#consumer-behavior

#consumer-behavior

In just under two decades, subscription services have changed the way people shop, play and work. Businesses are also taking advantage of subscription services. As we head for the middle of 2025, though, the subscription economy is showing signs of yet another shift as it expands beyond digital services. What may the future hold? Related: The Subscription Economy Is Growing Fast. Here's How Your Business Can Adapt and Thrive. The rise of the subscription economy

On the frugal side of TikTok, the "buy it nice or buy it twice" adage is making the rounds, with creators like @christina.mychas echoing the phrase, "I'm too broke to buy cheap sh*t." In her comments, one person said, "[You should] spend like a millionaire on the things you use all the time - bed, mattress, pillow, jeans, shoes, etc." Another wrote, "In Spanish there's a saying, 'Lo barato sale caro,' which is 'the cheap turns out to be expensive,'" and it's really resonating.

Consumer behavior has undoubtedly shifted. Research shows that 70% of consumers are willing to pay a premium for ethically sourced products, and 66% expect brands to understand their needs and preferences. Nearly half of all consumers now buy products after seeing them endorsed by people they trust. These statistics clearly show that people want businesses to do better. But here's what the data doesn't capture: consumer expectations alone cannot drive the fundamental changes our world needs.

The forecast, released today and based on data drawn from Salesforce platforms Commerce Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Service Cloud and Agentforce, predicts that global ecommerce sales in November and December will reach a record $1.25 trillion, an increase worldwide of 4%. In the U.S., online sales are projected to increase 2.1%. "The way consumers are shopping is changing at a fundamental level," the report states, noting that AI and agents are projected to drive 21% of all holiday orders globally, resulting in $263 billion in sales.

Some might dismiss this as hype, but history shows us how quickly consumer behaviour can flip. I'm old enough to remember back to when we first relied on the Yellow Pages, then shifted almost overnight to Google. We're already starting to see a shift towards AI-driven search, where instead of scrolling through endless pages of results you're presented with just a handful of carefully curated answers, drawn from multiple sources.

They're exploding in popularity, but is the investment the right choice for the way you live your life? Net-Zero Dads. That's what The Economist dubbed the middle-aged men who obsess over how their heat pumps, electric cars and solar PV panels work. Indeed, sharing the jargon-filled specs of your favourite climate toy with your neighbours is the new 'keeping up with the Joneses'.

Case in point: A rotating selection of about 500 items that Dollar General sells in its stores for $1 - which the company calls "Value Valley" - sold at twice the rate of everything else that the retailersold during its second quarter, Vasos said on the company's most recent earnings call. That made the $1 section "one of our strongest performing areas in the quarter," he said.

New York's legal weed market in 2025 is no longer just about access-it's about choice, intention, and identity. What began as a slow rollout marred by regulatory confusion and legacy gray-market inertia is now a fully-fledged economic engine reshaping how consumers think about, purchase, and consume weed. With over 100 licensed dispensaries now open across the state, data shows a clear shift: buyers are no longer simply looking for high THC or the best price-

The emergence of AI has led to concerns about job losses across various sectors, including real estate, where professionals feel the impact indirectly.

A recent Gallup poll reveals a seismic shift in U.S. alcohol consumption, with only 54% of adults reporting they drink alcoholic beverages - the lowest level since the 1930s.

The buyer's guilt that I get nearly every time after I've spent is insane ... Sometimes I open things and I don't want them.

Home Depot is building a better future for the doers - homeowners, pros, renters - by making improvement more accessible and confidence easier to find. Not by marketing purpose, but by delivering it.

Behind every decision regarding how you allocate your precious time on earth - every meal, every subscription, and every purchase - you weigh whether something is 'worth it.' And underneath each decision lurks a tangled matrix of emotions, biases, social programming, narratives, justifications, and scheming about money and value.

The new approach to eating emphasizing protein, known as the 'macro-mindset,' has gained mainstream popularity, forcing the food industry to adapt.

AI is now ubiquitous in the software landscape, with 43% embedded in existing programs, 22% introduced by business units, and 35% developed internally. By 2026, over 80% of software vendors will incorporate generative AI into their products, leading to AI saturation even for those who maintain their current approach. However, this increase has not resulted in improved marketing effectiveness or enriched customer connections, as many consumers report feeling more overwhelmed and less understood.

Retail and technology consulting company Coresight Research estimates that back-to-school spending from June through August will reach $33.3 billion in the U.S., a 3.3% increase from the same three-month period a year ago.

Faced with slumping lunch traffic from downtown offices and waning consumer interest in pricey salads, Sweetgreen CEO Jonathan Neman is leaning into America's 2020s-era protein craze.

In the allotted amount of time I have, this is what works.

The launch was bold, unexpected, and perfectly timed. The deeper story is what this move reveals about the future of celebrity-led businesses.

"That's what really multiplies anything that you have on the shelf," Krueger said, emphasizing the significance of retaining display and promotional space.

The emergence of GLP-1 medications, originally popular in the US, is now a global phenomenon, projected to grow to 31.5 million users by 2035.

I give myself an imaginary amount to spend — say, $500 — then wander into stores I enjoy and pick out favorite items. But I don't purchase anything! I get all the rush of shopping and the satisfaction of choosing without spending.

The digital gambling landscape in Canada is experiencing an unprecedented boom, with a surge in domestic and international operators entering the market, giving Canadians access to a growing variety of options.