Holiday 2025: Black Friday Boost, BNPL Boom & AI Adoption for Holiday Marketing
10%
Black Friday online retail sales surged 10.4% YoY, while in-store sales edged up just 1.7% and foot traffic dropped over 5%, per early data. Apparel led spending with 5.7% growth, especially luxury and activewear categories. Overall U.S. retail sales rose 4.1%, showing shoppers are still spending — just more digitally than in-store.
80%
Over 80% of retailers are using AI, mainly for marketing, IT, and digital commerce, with plans to expand into supply chain and operations. But BRG warns that adoption alone isn’t driving clear business results — retailers must focus on ROI-driven use cases and track KPIs like revenue and inventory efficiency. Major brands like Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, and Levi’s are leading the charge with large-scale AI initiatives.
$1B
U.S. Cyber Monday online sales hit $14.25B, up 7.1% YoY, contributing to $44.2B in holiday weekend sales, a 7.7% jump, with Black Friday up 9.1% and gaining ground. BNPL fueled $1.03B in spending, while shoppers leaned on AI tools to find the best deals. Shopify also set records with $14.6B in global sales, a 27% surge despite brief technical hiccups.
80%
AI-generated search summaries are driving a major shift — with up to 80% of consumers relying on zero-click results and some sites losing 15%–60% of their organic traffic. Rankings matter less as users get instant answers without visiting websites, meaning traditional SEO metrics no longer tell the full story. To stay visible, brands must focus on being referenced in AI answers and creating deeper, trustworthy content users still want to click.
$5.5 B
Marvell is acquiring Celestial AI for $3.25B, with the deal potentially reaching $5.5B if revenue targets are met — a move to strengthen its AI-focused semiconductor networking business. The acquisition brings advanced optical interconnect technology to support large-scale AI systems, as demand for faster, high-capacity connections grows. Marvell expects data center revenue to rise 25% next year, aiming to stay competitive in the booming AI infrastructure market.
2026
Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Z TriFold, a three-panel smartphone that unfolds into a 10-inch display, priced at $2,449 with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. Launching Dec. 12 in South Korea and coming to the U.S. in early 2026, the device highlights Samsung’s push to lead the growing foldable market ahead of major rivals. Designed for productivity, it runs three apps side-by-side, supports fast charging, and serves as a tech pilot before wider commercialization.
61%
61% of Gen Z shoppers used AI to purchase in the past year, and 50% say they’d even let AI handle gift buying to reduce stress. Trust in AI is rising across all ages — 42% of US shoppers would allow AI agents to buy for them if it guaranteed the best price. This surge makes Gen Z the top audience for AI-powered shopping features like smart recommendations and virtual try-ons.