The latest celebrity brands to shut down are Messi's Mas+ and Alex Cooper's Unwell, proving that major buzz fades quickly in the saturated celebrity-led CPG space.

Tariffs

Walmart gets close to $3 billion in tariff refunds

August 20, 2026

Tariff refunds continue to bolster the balance sheets of big retailers while consumers remain constrained by higher fuel prices and other macroeconomic factors.

Target receives almost $1 billion in tariff refunds, plans to lower prices

August 19, 2026

Tariff refunds were a massive tailwind for Target last quarter that could help it continue to lower prices.

Other news to know

  • Inside Walmart’s evolution
  • Walmart+, the retailer’s paid membership program, has launched in Canada, marking the first time it has been available outside of the U.S.
  • Walmart announced it would begin delivering Subway items as part of Express Delivery, either on its own or alongside other products such as groceries. 
  • Walmart executives are now training associates to use AI widely throughout the organization.
  • Walmart has announced Upstream Facility Services, a new business through which it will sell its in-house maintenance services to other U.S. companies.
Top Stories Aug 25

Topgolf hasn’t done much retail media, licensing. Its new CEO wants to change that

August 25, 2026

The new CEO of Topgolf believes the brand has significant opportunities to grow revenue both within its entertainment venues and at outside retailers.

Brands face death by a ‘thousand cuts’ as supply chain pressures and material costs eat into profit margins

August 25, 2026

One of the common themes of Modern Retail's recent Leaders Dinner was just how much retail today is a battle of inches. Margins are being eroded little by little by third-party fees, tariffs, increased operations costs and a thousand other small things.

Why more companies are investing in same-day shipping

August 24, 2026

More companies are rolling out services to speed up shipping and delivery as the costs to deploy such systems comes down.

AI Marketing Strategies: From experimentation to execution with Samsung, Bayer, David’s Bridal and Dolce&Gabbana Beauty

August 25, 2026

On Sept. 24 in New York City, Digiday, Glossy and Modern Retail will host the second iteration of AI Marketing Strategies, bringing together brand leaders, agency executives, analysts and technology providers to explore what’s actually working as AI reshapes modern marketing.

Hershey is using AI to strategize for s’mores season

August 24, 2026

The Hershey Company has started using new AI tools to maximize sales performance of s'mores ingredients in stores — including its own chocolates, as well as marshmallows and graham crackers.

The big business of dorm decor with Urban Outfitters

August 22, 2026

This week on the Modern Retail podcast, Urban Outfitters' Karen Booker dives into the company's dorm room decor strategy.

Tariffs

What to know about new proposed tariffs on Canadian goods

July 24, 2026

A fresh round of Trump tariffs on Canadian goods were announced this week that target industries like dairy, alcohol and automobiles.

Nike says it expects $986 million in IEEPA tariff refunds

June 30, 2026

Nike says it’s in a better financial position as it awaits nearly $1 billion in refunds related to IEEPA tariffs.

Marketplace Briefing: Online merchants welcome Trump customs crackdown amid wave of tariff evasion pitches

June 11, 2026

Online merchants are encouraged by a new Trump administration effort to crack down on customs fraud after a surge in tariff evasion schemes rattled sellers over the past year.

Podcasts

Technology

Illustration of a smartphone glowing with app icons, symbolizing the evolving digital infrastructure powering social commerce.

Walmart finally starts supporting Apple Pay and Google Pay

August 21, 2026

By the end of this year, shoppers will finally be able to use Apple Pay and Google Pay in Walmart stores, ending years of frustration that the retailer didn’t support what is now a nearly ubiquitous payment option.

Walmart extends Scintilla data platform to Sam’s Club

August 20, 2026

Sam’s Club merchants and brands will soon be able to use Walmart’s data analytics platform to better understand and predict member behavior.

Unpacked: How agentic AI is reshaping the consumer journey

July 28, 2026

This Unpacked guide, sponsored by Talon.One, explores how brands can make their loyalty and promotions agent-ready, as agentic commerce evolves from a theoretical concept into practical applications, and AI agents begin to handle the end-to-end shopping journey for consumers.

Marketing

The new AI playbook: The rules brands are setting around customer-facing content

August 20, 2026

While the majority of marketers say they’re using AI, many are setting boundaries around use cases for customer-facing content.

Beyond the backlash: What the Neutrogena controversy says about long-term brand loyalty

August 20, 2026

The online backlash over Neutrogena’s handling of partnership with former ambassador Hayden Panettiere raises questions over brand cancellations, boycotts and long-term brand loyalty.

Inside Sticki Rolls’ YouTube strategy to tap Gen Alpha

August 19, 2026

Toy brand Sticki Rolls is hoping to turn its YouTube creator-generated buzz into a Gen Alpha collectible brand through pop-ups and retail expansion.

Operations

With a record $2.7B in sales, U.S. Polo Assn. is scoring points with younger audiences

August 21, 2026

U.S. Polo Assn. is celebrating a record year, thanks to its larger store footprint and growing fanbase of teens and twenty-somethings.

Walmart gets close to $3 billion in tariff refunds

August 20, 2026

Tariff refunds continue to bolster the balance sheets of big retailers while consumers remain constrained by higher fuel prices and other macroeconomic factors.

The new rules of cross-border commerce after de minimis

July 27, 2026

In a post-de minimis environment, price certainty stops being a slogan and becomes the operating rule for cross-border growth. Sponsored by Swap