Structural shifts in the competitive landscape

The retail competitive landscape is undergoing structural shifts through M&A activity, leadership changes at major chains, and the growing dominance of scale players like Costco, while mid-tier retailers face adapt-or-die pressure.

Who it affects: retail executives, e-commerce brands, DTC founders

Notable: More M&A and brand offloading are expected in 2026. Target is beginning a multi-year turnaround with leadership restructuring. Costco continues to succeed through value and bulk pricing. Whatnot is deepening presence in existing markets and entering new countries. Furniture shopping is expected to become integrated and intuitive with prompt-to-purchase AI workflows. Reducing time from insight to action is cited as the key unlock for e-commerce growth.

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