The $450m MAGA Monster: Inside the Wild World of Trump Merchandise
Donald Trump has built a $450 million merchandise empire that dwarfs any other American politician’s retail operation. Official items like diamond‑studded watches and NFTs have generated millions for the Trump family, while a network of third‑party sellers runs dozens of dedicated stores nationwide. The market, estimated at over $300 million annually, fuels both campaign fundraising and brand visibility, with the Trump Organisation aggressively protecting its trademarks through lawsuits. This sprawling ecosystem blurs the line between political fundraising and personal profit, raising fresh ethical questions.
Macquarie Centre Launches A/W 2026 Season with New Digital-First Campaign via iD Collective
Macquarie Centre has teamed with iD Collective to roll out a digital‑first Autumn‑Winter 2026 campaign, spotlighting its premium fashion mix. The effort features Australian actress‑singer Tammin Sursok and model Francesca Hung modeling collections from Aje, Polo Ralph Lauren, Witchery and Zara. iD...
Leo Singapore Enlists a Real Nigerian Prince to Tackle Counterfeit Vaseline in Nigeria
Vaseline has launched a WhatsApp‑based authentication tool in Nigeria, created by Leo Singapore, to combat the surge of counterfeit skincare products. The free Vaseline Authenticator lets shoppers scan QR codes or send product photos to verify authenticity within seconds. The...
PHOTO GALLERY: T&T Opens 15th Store in Ontaro
T&T Supermarket opened its 15th Ontario location, a 40,000‑square‑foot store in Mississauga’s Erin Mills Power Centre, marking the chain’s 39th outlet in North America. The ground‑up project was built in partnership with Choice Properties, the real‑estate arm of Loblaw’s parent George Weston....
60 Days of Prepmas Delivers Exceptional Christmas Results for Kitchen Warehouse
Block’s 60 Days of Prepmas radio campaign drove Kitchen Warehouse’s Christmas sales up 43% year‑on‑year, while store traffic rose 17% and website visits climbed 18% versus the prior holiday period. The initiative ran from 27 October to 25 December 2025, delivering a fresh 24‑hour radio...
How a Rumour Led to the Masters’ Iconic Gnomes Selling for US$40k
The Masters’ ceramic gnome, a limited‑edition souvenir sold for $49.50 at Augusta National, has become a collector’s obsession. Rumors that 2026 could be the final year for the gnome have pushed resale prices to nearly $1,000 for the current edition...
Vietnam: Unlocking Global Cross-Border E-Commerce Potential
Vietnam’s cross‑border e‑commerce is emerging as a key export engine, with the domestic market reaching roughly $31 billion in 2025 and cross‑border turnover at $4.45 billion. The sector is driven by SMEs seeking lower logistics costs and direct access to global consumers,...
Agentic Payments In B2C Commerce: Where We Are Now
Agentic commerce remains in its infancy, with US consumer adoption of AI‑driven checkout staying under 5% and showing little momentum. The protocol arena is split between Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol and OpenAI’s Agentic Commerce Protocol, while Alibaba’s Alipay and the...
Walmart’s Ecommerce, Fulfillment and Advertising Business Offset Flat In-Store Sales
At JPMorgan’s Retail Roundup, Walmart CFO John Rainey highlighted that the retailer’s ecommerce, advertising and fulfillment operations now account for roughly 20% of its business and are offsetting flat in‑store sales. Operating income is growing at twice the rate of...
EXEC: Birkenstock Opens New Store in Bordeaux, France
Birkenstock opened its 30th full‑price European store on Bordeaux’s Cours de l’Intendance, expanding beyond its two Paris locations. The boutique is situated in the city’s “Golden Triangle” and showcases local limestone, vintage regional furniture, and blue cork displays that echo...
AI Is Coming for Car Salesmen and Let’s Be Real, It Makes Perfect Sense
South Korean software firm Epikar has introduced the Pikar Genie, an AI‑powered kiosk designed to handle most showroom interactions traditionally performed by car salespeople. The device is already deployed in Renault, BMW and Volvo dealerships in South Korea, where Renault...
