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The news: Buy now, pay later (BNPL) firms are exhorting the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) not to write new rules about how installment loan histories would affect federal home loan eligibility. Our take: BNPL providers are divided on whether furnishing their loan information supports or hurts their espoused mission for financial inclusion and helping consumers access credit. Affirm appeared the odd one out by offering more transparency about its consumers鈥� financial health. However, if HUD moves ahead with new loan eligibility rules, its customers could end up the better for it, while reporting naysayers Klarna and Afterpay will have to scramble to set up their customers for success

The news: As newsletter platforms battle for creator loyalty, Substack is positioning itself as a social network, not just a writing platform. As more creators jump ship from platforms like Patreon, they鈥檙e pointing to Substack鈥檚 community tools and discovery features as drivers of subscribers and revenues, per Digiday. Our take: Substack isn鈥檛 just for sending emails anymore鈥攊t is quickly becoming a social network for writers and brands alike. Brands and creators should think of it less like a newsletter option and more like a growth channel for community: a crucial aspect of discovery and engagement.

The news: Pharma commercialization company Eversana bought digital health tech Waltz Health and is creating direct-to-consumer (D2C) and direct-to-payer models that cut out rebate negotiators, or pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Our take: D2C sales are the most palatable of the Trump administration鈥檚 drug pricing policies for pharma companies. But with limited in-house tech expertise, drugmakers need to partner with service providers. Health tech companies that offer D2C end-to-end solutions can create new revenue streams, while helping pharmas cater to Trump and patients鈥� demand for affordability and convenience.

The news: 53% of US consumers cited a lack of human empathy and understanding as a concern with using Gen AI-powered customer service tools, per a survey conducted by American Express. Our take: GenAI will be an engine for automizing easy wins, like personalized customer service experiences or customized rewards. However, the tool needs to be selectively deployed for best results. Consumers also still desire access to live representatives for human touches that genAI cannot generate. Issuers who can provide a blend of both in their customer service experiences stand to win the approval of all age brackets across their cardholding base.

The news: President Trump fired the head of the CDC less than a month after she was approved by the Senate. At least four other senior leaders at the agency also resigned. Director Susan Monarez accused HHS and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of 鈥渨eaponizing public health for political gain and putting millions of American lives at risk鈥� per a statement from her lawyers. Our take: Healthcare brands and pharma marketers need to take the lead and create science-based messaging about vaccines to counter misinformation. They can partner with influencer physicians on social media (where misinformation abounds) with engaging edutainment, and lean into local efforts with community partners like sponsored health screenings or free vaccine days.

The US consumer is in good shape, according to the CEOs of Dick鈥檚 Sporting Goods and Urban Outfitters鈥攄espite a recent dip in confidence and tariff fears. Urban Outfitters鈥� and Dick鈥檚 Sporting Goods鈥� confidence in the health of the consumer shows that despite the strain of tariffs and uncertainty, shoppers remain willing to spend on products that they feel are worth the investment.

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From AI agents changing customer expectations to banking licenses no longer differentiating financial institutions (FIs) from digital competitors, this report reveals the trends FIs must understand to maintain a competitive edge in H2 2025.

Only 8% of Google searches with AI summaries led to a traditional link click, nearly half the rate of pages without summaries (15%), according to March 2025 data from Pew Research Center.

Apple is partnering with digital platform TuneIn to strengthen its radio reach and better compete with Spotify, per the Wall Street Journal. The move will see Apple distribute its radio stations across connected cars and home speakers globally and marks the first time Apple鈥檚 current radio stations will be accessible outside of the Apple Music app. Apple鈥檚 radio push could breathe life into its struggling streaming units, attracting listeners who haven鈥檛 considered Apple Music and potentially drawing in advertisers who are looking for access to Apple鈥檚 library.

