U.S. Trade Deficit Surge Sets 2026 Tone
December’s widening U.S. trade deficit closed 2025 on uneven footing, shaping 2026 strategy for retailers, importers and global supply chain leaders.
Staff Report
Global insights on omnichannel retail and commerce from the Doing Business in Bentonville Staff Report Team—expert analysis and trends shaping Bentonville’s role in the future of business.
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Hapag-Lloyd Acquires ZIM in $4B Deal
Hapag-Lloyd will acquire ZIM for $4 billion, expanding global container capacity and reshaping competitive dynamics in ocean freight and international supply chains.
Wayfair Posts First Annual Growth Since 2020
Wayfair achieved its first annual revenue increase since 2020, outpacing the broader home sector in 2025 amid a challenging housing and import environment.
Billion-Dollar Firms Shift AI Strategy
Major U.S. firms are moving past AI hype, adopting disciplined, long-term capital approaches to integrate AI across enterprises with strategic ROI expectations.
Target Doubles Down on Store Experience
Target is boosting store labor investment and training to improve in-store experience amid operational challenges and strategic shifts under its new CEO.
Sesame Street Learn & Play Reopens at American Dream, Boosting Experiential Retail
The reopening of Sesame Street Learn & Play at American Dream showcases how experiential retail and themed entertainment draw families and drive visitation for mixed-use destinations.
Etsy Sells Depop to eBay for $1.2 Billion, Shares Rise
Etsy’s planned sale of trendy resale marketplace Depop to eBay for $1.2 billion underscores a strategic shift back to its core business, prompting significant stock gains and signaling renewed focus on its flagship handmade marketplace.
Ace Hardware Notches Record Q4, Full-Year Revenue Amid Profit Pressures
Ace Hardware closed its fiscal 2025 year with record fourth-quarter and full-year revenues — driven by strong retail and digital growth — even as net income declined, highlighting strategic tradeoffs between growth investment and profitability.
Nestlé’s Strategic Retreat From Ice Cream Signals Bold Marketing & Portfolio Shift
Nestlé’s announced exit from the ice cream business — with plans to sell its remaining operations to joint-venture partner Froneri — underscores a strategic marketing and brand focus on growth categories like coffee, nutrition, pet care, and snacks and beverages.
Monster Energy’s Early Drink Launches Boost Strategic Marketing Momentum
Monster Energy’s early 2026 release of three new beverages demonstrates innovative marketing tactics that deepen brand engagement and strengthen retail partnerships in a competitive energy drink landscape.
Pinterest Cites Tariff-Driven Ad Pullbacks After Mixed Q4 Earnings
Pinterest reported fourth-quarter revenue growth but a sharp profit decline, linking weaker advertising demand from major retailers to tariff pressures and signaling strategic changes ahead.
Markets Rally as AI Fears Ease, Investors Await Fed Minutes
U.S. stocks climbed Wednesday with the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq rising as technology shares recovered and worries about AI-driven disruption faded ahead of Federal Reserve meeting minutes.
Starbucks Investors Push to Replace Directors Over Labor Dispute
A group of Starbucks shareholders is urging investors to vote against two board members ahead of the 2026 annual meeting, citing oversight failures in the company’s handling of prolonged labor tensions.
Income Gap Worsens Grocery Strain in Southern States
A new study reveals that residents of several Southern states spend a higher share of their income on groceries due to lower median earnings, highlighting cost pressures and food affordability challenges.
Walmart Recasts Carbon Strategy With New 2040 Deadline
Walmart is advancing a revised decarbonization roadmap focused on achieving zero operational emissions by 2040 after acknowledging delays in its original 2025 and 2030 goals and shifting its carbon targets.
Judge Dismisses Lawsuit, Buffalo Wild Wings Keeps “Boneless Wings” Name
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging Buffalo Wild Wings’ use of the term “boneless wings,” ruling that the name isn’t misleading and allowing the restaurant chain to continue using it on menus.