Cold Stone Creamery to Open Additional Locations in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette
Cold Stone Creamery announced plans to add two to three new stores in Southern Louisiana over the next five years, focusing on New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette. The chain already operates five locations across the state and will soon open a...
Target Fuels Next-Day Delivery Expansion with Shipt
Target is expanding its Shipt‑powered next‑day delivery service, called Target Last Mile Delivery Direct, to 20 additional metropolitan areas this spring. By the end of 2026, more than 100 stores across 50 markets will ship orders directly from the retail...
With Expansion Brewing, The Works District Beefs up Retail Roster
The Works, a former warehouse turned mixed‑use district in Atlanta, is adding three experiential retail concepts this spring: Summer Breeze Flowers & Gifts, The Food Work Shop, and The Body Creamery. Summer Breeze expands from a 280‑sq‑ft stall to a...
Circana Report Shows What Drives CPG Growth in 2025
Circa’s 14th annual 2025 U.S. CPG Growth Leaders report examined over 700 manufacturers ranging from $100 million to $8 billion in sales. It found that growth is increasingly powered by consumer trust, value and relevance, with food‑beverage sales up 3% and non‑food...
Mo’ Bettahs Expands to Phoenix, Indianapolis, Minneapolis as Hawaiian Barbecue Brand Grows Nationwide
Mo’ Bettahs announced its entry into three new U.S. markets—Phoenix, Indianapolis and Minneapolis—continuing a disciplined national rollout. The Hawaiian‑style fast‑casual chain now operates close to 80 restaurants across nine states and has logged same‑store sales growth for 18 straight years....
Walmart to Close Illinois Fulfillment Center
Walmart will permanently shut its Matteson, Illinois fulfillment center, affecting 111 employees. Operations will be transferred to other NextGen facilities in the retailer’s evolving fulfillment network. Affected workers can receive a $7,500 incentive and relocation benefits if they move to...
A Group of Seven-Figure Amazon Sellers Is Planning a One-Day Ad Boycott as Payment Changes Squeeze Cash Flow
Amazon’s Million Dollar Sellers community, representing over $11 billion in annual revenue, is organizing a one‑day ad boycott on April 15 to protest a new policy that will automatically deduct advertising costs from sellers’ proceeds, eliminating credit‑card financing. About 150 members have...
Consumers Spend Through the Squeeze as Income Slips
Household spending continued to rise in February while personal income slipped 0.1%, creating a widening gap between earnings and outlays. Real disposable income fell 0.5% and the personal saving rate dropped to 4%, eroding financial buffers. Consumers are compensating with...
Ecommerce Trends: What Is AI’s Role in Resale Growth?
Online resale is accelerating in 2026 as platforms embed artificial intelligence to streamline pricing, discovery, and transaction speed. ThredUp’s March report shows 66% of shoppers are comfortable letting AI manage resale tasks, with 36% saying faster payouts would boost listing...
Luxury’s Q1: A Turnaround Test
The luxury sector opened Q1 with a mix of leadership shake‑ups and strong sales. Dolce & Gabbana co‑founder Stefano Gabbana resigned as chair, putting his 40% stake under creditor scrutiny, while Brunello Cucinelli posted a 14% revenue rise driven by...
Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping in 2026: Market Trends, Decline Drivers, and Regulatory Outlook
Direct‑to‑consumer (DtC) wine shipping, which surged past $4 billion in sales by 2020, has slipped back to 2018‑level volumes and value by 2025. The decline is driven by broader economic anxiety, a health‑focused shift away from alcohol, and a sharp drop...
Survey: Consumers Favor Multi-Brand Retailing for Sporting Goods Purchases
A National Sporting Goods Association survey of 1,200 U.S. adults shows 79% of shoppers favor multi‑brand sporting‑goods stores, and nearly 70% prefer them for apparel and footwear. The top driver—seeing a variety of brands in one location—was cited by 59%...
4 Unconventional Ecommerce Email Flows to Build Loyalty
E‑commerce brands that rely only on basic welcome and cart‑abandonment emails miss hidden revenue and loyalty opportunities. The article outlines four unconventional automation flows—a bounce‑back post‑checkout offer, a delayed‑fulfillment apology, a negative‑review recovery, and a time‑based production sequence—to capture impulse...
