Paper Clips

Shoppers are forecast to spend a record $43.3 billion on K-12 students this year, up from $39.4 billion in 2025. Meanwhile, back-to-school shopping for college students is expected to reach $103.5 billion, exceeding $100 billion for the first time, according to an annual survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.In response to price-sensitive consumers’ concerns, retailers have introduced back-to-school deals well before classes begin this fall.  In June, Target debuted back-to-school offers and refreshed more than half of that inventory with new apparel, dorm decor, school supplies and other products. Earlier this month, Kohl’s promoted its own back-to-school discounts, with “thousands of products” priced below $25. This week, Walmart marked down select items to 25 cents and reduced prices on its 14 most popular school supplies to their “lowest prices since 2019.”  So far, retailers’ early sales have attracted consumers’ attention. Over half (54%) of respondents to the NRF’s survey said they bought their school supplies during sales such as Target Circle Deal Days, Walmart Deals and Amazon’s Prime Day.

Proposal would sideline paper communications millions rely on for critical financial information. American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) Interim Vice President of Industry Affairs Mark Pitts released the following statement in response to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) proposed Regulation E-Delivery, a consequential rulemaking that would make electronic delivery the default method for many investor communications and significantly reduce the role of paper in delivering important financial information. "For many investors—particularly seniors, rural communities and individuals with limited or unreliable digital access—paper is not a preference; it is an essential, trusted and secure way to receive and retain important information. “This proposal also raises serious concerns for the U.S. printing and writing paper sector, which supports U.S. manufacturing jobs and provides essential products for consumers, businesses and institutions across the country.

Import volume at the nation’s major container ports is forecast to hit a new all-time record in July as retailers stock up ahead of a potential new round of tariffs and other trade uncertainties. Global tariffs that took effect in February are set to expire July 24. But a new round of higher tariffs regarding forced labor are expected to be imposed by the Trump administration as early as August, according to the Global Port Tracker Report by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

Deborah Corn is the founder of the Print Media Centr (www.printmediacentr.com), providing strategy, intel, and insight for printing and marketing professionals and print enthusiasts around the world. Every mailer can be an Oscar-worthy experience, not just a printed thing that shows up in a mailbox and ends up in a pile. The moment it is picked up becomes showtime, with the audience standing in their kitchen or sitting at their desk, deciding in seconds whether to give you their attention or move on. There is a psychological reason those first seconds matter so much. It is known as the threshold effect. It describes the moment when someone crosses from one state of awareness into another, when distractions fall away and attention resets. On the other side of that threshold, people are more present and more open to what comes next. When a strategically crafted mailing invites someone to touch it, unfold it, explore it, or notice a detail they did not expect, their attention resets. Curiosity takes over. The recipient moves from mail sorter to an engaged audience member. What happens next determines whether the performance earns applause or closes on opening night. Thinking like a director, rather than just a sender, alters how mail is perceived. Directors concentrate on the audience’s experience at every moment. This same approach is relevant to direct mail. Read the full article here: Direct Mail is a Performance

As Amazon, Walmart, and Target race to out‑discount one another during summer deal season, Etsy has taken a very different approach. Instead of trying to beat the giants at their own game, Etsy launched its cheeky, defiant “Shop Other Jeffs” campaign — a celebration of the thousands of non‑billionaire sellers named Jeff who make pottery, lighting, furniture, and handcrafted goods across the country. As noted by Retail Dive, the message is simple and sharp: there’s more than one Jeff worth shopping from. And more importantly, there’s more than one way to win in retail. For catalogers, this campaign could serve as a blueprint. Read more here-Why Catalogers Should Lean into Their “Non Billionaire, Non Big Box”

Smurfit Westrock partnered with Coca-Cola China to launch a series of innovative paper-based packaging solutions for the brand's 2026 World Cup campaign, designed to deliver standout impact across both retail and e-commerce channels. The collaboration comes as global sporting events like the World Cup continue to drive significant spikes in consumer spending. Industry data shows major increases in sales of snacks and soft drinks during the 2022 World Cup, as viewers stocked up for at-home viewing and social gatherings.  Chris Zhong, Retail Customer Marketing Manager, Coca-Cola China added, "The World Cup is a key moment for connecting with consumers, and packaging plays an important role in that.

Consumers are making tough decisions at the grocery store in the face of sustained high prices. A recent survey of consumers in the United States and United Kingdom by retail and supply chain planning firm Relex Solutions revealed that 61% of shoppers have changed how much food they purchase due to higher grocery prices. More than seven-in-10 (71%) consumers are concerned that tariffs, geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions and more will continue increasing the cost of everyday goods over the next six months.

Tariffs may dominate headlines. But for retailers, they’re part of a broader pattern of trading uncertainty that shows no signs of slowing. Talk with any buying or merchandising team right now and you’ll find people wrestling with the same questions: What if our costs spike or transportation lags? Should our prices change? Do we need new sourcing strategies? And what are the downstream impacts of each decision we make? The pressure to answer these questions faster and more confidently is causing many retailers to fundamentally rethink how planning gets done. According to Accenture, more than 75% of supply chain executives expect higher disruption in 2026, with 85% planning to increase AI spending in response.

In July of 1776, the most important piece of direct mail in American history was delivered the only way it could be: as a physical document, carried by hand to recipients who needed to see it. Post riders moved copies of the Declaration across the colonies mile by mile, to assemblies, to committees, to commanders in the field. It was targeted, addressed, and hand-delivered. And when one arrived, it wasn't skimmed and set aside. It was read aloud in the town square, to crowds and to George Washington's troops. That's direct mail at its core: get the right message into the right hands, and make it impossible to ignore. 250 years later, the principle holds. A real piece of mail carries weight that a notification never will. It gets opened. It gets read. It gets remembered.

Americans’ outlook about the economy improved somewhat in June as moderating gas prices brought some relief to inflation-weary consumers. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index ticked up by 0.6 points to 91.2, in June, up from a downwardly revised 90.6 in May but below its year-ago reading of 95.2. “Consumer confidence inched up in June as falling oil prices in recent weeks provided some relief to consumer inflation fears,” said Dana M Peterson, chief economist, The Conference Board. Perceptions of the current labor market softened measurably in June as the percentage of consumers saying jobs were ‘hard to get’ rose to 22.5%, the highest level since January 2021 (22.8%).

Online spend surrounding Amazon’s Prime Day sales event is inching closer to Black Friday levels. In comparison to the $26.4 billion in online spend during this recent Prime Day, consumers spent about $32.45 billion across Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday last year, per Adobe. Online sales from June 23 through June 26 were driven by electronics, appliances, tools and home improvement, as well as home and garden merchandise. Consumers used the sales period to buy more expensive products. Adobe’s data found the share of the most expensive products grew 19% compared to average levels year to date. The share of the most expensive goods in electronics jumped by 51%, and shoppers were trading up in categories such as toys, appliances and furniture.

Canva's Executive Creative Director reflects on Day 4 at Cannes Lions, making the case that in a world where the tools keep changing, the brands that endure are the ones with the courage to be distinctive and the consistency to earn genuine trust over time. Four days on the Croisette, and one question I keep coming back to isn't about budgets, AI, or the next big thing. It’s a simple, yet surprisingly hard one: what makes people care now? I’ve had an unscientific but genuinely useful test for this, and it comes back to my mum. When our first Canva ad aired, I was at home in New Zealand watching it with her. Thirty seconds later, she turned to me and said, "that was so nice, dear - what was it about?" I'd failed the mum test. Canva is all about empowering everyone to design, so if my mum didn't walk away feeling like she could pick up the tools and create something herself, we hadn’t quite done our job. It's something I come back to often: the best ideas aren't judged by how clever they are, but by whether they resonate with the people they're made for. And in today's world, where attention is harder to earn than ever, that kind of genuine connection matters even more.

By 2032, Eli Lilly will constitute a “league of its own” in worldwide pharma sales, according to researcher Evaluate’s Annual World Preview Report, released June 23. Lilly’s expected global sales of $137 billion in 2032 will be almost 60% more than that of the second largest pharma firm, AbbVie, Evaluate reports. The overwhelming success will be driven by Lilly’s weight-loss trio, with Mounjaro at # 1 in sales of all drugs, Zepbound at #3 and Foundayo (its new pill) at #4, according to Evaluate’s forecasts. Mounjaro and Zepbound together will be worth more than $70 billion, making their common ingredient -- tirzepatide -- into “the biggest drug ever," surpassing Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccines, Evaluate said. The three weight loss drugs together “will make up nearly half of total 2032 sales of the top ten best-selling drugs,” per the report.

Two Sides North America (TSNA), a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing the sustainability story of print, paper, and paper-based packaging, is pleased to announce the launch of a newly redesigned Love Paper website (LovePaperNA.org), the North American home of the global Love Paper campaign and a destination for everyone who has ever folded, written, wrapped, boxed, read, or created with paper. The updated website is a celebration of paper’s past, its present, and the countless ways it shows up in everyday life. From the forests where it begins to the recycling bin where its story continues, LovePaperNA.org invites visitors of all ages and backgrounds to discover just how remarkable and sustainable this everyday material really is.

After the first seven days of FIFA World Cup action, through 24 matches, viewership is now more than double the total for the 2022 event in Qatar. Viewing for the event is now up 116%, averaging 5.7 million average minute viewers on Fox Television Network, FS1 and Tubi, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel and Adobe Analytics. Through sixteen games so far on Telemundo, Peacock, and Telemundo digital platforms, these matches with Spanish-language commentators have averaged 5.3 million. The highest-rated match so far was Mexico-South Africa, with 10.1 million viewers.

QuadMed, a nationally recognized provider of employer-sponsored healthcare solutions, today announced that Michelle Bowers has joined the company as Vice President of Growth, where she will lead strategic sales initiatives and support the next phase of the company’s growth strategy. QuadMed, LLC, a subsidiary of Quad/Graphics, Inc. is a healthcare experience company that partners with employers across the country to provide direct access to whole-person care for employees and families.

The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper, PepsiCo, along with other US beverage companies, have announced the nationwide expansion of a shared digital ingredient transparency infrastructure developed to empower consumers with information about the ingredients in their drinks. The QR codes displayed on beverage cans and bottles enable consumers to connect to Good to Know Facts, a database created by American Beverage, a trade association that represents the US non-alcoholic beverage industry.  The database is said to offer factual, non-industry information about more than 140 beverage ingredients.

Reading is good for you. That’s not just an opinion—it’s the consensus of a growing number of researchers who see reading as not only vital to our ability to learn new things, but also important for our overall state of mind. There’s something to be said about the feel of paper—the physical, tactile experience of holding a book and turning its pages has real advantages over pixels on a glowing screen. And it turns out the data backs up what most of us already sense. A major study tracking more than 236,000 Americans over two decades found that reading for pleasure has declined by nearly 40% since 2003—a trend researchers at University College London called “deeply concerning.” Co-author Daisy Fancourt put it plainly: “The research is clear. Reading is a vital health-enhancing behavior for every group within society, with benefits across the life-course.” The irony is that most people already know they should be reading more. Studies consistently show that the gap between how much people read and how much they wish they did is wide—and that the vast majority of adults view reading as a meaningful investment in their own well-being.

A Brookings researcher told a House subcommittee last week that the U.S. Postal Service's financial condition cannot be fixed by cutting costs alone — and that Congress, not postal management, is the only actor that can resolve it. Congress created the universal service obligation — the requirement to deliver to all 170 million U.S. addresses at uniform, affordable rates, six days a week — but has never directly funded it. Instead, it relied on the letter-mail monopoly to pay for it. That monopoly revenue has collapsed, and no replacement financing mechanism exists. The core finding is one Congress has avoided acting on for decades: the Postal Service's universal service obligation is a public good that the market cannot sustain on its own, and the financing model Congress created to pay for it is gone. Patel's statement frames the choice starkly — either fund the mandate explicitly, or let a liquidity crisis narrow the network by default, at the expense of the communities that depend on it most.

73% of Millennial and Gen Z diners say they visit restaurants based on social media reviews. These diners choose restaurants that feel memorable, photograph well, and create an experience worth talking about. Materials, textures, and dimensional branding have become as important as the food itself in shaping how guests connect with a restaurant. That means successful restaurants must constantly evolve — and the graphics they use need to keep pace with this evolution. Restaurants are increasingly using walls, floors, and countertops as extensions of their brand story. Restaurants constantly rotate promotions: happy hour specials, holiday cocktails, brunches, catering offers, and limited-time menu items. Traditional signage can be messy, time-consuming, and difficult to update. The restaurants winning the social game in 2026 aren't the ones with the best food alone — they're the ones whose spaces, menus, and seasonal promos feel intentional and on-brand. As hospitality brands continue to invest in experiential dining, specialty media will be key for turning signage into opportunities for branding and customer engagement.

On July 4, as the United States celebrates its semiquincentennial — aka 250th anniversary, or birthday. Scores of consumer brands are marking the occasion with limited-edition graphics, patriotic-themed color palettes, and heritage-focused storytelling. These packages commemorate the holiday, connect with consumers, and in some cases, reinforce their own brand's history.

The upcoming Amazon Prime Day annual sales extravaganza is expected to produce impressive results. Amazon is hosting Amazon Prime Day June 23-26, marking the second time the event will take place in June and third time it will occur outside of July. For the second year in a row, Prime Day will span four days, and as always numerous other U.S. retailers are holding competing online discount promotions. U.S. retailers are expected to drive a record $26.3 billion in online spend from June 23 to 26, representing 9% growth from $24.2 billion in 2025. This would be more than what consumers spent on Cyber Monday and Black Friday 2025 combined, which drove $14.25 billion and $11.8 billion, respectively ($26.05 billion total).

Proposed forced-labor tariffs, USMCA negotiations and refund litigation create another summer of uncertainty for importers A new round of tariffs and policy moves could include proposed Section 301 tariffs tied to forced labor concerns, changes to Section 232 metal duties, uncertainty surrounding the future of USMCA negotiations, and continued litigation over tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Marcus Eeman, director of customs at Flexport, said importers should not expect major changes when the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement reaches its scheduled July 1 review milestone. “The July 1 deal is looking unlikely, but benefits continue,” Eeman said, noting that USMCA preferences would remain in effect even if negotiators fail to reach new agreements this summer. According to Eeman, the U.S. is seeking a stronger U.S.-specific labor content requirements, particularly in automotive manufacturing, while Canada and Mexico continue pushing for relief from Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum and other metals.

Nearly every research study of consumer shopping habits reports that many people initially investigate merchandise online and then go to stores to purchase. But a company called LiveLaunch has reversed that concept. In a 7,136-sq.-ft. store in Chicago’s Fulton Market district, the developer has placed 11 modular storefronts that allow digitally native brands to meet customers in person and have them make purchases online — thereby establishing a physical presence minus build-out costs and long-term leases. LiveLaunch’s first tenants include the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, the fitness tech company Surreal Cycling, Lux & Nyx handbags, and a clothing shop run by “Project Runway” alum Michael Drummond.

