The internet says 2026 is the new 2016

‍The Crumbling of a Luxury Legacy. Saks Global plans to file for bankruptcy after missing a debt payment of $100M tied to its Neiman Marcus acquisition, according to the Wall Street Journal. Marc Metrick, the luxury conglomerate’s CEO, has also officially stepped down.

Since the formation of Saks Global, the company has been hit with a slew of setbacks and obstacles. We’ve reported several fractures in the Saks Global foundation, including the company's loss of several senior executives to competitors such as Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom. In September, the company hoped to sell a minority stake in luxury retailer Bergdorf Goodman to reduce debt and offset financial strain caused by tariffs and weakening customer demand.

Tariff Tweaks. Trump tariffs are affecting prices on some appliances, but the President has delayed tariff increases on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities to Jan. 1, 2027, leading to a collective sigh of relief among global home retailers like IKEA and Wayfair. The US Department of Commerce has also lowered proposed duties on several Italian pasta makers after reassessing their US activities. La Molisana’s tariffs have been cut to 2.26%, while Garofalo’s new rate is 13.98%. The remaining 11 producers have a tariff rate of 9.09%. 

Our assessment of the First 100 Days has become so much more than that. As the Commerce Department remains a prominent player on the world stage, we’re seeing the lines between commerce, technology, and policy increasingly intertwined. 

Is Weight Loss a Retail Gain? Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are expected to bring GLP-1 pills to market in 2026. CNBC is already calling out the stocks that will benefit, but what will this next wave of growth mean for retail? Previously, GLP-1 medications have largely been injectable and not as accessible. A new pill-shaped form will open it to a new subset of consumers who likely got the “icks” from the injectable format and, in turn, boost overall adoption. Although prices won’t likely change much, we think this will lead to a continued shift in brand sizing and inventory allocation, something retailers have long struggled with.

‍The Smell of Value. Vacation, the sun care brand that has capitalized on nostalgia, has hired investment bank Raymond James to explore a minority stake deal. Although neither company has officially commented, Beauty Independent reported that Raymond James has been hosting potential partners and presenting fireside chats to make the case for the brand. 

We featured Vacation co-founder Marty Bell in our MUSES journal to explore the brand’s distinctive aesthetic and storytelling approach. By worldbuilding with a specific point of view, Vacation has carved out a distinct space in a crowded market of much larger heritage brands.

‍Luxury Handbags as Ad Space. CES is next week, so get ready for the fashion-tech mashups. One of the first is Peuty’s smart leather handbag featuring an OLED display so fashionistas can further customize the design. There are only 100 Infinity bags available; each is numbered and certified. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on one, you can use a mobile app to change the bag’s colors, patterns, animations, digital art, and even ADD custom messages. While the opportunities for personalization and customization are clear, we can’t help but notice this is a sparkly new surface for Lammers Law. 

Instacart Pays Up. Just a few weeks after an in-depth study confirmed its AI technology led to staggering price manipulation, Instacart was sued by the Federal Trade Commission and ordered to pay $60M in consumer refunds. This case, however, is tied to its Instacart+ membership trial and associated fees. As part of a special promotion for first-time customers, Instacart promised free delivery. However, the FTC challenged the promotion, noting that although the delivery fee was waived, the associated service fees amounted to nearly 15% of the order cost, making them “delivery fees by another name.”