The Week in Commerce Marketing — Retail, E-commerce and DTC: May 30, 2025 edition

Welcome to The Week in Commerce Marketing — Retail, E-commerce and DTC, a weekly roundup for marketers from Quad Insights.

Just in time for barbecue season, Target’s Good & Gather private label is teaming up with Rodney Scott, the celebrity chef, restauranteur and acclaimed pitmaster. Part of the retailer’s Good & Gather Collabs collection — launched earlier this year with chef/restauranteur Ann Kim — Good & Gather Collabs + Rodney Scott features 12 limited-time Carolina-style products, ranging from sauces (Sweet Heat Relish, Smooth & Tangy White Sauce) to snacks (Sweet & Salty BBQ Trail Mix) to sides (BBQ Macaroni & Cheese). The line hits Target shelves on Sunday (June 1), with all items priced under $9.

Previously: “Target debuts rebrand for its private-label Up&Up brand,” from the Feb. 7 edition of this column.

Staples just announced the return of its iconic Easy Button, aka E.B., and its “That was easy” catchphrase. The office supplies retailer says it sees E.B. as “a symbol of how Staples has evolved to meet the needs of today’s customers and the realities of modern life,” and is supporting the comeback with a campaign across out-of-home, digital, social (check out this video with Lance Bass), radio and streaming. Through June 7, all in-store and online purchases of $50 or more come with a free Staples Easy Button, while supplies last.

More retailer campaigns:

• “Dick’s Sporting Goods VRST delivers a playful ode to masculinity — in rap” (Ad Age)
• “Teddy Swims Tries to Help Kay Jewelers ‘Love Louder’” (MediaPost)

Professional golf is no stranger to high-dollar advertising campaigns; the top-tier PGA Tour is backed by traditional big spenders such as Cisco, Deloitte and HSBC. But during this week’s Memorial Tournament, one brand managed to cut through the noise: Chipotle. In partnership with Cobra Golf, the quick-serve restaurant dropped a unique club head cover designed to look like a foil-wrapped burrito, which appeared in PGA veteran Max Homa’s bag as he played the course. The $90 cover — and accompanying Chipotle-branded shag bag — made the rounds on social media and has since secured earned media coverage from The New York Times. The limited-edition pieces, sold out on the Cobra website, are now fetching upwards of $350 on eBay.

More consumer insights:

• “Consumer confidence rebounds in May amid increased optimism” (Chain Store Age)
• “Trader Joe’s No. 1 In Annual Axios Harris Poll Rankings” (Store Brands)
• “Brand loyalty declines, consumers more open to private label” (Food Business News)
• “Tariffs spark ‘made in USA’ marketing surge, but brands must tread carefully” (Modern Retail)

E.l.f. Cosmetics just announced that it’s raising its prices by $1. In an Instagram post featuring anthropomorphized e.l.f. products (complete with googly eyes and downturned mouths), the brand stated, “Dear e.l.f.ies, let’s talk. We know things are tight rn, and the fact that you keep choosing us? Major feels. Not gonna lie, inflation and tariffs are hitting us hard.” (Click through to see the message complete with emojis.) The new pricing won’t kick in till August 1, and the brand says that 75% of its products will still cost less than $10.

See also: “Facing an uncertain market, E.l.f. Beauty acquires Hailey Bieber’s Rhode for $1 billion” (Glossy)

More tariff-related news:

• “Macy’s Is Raising Prices as Tariffs Erode Sales and Profits” (RetailWire)
• “Abercrombie & Fitch reports ‘record’ sales, cuts earnings outlook due to tariffs” (Chain Store Age)
• “AI Search, Tariffs To Influence Amazon ‘Prime Day’” (MediaPost)
• “Best Buy cuts profit outlook due to tariffs, says it already hiked some prices” (CNBC)
• ICYMI: “Target’s Q1 earnings disappoint amid battle with tariffs, consumer backlash” (Grocery Dive)
• ICYMI: “Ralph Lauren Leans on AI, Predictive Buying to Offset Tariff Risks” (Consumer Goods Technology)

Hurley just debuted a collection with drummer and producer Travis Barker — best known as a member of ’90s pop-punk band Blink 182 — focused on “the Southern California pop-punk and surf scenes,” per a brand announcement. The Hurley x Travis Barker collection includes a range of apparel and accessories, from T-shirts to chino pants, featuring Barker-inspired prints and designs. The collection is available now at Hurley.com and select retailers.

More launches and collabs:

• “Tiger Woods’ Sun Day Red Tees Off With Retro-inspired ‘Spectator’ Golf Shoe With High-Tech Twists” (Footwear News)
• “Ksubi x New Era Launch a Limited-Edition Cap Collaboration” (Trend Hunter)

Operations and innovations:

• “Warby Parker personalizes frame recommendations with AI” (Chain Store Age)
• “Williams-Sonoma Buys Dormify IP, Plans 2026 Relaunch” (Retail TouchPoints)
• “After selling online for 25 years, Nuts.com is making a big push into retail” (Modern Retail)
• “Dick’s to open first House of Sport in Michigan” (Chain Store Age)
• ICYMI: “Sam’s Club gets into the pizza delivery business” (Supermarket News)
• ICYMI: “Online Grocer FreshDirect Readies 1st Physical Store” (Progressive Grocer)