Get the correct answers to our Big Question quiz in the eMarketer Retail Daily newsletter from Insider Intelligence. From supply chain to shopping apps and retail advertising, we deliver daily insights on ecommerce, marketing, and customer experience. Not a subscriber? Sign up here and get our quizzes sent directly to your inbox to see if you can pick a winner.
Take a guess: Was the average value of each transaction at Costco Wholesale Club up or down in its latest quarter?
The average transaction value was down 4.5% YoY in Costco’s Q4 2023, ending September 3, as reported by Insider.
Cut your losses: How much did retail shrink cost retailers in 2022?
A) $98.9 billion
B) $105.6 billion
C) $112.1 billion
D) $120.0 billion
Retail shrink, which includes losses from theft, fraud, and damage, increased nearly 19.4% YoY in 2022 as retailers dealt with unprecedented levels of theft and organized retail crime, per the National Retail Federation.
Crossing over: What percentage of adults who shop or browse on Amazon daily have already used TikTok Shop?
A) 10%
B) 15%
C) 20%
D) 25%
A quarter of daily Amazon browsers have already used TikTok Shop and another 14% are interested in trying it, according to CivicScience.
Making memories: What do over half of consumers in the US and the UK say is the most memorable thing a brand can do?
A) Prioritize original content over following trending topics
B) Take risks with their content
C) Respond to customers
D) Collaborate with content creators and influencers
Fifty-one percent of US and UK consumers said that responding to customers was the most memorable thing a brand could do, according to Sprout Social.
Trick or treat: What will be the most popular children’s costume this Halloween?
A) Princess
B) Ghost
C) Superhero
D) Witch
E) Spider-Man
Around 2.6 million children plan to dress as Spider-Man this Halloween, 2 million plan to be their favorite princess, 1.6 million will go as a ghost, 1.5 million will dress up as a superhero, and 1.4 million will be a witch, according to the National Retail Federation.
In line or online: True or false? Fewer US consumers plan to do the majority of their holiday shopping online this year than in 2022.
False. Twenty-one percent of US shoppers will do 75% to 100% of their holiday shopping online this year, an increase from 19% in 2022, per CivicScience.
True colors: Crayola has recently announced it would begin to sell …
A) Flowers
B) Toys
C) Candles
D) Books
The company, a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, has launched Crayola Flowers, an online flower shop that will double as a fundraising platform, per CNN.
Quick buck: Over the last 12 months, how much money have US adults spent on impulse buys based on what they saw on social media?
A) $56 billion
B) $69 billion
C) $71 billion
D) $83 billion
US adults have spent $71 billion on impulse buys based on what they saw on social media, according to Bankrate.
Santa’s little helper: True or false? More consumers find mobile ads most helpful in informing holiday purchases.
False. Thirty-nine percent of consumers said they find streaming service ads most helpful, compared with 28% that said mobile ads are most helpful, per LG Ads as reported by Media Post.
Season of giving: Which of the following will be the top gifting category among millennials and Gen Zers this holiday season?
A) Beauty/personal care
B) Entertainment (movies, music, books, card and board games)
C) Food/candy/gift baskets
D) Fashion (clothes, shoes, accessories)
Entertainment is also the top gifting category for the general population, according to LTK’s Holiday Shopper Story.
Click and pick: True or false? Eight in 10 click-and-collect grocery customers enter the store to either buy items they forgot or select specific items personally when picking up their orders.
True, per data from Acosta Group as reported by Winsight Grocery Business.
Think local: What percentage of US consumers plan to shop at small businesses or locally owned stores this holiday season?
A) 10%
B) 15%
C) 20%
D) 25%
A quarter of consumers intend to shop at small businesses this holiday season, up from 19% last year, per CivicScience.
Lost and found: How much could US ecommerce brands lose out on this holiday season due to poor-performing site search?
A) $4.5 billion
B) $8.2 billion
C) $10.9 billion
D) $13.8 billion
Issues like irrelevant search results, out-of-stocks, and slow-to-return results could cost ecommerce retailers nearly $14 billion this coming Cyber Five, per Nosto.
