State Fairs have been a staple of the U.S. since the 1800s. Now, they've become a prime spot for pop-ups for brands like E.l.f. and Levi's, as they look to show up at events where their competitors haven't yet touched.

Tariffs

Big-Box Briefing: Retailers get direct tariff relief. Their shoppers likely won’t

August 27, 2026

Tariff refunds are great news for the corporate balance sheets of big-box retailers, and less so for consumers tightly squeezing their wallets.

Walmart gets close to $3 billion in tariff refunds

August 20, 2026

Tariff refunds continue to bolster the balance sheets of big retailers while consumers remain constrained by higher fuel prices and other macroeconomic factors.

Other news to know

  • Inside Walmart’s evolution
  • Walmart+, the retailer’s paid membership program, has launched in Canada, marking the first time it has been available outside of the U.S.
  • Walmart announced it would begin delivering Subway items as part of Express Delivery, either on its own or alongside other products such as groceries. 
  • Walmart executives are now training associates to use AI widely throughout the organization.
  • Walmart has announced Upstream Facility Services, a new business through which it will sell its in-house maintenance services to other U.S. companies.
Top Stories Sep 03

Hangover-prevention supplements are the hottest new wellness trend

September 03, 2026

Hangover-prevention products can now be found in places like big-box stores and fine-dining restaurants as more businesses look to cater to young drinkers who also care about wellness.

Quince’s first-ever sample sale sold out 6 hours early

September 02, 2026

A four-block line. A two-and-a-half hour wait time. And hundreds of sweaters. Quince took Modern Retail behind the scenes of its first sample sale as it ponders a larger physical presence.

Ace Hardware adds influencer, DoorDash and weather features as it builds out a retail media strategy

September 02, 2026

One year into its existence, Ace Hardware’s retail media network, RedVest Media, just announced a slate of new features for advertisers as part of an upfront event last week.

Brands Briefing: Fjällräven is going beyond Kånken backpacks as it builds stores in North America

September 01, 2026

Fjällräven is opening more stores in North America, including a new retail concept with its sister brands, as it looks to solidify its place in outerwear.

Location data fuels mall giant Simon’s new pitch to advertisers

September 01, 2026

Simon Property Group, one of the largest mall operators in the U.S., has more to sell advertisers on than its existing network of almost 4,000 digital screens. That includes location data from shoppers who use its Wi-Fi networks.

Rising raw material costs are hitting everything from stickers to foil

August 31, 2026

Vinyl prices are up nearly 6% in 2026, while materials like PVC and resin have also gone up as oil derivatives have increased.

Modern Retail+ Research: Marketers navigate a changing CTV landscape

September 01, 2026

In the first quarter of 2026, YouTube came out on top for the fourth year in a row as the ad-supported streaming service that received the largest portion of Modern Retail survey respondents’ ad placements and ad budgets — but the streaming industry is poised to experience significant shifts in the coming 12 months.

Tariffs

What to know about new proposed tariffs on Canadian goods

July 24, 2026

A fresh round of Trump tariffs on Canadian goods were announced this week that target industries like dairy, alcohol and automobiles.

Nike says it expects $986 million in IEEPA tariff refunds

June 30, 2026

Nike says it’s in a better financial position as it awaits nearly $1 billion in refunds related to IEEPA tariffs.

Marketplace Briefing: Online merchants welcome Trump customs crackdown amid wave of tariff evasion pitches

June 11, 2026

Online merchants are encouraged by a new Trump administration effort to crack down on customs fraud after a surge in tariff evasion schemes rattled sellers over the past year.

Podcasts

Technology

Illustration of a smartphone glowing with app icons, symbolizing the evolving digital infrastructure powering social commerce.

Walmart finally starts supporting Apple Pay and Google Pay

August 21, 2026

By the end of this year, shoppers will finally be able to use Apple Pay and Google Pay in Walmart stores, ending years of frustration that the retailer didn’t support what is now a nearly ubiquitous payment option.

Walmart extends Scintilla data platform to Sam’s Club

August 20, 2026

Sam’s Club merchants and brands will soon be able to use Walmart’s data analytics platform to better understand and predict member behavior.

The new rules of cross-border commerce after de minimis

July 27, 2026

In a post-de minimis environment, price certainty stops being a slogan and becomes the operating rule for cross-border growth. Sponsored by Swap

Marketing

What happened when Bubba took its new brand identity to Lollapalooza

August 31, 2026

Bubba, known for large insulated kegs, popped up at Lollapalooza to push its new look and brand identity. Here’s what the brand learned about what it takes to pull off a successful activation.

Brands bring the US Open to fans with tennis-themed pop-ups around New York City

August 31, 2026

As ticket prices for the U.S. Open tennis tournament soar, brands like Evian, Sephora and Lavazza are staging NYC pop-ups for fans who can’t make it out to Queens.

Operations

Big-Box Briefing: Retailers get direct tariff relief. Their shoppers likely won’t

August 27, 2026

Tariff refunds are great news for the corporate balance sheets of big-box retailers, and less so for consumers tightly squeezing their wallets.

New brands flock to Target’s post-Ulta beauty section

August 26, 2026

Target’s new beauty section in stores and online has attracted many new brands to the retailer for the first time. For some, this is their first entry into retail stores entirely.

Unpacked: How agentic AI is reshaping the consumer journey

July 28, 2026

This Unpacked guide, sponsored by Talon.One, explores how brands can make their loyalty and promotions agent-ready, as agentic commerce evolves from a theoretical concept into practical applications, and AI agents begin to handle the end-to-end shopping journey for consumers.

Dick’s Sporting Goods says it’s ‘still early in the Foot Locker turnaround’ as it cites footwear challenges

August 25, 2026

Dick’s Sporting Goods says it remains bullish on its Foot Locker business, even as it lowered its yearly guidance for the segment, citing “challenging conditions” in the athletic footwear market.