Shein is giving fashion brands access to its apparel manufacturing network—in exchange for setting up shop on its marketplace, Bloomberg reported. Shein’s decision to monetize its manufacturing and fulfillment services is necessary as it looks for more sustainable models of growth. Its insistence on linking Xcelerator to selling on its marketplace could also be beneficial in the long run. More third-party sellers means more inventory as well as the potential for ad revenues, should Shein follow that path.
YouTube wants to be the home for both product discovery and ecommerce as it rolls out new shopping features across long-form videos and Shorts, per The Verge. Incoming additions include dynamic brand segments for swapping out sponsors, AI tagging of eligible products, and brand links in Shorts. YouTube is announcing new features—like shoppable masthead ads and text-to-video tools—at a breakneck pace, looking to capitalize on its growth across platforms. Brands should partner with both top creators and smaller influencers to boost discovery and purchases.
Google Chrome’s latest update embeds Gemini AI into the browser, giving users direct access to AI-powered research, automation, organization, and real-time security tools. Google is infusing its AI features into its most-used product a week after it avoided being forced to divest its browser. Imbuing Chrome with AI unlocks unprecedented volumes of user training data—an advantage no rival can replicate. This development, plus Gemini’s expansion into education, underscores a wider push to make Google’s AI as ubiquitous as its search engine.
With return volumes projected to climb 5.9% this year—pushing up costs—retailers are piling on restrictions to stem the flow. But those roadblocks carry risk since shoppers consider easy returns as table stakes and most will walk away if the process feels like a hassle.
MrBeast’s Feastables brand is under fire after the Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) flagged multiple practices that may have misled children or mishandled their data. Concerns included undisclosed promotions in videos, a misleading “blind taste test” against European chocolates, sweepstakes that encouraged bulk purchases, and collection of under-13 data via pop-ups. The case signals a broader shift: influencer-led brands are now being held to the same advertising and disclosure standards as traditional advertisers, with potential regulatory and reputational risks for creators and partners alike.
Anthropic’s Claude AI is taking on competitors in a multimillion dollar ad campaign. The “Keep Thinking” campaign positions Claude as “the AI for problem solvers” and marks Anthropic’s first foray into brand marketing. The campaign is a necessary start to help Claude gain market share and boost its comparatively small user base, but it’s only the first step in a long journey ahead for Anthropic.
MoneyGram launched a mobile app that uses stablecoins to make cross-border payments easier and cheaper. Investment in crypto services can help MoneyGram secure loyal patrons as its rivals also offer stablecoin-backed cross border payments.
Google introduced new features for Demand Gen campaigns and said it will publish monthly, newsletter-style updates to keep marketers on track with the latest Demand Gen updates. Google is moving to chip away at advertisers’ black-box concerns by adding more visibility, measurement, and testing options into Demand Gen, signaling its push toward greater transparency and control for campaign performance.
Industry KPI data from Placer.ai reveals a clear divide in retail foot traffic trends. Essentials-focused merchants and dollar stores are maintaining growth while discretionary-heavy sectors like department stores and housing-related chains fall behind. Understanding foot traffic trends is critical for brands and retailers to understand where growth—and risk—will lie in the coming months. Necessities will keep grocers and discounters in demand, while discretionary-focused chains must offer value, cut prices, and explore adjacent business lines—such as off-price formats or supply services—to keep sales coming.
A federal health advisory panel has narrowed the recommendation for childhood measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine, but indefinitely postponed an expected vote on the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns. Public trust in federal health authorities was already shaky, but every new clash between Kennedy’s anti-vaccine advocates and medical experts makes pharma marketers’ and agencies’ jobs harder. Public health guidance can no longer rest solely with federal agencies. Vaccine makers need to support state and local health agencies, amplify community vaccination efforts, and partner with physicians and trusted online health voices to reinforce safety messages for parents.
Two-thirds (67%) of people with chronic health conditions take action after seeing pharma advertising for treatments, per a recent Swoop survey. Patients are active, informed pharma consumers. But federal efforts to limit TV and social media ads could shrink drugmakers’ reach. Marketers should lean into lower-profile digital touchpoints—like search and brand websites—where our data shows patients most often begin their health journeys. Marketers and agencies also need to boost visibility in unpaid media. Partner with advocacy groups to engage patients both online and offline, and double down on support programs and online resources to build and maintain trusted relationships.
