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  • November 28, 2025

    • Holiday ads don’t seem to perturb consumers that much, with more than half (54%) expressing neutral sentiment on the subject, and almost a third (31%) stating they love them, per GumGum data. However, retargeted ads appear to be a concern, with 62% saying that third-party digital cookies could end up ruining the surprise of a Christmas gift. “This data really highlights the importance of respectful, contextually aligned advertising. By meeting consumers in the right mindset and avoiding invasive retargeting, brands can build trust and deliver performance without risking the magic of the season,” said Katy Loria, chief revenue officer at GumGum (via Chain Store Age).
    • Consumers and retailers alike are being warned of the potential for fraudulent leverage of agentic shoppers this Black Friday. “It definitely makes my life easier… but at the same time, it also makes fraudsters’ life substantially easier as well. Think of it as sending thousands of robots into different stores to masquerade as good consumers,” said Michael Reitblat, CEO of Forter, an e-commerce prevention provider (via CNBC).
    • Sears could be headed into its very last holiday season, with just five stores remaining out of a fleet that once numbered well over 2,000 just 20 years ago. “Sears wasn’t profitable back in the day when it was a much bigger company with buying power. The idea it is profitable with just a small number of stores is for the birds,” said GlobalData managing director, and RetailWire BrainTrust panelist, Neil Saunders (via CNN Business).
    • AI traffic to retailers soared by 830% year-over-year in early November, according to data provided by Adobe Analytics. Top product categories being explored for purchase included tech and consumer electronics, toys, and personal care products. “While generative AI traffic remains modest compared to other channels, such as paid search or email, the uptick this season has been notable,” Adobe said (via Forbes).
    • MAC Cosmetics is expanding its live-selling approach, already moving products via Chinese platforms Tmall and Douyin, to include selling on TikTok Shop in the U.S. For Black Friday, the brand is selling various promotional bundles via TikTok Shop, and is also offering 30% off via its website (via Modern Retail).

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