On today's podcast episode, we discuss how Walmart plans to use AI to enhance the customer shopping experience, Instacart pushing smart carts into in-store retail media, why consumers are dissatisfied with their in-store shopping experience, how best to reduce clothing returns, the rise—and potential fall—of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our vice president of content Suzy Davidkhanian and analysts Blake Droesch and Carina Perkins.

Key stat: 31.5% of US shoppers who discovered an item in-store purchased it right away, per an Insider Intelligence survey.

HomeGoods shut down its ecommerce business because in October it was unable to recreate the in-store treasure-hunting experience customers know and love online. Meanwhile, Amazon is struggling to master brick-and-mortar because it doesn’t know what in-store shoppers want.

This year was challenging for retailers as inflation kept prices high and consumers cut back on spending. But there were a few bright spots, as some in-store shopping rebounded and retail media boomed. Here’s some advice for retailers on how to use in-store experiences and retail media to their advantage.

The online opportunity: On the digital side, Tractor Supply’s website helps it reach a wider set of customers beyond in-store shoppers.

“There's a big financial investment for retailers who want to make these part of the in-store shopping experience, and a lot of them aren't very tested or proven just yet,” said our analyst Sarah Marzano on our “Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail” podcast. Shoppers are also hesitant about new in-store tech.

In-store shopping is not dead to Gen Zers. The facts: 79% of consumers worldwide say they often discover products through social media, and 73% say they have purchased from social media in the past year, per August 2023 data from Bazaarvoice. The assumption: Shopping in-store is becoming less relevant as consumers—particularly younger ones—use online channels like social media to browse and buy.

“You don’t want something that’s effectively acting like a pop-up ad interrupting your in-store shopping experience,” she said. This was originally featured in the Retail Media Weekly newsletter. For more marketing insights, statistics, and trends, subscribe here.

“You don't want something that's effectively acting like a pop-up ad and interrupting your in-store shopping experience,” Marzano said. Avoid obscuring products. Shoppers can’t easily abandon carts in stores as they can online, but they can grow frustrated and cut shopping trips short or decide not to return. Instead, think about how retail media can assist shoppers on their journeys.

“While they have taken the right approach by including benefits that will appeal to both online and in-store shoppers, it will be difficult to grow its membership base in an already crowded subscription market.”. Will it work? It all depends on how Target differentiates itself.

Retailer websites rule the path to purchase, but in-store shopping endures. Lessons from Chewy, Target, and Alo Yoga on resonating with customers in 2024.

People in the middle of a workout also may not be eager to make a purchase the same way in-store shoppers are. Real-world example: Planet Fitness launched an OOH ad program called PF Media Network in January, leveraging audiences at over 2,500 global locations.

Nearly a third of in-store shoppers buy something immediately after discovering it. Retail tips for 2024: Focus on value, in-store experience. What retail trends will dominate 2024? Note: Data was provided to Insider Intelligence | eMarketer by Kearney.

Technologies like computer vision (to identify and classify in-store shopper behaviors), digital twins (which create digital replicas for similar behavioral analysis), and mobile tracking (to identify which customers are at various locations within the store) can provide more granular insights into customer journeys within the store.

Combining in-store shopping with digital technologies is a great way to help customers get more information on products while also keeping them browsing in-store. But retailers must be careful not to overcomplicate the shopping experience and ensure there’s plenty of human help around for customers who want or need it. Use this chart:. Prioritize updated customer-facing technologies in the new year.

Over half of US and UK adults research and buy products online via a retailer’s website, per Coveo. More than a third (37%) take a slightly different approach, researching products on a retailer’s website but waiting to buy them in a physical store.

Marketers already know in-store shoppers are on their phones—75% of Target guests browse via its app or website while shopping in-store, Roundel senior vice president and president Sarah Travis said at our “Attention! Trends and Predictions for 2024” summit. Retailers can capitalize on mobile users by offering exclusive deals via SMS while in-store.

Instead, they’re going to use digital marketing, particularly creator collaborations on TikTok, to really show off the allure of the in-store shopping experience,” our analyst Blake Droesch predicted on an episode of the “Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail” podcast. What’s supporting it:.

Retailers can use their mobile apps to provide in-store shoppers with more product information and boost discoverability for brands. Use this chart:. Understand the role digital channels play in in-store shopping. Identify information in-store shoppers want. More like this:. The role of mobile apps in retail media. Shoppers spend nearly twice as long on Temu’s app than its competitors.

On today's episode, we discuss whether augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) will rival the smartphone as the next big platform, the impact of 3D advertising, how in-store shopping habits have changed, whether there really is an attention economy slowdown, what to do about inflation, an unpopular opinion about video chats, which way people fold their arms, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our senior director of Briefings Stephanie Taglianetti, director of forecasting Oscar Orozco, and analyst Dave Frankland.

On today's episode, we discuss whether in-store shopping is different now (in a bad way), how much people are shopping on their smartphones, whether LinkedIn's newsletter strategy is paying off, how retailers are facing tougher greenwashing penalties, if retailers have given up on the metaverse, how in-person/hybrid/remote work is working out, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our analysts Suzy Davidkhanian and Evelyn Mitchell and vice president of Briefings Stephanie Taglianetti.

Consumers prefer to shop in-person this holiday season: Waning COVID-19 concerns and a desire to try before buying will give brick-and-mortar stores a lift this year.

Gen Z is the only generation equally influenced by social media and in-store shopping when it comes to the discovery of new beauty brands and products. This represents a clear shift from older generations. Among millennials, for instance, just 30.4% of beauty shoppers have discovered a new beauty brand or product on social media, compared with 40.0% browsing in-store.