Amid an economically challenging time for retail startups, more brands are pursuing a little-discussed alternative to Chapter 11 bankruptcy: an ABC. buff.ly/4b434TT

It’s an interesting time to be working in retail.

It’s hard for many consumer-facing businesses to raise cash and customer acquisition costs are rising. Meanwhile, most brands are focused on profitability rather than growth at all costs. buff.ly/3JrNu8J

Michelle Peterson, CMO at Kendra Scott, hates the idea of a division between brand and performance marketing. buff.ly/3Jq5zUC

A union-supported proposal in New York state would require retail stores to implement new workplace safety measures, a response to rising concerns around violence toward employees and in public spaces. buff.ly/3vZOttE

here's an interesting one! eyebuydirect—the destination for $10 glasses frames (which, yes, i have purchased because they were $10)—just opened a... mall kiosk? modernretail.co/operations/eye…

etsy has become full of non-handmade products -- including dropshipped items and shein clothing. longtime sellers say the focus is now on SEO and digital hacks over the craftsmanship it was once known for. Julia Waldow modernretail.co/technology/sel…

Sellers worry that Etsy is becoming too much like Amazon, as the platform is being flooded with dropshipped and mass-produced items Julia Waldow reports. modernretail.co/technology/sel…

Violife is trying to become the Oatly of plant-based cheese. The brand's global president and chief brand officer Olga Osminkina-Jones joined the Modern Retail Podcast and spoke about its growth strategy. buff.ly/4d5RFET

Specialty bottle shops offer non-alcoholic drinks brands unique shelf space. However, the future of this category's retail prospects remains tied to national chains. buff.ly/4d4QWUu

Direct-to-consumer eyewear brand Eyebuydirect has been selling online since the mid-2000s. Now, the company is ready to dip its toes in physical retail with a mall kiosk. buff.ly/3vNJdt7

The number of Etsy sellers rose 21% from 2022 to 2023, according to the marketplace. And yet, some merchants tell Modern Retail they've found the site harder to use due to increased competition, SEO troubles and hiked fees. buff.ly/4avgmc1

Economic turbulence punctuated this year’s Modern Retail Index. Compared to 2021 and 2022, when retailers focused on pandemic-driven online growth and post-pandemic transition, retailers in 2023 focused on staying afloat. buff.ly/440YVxE

In a bid to expand its revenue streams, Gopuff has launched a new platform that would allow other brands to provide affordable delivery from their own websites. buff.ly/4azKNOr

That's a wrap from the Modern Retail Commerce Summit! As always, thank you to all of our attendees and sponsors. We'll see you at the next one 👋 #mrsummit

Bombas continues to branch outside of its core sock business to grow its share in other categories. buff.ly/49Lf2Ay

The squeeze bottle, a staple in restaurant kitchens, hit the mainstream with Graza, a DTC and wholesale olive oil brand that came to market in early 2022. buff.ly/3xCROPM

Fragmented data leads to fragmented relationships, but an optimized tech stack unlocks opportunities for brands and retailers to create personalized experiences. Sponsored by Klaviyo. buff.ly/4cY86D0

Amid an economically challenging time for retail startups, more brands like Bandier and Zulilly are pursuing a little-discussed alternative to bankruptcy. Here's what startups need to know. buff.ly/3UjTTsN

There's a fierce debate taking place in the olive oil world right now over whether or not to sell it in plastic squeeze bottles Melissa M. Daniels reports. But, with the rise of Graza, more consumers are requesting it, leading some companies to acquiesce modernretail.co/operations/to-…

In our How Prose Has Expanded its Business While Keeping Profitability in Mind session, cale g weissman chats with Arnaud Plas - Entrepreneur of Prose about how the company strategizes its growth while making sure marketing and expansions don’t break the bank. #mrsummit