What a White House-Amazon kerfuffle says about tariffs, prices and talking to customers

Amazon says it decided against telling shoppers how new duties affect prices, a plan the White House slammed as “hostile and political.” But is it a good idea? Yes and no.

Etsy is leveraging AI to boost personalization

In its latest earnings call, the marketplace said personalized homepages yielded nearly double the engagement compared to those without personalization.

Burlington snags 45 of Joann’s store leases out of bankruptcy

The off-price retailer is taking advantage of the craft company’s closure as new shopping center growth diminishes.

How grocery continues to drive Walmart’s top line

The category brought in $276 billion in net sales in fiscal 2025, up nearly 12% from the same period two years ago, the retailer said in its annual report.

Amazon and Saks Fifth Avenue launch luxury e-commerce storefront

The partnership will feature an assortment of high-end men’s and women’s brands, including Balmain, Stella McCartney and Fear of God.

Consumers waffle over using social, generative AI to shop

Customers may not be comfortable with advanced shopping tech and allowing AI to analyze their personal data, according to a KPMG report. 

‘We’re not just a hot cup company’: What’s next for Stanley

Can the water bottle brand live past its virality? Global President Matt Navarro says it already has.

Adidas: If tariffs stay, ‘of course there will be price increases’

CEO Bjørn Gulden stressed that they have not been implemented yet, though, and the retailer will follow the lead of others in the market.

Walmart drives toward instant payments

The mega retailer is eager to use more real-time payments as it speeds up digital services for cost-conscious customers.

Retail’s latest tariff challenge? Setting prices.

New levies are shaping up to be a holiday tax on consumers already touchy about spending. Careful analysis and clear communication are key.

Sephora stakes its claim in skin care with multichannel campaign

“Skin Obsessed” riffs on the realities of complex self-care routines and the search for reliable products.

Amazon teases July Prime Day

The announcement comes amid a report that sellers are backing out of the sales event due to tariff costs.

The Weekly Closeout: Coty to cut 700 jobs, Adidas sports double-digit growth

The cutbacks are part of the beauty conglomerate’s strategic transformation, while preliminary Q1 results show momentum from the sports retailer.

Another U-turn at Beyond: brick and mortar for BuyBuy Baby

The company, which continues to shake up its portfolio and branding strategies, is also opening Overstock stores.

Lowe’s expands in-store pilot of kitchen visualization tech

After initial tests last year, the home improvement retailer is bringing its Style Studio tech to stores in California and Texas for three months.

The Backroom: Talking tariffs with Supply Chain Dive

Trade policy is ever-evolving, and hitting the retail industry especially hard. Phil Neuffer, senior editor at our sister publication, talks about covering the issue and where things stand today.

Skechers announces record sales but pulls guidance

The footwear giant saw both wholesale and DTC sales rise but cautioned that current trade policies have created macroeconomic uncertainty.

Peloton chief marketer departs as fitness brand shakes up marketing group

Moving forward, the company is divvying up marketing duties between a marketing chief and a chief communications officer.

Inside Walmart’s aggressive c-store growth plans

After quietly developing its gas station footprint over the past decade, the big-box retailer has a refined strategy and is looking to expand quickly.

Online retailers in the US spent an average of $400k on AI last year

Despite aiming that investment at customer experience, 30% of executives told Storyblok that the tech only slightly improved the shopper’s experience.

Amazon and Walmart keep chasing faster deliveries to woo shoppers

The retailers are leaning on their in-house fulfillment capabilities, growing their same-day reach in rural areas and using drones to beat the competition.

Walmart is all-in on generative AI, agentic tools

The company is “throwing the doors wide open” and wants associates to use the technology every day, executives said.

Consumer expectations plunge at fastest pace since 1990 recession

“Some measures of expectations on both the business and consumer fronts look outright recessionary,” Goldman Sachs Chief Economist Jan Hatzius said.

Carter’s pulls guidance as profits plummet, tariffs loom

The children’s clothing company's new CEO is navigating a turnaround amid falling sales and rising uncertainty.

The Weekly Closeout: Small businesses sue over tariffs, Under Armour adds PE exec to board

A group of small businesses banded together to challenge the Trump administration’s authority to levy tariffs, while the athletics retailer added a board director from Sycamore Partners.