MARKETING

Illustration: Morning Brew Inc., Photo: Adobe Stock

Just as e-commerce once represented an existential threat to the good old-fashioned shopping mall, the humble webpage is now competing for shoppers’ attention against the likes of TikTok Shop, ChatGPT, and an endless stream of creator content.

As new technologies and trends send buyers down different purchase pathways, an age-old principle is more relevant than ever: trust.

While the trust economy isn’t new, it’s adapting alongside the ways consumers are making purchase decisions—and brands and retailers have to do the same. As phenomena like AI slop sow distrust, experts said authenticity is more important than ever.

Keep reading here.—JG

      

Sponsored By Insense

Did you know that Q4 is typically won in September? By October, CPMs are already up 20%–60%.

That means you’ll need to win BFCM to keep up. Leading DTC brands are using these three steps from Insense to make sure they’re fully prepared for Q4:

• Find your organic winners for paid in August–September and run your BFCM collabs with those creators.
• Source diverse faces, diverse markets, and raw footage per creator to avoid ad fatigue.
• Run one creator across organic and paid, then turn organic winners into paid ads from the creator’s handle.

Book a free strategy call by Sept. 18 to learn more + get $200 toward your first campaign.

STORES

Scott Olson/Getty Images

The two biggest US dollar stores saw increased traffic in Q2, but how they hooked their customers with pricing and assortment varied in some significant ways.

While Dollar Tree expanded the range of price points available at stores with its new multi-price strategy, Dollar General kept it old-school by doubling down on $1 or less.

For both retailers, the proof for these approaches is in the numbers.

Keep reading here.—AV

      

Sponsored By Shoptalk

Join the retail leaders heading to Nashville. There will be three days of big ideas, practical insights, and connections designed to move your business forward. Hear directly from the people tackling retail’s biggest challenges and leave with strategies you can put to work. Secure your ticket at the current price before Sept. 4’s deadline.

CONSUMER BEHAVIOR & TRENDS

Getty Images

We know consumers tend to change their minds often and relatively quickly, but are retailers keeping up? As it turns out, not always.

Per a survey from BCG’s Center for Customer Insight, 67% of shoppers said they wouldn’t purchase an item they could afford if it didn’t offer “strong value.”

However, a few factors drive the perception of value for consumers. Quality, for instance, remains the biggest such driver, accounting for 35% of value satisfaction overall, followed by price and promotions at 27%, though priorities vary by category.

Keep reading here.—JS

      

Sponsored By Dewsy

Say goodbye to dry skin for good. Meet face-grade hydration, made for your body. Dewsy’s serum + lotion bundle delivers dewy, deeply hydrated skin in under a minute with a simple two-step routine. And it goes beyond your average body lotion—independent lab testing found Dewsy’s technology delivers hydration up to 3x more effectively than standard lotion. See the difference.

swapping skus

Today’s top retail reads.

Ad to the bone: The Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit against Amazon claiming it manipulated prices paid to advertisers. (the Wall Street Journal)

Still cooking: Apple CEO Tim Cook is passing the reins today after more than a decade. (the New York Times)

The Dr is out: Keurig Dr Pepper is selling its $925 million investment in Chobani back. (Reuters)

^{*A message from our sponsor.}

Jobs

Tired of one-size-fits-all job boards? CollabWORK highlights roles that reflect your interests and goals—delivered through communities like Retail Brew. Click here to explore the full job board.