Retail Brew // Morning Brew // Update

January 08, 2025

Hey hey. Saks Fifth Avenue this week unveiled a new line to celebrate Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary, which includes a candle collaboration with Le Labo. While we’d hoped they’d try to bottle what we imagine is the scent of SNL—spotlight-induced nervous sweat and the sweet scent of NYC streets—into a candle, it turns out it’s just the Santal 26 candle with SNL-themed packaging.

In today’s edition:

—Alex Vuocolo, Katie Hicks, Erin Cabrey

STORES

Staying vigilant

Artmarie/Getty Images

In 2024, inflation slowed. Prices dropped. And big box retailers smashed the discount button like their lives depended on it—and maybe it did. As inflation-weary customers increasingly traded down to discounters and private label brands, companies had to stay competitive on everything from cost to in-store experience.

Now a new year is starting, and a new presidential administration is calling for hefty tariffs on imported goods from major trading partners such as China. Some experts believe this policy could reaccelerate inflation, and raise costs for retailers at a time when consumers are demanding lower prices and markdowns.

“2025 presents a lot of economic uncertainty based on stated policy positions which may or may not take place in the US,” Matt Pavich, pricing expert at Revionics and former manager of merchandising process and systems development at Target, told Retail Brew. “The largest one looming over retail is tariff increases which, by definition, equal a cost increase on not only imported goods, but products manufactured or grown domestically with imported components.”

Keep reading here.—AV

Presented By Postscript

Take it to the text level

If you’re deep in ponder mode over what to text your subscribers, step away from the emojis. Evergreen SMS strategies can be yours—as long as you leverage this top revenue channel at timely moments.

That’s where Postscript’s 2025 SMS Marketing Calendar comes in handy.

Postscript has simplified SMS by sourcing ideas for opportunities you can use almost daily. Check out real brand examples for holidays—including ones that are more out of the box. For example, if you’re a beauty brand not tapping into Take a Selfie Day, you maaay wanna reevaluate.

Postscript’s calendar also comes with monthly goals to help you hit winning targets. Just add it to your bookmarks, and it’s all yours.

MARKETING

Fast and curious

Employee controls products at the logistic hub of online market place 'Vestiaire Collective' in Tourcoing, northern France.

Philippe Huguen/AFP via Getty Images

If you can’t beat ’em, teach ’em. That seems to be Vestiaire Collective’s new motto.

The secondhand luxury retailer, which a year ago banned the sale of items from brands it classifies as fast fashion, including Shein and H&M, on its platform, is now bringing its anti-fast-fashion ethos to its influencer marketing strategy.

Beginning in November, Vestiaire Collective kicked off a six-month program with five influencers across the US, France, Italy, the UK, and Germany to educate them about the harms of fast fashion and encourage them to share their learnings with audiences online, Dounia Wone, the brand’s chief impact officer, told us.

Keep reading here on Marketing Brew.—KH

COMMUNITY

Coworking with Amanda Zuckerman

Amanda Zuckerman

On Wednesdays, we ~~wear pink~~ spotlight Retail Brew’s readers. Want to be featured in an upcoming edition? Click here to introduce yourself.

Amanda Zuckerman is co-founder and president at home decor brand Dormify.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? I am the founder and leader of Dormify, where we help college students and young audiences make their living spaces feel like home. I started Dormify because I couldn’t find stylish dorm essentials when I was in college, and now our company creates and curates an e-commerce experience covering everything from bedding to decor that’s specifically designed for students. My job is all about understanding what students want and creating products that let them express their unique styles, plus leading marketing strategies and creative content that connect directly with students to make sure our marketing feels genuine and relatable.

One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? I spend a lot of time on TikTok! Most people try to minimize their time at work on social media in order to be “productive,” but the more time I can spend connecting with our Gen Z audience there and understanding their evolving preferences and trends of the moment, the better we can tailor our offerings to meet their needs. It’s all about staying in tune with what they want!

What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on? My favorite project I’ve worked on was opening pop-up shops in our key markets a couple years ago. With a scrappy budget and little experience, we opened retail stores in a showroom model (orders shipped home) in some of the most prominent shopping centers and malls in America.

Keep reading here.—EC

Together With Postscript

Think outside the inbox. Evergreen SMS strategies can be yours with help from Postscript’s 2025 SMS Marketing Calendar. By sourcing ideas for opportunities you can use almost daily, Postscript’s real brand examples can help you crush highlighted monthly goals. Check out the full calendar and add ideas to your own.

SWAPPING SKUS

Today’s top retail reads.

Click into place: During the holiday season, US consumers’ online spending jumped almost 9%, Adobe Analytics found. (Reuters)

Nothing to sniff at: The beauty trends to keep an eye on in 2025, from fragrance layering to launches targeting Gen Alpha. (Business of Fashion)

Claws out: Puma is challenging the logo for Tiger Woods’s apparel brand Sun Day Red, claiming it’s too similar to the Leaping Cat logo it has used since 1969. (CNBC)

Just text me: Postscript’s 2025 SMS Marketing Calendar can help simplify your brand’s SMS strategy with ideas you can use almost daily. See it for yourself, and get cooking on those text drafts.*

^{*A message from our sponsor.}

SHARE THE BREW

Share Retail Brew with your coworkers, acquire free Brew swag, and then make new friends as a result of your fresh Brew swag.

We’re saying we’ll give you free stuff and more friends if you share a link. One link.

Your referral count: 0

Click to Share

Or copy & paste your referral link to others:
retailbrew.com/r/?kid=6b35f7e7

ADVERTISE // CAREERS // SHOP // FAQ

Update your email preferences or unsubscribe .
View our privacy policy .

Copyright © 2025 Morning Brew Inc. All rights reserved.
22 W 19th St, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10011

☕ Boxed in