🛍️ Why Small Business Voices Matter in Big Retail Conversations

🗃️ What’s Shaping the Shelves?

Glance has partnered with the Samsung Galaxy Store to launch a new AI-driven shopping experience tailored for Samsung users in the U.S. This new platform delivers live content, influencer insights, and personalized product recommendations directly to users’ lock screens. The feature aims to reduce shopping friction by integrating discovery and transaction into one screen, reflecting a larger trend where smartphones are becoming a central point for both inspiration and instant purchasing. Read more.

🧙 Retail Masterclass

In this episode of the NRF podcast, retail leaders explore how small businesses are shaping retail culture, customer relationships, and community impact. The discussion touches on how these businesses often lead innovation in service, product curation, and authenticity—qualities larger retailers are working to emulate. It’s a timely reminder that in today’s market, size doesn't dictate influence—agility and authenticity do.

💡 An Everyday Market Hack

Retailers can create urgency and boost customer engagement by offering limited-time loyalty tiers. For example, give customers 30 days to unlock a temporary “premium” tier with added perks like faster shipping or exclusive deals. This not only incentivizes repeat purchases but also helps test what benefits resonate most before a full rollout.

🧐 Shopper Insights

A growing number of U.S. consumers are turning to returned and refurbished items to stretch their budgets. Retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart are expanding their returned goods sections, and third-party sellers are gaining traction. This trend suggests shoppers are more open to gently used or reboxed items if the value is clear and the condition is transparent—creating a new opportunity for retailers to monetize returns while appealing to bargain-seekers.

Retail Innovation

🏷️ Featured Brand - Kurt Geiger

Luxury accessories brand Kurt Geiger is deploying a new omnichannel point-of-sale system across 70 stores in the U.S. and UK. This update gives sales associates real-time access to customer data and inventory across channels, allowing for more personalized and efficient service. It’s a clear move to unify the in-store and online experience, aiming to drive higher satisfaction and stronger loyalty.

🌱 Eco Trends

A report has ranked Shein as the largest fashion polluter globally, renewing concerns about fast fashion’s long-term sustainability. The findings could influence consumer sentiment and policy decisions, especially as more shoppers and regulators demand transparency and accountability from high-volume fashion brands. Retailers in the fashion space should take note—sustainability narratives are becoming business-critical.

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