Brands like UrbanStems, H&M and Chobani are refining partnerships to match audiences, drive cultural relevance and unlock new growth. Here's more on how execs from these brands say their approach to partnerships has changed over the years.
This year has been a big one for executive transitions throughout big-box retail. Sometimes, it feels like there's a new leadership appointment on a weekly basis. In this week's Big-Box Briefing, we break down how these new appointments, promotions and exits have shaped out so far in 2026.
Adapting to AI search is a muscle memory problem, not a hacking problem — at least that's how Stanley 1913 sees it. The brand is trying to increase how often it is mentioned by AI search engines, without resorting to hacks and easy wins.
At the most recent Modern Retail+ and Glossy+ Town Hall, editorial staff and subscribers gathered to discuss the future of DTC. Hot topics included: what distribution channels make sense for burgeoning brands and where young startups should spend their precious marketing dollars.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday have evolved into a weeks-long shopping event. That makes early planning more critical than ever. Drawing on insights from brands like Bylt, Tecovas, Manscaped and Bearbottom Clothing, these five key findings help marketers sharpen their holiday ad strategies. Sponsored by Tatari.
In December 2024, Walmart did something perhaps out of character: It helped start a video gaming news website. But the publication's editor-in-chief said she has been laid off alongside the "entire editorial team."
Harry's, Jool Baby and Stila Cosmetics are among a growing group of companies recruiting for TikTok Shop directors. But the candidate pool also remains tricky.
One of Best Buy's big priorities this year is pushing a new generation of RGB LED TVs to consumers. The hope is that customers will find the technological improvements convincing enough to make an upgrade, six years after many of them bought a new TV during the Covid-19 pandemic.
TikTok Shop is increasingly drawing higher-priced home and lifestyle brands due to increased user trust, effective creator content and improvements in logistics.
Walmart's advertising platform is giving brands more control over where they show up in searches, marking a significant change in how their ad budgets are spent.
P&G's $3.8 billion acquisition of Thorne is yet another strong signal that large CPG conglomerates are increasingly seeking out science-backed, high-growth brands to add to their portfolios as consumer priorities shift.
Social media and wellness trends are fueling frozen yogurt's comeback. Now, established players like 16 Handles and Go Greek are seeing a surge in growth, and startups like Coconut Cult and Benefiber are looking to ride the trend through fun pop-ups.
This week's episode of the Modern Retail Podcast features a conversation with Once Upon a Farm Chief Marketing Officer Katie Marston about how the company has sought to shake up the baby aisle with coolers. Marston shares what she's learned over the years about what it takes to get retailers on board with a new way of merchandising products.
Tarte Cosmetics is under fire for ways in which it's marketing its new Snatch Stick, with some social-media users accusing the company of "rage baiting" its audience.
Merch is proving big business for the New York Liberty, with sales up double-digits and "selling like hotcakes." The team is now creating more products year-round, as it works to become a full lifestyle brand.
During its second-quarter earnings call on Thursday, Sweetgreen lowered its full-year guidance as cyclospora concerns hurt foot traffic — even though the chain hasn't been implicated in any outbreaks. Here's how consumer concerns around fresh produce could hurt Sweetgreen amid a critical inflection point for the company.
For major brick-and-mortar retailers, back-to-school season this year is largely about a race to the bottom in price and a push to offer the most popular products seen on social media.
Gorilla Commerce, most well-known for its slip-resistant bath mats, has found tremendous success primarily through Amazon, surpassing nine figures in sales. But the company wants to prove it's more than just an Amazon brand. Two years ago, it launched on Walmart's marketplace, and last month, the company brought Gorilla Grip to more than 2,600 Walmart stores.
Hims & Hers achieved an 88% daily adherence rate with its first-ever gummy prescription medication. It's another example of how beauty brands, wellness startups and prescription drug providers are all leaning more into gummy formats.
Food service brands like Starbucks, Dunkin’ and Wawa are using limited-edition fashion merchandise to reach new audiences and build everyday brand loyalty.
Modern Retail+ Research examined which commerce channels are dominating marketers’ holiday strategies, what discounts brands and retailers are offering, and what revenue expectations are guiding their marketing decisions ahead of the critical fourth quarter.
The conversation around AI has moved well beyond experimentation. At the recent Glossy & Modern Retail Brand Leaders Dinner, with partner Global Payments, founders and executives shared how they're using artificial intelligence to automate operations, rethink hiring, build internal knowledge platforms and refine marketing strategies. But despite the rapid adoption, attendees agreed that the businesses best positioned to win will still be those that invest in community, physical retail and experiences AI cannot replicate.
Circle K is more openly promoting and expanding its retail media network, Full Circle Media, as a way for advertisers to reach shoppers across its convenience stores, fuel pumps and digital channels in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
A cyclospora outbreak from lettuce, and potentially other fresh produce, is testing how food brands respond to moments of crisis and build consumer trust.