Cup of Joe: Nissin is adding caffeine to its Cup Noodles to appeal to which audience?
A) Marketers
B) Gamers
C) Students
D) Teachers
Nissin is targeting gamers, specifically those in Asia-Pacific, who often have late-night gaming sessions. The two caffeinated noodle versions will be “soup-free” so gamers won’t have to worry about getting their peripherals dirty.
Beer me: Which brand commands the largest share of Amazon’s nonalcoholic beer sales?
A) Go Brewing
B) Athletic Brewing Company
C) Grüvi
D) Partake
E) Barritt’s Ginger Beer
Athletic Brewing Company captured 46% of Amazon’s nonalcoholic beer sales from June 1 to August 26, 2023, a 21% increase YoY, per Jungle Scout. Go Brewing captured 10% of sales, followed by Grüvi (6%), Partake (5%), and Barritt’s Ginger Beer (4%).
Game, set, match: True or false? In June of this year, sales of pickleball paddles and balls outpaced sales of tennis rackets and balls.
True. Pickleball paddle and ball sales reached $303.7 million in June, slightly more than June sales of tennis rackets and balls ($284.8 million), per Circana as reported by The Washington Post.
Measure twice, cut once: Which retailer captured the largest market share of US home improvement sales in the first half of 2023?
A) Amazon
B) The Home Depot
C) Walmart
D) Lowe’s
The Home Depot captured 27.6% of home improvement sales (both online and offline) in H1 2023, followed by Amazon (25.0%), Lowe’s (18.4%), and Walmart (8.8%), per YipitData.
Double-dipping: What percentage of Forever 21 customers also shop at Shein?
A) 20%
B) 30%
C) 40%
D) 50%
One in 4 Forever 21 shoppers have also bought something from Shein in the past year, per Earnest Analytics. This is a good sign for the two companies, which just teamed up to offer each other’s merchandise online and in-store.
Growth spurt: Which was the fastest-growing consumer packaged goods (CPG) private label brand in the three months ending June 2023?
A) Amazon Basics
B) Kroger’s Smart Way
C) Aldi’s brand
D) Sure Fresh
Smart Way was the fastest-growing CPG private label brand, increasing household penetration by 4.5 percentage points, followed by Amazon Basics (up 1.5 percentage points), Aldi’s private label brand (up 1.4 percentage points), and Sure Fresh (up 1.4 percentage points), per Numerator.
Early bird special: Over half of which generation has already begun their holiday shopping?
A) Gen Z
B) Millennials
C) Gen X
D) Baby boomers
Fifty-three percent of Gen Z consumers have started their holiday shopping, compared with 34% of millennials, 22% of Gen Xers, and 19% of baby boomers, per CivicScience.
Winner winner: How many rotisserie chickens does Walmart sell every minute?
A) 65
B) 87
C) 94
D) 103
Walmart sells over 100 rotisserie chickens a minute, with shoppers in the southern US making most of the purchases, per Winsight Grocery Business.
Size it up: Once upon a time, Starbucks offered a size smaller than the “tall.” What was it called?
A) Picolo
B) Tiny
C) Short
D) Sipper
Tall was originally a medium-sized drink until CEO Howard Schultz decided the Starbucks menu was too crowded, per CNN. Thus, the short was done away with and now tall is the smallest size you can order at Starbucks.
Ice, ice, baby: True or false? Iced coffee drinkers are more than three times as likely to remain loyal to a brand due to the quality of service they receive.
True, according to CivicScience. In addition, more than 7 in 10 iced coffee lovers shop at convenience stores for food and beverages, compared with 4 in 10 hot coffee fans.
Around the world: Ecommerce sales will make up what percent of total retail sales worldwide this year?
A) 18.9%
B) 19.5%
C) 20.3%
D) 21.2%
Ecommerce will make up 19.5% of total retail sales worldwide this year, breaking over 20% in 2024, per our forecast.