The slumping housing market is still having its way with the furniture business, but La-Z-Boy seems to be outsmarting the prolonged downturn. While the retailer's overall sales were flat in the fourth quarter at $570 million, sales in its retail segment increased 11%. That came from an aggressive retail move: adding four new stores. With 230 of the fleet now company-owned -- about 60% of the store total -- the company was able to deliver a sharp jump in profits.  Industry research seems to confirm that La-Z-Boy's investment in store expansion is a smart one. A recent survey from the Home Furnishings Association, which included 9,000 consumers, reveals that customers increasingly find furniture inspiration online, and the need for hands-on interaction is growing.

Marketers spend a lot of time talking about impressions, clicks, open rates, and conversions. But very few talk about the brain. And that may be one of the biggest reasons some campaigns succeed while others disappear unnoticed. Because before someone responds to marketing, their brain has to decide whether the message deserves attention in the first place. That is where physical mail has a major advantage. The neuroscience behind physical media is fascinating because it helps explain why direct mail often creates stronger recall, emotional engagement, and brand recognition than digital advertising alone

The iconic collaboration brings Dunkin’ to Walmart’s 150th in-store location, delivering bold beverages, beloved breakfast favorites and unmatched convenience to customers across the country. What began as Dunkin’ franchisees bringing bold beverages and breakfast to Walmart stores has grown into one of retail’s most energizing relationships. Both companies are actively exploring new markets and new opportunities to bring this winning combination to more communities because when America’s favorite coffee meets America’s favorite place to shop, everybody wins.

Xerox introduced a new logo and brand identity in a LinkedIn post last week, describing the move as “the next phase” of the company and a foundation for what comes next. The refreshed brand reflects the combined strengths of Xerox and Lexmark, following Xerox’s recent acquisition of that company, and “reinforces our commitment to delivering greater value, expanded capabilities, and stronger outcomes for our clients and partners,” the announcement said.

The debate over the balance between short- and long-term marketing can get a little tiresome. But at its heart is an inescapable truth that has been given too little attention: People who may be in-market for your product at some point in the future, may not be in-market for your product today. In fact, 95% of the buying universe for your product are not shopping for you now. Only 5% are. In the mattress category, there are 134 million potential buyers in the U.S. That’s the ice cream -- the universe of people who will, one day, buy a mattress. On average they will be in the market every seven to 10 years. Right now, though, only about 14 million people are in any kind of conversation about mattresses. And a little less than 54,000 of them are ready to buy a mattress. Clearly, 54,000 is a small piece of a 134 million person pie. But here's the rub, as with all categories, the mattress business is experiencing hyper-competition. There are 600 national brands in the mattress category now. All 600 of them are fighting tooth and nail to win their share of those 54,000 sales. But there’s a compound problem: just two of those companies account for 45% of all mattress sales in the category. So, the other 598 are now fighting tooth-and-nail for their share of 30,000 sales.

Following similar measures from several other countries across the globe, the United Kingdom plans to ban all teens in the region under 16 years of age from accessing Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, as well as select game platforms and livestreaming apps. The British government's planned social-media ban follows months of deliberation, during which time the majority of citizens have grown to support the action for teens. According to the government, 90% of parents who responded to a national survey agreed with the restriction for an age minimum of 16.

Earlier this month, Amazon announced that Prime Day will run June 23 through June 26, marking the second year in a row that the company has expanded the event beyond its traditional two-day format. The sale arrives after a turbulent spring for many merchants, who grappled with a series of Amazon policy changes, new fees and concerns about cash flow. But unlike last year, when tariff uncertainty dominated conversations among sellers, many brands say they now have a clearer picture of their costs heading into one of Amazon’s biggest shopping events. “People are excited for Prime Day, and people are less pessimistic about Prime Day summer than they were last year,” said Adam Wilkens, founder of Amazon consultancy Dotcom Reps, which advises around 30 merchants. Wilkens said Prime Day is “widely anticipated” among many sellers. Last year, he said, “There was a reluctance or uncertainty around tariffs that is no longer an uncertainty.”

Aventura Mall, a luxury center near Sunny Isle Beach, halfway between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, has retained its title as the best mall in the United States by USA Today’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards. "Being named once again as the Best Mall in America is an incredible honor and a testament to the experiences created every day for our guests, tenants, and community," said Jackie Soffer, the CEO of Turnberry, Aventura Mall’s developer. The up-market retail destination’s tenant list is highlighted by a long line of luxury brands that include Prada, Dior, Hermès, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Cartier.

For most marketing teams, the promise of AI for marketing teams has largely delivered. Content that used to take days now takes hours, teams that used to bottleneck on design are shipping independently, and the volume question has largely been answered: how do we produce enough, fast enough, across enough channels? But spend any time talking to CMOs right now and a different question keeps surfacing. Not “are we using AI"? Almost everyone is. And that’s compounding the problem. It’s “how do we make sure everything is still on brand?” Keeping content on-brand at that speed and scale turns out to be a harder problem to solve than anyone anticipated.

On June 16, Lionel Messi will appear at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium to begin his sixth and potentially final World Cup campaign. Four years ago, the living soccer legend led Argentina to victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Now, Argentina will play its opening game in the 2026 North America-based edition of the international soccer tournament against Algeria, with the 38-year-old Messi still the undisputed star of the South American squad.  Messi will also be appearing at a Kansas Ulta Beauty store — sort of. On Friday, the soccer star’s namesake fragrance brand will host a giveaway for the launch of the Messi Elixir fragrance, where select attendees will be able to snag Messi fragrance swag and sign up for a chance to win a signed Messi jersey.   Four years after Qatar, that now includes grooming brands looking to use the power of soccer to reach the evolving male beauty consumer base.   “The World Cup is like 50 Super Bowls all in one, over the course of a month,” said Steven Koss, president and CEO of Sheralven.   Getting in on the excitement is Unilever. The personal care and beauty giant will be the official personal care sponsor of the men’s edition of the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 2026. Its brands, including Dr. Squatch and Dove, will launch limited-edition products and marketing campaigns around the tournament.

In many ways, Father’s Day -- always a bit of a retail afterthought, compared to mom's day -- will look the same as it always does this year. The National Retail Federation reports about 77% of the consumers it surveyed intend to celebrate Dad in some way, in line with previous years. And while it expects spending to hit a record $27.9 billion, that’s likely due to inflation rather than devotion. For context, the NRF forecast $38 billion on Mother's Day this year, nearly $10 billion more than Dad's record haul. But the research did detect some shifts, with more people looking to give a gift like a wearable tech item or shaving-related products. While nearly every gift category is seeing an increase in planned spending this year, electronics and personal-care items have the largest gains.

Kohl’s is courting shoppers seeking discounts for dorm room essentials, school supplies and summer wardrobe upgrades. The department store moved its summer sale to June. Last year, its four-day Summer Cyber Deals event launched in July — one day prior to Amazon’s Prime Day. Meanwhile, other major retailers this year are also rolling out their summer sales earlier. Amazon recently announced its Prime Day sale will take place between June 23 and June 26. Following that change, Walmart and Target each announced summer sales on or around those same dates.

Amazon is expanding its third-party logistics presence and potential to compete with UPS and FedEx. The online giant is extending the availability of its U.S. less-than-truckload (LTL) freight beyond its current inbound-to-Amazon offering to any type of destination. This includes third-party warehouses, distribution centers, and retail partners. The new expanded LTL service is part of the suite of offerings from Amazon Supply Chain Services (ASCS), a third-party logistics platform the company launched in May 2026.

Marketers just can’t seem to escape the tyranny of performance marketing metrics. Gartner has just released a survey of more than 400 senior marketing execs and finds that 84% say the companies they work for are trapped in that familiar cycle known as the “brand doom loop.” It’s because companies underinvest in brand measurement and lack confidence in the results. Unsurprisingly, it then becomes harder for them to make the case for sustained brand marketing budgets, let alone increases, to increasingly skeptical CEOs and CFOs. That’s contributed to brand marketing being viewed as an expense that drains capital, rather than an investment that increases revenue.

The athletic apparel giants are both at a crossroads, and their campaign centerpieces play up soccer bona fides alongside the sport’s stars and other pop culture icons. On the list of the greatest rivalries in soccer that could play out at the World Cup, there are Argentina versus Brazil, England versus Germany, United States versus Mexico… and Nike versus Adidas.  The athletic apparel brands have both rolled out star-studded, cinematic videos ahead of the tournament, as well as collaborations and activations that speak in a deeper way to these brands’ identities, marketing methods and financial goals. And while both campaigns speak to the joy and freedom of play on the pitch, they demonstrate how each brand plays differently in marketing. The month-long tournament and the brands’ campaigns around it, arrive as the companies themselves continue on separate trajectories: Adidas’ record growth and Nike’s lagging turnaround. While Adidas notched another quarter of growth in Q1, with revenue up 7%, Nike’s revenues were flat year over year.  Each company hopes its World Cup marketing pays dividends both now and in the future.

Consumers continue to show their resilience as retail sales rose for the eighth consecutive month in May despite high gas prices and ongoing inflation. Total retail sales (including restaurants, but excluding automobile dealers and gasoline stations) increased 0.42% month over month and were up 7.19% year over year in May, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor released by the National Retail Federation. That compared with increases of 0.34% month over month and 5.73% year over year in April.

From major splashy ad rollouts by Nike and Adidas to sponsorships by Anheuser-Busch and Coca-Cola, there is no shortage of brand collaborations for this summer’s FIFA World Cup. But not all brands will pour millions of dollars into official sponsorships. Some smaller U.S. startups, like Crumbl Cookies and Olipop, are getting into the spirit of the World Cup with watch parties, soccer-themed products and more, taking advantage of their proximity to matches to get in on what will perhaps be the biggest cultural moment of the year. With millions of tourists descending on North America in the coming month, brand executives feel like they have to find a way into this moment. According to a new Bank of America Global Research report, the 2026 World Cup is set to be the biggest to date, with 75% of the world set to engage with the event in some way. “Sectors best positioned to benefit from the World Cup include beverages, sportswear, restaurants, broadcasting, social media and online betting,” the report said.

Last summer, a record-low 58% of U.S. adults said they were “extremely” or “very” proud to be an American, per a Gallup poll. That figure was down nine points from the previous year, and down nearly 30 points from when the firm first polled Americans about their pride in January 2001. While Gallup has yet to reveal this year’s findings, 2026 so far has delivered month after month of political polarization and economic strain, which has taken a toll on consumers. But even as the culture wars that have ensnared brands like Bud Light and Target continue — this time with a red, white and blue facade —  there is still value in being associated with America. For example, Brand Keys’ 25th annual index of patriotic brands includes a top 10 featuring institutions like Coca-Cola, Ford, Disney, Amazon and Walmart — companies with big marketing footprints and bigger market values. “As we gear up for the 250th party, more brands are viewed through a political lens — and authentic patriotism is more important than ever,” Robert Passikoff, president of research firm Brand Keys, said in a press release.

500-member dedicated sales force targeting numerous sectors The nation’s largest less-than-truckload carrier, FedEx Freight, began trading last Monday on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol FDXF. The spinoff from parent FedEx Corp. allows the carrier to approach the market with a narrowed commercial focus. The transaction is also expected to unlock shareholder value at both companies. FedEx Freight now has over 500 dedicated LTL sales reps and is currently targeting small- and midsize shipper accounts, which typically generate higher margins. It is also targeting the healthcare, grocery and energy (data centers) verticals.

Walmart is celebrating a major milestone: more than one million drone deliveries completed to hundreds of thousands of customers. What started as a pilot just a few years ago has officially taken off, giving customers a faster, easier way to get the everyday items they need, right when they need them. Forgot the family favorite topping for pizza night? Running out of printer ink before a school project is due? Need cold medicine fast? That’s exactly the kind of everyday “uh-oh” moment Walmart drone delivery was built for. And we’ll continue to over the next one million and beyond – the sky really is the limit! The one millionth delivery comes as Walmart continues to rapidly expand drone capabilities across 66 stores in four states serving five metro markets. Since launch we’ve seen customers evolve from trying it to experience the novelty of the service for items like bananas or snack food, to now turning to it frequently to get items delivered really fast, when they need them most.

Retailers and restaurants alike made headlines in May with store expansion plans and new formats. Here are the major stories as reported by Chain Store Age, starting with the most recent. Burlington in 14th straight quarter of double-digit EPS growth; to open 115 stores.- Tim Hortons to open 80 new Canadian locations in 2026; renovate hundreds more .- Canada's T&T Supermarket to make California debut.- Digital-first furniture brand Article to open first U.S. stores.- Chicken Salad Chick in ‘landmark’ deal to expand in New York.- Whole Foods to expand smaller-store Daily Shop format.- Aritzia focused on U.S. store expansion in 2026.- Target in biggest store remodel program in a decade.- Dick's continues House of Sport expansion.

Months after breaking ties with Under Armour, Steph Curry has found a new home at Li-Ning. The athlete signed a long-term deal with the Chinese sportswear company that will focus on co-creation across multiple categories, according to a Monday press release. Li-Ning, founded by Olympic gymnast Li Ning in 1990, will work with the NBA star to advance the Curry Brand in basketball and golf. The pair plan to expand Curry’s eponymous brand into “broader consumer lifestyle sport categories” over time. “When I think about the future of Curry Brand, I think about building something that lasts, something that continues to push the game forward and creates real impact for athletes around the world,” Curry said in a statement, highlighting the quality and innovation of Li-Ning’s products. “For Curry Brand, this is about growing the right way, with a partner that understands the standard we’re trying to set and the good we want to do.” Under Armour cut ties with Curry in November after working with the basketball star for more than a decade. The activewear brand released its last Curry-branded shoe in February.

The retail landscape is shifting fast, and one trend is cutting across every category, price point, and demographic: the rise of the value‑seeking consumer. For catalog brands, this shift isn’t a threat rather it’s an opening. Print has always been a channel where value can be shown, felt, and proven through storytelling, curation, and clarity. But the definition of value is expanding, and catalogers who adapt will be the ones who stay indispensable. Read the full article from our friends at Dingley in the link below. According to Deloitte’s 2026 retail outlook, nearly seven in 10 Americans are now engaging in deal‑seeking behaviors, from switching to more affordable retailers to redeeming loyalty points more aggressively. Retail executives overwhelmingly believe this is not a temporary reaction to inflation but a structural, long‑term change in how people shop.

