Expectations are high for Kroger's new CEO, Greg Foran, considering his reputation in the industry and previous track record at Walmart.

Tariffs

Brands Briefing: Founders hope for a ‘dependable and stable’ 2026 after the chaos of 2025 

January 20, 2026

As brands plan for 2026, they are determined to not have their growth initiatives upended by another year of macroeconomic uncertainty.

‘Quitting wasn’t an option’: How tariffs took an emotional and financial toll on founders in 2025

December 30, 2025

Many founders had to completely upend their business models in 2025 due to tariffs, resorting to production delays, raising prices and putting off hiring to save their businesses.

Other news to know

  • Retailers respond to ICE
  • On the Modern Retail Podcast, the hosts discuss how the growing presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in cities like Minneapolis is impacting retail
  • As ICE agents occupy Minneapolis, consumer brands are taking to social media to call for action, raise money and spread information.
  • Retail leaders are finding themselves having to walk on a tightrope as they respond to the bloodshed happening in their hometown while avoiding language directly condemning the federal administration or local officials.
  • Target has sent corporate employees a page with answers to FAQs related to ICE’s increased presence in Minnesota, as it avoids commenting on high-profile incidents at its stores.
Top Stories Feb 12

How Boll & Branch leverages AI for operational and creative tasks

February 12, 2026

Katia Unlu, the chief commercial officer at the bedding brand Boll & Branch, broke down how the DTC brand uses generative AI tools like Gemini and ChatGPT for daily tasks at Digiday Media's recent AI Marketing Strategies event.

Legacy skin-care brands are restructuring PDPs to stay visible in GEO AI search

February 12, 2026

As generative AI reshapes product discovery, Borghese and RoC outline how they are rebuilding PDPs, content and search strategy to maintain visibility.

How Michaels moved quickly after the closure of Party City to become a balloon and party giant

February 11, 2026

The closure of Party City in late 2024 left a huge gap in the parties and events space. Executives at Michaels saw an opportunity.

Exclusive: Chubbies launches women’s swimwear brand Cheekies

February 11, 2026

Chubbies, a men's apparel brand known for its patterned shorts, is looking to make a splash with its new women's swimwear brand, Cheekies.

Tariffs

‘Quitting wasn’t an option’: How tariffs took an emotional and financial toll on founders in 2025

December 30, 2025

Many founders had to completely upend their business models in 2025 due to tariffs, resorting to production delays, raising prices and putting off hiring to save their businesses.

The winners and losers of tariffs

December 29, 2025

This year, tariffs kicked in at their highest rate since the Great Depression, completely upending the retail industry. In turn, Modern Retail rounded up the biggest winners and losers of all the changes in tariff policy this year.

The year of Thriftmas: Why secondhand gifts could finally go mainstream this holiday season

December 16, 2025

Secondhand gifts are shedding their stigma this holiday season as shoppers, squeezed by tariffs and inflation, turn to thrift stores and resale platforms for thoughtful, lower-cost presents.

Podcasts

Technology

Marketplace Briefing: Why Shopify believes ‘no one is better positioned to lead’ in the AI shopping era

February 12, 2026

Shopify is forecasting another quarter of strong growth as it tries to position itself as a leader in emerging AI shopping tools.

AI is changing how retailers select tech partners

February 09, 2026

The quick rise of artificial intelligence-powered tools has reshaped retailers’ process of selecting technology partners for anything from marketing to supply chain to merchandising.

How brands and retailers are planning their marketing spend during the holiday season to avoid diminishing returns

November 06, 2025

Bradley Keefer, CRO, Keen Decision Systems Despite the emergence of October sales events and December’s strong sales performance last year, Black Friday remains the premier event for retailers. Last year, the NRF found that an estimated 197 million consumers, up from their initial prediction of 183.4 million, shopped during the five-day holiday weekend between Thanksgiving […]

Marketing

Thrive Market’s Amina Pasha believes brands that focus on trust will win in an AI-first world

February 11, 2026

Amina Pasha, chief marketing officer at Thrive Market, believes building trust is the most important way brands can differentiate themselves as algorithms fragment the customer journey and AI reshapes discovery.

In a still from Manscaped's Super Bowl ad, electric shaving tools sit on a counter next to anthropomorphized clumps of hair

Brands Briefing: Manscaped uses the Super Bowl to usher in a new brand platform

February 10, 2026

Manscaped, a 10-year-old startup known for below-the-belt grooming tools, ran its first-ever Super Bowl ad on Sunday. It comes at an important inflection point for the brand.

Brands lean into grand gestures this Valentine’s Day

February 10, 2026

Valentine’s Day is still expected to generate record sales, according to the NRF. So brands are competing for customers’ attention through unique promotional stunts.

Operations

Cardboard box with a return label, with a bunch of clothes stuffed inside, on a green background

The case for and against ‘keep it’ return policies

February 10, 2026

Not requiring customers to send back returned items can significantly improve customer satisfaction, even if it raises trust concerns.

amazon walmart scale

Amazon set to pass Walmart in annual revenue for the first time after hitting $700 billion in sales

February 05, 2026

Amazon may soon outpace Walmart when it comes to total revenue. 

The next retail advantage is hiding in merchants’ payments systems

January 16, 2026

Cori Voorhees, partner marketing manager, Adobe The start of a new year often brings a shift in focus for merchants. As the urgency of peak shopping season fades, teams turn their attention to how their systems and technology performed. It’s a moment to look beyond seasonal results and examine the infrastructure that supported them. Payments […]