The Indicator | May 30th, 2025

By Sonal Gandhi
Chief Content Officer at The Lead

Tariff whiplash continued this week as the fight moved to courts. Gap Inc. estimated the cost of tariffs to be $100M – $150M to the company’s balance sheet this year. Meanwhile, e.l.f. Cosmetics acquired rhode skin and Nuts.com moved into physical retail.

'INNOVATION MOVES'

  • The first set of products from the Nike and Lego collab are coming to the market. A 1,180-piece Lego Nike Dunk High set for launch on July 1. Wearable products will follow Aug. 1 with the release of an Air Max Den along with apparel and accessories and a Dunk Low collection coming Sept. 1. (WWD)

  • Cycle care brand Rael, inspired by Korean formulas and technology, is announcing its latest expansion across several retailers with an assortment of categories. It is entering 300 Ulta Beauty doors via The Wellness Shop with supplements, period care and intimate care. Additionally, Rael is launching in 5,000 Walgreens doors and 1,549 Walmart doors. (WWD

  • David’s Bridal is rolling out a new partnership with the tuxedo rental platform Generation Tux that involves shop-in-shops across David’s Bridal stores. (Modern Retail

  • Nuts.com is launching a new line, Pop & Sol, entering 1,346 Targets, 166 The Fresh Markets, and 34 ShopRites across the United States for the first time. The company has had a small presence in WalmartSam’s Club, and Sprouts through the brand Kopper’s Chocolates, which Nuts.com acquired in 2016. But Nuts.com’s key business has been predominantly online since the late 1990s. Now, the company is looking to up its customer base and sales by broadening out into other channels. (Modern Retail

  • Brands are realizing that relying on international sourcing for complex products like shoes is a long-term risk they can no longer make. The scare accelerated a shift already underway: moving toward faster, smarter, more resilient ways to manufacture. Dolce Vita’s launch of Holis 3D, a made-to-order collection, is an example of the shift. Developed in partnership with Portland-based 3D-printing company Hilos, the line is manufactured domestically, printed and assembled within 72 hours of an order. (Glossy

  • For the first time in several years, year over year mass beauty sales outpaced prestige sales, according to Circana. While prestige sales were flat in Q1, mass beauty sales rose 3%. The boost for the mass market was driven largely by price bumps, while unit sales dropped 1%. (Retail Brew)

  • In a news release, Gap said new 30% duties on imports from China and a 10% levy on imports from most other countries will cost the company between $250 million and $300 million. Gap said it’s already mitigated about half of those costs and without further action, the cost is expected to be between $100 million and $150 million, which will likely show up on the balance sheet in the back half of the year. (CNBC)

 

'Financial Moves'

  • rhode skin (Hailey Bieber’s skincare brand) was acquired by E.L.F. BEAUTY at a $1B valuation.

  • DION LEE (Australian fashion label) was acquired by Revolve Group.

  • The intellectual property of Dormify (home brand) was acquired by Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

  • Macalat (sugar-free dark chocolate) was acquired by Birmingham Chocolate.

  • Jupiter (scalp care) sold a minority stake to True Beauty Ventures.

  • tuft + paw (cat litter) raised $4M from Companion Fund.

  • Veminsyn (biotech) raised RMB100 M in a minority round led by L’Oréal‘s China fund.

Financial Moves Powered by MMG Advisors

'Career Moves'

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