Private label sales continue to grow, reaching a record $283 billion last year, with sales and unit volume growth outpacing those of national brands.

While retailers are often selling private label products that are similar to, or even dupes of, national brands, their marketing approach—from innovation to packaging to merchandising—must differ from national brands to be successful.

National brands often rely on storytelling and campaigns outside of the store or their own website to drive brand loyalty before consumers go shopping, EY Global Consumer Senior Analyst Jon Copestake told Retail Brew, whereas the point of sale is much more important for private labels to give shoppers options and incentivize them to buy.

While retailers have long offered private labels, they ramped up their offerings following the supply chain chaos and subsequent out-of-stocks during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Retailers gained “goodwill and trust” during that period that they’re now leveraging with not only lower-priced private labels for budget-conscious shoppers, but more premium options, Copestake said. They’ve begun “laddering” their private label offerings across different pricing tiers to “make sure that they’re capturing much more than just a budget-conscious consumer,” he said.

Keep reading here.—EC

While Europe and the US continue to demonstrate a growing appetite for online shopping, a new international player is showing increasing potential.

According to a study by GlobalData, Singapore’s e-commerce market is projected to grow 17.7% this year alone, reaching $31 billion—up from $26.3 billion in 2025.

Key drivers behind this growth include expanding digital infrastructure and a larger base of consumers who are increasingly “digitally proficient,” per the study.

Major shopping events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Singles’ Day have also helped accelerate the trend.

At its current pace, the market is expected to reach nearly $50 billion by 2030, and other international players have taken note.

Keep reading here.—JS

It’s Saint Patrick’s Day tomorrow, and the National Retail Federation says shoppers are “Dublin” down on spending. Despite landing on a Tuesday, the holiday is forecast to generate a record $7.7 billion, up from $7 billion in 2025. The level of participation in St. Paddy’s has trended upward in recent years regardless of the day of the week, hitting levels that in the past were limited to when the holiday fell on a Saturday.

However, the recent spate of wet and chilly weather could lead more people to celebrate at home, according to weather analytics firm Planalytics. Indeed, NRF is predicting a record number of people (14%) will host a party this year, up from 11% last year.

Here’s what else is happening in retail this week:

In virtual events: In other NRF news, the group is hosting its State of Retail & the Consumer event on Wednesday. The one-hour virtual event features economists and industry leaders breaking down the latest consumer trends, as well as the big reveal of NRF’s annual retail sales forecast. High-profile speakers include BJ’s Wholesale CEO Bob Eddy, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka, and Pinterest Director of Consumer Product Marketing Rachel Hardy.

Keep reading here.—AV