Soccer may not be the most popular sport in the United States, but the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to drive significant retail spending. New data from Numerator shows that 32% of U.S. consumers (89 million adults) plan to watch the global soccer tournament between June 11 and July 19 (+6 points vs. January 2026). An additional 17% are considering tuning in. Of those who plan to watch the World Cup, 89% expect to make a purchase related to watching the matches, with the top planned purchases being snacks/chips/dips (51%), alcoholic beverages (38%), prepared foods/appetizers (35%), sweets/desserts (31%) and frozen foods/appetizers (25%). Most intended shoppers (78%) will spend less than $100 on their World Cup-related items, with an expected average spend of roughly $74 per shopper.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released the 66th Annual Paper Industry Capacity and Fiber Consumption Survey. The report provides detailed data on U.S. paper industry capacity and production compiled by the AF&PA statistics team. Though U.S. paper and paperboard production declined 3.7% in 2025, to 66.3 million tons, several sectors showed continued resilience. Containerboard operating rates held firm at 91.9%, while printing-writing operating rates improved to 82.8%, reflecting continued capacity adaptation to demand changes. Packaging paper production increased 1.7%, boxboard production was essentially flat at 12.4 million tons Printing-writing capacity fell 13.9% in 2025 to 7.7 million tons. Capacity has fallen from nearly 18 million tons in 2015, reflecting a long-term adjustment in this segment. However, operating rates for Printing-Writing increased from 76.8% in 2024 to 82.8% in 2025. Containerboard production fell 4.4% to 36.1 million tons, and containerboard capacity declined 5.1% in 2025. Despite that reduction, containerboard continued to account for more than half of total U.S. paper and paperboard capacity, and mills maintained a 91.9% operating rate.

Ad spending for 2026 midterm political season is already trending 47% higher to $3.9 billion through May 29 versus the same time period in 2022, according to AdImpact. For the 2022 midterms, spending amounted to $2.65 billion through the same day, and totaled $9.0 billion by November. Earlier projections estimated that $10.8 billion would be spent for the entire 2026 political election period -- with $5.3 billion going to broadcast TV and $2.5 billion to connected TV. Roughly 70% of overall political ad spend goes to TV (national/local) and streaming/CTV.

The USPS has proposed another postage increase set to take effect in July 2026, and for many marketers, the first reaction is predictable: “Should we mail less?” That’s the wrong question. The better question is: “How do we make our mail work harder?” Because despite rising postage costs, direct mail continues to outperform many digital channels in response, recall, engagement, and trust. The marketers seeing the best results today are not abandoning mail. They are becoming more strategic with it. Poor strategy costs more than postage ever will. I’ve seen campaigns with mediocre targeting, weak creative, and generic offers waste thousands of dollars while highly targeted, well designed mailings generate exceptional ROI, even at higher postage rates. When direct mail is done correctly, it still commands attention in ways digital advertising often cannot. Consumers are overwhelmed online. Physical mail still has the ability to slow people down, create interaction, and build trust. That matters.

Ulta, a perennial sparkler in the often-flat retail world, reports earnings next week. With a 36.4% market share and 46 million loyalty members, trends in its quarterly financials tend to say as much about the national spending mood as they do about the latest lip gloss. The backdrop looks reasonably healthy. Circana finds the beauty sector growing steadily, with prestige sales rising 6% to $8.1 billion in the first quarter, and mass retail climbing 7% to $18.1 billion. Notably, it's the first time in five years both segments have grown at nearly the same rate. And in both cases, growth was largely value-driven, reflecting a mix of premiumization and careful spending. Fragrance was among the strongest performers, with double-digit gains in women's fragrances at mass and continued momentum in prestige minis — a format that captures both the trade-up and trial-driven shopper. Skincare remained a steady engine, with clinical brands capturing over a third of prestige dollar sales. Makeup was the softest spot.

The U.S. Postal Service and DHL eCommerce have reached a multi-year contract agreement with an expected value of “well over $10 billion,” extending their partnership of over 25 years, according to a news release Thursday. Through the deal, DHL eCommerce will continue to hand off parcels it picks up, sorts and transports exclusively to the Postal Service for last-mile delivery to the end customer, the release said. Postmaster General and CEO David Steiner said that the deal showcases how the agency can leverage its expansive last-mile delivery network to fuel growth and add value for its customers. He said since DHL eCommerce would rather not spend extensively to build out a last-mile network in the U.S., the deal is “a total win-win.”

Online retail (ecommerce) sales in April 2026 grew at a rate of more than 10% year over year for the first time since 2021, according to Digital Commerce 360 analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. U.S. ecommerce in April 2026 also grew at more than twice the rate of total sales that month. Total retail sales in April 2026 reached $137.56 billion. That was about a 4.9% year-over-year increase from $123.85 billion. Additionally, total retail sales growth came despite higher fuel costs tied largely to the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran, which began at the end of February. Ecommerce has also grown at more than twice the rate of total retail in both March and April.

Four retailers ranked among the top 10 companies in an annual survey of  the 100 brands that Americans feel best embody the value of “patriotism." Levi Strauss & Co., took the fourth spot in brand loyalty and consumer engagement research consultancy Brand Keys' 25th annual “Most Patriotic Brands” survey. Amazon came in sixth, with Walmart and Ralph Lauren taking the seventh and ninth spots respectively. Jeep once again took the top spot. (See end of article for a list of top 20 brands, and all the retailers that cracked the top 100.) For 2026, the top 20 "most patriotic" brands were: Jeep Coca-Cola Ford Levi Strauss Disney Amazon Walmart Hershey’s Ralph Lauren Weather Tech Harley Davidson ChatGPT Apple American Express Gillette McDonald’s Wranger Jack Daniels Dunkin’ KFC

Walmart could be eligible for tariff refunds worth less than half of 1% of its U.S. annual sales, or about $2.4 billion, which could be used to support lower prices for shoppers, CFO John David Rainey said Thursday. The comments came during Walmart’s earnings call for its fiscal 2027 first quarter ended April 30. Rainey said Walmart would “definitely bias and try to prioritize” using any tariff refunds toward price cuts, citing pressure on consumers from fuel prices as a factor. “We think the single best return that we can have on a dollar capital right now is to invest in the customer and invest in price,” he said. U.S. Customs and Border Protection last month began accepting claims from businesses for refunds tied to tariffs that were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in February. In a court filing, the agency said it had processed $35.46 billion in refunds, including interest, as of May 11. More than 15 million entries, including those that have gone through to refund, have been validated, the filing said.

Consumer sentiment fell for the third straight month in May as supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz continued to lift gasoline prices. Sentiment is now just below the previous historical low seen in June 2022, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers, whose Index of Consumer Sentiment fell 10% in May to 44.8 in May.  In addition, consumers anticipate that business conditions will worsen over both short and long time horizons. The Current Conditions Index fell 12.8% to 45.8, and is down 22% year over year.

Walmart Inc. reported strong revenue growth for its first quarter, driven in part by soaring e-commerce sales and continued growth in its advertising business.   But the nation’s largest retailer issued soft second quarter and full-year guidance amid soaring gas prices.  In an interview with CNBC, Walmart CFO John Rainey warned that high gas prices could take a toll on shoppers going forward.  “I think higher tax returns muted some of the pressure related to higher fuel prices and as we’re in a period of time right now where those tax refunds are largely not coming in, I think consumers are going to feel more of that pressure from higher fuel prices,” he said. “It’s something that we’re keeping a close eye on, but that expectation is built into our guidance for the second quarter.”

TikTok Shop says it’s continuing to drive rapid growth for small businesses, even as bigger brands swarm the platform. U.S. small businesses on TikTok Shop — sellers with less than $15 million in annual revenue — increased sales by 66% in 2025 compared to the year before, TikTok Shop shared exclusively with Modern Retail. TikTok Shop now has more than 215,000 small businesses actively selling on the platform in the U.S., up 25% year over year. The numbers come alongside a new report from GlobalData commissioned by TikTok Shop that examined how people discover and buy brands on the platform. The report was based on a nationally representative survey of 6,000 U.S. consumers ages 16 and older conducted in April and May.

The “now” part of Nike’s high-stakes Win Now turarnound plan is starting to feel like a “later” to some industry watchers nearly two years in. The legendary sportswear giant is beset by challenges related to tariffs, deflating growth in China and an overall uncertain global environment. A lack of clear marketing vision may be further amplifying its problems, with a recent stumble around the Boston Marathon indicative of Nike’s difficulties replicating the aspirational messaging it once delivered with a rare level of finesse.  There are critical fronts, including women’s sports, where Nike can and is still winning. But it may need to pare down focus and switch up tactics to make its narrative cohere in a way that appeals to both choosier consumers and impatient investors. Nike reported flat revenue for the Q3 period ended Feb. 23, with company leaders admitting they were not satisfied with the pace of progress for the Win Now strategy. Marketing experts are in line with the sentiment.

Ultra-fast delivery is back in a big way, and retailers need to adapt. Ultra-fast delivery services focused on getting customers in densely populated urban areas their online orders in as little as 15 minutes or less began popping up in the U.S. a few years ago, but most failed to gain traction.  Companies such as Jokr and Buyk shuttered operations in the U.S. in 2022, with Philadelphia-based Gopuff a rare success story in the space. However, more recently, both Amazon and Walmart have launched efforts to get goods to consumers as quickly as possible. Amazon Now, which delivers thousands of items including household essentials, personal consumer electronics and groceries to customers’ doorsteps in about 30 minutes or less, is available in dozens of U.S. cities and will be rolled out to millions of customers across the country by year’s end.

Dutch Bros is growing its footprint in the Midwest. The drive-thru coffee chain has opened its first-ever location in the greater Chicago market, in the suburb of Melrose Park.  The opening is part of Dutch Bros greater expansion in Illinois. To date, it has opened in Urbana, Fairview Heights, Mt Vernon and Edwardsville, with additional openings planned for Rockford, New Lenox and Buffalo Grove this summer. "Opening in the Chicago area has always been a dream for us at Dutch Bros, and Melrose Park is just the beginning," said Allie Lahti, local market lead at Dutch Bros Coffee. "We've already felt so much love from this community, and we're so grateful to be here.” Dutch Bros recently reported better-than-expected first-quarter revenue and earnings.. Total revenues grew 30.8% to $464.4 million. Systemwide same-shop sales increased 8.3%, with a 5.1% rise in transactions, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of transaction growth.

Despite the capacity reductions carried out in the second half of 2025, there is still excess capacity in the European market for publication paper, especially in the magazine paper segment. While producers report relatively good capacity utilisation for newsprint (standard and improved grades), the existing production capacity for SC and LWC/MWC paper continues to outstrip demand. For all grades, the gap between supply and demand is expected to widen over the course of the year. 

Retail sales rose slightly for the seventh consecutive month in April despite rising gas prices and stubborn inflation. Core retail sales (excluding restaurants, auto dealers and gas stations) inched up up 0.34% month over month in April and were up 5.53% year over year, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor, released by the National Retail Federation. That compared with increases of 0.41% month over month and 7.05% year over year in March.

Summer travel plans appear resilient overall, despite higher oil and gasoline prices, though consumers are adjusting at the margin. According to the 2026 Bank of America Summer Travel Outlook, around 30% of respondents say higher gas prices won't change their summer travel plans, but others are looking to take fewer trips or cut back on items like accommodations. However, a "K-shaped" pattern appears to be emerging this travel season. Lower-income households are much more likely to have no travel plans (nearly 40%), and Bank of America card data shows their travel-related spending is down year-over-year (YoY) so far in 2026. By contrast, middle- and higher-income households are seeing stronger travel spending. Domestically, California, Florida, Texas and New York are the top states to visit. Internationally, travelers favor North America (ex US) and Europe.

The Home Depot has teamed with soccer-focused media network Men in Blazers Media Network for a traveling activation that will see the brands produce content around this summer’s FIFA World Cup, per details shared with sister publication Marketing Dive. The Home Depot is the official home improvement retail supporter of the tournament in North America. “Our customers are passionate about their communities, and soccer is an increasingly important part of that,” said Allison Kolber, vice president of integrated marketing at The Home Depot, in a statement. “This partnership with Men in Blazers allows us to show up in meaningful ways for our customers — celebrating local stories, supporting the people building the game, and connecting with soccer fans across the country.”

The U.S. Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) today to adjust some prices on some domestic competitive package and service offerings. Pending favorable review and comments from the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), these price changes and adjustments will take effect on July 12. Changes include, but are not limited to, elimination of ounce-based rate differentiation for published Commercial USPS Ground Advantage prices, which will not impact customers that have negotiated commercial rates for USPS Ground Advantage; and a competitive PO Box price increase of 3 percent. Also, the Postal Service will introduce Addresses API, a new Address Management System offering, and will align the divisor for dimensional weight pieces to industry standards for Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select.

Higher-income shoppers have kept retail sales healthy, but the economic impact of the war in Iran presents an unknown, according to industry analysts. Retail industry segments dependent on broad-based or price-sensitive spend are facing weaker outlooks, according to a report from Moody’s Ratings analysts. However, credit and debit card payment volume through the end of 2025 shows consumer spending remained healthy. A growing dependence on higher-income households continues to be of concern, however, as spending growth within the economic cohort outpaced lower-income households who are prioritizing essentials and trading down.

The company also owns Wrangler, which it says will be a $5 billion brand, and last year bought Norwegian outdoor apparel maker Helly Hansen. Lee — the iconic denim brand made famous by James Dean — is up for sale, and owner Kontoor Brands has already received significant interest, the company announced Thursday. The divestment will allow Kontoor to focus on what it calls its growth businesses – the Wrangler denim brand and Helly Hansen, the Norwegian outdoor apparel maker acquired last year for $957.5 million. Wrangler is poised to become a $5 billion brand by the 2030s, Kontoor CEO Scott Baxter told analysts, who were surprised by the move in part because of notable progress in Lee’s turnaround. Kontoor has fielded strong interest in acquiring Lee, from multiple parties, and is

For years, direct mail has been surrounded by myths. Some came from outdated marketing assumptions. Others came from marketers who tried direct mail once, executed it poorly, and decided the entire channel didn’t work. Meanwhile, the brands quietly getting exceptional results from direct mail never stopped using it. In fact, many are investing more heavily into it because physical marketing has become more valuable in a world overloaded with digital noise. The reality is, direct mail has evolved. The strategies are smarter. The targeting is better. The tracking capabilities are stronger. And when done correctly, direct mail remains one of the most effective ways to capture attention and drive response. Click on the read more link to discover the "myths"

Import volume at major U.S. container ports is expected to remain below last year’s levels into early fall despite a skewed year-over-year bump in May and June. That’s according to the Global Port Tracker report released Friday by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. While the numbers in the report show a year-over-year increase for the next two months, that’s only because of the sharp fall-off in imports after ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs were announced in April 2025, explained Jonathan Gold, NRF VP for supply chain and customs policy. “ "With inflation rising and consumer confidence falling among global economic uncertainty driven by the conflict in Iran, the overall trend of lower imports is expected to continue after that," he said.

