Retailers brace for more tariff turmoil

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It's all over the news—Alexa just got a major glow-up. But did you know it can now order your groceries, track your past purchases, and even remember your favorite recipes? Yep, your kitchen just got a whole lot smarter. 

Oh, and if you’re a Prime member? It’s free. 

Speaking of mind-blowing, check these out:

• Retailers scramble for inventory as tariffs loom ⚠️
• Amazon Haul is struggling… while Temu & Shein soar 🛍️
• Rare Beauty cracked the Gen Z code (and hit $1B) 💄
• Walmart Connect just changed the ad game 📢

ECOMMERCE NEWS

The supply chain is in flux again, and retailers are feeling the pressure. In just a few weeks, tariffs on imports from China have doubled from 10% to 20%, while the 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico are on hold for now.

But here’s the twist, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF), imports are still climbing.

📦 Import surge continues

• January: 2.22 million TEU, up 13.4% YoY.
• February: Estimated at 2.07 million TEU, up 6.1% YoY—the busiest February in three years! (Final numbers are pending.)
• March: Projected to hit 2.14 million TEU, beating last year’s total.

🚢 Retailers' next move?

NRF’s VP Jonathan Gold says retailers are rushing to import as much as possible before tariffs rise further. It’s a smart short-term play, but it won’t solve long-term challenges.

The real fix? Supply chain diversification. 

With potential tariff hikes looming, retailers must rethink sourcing strategies and adapt before the next wave of disruption. 

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BITES OF THE WEEK

• SALESmanago New Sidekick: Europe’s leading Customer Engagement Platforms has developed AI Sidekick that guides marketers using its adaptable intelligence.
• DigitBridge Partners with Temu: DigitBridge customers can now connect to Temu, reaching millions of new buyers.
• Temu Won Germany Over: Temu received a "good" rating from Stiftung Warentest, Germany's leading consumer testing organization.
• SEA Ecommerce by 2028: Southeast Asia ecommerce market is expected to reach $325 billion by 2028.

HOT TOPIC

Amazon Haul struggles to compete with Temu and Shein

Amazon Haul launched with big ambitions, but three months later, it’s struggling to gain traction. 

According to Retail Dive, only 16% of U.S. consumers use it monthly. Meanwhile, 23% shop on Shein and 28% on Temu, with even TikTok Shop seeing more engagement.

🚧 Roadblocks ahead

Price wars aren’t the only battle Amazon Haul faces. 

• Rising tariffs could make China imports more expensive, limiting its ability to compete. 
• On top of that, 40% of consumers are willing to pay more for American-made products. This is a shift that benefits Amazon’s 3P sellers but not Haul’s ultra-cheap imports.

Amazon, however, isn’t hitting the panic button. The company highlights its strong consumer trust. And, while Temu’s retention rate is 28%, that’s still only half of Amazon’s.

🌎 What’s next?

• Reports suggest Amazon Haul may expand globally, but for now, we wait.
• Temu has locked in consumer loyalty, and 17.5% of global shoppers believe it could overtake Amazon as the world’s top ecommerce platform.

Greg Zakowicz, a senior ecommerce expert at Omnisend, puts it bluntly: Amazon Haul needs to “create compelling reasons for shoppers to choose Amazon Haul over existing options.”

The real question: Can it?

SOCIAL PULSE

How Rare Beauty won over Gen Z and built a billion-dollar brand

Before it ever ran an ad campaign, Rare Beauty was already worth billions. 

Retail Dive shared how, instead of relying on paid media, the Selena Gomez-founded brand built an empire through community, authenticity, and purpose.

🏆 Formula of success

• Community over campaigns. Most brands launch with splashy ad campaigns. Rare Beauty launched with conversation. 🤝
  • How they did it:They tapped influencers and word-of-mouth to build its audience. Instead of selling, it listened, engaged, and adapted to real needs.
• Cause over costs. When the pandemic hit, Rare Beauty didn’t pause—it doubled down on its mission: mental health advocacy. 💙
  • How they did it: It hosted Rare Chats over Zoom, providing support and conversation.
  • Impact: Today, Rare Beauty’s Mental Health Council and the Rare Impact Fund support 30+ nonprofits.
• Real-world engagement. For Rare Beauty, marketing is tangible. 🌎
  • How they did it: Rare Chats evolved into hikes, breathwork sessions, and Sephora shopping trips—proving that community doesn’t need a KPI to matter.

🔥 Marketing that doesn't feel like marketing

Rare Beauty’s success isn’t about low prices or flashy ads—it’s about making people feel seen, heard, and valued.

So, what’s your brand doing to build a real community? It’s time to go beyond sales and start creating meaningful connections.

TECH MARKETING

Walmart Connect introduces a new API for Display Ads

Retail media just got a major upgrade. Retail Dive reported that Walmart Connect has launched a Display Advertising API, giving brands and agencies more flexibility in how they buy and manage ads.

🔎 What’s new?

Before: Marketers had to go through Walmart’s interface to purchase onsite display ads. 

Now: You can run campaigns through your preferred ad tech partners, making it easier to optimize, report, and scale across multiple platforms.

📈 And the results? Game-changing. Early tests show that brands combining search and display ads saw:

• 40% more spending from shoppers exposed to both ad types
• 39% higher sales for hardline product campaigns
• 67% boost in entertainment, toys, and seasonal campaigns

In short: better targeting, better integration, and better performance.

🚀 Time to level up your Walmart ads. Are you testing out the new API? Hit reply and let us know!