When Juliet Wine launched in 2022, founders Allison Luvera and Lauren De Niro Pipher tasked themselves with an ambitious marketing goal: overcoming the negative stigma that has long settled around boxed wine, a product some associated with low quality, low prices, and even a notorious college drinking game called “slap the bag.”

“We thought there was a really unique opportunity to create something that had all of the wonderful attributes—the convenience, the sustainability aspects—of box wine, but really transcended the category” in terms of both quality and design, Luvera said.

Yet the brand’s proprietary “eco-magnum” packaging pushes the definition of “boxed.” Rather than a brown cardboard square or rectangle, Juliet’s six wine varieties are packaged in colorful 1.5-liter cylinders meant to stand out on the shelf next to more traditional competitors in the boxed wine category.

Now Juliet is testing its ability to make an impression on shoppers in much bigger marketplaces. Starting in 2024, the direct-to-consumer company launched its wholesale business, linking up with distributors in six different states and finding a place on shelves in big box chains such as Costco, Whole Foods, and Safeway.

“We always envisioned this reaching a larger audience via a higher-end big box store,” De Niro Pipher said.

Keep reading here.—AV

President Trump’s elimination of the de minimis exemption, which previously allowed tax-free imports of certain goods under $800, is officially in effect. While the change impacts many companies,two major fashion retailers are bearing the brunt of it already.

And yes, we do mean Shein and Temu.

According to CNBC, Temu’s daily active users in the US were down 52% last month compared to March, while Shein reported a 25% drop. Both retailers also pulled back on US advertising spend, which contributed to a dip in popularity among shoppers.

While we don’t necessarily hear hearts breaking over the news, it does raise questions about their future in the US. Is it the end of China-brokered ultra fast-fashion retail in the US? Well, it doesn’t have to be, experts say.

Keep reading here.—JS

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Nim Sharon is VP of business development at consumer intelligence platform NielsenIQ.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? I provide retailers and brands with insights into what’s selling, who’s buying, where, and why—the crystal ball for consumer behavior.

One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? Despite NielsenIQ having 8,000 employees, my team is small—we’re at ground zero, building out North American expansion from the ground up!

What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on? Working with some of the world’s largest consumer brands and helping them understand new growth channels. Fascinating to see growth of D2C and TikTok Shop provide new opportunities for established brands.

Which emerging retail trend are you most excited about right now, and why? Fascinating to see how retailers are leveraging AI to analyze consumer preferences and tailor recommendations specifically to me.

Keep reading here.—EC

Retail’s being rewritten—are you in? Join us July 23 in New York (or virtually) for Rewiring Retail, where we’ll decode the future of digital commerce, inventory, and customer experience. Hear from leaders like Jeremiah Linder, VP of global retail at ŌURA, on how brands are turning data into loyalty and clicks into conversions. Grab your ticket now!

From a law student’s first store in 2006 to powering 12% of US online sales today, Shopify has reshaped the DTC e-commerce landscape. Learn how the pandemic accelerated its growth, how simplicity fueled its success, and what top exec Harley Finkelstein reveals about Shopify’s evolution from startup to industry giant. Dive into the story behind the platform changing retail forever.