𝐌𝐢𝐝-𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 & 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡

RETAIL Monthly Wrap-Up June

From global takeovers and AI breakthroughs to consumer behavior shifts and regional expansions, this edition captures the defining moments steering the next chapter of commerce, innovation, and strategy.

Inside, you’ll find 12 handpicked stories—from Google’s $5.9B economic impact to Meta’s AGI ambitions and JD. com’s global logistics leap. Whether you’re in eCommerce, tech, or retail leadership, these headlines offer a pulse check on what’s rising, what’s pivoting, and what’s next.

𝐔.𝐒. 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐀𝐄, 𝐁𝐍𝐏𝐋 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝

As U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods reroute supply chains, retailers in the UAE are feeling the pinch—especially in non-prime mall locations. While high-traffic destinations like Dubai Mall stay resilient, others face cost pressures and squeezed margins.

To counteract this, Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services are rising rapidly, giving consumers more flexible ways to shop. With a mobile-savvy population leading the trend, BNPL is reshaping how retailers retain spending in an inflationary climate.

𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐛𝐮 𝐓𝐨𝐲 𝐇𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 & 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠

Labubu, the quirky monster doll from Pop Mart and designer Kasing Lung, is no longer just a toy—it’s a consumer phenomenon. Fueled by TikTok virality, resale mania, and a blind-box model, Labubu is driving billion-dollar behavior through scarcity and identity-led buying.

The trend signals a shift in retail: emotional ROI and storytelling now outweigh utility. As collectors chase nostalgia and exclusivity, Labubu offers a case study in how hype culture redefines value in modern markets.

𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬

Despite partial tariff relief through recent U.S.–China negotiations, Walmart says shoppers will still see higher prices. CEO Doug McMillon emphasized that cost burdens remain, pushing the retailer to lean heavily into its eCommerce strategy. Online sales are up 22% year-over-year, with global digital operations now turning a profit. This digital momentum is helping Walmart offset volatility in its physical stores while keeping price-sensitive consumers engaged.

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐱 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐄𝐔 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

As inflation reshapes spending habits across Europe, Inditex is pushing its low-cost fashion brand Lefties into new markets including the UK, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. The brand, once a Zara clearance channel, has evolved into a full-scale lifestyle label.

With €600 million in annual sales, Lefties is set to challenge giants like Primark by delivering affordability, speed, and variety to Europe’s value-conscious consumers.

𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐎𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐮𝐬𝐡

Luxury resale platform Rebag has teamed up with Amazon Luxury Stores to bring 30,000+ authenticated designer goods to a wider online audience. Shoppers can now access pre-owned items from brands like Hermès, Rolex, and Cartier—backed by Amazon’s logistics. This partnership elevates Rebag’s presence in the resale space and leverages Amazon’s trusted infrastructure to streamline delivery, returns, and discoverability. It’s a major leap in making high-end circular fashion mainstream.

𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐨 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝟑-𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐬

Deliveroo is trialing drone deliveries in Dublin’s Blanchardstown area, aiming to complete orders within three minutes. In partnership with drone firm Manna, the service covers a 3km radius and uses biodegradable tether drops for safe, contactless handoffs. With real-time notifications and automated drop points, the pilot complements Deliveroo’s existing rider fleet. It’s part of a broader push to serve suburban markets and expand into retail and grocery air delivery in the near future

𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐬 $𝟏.𝟕𝐁 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭

After a six-month review, Mars has awarded its $1.7 billion global media business to Publicis Groupe, replacing WPP and expanding the French agency’s footprint in digital, influencer, and commerce. IPG takes over Mars’ PR responsibilities. The win includes 70+ markets and a dedicated “OneMars” team that will leverage AI-powered insights to deliver personalized brand experiences. Publicis’ acquisition of Mars United Commerce will also support broader shopper and media intelligence.

𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐔𝐀𝐄 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐲 $𝟓.𝟗𝐁 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

Google’s AI tools—from Search to Gemini and GPay—have contributed AED 21.8 billion ($5.9B) to the UAE economy in 2024, according to a Public First report. Businesses are embracing AI rapidly, with 91% of companies integrating it into workflows. Meanwhile, Google has trained over 430,000 people in AI and digital skills, and 94% of users rely on Search for price comparisons. The data points to Google’s deepening role in the UAE’s digital-first, knowledge-based economy.

𝐉𝐃.𝐜𝐨𝐦 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐉𝐨𝐲𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢, 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲

JD.com has launched JoyExpress, its first international, consumer-facing logistics service, in Saudi Arabia. The launch leverages JD’s proprietary warehousing and delivery infrastructure, marking a key step in its global ambitions. As JD.com faces domestic pressures in China, the company is accelerating growth plans across Europe and new sectors like food delivery and travel booking. JoyExpress signals a strategic shift in its logistics expansion.

𝐆𝐞𝐧 𝐙 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠

Google is fast becoming Gen Z’s top starting point for online shopping. In March 2025, 30% of shoppers aged 16–24 began their search on Google—up from 21% six months prior—while Amazon’s share dropped from 41% to 34%. This shift is largely driven by Google’s generative AI tools, which improve product discovery and engagement. Social platforms like TikTok Shop and fast-fashion sites like SHEIN are also attracting younger users, redefining the eCommerce landscape.

𝐋’𝐎𝐫𝐞́𝐚𝐥 & 𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐈𝐀 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐈-𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

L’Oréal is teaming up with NVIDIA to bring AI into beauty personalization at scale. Through the Noli marketplace, users receive product recommendations powered by diagnostics and 1 million+ data points on skin profiles. The partnership leverages NVIDIA’s AI Enterprise platform to deliver 3D product renderings and marketing enhancements. Together, the brands are setting new standards in consumer engagement through hyper-personalized beauty.

𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐚 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐆𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐙𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐠’𝐬 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦

Mark Zuckerberg is assembling a secretive elite team of 50 AI engineers to pursue artificial general intelligence (AGI). Frustrated by Llama 4’s shortcomings, the Meta founder has gone into “founder mode,” recruiting talent personally—even over private dinners. Meta is also planning a multibillion-dollar investment in Scale AI (valued at $28B), bringing founder Alexandr Wang into the mix. The initiative is a bold play to leapfrog rivals and make Meta a frontrunner in the race for next-gen AI capabilities.

Download the Insights: 17 Big Moves Shaping the Future of Global and MENA eCommerce

Download June Retail Update (PDF)

Retail & Consumer