Deep Dive
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Will Amazon’s AI-powered one-stop shop for advertising change the game?
Amazon's advertising business continued to accelerate growth in 2025, with Q3 revenue up 24% year-over-year to nearly $18 billion. At the UnBoxed conference, the company introduced full-funnel advertising campaigns and an upgraded Campaign Manager, leveraging AI to integrate sponsored ads with its demand-side platform, while enhancing Prime Video's streaming TV advertising capabilities, claiming to reach an average of 315 million global viewers monthly.
Lululemon’s ‘downward spiral’ — and how the brand plans to break out of it
Facing persistent same-store sales declines in North America, Lululemon acknowledges it has become too predictable in its casual offerings. CEO Calvin McDonald has proposed a plan to raise the share of new styles to 35% and adjust the design team. However, institutions like HSBC believe the brand has fallen into a 'downward spiral,' grappling with the dual challenges of intensifying competition and the loss of core customers.
How the retail sector teams up to defend against cybercrime
Earlier this year, the Scattered Spider hacker group breached the networks of several major U.S. retailers and suppliers, testing the low-key cybersecurity collaboration within the retail industry. The Retail & Hospitality Information Sharing and Analysis Center (RH-ISAC) plays a key role in coordinating defense by sharing intelligence, strategies, and collaborating with tech giants to enhance overall industry resilience. However, industry fragmentation, member diversity, and human vulnerabilities remain challenges.
What it takes for a mall to be ‘evergreen’
Not all U.S. shopping malls are in decline; some B-class malls are being redefined as 'evergreen' assets. WPG CEO Chris Conlon proposes specific criteria, while experts from Green Street and Northmarq share insights, though some skeptics argue that the traditional mall model is no longer sustainable.
De minimis’ end: How shippers are adapting for peak season and beyond
The U.S. officially terminated the de minimis duty exemption for global commercial parcels in July, significantly earlier than the original 2027 timeline. This move will raise costs for low-value imported goods and may trigger customs congestion during peak season. Experts advise shippers to identify SKUs reliant on this policy, simulate tariff costs, and consider shifting to bulk imports into U.S. warehouses, while monitoring transitional arrangements for postal channels.
The biggest culprit in shrink is in the store — but it’s probably not a criminal
Although organized retail crime continues to draw attention from policymakers and industry groups, loss prevention experts point out that the impact of external theft on inventory shrinkage is overestimated, while nearly two-thirds of shrinkage causes do not receive sufficient attention. Coresight Research's latest study shows that sales losses due to store operational inefficiencies average 5.5%, up 1 percentage point from last year, and eliminating these inefficiencies could save U.S. retailers up to $162.7 billion. Experts suggest that retailers should reposition the loss prevention function, use data and technology to break down departmental silos, and be wary of risks posed by understaffing.
Why Dick’s Foot Locker acquisition is a big bet on Nike
Dick's Sporting Goods announced last month the acquisition of Foot Locker for $2.4 billion. Industry experts point out that this deal is essentially a bet on Nike's rapid recovery under new CEO Elliott Hill—Nike currently accounts for nearly 60% of Foot Locker's sales, but Nike itself is in a transition period, and product innovation and the reduction of classic lines still require time. Analysts estimate that Nike's full recovery may take 12 to 18 months or even longer, and whether Dick's can successfully integrate Foot Locker's operations and store network is another major challenge.
Checkout-free payments may yet rise
Checkout-free payment has not died out after Grabango's shutdown and Amazon's contraction. Industry experts and consultants point out that advances in AI technology are expected to lower costs and improve recognition accuracy, driving faster adoption of this model in venues such as stadiums and convenience stores.