Pay the price: A Chicago suburb’s City Council member is planning to propose a new tax that would charge grocers and other big-box retailers that have …
A) Curbside pickup
B) Cashierless checkout
C) Less than 200 employees
D) The highest energy bills
Eighth Ward City Council Member Devon Reid is proposing a tax that could result in retailers in Evanston, Illinois, paying $5,000 a year for each one of their self-checkout stations, per Winsight Grocery Business.
One of us: What percentage of US adults ages 18 to 34 prefer to buy a product or service because it gives them access and a feeling of belonging to a specific community?
A) 24%
B) 47%
C) 62%
D) 71%
This is higher than the 41% of the total population of adults 18 and older, per Horizon Media’s Top Trends 2023: Volume 2 report.
Lights, camera, action: True or false? Less than a third of TV viewers have interacted with shoppable ad QR codes.
False. Thirty-six percent of viewers have interacted with shoppable ad QR codes and 67% have clicked ads to receive info sent to their email or device, according to a survey by the Video Advertising Bureau.
Road trip: Which convenience store chain has the highest share of visits across the US West Coast?
A) Circle K
B) 7-Eleven
C) Kwik Trip
D) QuikTrip
7-Eleven has the highest share of visits across Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada, as well as Hawaii, New York, Colorado, and Washington, DC, per Placer.ai's C-Store Trends & The Brands Leading the Way report.
All in favor: Nearly half (49%) of Gen Z adults have a favorable view of Shein compared with what percentage of the total population?
A) 16%
B) 23%
C) 28%
D) 33%
Less than a third of the general US adult population feels favorable toward Shein, though slightly more (32%) feel favorable about Temu (compared with 43% of Gen Z), per Morning Consult.
In private: What percentage of consumers worldwide consider store-brand products a good alternative to name brands?
A) 25%
B) 30%
C) 35%
D) 40%
Two in 5 global consumers think store brands are a suitable alternative to name brands, according to Nielsen IQ. Additionally, 35% think some store brand products are of higher or equal quality to name brands.
Super food: True or false? Seventy percent of US Gen Z consumers are more willing to trust a food trend that has gone viral.
True, according to research from Ketchum.
I scream, you scream: Which age demographic is split 50/50 on preferring chocolate or vanilla ice cream?
A) 18–24
B) 25–34
C) 35–54
D) 55+
Half of consumers ages 55 and older say they prefer chocolate while the other half say they like vanilla, per CivicScience. Age groups 18 to 24 and 25 to 34 prefer vanilla over chocolate, while those ages 35 to 54 have a slight preference for chocolate.
At what cost: Due to inflation, how much more did the typical US household spend in July on the same goods and services versus two years ago?
A) $529
B) $612
C) $709
D) $873
Most of that increase is driven by housing costs, according to Moody’s Analytics as reported by CNN. But families are also spending more on groceries; buying, maintaining, and insuring vehicles; and recreational services like cable.
See spot run: Which of the following is the most effective method to reach pet owners?
A) Traditional advertising (print, radio, TV)
B) Review sites
C) Digital advertising
D) Social media
Forty percent of US pet owners said that they consult traditional ad mediums while looking for new pet products, ahead of review sites, digital advertising, and social media, per a survey conducted by The Harris Poll and commissioned by FWV Fetching.
Secret sauce: Campbell Soup Co. is paying $2.7 billion to acquire Sovos Brands, maker of which brand of pasta sauces?
A) Prego
B) Ragu
C) Rao’s
D) Bertolli
Sovos Brands also makes Michael Angelo’s frozen entrees and noosa yogurt, per CNN.
Hopelessly devoted to you: What percent of US consumers say loyalty programs are somewhat or very important when deciding where to shop and what to buy?
A) 39%
B) 42%
C) 58%
D) 62%
That’s according to CivicScience. In addition, adults ages 18 to 24 are most likely to value loyalty programs while adults ages 55 and older are the least likely.
Hey, big spender: True or false? Over a quarter of beauty consumers say they are spending over $200 a month on beauty products in 2023.
