蘑菇AV

The news: Urban Outfitters is partnering with Levi鈥檚 for the second iteration of On Rotation, its limited-time concept launched earlier this year with Nike to deliver community-driven, experience-rich retail environments for Gen Z. Our take: On Rotation recasts retail as a series of limited-edition experiential drops, with physical and digital spaces that vanish almost as quickly as they appear. It鈥檚 a storytelling-fueled scarcity play that鈥檚 designed to train a generation of shoppers who never grew up as mall rats to return again and again in search of novelty. The approach reframes the store鈥攁nd the website鈥攁s a medium for culture, not just commerce, and offers a playbook that department stores and other retailers would be smart to test.

The news: Simplicity, speed, and personalized human support are the top priorities for small-business owners seeking a loan, according to an Academy Bank study. Nearly three-quarters of small-business owners still prefer in-person service despite the benefits of a speedy online process. Our take: We鈥檝e argued that people still want to work with people, especially for something as high stakes as a business loan. Gen Z and millennials are pushing the industry toward a digital-first model, but the mass market isn't there yet. This means banks can't simply abandon their physical branches or personal bankers鈥攅specially if they want to keep earning the loyalty of small-business clients. The most successful approach will involve giving these customers the option of completing everything they need in-person while simultaneously providing remote services for digital-first entrepreneurs.

The news: President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order against alleged 鈥渄ebanking,鈥� claiming that JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America discriminated against him by rejecting his company's deposits, per The New York Times. The fallout: Some FIs may alter their risk management practices to avoid a personal vendetta. But by mandating that banks cannot debank certain groups for fear of being accused of political bias, the order essentially limits their ability to manage risk. This could expose FIs to clients with legitimate compliance or reputational concerns. It also forces FIs to choose between political and financial blowback and carries a long-term risk of losing young, socially conscious customers. Gen Zers particularly care about banks鈥� actions when it comes to what they deem as moral issues, like the environment or DEI. Diverting from prior commitments young consumers supported could risk their loyalty.

Over half of Gen Z, millennial, and Gen X consumers open to pause ads say the ability to save offers/reminders would make the ads better, according to April 2025 data from MAGNA Media Trials and DIRECTV Advertising. Nearly as many (46%) baby boomers say the same.

Pinterest reported a breakout Q2 2025 with $998 million in revenue, up 17% YoY鈥攂eating guidance and analyst expectations. Monthly active users hit an all-time high of 578 million, with profitability improving and ARPU rising globally. Gains were driven by GenAI tools like auto-collages, stronger commerce integration via Instacart, and a lean ad tech approach powered by Magnite. Pinterest鈥檚 ad business continues to grow steadily, with advertiser spending up and margins expanding to 25%. While still underweight in media plans, Pinterest is proving itself as a differentiated, performance-ready platform with rising traction among Gen Z and global users.

Cost of living is the top concern for global Gen Zers (39%) and millennials (42%), according to December 2024 data from Deloitte.

The findings: Financial institutions (FIs) that have enabled buy now, pay later (BNPL) for debit cards see increased card usage frequency, higher spending, and larger purchases, per recent equipfi analysis cited by The Financial Brand. Why this matters for FIs: The BNPL explosion is over, as user growth decelerates and the industry reaches maturation. But FIs can still find value in BNPL. By integrating BNPL directly into existing debit card programs, banks stand to increase card usage, strengthen customer loyalty, and boost revenues. This strategy also turns debit cards, a very traditional banking product, into something that can better meet consumer needs. Today鈥檚 banking customers crave flexibility鈥攁nd it鈥檚 especially important to Gen Zers.

The news: After facing early-career challenges from the Great Recession and then the pandemic, many millennials are now wealthier than previous generations were at the same age. But a significant number remain anxious about their financial future and worry that their wealth could disappear, per The Wall Street Journal. Why this matters for banks: Just as Gen Zers feel they need to earn a whopping $587,800 per year to achieve financial success, millennials may need a reality check from their banking providers so they can productively work toward their financial goals.