Brooklinen has spent the past year quietly relaunching 80% of its product line. Here's why the company believes that is so important to building trust with customers and fueling Brooklinen's next chapter of growth.

Tariffs

The slow trickle-down of tariff refunds

June 01, 2026

The U.S. government has received about half as many refund requests for around the $166 billion it recouped in now-illegal tariff duties.

Why tariff refunds won’t necessarily go back to consumers

April 29, 2026

Thousands of U.S. retail companies are eagerly awaiting tariff refunds from the Trump administration. But not all of them will share that money with their customers -- even if shoppers think otherwise.

Other news to know

  • Amazon sellers’ new struggles
  • Amazon hit pause on a controversial change to its advertising payment system after backlash from sellers who said the update would strain their finances.
  • Amazon merchants are bracing for more cash flow troubles and margin pressure this year, thanks to a bevy of new fees and policy changes. 
  • One major part of Amazon’s business was largely absent from CEO Andy Jassy’s annual shareholder letter this year: the millions of sellers who power the company’s marketplace.
Top Stories Jun 01

Quince is testing physical retail with pop-ups

June 01, 2026

Quince is embarking on a series of physical pop-ups this year. The latest in-person event took place over the weekend in Los Angeles, highlighting the brand's growing homeware collection.

‘How people are shopping today’: Why Shoe Palace is doing more multi-brand marketing campaigns

June 01, 2026

Shoe Palace is featuring brands like Nike, On and New Balance in united campaigns to better "reflect how people are shopping today," executives say.

Pacsun’s CEO on how the brand cracked its Gen Z strategy

May 30, 2026

Pacsun's strategy to connect with Gen Z is focused on co-creation with customers. CEO Brie Olson joins the Modern Retail Podcast this week to give her insights on how the brand regained relevance among young people.

Interluxe Group acquires adMixt in bid to marry events with performance marketing for luxury brands

June 01, 2026

Interluxe Group, a marketing agency that primarily does events for luxury brands like Rolls-Royce and The Four Seasons, is acquiring a performance marketing agency called adMixt as agency expectations evolve for luxury brands.

Rising gas prices may push more household spending toward Amazon

May 29, 2026

Higher gas prices could end up benefiting Amazon’s e-commerce business as consumers look for ways to avoid driving to stores and focus more of their spending on household essentials.

As Target, Walmart and Aldi embrace naturally-colored food, brands rush to meet demand

May 29, 2026

Major retailers like Walmart and Target are removing artificial food dyes from their aisles, especially in products like cereals and frozen treats. This has been a boon for startups already carrying naturally-colored products in their respective categories.

Marketplace Briefing: Why Amazon is selling its AI-powered shopping tools to other retailers

May 28, 2026

Amazon is starting to sell the technology behind its AI shopping assistant to other retailers, as the e-commerce giant looks to become a bigger player in the fast-growing market for AI-powered shopping tools.

Tariffs

Why tariff refunds won’t necessarily go back to consumers

April 29, 2026

Thousands of U.S. retail companies are eagerly awaiting tariff refunds from the Trump administration. But not all of them will share that money with their customers — even if shoppers think otherwise.

‘It’s like getting Taylor Swift tickets’: Brands rush to request tariff refunds, with some snags

April 21, 2026

The tariff refunds process has been smoother for some folks than others, according to conversations Modern Retail had with half a dozen brands and entrepreneurs.

Why Dame is refunding $10,000 in tariff surcharges to customers

March 03, 2026

Dame is refunding customers who paid its “Trump Tariff Surcharge” last year, becoming one of the first brands to proactively return money tied to President Donald Trump’s now-invalidated tariffs.

Podcasts

Technology

How Olly is updating its product detail pages for the AI era

May 26, 2026

As more shoppers use AI chatbots for recommendations, supplement brand Olly is updating its product pages with clearer descriptions and FAQs to boost AI-driven sales.

NeeDohs are fetching a premium on resale sites 

May 15, 2026

Eager NeeDoh collectors are flocking to resale sites as the toy goes viral. The stretchy toys, like Pop Mart’s Labubus, are selling for a pretty penny on eBay and StockX, with some of them going for a premium of more than 400%.

Retail media’s next frontier is in-store

May 13, 2026

Now that retail media is a foundational channel, brands are seeking value beyond established digital inventory. They’re looking for new environments that offer stronger visibility and incremental reach. Physical stores are where shopper attention, product discovery and purchase converge in real time —  research shows that 84% of sales occur in physical stores, 75% of […]

Marketing

How 2 very different DTC startups balance paid and organic marketing

May 26, 2026

Made-to-order rug brand Ernesta and pet-tracker startup Tractive are trying to boost their customer bases at a time of larger macroeconomic uncertainty. At the Lead Summit in New York City, both brands spoke about how they crafted their marketing playbooks and balance paid and organic marketing.

Modern Retail+ Research: The marketers’ 2026 guide to a shifting CTV landscape, including YouTube, Peacock and Roku

May 26, 2026

Modern Retail+ Research’s fifth annual report analyzes the state of ad-supported streaming and the challenges streaming companies pose to marketers.

How Nocturnal Skincare created a spring campaign for under $100

May 25, 2026

Two-year-old brand Nocturnal Skincare created its recent spring campaign on a $100 budget. Thanks to the DIY approach, the brand was able to save on creatives to invest in other areas of the business.

Operations

Cash register with a receipt with lots of dollar signs popping out of it

The slow trickle-down of tariff refunds

June 01, 2026

The U.S. government has received about half as many refund requests for around the $166 billion it recouped in now-illegal tariff duties.

Walmart is becoming a haven for more emerging, premium brands

May 28, 2026

Walmart has evolved beyond its reputation as a low-cost retailer into one giving brands that have started online, are new to physical retail or sit at higher price points the opportunity to scale throughout the U.S.

Unpacked: How loyalty programs power lifecycle marketing strategies

April 16, 2026

This Unpacked guide, sponsored by SheerID, explores how loyalty is no longer earned through rewards alone; it’s built through relevance, transparency and sustained commitment to understanding customers over time.  Shifts in consumer behavior — specifically the desire for data privacy and instant, personalized recognition — and AI’s acceleration of the buying process are making traditional […]