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy Rejects AI Bubble Fears
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy affirmed in his 2025 Letter to Shareholders that the company will continue massive AI investments, dismissing concerns of an AI bubble. Amazon plans roughly $200 billion in capital expenditures this year to expand AI and cloud capacity,...
Survey: Consumers Spend 37% Of Grocery Budget At Independent Stores
A new OnDeck and Censuswide survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers reveals that 37% of their grocery budget is spent at independent, locally owned stores – the highest share among all retail categories. Respondents average $2,298 a year on independent groceries,...
How Students Can Start An Online Retail Store During College
The article outlines a step‑by‑step guide for college students to launch an online retail store, starting with niche selection and idea validation. It highlights low‑cost business models such as dropshipping and print‑on‑demand that fit a student’s limited budget and schedule....
What Amazon CEO Andy Jassy’s Annual Letter to Shareholders Didn’t Say
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy’s 2025 shareholder letter spotlighted artificial‑intelligence spending and fulfillment upgrades while completely omitting any reference to the third‑party sellers who power the marketplace. The letter highlighted a $200 billion capex plan and a $15 billion AI run rate in...
Rezolve Ai Takes Merger Proposal to Commerce.com’s Shareholders
Rezolve AI has escalated its hostile bid for ecommerce platform Commerce.com, offering two Rezolve shares for each Commerce.com share—a deal it says would create a $700 million revenue powerhouse. The proposal values Commerce.com at roughly a 47% discount to its current...
Americans Hate the Economy so Much, They’re Buying $22 Smoothies
Americans are tightening budgets on meals, cars and everyday items, yet premium grocery chain Erewhon is thriving by selling $22 superfood smoothies and opening three new stores in 2025. The specialty food market has surged to $219 billion, a 150% increase...
Dollar General’s 7 Days of Beauty Starts April 12
Dollar General announced its 7 Days of Savings beauty event, running April 12‑18, 2026, with daily discounts on leading personal‑care brands such as L’Oréal, Maybelline, BIC and Suave. The promotion offers $5 off $15 purchases, buy‑one‑get‑one deals and free items, extending...
PCC Community Markets To Open New Store In Seattle’s Madison Valley
PCC Community Markets, a 73‑year‑old community‑owned grocery co‑op, will open its 17th store in Seattle’s Madison Valley this fall at 2925 E. Madison Street. The project, long‑planned after a lease signed a decade ago, will feature the co‑op’s full assortment of...
Andy Jassy Defends Amazon’s $200B AI Investment in Letter to Shareholders
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy used his 2025 shareholder letter to defend a $200 billion AI capital‑expenditure plan for 2026, emphasizing that the spend is tied to concrete AWS growth opportunities. He highlighted a $4 billion commitment to expand rural delivery networks, positioning...
Fresh Gourmet Rethinks Bacon Pieces Placement with Produce Rollout
Fresh Gourmet, the salad‑topping specialist, has introduced two new bacon‑piece products—one real and one uncured. Unlike its traditional placement in the center aisles, the company will stock the items alongside fresh vegetables in the produce department. The move is framed...
Zig + Star Launching in US
British fashion label Zig + Star, founded in 2021 by former Topshop buyer Ali McAleavy, announced its U.S. entry in the second half of 2026. The brand will launch through dropship partnerships with four of the country’s largest department stores, followed by a...
Dr. Will’s to Launch Olive Oil Mayo Into Tesco
Dr. Will’s is rolling out its Olive Oil Mayo to more than 600 Tesco stores across the UK starting 27 April, adding to an existing portfolio that already includes avocado oil mayo and several hot sauces. The new product is sold in...
The Campaign Customers Wrote Themselves – How Trust Earned Tapi’s Biggest Brand Moment
Tapi, the UK’s leading flooring retailer, has launched its largest ever brand advertising campaign, turning authentic Trustpilot reviews into animated shoes, slippers and socks that speak at floor level. The rollout follows a rapid expansion phase that included the 2024...
Edinburgh Gin Launches Latest RTD Innovation, the Edinburgh Gin Hugo Spritz
Edinburgh Gin has introduced the Hugo Spritz, a new ready‑to‑drink (RTD) cocktail, debuting in Sainsbury’s on 16 April and soon rolling out to Tesco, Morrisons and regional outlets. The 250 ml can offers a 5% ABV blend of floral elderflower, honeyed fruit...
