March Madness is becoming a more integral part of the brand marketing playbook, as NIL deals make it easier for startups to find a way into the cultural conversation around the NCAA tournament. Here's what the Madness campaigns of brands like Every Man Jack and NYX entail this year.

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.

Other news to know

Top Stories Mar 18

Why Parker Thatch transformed its strip-mall storefront into a livestreaming studio

March 18, 2026

Handbag and accessories brand Parker Thatch recently remodeled its store to serve as both a sales channel and a broadcast studio, as the brand sees more success from livestreaming across Instagram and YouTube.

Brands Briefing: Inside Cotopaxi’s plans to double its store count by 2029

March 17, 2026

Travel bag and backpack brand Cotopaxi plans to double its North American store count from 20 locations to 40 locations in the next three years, its CEO told Modern Retail.

Little Spoon launches baby formula in bid to expand feeding portfolio

March 17, 2026

Little Spoon is launching infant formula as part of its strategy to become an end-to-end baby and kid food company.

What’s in your cart? Poppi founder Allison Ellsworth shares favorite food, beauty and wellness finds

March 17, 2026

Poppi founder Allison Ellsworth spoke with Modern Retail about her go-to grocery items and what she splurged on after selling her company to PepsiCo.

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.

Podcasts

Technology

Retailers turn to digital rebates as alcohol sales slump

March 16, 2026

Grocers and C-stores are turning to digital alcohol rebates to try to boost alcohol sales and digital engagement.

Shopify says purchases are coming ‘inside ChatGPT’ through agentic storefronts as OpenAI retreats on Instant Checkout 

March 12, 2026

Shopify told merchants their products will soon be discoverable and purchasable inside ChatGPT through its new “agentic storefronts” feature as OpenAI shifts how checkout works inside the chatbot.

The multichannel growth playbook: How brands expand to TikTok Shop and Walmart without breaking operations

March 16, 2026

Selling across platforms is no longer optional, but it’s easy for brands and retailers to find themselves expanding into new channels the wrong way: They add TikTok Shop too early. They duplicate teams and tools. They watch performance fragment instead of grow. To be successful, brands have to do more than simply go multichannel. They […]

Marketing

Fifth Avenue’s next chapter: Inside the push to evolve the iconic shopping corridor

March 16, 2026

Fifth Avenue is a retail powerhouse, known for glitzy flagships like Tiffany and Gucci. But it’s also a time of change for the more than 200-year-old avenue and the nonprofit that keeps it moving.

Brands Briefing: Wellness brands take over Expo West to woo retail buyers

March 10, 2026

Historically focused on natural food and beverage, Expo West is quickly becoming a go-to show for supplement startups and other wellness brands vying for retailers’ attention.

Best Buy wants to be the hub for AI-powered hardware like glasses, laptops

March 10, 2026

Best Buy is positioning itself as the place where people go to shop for AI-powered everything.

Operations

Cymbiotika lands in Ulta just months after launching in Target

March 13, 2026

Supplement startup Cymbiotika has landed in Ulta as its year of retail expansion continues, fueled by a sizable seed round and increased consumer interest in wellness.

Higher tax refunds could boost consumer spending

March 12, 2026

Americans are seeing higher tax refunds this year, which has the potential to drive some consumer spending. But the boon for retailers may be short-lived.

How retailers can address the Black Friday trust crisis one shopper at a time

November 26, 2025

John Shapiro, Chief Product and Technology Officer, Lightspeed Commerce From November to the start of the new year, this season marks one of the busiest times for retailers around the globe — and one they prepare for months in advance. According to the National Retail Federation, 91% of consumers plan to celebrate the winter holidays, […]