We are back with the first monthly snacks of 2025 and our 100th edition! Let’s see what happened in retail in the last month.
Campaign corner
Oreo and binge-watching. Oreo helps you make a decision, or at least that’s what their most recent commercial shows us. Two friends wrap up an episode of their favorite show, but a clash arises—one's up for just one more, while the other’s ready to binge it all. They let an Oreo cookie seal their fate: cream on the right means one more episode, cream on the left means an all-night marathon. The cookie lands right, but their resolve crumbles—they stay up until dawn watching, with one of them nodding off mid-binge.
Ready for the Super Bowl? As you know, the Super Bowl is close and one of the best parts about it is the commercials. Pringles, Totiono’s Pizza, and many other brands have aired teasers for their commercials. We can’t wait to see all of them.
What happened in Retail tech?
Digital platforms. Best Buy is set to launch its digital platform, Best Buy Marketplace, this summer, allowing third-party sellers to integrate their products onto its website and mobile app. The retailer is collaborating with Mirakl, a marketplace technology provider that has partnered with major retailers like Macy’s, Nordstrom, and Kroger.
NRF 2025. The 2025 NRF Big Show highlighted innovative trends in retail technology, attracting nearly 40,000 industry leaders and showcasing over 125 AI-powered solutions. Key themes included advanced AI for personalization, inventory optimization, and pricing strategies, intelligent supply chain tools like RFID and food waste reduction, and frictionless shopping experiences through smart carts and self-checkout systems. Emphasizing operational efficiency and agility, the event demonstrated how grocers and retailers are leveraging cutting-edge technologies to meet evolving consumer expectations and navigate market uncertainties.
What experts say…
The younger generation. As generational dynamics shift, retailers like Sephora, Claire’s, and Roblox are adapting to serve Gen Z and Gen Alpha by embracing influencers, digital innovation, and personalization. At the 2025 NRF Big Show, executives discussed how younger consumers value seamless integration between physical and digital experiences, with examples like Sephora's tech-driven shade matching and Claire's customization-focused offerings. Here’s what Neil Saunders stated on the topic:
Physical retail. The modern brick-and-mortar retail experience has evolved significantly, blending advanced technology with traditional customer service practices to meet changing consumer expectations. Key strategies for increasing sales in 2025 include personalized and friendly greetings, active listening to understand customer needs, and maintaining well-organized, visually appealing merchandising to enhance the shopping experience. As retailers navigate a hybrid model of physical and online sales, fostering authenticity, empathy, and professionalism among frontline associates is crucial for building customer loyalty and driving repeat business. This is what Karen Wong mentioned:
Statistic of the week
Holiday retail sales rose 4% year over year to total $994.1 billion from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31.
According to the National Retail Federation, this growth aligns with pre-pandemic trends, supported by lower inflation compared to the previous holiday season. From 2010 to 2019, holiday spending increased by an average of 3.6% annually.
In other news…
Discounters in 2025. Traditional supermarkets face intensifying competition from discount grocers like Aldi, Lidl, and Save A Lot in 2025, as these retailers expand aggressively and capitalize on shifting customer preferences. Discounters, which gained prominence during the pandemic and periods of high inflation, now focus on offering relevant, affordable essentials and fresh products while scaling operations, such as Aldi's planned 800 new U.S. stores by 2028 and Save A Lot's tripling of its store count. Strategies like a "less-is-more" product assortment and private label expansion help discounters differentiate themselves and maintain their growing appeal to cost-conscious shoppers.
Digital-first refresh. Walmart has unveiled a refreshed brand identity to reflect its evolution into an omnichannel retailer focused on digital and cross-channel capabilities. The update emphasizes its iconic spark logo as a standalone symbol, incorporates vibrant new colors, and introduces a custom typeface, Everyday Sans, inspired by the company's heritage. With this modernization, Walmart aims to enhance its digital-first services, strengthen brand equity, and position itself as a more modern and culturally dynamic retailer.
