NRF Forecasts 2026 Holiday Sales Growth
The National Retail Federation (NRF) recently released its annual holiday forecast, predicting retail sales in November and December will grow 4.2% over 2025. That...
New Study Finds Holiday Spending Expected to Rise in 2026
Retail sales are forecast to grow between 4.3%–4.9% this holiday season, with total expected spend topping $1.7 trillion, according to ICSC’s 2026 holiday shopping forecast. Findings from ICSC’s annual Holiday Intentions Survey reinforce this forecast, as consumers prioritize holiday spending and experiences above competing financial priorities.
Halloween Challenges Christmas as the Bigger Holiday for Millennials
New research released by omnichannel platform Lightspeed Commerce Inc. reveals Halloween has become a major cultural and spending holiday for millennials.
AI Can Cost Retailers More Than the Job It Replaces
Specialty retail and supply chain leaders are being told that Agentic AI adoption is a straightforward cost-saving decision. But the financial case for AI can be harder to establish than the technology itself, especially for independent retailers running lean teams and tight margins.
Halloween Spending is Set to Hit $13.5 Billion
Americans are expected to spend a record $13.5 billion on Halloween in 2026, according to a new NRF forecast. But alongside the spending boom, shoppers are looking for ways to make their celebrations feel personal and get more use from what they buy.
Beat the Shipping and Logistical Challenges This Holiday Season
As the leaves begin to turn and the end-of-year rush approaches, small business owners across the country are gearing up for their most crucial stretch of the year: the peak holiday shopping season. This article offers some helpful tips to beat shipping and logistical challenges during the season.
More Retailers Are Choosing Recyclable Edge Protection
Returns are already expensive for retailers, and damaged furniture shipments can add return freight, replacement costs and extra labor to the total. Recyclable edge protection engineered for heavy furniture can help reduce preventable damage before it happens.
Inventory Issues Deter Consumers From In-Person Shopping
According to new research from gStore, retail inventory issues continue to disrupt shopping trips even after last year’s tariff turmoil. The June survey of 1,035 U.S. adults who have visited a fashion, general merchandise or specialty store in the last 90 days reveals just how far consumers will go to avoid unpleasant interactions.
Small Businesses Embrace the Role of Creator in 2026
In a new Small Business Now report, Constant Contact discovered that to stay visible while managing the daily hustle of running a business, small businesses are fundamentally rewriting their job descriptions to embrace the role of “creator” — and leaning on AI to get it all done.
Key Factors That Are Driving Consumer Shopping Behavior
A new consumer survey found a variety of key factors that are driving consumer shopping behavior. Ahead of the holiday shopping season, these results are crucial for retailers looking to stand out against the competition.
Google Rolls Out New Platform Properties
In early July, Google announced new platform properties for Search Console, allowing anyone to track how their social and video posts on Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube perform on Google Search, Discover and Google News. These new capabilities are now available to everyone globally.
Small Business Optimism Picks Up in June
Due to expectations for better business conditions and sales improvements, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 2.1 points in June to 97.4, nearing its 52-year average of 98.0. The Uncertainty Index fell 2 points from May to 89, remaining well above its historical average of 68.
CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor Shows Sales Growth in June
Retail sales climbed for the ninth month in a row during June as positive factors overcame challenges to the economy, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor.
Early Shopping and Inflation Shape Back to School 2026
Many consumers are already planning their back-to-school shopping needs. For retailers looking to stay relevant and win over customers, this article offers some shopping trends from Coresight Research and NRF to market wisely this season.
These 5 Overlooked Markets Are the Next Frontier in Retail Growth
For many retailers, growth strategies often revolve around the same target audiences of urban shoppers: millennials and high-income consumers. While these groups remain important, this article dives into the different consumer groups that retailers should be marketing to.
The Heated Rivalry Effect: Cultural Moments Now Drive Retail Demand
Retail demand is no longer shaped primarily by seasons or promotions. Increasingly, it is shaped by culture. In this article, John Shapiro explains how the series Heated Rivalry offered a clear example of how quickly cultural visibility can translate into worldwide commercial impact.
Small Businesses Continue to Invest in Marketing
Constant Contact’s latest Small Business Now report found that despite economic uncertainty, the vast majority of small businesses are refusing to hit the brakes on marketing. Instead of cutting back, they’re doubling down.
Minnesota Businesses See Major Benefits From 20% Small Business Tax Deduction
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), a small business advocacy organization, just released a new report outlining the economic benefits and massive tax savings the 20% Small Business Tax Deduction will bring to the 560,428 small businesses in Minnesota now that it has been made permanent.
What Tax Refund Season Reveals About the New BNPL Shopper
Many consumers are using their tax refunds to stabilize their finances, catch up on obligations or reset after months of elevated costs. In that context, BNPL is no longer just a checkout option. For many shoppers, BNPL has quietly moved into everyday money management.
Spirit of Success: Inside Katey “Bunny” Rafanello’s Rise to Industry Influence
March is a time to honor the architects of change, the women who looked at "the way things are" and decided to build something better. In the male-dominated world of beverage alcohol, few people embody that spirit of architectural rebellion quite like Katey “Bunny” Rafanello.