True. Twenty-nine percent of consumers say they’re spending upward of $200 on beauty, up from 15% in 2022, per a survey by PowerReviews as reported by Beauty Packaging.
Signed, sealed, and delivered: How many packages has Amazon delivered to US Prime members on either the same or next day so far this year?
A) 859 million
B) 942 milion
C) 1.2 billion
D) 1.8 billion
Amazon has delivered over 1.8 billion packages to US Prime members the same or next day, according to CEO Andy Jassy in a recent earnings call, nearly four times what the company delivered at those speeds by this point in 2019.
Tech-savvy: True or false? Amazon Prime members are three times more likely than Walmart+ members to say they’re “very comfortable” with palm payments.
False. In fact, it’s the opposite, despite Amazon’s push to implement its “pay by palm” technology in Whole Foods Markets across the US, per CivicScience.
Put a pin in it: Which generation was the largest contributor to overall engagement growth on Pinterest in Q2 2023?
A) Gen Z
B) Millennials
C) Gen X
D) Baby boomers
Gen Zers are also the fastest-growing cohort on the platform, growing by double digits and accounting for a larger portion of the overall user mix, according to Pinterest CEO Bill Ready on a Q2 earnings call.
No deal: True or false? Less than 20% of US adults across all age demographics will purchase a product as planned if they are met with dynamic pricing of products in-store or online.
True, per CivicScience. In addition, 37% of US adults strongly agree that dynamic pricing of retail products is price-gouging.
Keep your options open: What percentage of US consumers say having a variety of shopping channels is a top consideration when shopping a brand?
A) 43%
B) 59%
C) 66%
D) 74%
Nearly three-quarters of consumers say that having their choice of shopping channels is important, according to SurveyMonkey. However, there seems to be less consensus on which channel is most important—almost 4 in 10 consumers say they have no preference whether they buy direct from a brand or from a retailer like Target or Walmart.
I want candy: Nike’s “Sweet Tooth” sneaker (which debuts in October), is designed to look like which confectionery treat?
A) Candy corn
B) Candy canes
C) Gummy bears
D) Sour Patch Kids
The orange, yellow, and white sneaker even has a bite taken out of it, according to one Instagram post as reported by High Snobiety.
Too soon: True or false? Over half of US adults think July is too early to start thinking about Christmas/winter holiday shopping.
True. Fifty-two percent of US adults think July is too early for Christmas shopping, but 30% think the timing is just right, per CivicScience.
Self-help: Which grocer has recently converted one of its locations to an all-self-checkout experience?
A) Whole Foods Market
B) The Kroger Co.
C) Stop & Shop
D) H-E-B
Kroger’s Franklin, Tennessee location has gotten rid of cashiers and baggers and now only consists of self-checkout stations, per Supermarket News. However, staff will still be available in the store to help customers who need it.
People’s choice: Which one of the following was not voted as one of the most popular Aldi products in the country?
A) Friendly Farms Cottage Cheese
B) Mama Cozzi’s Pizza Kitchen Take and Bake Deli Pizza
C) Reggio’s Sausage Pizza
D) Clancy’s Kettle Chips
E) Simply Nature Avocado Oil
Other Aldi fan favorites include Friendly Farms Low Sugar Greek Yogurt, Happy Farms String Cheese, Kirkwood Fresh Chicken, and Belletti Sparkling Moscato Rose.
A bit rich: The latest “quiet luxury” status symbol is a $220 …
A) Eyeglass case
B) Ballpoint pen
C) Light switch
D) Cigarette case
The “Invisible Light switch," made by English design company Forbes & Lomax, is making its rounds among the ultrawealthy, according to a recent New York Times article as reported by Business Insider.
Get physical: Nearly three-quarters of purchases in which category take place in-store?
A) Home appliances
B) Apparel
C) Beauty
D) Food and beverage
Seventy-one percent of home appliance purchases happen in-store, according to the JD Power 2023 US Appliance Satisfaction Study as reported by Chain Store Age. In addition, 75% of those purchases occur on the first visit.