For decades, the narrative of the American economy was written in the shadow of shuttering factories. As production moved offshore, our economic engine shifted gears from physical goods to services and finance. Firms that produced almost nothing became the new American titans, fueling a consumer-driven boom that enriched the coasts while hollowing out the interior. We became a nation that designed and sold, but no longer built. This story was told most clearly by our freight patterns. For twenty years, goods flowed overwhelmingly from the coasts inward. Millions of containers arrived at our ports filled with products made by foreign labor, then trucked toward the center of the country to feed a consumption-heavy lifestyle. The Heartland was a destination for finished goods, rarely the source. This year, that logic flipped. The catalyst is the voracious build-out of artificial intelligence infrastructure. Contrary to the popular imagination, AI is not purely a digital phenomenon; in the physical world, it is the bedrock of a new heavy industry. These “Gigasites” represent a new economy dependent on three pillars: data centers, energy supply, and the AI models that optimize them both. This is where the digital becomes physical. According to SONAR analysts, a standard 500-megawatt data center requires roughly 30,000 truckloads of concrete, structural steel, and copper.

Amazon on Monday invited third-party businesses to access the full suite of logistics services it uses internally to support e-commerce orders on its platform, officially packaging the discrete shipping and delivery services it has been offering for years under the umbrella brand of Amazon Supply Chain Services. The announcement essentially declared that third-party logistics services is now a main business line, along with retail, cloud computing services and grocery. “It’s a playbook Amazon has run for years. Build world-class capabilities to meet internal needs, productize and make it available commercially,” said Nate Skiver, founder of LPF Spend Management, on LinkedIn. Amazon has been evolving for years into an integrated freight and logistics provider, externalizing portions of its logistics operation and offering wholesale capacity to shippers.

High prices are pushing consumers away from dining out in an effort to cut costs. That’s according to new data released by SmartSense by Digi, an Internet of Things (IoT) Sensing as a Service solutions provider, which noted that 66% of consumers are cutting back on dining overall as 59% of consumers report worsening economic conditions over the past six months. The most common type of restaurant consumers plan to curb spending at is full-service restaurants, with 78% reporting that they plan to do so. Nearly seven-in-10 (69%) say they will decrease spending at fast-casual restaurants, primarily fast counter service locations with customizable order options.

If you’re at the National Postal Forum this week, there may not be a better time to be a part of the industry’s top event. Be sure to say hello to Midland's Postal Affairs Director--Matt Jensen! I often think about the history of the postal system, about how change, both good and bad, seems to be happening faster now than our ability to respond to it. We’re coming to the end of the 250th year of the post office, just days after the country marks the same anniversary of independence. It’s no coincidence. Postal history is intertwined with American history. Thanks to the dedication, vision, and hard work of countless people in dozens of professions, the post office has helped bind America together and help it grow in so many ways over the centuries.

Major retailers like Target, Walmart and Aldi have recently announced redesigns of their private-label brands. The recent string of rebrands signals new investment in how these products are perceived. As more consumers embrace store brands, many major retailers have decided they need to improve the way they look. In 2024, Target introduced new, colorful packaging for its Up&up brand designed to make it easy to identify products as customers shop with large product names. Last year, Aldi began a refresh of its branding and packaging to put its logo on every private-label product in the store, and to bring consistent fonts and graphic design to all Aldi-branded products. In April, Walmart announced a redesign of its Great Value brand, its first full brand refresh in more than a decade. The refresh aimed to provide consistent placement of nutritional information, clearer visual cues to help customers pick the correct items and a modernized look.

Amazon reported a strong first quarter with better-than-expected earnings and revenue.  The company also announced that it will move its annual Amazon Prime Day  sales extravaganza from its traditional mid-July setting to unspecified dates in June.  (The only other two times Prime Day occurred outside of July were 2020, when it was pushed to October due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2021 when Amazon hosted the event in June as the economy was still in recovery from the pandemic.) Amazon's first-quarter performance was helped by strong growth in its cloud business, with its AWS (Amazon Web Services) segment’s revenue rising 28% year-over-year to $37.6 billion. Amazon said it was the segment's fastest growth in 15 quarters.

Walmart’s U.S. e-commerce business is booming and Supercenters are making a comeback, its annual report from Friday shows. The company’s growth during the 2026 fiscal year came as it continues to navigate a technological evolution in the retail industry. “We are at a pivotal moment, not just for our company, but for the industry, as artificial intelligence fundamentally reshapes how customers shop and how associates work,” Walmart CEO John Furner said in a statement. “We are harnessing its power to enhance our business, guided by our foundational values of service, excellence, respect, and integrity. In this new era, our purpose positions us to set the standard – making it a perfect time to be an omnichannel retailer dedicated to helping people save money and live better.”

Some retailers score better than others when it comes to being trusted by comsumers. Brands that have earned a high degree of trust among consumers are highlighted in Newsweek’s “Most Trustworthy Companies in America 2026” report.  “Trust in an organization dictates the brands people select, the certainty shareholders provide, and the devotion staff maintain,” the report said. “Nevertheless, many enterprises overestimate the actual depth of this bond." The 2026 ranking includes 700 companies in 23 industries ranging from retail, travel, hospitality, leisure and food and beverages. Rankings are based on independent survey of 25,000 U.S. respondents, resulting in over 100,000 evaluations that reflected the perspectives of consumers, employees and investors. The analysis also considered online media sentiment. To see the list click on the read more link below.

The second that U.S. Customs and Border Protection opened its tariff refund portal at 8 a.m. ET on April 20, tens of thousands of business owners and customs brokers hurried to submit their information. For some, the site crashed; for others, their entries received an error alert. Those who did get through breathed a sigh of relief. “Everybody was anxious to press the button as quickly as they could,” said Rick Woldenberg, the CEO of the educational toy company Learning Resources Inc., who submitted a request for $10 million in refunds. “It’s like getting Taylor Swift tickets.”

Consumer confidence has been on the wane all year, and economic realities aren’t helping much. Yet retailers just wrapped up the month, and the first quarter, with surprising strength. In March, consumer sentiment hit a new low as inflation rose — the highest spike in four years — as the Iran war took a toll on energy supplies and people’s nerves. In the mostly discretionary segments covered by Retail Dive, though, retail sales surged more than 8%, with gains in most categories. That came on top of a nearly 5% increase in February and a nearly 6% increase in January. “Overall, a solid March rounds off a good start to the year for retail,” GlobalData Managing Director Neil Saunders said in emailed comments. But he warned that economic storm clouds are gathering, and the numbers aren’t all that they seem.

The Book Manufacturers’ Institute (BMI) is pleased to announce the publication of the 2026 State of the Book Industry Report. This comprehensive report, produced in partnership with Alliance Insights, the research division of PRINTING United Alliance, examines the economic, technological, regulatory, and market forces shaping the book manufacturing industry in 2026. The report draws on industry surveys, in-depth stakeholder interviews, and data from leading economic and market research sources. BMI members can access the full report as part of their membership. Executive summaries are available to interested parties in the broader print and publishing sectors by contacting BMI directly.

The Trump administration on Monday began accepting requests for tariff refunds, after the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s tariff policy earlier this year, but some analysts warned Americans likely won’t see lower costs as a result. Only an importer of record—the entity that officially paid the tariffs—can request refunds, though some legal analysts have criticized the process as only a few businesses publicly committed to sharing the proceeds, and many firms would benefit from the refunds despite asking consumers to pay higher prices brought on by the tariffs.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released the March 2026 Packaging Papers Monthly report. According to the report, total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments in March increased 7% compared to March 2025. They were up 3% when compared to the same 3 months of 2025. Total unbleached packaging paper shipments in March were at their highest level in over 2 years, with an operating rate that exceeded 90%.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released the March 2026 Printing-Writing Monthly report. According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 7% in March compared to March 2025. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels in March decreased 1% when compared to February 2026. Using the latest available U.S. Census Bureau trade data, February purchases of total printing writing papers decreased 3% compared to the same month last year.

Celebrate more than four decades of outstanding achievements in the printing sector with the special 42nd edition of the 2025 Printing Impressions 300 ranking! Compiled by the editors at Printing Impressions, this edition showcases the largest printing companies in the United States and Canada and features comprehensive insights into the industry's key players.

The DTC footwear brand may have overestimated its customers’ appreciation for sustainability, and underappreciated their desire for fashion. A key Allbirds differentiator is its use of innovative materials, made from recycled and natural sources. But the company may not have appreciated that even the consumers laser-focused on the environment would want more. “Indeed, sustainability comes way down the batting order behind factors like style, price and comfort,” Saunders said. “Allbirds could have leaned into any of these things alongside its green credentials but largely chose not to do so.” Anyone looking closely at Allbirds’ supply chain may have quibbled with its claims, given the carbon footprint, according to Matt Powell, senior adviser with BCE Consulting. Even if the supply chain were squeaky clean, though, the brand would have needed the right merchandise.

The value was never in the tools; it was in the thinking. Will AI replace creative teams? The real answer is much more interesting. AI won’t replace creativity. It will separate real creativity from the kind that only looked good because the process was slow. For decades, creative work had a natural protection: time. It took days to mock up ideas. Weeks to explore concepts. Months to produce campaigns. That friction often hid average thinking. AI removes that friction. Now, anyone can generate headlines, visuals, and concepts in seconds. Which means the easy ideas, the obvious ones, are suddenly everywhere. And when everyone can produce average work instantly, average becomes worthless. That’s the real shift.

The United States Postal Service has officially filed its latest rate case with the Postal Regulatory Commission, with proposed changes set to take effect July 12, 2026. For marketers, publishers, and brands that rely on direct mail, catalogs, and magazines, this isn’t just a routine update—it’s a moment to reassess strategy, optimize production, and find new efficiencies. The proposed increases vary by mail class, but most Marketing Mail programs will see increases in the 5–6.5% range for commercial mailings.

In just a few days, we’ll mark what we believe will be the most significant moment in Canva’s history as we unveil a major step forward in how the world creates. We can’t wait to see 6,000 of you at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, and millions more joining from around the world to share it with us. Looking back, it was only a decade ago that design was limited to a privileged few. Even the simplest task meant navigating a maze of complex and disconnected tools. You had to use one tool to find a template, another to source founts, another to design and animate, another to publish and print... and on, and on. Each tool had its own interface, its own learning curve, and its own file format that couldn’t work with anything else. We believed there was a better way, so we set out to bring everything you need to design into one platform, making it simple and accessible to the world. Today, we’re incredibly proud to be empowering more than a quarter of a billion people across 190 countries to create with Canva. What started as a crazy big dream has become the default way hundreds of millions of people bring their ideas to life.

“We CHEWS you, Chi!” Those four words emanating from The National Confectionery Sales Association (NCSA) put sweet smiles on the faces of all Chicagoans, knowing that their town had been selected as the permanent home of the Candy Hall of Fame Experience. Chicago triumphed over fellow finalists New York and Orlando to land the planned 60,000-sq.-ft. HOF that will honor—not Babe—but Baby Ruth. “For more than a century, Chicago has been home to some of the most iconic names in American candy, including Ferrara, Mars, Brach’s, Tootsie and Wrigley,” said Shelly Clarey, Chairman of the NCSA. “Establishing the Candy Hall of Fame Experience here reflects the city’s deep connection to the industry and creates a home to celebrate the people who helped build it.

The e-commerce giant’s CEO noted the dominance of brick-and-mortar retail despite decades of disruption, but sees that as a massive opportunity. “We’re not investing approximately $200 billion in capex in 2026 on a hunch,” Jassy wrote. Closer to retail, Jassy reiterated the company’s investments in rural America, saying “we understand that rural customers are often de-prioritized by logistics and telecom providers because remote communities are more expensive to serve.” “While other companies have been backing away from these customers, we’ve been running to them,” he said. “We’ve committed over $4 billion to expand our rural delivery network.” “Our retail business is now approaching $600 billion in topline, yet roughly 80% of global retail sales still happens in physical stores,” he said. “That will change.”

Consumer sentiment plunged in early April to the lowest level ever recorded in the more than 70-year history of the University of Michigan’s survey. The Index of Consumer Sentiment’s preliminary reading for April  fell to 47.6, down 10.7% from March, extending a decline that began with the start of the Iran conflict. Year-ahead inflation expectations rose to 4.8% this month from 3.8% in March. Comments show that many consumers blame the Iran conflict for unfavorable changes to the economy, according to Joanne Hsu, director, surveys of consumers.

The Postal Service has informed the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) of its intention to temporarily suspend its employer’s contributions for the defined benefit portion of the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) to conserve cash and preserve liquidity due to its ongoing, severe financial crisis. “There will not be any immediate detrimental impact to our current or future retirees if normal FERS cost payments are temporarily withheld,” said Postal Service Chief Financial Officer Luke Grossmann. The Postal Service pays about $200 million every other week to OPM for the FERS annuity. Suspension of payments, effective April 10, will free about $2.5 billion in the current fiscal year.

In good news for shoppers, a bump in the cost of consumer goods reversed course in March 2026. Prices for everyday household purchases decreased 0.02% in March 2026 following a 0.19% increase in February and a 0.33% decrease in January. The monthly Numerator Consumer Goods Price Index (CGPI) also indicates that  prices for everyday goods are up 2% compared to March 2025.A similar trend is expected for the comparable categories covered in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ upcoming Consumer Price Index (CPI) release.

We expect the US Postal Service to file for an across-the-board rate change in monopoly postal products with the Postal Regulatory Commission this coming Thursday afternoon. Rate hikes are expected to average about 5%. Upon PRC approval, you can expect a July 12th implementation date.

Amazon.com announced it reached a new agreement with the U.S. Postal Service on package deliveries, and sources ​said the cash-strapped mail system would retain about 80% of its ‌existing deliveries from its biggest customer. That 20% cut is a dramatically better outcome for the postal agency than the two-thirds or larger reduction that Reuters reported last month Amazon had threatened. USPS has a roughly $80 billion budget, and Amazon represented $6 billion in annual revenue to the agency, according to two people familiar with the business arrangement. "We're pleased to have ​reached a new agreement with USPS that furthers our longstanding partnership and will ​let us continue supporting our customers and communities together," Amazon said in a statement.

