Holiday Pop‑Up Bars Spark Festive Experience Boom
Seasonal holiday pop‑up bars are rapidly expanding across the U.S., offering immersive experiences that drive foot traffic, social engagement, and revenue for venues during the winter season.
Holiday BNPL Surge Raises Consumer Finance Concerns
As Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) usage spikes during the 2025 holiday season, retailers and analysts debate whether it’s a savvy budgeting tool or a warning sign of financial strain among U.S. consumers.
Holiday Meal Bundles Drive Omnichannel Retail Growth
Retailers are using holiday meal bundles to drive convenience, loyalty, and cross-category growth across omnichannel touchpoints.
U.S. Returns Rise in 2025, Shoppers Retract Purchases
The inaugural Seel 2025 Returns and Refunds Report shows rising consumer return rates driven by defective items, “change of mind” returns, and economic uncertainty, reshaping retail post‑purchase strategies.
Fiber Health Trend to Outshine Protein in 2026
Dietary fiber is emerging as a major U.S. health trend for 2026, with consumers and brands shifting focus from protein to fiber for gut health, satiety, and overall wellness.
Bundle the Feast, Own the Shopper
Holiday meal bundles are reshaping retail by turning planning into a simple choice. Learn how value focused feasts boost convenience basket size and loyalty through smart assortment omnichannel execution and margin minded strategy.
Why Companies Are Hiring Storytellers Instead of Copywriters
Companies are hiring corporate storytellers to create blogs, podcasts, and branded content, shifting communications strategy for 2026 and beyond.
From Showrooming to Meta-rooming: Retail’s New Virtual Layer
Retailers are adding a metaverse front-end to the shopper journey, where avatar behavior and virtual displays shape future omnichannel strategy.
Ep. 4 - Refund Rage: The Psychology Behind Return Policies
Dr Travis Tokar explains how fairness loss aversion and frontline moments shape customer reactions to returns. Learn which policy levers build trust cut friction and protect margins and how smarter design can boost loyalty while reducing costs.
How Walmart Uses Holiday Deals to Drive Sales
Walmart and other retailers use deep discounts, flash deals, and omnichannel logistics to turn holiday urgency into revenue—even amid tighter consumer budgets.
Metaverse Retail 2026: Immersive Shopping Goes Mainstream
By 2026, metaverse retail will offer immersive, personalized shopping experiences that merge entertainment, convenience, and global access.
AI Meets Authenticity: Influencer Content That Drives Retail Media
Retail marketers are blending AI influencers with human creators to meet rising content demands—here’s how to do it with strategy and authenticity.
Store-First Thinking Is Holding Retail Back
Retail wins when digital and store teams act as one. Learn why shopper behavior demands unified planning data and goals plus how a digital infused model unlocks real growth by removing silos and serving customers with speed clarity and consistency.
Ep. 7 - Influence with Integrity: Mixing AI and Authenticity
Emma Curry breaks down how to blend AI creators with real human influence while protecting trust and boosting retail media performance. Learn smart content planning asset strategy and transparency tips that help brands move fast without losing authenticity.
Urban Outfitters’ Holiday Pop‑Up Turns O’Hare Airport Into Seasonal Lounge
Urban Outfitters debuts “Club Holiday” lounge at Chicago O’Hare — a part‑igloo, part‑sandcastle pop‑up offering travelers games, wishlists, swag and a festive break from holiday travel chaos.
Wellness Economy 2026: Five Dimensions Reshaping Consumers & Markets
McKinsey’s latest research outlines five dimensions driving a booming $2T wellness economy and reshaping consumer expectations in 2026.