Retailers Favor Automation as Holiday Hiring Declines
With holiday hiring at decade lows, retailers turn to automation and lean operations to manage peak season demand efficiently.
Retailers Cut Holiday Hiring Despite $1T Sales Forecast
U.S. retailers expect record holiday sales in 2025 but are hiring fewer seasonal workers, signaling a shift toward automation and leaner operations.
Retail Layoffs Highlight Growing Divide Between Growth and Employment
Despite strong consumer demand, retailers lead in job cuts as companies prioritize automation and tech-driven operations over headcount growth.
Only 17% of Retailers Achieve Unified Commerce Maturity
Most retailers struggle to unify digital and in-store systems, exposing a major gap in delivering seamless omnichannel experiences.
Retailers Struggle to Prove ROI on In-Store Technology
Nearly half of North American retailers can’t quantify the return on in-store tech, raising concerns about investment impact.
Amazon Launches “Haul” Storefront and Early Holiday Sale
Amazon debuts an ultra-low-price “Haul” storefront with items under $10 and launches an early Black Friday-style event.
Columbia Sportswear Appoints Co‑Presidents in Succession Plan
Columbia Sportswear appoints two co-presidents to support its succession strategy and drive global brand and DTC growth.
Target Cuts 1,800 Corporate Roles, Deploys AI for Shoppers
Target is eliminating 1,000 jobs and closing 800 open roles while rolling out AI tools to enhance gift discovery for holiday shoppers.
Starbucks Baristas Strike on Red Cup Day Over Contracts
More than 1,000 unionized baristas at Starbucks Corporation across over 40 U.S. cities have initiated an indefinite strike during Red Cup Day, pressing for a collective bargaining agreement that addresses pay, staffing and benefits.
Walmart Names John Furner as President & CEO
Walmart Inc.’s board has elected John Furner as President and Chief Executive Officer effective February 1, 2026, marking a key transition in the retailer’s omnichannel leadership.
Holiday Shoppers Shift to Early Deals and Delayed Payments
U.S. consumers are starting holiday shopping earlier, leaning on buy-now-pay-later, and hunting discounts as inflation and job worries shape spending habits.
Ep. 2 - Stablecoin Meets Omnichannel
Stablecoin is reshaping retail payments with instant refunds, cheaper settlements, and programmable rewards. Discover how AI, automation, and transparency are building faster, smarter checkout systems that power the next wave of omnichannel commerce.
Modern Measurement Meltdown: Why Legacy Models Fail
Marketing leaders face a measurement meltdown as legacy models collapse under modern complexity—here’s how to rebuild toward a dynamic, AI‑ready system.
IEA Projects Oil Demand Growth Through 2050
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has revived a scenario projecting global oil demand growth through 2050 — a significant shift in outlook that may ripple throughout supply‑chain, logistics and omnichannel retail strategies.
Creating Smarter Business with AI and Quantum
In a live episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Malcolm Gladwell and Arvind Krishna explore how AI and quantum computing are reshaping enterprise strategy.
How to Thrive Amid 3,700+ U.S. Store Closures in 2025
As over 3,700 stores shutter nationwide, retailers and suppliers must act now to transform physical locations into omnichannel performance hubs.