U.S. Polo Assn. is celebrating a record year, thanks to its larger store footprint and growing fanbase of teens and twenty-somethings.

Tariffs

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.

Target receives almost $1 billion in tariff refunds, plans to lower prices

August 19, 2026

Tariff refunds were a massive tailwind for Target last quarter that could help it continue to lower prices.

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 Aug 21

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.

Big-Box Briefing: Target sees sales boom in reinvented snack category

August 20, 2026

Target has entered a new era of trendy snacks, creating more space for products like protein bars and meat sticks as part of a massive refresh of its grocery business.

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 AI playbook: The rules brands are setting around customer-facing content

August 20, 2026

While the majority of marketers say they're using AI, many are setting boundaries around use cases for customer-facing content.

Beyond the backlash: What the Neutrogena controversy says about long-term brand loyalty

August 20, 2026

The online backlash over Neutrogena’s handling of partnership with former ambassador Hayden Panettiere raises questions over brand cancellations, boycotts and long-term brand loyalty.

Target receives almost $1 billion in tariff refunds, plans to lower prices

August 19, 2026

Tariff refunds were a massive tailwind for Target last quarter that could help it continue to lower prices.

TJX to accelerate store openings as off-price continues its hot streak

August 19, 2026

The parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods is ramping up its store count as it sees gains in the off-price channel.

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

Inside Best Buy’s push to sell shoppers on a new generation of TVs

August 11, 2026

One of Best Buy’s big priorities this year is pushing a new generation of RGB LED TVs to consumers. The hope is that customers will find the technological improvements convincing enough to make an upgrade, six years after many of them bought a new TV during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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

Kroger’s AI shopping assistant has ads at launch

August 04, 2026

Kroger made advertising part of its AI shopping assistant on day one, following the implementation of advertising features on competitors’ chatbots.

The new rules of cross-border commerce after de minimis

July 27, 2026

Juan Pellerano-Rendon, Chief Marketing Officer, Swap On July 1, the duty-free era of European e-commerce ended. As reported by Modern Retail, every parcel entering the European Union now owes customs duty, regardless of value. Shipments under €150 carry a €3 charge per line item, and the liability lands on brands and retailers. Under the new […]

Marketing

Inside Sticki Rolls’ YouTube strategy to tap Gen Alpha

August 19, 2026

Toy brand Sticki Rolls is hoping to turn its YouTube creator-generated buzz into a Gen Alpha collectible brand through pop-ups and retail expansion.

Brands Briefing: Ugg’s latest creators aren’t conventional fashion influencers. They’re art students

August 18, 2026

Class is in session at Ugg. The brand is creating a new college ambassador program as it works to establish itself as a go-to style destination.

How H&M, Chobani, UrbanStems and Teleties are refining their partnership strategies

August 14, 2026

Brands like UrbanStems, H&M and Chobani are refining partnerships to match audiences, drive cultural relevance and unlock new growth. Here’s more on how execs from these brands say their approach to partnerships has changed over the years.

Operations

Exclusive: Fabletics doubles its college merchandise through College Shop expansion

August 18, 2026

Fabletics is expanding its college apparel offerings as it continues its quest to become a $2 billion company.

Air freight is becoming a costly fix for inventory issues

August 17, 2026

Air freight costs are soaring, but some brands like Capri and Figs are swallowing the cost when they face unexpected inventory crunches.

Why a brand’s reputation precedes it in the AI-driven search era

July 08, 2026

In the AI-driven search era, a brand’s reputation precedes it. Earned media is the mechanism through which brands can build the trust and credibility that makes them worth recommending. It’s the difference between being present and being chosen. Sponsored by Journey Further