Morning Brew - ☕ Tariff-ic ideas

The impact of tariffs on e-commerce.

Hey there, we have some news for both Birkenstock haters and fervent fans. A German court has declared the beloved sandals are a “design,” not art, in a lawsuit brought by the company. That means other shoe brands can sell similar designs without infringing on its copyright. Of course, we believe art is in the eye of the beholder.

In today’s edition:

—Vidhi Choudhary, Erin Cabrey, Ryan Barwick

SUPPLY CHAIN

Supply chain tariffs

Douglas Rissing/Getty Images

In February, President Donald Trump first imposed 25% additional tariffs on Canada and Mexico and subsequently paused the move by 30 days. Trump also scrapped a duty-free exemption for small parcels, known as de minimis, but reinstated it until the Commerce Department has a proper system in place to collect tariff revenue per an executive order.

While the holiday season may have been a bright spot for the retail industry, the past few weeks have become a game of Whack-a-Mole for many companies.

Executives from three agencies that work with e-commerce brands selling across platforms like Amazon, Shopify, and TikTok Shop said the impact of policy changes on e-commerce remains uncertain. But overall, prices of some items sold online may go up, as Trump tries to influence global supply chains.

The way Vinny O’Brien, producer and consultant at e-commerce agency RMW Commerce, sees it, the initial enthusiasm for Trump’s presidency and its promised business-friendly approach has quickly turned to uncertainty.

Keep reading here.—VC

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STORES

A shopper pushes a cart at a store

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

President Trump’s proposed tariffs are influencing some consumers to doom spend, according to a new survey.

A survey of 2,000 Americans conducted by CreditCards.com released this week found 1 in 5 American consumers are buying more products than usual as a result of Trump’s proposed tariffs. Within this group, 5% are buying significantly more, while 14% are purchasing slightly more; 29% say Trump’s tariffs are mostly driving this push, while 37% say the tariffs have somewhat of an impact.

Since Trump’s election, 28% of consumers have made a purchase exceeding $500, while 21% haven’t yet made a large purchase but plan to in the near future. Of those that have bought pricey items, 22% said the tariffs were a main factor, and 30% said they had some impact on their decision. The top items purchased were electronics (39%), home appliances (31%), and home improvement materials (25%).

Some consumers are also stockpiling items, the survey found.

Keep reading here.—EC

MARKETING

Collaged screenshots of Saquon Barkley, football runinng back player, shotgunning beer. Credit: Illustration: Anna Kim, Screenshots via @DMRussini/X

Illustration: Anna Kim, Screenshots via @DMRussini/X

After winning his first Super Bowl, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley did what so many Philadelphia Eagles and their fans have done before him—shotgunned a beer, shirtless, in less than three seconds.

In a video capturing the feat that soon went viral among sports accounts like Barstool and Bleacher Report, eagle-eyed viewers can just make out Barkley’s brew of choice: Open, a craft lager based out of Los Angeles.

Beer brands typically shell out millions to advertise during the big game, but in the case of Open Brewing, the exposure came without the sticker-shock.

Keep reading here on Marketing Brew.—RB

Together With Fidelity

SWAPPING SKUS

Today’s top retail reads.

Hitting a wall: Despite impressive sales numbers, Walmart projects slow growth as inflation and impending tariffs make the future murky. (the New York Times)

Incoming: While several retailers prepare for possible tariffs, indie fashion designers could be up against unique challenges. (Vogue Business)

Falling short: Why Forever 21 is struggling to land a buyer amid its possible second bankruptcy. (CNBC)

Sell here: Walmart Marketplace is one of the fastest-growing e-commerce platforms in the US. Get access to a network of millions of customers + innovative programs built to help you scale.*

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