. Convenience continues to be king, but value is what they’re really looking for.” But value means different things to different people.

B2B influencer marketing has become a key strategy for driving trust and engagement. Buyers turn to industry experts, micro-influencers, and thought leaders for credible insights. Marketers should use video and events to maximize reach as well as AI for efficiency and measurable ROI.

AI is transforming B2B content marketing, but trust and differentiation remain critical. Buyers seek authenticity from peers, influencers, and industry experts. Marketers must balance AI, human expertise, and bold strategies to drive engagement and growth in 2025.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how Mint Mobile was able to stand out before a celebrity like Ryan Reynolds joined the team, how he helped them break the marketing mold, and lessons learned along the way to becoming a billion-dollar valued company. Tune in to the conversation with Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, our Senior Director of Briefings Jeremy Goldman, Vice President Suzy Davidkhanian, and Strategic Advisor to Mint Mobile Aron North. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

Egg prices are up, and so are consumers’ concerns about affording groceries amid rising cases of avian flu, inflation, and President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Here’s how grocery shopping may change in the year ahead and what retailers need to know.

P&G’s investments in innovation are driving volume growth: The company gained share in Q2 and kept private labels at bay.

A lot can happen in a week. Rue21’s customer overlap with TikTok Shop could position the brand to benefit from a potential TikTok ban. Meanwhile, Gen Z consumers are increasingly choosing alcohol-free lifestyles, reflecting health-conscious preferences. Cost-consciousness drives brand switching, but convenience remains key in purchase decisions. Here are five stats that caught our eye this week.

Retailers ended 2024 on a high: Holiday ecommerce sales surged by nearly 9% YoY as steep discounts and tariff fears spurred spending.

In 2025, retailers will redefine value by blending discounts with innovation, empathy, and personalization. Brands will prioritize authentic connections, engaging audiences through in-person experiences, and highly targeted campaigns powered by advanced technologies like AI. Let’s look at three key marketing themes industry experts believe will shape 2025.

While our analysts have shared their major trends for the year ahead, the newsletter team has a few additional thoughts. In 2025, we think retailers will focus on personalized in-store experiences and technology to boost foot traffic and engagement while Amazon brings its AI assistant, Rufus, to brick-and-mortar locations. Discount retailers will struggle to retain customers, leading them to diversify or launch marketplaces to stay competitive.

CMOs are mastering brand bravery to stand out in competitive markets. Through bold strategies, innovative campaigns, and authentic storytelling, they balance daring moves with trust and integrity. In this report, four leading CMOs share how they transform risks into impactful brand actions.

The top B2B marketing trends in 2025 include AI-driven insights, first-party data strategies, and balancing automation with authenticity. In this report, marketers and agencies can learn how to embrace these evolving strategies in order to boost engagement, trust, and ROI.