Ryan Trahan’s whirlwind “50 States in 50 Days” series wasn’t just about quirky Airbnbs or a $1M fundraiser for St. Jude — it doubled as a live experiment in marketing. From $5,000 donor shoutouts to $100K corporate sponsorships, everyone from families to major brands took part. But here’s the real question: did these donations actually deliver lasting value, or were they just entertaining moments in a viral summer spectacle?

Here are the ecommerce, retail, social media, and other industry articles that caught my attention this week.

Here are the ecommerce, retail, social media, and other industry articles that caught my attention this week.

Here are 5 ecommerce, retail, social media, and other industry articles that caught my attention this week.

Here are 5 ecommerce, retail, social media, and other industry articles that caught my attention this week.

Here are 5 ecommerce, retail, social media, and other industry articles that caught my attention this week.

Here are 5 ecommerce, retail, social media, and other industry articles that caught my attention this week.

Here are 5 ecommerce, retail, social media, and other industry articles that caught my attention this week.

Here is a collection of ecommerce and retail industry articles I found interesting and some correlating Bluesky posts from the week.

Overall consumer confidence may be fading but that doesn’t mean brands can’t take steps to build value and establish trust. By staying laser-focused on the customer and delivering exceptional experiences, brands can force shoppers to think twice before purchasing from other stores. Here are three simple ways brands can protect themselves from a downturn.