Retailers and restaurants alike made headlines in March with store expansion plans and new formats. Here are the major stories as reported by Chain Store Age, starting with the most recent. CVS opens first of nearly 20 pharmacy-only stores planned for 2026 Five Below sales, earnings surge as comps jump 15.4%; to open 150 stores Bob's Discount Furniture targets 500-plus stores by 2035 Dollar Tree Q4 sales up 9%, traffic falls; to open 400 stores Costco tops estimates; eyes 28 new openings, with 30-plus in ‘coming years’  Marco's Pizza eyes 80-plus new stores for 2026

Starbucks Coffee Company has finalized its joint venture with private investment firm Boyu Capital, selling control of its China operations, the coffee giant’s second-largest business. Under the terms of the agreement, which was announced in November and has a value of about $4 billion, Boyu and Starbucks will operate a joint venture, with Boyu holding up to 60% interest and operating the approximately 8,000 Starbucks stores in China. Starbucks will retain a 40% interest in the joint venture and will continue to own and license the brand and intellectual property to the new entity.

Rapidly rising fuel prices are already having an impact on consumer spending. According to new data from loyalty marketing technology provider Snipp Interactive, 31% of consumers said gas price increases have "significantly" or "extremely" impacted their household budget, while only 13% said they felt no impact at all.  When asked which spending categories they had cut, dining out led all responses at 63%. Clothing (44.7%), entertainment (43.2%) and travel (38.9%) were the next most common answers. Nearly 36% of consumers said they had reduced grocery spending by trading down or buying less.

It will soon be a little more expensive to obtain an annual membership at Sam’s Club. The warehouse club subsidiary of Walmart is increasing the fees to join both its Club and Plus membership tiers. In an email to Chain Store Age, Sam’s Club will raise the annual cost of a basic Club account from $50 to $60 and the yearly price of a premium Plus membership from $110 to $120, effective Friday, May 1, 2026

Consumers are continuing to spend so far this year despite ongoing financial pressures. New data from Circana shows that total U.S. retail sales revenue, across discretionary general merchandise, retail food and beverage, and non-edible consumer packaged goods, is up 2% year over year for the first 10 weeks of 2026. Circana noted that the data shows consumers are changing their behaviors instead of cutting back spending all together.

We're thrilled to share something years in the making: the solar farms we co-funded are now generating renewable electricity to match energy used in our Canva Print supply chain. Four solar farms are now live, each producing 4–5 MW of renewable energy. It's a milestone we're proud of, and one we couldn't have reached alone. Built in partnership with Watershed, a sustainability AI platform, these projects show what’s possible when we invest in climate solutions together, rather than asking individual suppliers to take on a global challenge by themselves. Print is one of the largest contributors to our carbon footprint, from the materials and manufacturing to the energy required to bring physical products to life. If we want to make meaningful progress, this is an impactful place to start. In 2024, we committed to funding a portfolio of community solar projects in Illinois, USA, helping add new power to the grid in regions where renewable power is still limited. Now, as these projects begin generating electricity, they’re supporting a shift toward lower-emissions Print production.

Smurfit Westrock, the world’s largest paper-based packaging company, announced a multi-year agreement to become a Worldwide Partner of the Ryder Cup. This marks a meaningful milestone for Dublin-headquartered Smurfit Westrock as it celebrates the return of the Ryder Cup to Ireland alongside golf fans, players and partners. “Smurfit Westrock has always had a strong connection to golf in Ireland,” said Tony Smurfit, President and Group CEO of Smurfit Westrock. “As our Company has grown globally, our Irish roots remain deeply important. I’m thrilled for Smurfit Westrock to be part of the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in the 100th year of the event, as we showcase Ireland, Smurfit Westrock and the game of golf at its very best. We are also proud to support JP McManus and his family in bringing the Ryder Cup back, as the event holds great significance for Irish sport and the broader economy.”

The lines between apparel, activewear and everything in between have only continued to blur. That isn’t a problem, except if the customer says it is. Apparel is changing. Vuori and Fabletics provided a microcosm of the shifts in the space with the simultaneous release of new denim collections earlier this year. It’s a trend that’s been on the rise: athleisure brands are expanding further beyond their core offerings. At the same time, traditional apparel companies are staking a claim in activewear. Brands want to go where the money is, and sometimes that means broadening the scope of what they sell.

The humble e-commerce site is getting a major upgrade at Lowe’s. The Mooresville, North Carolina-based home improvement retailer is expanding a feature that uses customer data — things like location, browsing behavior and past purchases — to personalize its website. The feature is now being rolled out to a percentage of customers — though Lowe’s declined to specify how many — with a broader launch planned by the end of the year. The personalization will show up through modular content blocks on Lowe’s website that can be swapped, reordered or customized based on customer behavior.

After a particularly harsh winter in many parts of the country, shoppers are ramping up their Easter spending. Consumer spending on Easter is expected to reach a record total of $24.9 billion this year, according to the annual survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. The amount surpasses the previous record of $24 billion set in 2023. Candy is the leading shopping category for Easter, with 92% of consumers planning to purchase sweets. Other top categories include food (90%), gifts (64%), decorations (53%) and clothing (51%). Across these categories, food spending is expected to reach $7.5 billion, followed by gifts ($3.9 billion), clothing ($3.7 billion), candy ($3.5 billion) and flowers ($2.2 billion).

2026 is shaping up to be a year where consumer demand defies every economic headline and most brands aren't prepared for the split that's emerging across income tiers, categories, and generations. Here's what the data is telling us loud and clear: ✔️ Retail sales projected to grow 4.4% ✔️ Higher-income shoppers are accelerating luxury and premium buys ✔️ Gen Z +Millennials are shifting spend towards experiences, travel, and convenience ✔️ Larger tax refunds + steady wages are fueling momentum. For more on the subject from Cohere One click on the link below. #retailoutlook2026 #consumertrends #retailst

Amazon is getting even faster, posing a competitive threat to Walmart as well as other big-box retailers and grocers that people turn to for quick purchases. One-hour delivery from Amazon is now available in hundreds of cities across the U.S., in addition to three-hour delivery in 2,000-plus cities and towns, the company announced last week. The selection is limited largely to products found “in a local supercenter,” including pantry items, cleaning supplies, health and beauty products, and over-the-counter medications, the e-commerce giant said. “Our customers are busier than ever and are looking for new ways to save time while keeping their households running,” Udit Madan, svp of worldwide operations at Amazon, said in a news release.

FedEx Corp. revenue continued its upward trend in its fiscal Q3 2026, which ended Feb. 28. The carrier also increased its net income in the quarter. FedEx net income increased year over year to $1.35 billion in Q3 2026, from $1.29 billion the prior-year period. On an earnings call with analysts, CEO Rajesh Subramaniam called FedEx’s quarter the carrier’s “most profitable yet.” It was also FedEx’s sixth straight quarter of increasing its margins, he said. The carrier said its plan for FedEx Freight to become a new publicly traded company is on track for June 1, 2026.

Summer 2026 is arriving with a mix of economic caution, experiential spending, and a renewed appetite for tactile brand interactions. While digital channels continue to evolve, consumers are leaning into physical experiences like travel, outdoor living, home refreshes, and hands‑on shopping, creating a unique opportunity for catalogers to meet customers where they’re most inspired. For brands that rely on print to drive discovery and sales, this summer’s trends point to one clear takeaway: catalogs remain one of the most effective tools for capturing attention and guiding purchase decisions in a crowded retail landscape.

Brands love the fantasy of the limited edition. A seasonal pack tied to Halloween, a sports final, a pop culture collaboration, or an anniversary gets launched with the quiet hope that shoppers will treat it like a keepsake. Sometimes that happens. Most of the time, especially in fast-moving grocery categories, it does not. In fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), a limited edition usually lives in a very different reality from the one imagined in the boardroom. If units are still sitting on shelf after the event has passed, the package stops signaling novelty and starts signaling age. To a shopper moving quickly through the aisle, that stale seasonal pack can read less like “special” and more like “this has been here a while.” The safer choice becomes the regular version, the one that still feels current, familiar, and easy.

Costco Wholesale Club will unveil its first standalone gas station in June. The membership warehouse giant will open the 17,000-sq.-ft. station in Mission Viejo, Calif., reported USA Today, on the site of a former Bed Bath & Beyond store. The 40-pump station will be Costco’s first fuel station that is not co-located with one of its stores. Similar to the retailer’s other gas stations, it will be open only to Costco members. A second standalone Costco gas station is planned for Honolulu, the report said. It is slated to open in 2027. At a time of rising gas prices amid the Iran conflict, industry analysts have described Costco’s gas prices as its secret weapon, sending more customers to its locations. The company’s gas is, on average, 10 to 30 cents cheaper a gallon than at other gas stations, according to U.S. News Costco operated 747 gas stations globally at the end of fiscal 2025, which contributed 10% of its total net sales for the year, according to its annual report.

The other day, I saw an early sign of Spring: an election campaign commercial on TV. It was just a 30-second ad, but it did make me wonder how long it will be before more of them start showing up everywhere, even on streaming. With so many seats and offices at stake in this midterm election year, we’ll be bombarded with them. That’s why direct mail plays such a crucial role in modern campaigns. Mail has a built-in advantage. A well-designed piece consists of a strong headline, crisp, high-resolution images, and a focused message. It gets physically handled, read, and often saved. It doesn’t disappear with a click or get buried in an inbox.

Recent press coverage has mischaracterized our relationship with the United States Postal Service (USPS). The truth is simple: we negotiated with them in good faith for more than a year to reach a deal that would bring them billions in revenue and believed we were heading toward an agreement. Our goal was to increase our volumes with USPS, not reduce them—until USPS abruptly walked away at the eleventh hour in December.

Postmaster General David Steiner warned that USPS could reach a financial cliff as soon as fall 2026. As a response, he floated reducing the postal agency’s mandate to deliver mail six days per week or raising stamp prices to 90 to 95 cents. Stamps currently are 78 cents, having been increased six times since 2021.  “If you want the same number of delivery days and post offices, we can do that, but someone has to pay for it. If you want to have a discussion about reducing services, we can do that,” Steiner said. “But there's one thing we can't do, and that is the status quo, and we don't have a lot of time.” David Marroni, a senior official at the Government Accountability Office, testified that any fix to the USPS’ finances will likely require congressional action, calling the postal agency’s current business model "unsustainable."

Consumer brands and retailers aren’t sitting on the sidelines this March Madness. Companies across sectors, from footwear to personal care, are racing to sign college basketball players and feature them in marketing materials as the NCAA tournament gets underway. Earlier this month, Jordan Brand announced it was working with University of Connecticut shooting guard Azzi Fudd, while NYX Professional Makeup said it was joining forces with UCLA center Lauren Betts. On March 16, Freddy’s, a custard and burger chain, announced deals with 10 collegiate athletes in Arizona, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Meta is turning a pop-up that it opened in New York City in November into a permanent retail location. The parent company of Facebook said it has signed a 10-year lease with Vornado Realty Trust to make its temporary Meta Lab outpost in Manhattan a permanent flagship location. Located at 697 Fifth Ave., the skateboarding-themed Meta Lab is designed as a hands-on experiential space where customers can check out the company’s latest retail offerings, including its lineup of AI glasses, and immerse themselves in virtual worlds with Meta Quest headsets.

The total number of books published in the U.S. in 2025 with ISBN numbers jumped 32.5% over 2024, to more than four million books, according to statistics compiled by Bowker. The increase was led by self-published works, for which the number of print and e-books (including those without BISAC codes) soared 38.7% to more than 3.5 million from 2.5 million in 2024.

Amazon passed the U.S. Postal Service as the largest domestic parcel carrier in 2025, anchoring a broader market shift away from traditional couriers, as it in-sourced a large amount of last-mile delivery work previously handled by UPS, according to data published Monday by ShipMatrix Inc. Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) handled 6.7 billion parcels last year, up 9.8% year over year, compared to an 8.3% decline for the U.S. Postal Service to 6.6 billion pieces. UPS (NYSE: UPS) also experienced an 8.3% volume decline at 4.4 billion deliveries. FedEx (NYSE: FDX) delivered 3.6 billion parcels in 2025, up 5.9%. Amazon’s parcel growth isn’t just fueled by its own online orders, but new contracts from third parties that don’t sell on the retailer’s platform.

The June 1 spinoff is locked in. Here's what shippers, investors, and the LTL market need to know. On June 1, 2026, the freight industry’s competitive landscape will change permanently. FedEx Corporation will complete the spinoff of FedEx Freight into an independent, publicly traded company, establishing the largest standalone less-than-truckload carrier in North America. The new entity will trade on the NYSE under the ticker FDXF, generate nearly $9 billion in annual revenue, and operate with a 15.8% operating margin, a benchmark most LTL competitors aspire to achieve. FedEx’s decision to separate Freight reflects a broader strategic shift to prioritize focused operations and profitability over conglomerate scale. After the spinoff, FedEx will focus exclusively on parcel, ground, and express services. FedEx Freight will have full autonomy over pricing, network strategy, and capital allocation, tailored specifically to the LTL market without the constraints of a parcel-focused corporate structure.

A Chicago-based fast-casual chain has tapped a new executive to oversee its future store expansion. Portillo’s has named Jennifer Pecoraro-Striepling as its chief development officer. In this role, she will lead Portillo’s restaurant development strategy, including real estate and site selection, prototype design and construction, and will play a “key role” in advancing long-term expansion. A Chicago native, Pecoraro-Striepling most recently served as chief development officer for Miller’s Ale House for the past year, where she was responsible for driving the development and expansion strategies.

Subcommittee on Government Operations Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas) today announced a hearing on “Oversight of the U.S. Postal Service: The Financial Future Under Postmaster General Steiner.” During the hearing, members will highlight the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) troubled financial situation after losing billions of dollars and will examine the initiatives Postmaster General David Steiner is taking to transform the agency and maximize revenue. Members will also assess whether USPS is reliable enough for Congress to allow it to borrow more money from the Department of the Treasury. WATCH: The hearing is open to the public and will be livestreamed-go to the link below to find the livestream link.

Ulta Beauty is opening a storefront on TikTok’s e-commerce platform just in time for spring. Ulta Beauty is the first beauty and wellness retailer to join the platform. It will roll out with more than 15 brands spanning makeup, skincare, hair and fragrance, in addition to more than 25 exclusive bundles.

Harris Poll research commissioned by Quad points to the importance of blending physical and digital in retail: Eighty-six percent of Gen Z and Millennials say touching and feeling products is essential to their purchase decisions, and 84% value brands that blend technology with physical experiences. With more than 80 percent of retail purchases happening in brick-and-mortar locations1, the in-store experience is still where buying decisions are made. Quad experts will share unique insights on these and other trends at the annual retail and e-commerce conference, whose theme is “Retail in the Age of AI .”