More consumers are turning to AI tools and social media platforms to research and select doctors, according to a new survey from rater8. Healthcare providers need to ensure that their business profiles are regularly updated online to be noticeable in local search results. They should also encourage their patients to leave online reviews while consistently responding, as this activity could boost relevance for AI algorithms. Social media content is also important, and should include testimonials from satisfied patients, along with posts from doctors that demystify complex medical information.
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss which of the over 500 sessions will be the most interesting conversation at this year’s Advertising Week 2025 in New York. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host, Marcus Johnson, Senior Director of Briefings, Jeremy Goldman, Analyst, Marisa Jones, and Senior Editor, Daniel Konstantinovic. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
Tapestry and Ralph Lauren are planning for growth in an otherwise tepid luxury market. Tapestry expects mid-single-digit revenue growth in fiscal 2027 and 2028. Longer term, it aims to turn Coach into a $10 billion brand, up from $5.6 billion last year. Ralph Lauren also has its sights on becoming a $10 billion brand by decade’s end. Its latest forecast calls for mid-single-digit sales growth over the next three years—a target executives acknowledged as conservative but aligned with its goal of sustainable expansion. With pricing power waning, storytelling and product innovation are crucial for reengaging disaffected consumers. Tapestry and Ralph Lauren show that combining brand resonance, strong core products with a disciplined pricing strategy, and an inclusive approach to luxury can deliver sustainable growth in a challenging market.
American Express refreshed its consumer and business Platinum Cards, complete with $895 annual fees and an enhanced slate of travel, dining, entertainment, and shopping credits. Amex’s annual fee is creeping closer to $1,000, and the issuer is arguing its fleet of perks—on paper worth over $3,500—more than pays for the price hike. However, cardholders will need to enroll to access many of Amex’s latest offerings, a snag that’s likely to reduce members actual use rate of their perks—eroding Platinum’s value and potentially pushing away the premium consumers Amex is trying to court.
USAA has topped Investor’s Business Daily’s 2025 “30 Most Trusted Financial Companies” ranking. The financial institution (FI) scored exceptionally well across nearly all trust attributes. This ranking reinforces the importance of not only financial soundness, which respondents ranked consistently as their most important factor influencing trust, but also of developing a deep understanding of your customers. And the work doesn’t stop there—it’s what FIs do with that understanding that matters.
The Trump administration announced on September 15 that a TikTok sale deal has finally been reached with China after months of uncertainty, allowing TikTok to remain operational in the US. That means TikTok’s future in the US isn’t as uncertain as it recently was. FIs that set aside plans to build up their TikTok following or reach target customers via campaigns or finfluencer relationships should now move full steam ahead on TikTok. This is the moment to restart those efforts with a renewed focus on authenticity and education. FIs should create specific content that speaks to Gen Z’s financial realities.
UBS has issued a warning that there is a 93% chance of a US recession this year, per Moneywise. The prediction is based on data such as personal incomes, consumption, industrial production, and employment rates. When consumers feel stressed, they’re more likely to turn to advice that promises to fix their problems quickly. But much advice like this on social media is misleading—or downright dangerous financially. FIs are well positioned to combat misinformation and share more trustworthy advice via social media on navigating economic challenges. Advice could center around specific products.
JPMorgan Chase and Plaid have renewed their data access agreement, resolving a dispute that arose when the bank started charging fintechs for access to customer data, per PYMNTS. The new deal includes a pricing structure but reportedly won't result in new fees for Plaid customers. It’s noteworthy that JPMorgan and Plaid reached an agreement while the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is still collecting public comments on a new iteration of its open banking rule. The agreement may influence the rule’s final outcome and encourage other financial institutions who are considering similar moves.
Samsung updated its Family Hub refrigerators to display ads on the Cover Screen in a pilot program, per Android Authority. Ads will appear when the large-format screen is idle, and the feature is currently limited to specific themes, including Weather, Color, and Daily Board. Art and Gallery themes are exempt. For brands, personalization of ads will be key. Samsung is counting on the family cook or hungry teen to see the placements. Using the tech giant’s data, advertisers can reach a hungry crowd just as they reach for their next snack.