On today鈥檚 podcast episode, we discuss the unofficial list of the most interesting retailers for the month of August. Each month, Arielle Feger, Becky Schilling, and Emmy Liederman (aka The Committee) put together a very unofficial list of the top eight retailers they're watching based on which are making the most interesting moves: Who's launching new initiatives? Which partnerships are moving the needle? Which standout marketing campaigns are being created? In this month's episode, Committee members Arielle Feger and Emmy Liederman will defend their list against Principal Analyst, Sky Canaves and Senior Analyst, Blake Droesch, who will dispute the power rankings by attempting to move retailers up, down, on, or off the list.

The news: ChatGPT鈥檚 referral traffic to websites plummeted 52% in a single month after a fundamental shift in how the AI model operates. OpenAI manually reweighted its system to prioritize sources that provide direct, helpful answers, per Search Engine Land. Our take: Declining web traffic means declining revenues. For marketers and publishers, the mandate is to adapt to GEO or risk invisibility in a world where AI answers, not clicks, dominate. Reshaping web content to be more answer oriented could help surface it in ChatGPT, but that鈥檚 easier said than done for publishers with legacy content. Companies that move early to understand and influence AI citation patterns will secure a competitive edge as this new content distribution landscape takes shape.

Amazon closed its second annual Upfronts with 鈥渟ignificant growth鈥� across independent agencies and holding companies, per Adweek. An Amazon spokesperson cited excitement surrounding live sports offerings on Prime Video as a key driver of growth. Amazon is positioned for sustained ad growth if it continues relying on its sports properties to draw advertiser interest in Prime Video. With Prime Video only making up a fraction of Amazon鈥檚 overall ad revenues, the service is far from hitting its ceiling鈥攁nd future investment in tentpole sporting events will put Prime Video on par with its bigger competitors.

The news: Fanatics launched Fanatics Advertising, a division that will oversee the company鈥檚 ad and brand partnership strategy across its commerce, collectibles, gaming, and events businesses. Our take: Fanatics is taking its swing at the fast-growing commerce media space. Commerce media represented 18.0% of US digital ad spending last year, and we expect its share to keep climbing鈥攈itting nearly $1 of every $5 spent on digital ads (19.7%) this year and close to $1 in $4 (24.8%) by 2029, the end of our forecast period. Sitting at the crossroads of sports fandom鈥攎erchandise, collectibles, betting, and live events鈥擣anatics has a brand position few, if any, rivals can match. If it executes well, Fanatics Advertising could be a home run by turning its unmatched access to fans into an equally powerful ad play.

The news: Google Vids rolled out AI avatars, a Veo-powered image-to-video tool, and automatic transcript trimming. Google also announced that features like noise cancellation, custom backgrounds, video filters, and appearance options will be generally available next month. Our take: Brands should: Develop AI content guidelines that set up a clear voice, tone, and message structure to keep scripts brand-consistent. Use AI for speed, not substance. Let the technology handle repetitive tasks, but rely on human input for concepting and storytelling to ensure messages retain emotional nuance鈥攕omething AI may lack. Pilot, then scale. Test AI video tools on low-risk internal content before expanding to public-facing campaigns.

Cracker Barrel has reversed a logo redesign just days after removing its 鈥淥ld Timer鈥� figure, Uncle Herschel, following backlash from customers, commentators, and investors. Criticism spiked when former President Donald Trump called the redesign a costly mistake but also 鈥渁 billion dollars鈥� worth of free publicity.鈥� Hours later, the company confirmed Herschel would remain the face of the chain. The reversal coincided with a 7% stock drop, underscoring how customer sentiment quickly impacts financials. Analysts note that tradition and heritage are powerful brand signals鈥攔emoving them can sever ties with loyal customers while raising doubts about purpose and direction.

A Precise TV study revealed key habits for younger Gen Z consumers ages 13 to 17鈥攅mphasizing that short-form and digital video are leading the way. YouTube Shorts and TikTok ads were major drivers of purchase decisions: 51% of Gen Z boys and 43% of girls made a purchase after watching YouTube Shorts ads, while 44% of boys and 41% of girls purchased after watching a TikTok ad. Gen Z鈥檚 digital buying power will only grow, and targeting younger Gen Z consumers will position brands for long-term growth鈥攑rovided the right strategies are implemented.