While some company leaders may underestimate direct mail's current market position, the channel represents about $40 billion or ~20% of all US offline channel spend. The growing focus on synchronizing digital and…

Whole Foods Market is expanding its presence across the pond. The Amazon-owned natural and organic grocer will open six new stores in the United Kingdom in the coming months, just one year after the company opened its first new store in the country in over a decade. With the six new stores in the London area (locations found later in article), Whole Foods’ U.K. store count will reach 12. The new locations will vary in size, spanning between 3,300 and 10,000 square feet. All stores will provide Whole Foods' a wide selection of organic items across its grocery, meat, seafood, cheese and prepared foods departments.

AT&T and Amazon Web Services are working together to extend 5G and fiber connectivity from business customers and locations directly into AWS environments, creating secure, resilient and reliable premises-to-cloud architectures for AI workloads. The solution is designed to reduce network complexity and latency while supporting real-time analytics, machine learning, and agentic AI use cases.

The fashion retailer has a new CEO, is expanding in the U.S. and will soon open a flagship in New York City. It just wants you to know it exists. Primark is making moves.  The fashion company last week appointed a CEO, Eoin Tonge, who had been acting as its interim for the past year.  The Dublin-founded retailer also recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary in the U.S., has been expanding its nationwide presence with new locations in Texas, Illinois, Tennessee and Florida, and is eyeing a flagship store opening in New York City’s Herald Square this spring.  Rene Federico, Primark’s U.S. head of marketing, is just ready for more people in this country to know about the company.  “We talk about ourselves as the best kept secret in amazing retail,” she said in an interview with Retail Dive this fall. “We don’t want to be such a kept secret anymore.”

Early bird pricing for Paper Meets LIVE! 2026 ends March 13. This premier paper industry networking event focuses on programming and networking that will enhance and grow business relationships among our member business partners and facilitate important discussions on the unique challenges and opportunities of the U.S. paper products industry. Paper Meets LIVE! 2026, taking place May 12-14 at the Opal Sands Resort in Clearwater Beach, Florida, is co-hosted by the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) and National Paper Trade Association (NPTA).

Imports at major U.S. container ports are expected to remain below prior year levels for the first half of 2026. U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 2.08 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) — one 20-foot container or its equivalent — in January 2026, although the ports of New York/New Jersey and Miami have not yet reported their data. That was up 3.8% from December 2025 but down 6.4% year over year. Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett said it is too soon to gauge the impact of the conflict in Iran on import cargo volume. "The immediate impact on containerized traffic to the United States is not likely to be substantial since little U.S.-bound container cargo is sourced from the region," Hackett said. "While it is too early to measure in the monthly data, increasing oil and gasoline prices will inevitably drive structural inflation if the conflict persists. That, in turn, could squeeze consumer discretionary spending and U.S. manufacturing, and ultimately drive down import volumes in the longer term."

The width and breadth of the 5 million-plus-square-foot Mall of America will ring with Spring Break promotions from the beginning of March through the middle of April. Breakers flow into MOA from Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin--as well as Minnesota—for six weeks. “Spring Break kicks off in the first week of March and extends to Easter because different towns celebrate the occasion on different weeks,” said Mall of America’s CMO Jill Renslow. “One unique thing is that the entire state of Iowa has the same week off, so we always note what week it is to be ready for the Iowans.”

See MIDLAND’s New Products in Action at Booth #776 in Aurora CO March 8-10, 2026 Innovative and sustainable, MIDLAND launches compelling new products which fulfill unmet needs in the market.  MIDLAND’s booth #776 is a “must” on your list of companies to see at Dscoop Edge 2026. Stop by our booth and learn how these new products will give you a competitive advantage and boost your bottom line.

For years, sales advice has glorified the close. ABC. Always Be Closing. We’ve all seen the movie clip. And many leaders still ask for more closing techniques, better closing lines, stronger closing pressure. Here’s the problem: In complex print sales, closing is rarely the real issue. If your team isn’t winning as often as they should, the breakdown is almost always upstream. It’s in prospecting. It’s in discovery. And most often, it’s in qualification. When your team slows down and qualifies hard — around pain, budget, internal alignment, and decision structure — closing becomes the natural next step. It feels collaborative, not confrontational. Predictable, not pressured.

Smurfit Westrock joined forces with Spanish fashion brand Ecoalf to create a store made from 100% paper and cardboard. Ecoalf specialises in turning materials such as plastic bottles, rejected industrial cotton and discarded fishing nets into clothing. The brand tasked Smurfit Westrock, which also has circularity at its core, to create a permanent retail store as inherently sustainable as the products on sale. The beautifully designed new shop, which is located in San Sebastián, Spain, features fully recyclable kraft paper walls and corrugated furniture produced in the Smurfit Westrock Sorpel and Cordovilla plants. It also runs on electricity from renewable energy sources. “We are very proud to open our first store built entirely from paper and cardboard. At Ecoalf, we work every day to minimize our impact on the planet, not only through the garments we design, but also through the spaces we create,” said Javier Goyeneche, Founder and President of Ecoalf.

Major apparel retailers are among those that have filed lawsuits specifically for refunds, with interest, related to IEEPA since the Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments, per court filings reviewed by Retail Dive. Those companies include Kohls Inc., PacSun, J Crew Group, Uniqlo’s U.S. entity and Abercrombie and Fitch Trading Co.

When you work in a Walmart store, you learn that every minute matters for customers wanting to get in and out quickly and for associates juggling dozens of tasks to keep things running smoothly. That’s why digital shelf labels, or DSLs, have been such a meaningful upgrade in our stores. Today, roughly 2,300 Walmart U.S. locations are already using digital shelf labels, and we expect this technology to be chain-wide within the next year. For our associates, that expansion can’t come soon enough.

Even if you don’t sign up for the position, you still might have to take the leadership seat. The recent passing of Bob Weir, The Grateful Dead’s longtime rhythm guitarist and songwriter, sparked a conversation on leadership in a recent gathering. Although Weir held the band together for decades, his death inevitably turned the discussion to the shadow he often stood in—that of the band’s creative center, Jerry Garcia.  Garcia was the band’s natural leader. However, he never wanted or took that seat. (A move I certainly can relate to, but that’s another column for another day.) A strong distaste for authority and decision-making meant leadership in a vacuum. That meant organizational dysfunction, financial chaos, a lack of direction, and other fundamental issues. This was all despite making music that has endured for decades and inspired future generations.  Garcia’s problems aren’t unlike the problems many leaders today face. Leadership may be something you didn’t ask for. But sometimes, you have to face the music.

Have you ever had a piece of direct mail in your hands, maybe for a campaign that you did for a customer, or simply received at home, that really stopped you in your tracks? Maybe it made you notice it for some physical quality. Or a blazing headline across the front. Or even a clever use of marketing technology. That’s the power of interruption, that voice in your head that says, “Hold up, I’ll get my kid from soccer practice in a second. Let’s see what’s in this envelope.” Our routines and conversations, whether we have them with others or ourselves, can be interrupted by anything. A barking dog, a crying baby, a smoke alarm — or a well-crafted direct mail piece. The challenge is how to interrupt. Even in a less-crowded mailbox, it’s not enough to simply show up and hope to be noticed.

In brief: Losses deepened at the U.S. Postal Service in the first quarter of FY 2026. Severe winter storms have tightened freight capacity across multiple U.S. states, and a threat to delay the opening of an important new bridge connecting Detroit with Windsor, Ontario, is injecting additional uncertainty into the logistics industry. Paper companies continue to raise prices amid production declines, while paper availability is also being affected by winter storms. Tariffs under the Trump administration continue to evolve following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision invalidating the administration’s emergency tariffs.

You get maybe three seconds. That’s how long a song has to hook you. It’s also how long your marketing has to earn attention. Great songs and great brands work the same way — they open strong and stick with you. We break down what a real marketing hook looks like (and how to tell if yours is working). Want to know more check out this blog from JSchmid. What a Great Marketing Hook Looks Like | J. Schmid.

Consumer confidence edged higher in February as Americans felt a bit more optimistic. But it remains below the peak reached in November 2024. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index rose 2.2 points to 91.2 in preliminary results for February, from an upwardly revised 89.0 in January. (The cutoff for preliminary results was Feb. 17). “Confidence ticked up in February after falling in January, as consumers’ pessimistic expectations for the future eased somewhat,” said Dana M Peterson, chief economist, The Conference Board. “Four of five components of the Index firmed. Nonetheless, the measure remained well below the four-year peak achieved in November 2024 (112.8).”

"Porch pirates" are everywhere, but are most active in one particular U.S. state. As measured by the average number of monthly searches per 100,000 people for relevant Google Keyword Planner key terms related to stolen mail, including phrases such as “Amazon delivery stolen”  and “DHL lost my package,” Alaska has the most stolen packages with 76.70 average monthly searches per 100,000 people, 58% higher than the nation's average of 48.27.  The other non-contiguous U.S. state, Hawaii comes in second with an average relevant monthly search volume of 75.25 per 100,000 people; “Porch pirates’ is the fourth most searched-for term, coming after "USPS lost my package" in first, "USPS lost mail" in second, and "USPS lost my package claim" in third.  On the opposite side of the U.S. map, Vermont ranks third in porch piracy with an average monthly search volume of 74.91 per 100,000 people. In Vermont, “USPS report lost package” is the most popular search term after “Amazon package stolen,” “porch pirates,” “USPS lost mail,”  and “USPS lost my package.”

Sportswear brand New Balance reported its fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth in 2025, the company said this week. The retailer achieved a record $9.2 billion in annual global sales, up 19% year over year. It was also the fifth consecutive year of global market share gains. New Balance CEO Joe Preston said in a press release Thursday that the footwear company saw record-setting results in almost every region, including more than 20% growth in North America and more than 30% growth in Europe. The retailer also opened an Asia Design Studio to unify its lifestyle apparel teams in the region.

While last year saw the collapse of chains like Joann and Rite Aid, 2026 is expected to be a brighter year in retail as store openings accelerate. Coresight Research estimates U.S. retailers will open about 5,500 new stores this year (up 4.4% year over year) and close about 7,900 stores (a 4.5% drop year over year), CNBC reported. Dollar General, Aldi, Tractor Supply, Barnes & Noble and Target, among others, are planning to open the most new stores in 2026, according to Coresight. The companies opening stores this year reflect strengths in categories like discount apparel, discount grocery and specialty retail despite a challenging financial environment.

Ace Hardware’s full-year revenue growth was fueled by its digital business growing 27% from the year prior. The company has been working to grow its brick-and-mortar presence. Ace added 106 stores to its footprint this year, ending fiscal 2025 with 5,250 locations across the U.S. It currently has more than 8,800 stores worldwide.  Along with growing its store count, Ace Hardware has been building out its fulfillment operations. Last summer, the retailer opened a 1.5 million-square-foot retail support center in Kansas City, Missouri, from which it can quickly ship products to its stores across the U.S. The facility marked a “significant investment in our long-term growth,” Travis Thomas, Ace’s retail support director, said at the time.

From Mango to Cyklar, legacy and emerging brands alike are leaning on physical retail to win over customers. What it takes for a brand to succeed — and survive — has changed drastically over the years. Gone are the days when brands could feasibly operate as pureplays. They must now continuously find ways to expand their distribution to reach customers. Whether the brands are established or are still trying to get their footing, brick and mortar is becoming necessary in order to stand out in an increasingly crowded market. Several brands have forged wholesale deals with retailers to get their products in front of a new set of customers. Here are six brands to keep an eye on in 2026. FP Movement, Mango, Tecovas, Cyklar, Homecourt, Skims

Ahold Delhaize USA is one big step closer to having a new state-of-the-art distribution center in North Carolina. The U.S. subsidiary of Dutch supermarket conglomerate Ahold Delhaize, along with its companies ADUSA Distribution and ADUSA Transportation, have broken ground on an $860 million-plus distribution center in Burlington, N.C. Initially announced in October 2025 and expected to open in 2029, the new facility will grow the company’s supply chain network, which serves Ahold Delhaize USA’s omnichannel grocery brands on the East Coast, by adding over 1 million sq. ft. of fresh and frozen distribution capacity. When operational, the hub will support Ahold Delhaize USA grocery brands including Food Lion while creating a more than 500 anticipated new jobs over time.

2025 was the first year in which each month's ecommerce sales exceeded $120 billion, ending on a record in December. December 2025 online sales in the U.S. reached their highest monthly total to date while boasting one of the highest ecommerce penetration rates to date, according to Digital Commerce 360 analysis of advanced estimates from the Department of Commerce. Furthermore, December capped off a year with the highest ecommerce sales to date, according to Digital Commerce 360 analysis. In 2025, annual ecommerce sales in the U.S. exceeded $1.5 trillion for the first time, Commerce Department data indicates. That’s more than double what they were in 2019 ($717.05 billion).

Amazon continues to test new concepts in brick and mortar. The company has proposed a mega-store in the Chicago suburb of Oak Brook, reported the Chicago Tribune. The development includes a 225,000-sq.-ft., Amazon store and a two-level, 150,000-sq.-ft. Ashley Furniture store, the report said. The project needs final approval from Oak Brook approvals. Earlier this year, Amazon received approval to build its first big-box store, a 229,000-sq.-ft. building in Orland Park, Ill. The store is expected to offer a mix of groceries, general merchandise and household essentials. Amazon also cited its plans to develop a “mass physical store format that brings customers distinctive selection, value and convenience.”

The Business Roundtable is warning that withdrawing from the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) could disrupt deeply integrated North American supply chains and put millions of U.S. jobs at risk, even as the Trump administration signals growing dissatisfaction with the trade pact it once championed. New analysis released by the CEO-led business group shows that U.S. trade with Canada and Mexico supported 1.2 million Texas jobs in 2023, with Texas exporting $168 billion in goods and services to its North American neighbors in 2024.  Since 2015, Texas goods exports to Canada and Mexico have risen 35%, while services exports climbed 38%, according to the data.  “Extending USMCA in a timely manner is critical to the vitality of U.S. businesses. Business Roundtable is an association of more than 200 chief executive officers (CEOs) of America’s leading companies, representing every sector of the U.S. economy, according to its website.

Dutch brewer lowers forecasts for 2026 profit growth as cost of living and consumer health concerns reduce sales Heineken is to cut up to 6,000 jobs globally over the next two years – close to 7% of its workforce – as the Dutch brewer struggles with falling demand for beer. The company, which makes Heineken, Amstel and Tiger, said the cuts would come from brewing and white-collar roles among its 87,000-strong global workforce as it faced “challenging market conditions”. It came as the world’s second-largest brewer by market value lowered its forecasts for profit growth in 2026.

