Retail/Commerce Media 2025: A Strategic Blueprint for Advertisers

Readers of The Myers Report at Substack can access the full 50-page white paper by upgrading to a paid subscription -- only $95 annually. Don’t miss out on this transformative guide.

What Every Advertiser Needs to Know

Retail and commerce media are undergoing rapid transformation, reshaping the advertising landscape and redefining how brands engage with consumers at the point of decision. As advertising spend surges, first-party data becomes the new gold standard, and emerging technologies reshape shopping experiences, retail media has firmly established itself as a top-tier investment for advertisers in 2025.

But as retail media matures into a core pillar of digital strategy, many brands are still playing catch-up. Are advertisers fully equipped to navigate an increasingly complex and competitive environment? The Myers Report’s fifth release in a 24-part 2025 series, Retail/Commerce Media in 2025: A Strategic Blueprint for Advertisers, delivers 51-pages of a comprehensive, forward-looking view of this evolving sector. Available exclusively to corporate subscribers or for individual purchase at www.MyersReports.com, this white paper is essential reading for brand marketers, agency leaders, and retail media strategists.

Why Retail Media Continues to Accelerate

Retail media is projected to surpass $62 billion in U.S. spend in 2025 and reach $179.5 billion globally, according to eMarketer and The Myers Report. Nearly 60% of advertisers report budget increases, signaling retail media’s dominance as the fastest-growing advertising category. Major players like Amazon, Walmart Connect, Target Roundel, and Kroger Precision Marketing are investing in richer data sets, scalable platforms, and full-funnel attribution models to deliver measurable performance.

Yet this meteoric growth also brings rising complexity. Advertisers now juggle dozens of retail media networks (RMNs), face rising inventory costs, and are pressed to prove ROI in a tightening economic climate. The white paper addresses these realities, offering actionable solutions to help brands maximize their return on every dollar spent.

The New Strategic Playbook for Retail Media

The Myers Report identifies the strategies that set high-performing brands apart in today’s retail media economy:

• Harnessing first-party data for hyper-precise targeting and personalized experiences.

• Utilizing clean rooms and privacy-compliant data environments to future-proof campaigns.

• Adopting AI-powered personalization to drive engagement, conversion, and loyalty.

• Linking omnichannel campaigns to both online and offline transactions for full-funnel attribution.

• Navigating platform fragmentation and consolidation, while benchmarking performance across RMNs.

Emerging Trends Defining 2025 and Beyond

Retail media is no longer limited to online grocery and big-box stores. In 2025, RMNs have expanded into non-traditional sectors—from airlines and pharmacies to hospitality, fintech, and convenience retail. New entrants like United Airlines' Kinective Media, Walgreens Advertising Group, and PayPal Ads are proving that any company with robust first-party data can become a powerful media platform.

The white paper also explores the convergence of retail media with Connected TV (CTV), social commerce, livestream shopping, and real-time shoppable media. Technologies such as dynamic QR codes, AI-driven price optimization, and instant checkout innovations are streamlining the path to purchase and reshaping media strategy.

Regulatory and Economic Forces at Play

With privacy regulations tightening globally, advertisers must adapt. The report explores the implications of new and forthcoming legislation—including the EU’s Digital Markets Act and the U.S. ADPPA—on first-party data usage, dynamic pricing, and AI-driven personalization. At the same time, economic pressures are shifting budgets from in-store promotions to e-commerce and digital-first campaigns, with local and regional media outlets benefiting from renewed investment thanks to Robinson-Patman Act enforcement.

Who Should Read This Report?

This white paper is essential for:

• Brand marketers seeking performance-driven strategies.

• Media planners navigating platform fragmentation and cost pressures.

• Retailers expanding or launching RMNs.

• Agencies and consultants guiding clients through digital transformation.

• Ad tech leaders tracking industry standards, regulation, and consolidation.

• Download the Full Report – Stay Competitive in 2025

Retail media is no longer a niche investment. It’s a transformative force in the advertising industry. Retail/Commerce Media in 2025: A Strategic Blueprint for Advertisers equips you with critical insights, detailed case studies, and a roadmap to success. Whether you’re refining your strategy or building one from scratch, this is the resource you need to lead with clarity and confidence in the commerce media era.

Visit www.MyersReports.com to purchase this report and subscribe for full access to all 24 reports in the 2025 series.

Upgrade to paid and scroll down for the full 50-page report. The Myers Report is a reader-supported publication.

For Substack Subscribers
Readers of The Myers Report at Substack can now access the full 50-page white paper by upgrading their subscription to paid. Don’t miss out on this transformative guide.

Subscribe now and scroll down for the full 50-age report