Under the influence: True or false? Only a quarter of Gen Z women acknowledge their beauty or wellness routines are influenced by online creators.
False. In fact, the vast majority (92%) of Gen Z women say that creators influence their beauty and wellness routines, according to LTK.
Going live: Which of the following countries has the highest percentage of livestream commerce buyers?
A) India
B) China
C) Thailand
D) United Arab Emirates
Eighty-one percent of digital buyers in China reported shopping via livestream commerce, per Wunderman Thompson. India is second, with 75% of digital buyers shopping via livestream, followed by Thailand (73%) and the United Arab Emirates (72%). Only 40% of digital buyers in the US shop via livestream.
Menu planning: Which of the following was identified as a “future-forward” food trend based on Google searches?
A) Optimizing brain function
B) Plant-based protein
C) Alternative sugars (stevia, agave nectar)
D) Sea plants
E) All of the above
Other future food trends include gut health, purposeful consumption, ancestral ingredients, revamped home cooking, sustainable agriculture, and sweet, spicy, and savory foods, per Kantar as reported by Progressive Grocer.
Fair and square: True or false? Over one-third of makeup users said they purchase makeup equally from prestige and mass makeup brands.
True, according to Circana.
By popular demand: Which was the top-selling item during Prime Day?
A) Amazon Fire TV Stick
B) Temptations Cat Treats
C) Echo Dot 5
D) Liquid I.V. Packets
E) Blink Outdoor Camera
Cat lovers splurged on treats during this Prime Day, making them the top-selling product on Prime Day based on the number of units purchased, according to Numerator. Amazon Fire TV Stick took second place, followed by Liquid I.V. Packets, Echo Dot 5, and Blink Outdoor Camera.
And the award goes to: Which of the following brands was not named as one of the Emmy nominees for outstanding commercial this year?
A) Apple
B) Dove
C) The Farmer’s Dog
D) Dunkin’
Apologies to Ben Affleck, but his ad for Dunkin’ didn’t make the cut this year. Maybe Dunkin’ should see if Matt Damon is around.
Pop quiz: How much of their own money do teachers say they plan to spend to set up their classrooms for the 2023–2024 school year?
A) $160
B) $230
C) $320
D) $390
Teachers plan to spend $320 of their own money on classroom supplies this year, higher than the $225 parents say they set aside for back-to-school shopping, per a survey by Office Depot.
Representation matters: True or false? Half of US adults ages 55 and older say they are very likely to decide against purchasing a product or service from a company whose advertising either ignores them or they find objectionable.
True. Fifty percent of this demographic is very likely to decide against a purchase for this reason, higher than the 46% of the general population, per CivicScience.
Once in a lifetime: Truly Hard Seltzer is launching a first-of-its-kind pop-up experience where consumers can sip while they …
A) Parasail
B) Float in zero gravity
C) Fly in a hot air balloon
D) Swim with dolphins
Truly’s Zero Gravity Bar will be built inside of a Boeing-727 “G-Force One,” operated by weightless flight operator Zero-G, and serve a variety of Truly seltzers while passengers experience floating in zero gravity.
What matters most: Which of the following values do Gen Z consumers want brands to support more than any other cause?
A) The environment/climate change and sustainability
B) Mental health
C) LGBTQ+ rights
D) Racial and gender equity
E) Ethical labor practices
Over half (53%) of Gen Zers want brands to support mental health over every other cause, followed by the environment/sustainability (47%), racial and gender equity (47%), ethical labor practices (42%), and LGBTQ+ rights (42%), per ICSC and Big Village.
Windy city eats: Which real-life restaurants served as inspiration for the food in the second season of the FX show “The Bear”?
A) Ever
B) Avec
C) Kasama
D) Lao Peng You
E) All of the above
All of the places seen in “The Bear” served as big inspirations for the show’s culinary producer, chef Courtney Storer, sister of show creator Christopher Storer, as reported by Eater.
Starting line: Nearly half of online shoppers start their search on which platform?
