A look at consumer and retail news from PR Newswire in January & February that you might have missed.

(Note: This is an edited version of a blog post originally published on prnewswire.com. Read the original for more.)

2023 is in full swing and the Cision team is back with a play-by-play of emerging industry trends in the retail and consumer arena! Every month, we analyze thousands of wire releases and identify key topics that journalists should know about.

Throughout January and February, we noticed many releases geared toward how consumers enjoyed two big events — the Big Game and Valentine’s Day.

Additionally, we’re seeing a renewed focus on retail tech. How brands facilitate easier e-commerce transactions for their customers is a point of focus. Speaking of tech, we’ve also noticed an uptick in copy about smart homes and home improvement.

Let’s take a closer look at the noteworthy trends we’ve seen across the consumer wire in January and February.

Some of the Most Popular Consumer and Retail Releases:

Over the last two months, these consumer and retail releases stood out from the crowd regarding overall views, engagement, and uniqueness:

• Diner reviews are in: OpenTable announced the 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America, ahead of Valentine’s Day.
• PetSmart seeks a special pet to become their new Chief Toy Tester and Fancy Feast helped us show some love for our SCOs (Signifi-Cat Others).
• Panera introduced new toasted baguettes, complete with a custom carrying case.

Consumer and Retail News Trends

Throughout January and February, we distributed nearly 5,000 consumer and retail press releases, and we took notice of a couple popular topics and events:

Valentine’s Day

The second Christmas is over, we all know what time it is. Take a trip around any brick-and-mortar shop decorated in pink hearts or peruse a retail website in the first week of January and you’ll certainly feel…something. Love? Perhaps!

The holiday is always a popular one for consumer brands, and we saw them show up in force on the wire.

Here are some examples from January and February:

• Sweethearts sends ‘sweet-and-desist’ to Big Tech over ‘like’ button
• SOUR PATCH KIDS® Puts Sweet Twist on Valentine’s Day with New Sour Hearts Black Raspberry Candy and Exclusive Dinner Experience
• Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, the Cardi B & Offset Meal is Coming to a McDonald’s Near You

The Big Game

The Super Bowl is a lot of Americans’ favorite event of the year, with more than 110 million fans watching this year’s game. That’s the second-most-watched game EVER!

The Super Bowl is a time for friends, fans, and family to get together, cheer on their team, watch hilarious commercials, and eat delicious food. It’s also a big day for brands to get creative with their ads, targeting specific consumers.

Here are some examples from January and February:

• Legendary Legume MR. PEANUT® To Be Roasted in Big Game
• M&M’S® Concludes Epic Super Bowl LVII Campaign
• PopCorners® First Super Bowl Campaign Reimagines “Breaking Bad” TV Series to Break Into Something Good™ – the Wholesome Snacking Business

Smart Homes and Home Improvement

Spring is just around the corner, and many consumers are literally “gearing up” for home improvement projects this time of year, with some looking to digitize their approach. From kitchen gadgets to bathtubs to HVAC and lighting, more consumers want to simplify their lives with technology while also beautifying their home environments.

And who can blame them? With the changing landscapes of work and home life after the pandemic, we spend more time at home than ever.

Over the last two months, we’ve seen plenty of copy offering new, creative, and high-tech solutions for the home of the 21^st century:

• Signature Kitchen Suite Enhances Smart Kitchen Connectivity with ThinQ Technology
• LG 2023 Home Appliances, HVAC and Energy Solutions Support Healthier, Greener, Smarter Building Trends
• Moen® Smart Sprinkler Controller Makes Outdoor Watering Routines Effortless, All From The Palm of Your Hand

Retail Tech

Retailers can benefit from higher sales by continuing to improve customer satisfaction and to get there, they follow the latest technology trends.

Retail tech also helps consumers shop more sustainably. As we move further into 2023, retailers are using different social media platforms for advertising and social selling, making their offerings more accessible and appealing to new generations of consumers.

• Chipotle Inspires Fans to Maintain New Year’s Resolutions with New Augmented Reality Experience on Snapchat and Lifestyle Bowls
• The Home Depot Launches New In-Store Application to Help Associates Provide Better Customer Experience
• David’s Bridal Launches Free Comprehensive Wedding Planning Platform and National Vendor Marketplace

Conclusion

New year, new slate! Consumers are looking forward to a clean start this year, centering on how they can save and better spend their money. Retailers and homeowners alike are working to stay on top of technology as new trends evolve and for the most effective brands, keeping up customer satisfaction is always key.

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