Amazon wants to become an even more vital part of shoppers’ lives, as it prioritizes growing sales of groceries, prescriptions and other essential products. The company said on Thursday during its second-quarter earnings results that sales of groceries and everyday essentials grew “meaningfully faster” than the rest of its Stores business.
Modern Retail is launching a new product, exclusively for Plus subscribers: The Modern Retail+ Big-Box Briefing. We'll be covering how the winds are shifting for major players like Walmart, Target, Best Buy and more.
Over the past couple of years, Walmart has been taking more control of Sam's Club from the corporate level, from supply chain to e-commerce technology and retail media.
The retail industry is facing a significant surge in legal scrutiny as "phantom discount" practices come under fire, and major brands like Lululemon and Nike have been hit with lawsuits in recent weeks.
New women's wellness brand Plainspeak is using USPS mail-in samples to drive subscriptions for its women’s supplement, sidestepping paid ads. The founders are betting on the analog strategy to build a loyal customer base.
PopSockets wants a bigger grip on the phone accessory market — and it's betting on limited-edition drops, TikTok videos and magnetic products to get it there.
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. Agentic commerce has quickly become a hot industry topic, as the technology evolves from a theoretical […]
True Religion hopes doubling its store count and joining TikTok Shop can help power its revenue to $1 billion. Its CEO unpacked the plan with Modern Retail.
Supplement company Kate Farms launched in 2012 with organic and plant-based products for pediatric tube feeding. But recently, to reach a more general consumer audience it has released new products designed with GLP-1 users in mind. As a result, it's now expanding its presence in Walmart.
As brands expand their creator marketing strategies, they are increasingly tapping influencers for more than just awareness campaigns. Many are partnering with creators to help drive seasonal campaigns, support product launches and, in some cases, even help develop products.
In and around New York City, national discount grocery chains like Aldi and Lidl have found new neighborhoods to pop up in — following the local success of chains such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe's over the past decades.
Juan Pellerano-Rendon, Chief Marketing Officer, Swap On July 1, the duty-free era of European e-commerce ended. As reported by Modern Retail, every parcel entering the European Union now owes customs duty, regardless of value. Shipments under €150 carry a €3 charge per line item, and the liability lands on brands and retailers. Under the new […]
St. Louis-based regional grocer Schnucks just launched a new AI assistant, but behind it is a larger idea around how agents could eventually take over the shopping process and help people eat healthier.
Lettuce growers like Little Leaf Farms and salad chains like Sweetgreen are taking to social media to restore consumer confidence amid the cyclospora outbreak.
Whatnot believes its recommendation systems — which now refresh in just minutes — are what set the company apart from competitors. Whatnot chief product officer Tom Verrilli spoke with Modern Retail about what makes recommendations uniquely challenging in live commerce.
Kroger's announcement last month that it would buy Giant Eagle for just under $1.7 billion was one of the grocer's first major moves under new CEO Greg Foran, an indicator of how the company's strategy could look going forward. Foran has so far placed an emphasis on speed and execution.
Two months after Bookshop.org launched, the pandemic hit, and bookstores couldn't serve their customers at all, so it was a massive tailwind for the company. But this was just the start of a long journey for the platform, which eventually had to find its footing again once the pandemic subsided.
Move over, traditional influencers — employee-generated content is on the rise. Here's why brands like Starbucks are encouraging staffers to shoot videos and record TikToks.
Retail media content is becoming more complex, with major brands like Procter & Gamble making big investments in videos made specifically to reach shoppers on screens in grocery stores or while shopping on an app.
Welch’s Fruit Snacks is expanding its functional snacks with the launch of probiotic Yogofruits, the latest better-for-you line in an effort to court Gen Z.
Despite some initial fears that fans wouldn't show up over hefty ticket prices, World Cup tourism helped lift sales in host cities. The tournament helped boost business for restaurants, retailers and even cannabis dispensaries.
Nearly six years after it declared bankruptcy, Guitar Center says its turnaround efforts are striking a chord. After redoing its merchandise, holding more events and refocusing on "serious musicians", Guitar Center is seeing sales climb, CEO Gabe Dalporto told Modern Retail.
This year, Bloom Nutrition has been on a growth streak, and recently entered Australia, France and the U.K. Its Vice President of Global Growth, Joel Contartese, joins the Modern Retail Podcast to discuss how the brand has adapted its marketing, positioning and products for different markets.
On Thursday, Sam's Club hosted its first-ever Sam's Wellness Club, an exclusive event bringing together creators, media and merchants at a loft event space overlooking Midtown Manhattan. Here's why the club retailer is so keen on promoting its health and wellness offerings right now.
Brands like P.F. Candle Co. and Sorbara’s are lending their physical spaces to other brands for guest pop-ups. The strategy helps lift foot traffic and offset real estate costs.
Amid a challenging macroeconomic year, Amazon has proven to be a powerful sales engine for many digitally native startups. Modern Retail spoke with three startups — Suri, P.F. Candle Co, and Pretty Tasty Tea – about what they believe is driving their surge in Amazon sales this year.
