Jo Malone London Taps Sisters Lizzy and Georgia May Jagger as Global Brand Ambassadors
Jo Malone London, part of the Estée Lauder Companies, has appointed sisters Georgia May Jagger and Lizzy Jagger as global brand ambassadors for its new English Pear fragrance line. The campaign, built around a sisterhood narrative, will showcase the English Pear & Freesia and English Pear & Sweet Pea scents. It also introduces a Limited Edition Decorative Hand Cream priced at £24 and a Hair Mist at £40. Jo Malone aims to leverage the Jagger sisters' high‑profile appeal to drive awareness and sales across the fragrance and ancillary product categories.
Wickes Retail Media to Connect Brands with Home Improvement Customers
Wickes has launched Wickes Connected Retail Media, a first‑of‑its‑kind retail media network for the UK home‑improvement category, offering both onsite and offsite advertising capabilities from day one. The platform, built with Epsilon’s COREid identity graph, merges digital and in‑store signals...
Tesco Breathes New Life Into ‘Every Little Helps’ Slogan
Tesco has revitalised its iconic "Every Little Helps" slogan by launching a new brand platform centred on the question “Need Anything From Tesco?”. The initiative reframes the long‑standing tagline as a promise to support shoppers and local communities, linking everyday...
The Lipstick Lesbians Direct-From-Lab Brand to Bring ‘Breakthrough’ Beauty Formulas to Market Sooner
TikTok educators Alexis and Christina Androulakis are launching Leaked Labs, a direct‑from‑lab beauty brand that will debut on March 6. The company will release “controlled leaks,” limited early‑access drops of lab‑born formulas, starting with Leak 001 – Amplify Flexi Powder, a water‑activated,...
Textile Export to Be Hit because of West Asia Conflict
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz will force Indian garment exporters to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, adding 20‑25 days to transit times. Higher freight costs and longer shipping windows threaten the tight seasonal calendars of...
Medline Expands AI Platform and Warehouse Robotics
Medline Industries is scaling its AI‑driven supply‑chain platform, Mpower, in partnership with Microsoft, to provide a digital control tower that automates forecasting, inventory management and disruption alerts for hospital customers. The company is also expanding warehouse robotics, now operating AutoStore...
Love’s Travel Stops Enhances Rewards Loyalty Program
Love’s Travel Stops has revamped its loyalty program, now letting all drivers earn and redeem points on fuel and in‑store purchases across its 608 shops and 62 country stores. The unified Love’s Rewards program is accessed through an updated mobile...
How Beauty Start-Ups Can Build Scalable Product Lines
Florence Roghe, founder of Collateral Projects, warns beauty start‑ups that rapid launches often lack a clear value proposition and long‑term roadmap. She stresses that products must deliver distinct, disruptive value in a crowded market, not just chase trends. Successful scaling...
Galeries De La Capitale Adding Retail Tenants
Galeries de la Capitale, owned by Primaris REIT, is adding a wave of new retailers—including a 36,000 sq ft Winners store, a 3,750 sq ft lululemon, Kiokii, Lovisa, Chaudron Bavard, Beau et Bon, Boustan and a future 50,000 sq ft Les Ailes de la Mode anchor—boosting...
€2 TPC Comes Into Effect in France for Low Value Parcels
Effective 1 March 2026 France will levy a €2 small‑parcel tax (TPC) on every HS‑code classified item in packages valued at €150 or less shipped from outside the EU. The tax covers France, Monaco, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion and applies regardless of...
Embedding Security: Designing Fraud Risk Out of Business Transactions
Embedded finance is set to exceed $7 trillion in transaction volume by 2026, cementing its role as core infrastructure for business platforms. However, fraud attempts are rising two to three times faster than in traditional banking, outpacing legacy detection tools. The...
Bensons for Beds Delivers Best EBITDA Performance Since 2019
Bensons for Beds reported its strongest adjusted EBITDA since its 2019 acquisition, reaching £4.8 million – an increase of £5.7 million year‑on‑year. Gross ordered sales rose 4% to £324.8 million, reflecting sustained demand despite a challenging consumer environment. The retailer added 21 new...
