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Retail & Ecommerce

3 2024 retail misconceptions: Retail media, QR codes, and microcommunities Brands and retailers got a lot right in 2024. Commerce media expanded further into non-retail channels like payments and travel. Brands found their own voices on TikTok. And in-person events helped drive traffic to stores. But the year also came with a number of lessons for retail. Here are three misconceptions retail experts noticed in 2024, and how brands can get them right in the 12 months ahead.

Sezzle faces an uphill battle competing against larger players like Affirm and Klarna

Amazon isn’t taking Temu’s attempt to lure its sellers lightly: The retailer is offering China-based merchants incentives to drop Temu listings, an approach that led Anker to pull its products.

The tie-up will bring the BNPL provider to a bevy of merchants’ checkout pages—whether they like it or not

Credit card issuers can steal share from debit cards by expanding grocery-focused rewards and promoting budgeting tools

Later acquires Mavely for $250 million: The deal integrates influencer monetization tools, enhancing measurable ROI and full-funnel marketing capabilities.

The auto industry ended 2024 on a high: Sales accelerated in Q4 as consumers rushed to take advantage of EV tax credits and avoid tariffs.

Washington will have an outsized influence on what consumers eat this year: A new surgeon general’s warning, growing trade wars, and a crackdown on processed food could shift consumption patterns.

China takes baby steps to address its consumption problem: Beijing will expand its trade-in program to include consumer electronics as it avoids committing to comprehensive stimulus measures.

Is bad content a solved problem? Businesses must leverage AI efficiency to create valuable, unique insights and maintain audience trust, argues HubSpot exec.

Interest rate cuts could help heading into 2025, but consumer financial health remains on shaky ground

While the lawsuit may not go anywhere under Trump’s CFPB, the P2P platform’s continual fraud concerns may damage its reputation

The deal highlights providers’ efforts to keep up with the growing demand for EWA

China’s economy faces more gloom in 2025: Sluggish consumer spending and a potential trade war will weigh on growth.

Dockworkers, port operators return to negotiating table as January 15 deadline looms: But clashing views on automation could scupper talks and trigger a costly—and disruptive—strike.

The fate of TikTok in the US: Legal, economic, and operational implications unfold as businesses and creators prepare for potential disruption.

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.

Lidl delivered its most successful UK Christmas season on record: The discount grocer’s revenues rose 7% in the four weeks leading up to Christmas.

Over a quarter (27.9%) of US internet users use mobile apps to track their fitness and health, according to October 2024 data from Comscore.

Apple TV+ offers free weekend: A blend of traditional tactics and tech strategy aims to boost subscribers ahead of Severance Season 2.