Unilever Buys Grüns, Expanding U.S. Supplements Push
Unilever announced it will acquire Grüns, a rapidly expanding U.S. vitamins, minerals and supplements brand known for its gummy‑based greens products. Founded in 2023, Grüns has secured shelf space at major retailers such as Target, Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club and...
Fulfilmentcrowd Expands US Network with Three Strategic Fulfilment Centres
Fulfilmentcrowd has expanded its U.S. footprint by launching three new fulfilment centres in Newark, New Jersey; Chicago, Illinois; and Los Angeles, California. The sites replace the company’s former two locations and provide over 600,000 sq ft of combined warehouse space, delivering coast‑to‑coast coverage for...
LK Bennett Website to Shutter Within Days
LK Bennett announced that its e‑commerce site will cease operations within days, offering deep discounts of 80%‑90% on remaining inventory. The brand is also running a store‑wide clearance with at least 70% off as its physical locations prepare to close...
M&S Hires AllSaints Exec to Lead Merchandising Transformation
Marks & Spencer has hired Anjali Nakarja, a former AllSaints and Primark executive, to spearhead a sweeping merchandising transformation across its fashion, home and beauty divisions. Nakarja will focus on embedding data‑led decision making and modernizing planning processes, drawing on...
In Pictures: Selfridges Unveils New Members’ Club in Loyalty Push
Selfridges has opened 40 Duke, a members‑only club that blends personal shopping, hospitality and cultural programming for its Unlocked loyalty members. The venue features 24 private suites, a club lounge, a private dining room, a terrace restaurant and flexible exhibition spaces,...
How Abercrombie & Fitch Uses Geofencing for Customer Feedback
Abercrombie & Fitch is leveraging geofencing through its mobile app to capture feedback from shoppers who leave stores without purchasing. By detecting entry and exit from a store’s virtual perimeter, the retailer sends a push survey about an hour after...
Marketplace Briefing: Amazon Sellers Face Cash Crunch as Fees, Policy Changes Spur Order Delays, Price Hikes and Supplier Renegotiations
Amazon announced it will begin deducting advertising costs directly from seller earnings starting April 15, ending the practice of allowing merchants to finance ads with credit cards. The shift is expected to tie up as much as $800,000 in working capital...
Amazon Advances Rural Delivery Push with New West Virginia Facilities
Amazon opened two small‑scale fulfillment facilities in Davisville and Beaver, West Virginia, creating roughly 500 jobs and enabling same‑day delivery within a 65‑mile radius. The sites focus on household goods, pet supplies and other high‑frequency items, extending Amazon’s rapid‑shipping network...
SAMY & L’Oréal Launched TikTok Shop in Spain Together: Here’s What the First Year Taught Them
When TikTok Shop launched in Spain in late 2024, L’Oréal partnered with influencer agency SAMY to test social commerce. Over the first year, SAMY produced 18 live shopping events—42 hours of content—expanding from L’Oréal Paris to Maybelline, NYX and Garnier....
Dippin’ Dots Signature Beaded Ice Cream Enters the Freezer Aisle
Dippin’ Dots’ signature beaded ice cream is now available in grocery freezers nationwide in three flagship flavors—Cookies ’N Cream, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Ultimate Brownie. After a slight reformulation that lets the beads stay stable at the typical 0 °F store freezer, J&J Snack Foods can offer multi‑pack...
Libas’ Next Big Thing After Hitting The ₹600 Cr Revenue Mark
Libas, the Indian ethnic‑wear brand founded in 2014, has surpassed the ₹1,000 Cr (~$120 M) annual revenue run‑rate after a decade of bootstrapped growth. The company began by targeting affordable workwear for women online, later pivoting to a fast‑fashion model that slashed...
Brand Concepts Bets on Premium Push with Off-White Entry, Eyes Metro Expansion
Brand Concepts Ltd announced the launch of Off‑White in India, marking a strategic push into the premium and luxury segment. The company will roll out five flagship Off‑White stores over the next three years, starting with Bengaluru and later Delhi...