Allison Smith

1 week ago | modernretail.co | Allison Smith

This is the latest installment of the Marketplace Briefing, a weekly Modern Retail+ column about the ever-changing e-commerce marketplace landscape. More from the series →Amazon shoppers may not yet be feeling the full sting of tariffs at checkout — but signs are emerging that prices are inching higher, with a sharper surge looming this summer. Data shared with Modern Retail shows a steady climb in prices across some Amazon categories as brands begin to price in the costs of new tariffs.

1 week ago | modernretail.co | Allison Smith

As Chinese e-commerce giants Temu and Shein grapple with rising trade headwinds in the U.S., both companies are swiftly shifting focus — and gaining ground — in Europe, according to new data from Consumer Edge. Temu’s year-over-year salesgrowth in the European Unionsurged more than 60% in early May, with France leading the charge at nearly 100% growth. Shein, meanwhile, is maintaining strong momentum across the region, especially in the U.K., where its growth hovers around 50%.

1 week ago | modernretail.co | Allison Smith

In mid-May, the U.S. and China announced a 90-day pause on most tariffs on each other’s goods — a move that sent U.S. small- and medium-sized businesses rushing to replenish inventory, according to Alibaba.com, a business-to-business marketplace that connects suppliers with buyers globally.

1 week ago | modernretail.co | Allison Smith

Brands are increasingly building their marketing around “Made in USA” claims to signal quality, patriotism, and — perhaps most importantly — tariff-free pricing. But not every product that appears American can legally make that claim, and brands that run afoul of that line have gotten into trouble in the past. Search interest for “Made in USA” goods has surged in recent weeks, since President Trump’s tariff hikes on Chinese imports hit in April.

2 weeks ago | modernretail.co | Allison Smith

This is the latest installment of the Marketplace Briefing, a weekly Modern Retail+ column about the ever-changing e-commerce marketplace landscape. More from the series →Shopify is pitching its consumer-facing Shop app as a social-driven shopping destination, rather than traditional marketplace, with a slew of new features and updates.