Britain’s Broken Delivery System Costs Households Hours Each Month
New InPost research reveals a structural failure in the UK parcel‑delivery system, with 40% of adults missing at least one delivery each month. One‑third of parcels fail on the first attempt, forcing consumers to spend an average of 5.5 hours per...
When Retail Networks Become Access Points for Crisis Support
Endota spas across Australia have partnered with the Escabags charity to place free, unbranded escape bags in more than 100 locations, offering discreet assistance to domestic‑violence survivors. Founded in 2020, the initiative now operates in over 2,000 retail establishments nationwide,...
Merrell Aims to Invite More People Outside Through New Brand Platform
Merrell is celebrating its 45th anniversary by unveiling the global brand platform “It Starts Outside,” which reframes outdoor activity as everyday and inclusive. The campaign, produced with Uncommon Creative Studio, features short vignettes starring Olympian Alexi Pappas and visually‑impaired marathoner...
The Step-by-Step Guide to Brand Elevation | Case Study
Fashion brands are moving upmarket to defend against ultra‑low‑cost rivals like Shein and Temu, while premium labels are encroaching on traditional luxury territory. Retailers are adding higher‑margin items to offset inflation‑driven cost pressures. Successful elevation requires coordinated upgrades across product,...
2026 Modern Retail Index: How Retailers Are Tackling Financial Challenges, AI, Marketplaces and Supply Chain
Retailers faced a turbulent 2025, grappling with tariffs, supply-chain disruptions and a cooling consumer market. While some brands posted gains, drugstore chains such as Walgreens, Rite Aid and CVS shuttered hundreds of locations, and big‑box retailers struggled with shifting demand...
From Boll & Branch to Bogg, Brands Are Battling a Surge of AI-Driven Return Fraud
Retailers are confronting a new wave of return fraud powered by AI‑generated images. Executives at Boll & Branch and Bogg Bag discovered counterfeit photos used to claim damaged goods, prompting tighter verification. Experts say AI tools have accelerated fraud, contributing to an estimated...
Network Expansion Continues to Fuel Luckin Coffee’s Sales Growth
Luckin Coffee posted double‑digit Q4 revenue growth, with net revenues climbing 32.9% to RMB 12.7 billion. The chain added 1,834 new stores, bringing total locations to 31,048, including 1,792 in China and a handful overseas. Same‑store sales for company‑operated stores improved...
Bonjour Holdings Suffers Losses in ‘Complex’ Retail Environment
Hong Kong investment group Bonjour Holdings reported a half‑year loss of HK$68.8 million for the period ending 31 December 2025, an improvement from the HK$134.4 million loss a year earlier. Revenue plunged 50.4% year‑on‑year to HK$6.7 million in its retail and wholesale division, while gross...
Asembl Drops Raw C X Violet Crumble Coconut Water Crossover
Asembl has launched a limited‑edition 325ml Raw C coconut water infused with Menz’s Violet Crumble honeycomb flavor, now sold in selected Coles stores across Australia. The drink combines Raw C’s hydration benefits with the nostalgic sweet crunch of the iconic...
Michael Hill International’s Profit Turnaround Driven by Canadian Boom
Michael Hill International reported a half‑year revenue of $370.9 million, up 3% YoY, and a net profit after tax of $22.3 million, a 32% increase despite a full‑year loss. The profit boost was driven primarily by a 70‑basis‑point lift in the Canadian...
What Makes a Great Agency Partner?
Retail marketers often pick agencies based on relationships, reputation lists, price, and niche experience, but those criteria only get to the long‑list stage. The article argues that true partnership hinges on deeper factors such as transparent KPI sharing, resistance to...
What Keeps LSKD on Top of the Online CX Index
LSKD has held the number‑one spot on Humii’s Inside Retail Online CX Index for two consecutive years, posting sub‑5% abandonment and near‑100% retention. The brand’s edge stems from frictionless returns, ultra‑fast operational speed, intuitive product discovery, transparent checkout, clear loyalty...
Bunnings’ Justine Mills & CommBank’s Jo Boundy Talk Retail Media’s Transformative Business Effects
Bunnings’ marketing chief Justine Mills and CommBank’s Jo Boundy discussed the disruptive potential of retail media during B&T’s CMO Power List interview. They highlighted how Hammer Media reshapes supplier‑to‑consumer engagement and how Bunnings is now acting as a publisher, leveraging...
