蘑菇AV

On today's episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss the preferred shopping channels for Gen Z shoppers, what gets teens to buy, and which innovations in payments will influence spending. Then for "Pop-Up Rankings," we rank the top four brands that will have staying power with teens come 2025. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analysts Sky Canaves and Blake Droesch.

Over half of Gen Zers discover products primarily on TikTok and Instagram: Google鈥檚 relevance is fading as social search takes over.

Timing ad buys to seize on key engagement windows: Our Industry KPI data reveals Gen Z has predictable spikes in searches for apparel, gaming content.

Retailers and brands are racing to deploy AI across the shopping journey, but trust, quality, and execution will define who wins.

The National Retail Federation鈥檚 (NRF) Big Show closed earlier this week, bringing together retailers, tech companies, and industry experts to discuss the future of retail. Key takeaways included Gen Z鈥檚 influence on shopping, which will last even if TikTok goes away, the accelerating trend cycle, hesitation to adopt new payment technologies, and the transformation of digital grocery. Here are four takeaways from the event.

Online reviews are vital to the shopping experience, but a growing wariness of fake reviews and AI's escalation of the problem has recently spurred governments to act.

81% of Gen Z and millennial consumers have switched brands in the past year, according to December 2024 data from Salesforce.

Such experiences are especially important with Gen Z shoppers, who prefer in-person shopping to online, per Adyen research. Retail media gives private label brands prominence on the digital shelf and beyond.

Social shoppers find inspiration for their purchases from many different types of content, but none more so than creator, influencer, or celebrity influencer content.

The explosive rise of dupe videos鈥攚here shoppers hunt for budget versions of luxury items鈥攊s reshaping how retailers compete for customers. With rising financial pressures, shoppers are increasingly turning to store brands and lower-priced alternatives that mimic higher-end products. This shift is not just a matter of necessity but has also evolved into a culture where consumers proudly share their budget-friendly finds.

Back-to-school spending is steady in 2025, but shopper behavior is split. Parents are prioritizing tech and clothing鈥攜et these are also the first to be cut when budgets tighten. Consumers are shopping earlier, seeking deals, and using AI to keep costs down. With shopping habits divided by generation and income, retailers must stay flexible, personalize offers, optimize for AI, and create seamless cross-channel experiences.

The news: US shopper interest in generative AI (genAI) assistants has spiked 223% between 2023 and 2025, per Chain Store Age. 69% of US consumers surveyed by CouponFollow have used AI assistants for shopping. Our take: Retail AI strategies must match their audiences. Those geared toward younger consumers should highlight AI use and innovation and even let AI guide purchases. For older consumers, focus on AI to inform, not take control.

The market will return to growth in 2025, but retailers face ongoing disruption from ultra-fast-fashion players and TikTok Shop.

Online fashion sales are stable and growing slowly, but they lag wider ecommerce. Consumers are concerned about sustainability, but price is a bigger priority.