Retail Brew // Morning Brew // Update

January 13, 2026

Happy Tuesday. Sushi restaurant to the stars Nobu is offering a limited edition $83 golden yuzu lobster dish inspired by the feast it cooked up for Sunday’s Golden Globes. Because we all know that when we dream about attending a red carpet event, it’s for the food.

In today’s edition:

—Vidhi Choudhary, Jeena Sharma, Katie Hicks

E-COMMERCE

All too human

a man waves at two silver robots in front of a Hisense booth at CES 2026 in Las Vegas

China News Service/Getty Images

Over the years, AI has evolved beyond just screens and speakers, and is now embedded in nearly everything people do.

But human and emotional connection within AI cut across the various tracks at the biggest technology mixer of the year. Vendors in AI robotics showcased systems that adapt to who you are and what you need across home and work environments. So, learning about people and making AI more personalized in retail and tech was front and center at CES.

It was easy to spot AI’s expansion into every corner of life—from wearables and smart homes to customer engagement—on the CES show floor.

In fact, Retail Brew spotted humanoid robots performing various retail and food related tasks. One robot developed by AI robotics company Sharpa played blackjack, xBot showcased an AI-powered coffee-making robot, and Paxini featured an advanced AI humanoid robot making ice cream.

Another standout human touch at CES 2026? Creators. In a sea of AI, they’re the trusted shopping sidekicks people still turn to when deciding what to buy. Yet another theme was reinventing physical retail to make it worth the visit. The brick and mortar business, which has been declared dead several times since the pandemic, is still relevant, but the next generation of physical stores has to feel like something out of a movie to lure shoppers in.

“Constantly, technology is changing, and it’s always in service of humans and consumers and needs, and so while what’s on the floor or who’s on the stage might look slightly different, I think what underlies it is this amazing human drive to create technology that changes the world,” Corie Barry, CEO of Best Buy, shared during her appearance onstage on Tuesday.

Keep reading here.—VC

Presented By Comcast Business

Is your business prepared for AI shopping?

With AI shopping traffic up 4,700% and 60% of shoppers intending to use AI agents, many retailers are trying to navigate the fast-changing industry. Others, however, are thriving by unifying commerce.

Now, more than ever before, unifying the physical and digital can keep your business competitive.

In the Retail Technology Trends Report, Comcast Business shows you how advanced connectivity helps retailers improve the user experience and stay ahead of industry changes.

RETAIL

Alpha leagues

Francis Scialabba

Move over, Gen Z: Gen Alpha is already reshaping household spending in the US and UK.

According to Teneo’s Gen Alpha Consumer Influence Study, which surveyed 1,000 children born between 2010 and 2014, nearly half (48%) of parental spending across the US and UK is now influenced by Gen Alpha. That’s more than $255 billion in spending across food, fashion, and leisure in the US alone.

Which raises the real question: What’s actually influencing Gen Alpha? Despite being the first fully digitally native generation, it’s not influencers calling the shots. Instead, Gen Alpha values what Teneo calls “real-world credibility,” prioritizing the opinions of friends and family. Just 29% say they trust what they see in online ads.

When it comes to buying decisions, style (51%) and visual appeal (47%) topped the list—far outweighing concerns like sustainability, which just 16% cited as a factor.

Keep reading here.—JS

MARKETING

Liquid gold

Screenshots from Liquid Death's TikTok account, featuring a woman cleaning the house with a can of the beverage and a can in a ring box.

Illustration: Morning Brew Design, Photos: @liquiddeath/TikTok

Nothing’s being watered down here.

Liquid Death, which began as a canned-water company in 2017, has amassed more than 14 million followers across TikTok and Instagram, which Dan Murphy, the brand’s SVP of marketing, attributes to a commitment to making people laugh. In recent years, the brand has put out memorable campaigns like “Kegs for Pregs” and casket coolers in an effort that goes beyond standing out from other brands.

“We’re competing with the feed,” Murphy told us. “We’re trying to be the funniest thing in your feed that day.”

For Liquid Death, it’s comedy at all costs—often quite literally—with stunts that toe the line of realism and often make fun of the exact industry they’re participating in: advertising.

Keep reading here on Marketing Brew.—KH

Text me, maybe

Icon of a clipboard with a check mark on a maroon background

Morning Brew Inc.

SMS isn’t just for delivery updates and discount codes anymore. Vibes reveals seven standout insights from its 2026 Mobile Consumer Survey, showing how mobile messages are driving real purchases and what brands can do to keep conversations converting. Register today.

SWAPPING SKUS

Today’s top retail reads.

Post-holiday blues: Early sales reports from retailers like Lululemon and Urban Outfitters showed solid yet unremarkable growth during the 2025 holiday season. (WWD)

Bundling up: L.L.Bean named longtime employee Greg Elder as its next president and CEO. (Portland Press Herald)

Disassembled: Furniture retail chains Value City and American Signature will close their remaining locations as part of their parent company’s bankruptcy filing. (Retail Dive)

Unifying commerce: Retailers are adapting to AI shopping. Comcast Business shows how unifying the physical and digital can help keep you competitive.*

^{*A message from our sponsor.}

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