Bath & Body Works, as part of its Consumer First Formula turnaround plan, is quickly testing new small-batch fragrances through an initiative called Hype Lab. The goal is to gather more information about what cultural moments Bath & Body Works customers are currently obsessed with, and try to create a fragrance or a sensorial experience inspired by it. 

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 Oct 14

Hint water bets on indulgent dessert flavors to recruit new customers

October 14, 2026

This week, Hint is launching a limited-edition "Treat Yourself" pack of dessert-inspired, zero-calorie waters. The company is betting on indulgent, sweet flavors to drive adoption among young and new customers.

Monica + Andy expands beyond kids’ clothing and into baby care

October 14, 2026

More than a decade after launching, kids' clothing brand Monica + Andy is embarking on its first big category expansion. Within the past month, the company has launched a line of baby-care products

Brands Briefing: As AI reshapes retail, brands are investing even more in stores

October 13, 2026

Executives at Rhone, Anthropologie, Kohl's, Brunt and Crocs weigh in on why brick-and-mortar is still standing strong heading into 2027.

‘ACOTAR’ is the latest franchise that brands are clamoring to collaborate with 

October 13, 2026

First, it was "Barbie." Then, it was "Wicked." Now, brands are jumping on the IP opportunity around "A Court of Thorns and Roses." Since 2015, the ACOTAR franchise has sold more than 75 million copies globally and helped power the growth of the "romantasy" genre.

Supply chain stories to watch this holiday season

October 12, 2026

It’s shaping up to be another eventful and unpredictable holiday season, as consumer sentiment and geopolitical conditions continue to fluctuate wildly in the days and weeks leading up to Black Friday. Here are the supply chain stories to watch.

How Amazon Fall Prime Day went for sellers

October 09, 2026

Amazon’s fall Prime Big Deals Days helped kick off early holiday sales as shoppers chased discounts and bundles and stocked up on essentials. Here's how the event went, based on data and anecdotes from brands.

How brands can capitalize on post-Fall Prime Day momentum

October 10, 2026

This fall's Prime Big Deals Days is pushing holiday shopping into October as shoppers compare prices earlier and sellers prep for Black Friday.

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

DoorDash adds new retailers, texting shopping assistant

October 01, 2026

As DoorDash adds partners like Costco, the company is also expanding shopping features like Text DoorDash and Dasher Returns in an effort to become a one-stop marketplace.

How Kroger, Giant Eagle and DoorDash are building their agentic AI assistants

September 29, 2026

Companies like Kroger, Giant Eagle and DoorDash outlined their philosophies on agentic AI tools at this year’s Groceryshop conference. Much of the discussion centered around how to train shoppers to naturally integrate agentic shopping into their busy routines.

Why seasonal success depends on early media allocation

September 10, 2026

Seasonal demand may be predictable, but consumer behavior isn’t. By investing sooner and responding to evolving consumer signals, marketers can influence consideration, build momentum and capture demand before competition intensifies. Sponsored by Keen Decision Systems.

Marketing

Red rubix cube with the word "ad" written on it sitting on a red background

Why ChatGPT ads won’t likely impact holiday sales in a major way this year

October 09, 2026

Brands are starting to test OpenAI’s ChatGPT ads. But high costs and weak sales mean they expect little holiday budget to shift away from Google or Meta and toward these AI platforms.

Big-Box Briefing: Why executive turnover has been a consistent theme in retail media

October 08, 2026

A shakeup at Albertsons’ retail media business has put a spotlight on the challenges retail media leaders are facing. Analysts say that turnover has been a consistent theme of retail media since the beginning. Here’s why.

GNReport+ Research: How agencies adapt to a media landscape shaped by AI and creators

October 08, 2026

GNReport+ Research examines how AI search and creator marketing are adding another layer of change to the agency landscape, creating opportunities to expand services while raising new questions about costs, capabilities and the future of media planning.

Operations

Pricing tactics come under scrutiny in the age of AI

October 05, 2026

Everything from the rise of digital shelf labels to screenshots of pricing algorithms is fueling concerns among consumers that retailers are increasingly using customer data to engage in dynamic pricing, and it is putting more retailers like Walmart and McDonald’s on the defensive.

Why Nest New York is turning its bestselling Holiday candle into fine fragrance

October 05, 2026

Nest has turned its bestselling Holiday candle into the new Wonder perfume as the company grows its fine fragrance business.

How agentic commerce helps brands like Willy Chavarria optimize for BFCM

October 07, 2026

Black Friday and Cyber Monday preparation begins for e-commerce brands and retailers well before those peak shopping days arrive. Besides planning marketing and promotion strategies, brands must consider how to convert shoppers and whether their e-commerce infrastructure can support demand. Agentic commerce tools, like AI-powered storefronts, help brands make the shopping journey more intuitive and […]

Running was a bright spot for Nike in an otherwise gloomy quarter

October 01, 2026

Nike had a gloomy earnings report on Thursday, reporting year-over-year revenue declines of 4%. But, one of the few bright spots for Nike during the quarter was running, which was a welcome turnaround for the company after years of increased competition from Hoka and On.