U.S. chains dominate an annual ranking of the world’s most valuable restaurant brands. With its brand value up 5% to $42.6 billion, McDonald’s has reclaimed the top spot in Brand Finance’s annual report of the 25 most valuable and strongest restaurant brands in the world. Together, the brands had a combined value of $190.1 billion. Only five international companies cracked the list. Starbucks fell to second place from the top spot last year. Its brand value fell 4% to $37 billion as tougher competition in key markets, including China, limits the impact of its improving store performance. Rounding out the top five were KFC (brand value up 8% to %16.5 billion, Subway (brand value up 18% to $9.5 billion) and Chick-fil-A (brand value up a whopping 44% to $8.1 billion.) Here are the top 10 brands in Brand Finance's 2026 Restaurants ranking.  McDonald’s (brand value: $42.6 billion) Starbucks ($37 billion) KFC ($16.5 billion) Subway ($9.5 billion) Chick-fil-A ($8.1 billion) Tim Horton’s ($7.4 billion) Domino’s Pizza ($7.1 billon) Taco Bell  ($6.9 billion) Wendy’s ($4.9 billion) Pizza Hut ($4.9 billion) The remaining 25 brands are listed below. 11. Dunkin’ 12. Mixue (China) 13. Haidilao. (China) 14. Burger King 15. Chipotle 16. Olive Garden 17. Texas Roadhouse 18. Jollibee (Philippines) 19. Luckin Coffee (China) 20. Popeyes 21. Greene King (U.K.) 22. Chili’s 23. Greggs  24. Longhorn Steakhouse 25. Dutch Bros

Trade (Consumer Book) Revenues Up 14.2% for Month of December, and Down 0.5% Year-to-Date The Association of American Publishers (AAP) today released its StatShot report for December 2025, reflecting reported revenue for Trade (Consumer Books), Religious Presses, and Professional Publishing. Total revenue across all categories for December 2025 was up 9.4% as compared to December 2024, coming in at $1 billion. Year-to-date revenues were up 1.1%, at $14.6 billion for the year.

In December – traditionally one of the most important months of the year for the retail industry – retail sales in the segments covered by Retail Dive rose 4.4% year over year to $335.7 billion. E-commerce surged 6.7%, according to statistics released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The reports are running about a month behind due to last year’s government shutdown. “December is not as special as it used to be,” Wells Fargo economists Tim Quinlan and Shannon Grein said in a Tuesday research note. “Tariff fears likely encouraged consumers to buy early, buoying the secular trend that’s come with the immediacy of online purchases which has spread sales more evenly throughout the year.” Inflation and tariff-induced price hikes also led many consumers to purchase gift cards, which get counted as retail sales when they’re redeemed rather than when they’re purchased, they said.

Postmaster General David Steiner identified three growth priorities for the agency after it posted weaker results for its package shipping products in Q1. The last-mile bid portal is just one step the Postal Service is taking under Steiner to improve its ailing financial performance. The postmaster general flagged three areas he sees as growth priorities for the agency: Finding and enhancing strategic partnerships that expand reach, volume and relevance. Bolstering flagship products that improve service and reliability with “improvements that customers can really feel.” Leveraging first-mile assets and capabilities such as volume collection and returns to “capture value earlier in the pipeline.”

Ongoing uncertainty surrounding tariffs continue to impact import volume. Import cargo volume at the nation’s major container ports is expected to see a significant year-over-year decline during the first half of 2026 as the impact of tariffs continues, according to the Global Port Tracker. The report is produced for the National Retail Federation by Hackett Associates. Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett said tariffs have brought “a global change in trade relations” that is affecting import volumes. “The continuing use of tariffs against friend and foe alike combined with the uncertainty of when or if they will be implemented makes trade forecasting very difficult,” Hackett said, adding that last year’s government shutdown is still making up-to-date government data difficult to come by. “Following essentially flat container import volumes in 2025 compared with 2024, we expect a decline during the first half of 2026 and likely longer,” Hackett said.

New Canva data shows vision boards are becoming a shared, visual tool for ambition, revealing how people are using creativity to clarify goals and take action on what’s next. As the energy of a new year settles in, one creative ritual continues to dominate feeds, group chats, and shared moments: the vision board. What was once a quiet, personal exercise has evolved into a highly social, highly visual practice. We’re seeing that shift play out in how people create with Canva. In 2025, vision board creations increased 13% year over year, with a sustained surge as people mapped out what they wanted from the year ahead. From career ambitions and personal milestones to affirmations and long-term goals, vision boards have become a way to visually articulate what matters, and to share that ambition with others.

For decades, the Super Bowl has been advertising’s most expensive — and most scrutinized — stage. But in 2026, the Big Game is also the opening ceremony for an unusually dense and high-profile sports year for U.S. fans, justifying extra-big spending as brand messages flow right into the Winter Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, and an expanding universe of streaming-led sports coverage. That convergence is changing how brands approach Super Bowl advertising and how they are measuring their success. Instead of betting everything on a single in-game moment, marketers are stretching Super Bowl investments across weeks of pre-game drops, digital extensions, streaming buys and AI-powered personalization that extend well past the fourth quarter.

Amazon’s fourth quarter online store net sales increased 10% year over year to nearly $83 billion, per a Thursday press release. The e-commerce giant’s physical store sales rose 5% to about $5.9 billion. Related retail operations also grew, with third-party seller services increasing 11% and subscription services jumping 14%. Amazon’s overall net income increased from $20 billion in the same period the year before to $21.2 billion in its latest quarter. Amazon expects companywide net sales for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 to be between $173.5 billion and $178.5 billion, representing growth between 11% and 15% year over year.

After achieving record revenue in 2025, Goodwill Industries International Inc. expects 2026 to be its most lucrative year yet. Goodwill made approximately $7 billion in revenue in 2025, making it “the best year” in the company’s nearly 125-year history, David Eagles, Goodwill’s COO, told Modern Retail. As part of that, Goodwill processed 300 million shopping transactions, thanks to a rising number of consumers looking for low-cost, unique items. Goodwill’s online marketplace, ShopGoodwill.com, also logged its best year in 2025, achieving $450 million in gross merchandise value.

Excitement surrounds the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics (MICO 2026). For the 2026 Games the use of traceable and responsibly sourced wood is a key part of the event with PEFC-certified Italian forests at the heart of its sustainability aims. MICO 2026 is global sporting event with millions watching live in person, on television and via various media platforms. PEFC-certified wood is playing a valuable structural and visual role, demonstrating how natural resources can be transformed into sustainable architecture, with lasting environmental, economic, and social value for local communities for years to come.

HP Inc. announced that Bruce Broussard, a member of the company’s Board of Directors since 2021, has been appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), effective immediately. He succeeds Enrique Lores, who has stepped down as President and CEO and as a member of the Board to pursue another professional opportunity. The Board has formed a CEO Search Committee to identify the company’s next CEO and has retained a leading global executive search firm to assist with the process. As Interim CEO, Mr. Broussard will advance the company’s strategic priorities by leveraging his proven operational, financial, and business management expertise as well as his deep knowledge of HP’s business. Mr. Broussard is a seasoned executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience at public companies

Less than a year ago Saks Fifth Avenue began curating a high-end assortment for the e-commerce giant, but the two are now at odds. Saks Global is moving to exit its partnership with Amazon as part of its bankruptcy, but Amazon’s luxury storefront will continue without it, the e-commerce giant said by email. In that document, submitted the same day Saks Global filed for bankruptcy, Amazon called its investment in the $2.7 billion Saks-Neiman deal — for about a 23% stake — “worthless” and accused Saks of breaching their agreement.

Lindsey Vonn’s crash and injury to her left knee during a World Cup downhill race Jan. 30 has only heightened the suspense around the 41-year-old skiing icon’s planned Winter Olympics comeback from a prior injury to her right knee. With Vonn still scheduled to compete in one Olympics event Feb.8, and two more during the Games’ first week, she posted on Instagram that “My Olympic dream is not over….If there’s one thing, I know how to do, it’s a comeback.” Rest assured that Vonn is getting plenty of medical attention -- and that she appreciates it. Indeed, that’s the theme of a new campaign from healthcare apparel brand Figs, which will go on as scheduled during the games. Figs is the official outfitter of Team USA’s medical team. In the campaign, Vonn thanks -– and co-stars with -- the medical team that got her back on the competitive slopes after she had retired in 2019 and had knee replacement surgery in 2024. The cast includes not only her orthopedic surgeon, but a nurse practitioner, physical therapist, acupuncturist. and mental health coach. UPDATE: Vonn revealed Tuesday she suffered a completely ruptured ACL in a crash last week but remains focused on racing in the Milan-Cortina Olympics.

“RoT” can actually be a good thing. 😉 The Return of Touch is here, and consumers are hungry for more human, tactile brand experiences. From catalogs to packaging to in‑store moments, touch is doing what digital can’t. Dive into the insights from JSchmid latest blog: https://lnkd.in/gpfjUHEU

Spending on Valentine’s Day is expected to remain high this year, but a significant portion of consumers say they have reduced or stopped buying holiday gifts. Nearly one-in-four (23%) consumers say that they have curbed gift purchases in the past 12 months to save money, according to a new survey from e-commerce marketing company Omnisend. Despite this many shoppers report spending more online overall – driven largely by inflation (39%) and higher shipping and delivery fees (23%). Almost half of consumers surveyed are spending more online per month than a year ago, with 17% spending $100–$199 more per month, 16% spending $50–$99 more per month and 6% spending $500 or more per month.

Human resources leaders, after experiencing a difficult 2025, are optimistic about 2026 despite bracing for challenges and more upheaval in the year ahead. Those are the findings of the newly released Wiley Workplace Intelligence report, “HR and L&D Leaders Predict the Top 5 Challenges for 2026.” Wiley’s survey of 1,500 HR and L&D leaders reveals that 73% of respondents are feeling optimistic about their organization’s future. That’s despite the fact that many are expecting significant challenges and continuing change in 2026 after a tumultuous 2025. Culture and engagement appear to be the biggest areas of concern. Nearly a third of leaders each identify organizational culture improvement and employee engagement as top challenges for 2026. Both areas took a hit last year after workers experienced factors such as rapid change, instability, AI adoption, and return-to-office mandates.

Starbucks Coffee Company is back in expansion mode with plans that include opening hundreds of new U.S. stores during the next couple of years — and even more looking further out. The coffee giant expects to open approximately 600 to 650 net new cafes this year, including 150 to 175 U.S. company-operated stores and 450 to 500 international locations. China, Starbucks’ largest market outside of the U.S., comprises close to half of the international total.

Eddie Bauer is reportedly planning to abandon brick and mortar. The store operator of the iconic, 106-year-old outdoor apparel and lifestyle brand is getting ready to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a move to shutter its approximately 200 North American stores, reported WWD. Eddie Bauer’s store operations are owned by Catalyst Brands under license from brand owner Authentic Brands Group. Catalyst Brands was formed in January 2025 when JCPenney and SPARC Group (a joint venture of brand management firm Authentic Brands Group, Simon Property Group and Shein) combined to form a new organization. In addition to Eddie Bauer, its portfolio includes JCPenney, Lucky Brand, Aéropostale, Nautica and Brooks Brothers.

The 2025 holiday season delivered unprecedented strength, crossing the $1T mark and reinforcing the resilience of today’s retail consumer. Ecommerce and omnichannel performance remained core drivers, with late‑season BOPIS growth underscoring just how critical inventory visibility and operational precision have become. As we move into 2026, spending remains active but increasingly value‑driven. The brands that will outperform this year will be those who can marry disciplined acquisition with meaningful, trust‑building customer experience—balancing efficiency with emotional resonance. The CohereOne + J.Schmid latest trend report breaks down the drivers and signals shaping early‑year strategy: 👉 https://lnkd.in/e2garuYg

Most consumers are more likely to purchase when experiences are truly personalized, yet most brands still miss the mark despite heavy investments in personalization. That’s according to a new report from customer data cloud provider Amperity, which found that 74% of consumers are more likely to purchase when they receive a truly personalized offer or recommendation. And 69% are more likely to buy when retailers adjust offers instantly while they browse. While consumers expect recognition, they rarely get it, according to Amperity. Most (83%) consumers want retailers to remember them, including preferences and past purchases.

In brief: Mailers got some good news this month when the Postal Regulatory Commission limited the USPS to a once-a-year rate increase for Market Dominant products through 2030. The freight market is keeping a close eye on how the U.S. Supreme Court will rule about the legality of some Trump administration tariffs. Producers of uncoated freesheet paper are citing reduced capacity and increased demand as the basis for price increases that are set to take effect in February and March.

As we reflect on the past year, which was a healthy one overall for mergers and acquisitions in the printing industry, it’s a good moment to assess what drove the activity in 2025 and what’s likely to carry the momentum forward into 2026. The industry’s two principal segments — packaging and commercial printing — have different financial parameters. But the macroeconomic trends underpinning them are the same, and those forces remain encouraging for buyers and sellers alike. Especially reassuring is the fact that the pace of M&As is coming back up to what it was in the early years of the present decade. 2021 and 2022 were record breakers in terms of transactions completed — as M&A advisers, we were never busier. Although not quite as hyperactive, 2023 was a blockbuster in its own right. We can report that the pace has picked up again in 2025, so much so that in the remainder of the year and into 2026 we expect activity to look more like it did in 2023 than it did in 2024.

Job cuts continue at Amazon. Following recent media reports indicating it would reduce approximately 14,000 positions, Amazon announced in a corporate blog post that it is eliminating roughly 16,000 positions across the company. In October 2025, Amazon laid off roughly 14,000 corporate employees as part of what Reuters reported was a larger initiative to reduce expenses and rectify excessive increases in staffing levels it made during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Combined with the October staff reductions, the latest layoffs represent close to 10% of Amazon’s roughly 350,000-person corporate workforce.

Oakley and Meta are teasing a Super Bowl spot featuring the brands’ smart glasses and a cast of celerities.  “Created by Mother Los Angeles, the Big Game spot will be set against the backdrop of one of sport’s biggest moments, and stars director Spike Lee, streamer and influencer iShowSpeed, former NFL player Marshawn Lynch, PGA Tour star Akshay Bhatia, and Olympians Kate Courtney, Sky Brown, and Sunny Choi,” according to Little Black Book. “In the full ad, each of these talents will showcase the capabilities of Oakley Meta’s Performance AI Glasses in high-energy, and visceral ways.  This is Oakley’s first Super Bowl spot. “The Super Bowl push comes after Oakley Meta launched in July 2025. The brand represents a collaboration between Oakley and Meta, combining the eyewear maker’s athletic-focused design with Meta’s AI technology. It’s tailored specifically toward athletes rather than general consumers,” according to Adweek.

