蘑菇AV

The news: Cannes Lions 2025 marked a shift in retail media strategy, with platforms like Pinterest and Reddit forging deeper ties with retailers. CVS announced a clean room data partnership with Reddit to allow targeting based on shared first-party data, launching a Sensodyne and Advil campaign this fall. Pinterest partnered with Instacart to enable shopping from pins and connect ad exposure to sales via closed-loop attribution. Our take: Social platforms are becoming full-funnel retail media environments. By fusing community context with purchase signals, these integrations aim to blend discovery and commerce in real time鈥攑aving the way for more data-rich, measurable campaigns.

The second phase of the partnership will introduce closed-loop measurement that lets advertisers tie Pinterest Ads to sales on Instacart鈥檚 marketplace. As part of the deal, Instacart will facilitate shoppable ads on Pinterest, allowing users to complete purchases in just a few clicks and receive their items in as little as 30 minutes.

The US-China trade war drives Shein to diversify its sourcing: Shein and Reliance Retail plan to start international sales of India-made Shein-branded clothes within six to 12 months.

In Q1, the mass market grew faster than prestige beauty sales for the first time in several years, per Circana, an indication that shoppers are seeking more affordable ways to manage their beauty habits. Prestige dollar sales were flat YoY in Q1, compared with a 3% YoY increase in mass market dollar sales.

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.

It now expects comparable sales growth in the -1% to 1% range, down from prior expectations of as much as 2% growth. Unsurprisingly, earnings will also take a hit, although Best Buy noted that the cost increases coming its way are less than the full tariff rate due to its mitigation efforts.

The news: Lululemon is suing Costco for selling dupes. In a lawsuit filed June 25, the athleisure brand accuses the wholesale giant of infringing on its design patents by selling knockoff sweatshirts, jackets, and other activewear. Lululemon seeks an immediate halt to sales of the disputed products and unspecified monetary damages. Our take: For nearly as long as there have been name brands, there have been knockoffs. But the rise of dupe culture on TikTok鈥攃ombined with increasingly cost-conscious consumers looking鈥攊s pushing more shoppers toward cheaper alternatives and more brands to the brink. It's become a growing headache for companies like Est茅e Lauder, which have struggled as buyers opt for low-priced lookalikes. Lululemon鈥檚 lawsuit marks a significant escalation in the brand鈥檚 efforts to protect its designs. If it succeeds, it could set a precedent鈥攁nd signal that the era of unchecked dupes may be nearing a turning point.

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 news: Skims, the shapewear brand founded by Kim Kardashian, is on an expansion tear as it nears $1 billion in annual sales, per Business of Fashion. The company plans to open 16 stores in the US this year, bringing its total domestic footprint to 22. Over the next nine months, Skims expects to establish itself in seven new markets鈥攊ncluding stores in Mexico, London, and Dubai. Our take: While stores are hugely important to Skims鈥� growth, the company has several advantages over the rest of the D2C field. Unlike most other D2C companies, Skims doesn鈥檛 need to rely on its stores as billboards given its high-profile founder, who is also a fixture of its ad campaigns. Its partnership with Nike will give it access to an even larger audience and smooth its entry into the athleisure category鈥攁ssuming production delays don鈥檛 get in the way. The launch will also considerably increase Skims鈥� retail presence without needing to invest in premium real estate.

Longhorn Steakhouse, also part of the Darden portfolio, used a similar value-focused playbook that included lunch plates that come with a side of soup or salad to boost same-store sales 6.7%, outpacing the 5.3% forecast. Texas Roadhouse drew traffic with deals like $5 margaritas during happy hour that helped its same-store sales rise 3.5%.

The retailer operated 719 gas stations at the end of last year, generating about $30 billion in revenues鈥攁round 12% of total net sales, per the company鈥檚 annual report. Looking to expand this revenue stream, Costco has recently taken steps to make fuel access more convenient.

With grocery inflation at its highest point in 15 months, consumers are buying more private label brands and turning to retailers that can offer them the most value鈥攍ike Tesco, which reported a 5.1% increase in comparable sales for the most recent quarter. Our take: The UK economy鈥檚 contraction in April sets the stage for another year of tepid growth.

The news: US inflation ticked up 0.1% last month and 2.4% YoY, a softer read than many economists expected but one that kept the pressure on consumers already dealing with a higher cost of living. Our take: Retailers, especially grocers and discounters, can set themselves apart by helping consumers save money and be more financially responsible. Offering digital coupons, using in-store signage spotlighting sales on daily essentials, and rewarding loyal shoppers for repeat purchases can foster smarter spending.

That shift is already showing up in the data: Unit sales of core nonfood CPGs are nearly flat year to date and dipped 0.3% in Q2, when some of the most aggressive tariff actions鈥攍ike the so-called 鈥淟iberation Day鈥� duties鈥攔olled out. Inflation anxiety adds to that caution.

Comparable sales rose 1%, but Americas comps fell 2% (1% on a constant-dollar basis). Americas revenues grew just 3% (4% constant-dollar), well behind the 19% growth (20% constant-dollar) in international markets. In response to the softening demand, the company trimmed its full-year earnings guidance to $14.58 to $14.78 per share, down from $14.95 to $15.15.

Net sales were $2.48 billion, up 4.5% YoY, and ahead of the $2.43 billion analysts鈥� expected. Adjusted EPS was 73 cents, down about 3%, but outpacing the 66 cents expected. The company reaffirmed its full-year outlook, excluding the impact of tariffs, guiding to:. Net sales growth of 6% to 8%. Adjusted EPS decline of 1% to 4%.

Tariffs are slowing retail sales growth: A Reuters analysis found the Trump administration鈥檚 trade policies have cost companies more than $34 billion in lost sales and higher costs, and that toll keeps rising.

Our take: It remains to be seen whether the Mondelez suit will be the first of many as CPG companies look to protect their market share鈥攐r whether it鈥檚 a Hail Mary attempt to wrest back sales at a time when they鈥檙e trending firmly in favor of private labels. Go further: Read our report on Private Label Brands 2025.

Lowe鈥檚 expects to push past stiff headwinds this year: The retailer maintained its guidance of flat to 1% YoY comparable sales growth despite a stagnant housing market and macro uncertainty.