A) Amazon
B) Google
C) TikTok
D) Instagram
E) Reddit
Up from 46% in 2022, 49% of online shoppers say they start their product searches and research on Amazon, per CivicScience as reported by MediaPost. Google comes in second (34%, down from 35% last year), followed by TikTok (3%, down from 5% in 2022), Instagram (2% this year and last), and Reddit (1% this year and last).
Going green: What percentage of consumers between ages 18 to 34 are likely to buy from retailers committed to sustainability?
A) One-third
B) Half
C) Two-thirds
D) Three-fourths
Two-thirds, according to a Viant Technology study, which also found that 69% of respondents believe retailers have a responsibility to reduce their environmental impact.
Bottoms up: Of the following industries, which did consumers say provides the most negative digital customer service?
A) Technology providers
B) Retail
C) Health insurance
D) Utilities
About 36% of respondents to a 2023 survey by Coveo said the retail industry provided the most negative digital customer service among US and UK adults. Utilities came in second at 33%.
In the bag: Fanny, wrist, and chest pack sales were up 56% between April 2022 and April 2023 among Gen Z and millennial consumers, according to Circana. By how much did handbag sales change among this cohort over the same period?
A) -2%
B) 10%
C) 22%
D) 40%
Handbag sales were higher among consumers over 35, increasing by 7%, according to Circana.
Hot dog: Which company branched out with its first condiment, just in time for the Fourth of July?
A) The Coca-Cola Co.
B) PepsiCo
C) Keurig Dr Pepper
D) Nestlé
Pepsi Colachup is a sauce with “rich caramel notes and citrusy pop of Pepsi-Cola,” according to Jenny Danzi, a senior director at Pepsi.
Fame and fortune: Which of the following celebrity brands is opening its first permanent brick-and-mortar stores next year?
A) Skims
B) Rare Beauty
C) Honest Beauty
D) Fenty
Kim Kardashian’s Skims will open a flagship store in Los Angeles, followed by a New York location.
Feel old yet? Hasbro is bringing back which iconic ’90s toy?
A) Troll Dolls
B) Furby
C) Tamagotchi
D) Bop It
Everyone’s favorite creepy little guy is coming out of retirement. The other toys all still exist, though they’re not all made by Hasbro.
Summer’s over: Over a third of US consumers start back-to-school shopping when?
A) Early June
B) Early July
C) Late July
D) Early August
By early July, 35% of consumers will have begun their back-to-school shopping, up from 31% in 2022, per LTK. Sixty-two percent say they will have started before the end of July. Gen Zers heading to college will do their shopping in late July through early August.
An unlikely pairing: GNC is adding a new product line that targets which group of consumers?
A) Gamers
B) Equestrians
C) Fathers
D) Seniors
GNC now carries CTRL’s line of food supplement products aimed at helping gamers embrace healthier dietary habits.
Time after time: True or false? Over half of North American consumers visit an app or website more than three times before making an online purchase.
True: 53.6% of consumers need to interact with a brand via an app or website over three times to make a purchase, according to a study by Moengage as reported by MediaPost. Only 7.2% buy the first time.
Buckling down: Which nonessential category are the most US consumers cutting back on due to inflation?
A) Clothing
B) Bars and restaurants
C) Entertainment outside of the home
D) Household-related spending (renovations or appliances
Sixty-three percent of US consumers are cutting back on clothing spending, followed by bars and restaurants (62%), entertainment (58%), and household spending (over half), per a CNBC-Morning Consult survey.
Discount your blessings: How many digital coupons did The Kroger Co. shoppers redeem via the grocer’s mobile app in the first quarter?
A) 100 million
B) 130 million
C) 180 million
D) 200 million
Kroger chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen said digital coupon redemptions increased in Q1, while its digital sales grew 15%, as reported by Digital Commerce 360.
Baby, come back: What percentage of US consumers say that a prompt or reminder from a company would persuade them to return to an abandoned cart?
A) 22%
B) 45%
C) 63%
D) 88%
Consumers also said the primary reasons behind revisiting carts were offers to reduce the price or free shipping, according to an Adtaxi survey.