San Francisco's unique culture, diversity, and spirit of innovation make it a special place for thousands of Amazon employees and customers who live, work, and play in the city. With offices throughout downtown and operations nearby, Amazon has deep roots in San Francisco (SF) and is committed to partnering with local organizations, community leaders, and local businesses to support initiatives that are meaningful to San Franciscans. Here are a few ways Amazon’s investing in the future of downtown: Strengthening San Francisco’s economic core Amazon joined forces with other technology leaders in a transformative initiative to revitalize the heart of San Francisco. Through a partnership with the San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation (DDC), aligned with Mayor Lurie's “Heart of the City” vision, we’re helping drive meaningful change in the city’s core. The DDC has secured commitments from private-sector partners to bring coordination, speed, and execution to downtown renewal efforts. The investments are already making an impact across the city, funding projects like clean and safe services, a new downtown business fund supporting local entrepreneurs, improvements to the community gathering space East Cut Crossing, and advancement of the Embarcadero park project. The DDC is also reviving community spirit by relaunching First Thursdays, the popular event celebrating local artists and performers.

Trade (Consumer Book) Revenues Up 3.1% for Month of November, and Down 1.7% Year-to-Date The Association of American Publishers (AAP) today released its StatShot report for November 2025, reflecting reported revenue…

Betty, a Quad agency, today announced the opening of new offices in Austin, Texas, and Mexico City, Mexico, marking a significant step in the continued expansion of the creative agency and Quad’s global platform. The two locations bolster Betty’s ability to serve clients with fresh talent, localized expertise and integrated capabilities in two high-growth markets recognized as centers of culture and creativity. The Austin and Mexico City office openings follow a period of rapid growth for Betty, which has seen a surge in demand from both category leaders and challenger brands seeking strategic, innovative creative solutions that can scale without sacrificing speed or quality.

It’s official – TikTok is here to stay in the U.S. The immensely popular short-form video platform has established a new entity called TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC in compliance with an executive order signed Sept. 25, 2025 by President Donald Trump. That order said enforcement of a previous order requiring TikTok‘s Chinese parent company ByteDance to find a new owner for its U.S. business by Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025 had been extended until Jan. 23, 2026. As previously reported, TikTok USDS Joint Venture has three managing investors: Oracle, private equity firm Silver Lake and the Abu Dhabi-based MGX investment fund, each holding 15% ByteDance will retain a 19.9% stake in the joint venture. Previous media reports indicated the joint venture would value TikTok’s U.S. business at approximately $14 billion, but no official financial figure has been released.

After a slew of department stores shuttered last year, including the liquidation of Canadian icon Hudson Bay, more are set to close in 2026 — and probably every year for years to come.  In mid-January Saks Global, which includes luxury players Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, filed for bankruptcy, and observers expect several Saks and Neiman locations to shutter. Macy’s identified the most recent 14 stores set to close under a downsizing strategy that will ultimately mean the end of 150 locations. Even Dillard’s closed a store this month. Mall anchor vacancies — by and large department stores — are likely to tick up over the near term as a result, according to Green Street’s most recent annual review of more than 1,000 publicly and privately held malls. In the last 15 years, the “demise of the department store business model” contributed to at least 175 mall closures and struggles at other malls, per Green Street’s report. Even those with slumping sales notched billions in their most recently reported quarters, including Saks Global ($1.6 billion), J.C. Penney ($1.4 billion) and Kohl’s ($3.4 billion). In Q3, with at least comp growth, Macy’s Inc. net sales reached $4.7 billion and Dillard’s reached $1.4 billion. Nordstrom, which went private last year, saw $4.2 billion in net sales in Q4, its most recently reported quarter.

To mark 150 years of brewing history, Budweiser is launching a yearlong “Made of America” campaign that celebrates the brand’s deep roots and enduring role in United States culture. The milestone celebration kicks off with a limited-edition Heritage Can Series, available in 12-packs designed to take fans on a visual journey through Budweiser’s storied past. The collectible series features four distinct can designs, each inspired by a defining era in the brand’s history: the 1950s, 1980s, 1990s, and a specially designed 150th anniversary can for 2026. Every can features Budweiser’s 150th anniversary logo and the phrase, “Made of America – For 150 Years.”

Higher tax refunds could lift discretionary spending in 2026, but the labor market is the biggest factor, according to Bank of America Institute research. U.S. consumers last year shelled out their extra spending money on smaller items — including used goods, apparel and dining out — rather than big purchases like electronics, furniture, hotels and air travel, according to research from the Bank of America Institute earlier this month. “2025 was defined by savvy consumers looking to stretch a dollar,” said Liz Everett Krisberg, head of the institute, and David Michael Tinsley, senior economist. They noted “a clear split in discretionary spending” by categories, based on Bank of America credit and debit card data.

Several former Walmart leaders say they expect the big-box retailer to keep a close eye on Amazon’s proposed big-box store near Chicago. “Amazon has tried a number of different physical store layouts and formats, and the only one that has really worked is the one they bought, which is Whole Foods,” said Scott Benedict of Benedict Enterprises, a retail consultant who held various leadership roles at Walmart between 1997 and 2017. “The one thing … they haven’t tried is this format, a Supercenter format that is really at the heart of Walmart’s success, which is the combination of food and grocery in a wide-assortment scenario.” While one store opening is unlikely to faze Walmart, which has 4,600 stores throughout the U.S., it could be the start of something that scales with other locations and eventually becomes a competitive threat. Moreover, it’s the entry of Walmart’s longtime e-commerce rival into a space where it currently dominates and has a competitive advantage: Because of its store network, Walmart says it can deliver to the top 95% of households in under three hours.

A leading Asian grocery chain is planning on going big in the Bay Area. H Mart is planning to open its California largest store yet at Pacific Commons Shopping Center in Fremont, located on the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay. The store will span two levels and more than 100,000 sq. ft. Features will include a food hall and dine-in restaurants, in addition to the chain’s expansive Asian grocery offerings. The planned store represents the largest investment in H Mart’s history, and its first store in Fremont. Construction is expected to begin in late 2026. Founded in 1982, H Mart operates over 100 locations across 18 states.

Through large investments in new technology and new logistics planning and execution, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) significantly improved its delivery performance during this past holiday season. Mail items and packages were delivered within 2.5 days on average (16 billion in volume), compared to 2.8 days during the same period last year (Nov. 15 – Jan. 9). On-time delivery scores were higher virtually across the board, with the best scores being in its last mile Destination Delivery Units (DDU). “Customers entrusted us with billions of letters, cards, and packages, and we delivered—faster than last year and with strong consistency across the network,” said Deputy Postmaster General, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Human Resources Officer Doug Tulino.

Goodwill’s digital strategy is paying off: Its online marketplace, ShopGoodwill.com, just logged its biggest year ever, turning donated goods into hundreds of millions of dollars for the nonprofit’s workforce programs. The online auction site, which allows local Goodwill organizations to sell donated items nationwide, generated about $450 million in gross merchandise value last year, up 22% from 2024, according to the company. That marked the highest annual total in its 26-year history, as demand for resale climbed amid inflation, tariffs and growing interest from younger shoppers. Even so, ShopGoodwill.com still accounts for less than 10% of Goodwill’s overall retail revenue, according to the charity, underscoring how much room it still has to expand.

A China-based home improvement retail brand is set to make its brick-and-mortar debut in the United States. Vevor will open its first-ever U.S. store in Houston on Feb. 9, with an assortment that includes a wide selection of tools, gardening equipment and home improvement products. The 32,000-sq.-ft. Houston flagship is built around a buy online, pick up in-store model that connects Vevor’s digital platform with a “solution-driven in-store experience.”

Speculation is growing that Hudson News, a staple of airports and other transit hubs, might stop carrying magazines in the Tri-State Area — a scenario that one panicked publisher likened to “an asteroid killing off the dinosaurs.” Publishers’ fears were sparked after Hudson News Distributors — the James Cohen-owned distribution arm of Hudson News — informed the New Jersey Department of Labor in mid-December that it was laying off 236 employees in its Parsippany, NJ, headquarters, a filing reviewed by The Post showed. Cohen’s company is slated to cease distributing mags on Feb. 7, a source with knowledge of the matter told The Post on Friday. That means glossies will no longer be available in various Hudson News locations in the Tri-State Area — including at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports — barring intervention from an outside party.

Since 2020, Walmart has launched or relaunched 10 private apparel brands, including Scoop, Joyspun, Free Assembly, No Boundaries, Love & Sports, Sofía Jeans by Sofía Vergara and Weekend Academy. Its latest fashion line — Mills, by actress Millie Bobby Brown — debuted in 750 Walmart stores and on Walmart.com this month. Last year, Walmart began carrying thousands of pre-owned luxury handbags, jewelry and watches through a partnership with the resale platform Rebag. Today, Walmart Fashion is home to “six brands that are a billion dollars or bigger,” Incandela said. “We’re assertively taking market share, our total performance scores are improving dramatically, [and] we’re capturing new customers,” she added. “Our $100K-plus household income customers are increasing dramatically, because they’re looking at Walmart for the first time for fashion.” About half of the U.S., or 145 million people, visit Walmart’s website and stores every week.

We sat down with Andy Johnson, head of Iridio by RRD, for a quick chat about the company’s latest research report, focusing on marketing trends. He shared some insights and takeaways for printers. What were the biggest trends that emerged from the report? T The biggest trend emerging from Iridio’s report is the flight to efficiency driven by economic uncertainty. With 56% of marketers citing volatility as their top source of uncertainty, we are seeing a decisive shift toward measurable, high-return channels. Budgets are increasing for digital tactics, such as online video (59%), websites (57%) and paid social (56%). AI has also moved from experimental to essential. AI and machine learning is now the top technology investment (55%), with marketers using it specifically to scale personalization and predictive analytics. Were there any surprises? If so, what were they? One surprise is the trust paradox facing AI. While AI is the number one tech investment for 2026, marketers still view it as a threat to consumer trust. The data found that 53% of marketers cite human interaction replacement and AI deception as top threats.

Amazon is strategically expanding the number of wildfire relief items it stores in its dedicated response hub. The online giant opened its first Wildfire Relief Hub, located in the San Bernadino Valley two hours east of Los Angeles, in 2024. Initially stocked with more than 6,000 essential items — as well as its logistics infrastructure and technology, the hub delivered needed items to first responders, non-profit partners and humanitarian relief agencies on the ground in Los Angeles during the January 2025 wildfires that struck the city. Now, Amazon is storing approximately 20,000 wildfire relief items at the hub — over three times more than when it opened. These include air filters, masks, fire-safe rubber boots, respirators, hydration packets, neck gaiters, specialized gloves, and trauma kits. In addition, the hub stocks approximately 200,000 general relief items, such as diapers, toiletries and medical devices.

November retail sales in the segments covered by Retail Dive grew 3.9% year over year to $284.8 billion, per numbers released Wednesday by the U.S. Commerce Department. The report was delayed by the government shutdown. E-commerce sales jumped 5.5% to $141.7 billion and the apparel category grew 7.4% to $30.8 billion during November. Meanwhile, the home sector declined 4% year over year and electronics was nearly flat. “Consumers are gloomy, but they are still spending,” Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, said in emailed comments. “The only areas they are pulling back in are home improvement, home furnishings and some electronics and appliances. Outside of those areas, consumers continue to spend and they are likely to keep that up in early 2026 as they receive larger-than-normal tax refunds.”

Amazon has big plans for the village of Orland Park, Ill. The Chicago suburb is proposed site of a retail development that the e-commerce giant wants to build on a 35-acre site, reported patch.com. The plan cleared its first hurdle this week when it was approved by Orland Park’s plan commission. It still needs to be approved by the village board of trustees who will meet on Jan. 19. The development includes a 229,000-sq. ft. building housing a retail store offering a wide range of products, including groceries and general merchandise, with a “limited” warehouse component to support on-site operation, according to the report. The plan also include multiple commercial outlets, six acres for open and landscaped space, and stormwater detention. If approved, the plan would be Amazon’s first foray into big-box retailing, putting it in direct brick-and-mortar competition with the likes of Walmart’s supercenters and Costco.

Aldi has big expansion plans for 2026 as it celebrates 50 years in the United States. The discount grocery giant plans to open more than 180 new stores across 31 states this year, pushing it closer to its goal of 3,200 stores by the end of 2028. It also announced plans to open three new distribution centers within the next three years. As part of its 2026 expansion, Aldi will enter two new states, Maine and Colorado. It also will grow its footprint in fast-growing metro areas such as Phoenix and Las Vegas.

ix years ago, independent technology analyst Ben Thompson, who authors the Stratechery newsletter, wrote, “Everyone in commerce is, whether they realize it or not, in the Anti-Amazon Alliance.” At the time, he was describing how retailers and tech companies were increasingly banding together to give merchants and shoppers ways to sell and buy online without relying entirely on Amazon. Today, it also captures Walmart’s latest push into artificial intelligence, as the retailer leans into partnerships, while its biggest rival, Amazon, takes a more closed approach. On Sunday, Walmart and Google announced a partnership that brings the retailer’s shopping experience inside Google’s AI assistant, Gemini. Customers will be able to search for products, assemble a basket and check out directly within the chat interface using Google Pay. The partnership, unveiled during a keynote speech at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show industry conference in New York at the Javits Center, will utilize Walmart’s and Sam’s Club’s product selections, pricing and delivery capabilities. The companies said the experience will initially roll out in the U.S., though a launch date was not shared, and then expand internationally.

Walmart will expand its drone delivery coverage with Wing to 150 U.S. stores over the next year, reaching more than 40 million potential customers near those locations, the companies announced Sunday. The partnership will continue to scale further, with plans for the drone delivery service to cover over 270 Walmart locations in 2027. Walmart has roughly 4,600 U.S. store locations overall. The expansion plans include stores in Los Angeles, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Miami, with other locations to be announced at a later date. “The question is no longer if Wing and Walmart will deliver to your city, it’s when,” the announcement said.

Following “chronic uncertainty” from increased U.S. tariffs in 2025, the impact on cargo imports in 2026 is likely to still be affected by trade policy. That’s according to the latest “Global Port Tracker,” which is produced for the National Retail Federation by Hackett Associates. “As 2026 begins, we see a world increasingly focused on protecting domestic industries and addressing perceived trade imbalances,” Hackett said. “This approach has raised questions about the future of free trade and international economic cooperation.”

Apparel and footwear brands are skating into the spotlight at this year’s Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Italy — and they’re determined to nab a win in one of the world’s leading fashion hubs. As the clock ticks down to Milan-Cortina 2026, companies are putting out products for athletes and consumers alike. EA7 Emporio Armani, Ralph Lauren and Lululemon are designing uniforms for Team Italy, Team U.S.A. and Team Canada, respectively. Salomon is providing jackets and boots for 18,000 volunteers at the Olympics and Paralympics. Pajama brand Dagsmejan is partnering with the Swiss National Ice Hockey Team and providing athletes with sleepwear and eye masks. And, earlier in January, J.Crew and Skims each revealed apparel lifestyle collections — the former, with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, and the latter, with Team U.S.A.