Encouraged by the resurgence of Hacky Sacks, toy company PlayMonster is developing about 10 new Hacky Sack styles. PlayMonster's CEO spoke with Modern Retail about keeping up with demand, and what the Hacky Sack revival says about the types of games and toys resonating with consumers right now.
Only two weeks after the cult French sneaker brand Salomon opened its largest store in New York City, it's making another big retail move: It's launching at Foot Locker.
This State of the Industry report, sponsored by Swap, explores how brands, retailers and agencies are adopting agentic commerce, including agentic storefronts, to enhance shopping experiences. Artificial intelligence is the new entry point in e-commerce, as more shoppers rely on AI-powered summaries and assistants to discover products. Beyond discovery and product recommendations, AI agents are […]
A new study from Walmart shows how its soccer-watching consumers planned to grocery shop during the World Cup, from how much they would spend to what kind of snacks they would buy — and the company has seen some of these results validated over the course of the tournament.
Minnetonka is betting on new categories, new silhouettes and new marketing tactics to win over new audiences as it celebrates its 80th birthday this year.
Thanks to rising gas prices, shoppers are switching up where they buy their gas, and what purchases they are making while doing so. One habit that may be most acutely threatened is the tradition of picking up a soda, bag of chips or energy bar at the gas station.
Advertisers are embracing AI for social media and retail media marketing. However, they are slower to adopt AI for influencer and CTV marketing. This is according to a Modern Retail+ Research survey of more than 100 marketing professionals in first-quarter 2026.
"Love Island USA" has become a cultural phenomenon that many brands can no longer ignore. Ad sales were up 73% across the hit show this season, and "Love Island" has now become an integral part of summer-long marketing campaigns for brands like Poppi.
While The Home Depot is not a sports equipment or sports apparel retailer, its consumer base has given it ample reason to develop a comprehensive retail media strategy around the World Cup.
Every Amazon agency right now is trying to get a sense of what role AI referral traffic is playing — and will play — in driving purchases, even if they don't have much data to go off of yet.
Levi's has sought to protect its red tab trademark this year by filing lawsuits against Farm Rio and the Australian brand S/Double. The lawsuits accuse the brands of using similar design elements that risk customer confusion and cause harm to the Levi's brand.
In the AI-driven search era, a brand’s reputation precedes it. Earned media is the mechanism through which brands can build the trust and credibility that makes them worth recommending. It’s the difference between being present and being chosen. Sponsored by Journey Further
Kohl's is "leaning heavily" into Nike as part of its new back-to-school campaign, executives shared. The investment includes a broader assortment, as well as Nike-themed tunnel-walk installations in stores.
On the heels of its new collaboration with USA Fencing, bag brand Caraa sees a larger opportunity to work with National Governing Bodies for other sports like judo, water polo or squash.
In an age where dupes are more prevalent than ever before, companies are on the hunt for new ways to defend their first-mover advantage. Leaders at Willow, Oura and SharkNinja say the key to defending your position as a category creator is solving customer problems, not just launching first.
Sporting-goods company Salomon is going "city by city" as it looks to grow its retail presence in the U.S., executives say. The brand is considering opening stores in Boston, San Francisco and Miami.
Forme used Kalshi to hedge a World Cup refund promo, which helped lift the brand's menswear traffic on its site. The campaign is a novel example of how e-commerce brands could use predictions markets as marketing tools.
In the latest installment of "What's in Your Cart," the Chief Creative Officer at Anthropologie, Richa Srivastava, shares her personal shopping habits with Modern Retail.
Retailers are bringing sales tactics from the collectibles industry, such as "blind boxes" and limited drops, into new categories like food and apparel.
The latest installment of our CMO Strategies series, this Modern Retail+ Research report provides an analysis of creator marketing and its current role in marketers’ playbooks.
Hawaiian-inspired footwear brand OluKai is pairing up with professional lifeguards on product testing and videos, to prove out the extreme durability of its products.
Amazon’s earlier Prime Day this year pushed back-to-school deals into June. With that, competing retailers including Walmart and Target joined in chasing budget-focused shoppers long before school starts.
Traditional last-touch and platform-reported models were built for a simpler era. This measurement framework systematically rewards proximity to the checkout over actual influence on the decision. Sponsored by Measured.
Clorox is using TikTok Shop to test products, reach Gen Z and drive sales. The universe of characters it has created for its cleaning brand, Pine-Sol offers perhaps the best example of the company's approach to TikTok Shop.
In an interview with Modern Retail, Amy’s Kitchen CEO Paul Schiefer explains how a new Non-UPF Verified certification aims to clarify food processing standards. Here's what it requires.
On Wednesday, Kroger announced that it would buy Giant Eagle for just under $1.7 billion, a signal of the grocer's urgency to boost its footprint. The deal will expand Kroger's reach and abilities beyond just growing the store count.