ThredUp Inc (TDUP) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
ThredUp reported Q4 2025 revenue of $79.7 million, up 18.5% year‑over‑year, and a full‑year revenue of $310.8 million, a 20% increase. The company completed its shift to a consignment‑based model, now covering over 90% of transactions, and posted adjusted EBITDA in every...
Aldi Confirmed as the Biggest Supporter of Scottish Farmers and Producers
Aldi has been confirmed as the leading UK retailer for Scottish produce according to the NFU Scotland 2025‑26 ShelfWatch report. The audit of 78 Scottish stores found Aldi sources an average of 65% of fresh Scottish items, far outpacing the...
Ouzo of Plomari Launches Nationwide in Marks & Spencer
Chimera Brand Development has secured a national listing for Ouzo of Plomari across 166 Marks & Spencer stores, marking the spirit’s UK retail debut just seven months after the distributor was appointed. The Greek‑heritage ouzo, Greece’s top‑selling anise spirit, will be positioned as...
Waitrose Takes Triple Crown as IWSC Relaunches National Drinks Retail Awards
Waitrose secured a rare triple crown at the 2026 IWSC National Drinks Retail Awards, winning the Classic Supermarket, Online Supermarket and Sustainable Supermarket trophies. The awards were relaunched with five new categories and a £15,000 educational bursary programme for buying...
AMELIORATE Launches in 116 Tesco Stores
British dermatology brand AMELIORATE has entered 116 Tesco stores across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, bringing its clinically proven skincare line to mainstream shoppers. The launch spotlights the Transforming Body Lotion, an award‑winning product formulated with the proprietary LaH6...
Apple Retail Stores and Corporate Offices in UAE Temporarily Closed
Apple announced the temporary closure of its corporate offices and five Apple Store locations across the United Arab Emirates after a sharp escalation in the Middle East conflict. The shutdown aligns with new guidance from the UAE Ministry of Human...
System Report: VLMs Unlock Efficiencies for All World Machinery
All World Machinery Supply, a Roscoe, Illinois distributor of 15,000 machine‑part SKUs, tackled a storage crunch and labor bottlenecks by installing four Kardex vertical lift modules (VLMs) and an in‑house conveyor system. The VLMs cut the warehouse footprint by 75%...
Special Report: 2026 Productivity Achievement Awards
Modern's 2026 Productivity Achievement Awards recognized top performers in warehousing/distribution, innovation, and e‑fulfillment. Performance Health won Warehousing/Distribution for a streamlined distribution center, reduced packaging waste, and improved KPI tracking. Staples earned the Innovation award for its integrated robotics platform, autonomous...
Productivity Solution: Andrews Streamlines Beverage Delivery
Andrews Distributing partnered with Big Joe Forklifts to deploy the LPT40 DSD, a pallet truck that integrates a scale for delivery‑by‑weight verification. The system replaces manual case counting, cutting stop times by up to 43% and easing navigation in tight store...
Faster, Better, Stronger: Growth Awaits at the Newly Imagined National Hardware Show
The National Hardware Show has been rebranded as NHS Concept to Commerce, targeting the full product lifecycle from ideation to shelf. The 2026 Las Vegas event introduces dedicated pavilions for global manufacturers, brands, inventors and an AI‑driven Product Journey Experience...
In Real Life: Align Your Operation’s Digital and Brick-and-Mortar Presence
Retailers now have a digital twin that AI evaluates when generating search overviews. An optimized Google Business Profile serves as the new Yellow Pages, feeding AI the first impression of a store. Consistency of name, address, and phone across online...
Tight Connections: A Retailer’s Key to Success in the Fastener Category
The fastener aisle at Gus Bock’s Ace Hardware in northwestern Indiana has become a major revenue engine thanks to a close partnership with its fastener vendor. The vendor supplies planograms, color‑coded bulk bins, and an online ordering portal that give...
The Third-Largest Coffee Chain in the U.S. Actually Sells Very Little Hot Coffee
Dutch Bros, founded by two Oregon dairy farmers, has become the third‑largest coffee chain in the United States, trailing only Starbucks and Dunkin’. The chain’s 1,140 locations serve roughly 90% of their beverages cold, focusing on highly customizable energy drinks...
