Products like high-protein peppermint bark and hot cocoa are taking up more shelf space this holiday season at retailers like Target.

Tariffs

Big-Box Briefing: Retailers get direct tariff relief. Their shoppers likely won’t

August 27, 2026

Tariff refunds are great news for the corporate balance sheets of big-box retailers, and less so for consumers tightly squeezing their wallets.

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.

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 Nov 05

GNReport+ Reseach: Brands’ focus on owned channels wavers for the 2026 holiday season

November 05, 2026

A new GNReport+ Research report examines which commerce channels are dominating marketers’ holiday strategies.

How Stitch Fix is using AI and customer feedback to build its private brands

November 04, 2026

Stitch Fix is going narrow and deep with its private brands, a strategy it says is contributing to revenue growth.

Brands Briefing: Bag charms are the hot new trend in branded CPG merch

November 03, 2026

Companies from Kraft Natural Cheese to Cava are rolling out food-themed bag charms to stay top of mind with young consumers.

What DoorDash’s Instacart acquisition says about the modern delivery platform pitch

November 03, 2026

DoorDash’s announced Instacart deal shows that delivery platforms are shifting further into retail tech, ads and data-driven shopping.

Baked by Melissa launches at-home baking kits at Target in time for the holidays

November 03, 2026

Baked by Melissa, known for its bite-sized cupcakes, is launching at-home baking kits for the first time in Target. Here's why the brand felt it was ready for a significant new category launch.

What DoorDash’s proposed acquisition of Instacart means for Uber, Amazon and the rest of the quick commerce space

November 02, 2026

The race to be the go-to platform for shoppers when they want products delivered quickly is about to get a lot more cutthroat after DoorDash announced its intent to acquire Instacart last week. Here's what it means for the quick commerce space, and other formidable players like Uber and Amazon.

More than half of online supplement shoppers say they’re worried about counterfeit products

November 02, 2026

An iHerb survey recently found that more than half of online supplement shoppers fear counterfeits, pushing retailers and brands to explore how they can improve trust within the fast-growing supplement space.

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

Amazon says more than 400M customers have used Alexa for Shopping in the last 12 months

October 29, 2026

Customers who use Alexa for Shopping are spending 50% more than those who don’t, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said during the earnings call on Thursday. 

NBCUniversal’s shoppable TV business is seeing a boost from shows like ‘Traitors’ and ‘Love Island USA’

October 19, 2026

NBCU is developing shoppable television across its own platforms, like Peacock, as well as third-party platforms, like LG TVs. Now, viewers can buy products from about 12 of their favorite shows, including “Top Chef” and “Below Deck.”

Live session: How marketers are scaling one-on-one customer conversations with AI

October 15, 2026

Marketers are under immense pressure to deliver more relevant, personalized customer experiences on-demand. AI has now widened the realm of what’s possible across the customer journey — from answering consumers’ questions to proactively addressing concerns before they derail a purchase. Join Mia D’Antonio, account director at ElevenLabs, Gillian O’Brien, retail product marketing lead at ElevenLabs, […]

Marketing

GNReport+ Research: Brands’ holiday marketing tactics shift in 2026

November 02, 2026

GNReport’s recent holiday survey found that brands and retailers plan to adjust the marketing tactics they’ll use during the 2026 holiday season in comparison to those they used in 2025. Here are some of the most notable changes.

Cotopaxi adopts a drop strategy to build buzz ahead of BFCM

October 30, 2026

Cotopaxi is releasing new products every other day, from Nov. 1-11, through a campaign it’s calling “Cotodays.” It’s part of the brand’s plan to build awareness ahead of the crowded Black Friday/Cyber Monday period.

Big-Box Briefing: What to watch this holiday season as Target, Walmart and more battle for sales

October 29, 2026

Within the past week, nearly all the major brick-and-mortar retailers — Target, Walmart, Kohl’s, Best Buy and Macy’s, to name a few— have put out press releases trumpeting their holiday offers. We summarized the key points to watch from them.

Operations

Big-Box Briefing: The themes that will dominate Jason Bonfig’s tenure as Best Buy’s new CEO

November 05, 2026

The biggest electronics retailer in the U.S. ushered in a new era this week. On Nov. 1, Jason Bonfig — a 27-year Best Buy veteran who most recently served as the company’s chief customer, product and fulfillment officer — became the CEO. He succeeds Corie Barry.