Allison Smith

3 weeks ago | modernretail.co | Allison Smith

Rick Woldenberg never expected to be at the center of aconstitutional showdown. As the CEO of Learning Resources Inc., a family-owned educational toy company based in Chicago, Woldenberg has spent decades growing the business his grandfather originally founded in 1916. But after the Trump administration’s sweeping global tariffs pushed his import tax bill from $2.3 million to a projected $100 million, he decided he couldn’t wait for Washington to course-correct. He sued. On Thursday, he won.

1 month 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 month 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 month 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 month 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.