News Briefs

Podcasts continue to grow in popularity and retailers and brands should take note.

A majority of respondents (79%) listen to at least one podcast a month, and nearly half are listening more than they were a year ago, according to a survey by Clutch. 

The survey found that 42% of consumers have made a purchase based on a podcast host's recommendation. But 61% say they would trust that host less for a promotion that felt off-brand or inauthentic.

“What makes podcasts different from every other channel is the relationship listeners build with hosts over time,” said Anna Peck, Clutch analyst. “That relationship is the asset, and it's remarkably easy to damage with one promotion that doesn't feel right. Brands that treat podcast partnerships like a media buy are missing what actually makes the channel work."

The nation’s malls gained momentum in the first half of this year.

All three mall formats saw year-over-year visit growth the first half of 2026. Open-air shopping centers led with visits up, 4.7%, followed by indoor malls, up 1.9%, and outlet malls, up 1.0%, according to “The Mall Index” report from Placer.ai.

The momentum continued into June, suggesting consumer demand for shopping centers remains strong heading the second half of the year, noted Placer.ai.  Visits to indoor mall in June were up 1.2%, open-air shopping center visits up 5.1%, and outlet mall visits up 1.0% compared to June 2025.

Captured market data suggests mall traffic gains are being driven by a broader mix of shoppers rather than just an increase in higher-income households —pointing to expanding consumer appeal despite a cautious spending environment, the report said. 

Most consumers agree that it is becoming more difficult to recognize online scams, with consequences for marketers.

More than seven-in-10 (72%) of 5,600 consumers across Europe, the U.S. and Latin America recently surveyed by ClarityCheck said scams have become harder to spot because they look more professional. Close to two-thirds (63%) said poor grammar, cheap design or strange formatting no longer feel like reliable warning signs and 58% said they had received a message, link, offer or account notification that looked legitimate but still felt suspicious.

[READ MORE: AI-generated fake websites are eroding consumer trust]

Scam fears affect consumer behavior
The survey shows that this erosion in consumer trust in messages and notifications they receive is changing how they respond to marketing. Six-in-10 (61%) respondents said they now hesitate before clicking links from brands, delivery services, banks, event platforms or online marketplaces, even when the message looks normal. 

Almost half (49%) said they had ignored a legitimate-looking message because they could not tell whether it was real and 45% said they now verify more digital interactions than they did several years ago.

In addition, 52% of respondents said they would now want another form of confirmation before acting on an urgent request, even if it came through voice or video. And 47% said they would be more likely to verify a person through another channel before sending money, sharing documents, clicking a link or continuing a high-stakes conversation.

Split response to video messages

More than half (56%) of respondents said artificial intelligence-generated or manipulated video makes them less confident that seeing a person on screen proves they are real. However, 48% of respondents said video-based scams would be harder to question because seeing someone feels more convincing than reading a message.

The bagelry chain that urges customers to “Grip, Rip, and Dip” their freshly made bagels in a selection of whipped schmears and butters has initiated a plan to expand rapidly in New Jersey with 25 locations.

The first store opened this week in Westfield, about 10 miles south of Newark, near the New Jersey Transit train station that passes through the city’s downtown. 

The Wesport, Conn.-based chain currently operates 45 stores in 18 states that include Texas, California, Alabama, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Tennessee.

"We're excited to welcome PopUp Bagels to Westfield and celebrate the opening of its first New Jersey location," said Sidney Singer, VP of leasing at Levin Management Corporation, which represented the landlord in the deal. "Its unique concept has generated tremendous enthusiasm, and this location is an outstanding fit.”

PopUp is a two-time Brooklyn Bagelfest "Best Bagel" winner and has earned a loyal customer base across multiple states, including New York, Connecticut and Florida. 

A coastal-themed apparel brand is expanding its collaboration with a legendary classic rock band.

Vineyard Vines is once again teaming up with the Grateful Dead to offer an exclusive range of apparel and accessories, following the successful release of its initial capsule featuring the San Francisco psychedelic rockers in May 2025.

The 2026 edition is available exclusively on the Vineyard Vines e-commerce site for a limited time and includes a range of items such as shirts, sweatshirts, hats and ties. 

"We're thrilled to honor and celebrate the legends of Grateful Dead the best way we know how, with dancing bears, smiling whales and a whole lot of feel-good vibes," said Vineyard Vines co-founder and CEO Shep Murray. "This collection celebrates our shared spirit of adventure, positivity, and self-expression. We're excited to give both Vineyard Vines and Grateful Dead fans something cool and unique that celebrates timeless American style."

In July 2025, Vineyard Vines teamed up with Southern rockers the Zac Brown Band to release an online limited-edition capsule collection featuring a range of tees, polos and hats decorated with logos of both brands.

Summer 2025 also saw the retailer collaborate with Universal Products & Experiences to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1975 summer blockbuster film “Jaws” (which was shot on Vineyard Vines’ home island of Martha’s Vineyard) with an exclusive "Jaws" capsule including apparel and accessories for men, women and kids featuring short-and long-sleeve t-shirts, sweatshirts, polos and hats.

[READ MORE: Vineyard Vines celebrates 'Jaws' film with omnichannel collection]

Founded in 1998 on Martha's Vineyard, Mass. by brothers Shep and Ian Murray, Vineyard Vines products are available in over 600 specialty and department stores worldwide, through a seasonal catalog, online at vineyardvines.com, and in 126 freestanding retail stores.

J.Crew Group has added a beauty veteran to its leadership team.

The parent company of  J.Crew, Madewell and J.Crew Factory, has appointed Kathleen Van Nest Pierce as president of the J.Crew brand, effective August 4. In this newly created role, Pierce will lead the brand’s merchandising, design, marketing, and retail teams. 

Pierce joins the apparel retailer from Dyson, where she served as the global president for beauty, overseeing the global beauty brand's commercial, strategy and business operational functions. During her four-year tenure at Dyson Beauty, Pierce tripled the brand’s technology portfolio, according to the  J.Crew release announcing her appointment. She also is credited with expanding the brand’s reach into entirely new categories — building a full end-to-end formulations division from the ground up and bringing 27 products to market in just two years. 

Prior to Dyson Beauty, Pierce spent two decades at The Estée Lauder Companies.

 “Kathleen is a one-of-a-kind consumer brand leader with a proven ability to deliver outstanding results, build resonant brands, and forge meaningful connections with customers, and we are thrilled to welcome her to J.Crew,” said Libby Wadle, CEO of J.Crew Group. “J.Crew has always stood for authenticity and designed around an American sensibility that has resonated with customers for generations. Kathleen’s rare combination of brand vision, operational excellence, and track record of driving global growth is exactly what this moment calls for.”

 As of July, the company operates 114 J.Crew retail stores, 160 Madewell stores, and more than 395 J.Crew Factory stores across the United States.