China sends a message to brands boycotting products from Xinjiang: Beijing is threatening to block Calvin Klein parent PVH’s access to China in an escalation of its “unreliable entities” tool.

Coca-Cola’s latest effort to win over Gen Z consumers falls flat: The company discontinued its Spiced flavor—which isn’t spicy—after just six months due to lackluster sales.

A lot has changed for Levi Strauss since 2022: That’s why it makes sense for the retailer to pull back from its previous CEO’s 2027 revenue target of $9 billion to $10 billion.

Temu pitches Amazon sellers amid growing headwinds in the US: The retailer is recruiting local merchants to offset the impact of the de minimis crackdown, but a slowdown in customer growth poses a bigger challenge.

US port strike could paralyze supply chains just as the holiday season gets underway: A week-long stoppage could cost the US economy up to $7.5 billion, while the effects of a two-week strike could last until 2025.

Mytheresa expands China presence in long-term bet on luxury growth: While the retailer is bullish on its ability to woo big spenders, the country’s economic crisis and booming daigou industry could weigh on its near-term prospects.

Sam’s Club is on a winning streak: The Walmart-owned wholesale club is making several notable moves with an eye toward improving the customer experience.

Tempur Sealy faces regulatory hurdles in its Mattress Firm deal: The company plans to sell 176 Mattress Firm and Sleep Outfitters locations, but it may not be enough to move the acquisition along.

Agencies begin to doubt retail media’s efficacy:: Some are counseling caution as lack of standardization and the sheer number of RMNs make it difficult to assess whether brands’ investments are paying off.

TikTok Shop is Gen Z’s new favorite gifting destination: More than half plan to make a purchase on the platform this holiday season, lured by the prospect of a good deal.

It won’t be easy to get Nike back on track: The brand’s missteps enabled competitors adidas, On Running, and Hoka to build connections with consumers that may be hard to dislodge.

Stringent return policies deter shoppers from making a purchase: That’s why several retailers are adopting nuanced approaches to protect their margins without turning shoppers off.

Amazon’s genAI push continues with new seller tools: The retailer released Project Amelia, an AI assistant to help sellers with queries and troubleshooting, alongside other features to improve the merchant and customer experience.

Amazon turns to TV to promote third-party sellers: The retailer’s new “Shark Tank”-like competition show will likely boost sales and put a friendly face on the Amazon brand.

Olive Garden inks delivery partnership with Uber following parent Darden Restaurants’ poor quarter: The company missed sales and earnings expectations as consumers cut back on restaurant visits.

Walmart joins the early October holiday sales push: The retailer will launch its Walmart Holiday Days event on October 8, the same day Amazon and Target are hosting sales.

Amazon rolls out Supply Chain by Amazon solution to all sellers: The fully managed, end-to-end service enables merchants to get items to shoppers faster and more efficiently—while giving the retailer an opportunity to take a bigger cut of sales.

Reckitt Benckiser joins the pack of CPG companies looking to downsize: The Lysol maker plans to offload its homecare assets—and potentially its baby formula business—to focus on its core brands.

Livestream shopping gains steam in the US: Twenty-four percent of US consumers have participated in a livestream shopping event, up from 16% last year, which is why Shein and Zara are investing in the channel.

The US economy is approaching the fabled soft landing: The Fed’s decision to cut rates by a half point should boost consumer sentiment and begin the process of unfreezing the housing market.