Beauty brands like NYX, Fazit and Not Your Mother’s are using World Cup-themed experiential pop-ups to reach female soccer fans this summer.

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.

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.

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 Jun 29

Streaming is the next frontier for Walmart’s, Kroger’s ads businesses

June 29, 2026

Streaming is becoming an important part of many retail media networks' growth strategies, as retailers believe that shopper data can help advertisers prove their TV ads lead to sales. This has led to what is reportedly a billion-dollar transaction by Walmart.

How 3 brands are using TikTok Shop to expand abroad

June 29, 2026

Modern Retail spoke with three brands — gaming consoles business Nex Playground, K-beauty company MBX and luxury resale platform Fashionphile — about how they are using TikTok Shop to expand internationally and why they believe the momentum they have experienced on the platform in the U.S. will translate to success abroad.

Amazon buys ads in ChatGPT to promote Prime Day

June 26, 2026

Amazon is turning to ChatGPT to promote Prime Day, using the AI chatbot as a new advertising channel for its biggest shopping event of the year.

Listener mailbag: How AI and Substack are changing affiliate marketing

June 27, 2026

Few areas of digital marketing have exploded in recent years as much as affiliate marketing. On this week's Modern Retail Podcast, co-hosts Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels answer listener questions related to how the affiliate landscape is changing.

Lowe’s makes it easier to order decorative geese, above-ground pools and other marketplace items in over 1,700 stores

June 26, 2026

Lowe's recently integrated its third-party marketplace into My Red Vest, the software employees use in stores to help customers place orders.

Marketplace Briefing: Prime Day starts softly as consumers buy gift cards, stock up on essentials, hold out for deeper discounts

June 25, 2026

Average household spending so far during Prime Day is down 16% from the same point last year, data from Numerator shows.

How brands, retailers are using AI — and what they won’t let it touch

June 25, 2026

As retailers and brands continue to build out both customer-facing and internal functionalities using AI, the conversation has also shifted toward what executives don't want it being used for.

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.

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.

Podcasts

Technology

AI is now doing parts of merchants’ jobs, managing products and vendors

June 22, 2026

Retailers are beginning to use AI to automate certain parts of the merchandising process, to determine what to order or even make deals on their behalf.

Marketplace Briefing: Shopify launches tools to help merchants track sales and traffic from AI platforms

June 18, 2026

Shopify is rolling out a new set of tools designed to help merchants understand how their products appear across AI shopping platforms.

Guide: How in-store retail media is unlocking growth

May 13, 2026

As digital advertising becomes more saturated and fragmented, retail media is moving into physical stores — the high-intent environments where most purchases still happen. For retailers, this is an opportunity to create customer-first retail media networks that make stores more engaging, profitable and connected. For brands and agencies, in-store retail media offers stronger visibility and […]

Marketing

Brands target multi-generational appeal with ‘Toy Story 5’ collabs

June 24, 2026

“Toy Story 5” is proving to be a summer box office smash, which is good news for the brands that have leaned into the franchise IP.

Brands Briefing: How brands aim to stand out this summer as it’s become ‘harder to create momentum’

June 23, 2026

Consumer spending has held up surprisingly well amid rising gas prices and sustained inflation — but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get shoppers to open their wallets. Modern Retail spoke with some brand execs and agency heads about what results they saw during the first half of the year, and how they are looking to keep consumers engaged over the summer.

Talent agencies are training creators to act like retailers

June 23, 2026

Talent agencies are training creators to think like retailers, helping them set up online storefronts, prepare for major sales events and show brands hard evidence that their audiences spend money.

Operations

Bright yellow "customs" sign on an orange background.

What’s next for international shipping as EU ends de minimis exemption

June 29, 2026

Starting July 1, low-value packages heading to the European Union will have a flat €3 customs duty per each declared line item.

Trashie looks to tackle toy waste with new $35 service

June 25, 2026

Trashie, which has run a take-back program for textiles since 2024, is now getting into toys. Here’s why the company believes toys is a category that’s ripe for a new method of recycling.

TikTok Shop Deals For You Days

TikTok Shop’s Deals For You Days is a growth opportunity for early movers ahead of peak shopping season

June 24, 2026

As e-commerce becomes increasingly discovery-driven, brands are looking to capture demand year-round through new sales events, such as Deals For You Days. Sponsored by TikTok Shop