Small business owners have scrambled to find a way forward after postal services around the world halted shipments to the U.S. over the rollback of de minimis.

Tariffs

Furniture startup Sabai’s sales are up 30% as it plays up affordability and sustainability

September 04, 2025

Six-year-old furniture brand Sabai says its sales are up 30% year-to-date. The company says its growth has been fueled by emphasizing its natural materials and North Carolina manufacturing story to differentiate itself as imports get more expensive.

In earnings reports, fashion brands clock continued fallout from tariffs and tease holiday plans

September 03, 2025

As the summer comes to a close, hot-button issues like tariffs, manufacturing and pricing continue to dominate conversations at fashion brands.

Other news to know

  • The U.S. Supreme Court is fast-tracking the Trump administration’s appeal of a lower-court ruling that determined that many of its recent tariffs are illegal. Oral arguments will begin in November.
  • Temu is plotting an “aggressive comeback” in the U.S. after focusing efforts on Europe earlier this year. The PDD-owned company is now slashing prices by up to 60%, seemingly to compete with Shein, Bloomberg reported.
  • Yum! Brands, which operates KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, made key leadership changes in the name of “accelerat[ing] global growth.”
$14.53B
PDD's quarterly revenue
Top Stories Sep 10

How TikTok-viral gum Underbrush fights knockoffs

September 10, 2025

As AI has made it easier for people to generate copycats and counterfeit competitors, startups like Underbrush are investing in brand protection earlier in the company's life cycle.

Brands Briefing: Boot brand Tecovas is bringing its version of the West to New York City through store events, music and a Texas-style dance hall

September 09, 2025

Cowboy boot brand Tecovas is hoping to bring the spirit of the West to New York City through one of its biggest paid marketing campaigns to date, timed to its new store opening.

Walmart’s first new stores in years face local resistance

September 09, 2025

While in some cases, Walmart has flown through local city meetings easily, elsewhere it has encountered opposition from some community members who think the retailer will bring an increase in traffic, a decrease in home values or a change in the feel of their communities.

‘The easy dollars are gone’: Retail media faces new tests as it nears maturity

September 09, 2025

As retail media has evolved from an emerging media channel to a major sub-division of advertising, growth is harder to come by, meaning that retail media networks have to do more to prove their worth.

Tariffs

Furniture startup Sabai’s sales are up 30% as it plays up affordability and sustainability

September 04, 2025

Six-year-old furniture brand Sabai says its sales are up 30% year-to-date. The company says its growth has been fueled by emphasizing its natural materials and North Carolina manufacturing story to differentiate itself as imports get more expensive.

Cash register with a receipt with lots of dollar signs popping out of it

In earnings reports, fashion brands clock continued fallout from tariffs and tease holiday plans

September 03, 2025

As the summer comes to a close, hot-button issues like tariffs, manufacturing and pricing continue to dominate conversations at fashion brands.

On Amazon, the ‘Made in USA’ boom fizzles as price wins out

September 02, 2025

New data from Momentum Commerce, a retail consultancy, shows that searches for “Made in America” products have collapsed since the spring, reverting by July 2025 to nearly identical levels as the prior year. And even at their peak, those searches barely translated into sales.

Podcasts

Limited Series
The Modern Retail Vanguard

In our annual series, the Modern Retail Vanguard, we’re highlighting 15 people who exemplify the skills needed to succeed in today’s retail environment across three categories: operations, marketing and technology. These are the people who, behind the scenes, helped companies grow amid an uncertain retail environment.

Technology

Sam’s Club refreshes website, app for new era of e-commerce

September 08, 2025

Sam’s Club has rolled out a new presentation layer for its website and app to 100% of its members, its svp of e-commerce, Greg Pulsifer, told Modern Retail.

Target is offering free 1-year subscriptions to Target Circle 360 to some shoppers

September 03, 2025

Target is giving away a free year of its Target Circle 360 membership program to some shoppers, Modern Retail has learned. The program is the company’s answer to Amazon Prime or Walmart+.

How non-endemic commerce media unlocks new opportunities for brands and retailers

August 28, 2025

This guide, sponsored by Fluent, explores what exactly non-endemic commerce media is and what these ad placements look like, why non-endemic commerce media is beneficial, the role of first-party data in non-endemic commerce media — and its impact on revenue — and what to look for in a commerce media partner. In a performance-driven era […]

Marketing

What’s In Your Cart?: American Eagle CMO Craig Brommers on Honey Deuce cocktails, hotel toiletries and New Balance sneakers

September 09, 2025

In the latest installment of “What’s in Your Cart,” American Eagle CMO Craig Brommers shares his personal shopping habits with Modern Retail.

As more awareness comes to the menopause care category, brands are evolving their messaging

September 08, 2025

New menopause-care brands are fine-tuning their messaging to best reach Gen X and millennial women.

Brands Briefing: The return of raunchy marketing

September 02, 2025

This month BondiBoost decided to go in what it is calling a “horny marketing” direction for its new Lock Drops scalp serum, partnering with a Las Vegas striptease show. The company is part of a wave of sexed-up advertising.

Operations

Why Owlet believes a new $99 baby monitor will ‘change its whole business’

September 09, 2025

Owlet is looking to gain a bigger share in the baby category with a new $99 monitor. This represents a more affordable and accessible entry point for new customers, and the company’s soon-to-be CEO believes it will change Owlet’s entire business.

How Urban Outfitters is marketing home decor to Gen Z

September 08, 2025

Urban Outfitters is honing in on the home space as it continues to court Gen Z, its chief merchandising officer, Marybeth Cahill, told Modern Retail.

How CPG brands are boosting performance with personalized content at scale

August 12, 2025

The CPG industry is at a critical juncture where digital innovation can significantly influence consumer relations and market success. Companies that adopt a flexible, scalable, data-driven approach to content management and deliver personalized experiences are better positioned to meet evolving consumer demands and achieve sustained growth. But digital transformation is not just about adopting new […]

Cashmere brand White & Warren embarks on a rebrand as it targets younger shoppers and digital sales

September 05, 2025

White & Warren is updating its logo, website, product assortment and marketing mix to try and woo a younger clientele while increasing its e-commerce penetration.