YouTube is reorganizing staff within its product teams, which won’t directly involve eliminating any roles, per Business Insider. Starting November 5, those teams will fall into three categories with distinct priorities. At the same time, the company implemented a “voluntary exit program” with severance offers for US employees. YouTube’s now-separate product segments could open up new pathways for TV ads and influencer marketing, and brands should watch for how these siloed divisions could change campaign development and ad placement, and whether outreach with YouTube will become more complicated.
Netflix is testing vertical short-form video content on mobile devices to diversify its platform offerings. The streamer’s goal isn’t to compete with TikTok since it won’t feature user-generated content (UGC). Instead, videos will include clips from Netflix’s longer-form content, such as live events or stand-up comedy sets. Netflix’s move into shorts could create new ad inventory or brand placement opportunities, pairing the brand safety of curated clips with the engagement of short video. Marketers should keep an eye on how Netflix’s short-form ecosystem evolves.
A global Azure and 365 outage hours before earnings revealed the fragility of Microsoft's dominance, briefly disrupting apps and websites worldwide. But its latest earnings demonstrated its unmatched lead in enterprise AI. Azure and other cloud services jumped 40%, powering Microsoft Cloud’s 26% revenue surge to $49.1 billion. Despite the hiccup, Microsoft’s results confirmed AI’s full integration into its business model, with Copilot and Azure fueling recurring cloud consumption—and turning productivity into predictable, high-margin growth.
Nearly half (49%) of US holiday shoppers earning $80K–$99K are worried that gifts will cost more this year, found a July survey from Bankrate.
On today's podcast episode, we discuss the unofficial list of the most interesting retailers for the month of October. Each month, host Suzy Davidkhanian, Arielle Feger, Becky Schilling, and Emmy Liederman (aka The Committee) put together a very unofficial list of the top eight retailers they're watching based on which are making the most interesting moves: Who's launching new initiatives? Which partnerships are moving the needle? Which standout marketing campaigns are being created? In this month's episode, Committee members Suzy Davidkhanian and Arielle Feger will defend their list against Senior Analyst, Blake Droesch and Analyst, Rachel Wolff, who will dispute the power rankings by attempting to move retailers up, down, on, or off the list.
Citi is partnering with Coinbase to build stablecoin payment capabilities for institutional clients. The partnership will focus initially on crypto on- and off-ramps, which enable clients to convert between digital assets and fiat currencies. It’s unlikely that many banks will build their own integrations with crypto rails. But with infrastructure partnerships, native on- and off-ramps should become more common. Cryptocurrencies and blockchain infrastructure will be increasingly complementary to the traditional financial system.
Fidelity has introduced Solana trading for US retail and institutional investors. Solana is the digital currency native to the Solana public blockchain, which is designed to be faster, more easily scaled, and cheaper to transact on than competing blockchains. Fidelity’s move with Solana signals mainstream confidence in cryptocurrency for retail purposes and is a nod to using Solana for stablecoin transactions and its potential value for faster cross-border transactions and blockchain-based securities settlement.
Etsy is betting on a new CEO to help revitalize its business after years of sluggish growth. Kruti Patel Goyal, the company’s chief growth officer, will take over the job from Josh Silverman next year. Etsy is in a tough position. The combination of economic uncertainty and a cost-of-living crisis are dampening demand for the discretionary items that it sells, while tariffs and the end of de minimis make it harder for sellers to operate. While Depop’s success is a bright spot, the platform is not large enough to offset Etsy’s broader GMS declines.
Omnicom will retire advertising network DDB as part of its merger with Interpublic Group (IPG), set to close in November, per various reports. For advertisers, the end of DDB carries deeper implications than a simple brand retirement. It represents the erosion of a creative philosophy brands have historically relied on, and advertisers lose a partner that offered a distinct voice and strategy.
Google parent Alphabet reported strong Q3 earnings on Wednesday, with revenues growing 16% YoY to $102.35 billion, while Google Search & other, YouTube Ads, and Google subscriptions, platforms, and devices all saw double-digit growth. But Google simultaneously experienced a notable loss in an ongoing antitrust case that could carry implications for the future of search advertising. Google will remain a cornerstone of successful ad strategies, at least in the short-term.
Fiserv ’s adjusted revenues grew 1% to $14.9 billion, per its Q3 earnings release. Fiserv took a massive hit from the Argentinian economic crisis. However, its investments in other avenues have yet to come to fruition. The payments giant has slowly collected the pieces to successfully issue tokens on the behalf of major retailers, which could become a stable pillar of its business and decrease Fiserv’s reliance on certain markets for growth.
If Amazon’s October Prime Big Deal Days event was any indication of the upcoming holiday season, consumers will keep spending on beauty products for themselves and others.
Starbucks’ premium positioning is hampering its recovery as price-sensitive consumers seek cheaper ways to fuel their caffeine habits. US same-store sales were flat in the quarter ended September 28, with a 1% decline in comparable transactions offset by a 1% increase in average ticket. Starbucks’ ongoing weakness can be attributed at least in part to the challenging economic environment, which is driving consumers to cut back on consuming food and drinks outside the home. But its competitors’ ability to drive sales even with the same headwinds suggest that Starbucks’ hold on customer loyalty is slipping.
Rising costs and softening consumer demand led Kraft Heinz, Hormel, and Mondelez to cut their full-year outlooks, reflecting mounting pressure across the food industry. Hormel cited higher commodity costs and production setbacks, while Kraft Heinz and Mondelez reported slowing sales as inflation-weary shoppers traded down to cheaper or private-label options. Consumer confidence has fallen to its lowest level in months, and the looming SNAP benefit cutoff could further dampen spending. With costs climbing and value-conscious behavior spreading, food companies are being pushed to focus on efficiency and share preservation over aggressive growth.
Major casual dining chains are bracing for weaker Q4 sales as the government shutdown and broader economic headwinds weigh on consumer spending. Brinker International maintained its outlook despite Chili’s gains, while Cheesecake Factory reported slowing momentum and Chipotle cut its sales forecast for the third straight quarter. With real income growth stagnating and menu prices continuing to rise, many consumers are cutting back on dining out. To stay competitive, restaurants need to focus on value-driven promotions and loyalty programs designed to attract price-sensitive diners and encourage repeat visits.
Eli Lilly is partnering with chipmaker NVIDIA to build the pharma industry’s most powerful supercomputer. Lily claims it will be the largest AI factory owned by a pharma company and will be up and running in January 2026. Lilly’s partnership with NVIDIA highlights the shift pharma companies are making to rely on tech firms who have the computing power and AI expertise pharma needs to stay competitive.
Samsung Ads and AdGood have launched a partnership enabling nonprofits to advertise on connected TV for the first time at scale. Samsung will donate ad inventory from its free streaming service, Samsung TV Plus, to AdGood’s nonprofit exchange, allowing mission-driven organizations to reach viewers across premium streaming environments. The initiative reflects a broader shift in the CTV ecosystem—where unused inventory and automation are being repurposed to advance social impact, equity, and accessibility in digital media.
Hulu + Live TV and Fubo have struck a deal that will see the streaming platforms merge into a live TV streaming business after initially announcing an acquisition in January. Brands will benefit from access to growing subscribers and vast sports audiences that increasingly embrace digital, as the platforms combine scale with innovative ad formats.