蘑菇AV

A trade war between two of the world鈥檚 largest consumer markets would cause significant disruption for consumers, retailers, and brands in Europe.

Temu parent PDD鈥檚 profits fell 47% in Q1 as global and domestic challenges pile up: The company鈥檚 operating model is ill-equipped for today鈥檚 protectionist trade policies.

Automakers slash jobs as EV struggles mount: Ford, GM, and Stellantis face competition from Chinese rivals and slow EV demand, driving steep layoffs and threatening their bottom lines.

The news: Shein鈥檚 and Temu鈥檚 influence in the US is fading quickly as both companies cut ad spending and look to Europe for growth. Our take: Shein and Temu are finding that the billions of dollars they plowed into US advertising have not been enough to secure US customers鈥� loyalty in the face of higher prices. But rather than find ways to extend the longevity of their US businesses, both companies are fleeing to Europe to take advantage of the (currently) more favorable trade environment.

Shein and Temu pull back US digital ad spending, shift to Europe: The change shows how geopolitical tensions trickle down to business operations.

Best Buy will stick to its tariff playbook despite court rulings: The retailer is doing its best to ignore the noise and focus on how best to serve its customers.

The biggest ecommerce disruptors face a reckoning: The closing of the de minimis exemption is forcing Shein, Temu, and TikTok Shop to pivot, but it isn鈥檛 clear that shoppers will follow.

Tapestry dismisses impact of tariffs on FY performance as 鈥渋mmaterial鈥�: The Coach parent projected healthy growth as more Gen Zers and millennials pay full price for its bags.

The EU proposed a fee on small shipments: The new tax would add to the growing challenges facing Shein and Temu.

In our first edition of the Global Digital Index, created in partnership with the RLC Global Forum, we explore retail and ecommerce in the Gulf States of the Middle East.

Tariffs overshadow Macy鈥檚 turnaround progress: Sales fell less than expected on strength at Bloomingdale鈥檚 and Bluemercury, but pressures on discretionary spending could add to department store headwinds.

Abercrombie & Fitch opts not to stock up on inventory despite tariff risks: The retailer is staying lean in order to chase trends and maximize full-price sales.

Remittances represent a large share of global payments and will keep growing鈥攁lthough at a flat rate. Traditional money transfer organizations have to fight harder for a share of the prize as digital-only entrants have stepped up the competition.

The situation: Nike鈥檚 turnaround will likely take some time. In FYQ4, the company鈥檚 sales fell 12% YoY (11% on a constant-currency basis), reflecting what CFO Matthew Friend called the 鈥渓argest financial impact鈥� from the company鈥檚 reset strategy. Still, he expressed confidence that 鈥渉eadwinds will moderate from here,鈥� emphasizing Nike鈥檚 focus on execution and controlling what it can. Our take: Turning around a company the size of Nike is like trying to turn around an ocean liner in rough waters. Change takes time, especially amid headwinds like tariffs and shaky demand, and execution missteps keep dragging on performance. Nike is adjusting course鈥攍eaning back into wholesale, cleaning up its inventory, and getting more surgical with product drops鈥攂ut calm seas are still a ways off.

The only certain thing about TikTok鈥檚 sale is more uncertainty: Washington keeps kicking the can on a US sale, leaving TikTok to convince advertisers not to panic.

The news: Temu鈥檚 foothold in the US is shrinking as the company pulls back sharply on advertising. Weekly sales slumped more than 25% YoY between May 11 and June 8, according to Bloomberg Second Measure. Our take: Given the importance of the US market to Temu and its merchants, it鈥檚 possible that its current pause on US ad spending and shift to Europe is a temporary effort to regroup as it searches for a business model more resistant to tariffs and the end of de minimis. At the same time, the longer the pause goes on, the more ground it will cede to Shein and other competitors鈥攁nd the harder it will be to regain market share.

The news: President Donald Trump is expected to sign another executive order extending TikTok鈥檚 sale deadline as the current June 19 deadline approaches, marking the third extension since Trump took office. Our take: Trump is likely to continue extending TikTok鈥檚 sale deadline鈥攂ut with each extension, brand confidence plummets further as the platform鈥檚 long term sustainability remains shrouded in uncertainty. The brands that will be most successful aren鈥檛 those that are crossing their fingers for TikTok鈥檚 survival, but those that are investing in contingency plans and platform-agnostic strategies that can pivot quickly.

In the first 100 days of his second term, President Trump has reshaped business strategy across retail, tech, healthcare, and media. Here鈥檚 how tariffs, regulation, and market volatility are forcing brands to rethink spend, growth, and planning.

Alibaba and JD.com embark on ambitious expansions despite challenging conditions: Both are making expensive delivery investments that could worsen China鈥檚 price wars.

Consumer spending surged in March: But the rapid decline in consumer sentiment and likely surge in inflation is sure to slow that momentum in the coming months.