Beauty is the 3rd most popular spending category for Gen Zalpha, with 40% of young people who love to spend on beauty. Despite this desire, 29% of young consumers actively search for a discount before purchasing. How can beauty brands capture young people’s attention with value-driven messages, and successfully convert that attention into purchases?

This comprehensive study delivers both the hard numbers and the real-life qualitative insights you need to capture the youth market.

Online retail in 2026 doesn’t just look different; it operates on an entirely new frequency. We’ve left the reactive models of the early 2020s in the dust, entering an era of predictive, agentic commerce where the friction between desire and acquisition has effectively vanished. For developers and merchants, the game has changed. It’s no longer about ensuring basic functionality. It’s about achieving architectural mastery.

Understand your customers and their priorities to create journeys that resonate. Remember playing with a kaleidoscope as a kid? As you turned the tube, it created ever-changing colorful patterns — some more appealing than others. Over the next 12 months, retailers can expect constantly shifting patterns as they navigate rapid technological shifts led by artificial intelligence, economic volatility, regulatory complexities and critical workforce issues. 

Retailers are entering a new era of discovery. As AI-powered search reshapes how consumers find products, retailers are realizing they have a significant blind spot: anonymous customers. For years, the retail industry has optimized around known customers. Loyalty programs, CRM systems, personalized emails and app experiences are all built on the assumption that the most valuable shoppers are the ones who log in, return regularly and leave a trail of behavioral data behind them.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) used to feel like it was in the same realm as flying cars and self-tying shoelaces – but no more. AI is here, and is already transforming the way we search, shop, and engage with brands. From intent-based search and real-time personalization to virtual shopping assistants and autonomous buying agents, AI is redefining every touchpoint of the customer journey. 

But here’s the truth: AI is only as effective as the data behind it. That means brands looking to harness its full potential need to prioritize one thing above all – clean, structured, and consistent product information.

A shopper hesitates. A page stays open. Another tab waits in the background. That pause matters. It’s where attention shifts. And in 2026, these quick moments will shape the next stage of ecommerce personalization. The goal hasn’t changed: make every experience relevant. What’s changing is the pace. Ecommerce personalization now depends on timing. How quickly can you spot signals and act on them?

Global FMCG retail sales are expected to reach nearly USD7 trillion in 2026. What’s fuelling market momentum? And where does growth potential exist? Decode the trends and drivers that cut across the FMCG sector. For brand managers, decision-makers and senior leaders in this space, our report gives you strategic insights to help guide your next move. In this edition, you’ll find forecasts through 2029, cross-industry shifts and emerging opportunities. Read now for a clear view of the global FMCG outlook.

Holiday shopping trends revealed a sharp divide within the retail industry, and big-box stores are caught in the middle. Industry consumer spending data from the biggest pre-Christmas weekend of the year, Black Friday/Small Business Saturday, shows a clear bifurcation of shopping habits. Mid-market retailers report stagnant growth and missed targets, like Target’s 16 percent profit slip during Q3, but that’s really the result of consumer dollars headed in two directions: toward convenience shopping for commodities and experience-based shopping at local businesses.