Your Ecommerce Coffee Break Newsletter ⭐ (Issue 160)

👋 It’s Tuesday, and here’s your first ecom news roundup of the week: U.S. retail sales rebound strongly in July, while the IRS sets its sights on e-commerce sellers in 2025. Shopify’s GMV surges 42% in Europe, and Amazon’s ad revenue climbs 23% to $15.69 billion.

Grab your coffee, it’s a 1-min skim or a 3-minute to make you a smarter online seller.

In Today’s Edition:

• Today’s Headlines Handpicked For You!

• 🎧 On the Pod: What Every Brand Needs To Know About Shipping Costs, Duties, And Returns For Heavy Goods

• What Is A Marketing Flywheel?

Don’t keep us a secret: Share the email with friends (copy URL here)​.

And, as always, send us feedback at hello@ecommercecoffeebreak.com.

📰 WHAT’S HAPPENING

📈 General Ecommerce News

• U.S. total retail sales improved in July [read more]

• The AI Commerce Wars Have Begun [read more]

• IRS Targeting E-Commerce Sellers in 2025 [read more]

• U.S. Small Business Trends Q3 2025 [read more]

• Amazon's advertising revenue jumped 23% to $15.69 billion [read more]

🛒 Platforms & Marketplaces

• Shopify's Universal Cart Makes AI the New Storefront [read more]

• Shopify’s GMV grows 42% in Europe [read more]

• Walmart Offers Zero Commissions on Toys [read more]

• TikTok Shop is off to a slow start in Japan [read more]

• Klaviyo launches conversational AI agent [read more]

📱Social Media & Advertising

• Amazon plans ads in Alexa conversations [read more]

• Yotpo exits E-mail & SMS [read more]

• Instagram blocks Live for small accounts [read more]

• Meta’s AI boosts Instagram ad conversions [read more]

• Google gives advertisers more PMax controls [read more]

🎙️ ECOMMERCE COFFEE BREAK PODCAST

What Every Brand Needs To Know About Shipping Costs, Duties, And Returns For Heavy Goods

In this episode, we talk about the challenges of shipping big, bulky, and high-value products like furniture, fitness gear, and electronics.

Robert Khachatryan, founder and CEO of Freight Right Global Logistics, shares how to avoid costly mistakes, handle hidden fees like taxes and duties, and make selling large items internationally simple and profitable.

🎧 Play Episode: [Website] [Apple Podcasts] [Spotify] [YouTube Music]

Rate & Review: Help others discover the show by rating the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

⏰ 1-HOUR QUICK START GUIDES

Were you about to spend $4.99 at Starbucks? Why not invest that $4.99 in yourself and your business by downloading our quick-start guides?

New to selling online? Check out the 1-Hour Ecommerce Launch & Grow Guide — your beginner’s guide to winning your first Shopify customers. Includes with a MP3 audio version. Get it here.

Already selling? Grab the 1-Hour Ecommerce Conversion Checklist to turn your store into a sales machine. Get it here.

🔍 WHAT IS A MARKETING FLYWHEEL?

The big idea: Marketing flywheels create momentum that builds over time, unlike funnels that end at conversion.

Why it matters

Traditional funnels focus on acquisition. Flywheels prioritize retention — turning customers into your growth engine.

How it works

Three interconnected phases:

• Attract — Create valuable content that pulls people in

• Engage — Nurture with consistent, personalized communication

• Delight — Turn customers into promoters through referrals and feedback

The difference

• Funnel: Blog → Lead magnet → Email → Sale → End

• Flywheel: Blog → Email challenge → Community → Referrals → More customers

Real results

One creator saw 15% subscriber growth in weeks using referral loops and feedback-driven content.

Bottom line: Happy customers don't just stay — they bring others.

What's next: Map your current customer journey. Where does it end? That's where your flywheel begins. Learn more here.

👋 Have suggestions? Help us better serve our 8,861 readers by sharing your honest feedback at hello@ecommercecoffeebreak.com

Yours in ecommerce success,

~ Claus

P.S.: You launched your business to thrive, not to burn out. Founder Rehab is the reboot designed for exhausted, overwhelmed founders who want to lead with clarity and strength. Click here for details.

The Ecommerce Coffee Break Podcast + Newsletter ☕ 100% powered by caffeine and curiosity. ❤️ Buy me a coffee to support independent media that delivers unbiased ecommerce advice.

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DISCLAIMER #podcast #ecommerce #digitalmarketing #dtc #marketing #amazon #shopify