Retail Racing Is on Pole for Experiential Networking in Digital Retail
Retail Racing, in partnership with InternetRetailing, will host an AI in Digital Retail event on June 18‑19 that fuses curated executive meetings with immersive motorsport experiences. The format replaces traditional conference‑hall networking with purpose‑driven one‑to‑one sessions followed by high‑adrenaline racing activities, designed to build trust and accelerate business outcomes. By limiting attendance to senior digital leaders and technology innovators, the two‑day event promises concentrated, high‑value interactions. Organizers argue this experiential approach cuts through the oversaturation of retail conferences and delivers measurable ROI for participants.
ASOS Brings Shoppable Video Content to ChatGPT in UK First
British fashion retailer ASOS has launched a UK‑first feature that embeds shoppable video content directly into ChatGPT. Powered by Bambuser’s video commerce platform, the AI Stylist lets shoppers ask for items—such as a pink floral summer dress—and receive curated video...
Publicis Acquisition of LiveRamp Reshapes Commerce Media
Publicis announced a $2.167 billion acquisition of LiveRamp, a leading data‑clean‑room provider. The deal builds on Publicis’ recent string of commerce‑focused purchases, including Epsilon, Profitero and Mars United Commerce. By pairing LiveRamp’s neutral data‑collaboration platform with Epsilon’s identity graph, Publicis aims...
Wolt Ads and Koddi Team to Expand Programmatic Access to Commerce Media in Germany
Wolt Ads, Germany's leading in‑app retail media platform, has partnered with commerce‑media technology firm Koddi to enable programmatic buying of its inventory. Koddi’s supply‑side platform now integrates directly with Wolt’s auction system, giving brands and agencies a streamlined path to...
GUEST COMMENT How Do You Solve Retail Media’s Fragmentation Problem?
Retail media is becoming increasingly fragmented as new Retail Media Networks (RMNs) launch, forcing advertisers to consolidate spend with a few large partners. This consolidation squeezes smaller, niche RMNs that offer differentiated audiences, while major platforms like Amazon retain dominance....
Deliveroo Targets ‘Digital High Street’ Status with Multi-Store Baskets and Seamless Top-Ups
Deliveroo is launching a new “Bundles” feature that lets customers combine items from up to three different stores into a single order with no extra delivery fee, effectively creating a digital high‑street experience. The rollout also expands the post‑order top‑up...
Walmart+ Surge Shows Retail Memberships Are Still Scaling
Walmart+ reached an estimated 30.7 million members in early 2026, posting a 17% year‑over‑year increase. The service undercuts Amazon Prime on price while bundling free shipping, grocery delivery on orders over $35, fuel discounts and streaming perks. Its growth shows that...
Three Trends Defining Subscription Retail in 2026
The subscription retail landscape in 2026 is pivoting toward flexibility, AI‑driven management, and micro‑subscription bundles. Consumers now prioritize the ability to pause, skip, or cancel over price, prompting retailers to offer short‑term or weekly plans that lower entry barriers. Around...
Consumer Spending Dips as Shoppers Prioritise the Basics – Although Fashion and Wellness Hold Up
UK consumer spending slipped 0.1% year‑on‑year in April, marking the first decline since November, as households tighten budgets amid persistent price pressures. Essential categories such as fuel surged 10.4%, lifting overall essential spend by 0.3%, while non‑essential outlays fell 0.3%....
Retailers Warn Middle East Conflict Will Push Prices Higher, with Next Leading the Charge
Retailers are warning that the Middle East conflict is driving up energy costs and disrupting shipping routes, which will eventually be passed to consumers. Next Plc, after reporting a 6.2% year‑on‑year sales rise, disclosed a £47 million (≈$60 million) loss from higher...
Lidl Plus Points Ramps up UK Grocery Loyalty Push – but Shoppers Divided on New Scheme
Lidl has launched Lidl Plus Points, a new loyalty program that awards one point per £1 spent and lets shoppers redeem points for vouchers or discounted items via its app. To jump‑start adoption, the retailer is gifting 100 free points...
How Californian Grocer Stater Bros. Shines a Light on the Future of In-Store Retail Media Globally
Stater Bros., the largest privately owned grocery chain in Southern California, has partnered with In‑Store Marketplace (ISM) and Mood Media to launch a programmatic in‑store audio advertising platform, with digital screens slated for later rollout. The solution uses ISM’s centralised...
Generative Engine Marketing: Retail Media’s Next Move
Generative Engine Marketing (GEM) is emerging as a new approach that positions brands to be discovered by AI models rather than just human shoppers. Jellyfish’s report highlights early successes, such as Gentle Monster’s 17% click‑through‑rate lift and MSC Industrial’s 45%...
OPINION: Why “One‑Click Returns” Are an Operational Wake‑up Call
By 19 June 2026 the EU will require online retailers to offer a fully digital, instant return process, often called “One‑Click Returns.” The rule targets dark‑pattern practices and forces merchants to unify return handling across e‑commerce, logistics, IT and compliance teams. Return...
OPINION: The Attention Trap – Why Brands Keep Losing at Big Sporting Moments
The 2026 sporting calendar—London Marathon, Wimbledon and the FIFA World Cup—offers brands an unprecedented advertising window, with UK ad spend projected to top $63.5 bn and the World Cup alone adding roughly $9.8 bn to the global market. Yet AI‑driven content creation...