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Cash & Repeat: The Digital C&R Payoff and Loyalty Shakeup
Digital bets are no longer experiments—they’re profit engines.But as eComm climbs and loyalty fractures, retailers face a new balancing act.
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Good morning, ! This week we’re exploring the digital C&R profit, the online ecommerce market continues to grow, and consumer loyalty among different retail services
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TREND OF THE WEEK
Digital Bets That Actually Pay
Retailers aren’t just chasing shiny objects anymore—they’re investing where profits are clear. KPMG data shows modern delivery solutions lead the way with a 36% YoY profit impact, thanks to low-code/no-code tools speeding up digital rollouts. Cybersecurity (35%) follows as both shield and trust-builder, while VR/AR/XR (34%) proves that immersive shopping isn’t just hype. AI and automation (29%), XaaS (28%), and data/analytics (28%) continue to underpin smarter, leaner operations. The takeaway: digital transformation is no longer experimentation—it’s profit strategy. (More)
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ECOMMERCE
E-commerce’s Slow and Steady Climb to 25% Market Share
Global e-commerce is eating into offline retail—but not in a land-grab, more like a long game. In 2020, online sales made up 18.8% of global commerce. By 2028, they’re forecasted to hit 25.7%, a +7pt gain over 8 years.
That’s a CAGR of just under 4%, signaling expansion—but not disruption. In fact, offline still holds a commanding 74.3% share by 2028. For all the hype around digital acceleration, brick-and-mortar remains resilient.
What this means for consumer investors and operators: eCommerce isn’t replacing retail—it’s absorbing the high-margin, high-convenience pieces. Think categories like fashion, electronics, and gifting. Expect hybrid strategies to continue winning: DTC channels, online-to-offline integration, and seamless returns are no longer edge plays—they’re table stakes.
Bottom line: E-commerce is gaining ground globally, but this is a marathon, not a sprint. The next big moves won't come from pure online players—they’ll come from the hybrids who can optimize both shelves and screens.
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Private Equity’s Power-Up Moment in eSports
EA Sells for $55B—And a Lot of Leverage. If private equity were a video game, this would be the boss level. EA’s $55B take-private, the biggest PE-backed LBO ever, teams up Saudi Arabia’s PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners to rewire the gaming house that built The Sims and FIFA. The play: $36B equity, $20B debt, and a company with $7.5B in revenue. What could go wrong? Industry insiders worry that servicing the debt may starve innovation—and players could feel the pinch. But for Saudi Arabia, it’s a strategic flex in its Vision 2030 campaign to diversify beyond oil (and Call of Duty). (More)
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Gift Cards: The MVP of Holiday Spending
Gift cards are holiday 2025’s financial Swiss Army knife—useful, flexible, and increasingly indispensable. With 52% of Americans gifting them to friends and 47% to family, they’re more than just last-minute saviors. In an inflation-stressed season where gift budgets are down 11%, gift cards offer a budget-friendly workaround that still feels personal. Retailers win too: post-holiday redemptions often exceed the card’s face value.
Consumers love them because they skip shipping costs, size guessing, and out-of-stock drama. Gen Z loves self-gifting. Boomers love keeping it simple. Everyone loves not blowing their December budget. (More)
CONSUMER BEHAVIOR
The Loyalty Paradox: Delivery Beats Stores
Loyalty isn’t just about brands anymore—it’s about convenience on tap. A new Capgemini survey shows last-mile delivery services top the loyalty charts at 68%, edging out e-tailers (65%) and grocery stores (61%). That’s right—people feel more loyal to the courier dropping off their package than to the store that sold it. Specialty (57%) and fashion retailers (55%) sit in the middle, where loyalty leans on brand identity rather than speed. At the bottom: electronics (54%) and home improvement (47%), where purchases are often episodic and price-driven. The big takeaway: retailers who can seamlessly integrate into daily routines—with speed, reliability, and trust—win loyalty. Everyone else? Time to rethink engagement. (More)
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