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JUNE 4, 2026 |
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In this edition: |
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TOP STORY |
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Amazon's rapid expansion into artificial intelligence, advertising, and supply chain services is prompting analysts to reconsider what kind of company it has become, even as its core retail operations continue to fuel growth across all divisions. |
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"Is Amazon even a retailer anymore?" said our analyst Suzy Davidkhanian on a recent episode of "Behind the Numbers." "It started as a bookstore. It turned into a marketplace. Then it became AWS, and then they started selling their fulfillment services, and then advertising, and now they're making AI chips." |
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IN THE NEWS |
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Fresh tariffs threaten retailers’ cost relief hopes. The Trump administration is proposing new tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on 60 trade partners. |
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Ulta sees resilient beauty demand despite consumers’ value focus. Beauty is one of the most resilient categories in retail, partly a function of the lipstick effect, in which shoppers are willing to spend on smaller luxuries despite broader economic pressures. |
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Walmart wants to train Sparky with store insights to own AI checkout. Walmart wants to optimize around all shopper interactions, including the ones that don’t lead to purchases, to improve Sparky’s understanding of each customer. |
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ANALYSIS |
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The traditional marketing funnel model faces unprecedented disruption with generative AI-powered chatbots like ChatGPT and Perplexity now bypassing traditional discovery channels, while younger consumers increasingly treat TikTok and Instagram as search engines. |
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QUIZ |
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What percentage of travelers use loyalty points or miles to pay for trips? |
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A) 19% B) 39% C) 59% D) 79% |
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