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46.6% of US internet users are also Amazon Prime members, nearly two times as many as Costco (25.1%), the No. 2 biggest retail membership , according to data from Comscore.

Walmart is taking a page from Amazon: The retailer looks to diversify its revenue streams by growing its ecommerce, retail media, and services businesses.

Marketplaces are fighting for the crown in US ecommerce. Though Amazon remains solidly atop ecommerce sales, Walmart and Shopify are attempting to carve into Amazon鈥檚 revenues. Here are the latest updates in ecommerce, advertising, and partnerships from these major players.

The closure of Big Lots and Party City locations, for example, likely allows their rivals to open up shop in trade zones with a high demand for discounted goods. As mass merchants like Walmart court more affluent shoppers with expanded higher-end offerings and store revamps, that could also provide an opening for chains catering to shoppers seeking lower prices.

Walmart may be playing catch-up to Amazon when it comes to ecommerce and retail media, but recent moves like its $2.3 billion acquisition of VIZIO are giving the retailer momentum. But what are some other big moves that Walmart can make to grab more attention, loyalty, and customers?

Walmart takes a shot across the bow at Amazon: The retailer鈥檚 latest holiday marketing campaign aims to go after Amazon鈥檚 dominance of online shopping holidays.

Faster is better when it comes to ecommerce delivery times: Amazon and Walmart leverage automation, limiting the distance items travel to quickly get online orders to 蝉丑辞辫辫别谤蝉鈥� doors.

On today's podcast episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss Walmart's purchase of Vizio, its brick-and-mortar strategy, and whether they can attract more upper income shoppers. Then, in a mini "Shark Tank"-style segment, we predict what the next big move for Walmart will be. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts senior director of media content Becky Schilling and analyst Zak Stambor.

Google said today it is rolling out its Product Studio tool this week, which uses AI to help merchants create and manage product imagery. If that sounds familiar, it鈥檚 because Amazon Ads launched something similar last week. But it鈥檚 not just Amazon and Google that are leaning harder into generative AI. Walmart is incorporating the technology into search to give shoppers more relevant results, while Klarna is using AI-powered video to expand users鈥� time spent with the platform.

With the ascent of Chinese ecommerce disruptors and the ongoing rivalry between Amazon and Walmart, the upcoming holiday season is expected to bring some big shifts. Some of those shifts include the lessening of Cyber Five鈥檚 importance and retailers losing focus on profitability, said our analysts Jeremy Goldman and Zak Stambor on a recent episode of the 鈥淏ehind the Numbers鈥� podcast.

Sales growth for cosmetics and beauty will increase at more than twice the rate online than through physical retail channels this year, according to our February 2024 forecast. While ecommerce is stealing market share, its sales only tell a portion of the buying story. Physical stores are still key to discovering beauty products and brands, finding the right shades, and testing formulations鈥攁nd Walmart is making use of its omnichannel footprint to take advantage. Here鈥檚 how.

Retailers like Dollar General, Walmart, and Target are rethinking the self-checkout experience, scaling back on kiosks or removing self-checkout from their locations altogether. But considering 55% of US adults prefer to get through their in-store grocery shopping as fast as possible (according to a November 2023 survey from Kearney) it鈥檚 unlikely self-checkout will be leaving stores anytime soon. Here are five stats on self-checkout, including how and why consumers like to use it, the reason some retailers are pulling back, and what the future holds for the technology.

Amazon was the most downloaded mobile shopping app in the US in 2022 as its reach continued to grow. Closing in on Amazon was Shein at No. 2, followed by Walmart, Fetch, and Shopify鈥檚 Shop app.

Shoppers hold out for Super Saturday sales: A record 158 million consumers are expected to shop that day as Amazon, Target, and Walmart ramp up promotions.

Walmart looks to improve its online shopping experience: The retail giant cut down clutter on its revamped website and app to entice shoppers to browse and buy.

Value is top of mind for grocery-shopping consumers: Aldi, Dollar General, Grocery Outlet, and Walmart will open more stores to attract cost-conscious shoppers.

The 15 biggest US ecommerce players aren鈥檛 a surprise (here鈥檚 looking at you, Amazon, Walmart, and Apple). User-friendly mobile apps, quick delivery, innovation, and converting sales are what turn retailers into ecommerce powerhouses. Here are the companies our analysts believe best exemplify those features within the 15 largest ecommerce players.

Thanks to its growing retail media business, Walmart keeps its top spot on our 鈥淯nofficial Most interesting Retailers List鈥� for April 2024. Meanwhile, newcomer Home Depot and returning member TikTok Shop make the list for equipping advertisers with more data.

Amazon Fresh, despite failing to gain traction with its brick-and-mortar endeavors, is trying to assert itself in the grocery space. Its customer base, though much smaller than competitors like Walmart and Target, is attractive to consumer packaged goods (CPG) advertisers because those shoppers are open to trying new products.

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鈥攁nd potential fall鈥攐f 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.

Walmart expands in-store retail media opportunities: The big-box retailer is giving advertisers more opportunities to reach physical shoppers with digital screens, audio ads, and sampling.

Walmart makes a huge acquisition in hopes of taking on Amazon鈥檚 retail media dominance, while Amazon keeps churning out generative AI innovations. Plus, Target tries to steal share from Walmart鈥檚 prowess on attracting deal-seeking shoppers. Find out who else earned a spot in our Unofficial鈥� Most Interesting Retailers List, a monthly ranking revealed on an episode of the 鈥淏ehind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail鈥� podcast.

This year, furniture and home furnishings will make up a $179.75 billion ecommerce market in the US, according to our forecast, and growth is accelerating. With challenges coming from big names like Amazon and Walmart and resale platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, Ikea has no choice but to innovate to keep up.

Some 57% of US consumers started their online shopping searches on Amazon as of Q2 2023, according to Jungle Scout. That鈥檚 more than those who started on a search engine (42%), the Walmart website (39%), or TikTok (17%).