Retailers are, of course, now entering into another golden quarter. However, this year looks slightly different. Whilst the core challenge of the season remains, supply chain disruption, changing shopper habits and a good portion of uncertainty mean that many leaders are struggling to see what peak this year is going to look like.
To get to the heart of peak preparedness, Retail Gazette’s Unpacked podcast catches up with Charlotte Jamieson, VP advertiser and agency partnerships at Cardlytics to delve into the company’s recent research, and find out why some unexpected strategic tweaks could ensure that 2026’s golden quarter is a success.
“The whole landscape of retail has changed, and the golden quarter will be no exception to that,” says Jamieson. “What the data shows us is that shoppers are managing their budgets hard, even at Christmas. They’re shopping around, they’re trading down, they’re breaking old brand loyalties. We do see that they’re still spending, but only when something prompts them.”
“For retailers, it’s not whether the demand exists, but if you’re shopping up for shoppers at the right time, with the right relevance, and with the right value,” Jamieson adds.
Listen now to find out more, and check out the Retail Gazette Golden Guide ’26 for more insight into how to win this season.
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