First Insight

04/28/2026

Hundreds of malls sit empty. A select few have never been busier.

Brands like Fabletics, Princess Polly, and Edikted built massive followings online. Now they're opening storefronts in the country's busiest malls. Not because the internet stopped working, but because Gen Z wants more than a scroll.

Swipe through to see what's fueling the shift — then read the full story 👉 https://bit.ly/4t88JAN

04/21/2026

Gen Z will pay more, but only on their terms.

Premium spending among this generation is highly category-specific. Same shelf. Very different priorities.

For brands, that distinction matters. It's not about whether Gen Z spends. It's about whether your category makes the cut.

Our latest report breaks down exactly where Gen Z opens their wallets and where they won't.

Download it here 👇
https://bit.ly/4bDyzG1

04/15/2026

Gen Z isn't brand loyal. They're trend loyal.

In his latest blog for Forbes, Greg Petro breaks down a surprising new spending pattern: Gen Z is trading down to store brands for everyday essentials so they can splurge on wellness, beauty, and personal style. Can national brands win them back, or have they already lost the battle for Gen Z's wallet?

Get the full breakdown 👉 https://bit.ly/4cqdVtj

04/13/2026

Gen Z still picks national brands first in every category.

But premium, store, and DTC brands are quietly eating into that lead one scroll at a time.

The shelf is changing. Is your brand ready?

Our latest report, Is Gen Z Still Choosing Your Brand?, breaks down how Gen Z's CPG preferences are shifting and what it means for your brand before the lead disappears.

Download it here 👇
https://bit.ly/4bDyzG1

04/10/2026

Our latest report, Is Gen Z Still Choosing Your Brand?, has been picked up by publications spanning retail, grocery, beauty, and more — and for good reason.

Gen Z's shifting values are rewriting the rules for CPG brands. Download the full report to read our findings.

👉 https://bit.ly/4bDyzG1

04/07/2026

The right product still needs the right message.

First Insight helps brands test creative, messaging, campaign elements, and targeting with the audiences that matter most — so marketing decisions are informed by consumer feedback, not assumptions.

From sell-in to campaign optimization, the goal is the same: improve conversions, reduce risk, and make every marketing dollar work harder.

See how First Insight helps brands improve marketing and selling performance: https://bit.ly/3TBr74L

04/06/2026

The retailers investing most heavily in AI might be setting themselves up for the biggest markdowns of 2026.

That's just one of the uncomfortable truths our Chief Strategy & Growth Officer Viki Zabala recently unpacked with Retail Today.

Three predictions that should be on every retail leader's radar this year: synthetic personas as an expensive shortcut, change management as the real AI challenge, and why consumers can spot inauthenticity faster than any algorithm can.

The brands doing the real work will be the ones still standing. Read Viki's full thoughts 👉 https://bit.ly/4tkS8eo

04/02/2026

Inventory risk often starts long before products hit the floor.

First Insight helps retailers make better decisions about buy depth, allocation, replenishment, and SKU rationalization by using forward-looking consumer insight to identify likely winners and losers.

When teams understand demand earlier, they can better manage inventory, improve allocation decisions, and reduce costly over- and under-buys.

Learn how First Insight helps retailers optimize supply chain planning: https://bit.ly/40Ox9l1

04/01/2026

Retail expansion plans were booming — until they weren't.

In his latest blog for Forbes, Greg Petro breaks down why surging fuel prices and mounting economic pressures are putting retailers' aggressive growth strategies at serious risk, and which players may actually come out ahead.

Keep reading: https://bit.ly/4ch1GAu

As gas prices surge, consumer spending tightens and retail expansion plans stall, creating new pressure across the industry.

03/30/2026

Gen Z isn't spending less. They're spending differently.

59% actively trade down on everyday staples to fund premiums in Health & Wellness and skincare, while only 13% refuse to trade down at all, compared to 28% of Boomers.

As the Boomer cohort ages out, the trade-down economy becomes the default economy. For national brands in staple categories, shelf presence alone is no longer enough.

The data goes deeper. Download our new Gen Z CPG report: https://bit.ly/4bDyzG1

03/26/2026

Is Gen Z still choosing your brand?

Our latest report reveals a quiet but significant shift: 31% of Gen Z shoppers are opting for private label food and beverages to save money—so they can keep spending on health, wellness, and beauty brands they prioritize.

For CPG brands, the loyalty playbook is changing.

Read our full findings: https://bit.ly/4bDyzG1

03/23/2026

Pricing decisions do not have to start with guesswork.

First Insight helps retailers use zero-party consumer data and AI to understand price sensitivity, optimize initial prices, test promotions, and model markdown strategies before launch.

That means fewer surprises, fewer unnecessary markdowns, and stronger margin performance. First Insight says its pricing tools can help retailers achieve 3–9% gains in gross margin by leveraging consumer insights.

Explore how First Insight helps retailers price with more confidence: https://bit.ly/3lel3Cy