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.

Tariffs

‘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.

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 Apr 22

Retailers roll out fuel perks as consumers look for relief from $4 gas amid U.S.-Iran war

April 22, 2026

As gas prices climb, companies are rolling out limited-time fuel perks to attract cost-conscious shoppers, boost foot traffic and provide some relief at the pump.

How Thorne drove 63% growth in DTC sales after a brand awareness push

April 22, 2026

Thorne's chief growth officer, Mary Beech, explained in a conversation at the Modern Retail Marketing Summit how the company has moved to a full-funnel marketing approach with new storytelling, channels and AI tools.

Brands Briefing: Brands like Hint Water are redoing packaging to reach new audiences and gain market share

April 21, 2026

Brands like Hint Water, Every Man Jack and Raw Sugar Living are redoing their packaging to draw in and retain new customers.

Favorite Daughter, eos and Sol de Janeiro are 2026 Future Leader Awards finalists

April 21, 2026

The Future Leader Awards, presented by Digiday, Glossy and Modern Retail, recognize the next generation of leaders making a significant impact in their industry, with 10 years of experience or less. 

Tariffs

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.

Marketplace Briefing: Online merchants aren’t lowering prices despite Supreme Court ruling

February 26, 2026

Many Amazon sellers and online brands say they won’t cut prices despite the Supreme Court ruling that struck down Trump’s tariffs.

Red and black sneaker on a black hightop on an orange background

Footwear brands navigate uncertainty after latest tariffs flip-flop

February 25, 2026

Shoe brands, which are out billions of dollars from U.S.-imposed duties, are trying to find their footing after recent tariffs whiplash.

Shoptalk

Coach won over Gen Z in North America. Now it’s stepping up its focus abroad

March 31, 2026

After seeing success with its Gen Z strategy in North America, Coach is now scaling that approach internationally.

E.l.f. Beauty’s chief digital officer shares her strategy for the AI era

March 30, 2026

In an interview with Modern Retail, E.l.f. Beauty’s chief digital officer, Ekta Chopra, shared the four pillars that guide the beauty brand’s approach to AI implementation.

Lowe’s wants to roll out personalized website to all customers by end of 2026

March 27, 2026

The humble e-commerce site is getting a major upgrade at Lowe’s. The company is expanding a feature that uses customer data to personalize its website and, essentially, hopes that all customers will have a personalized website by the end of 2026.

Podcasts

Technology

Dollar General prioritizes in-store audio over digital screens

April 21, 2026

As retailers start to experiment with digital screens to display advertising in stores, Dollar General is taking a more old-school approach.

Lowe’s aims to make mulch buying easier with AI

April 20, 2026

Lowe’s is using AI to improve the mulch-buying process — a critical piece of spring sales for the home improvement retailer. Through a new AI-powered feature called “Mulch Me Now,” Lowe’s Mylow AI assistant will help customers calculate how much mulch they need.

Moving deliberately rather than fast: How brands and retailers are achieving AI success

March 18, 2026

It’s easy enough to talk about how AI can benefit brand and retail operations, but the extent to which brand and retail organizations are ready to successfully utilize the technology is a different conversation entirely. And AI readiness looks different for every brand and retailer, depending on what data they have access to, what kind […]

Marketing

How ThredUp is using AI to improve its marketing operations and move further up the funnel 

April 21, 2026

At the Modern Retail Marketing Summit in Huntington Beach, California, ThredUp’s SVP and head of marketing, Kristen Brophy, spoke about the company’s approach to customer acquisition and, specifically, how ThredUp is trying to improve its forecasting with the help of AI.

David’s Bridal ramps up its creator strategy as part of its post-bankruptcy comeback

April 20, 2026

David’s Bridal is investing more heavily in creators as part of a broader push to modernize the business.

Sam’s Club hires ‘experts’ to make video reviews for product pages

April 20, 2026

Sam’s Club is beginning to add videos with “expert reviews” to product pages for brands wanting to boost credibility and engagement.

Operations

How Target plans to own the baby category as it rolls out new in-store displays

April 21, 2026

Target is adding more than 2,000 items in the baby section and is debuting 200 Baby Boutiques with more premium products and services.

Goop Kitchen expands delivery business with New York City launch

April 17, 2026

Five years after launching in Los Angeles, Goop Kitchen is coming to New York City with three locations this year. The company is hoping to bring its food-as-medicine concept to the masses.

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 […]