Many large banks are watering down or removing online references to DEI in a polarized environment.

Retail media’s rapid growth has spurred nonretail verticals to harness their first-party data to fuel their own commerce media networks. Retail media spending still dominates the commerce media landscape, but distinct challenger cohorts are finding their footing.

In January, the most interesting retailers capitalized on New Year’s trends like resolutions, lower-alcohol consumption, and an influx of holiday returns. Poshmark and Sephora introduced new partnerships, while Amazon and Temu increased their own retail media-related offerings. Here are the eight most significant retail developments of January 2024, ranked by their potential market impact.

As retailers strive to improve in-store experiences and beef up loyalty programs, CVS is testing one stone for those two birds. As part of the recent revamp of its mobile app, CVS is letting loyalty program members use the retailer's app to access locked-up products in select stores.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss the unofficial list of the most interesting retailers for the month of January. 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 Analyst Arielle Feger and Senior Analyst Sara Lebow will defend their list against Senior Analyst Zak Stambor and Analyst Rachel Wolff, who will dispute the power rankings by attempting to move retailers up, down, on, or off the list.

Younger banking customers care more than their older counterparts about banks’ diversity.

Retailers get burned on DEI: Companies risk backlash whether they stand firm or capitulate to anti-DEI pressure.

Solid December sales cap a year of healthy retail growth: But 2025 could be a different story, as tariff concerns keep all but the wealthiest consumers from spending freely.

Charlotte Tilbury takes aim at dupe culture: The brand’s latest campaign encourages shoppers to buy the real thing, even as retailers and manufacturers double down on cheaper alternatives.

Meta, Amazon join list of companies ditching DEI efforts: Evidence shows consumers reward commitment to social causes, but companies are making political calculations.

Beauty’s run of strong retail sales growth is winding down, but new audiences and sales channels will offer opportunities for savvy brands and retailers to regain momentum.

Tom Holland’s Bero brand is now in 1,400 Target stores: The nonalcoholic beer aims to chart a course similar to the success of celebrity-driven spirits brands.

Growth rates will decline, but digital grocery will remain a key focus for retailers looking to drive incremental sales dollars in ecommerce.

In 2025, retailers must prioritize data-driven measurement, seamless online-to-store experiences, and programmatic out-of-home (OOH) advertising. Seeking heightened measurement has nearly half of marketers emphasizing attribution, making actionable insights crucial. Meanwhile, bridging digital and physical shopping and leveraging real-time OOH campaigns can help retailers stay competitive. Here are three areas retailers should prioritize in 2025, according to industry experts.

The economy is looking good as the calendar turns to 2025: Consumers are in a good position to spend, but the new administration’s policies could change that trajectory.

Christmas Day is less than a week away, but some consumers are still chipping away at their lists. That’s why Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Dollar General are announcing last-minute holiday deals for consumers seeking the perfect gift.

Temu, Shein, and TikTok Shop are winning this holiday season: Sales growth for all three outpaced larger players like Amazon and Target in November.

Target’s net sales grew just 0.9% in Q3 2024, well below Walmart’s growth of 5.0% and Amazon’s 8.7%, according to company earnings releases.

Consumers spent a record-breaking $314.9 billion online globally during this year’s Cyber Five, according to Salesforce. But there’s lots more to learn beyond top-line sales numbers—from Target's Taylor Swift-fueled Black Friday surge to Gen Z's big spending habits. Here are five key stats on Cyber Five performance you may have missed and what they mean for the rest of the holiday season.