Artificial intelligence is allowing Walmart to achieve levels of personalization it has long dreamed of. At the same time, the company is also cracking down on redundant or inefficient uses of AI internally, knowing the technology has a price tag.

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 04

Google’s Universal Cart will soon be available to Walmart, Target shoppers — getting their buy-in may be the hard part

June 04, 2026

Google wants to build the go-to AI-powered shopping cart of the future. But whether shoppers will latch onto it is another question.

Inside Chewy’s push to build a pet-focused retail media network

June 04, 2026

Chewy says its retail media network has doubled the number of campaigns and advertisers on the platform year-over-year. Here's how it has sought to stand out from other retail media networks in the space.

ThredUp bets wedding guest outfits can drive secondhand growth

June 03, 2026

With a new landing page and AI tool, ThredUp is working to become a go-to destination for wedding guest outfits.

How The Cycle convinced Sprouts to find a place for its menstrual cycle-synced drinks in stores

June 03, 2026

The Cycle believes its menstrual cycle-synced drinks are poised for explosive retail growth. But first, it has to convince buyers to carry its products -- and, where to put them in stores.

Brands Briefing: Stanley 1913’s next era focuses on storage, international growth and sports

June 02, 2026

Stanley 1913's Quencher tumbler became the "it" product of the early 2020s. Now, the company wants to prove it's more than a viral water bottle, through various expansions.

Target has alienated Black-owned brands, founders say, as some startups vanish from its shelves

June 02, 2026

Target's relationship with Black founders is under a microscope, as the retailer mounts a comeback. Modern Retail spoke with several Black founders who refuse to work with Target again, or whose products have been pulled from the shelves over the last few years. Some cited the company's decision to pull back on certain DEI programs last year as a source of lingering frustration.

Apparel brand Dad Gang teams up with Shopify on limited-edition hat drop as sales top $35 million

June 02, 2026

Four years ago, three friends spent $750 to launch a dad-focused hat brand. Now, Dad Gang does $35 million in sales and just landed a collab with Shopify.

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

gray phone on a white and green background displaying a text conversation. One person texts "what's the status of my order?" and a robot replies with three dots, indicating they are typing back

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.

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.

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 […]

Marketing

A visual representation of the checkout funnel, featuring a funnel leading to a shopping cart

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.

Green sateen sheets on a bed with a yellow striped pillow

Brooklinen has relaunched 80% of its product line in a quest to build a more resilient brand

June 01, 2026

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.

‘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.

Operations

Marketplace Briefing: How Rhino USA is building a 182‑acre ‘content factory’ in Texas after riding TikTok Shop to 8-figure sales

June 04, 2026

Rhino USA is building a 182-acre Texas campus to fuel content creation after becoming an unlikely TikTok Shop success story, surpassing eight figures in revenue on the platform.

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.

Medicube, Crocs are betting on TikTok Shop for discovery e-commerce

May 20, 2026

As consumers’ shopping habits evolve, retail is shifting from traditional search-and-scroll e-commerce to a new model that revolves around discovery.  Sitting at the center of that transformation is TikTok Shop, which represents a new retail model centered on community, trust and entertainment-driven discovery. Shopping happens natively and naturally, as TikTok Shop guides users from inspiration […]