Heineken, while not an official World Cup sponsor, is getting in on the hype with limited-edition packs, watch parties and marketing ads.

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.

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 May 13

Hims & Hers to launch an AI agent focused on the weight-loss journey amid strategic shifts related to GLP-1s

May 12, 2026

During its first-quarter earnings call on Monday, Hims & Hers brought on its chief technology officer, Mo Elshenawy, to talk up the company's AI investments. The company said it would "soon" launch an AI companion designed to support Hims & Hers users along their weight-loss journey, as it sees continued interest in GLP-1 usage.

Brands Briefing: Aerie drew thousands of applicants for its creator program with a key rule: no AI

May 12, 2026

No AI? No problem. Aerie's new nano-creator program bans the use of artificial intelligence — and people are lining up to participate.

Why Target killed its creator program, launched 2 new ones

May 12, 2026

Target recently launched two new creator programs, Club Target and Target Ambassadors. They're designed to cater to both everyday micro and nanoinfluencers as well as full-time content creators.

Here comes the brand: Inside the business of influencer weddings

May 12, 2026

For brands, influencer weddings are becoming lucrative marketing opportunities and a chance to tap into some of social media’s most highly engaged content.

Amazon offers non-sellers more of its supply chain services

May 11, 2026

Last week, Amazon announced the launch of Amazon Supply Chain Services, a streamlined portal where companies — even non-Amazon sellers — can access all of its supply chain services. Here's what it means for the logistics world.

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

OpenAI makes it easier to run shopping ads in ChatGPT

May 12, 2026

OpenAI is automating product ads for e-commerce brands, tapping existing catalog infrastructure.

How Ace Hardware built its employee AI assistant

May 05, 2026

Ace Hardware is a unique retailer, being a cooperative with more than 5,200 stores that are operated independently. As a result, its executives and development team took a careful approach in designing and implementing its new AI assistant to work throughout the chain.

Why agentic storefronts are the future of commerce

April 23, 2026

Digital commerce is at a turning point. As artificial intelligence evolves, it is no longer simply a tool to support retail transactions behind the scenes. Instead, it is becoming a leading channel through which consumers discover products and make purchases. Major technology companies like Google and Microsoft are integrating AI agents into their search, browsing […]

Marketing

Modern Retail+ Research: Marketers optimize GEO strategies amid the effects of zero-click search

May 11, 2026

A recent Modern Retail survey found that more than one-third of brand and agency pros (37%) said their companies have seen decreases in upper-funnel search traffic as a result of AI, and 21% said their companies have seen decreases in lower-funnel search traffic as a result of AI.

How Roller Rabbit became TikTok’s favorite sleepwear brand

May 11, 2026

Roller Rabbit became TikTok’s favorite pajama brand thanks to exclusive drops and collaborations with the likes of Target and Starbucks.

Nike alumni, now at Superfeet, want their insoles in ‘every shoe in the world’

May 06, 2026

As insoles brand Superfeet nears its 50th birthday, it’s looking to grow beyond its running niche and become a household name among more kinds of athletes. Here’s how its CMO and CEO — both Nike alumni — plan to do just that.

Operations

Man with tattoos on arms in tan apron holding a cast iron pan filled with food

Made In uses its cast iron launch to land in Williams-Sonoma

May 11, 2026

Startup Made In is trying to carve out its defensive moat in the cookware space by focusing on what it calls “professional-grade cookware.” This year, the company has entered one of the most formidable categories for cookware: cast iron. And it used the launch to add a new wholesale partner.

How GameStop went from struggling retailer to eBay bidder

May 11, 2026

GameStop’s ambitious bid to acquire eBay shows how, over the past six years, its CEO has repositioned the company from one struggling with lower physical video game software and hardware sales to one with far bigger ambitions, arguably beyond its scope.

Retailers like Pact, MaryRuth’s and Ollie turn customer experience into a growth function

April 15, 2026

For years, the business case for customer experience was defensive: keep costs down, handle volume and prevent complaints from going viral. CX teams existed to contain damage, not create value. That framing is collapsing — and the retailers leading the shift aren’t just running their support operations more efficiently. They’re redefining the function of CX. […]