Back‑to‑school noise tempered big swings, but the referral engine kept humming. Late August firmed up, signaling that shoppers are asking friends for the “is it any good” check before making early fall purchases.
Who's winning and who's lagging
📱 Consumer Electronics - Shoppers want proof before they tap "buy." Invite side‑by‑side UGC, comparison checklists, and shareable “ask a friend” prompts on PDPs. Look out for the Apple event ripple effects.
🏈 Sporting Goods - Up nicely. Tryouts, camps, and early BTS chatter juice referrals.
🚗 Automotive - Referral still rules the driveway. Community clubs and owner forums are doing acquisition work for manufacturers and dealers.
👗 Apparel and Accessories - Micro‑trend velocity is high and shoppers are talking about how they curated their take on the latest social fad.
🛋️ Housewares and Home - Despite a slump through most of August, we're seeing momentum going into September and peak decorating time for Spooky Season.
🧴 Health and Beauty - WOM is softer despite BTS buzz. Right now, it's all about laying the foundation for holiday.
🗂️ Office - Still the least WOM‑driven. Expect more utility‑led buying and fewer brag‑about‑it purchases.
How to apply the insights