Nintendo NY and San Francisco Announce In-Store Events for March 2026
Nintendo’s two U.S. flagship stores—New York and San Francisco—have announced a trio of in‑store events for March 2026. The lineup includes the Pokémon Pokopia launch on March 5, a Mario Day meet‑and‑greet on March 10, and a Mario Tennis Fever tournament on...
It's Time for Banh Mi to Go National, Says This Vietnamese Sandwich Pioneer
Vietnamese sandwich pioneer Bun Mee, founded in San Francisco in 2011, operates five Bay Area locations. The brand is launching its first New York City outlet through a franchisee, marking its inaugural entry into the East Coast market. This move...
E-Commerce 2026 Trends: Building Loyalty and Trust with AI-Powered Visual Experiences
Retailers are accelerating AI‑powered visual experiences to boost loyalty. Hyper‑personalisation delivers up to 16% higher commercial impact, while AR/VR try‑on lifts conversion by 94%. Brands will adopt staged, transparent AI content, focusing on complex, interactive experiences. Trust hinges on consent...
How Micro Fulfillment Hubs Make Same-Day Delivery for Small Retailers Possible
Micro‑fulfillment centers (MFCs) are compact, technology‑driven hubs placed within 5‑10 miles of consumers, enabling same‑day or even two‑hour deliveries for small retailers. By decentralizing inventory, they cut last‑mile distances and reduce shipping costs, directly addressing the 21% cart‑abandonment rate tied...
Modern Retail Podcast: Marketing Is Experiencing an AI Reckoning
In the latest Modern Retail Podcast, co‑hosts Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels, joined by executive editor Anna Hensel, examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping retail marketing. They note that rising customer‑acquisition costs and a more discerning shopper base are driving...
Revolve Group Net Sales Grow as AI’s Role Expands for Shoppers
Revolve Group reported a 10.4% year‑over‑year increase in net sales to $324.37 million for Q4 2025, driven by AI‑enhanced personalization, search and styling tools. Beauty product sales surged 43%, while net income rose 58% and adjusted EBITDA grew 44%. Executives highlighted...
BlueLinx Bets on AI as It Navigates a Soft Housing Market
BlueLinx Holdings is reshaping its digital roadmap around artificial intelligence while steering through a soft housing market that left full‑year 2025 sales essentially flat. The company skipped a multi‑million‑dollar traditional ecommerce build, citing rapid AI‑driven changes in ordering behavior. Q4...
Resideo Pushes Connected Products and Digital Buying Tools
Resideo Technologies reported Q4 revenue of $1.895 billion, a 2% increase, and net income of $136 million, while full‑year sales hit a record $7.472 billion, up 11% from 2024. A one‑time $527 million loss, linked to ending a Honeywell indemnification agreement, turned the annual...
Mirakl Turns Profitable as Recurring Revenue and Marketplace Activity Grows
Mirakl announced full‑year profitability for 2025, driven by a 23% jump in annual recurring revenue (ARR) to $218 million. Marketplace and dropship activity surged, processing roughly $15 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV), a 31% increase year‑over‑year. New products such as Mirakl...
Scooters Coffee Reaches 900 Stores Nationwide with 83 New Locations Added in 2025 Across 32 States
Scooter’s Coffee announced it has reached 900 stores nationwide, adding 83 new locations in 2025 across 32 states. The expansion represents a 10% increase over the prior year, following a 16% growth spurt in 2024. The company attributes the growth...
AI, Clean Beauty and U.S. Growth Reshape Global Cosmetics Outlook
The global cosmetics market is forecast to reach $704.17 billion by 2032, expanding at a 5.25% CAGR from $492.18 billion in 2025. Skincare dominates, representing 48% of revenue, with the United States driving premium growth through anti‑aging, SPF, and microbiome‑friendly products. Artificial‑intelligence...
Home Depot Launches Real-Time Delivery Tracking for Large Items
Home Depot has introduced real‑time delivery tracking for all large‑item orders, expanding a feature previously limited to small parcels. The rollout leverages handheld devices used by drivers to log checkpoints, giving customers live visibility into the status of bulky shipments...