Earlier this week at eTail Palm Springs, the conversation kept circling back to the fundamentals, what it really means to build a strong brand, connect marketing to ecommerce, and drive growth in a sustainable way. “It was all about how to think about the core of retail,” said our analyst Suzy Davidkhanian, who moderated several sessions during the event.

The signal that’s fueling a surge in digital audio is getting clearer. US podcasts are set to capture close to an additional $1 billion per year by 2029, according to EMARKETER’s December 2025 forecast.

HubSpot, Canva, and Semrush build publisher arms to secure first-party reach as AI disrupts search.

McDonald’s Big Arch and Burger King’s Whopper refresh test consumers’ appetite for higher price points.

Consumers may unplug over ad and info overload, forcing brands to rethink frequency before opt-outs rise.

Meta will notify parents of repeat self-harm searches amid mounting lawsuits, raising the bar for brand safety and youth targeting.

They’re cutting back on alcohol and boosting gym spending, presenting an opportunity for activewear brands.

New AI capabilities add clinician-vetted, empathetic guidance for women—the predominant segment of its user base.

Community-led campaigns fuel loyalty, customer acquisition, and sales gains.

To maintain growth, Sezzle looks to phone plan, subscriptions for stickiness.

Videos backed by thin evidence rack up views on YouTube, raising stakes for stricter creator guidelines.

After Libra/Diem’s failure to launch, the firm returns again to crypto with regulatory clarity.

Two-thirds of clinicians stop engaging with content after clunky interactions.

To maintain growth, Sezzle looks to phone plan, subscriptions for stickiness.

Drugmakers’ price drops don’t affect all patients the same. Brands and marketers must decode cost complexities where patients already seek out weight loss advice, like on social media.

Agency consolidation is accelerating workforce cuts; Omnicom and IPG reduced 8,200 roles last year, as merger synergies and AI adoption reshape operations.

AWS' new AI tool reformats live broadcasts for TikTok and Reels in seconds, unlocking scalable ad inventory.

UK ecommerce is entering a steady, mature phase—but there are still opportunities for growth.