Quip’s latest ad was entirely human-made, but it still received social media comments from people who assumed it was generated with AI. Here's how the brand responded.

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 28

How Urban Outfitters co-creates campaigns with Gen Z

April 28, 2026

Urban Outfitters likes to say it doesn't just create campaigns with Gen Z -- it also produces campaigns with them. UO's Cyntia Leo shares how the brand does exactly that.

Suri got shoppers on board with recycling toothbrush heads. Now, it is turning them into soap dishes

April 28, 2026

Oral care brand Suri has put true circularity at the heart of its next product line, turning recycled toothbrush heads into soap dishes. Here's what it took to pull that off.

New awards program: Next Gen Store Awards open for entries 

April 28, 2026

New from Modern Retail, the Next Gen Store Awards are designed to celebrate the innovations reshaping the modern in-store experience.

Williams-Sonoma relaunches Dormify a year after acquiring IP

April 27, 2026

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is officially relaunching dorm room furnishings brand Dormify after acquiring its intellectual property in May.

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.

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.

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.

Unpacked: How loyalty programs power lifecycle marketing strategies

April 16, 2026

This Unpacked guide, sponsored by SheerID, explores how loyalty is no longer earned through rewards alone; it’s built through relevance, transparency and sustained commitment to understanding customers over time.  Shifts in consumer behavior — specifically the desire for data privacy and instant, personalized recognition — and AI’s acceleration of the buying process are making traditional […]

Marketing

Starbucks ends its Coffee Loop rewards pilot after six months

April 24, 2026

Starbucks is shutting down its rewards program, “Coffee Loop,” which operated on a premise of “buy nine drinks, get one free.”

Marine Layer fights digital saturation with print catalogs and whimsical pop-ups

April 23, 2026

At the Modern Retail Marketing Summit, Renee Lopes Halvorsen, chief marketing officer of Marine Layer, spoke about how the brand is looking to combat a growing sense of digital fatigue with more fun, tactile experiences.

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.

Operations

Sneaker listed as out of stock on a shopping website

Brands Briefing: How higher oil prices are shaking up the footwear industry

April 28, 2026

Shoe brands are under pressure as the U.S.-Iran conflict squeezes the global oil supply. Not only are higher oil prices driving up shipping costs, but they’re also making shoe production more expensive.

Retail just lost one of its few female CEOs. She kept Best Buy afloat during the pandemic

April 24, 2026

This week, Best Buy dropped some unexpected news that’s shaking up the retail leadership landscape: Corie Barry, one of just a handful of female CEOs of major retailers, will be out as its CEO beginning in late October.

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 […]