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Retailers Are Drowning in Data – Journey Management Could Be the Lifeline

Retailers face growing pressure to make faster, smarter decisions—but data overload is holding them back. Despite access to more insights than ever, only 45% of data is used in decision-making. To stay competitive, businesses need a unified framework that turns scattered insights into clear, coordinated action.

August 08, 2025

📢 Hey, Retailist Roundup readers! Feeling overwhelmed by too much data and not enough clarity? You’re not alone. Despite having access to more insights than ever, most retailers use less than half of it to make decisions. The key isn’t more data—it’s knowing how to turn it into aligned, timely action.

News from Retailist

Rather than focusing on isolated touchpoints or departmental KPIs, journey management provides a way to understand where the most critical pain points lie and how to resolve them systematically across the business.

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In the news: Top headlines this week

Stressed US low-income shoppers hunt for smaller packs, restaurant meals under $5. Lower-income U.S. households are cutting back on dining out, travel, and essentials like diapers and soda as rising tariffs drive prices higher. Companies like Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, and Chipotle report growing consumer demand for bargains, while experts warn that shrinking profit margins may follow as price hikes become less effective.[Reuters]

Wary of sticker shock, retailers clash with brands on price hikes. Caught between rising tariffs and cautious consumers, major retailers are pushing back against brands like Beiersdorf and Heineken to prevent price hikes that could drive shoppers away and hurt sales. [Reuters]

‘Gateway drug’: Labubus are getting U.S. consumers hooked on Pop Mart and driving up business. Labubu plush dolls, once popular in China, are now a viral fashion accessory and must-have collectible in the U.S. Spotted on purses, strollers, and belt loops, their sudden popularity has caught the attention of shoppers, brands, and even politicians. One analyst has dubbed Labubu the global “it” item, as consumers rush to join the trend. [CNBC]

Why Claire’s is closing 700 US stores, mulling liquidation. Claire’s, once a go-to for middle-schoolers, is now facing financial turmoil, landing in bankruptcy court for the second time in seven years. CEO Chris Cramer also serves as COO and CFO, reflecting the company’s strained resources as it searches for a buyer. [Retail Dive]

Report: Gen Alpha spending power hits $100B. While Gen Z gets much of the spotlight, Gen Alpha—born between 2010 and the 2020s—is quickly emerging as a powerful consumer group, with over $100 billion in annual spending power, according to DKC Analytics. The average Gen Alpha child has about $67 to spend each week, and most earn money through chores, good grades, odd jobs, or online reselling. Additionally, 83% receive an allowance, with a median of $20 per week. [CSA]

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Retailist Magazine is an outlet focused on modern commerce as it relates to digital innovation. The publication examines our culture’s ever-evolving relationship with marketing, commerce and traditional retail. Our goal is to connect our audience to quality content and award programs for retail brands to tell their story of innovation.

These experts stand at the helm of their niche in retail and provide readers with real-time, trending insights to ensure you remain on the bleeding edge of commerce innovation. Contributing thought leaders include C-suite executives from Vistaprint, Hubspot, Wix, Printful, Global-e, Zapaygo, TradeGala, Birdie, Inurface Media, and more.