This past week brought some interesting developments for the retail world. We saw how consumers are increasingly comfortable with AI in their shopping, alongside shifts in the labor market and new strategies retailers are using to handle tariffs and delivery. It’s clear that adapting to these changes is key for everyone in the industry.
This Week’s Top Stories
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Consumers Embracing AI in Shopping
A recent study shows that most U.S. consumers are regularly using some form of artificial intelligence, with over 60% having used it to help them shop online. Shoppers who used AI assistants found them helpful, with 97% reporting positive experiences. These tools are proving effective in helping customers make purchasing decisions more quickly, highlighting a clear evolution in how people interact with retail.
Published: June 24, 2025
Most US consumers using AI regularly | Retail Customer Experience -
Nuanced Shifts in the US Labor Market
While recent job reports continue to show overall growth and low unemployment, a closer look reveals a more intricate reality for the U.S. labor market. The breadth of job growth is narrowing, with fewer sectors actively adding positions, and competition for summer jobs is proving tougher for students than in previous years. This period suggests a state of stagnation where both employers and employees are showing hesitation, leading to more gradual, subtle shifts in employment trends rather than dramatic fluctuations.
Published: June 24, 2025
June 2025 Labor Market Update: When Numbers Don’t Tell the Whole Story - Indeed Hiring Lab -
New Policy Helps Retailers Manage Tariff-Driven Returns
In response to increasing business costs, particularly those from new or proposed tariffs, a climate-tech company called LiquiDonate has introduced a new risk-free returns policy for retailers. This policy guarantees to reduce return label costs by at least 10% in the first month for participating businesses. The initiative is designed to help retailers manage unsellable returns and excess inventory more efficiently, directly addressing a significant operational and financial challenge in the current retail landscape.
Published: June 24, 2025
Tariffs impact prompts LiquiDonate to offer retailers a way to help cut costs | Retail Customer Experience -
Amazon Expands Rural Delivery Network
Amazon is making a substantial investment to significantly accelerate delivery times to thousands of rural communities across the United States by the end of the year. This strategic move aims to broaden their delivery network into sparsely populated areas, intensifying competition for other retailers and reshaping the logistics landscape for online shopping. This expansion underscores the ongoing industry-wide push for faster and more widespread e-commerce fulfillment options for consumers.
Published: June 26, 2025
H&M progress stalls amid tense geopolitical climate presenting the retail technology week in numbers — Retail Technology Innovation Hub
Tools & Tips
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AI-Powered Customer Support Agents Ringly.io has recently introduced AI-powered phone agents designed to provide 24/7 customer support and assist with abandoned cart recovery. While this technology primarily targets online businesses, it highlights a growing trend of artificial intelligence supporting customer interactions, which could eventually extend to in-store support roles.
The Ultimate List of Ecommerce Tools (2025) -
Brij: Monetizing Offline Customer Relationships Brij, an AI-powered platform, recently closed an $8 million funding round to help consumer brands monetize offline customer relationships. This tool enables brands to collect and optimize first-party data, quantify incremental revenue, and deliver personalized interactions across various channels, addressing the challenge of maintaining direct customer relationships when selling through third-party retail.
H&M progress stalls amid tense geopolitical climate presenting the retail technology week in numbers — Retail Technology Innovation Hub
Fun Fact
Did you know? The very first cash register was invented in 1879 by James Ritty, a saloon owner in Dayton, Ohio. He created it to prevent his employees from “pilfering” his daily earnings. Every time the cash drawer opened, a bell would ring, leading to its humorous nickname: “the bell heard 'round the world!” Talk about a direct solution to a common problem!
We’d love to hear from you!
Have you participated in any Cashier events or utilized new Cashier tools recently? Share your experiences or insights with us—we’re featuring selected community voices in next week’s edition.