At Shoptalk, a panel of Gen Alpha shoppers spoke candidly about what they want and don't want from the brands competing for their time, dollars and clicks.

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 Oct 05

Why Nest New York is turning its bestselling Holiday candle into fine fragrance

October 05, 2026

Nest has turned its bestselling Holiday candle into the new Wonder perfume as the company grows its fine fragrance business.

How Litter Robot is doing TikTok Shop without the deep discounts

October 03, 2026

Whisker is using TikTok Shop to reach younger shoppers with its viral Litter Robot demos, while holding firm on pricing and working with niche content creators.

Running was a bright spot for Nike in an otherwise gloomy quarter

October 01, 2026

Nike had a gloomy earnings report on Thursday, reporting year-over-year revenue declines of 4%. But, one of the few bright spots for Nike during the quarter was running, which was a welcome turnaround for the company after years of increased competition from Hoka and On.

Big-Box Briefing: What to watch for as Amazon, Target and Walmart host their fall sales

October 01, 2026

Next week, Amazon, Target and Walmart all kick off their major fall sales, in what will be a key test of consumer demand ahead of the all-important holiday season. Here's what we're watching for.

‘It scared the hell out of me to hand over the keys’: What brands have learned from creator partnerships

October 01, 2026

At Shoptalk Fall, brands like Favorite Daughter, SharkNinja and Bob's Discount Furniture talked about what they've learned from working with creators.

DoorDash adds new retailers, texting shopping assistant

October 01, 2026

As DoorDash adds partners like Costco, the company is also expanding shopping features like Text DoorDash and Dasher Returns in an effort to become a one-stop marketplace.

Cookware startup Caraway got sued by its competitors. It then used the lawsuit for marketing

September 30, 2026

In February, two of the biggest players in the cookware space — Groupe SEB and Meyer — filed a lawsuit against Caraway, accusing the company of false and misleading advertising claims. Rather than shy away from the lawsuit, Caraway has spent 2026 publicly talking about it and using it as marketing fodder.

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

How Kroger, Giant Eagle and DoorDash are building their agentic AI assistants

September 29, 2026

Companies like Kroger, Giant Eagle and DoorDash outlined their philosophies on agentic AI tools at this year’s Groceryshop conference. Much of the discussion centered around how to train shoppers to naturally integrate agentic shopping into their busy routines.

Marketers bemoan the culture of ‘good enough — go,’ as standards fall amid the AI bubble

September 25, 2026

‘Drowning in measurement,’ marketers mull priorities in an internet where ‘two audiences’ exist. 

Why seasonal success depends on early media allocation

September 10, 2026

Seasonal demand may be predictable, but consumer behavior isn’t. By investing sooner and responding to evolving consumer signals, marketers can influence consideration, build momentum and capture demand before competition intensifies. Sponsored by Keen Decision Systems.

Marketing

At its flagship unBoxed conference, Amazon Ads collapses buying silos as AI takes a bigger role in media decisions

September 30, 2026

In a sign of the agentic times, Amazon announced Tuesday at its annual UnBoxed conference that it has renamed its unified platform Amazon Ads Agent. The company also announced Full-Funnel Campaigns, which combines sponsored ads, display, video and streaming TV within a single campaign.

Behind Hoka’s bid to own the NYC marathon’s run-up period

September 29, 2026

Hoka’s newest campaign marks its latest attempt to corner the loyalty of running enthusiasts across New York City in the run-up to the city’s marathon in just over a month.

Canadian apparel brand Duer launches a print magazine as analog comes back in style

September 28, 2026

Duer, a performance jeans brand based in Canada, is leaning into print amid an analog resurgence. The company is publishing a quarterly magazine called Interval, with the first issue dropping in October.

Operations

Pricing tactics come under scrutiny in the age of AI

October 05, 2026

Everything from the rise of digital shelf labels to screenshots of pricing algorithms is fueling concerns among consumers that retailers are increasingly using customer data to engage in dynamic pricing, and it is putting more retailers like Walmart and McDonald’s on the defensive.

Brands Briefing: Hanna Andersson is joining Amazon, with a 90% unique assortment

September 29, 2026

Children’s clothing company Hanna Andersson is making its official debut on Amazon in October, as it seeks to meet consumers’ desire for convenience.

As online eyewear matures, GlassesUSA’s parent company doubles down on vertical integration

September 09, 2026

Online eyewear has reached a new phase of maturity, as consumers grow more confident purchasing prescription products digitally and as retailers invest in faster fulfillment, improved fit technology and more seamless omnichannel journeys. Sponsored by Optimax Eyewear Group.

18 months, 31 prototypes and 1,700 hours of wear testing: How Knix brought its seamless cotton underwear to the market

September 28, 2026

Knix’s latest product launch, a line of underwear called Invisible Cotton, was more technically challenging to develop than its seamless nature suggests. Here’s what it took over 18 months and 31 prototypes to finally bring the product to life.