The news: Google launched Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (nicknamed nano banana), a generative AI image editor that replaces toolbars with text prompts. Already topping LMArena鈥檚 image-editing leaderboard, it signals a shift toward prompt-driven creative tools. Our take: Nano banana, like Veo 3, reinforces Google鈥檚 move to establish Gemini as the default AI tool set for marketers, designers, and advertisers. This opens up adoption opportunities beyond text and coding-based genAI applications. For advertisers and marketers, this means two things: Production cycles can compress, and reliance on legacy design platforms could erode if AI tools can compete on price.

The news: Online retail traffic from generative AI (genAI) sources is exploding, highlighting how AI tools are intercepting and guiding the product search journey. GenAI traffic to US retail sites grew 4,700% YoY in July, per Adobe Digital Insights. 38% of US consumers have used genAI for shopping, and another 52% plan to do so this year. Our take: Brands need to market to both machines and people to avoid being excluded from AI results. Success will involve understanding how models interpret product data and reviews and aligning messaging with the signals AI uses to index and recommend products.

Instagram launched a feature that allows college students to display their class schedule on their profiles in a bid to make inroads with young consumers鈥攄ays after TikTok released a similar tool. By cherry picking successful formats on other social platforms like messaging, music sharing, stories, short-form video, and more, Instagram has established itself as a crucial social tool and entertainment platform for young users. Its college schedule launch could help cement influence with yet another generation of students.

The situation: Williams-Sonoma is raising prices on select items after its incremental tariff rate doubled since May鈥攆rom 14% to 28%鈥攄ue to higher duties on goods from China, India, and Vietnam. More pressure may be ahead after President Donald Trump recently signaled plans to increase tariffs on furniture imports. Our take: Despite operating in the sluggish furniture and home furnishings category鈥攚hich we project will grow just 0.4% this year鈥擶illiams-Sonoma is well-positioned to weather macroeconomic headwinds. Anchored by a diverse brand portfolio that resonates with affluent consumers across life stages, its multipronged strategy鈥攑rice increases, cost discipline, supply chain improvements, and AI-driven efficiencies鈥攏ot only will offset tariff pressures but also lay a durable foundation for sustained growth and market share expansion.

Kohl鈥檚 reported a better-than-expected Q2 profit as it controlled expenses and reintroduced phased-out product assortments, hinting at early signs of traction despite sales declines. The retailer is taking steps to stabilize, but it faces a mammoth challenge to move sales to growth鈥攏ot just lessen the declines. As shoppers scrutinize every dollar they spend, Kohl鈥檚 needs to show it can deliver the right products at the right price鈥攁nd find ways to stand out in an increasingly crowded field by bolstering loyalty perks, leaning more on personalized offerings to consumers, and communicating clearly what it wants to be known for. That won鈥檛 be easy for a retailer whose core shoppers remain heavily reliant on coupons and discounts.

The news: Google Cloud is creating its own blockchain, named Google Cloud Universal Ledger (GCUL), for payments and financial products. Our first take: The post-GENIUS Act environment has major institutions scrambling to get a first-mover advantage on stablecoins. Google likely is betting that it鈥檚 better positioned to offer clients and financial institutions than Stripe鈥檚 Tempo or Circle鈥檚 Arc because its blockchain service simplifies integration for multiple currencies and assets, stabilizes fees, and is designed for safety鈥攁s a private and permissioned system, it benefits from Google鈥檚 tech security stack.

The news: Magnite today introduced pause ads across several streaming providers, including DirecTV, Fubo, and Dish Media, to capitalize on the momentum of pause ads as a key opportunity to engage and convert connected TV (CTV) viewers. Our take: Pause ads have demonstrated their worth in the quickly growing CTV landscape鈥攂ut those who see the most success with the format will be the ones who innovate before pause ads become standard practice.