Your Ecommerce Coffee Break Newsletter ⭐ (Issue 115)

The weekly ecommerce news for online sellers, ecommerce professionals, marketers, and DTC brands.

Hey, Claus here. Happy Thursday!

Good news: despite the AI boom, most people still turn to Google for search, so keep those Google ads and SEO optimization efforts rolling.

Grab your favorite drink and dive into this issues’s ecommerce updates. 👇

In Today’s Edition:

  • The Latest Ecommerce News and Top Insights (Handpicked for you!)

  • Podcast: (Ep 378) How Eco-labelling Is Shifting E-shoppers’ Fashion Choices

  • Tariffs Hit E-commerce Hard

Today's newsletter is 688 words—a 3-minute, 20-seconds read.

🎙️ ECOMMERCE COFFEE BREAK PODCAST

In Wednesday's episode, Laurent Bocahut,CEO and Co-Founder at peftrust.com, the sustainability shift in ecommerce and how eco-labelling is shifting e-shoppers’ fashion choices.

🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast app: [Website] [Apple Podcasts] [Spotify] [YouTube]

Check out our playlist with over 400 free episodes on ecommerce and marketing.

TOGETHER WITH minisocial*

Partner with a platform that has your back. 🤝

With minisocial's UGC and micro-influencer campaigns you get a dedicated team of experts who walk you through the process step by step sharing guidance on best practices, keeping you in the loop on progress, and never leaving you in the dark. 🔦

With minisocial you can:

  • Get UGC that performs in the top 1% of TikTok ads

  • Go viral with over 6 million views from micro-influencer posts

  • Build an always-on community of Superfans

  • Get videos assets for your organic and paid social channels.

Let the minisocial team guide you through a successful UGC/micro-influencer project like they've done with over 1,000 brands since 2018! 🤯 Click here to get started.

📰 THE LATEST ECOMMERCE NEWS AND TOP INSIGHTS (Handpicked for you!)

General Ecommerce News

  • Consumer spending is down [read more]

  • Inflation continues to drive private label growth [read more]

  • Rise in retail theft is driving shoppers towards e-commerce [read more]

  • The Hidden Costs of Traditional E-Commerce [read more]

  • Ecommerce Laws and Regulations for Selling Online [read more]

Platforms & Marketplaces

  • How Amazon Manages Its $100 billion River of Return [read more]

  • TikTok is sunsetting Creator Marketplace [read more]

  • Opportunities for Shopify Partners in 2025 [read more]

  • Shopify's AI Tools Attract Small Businesses [read more]

Social Media & Advertising

  • Instagram explores a separate app for Reels to take on TikTok [read more]

  • Over 32 Million People Are Using Bluesky [read more]

  • Google Ads Triple. What? [read more]

  • Is YouTube an underrated marketing channel? [read more]

  • Do Reviews Still Matter? [read more]

     

🛑 TARIFFS HIT E-COMMERCE HARD

Why it matters: New U.S. tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada will drive up costs for e-commerce brands, squeezing margins and forcing tough decisions.

What’s happening:

  • As of March 4, 2025, a 10% tariff on Chinese imports doubles to 20%.

  • 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods are back after a brief pause.

  • The de minimis exemption (duty-free imports under $800) for China is suspended, impacting Shein, Temu, and other low-cost platforms.

The impact:

  • Brands relying on Chinese suppliers will see immediate cost increases.

  • Passing costs to consumers risks lower sales amid economic uncertainty.

  • Retailers like Target warn of profit pressures, especially in consumer goods.

Bigger picture: This isn’t just a tariff hike—it’s a supply chain shake-up. Brands must rethink sourcing or face shrinking profits. Some will turn to nearshoring or domestic production, but those options aren’t without challenges.

What’s next:

  • Trump signals possible 25% EU tariffs by April 2.

  • Retaliation is brewing—Canada plans $155B in counter-tariffs, and China is hitting U.S. agriculture.

The bottom line: Adapt fast. Test alternative suppliers. Protect margins without alienating customers. How is your brand preparing?

FRESH ARTICLES JUST FOR OUR MEMBERS [Sign In | Join here]

  • Google’s 2025 Ad Priorities [read more]

  • 79+ Brand New Ecommerce Statistics for 2025[read more]

  • 23 Email Marketing Best Practices for 2025 [read more]

  • Package inserts as a cheaper customer acquisition tactic [read more]

  • 6 Service Branding Strategies for Small Business Owners [read more]

Want to help the Ecommerce Coffee Break grow? Become a member.

The newsletter is free forever, but members get extra perks. Support independent media and unlock the ad-free content, premium resources, and an exclusive community. Become a member today: Join here

🤝 FROM OUR PARTNERS*

  • Build your personal brand as a founder (without being on camera). Get AI-powered videos in 24 hours + unlimited revisions 🚀 Learn more at: https://www.ghostvideos.ai/

  • Boost your ecom sales with Boardroom! 🚀 Get expert insights, SEO tools & multi-channel analytics. Subscribe & try the app free! Learn more at: https://ecommboardroom.com

👋 Thanks for reading the news today. If you found this helpful, share it with someone in your network who runs an online business!

Yours in ecommerce success,

Ecommerce Coffee Break

P.S. → If you enjoy this newsletter, here are a few ways to help grow your business: https://ecommercecoffeebreak.com/level-up/

📰 ADVERTISE WITH US

Want to put out your message in front of over 7,500 online sellers, merchants, marketers, founders, and direct-to-customer (DTC) brands? Find our Partner Kit here.

The Ecommerce Coffee Break Podcast + Newsletter ☕ 100% powered by caffeine and curiosity.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here.

/ *A message from our sponsor.

You are receiving this email because you are interested in staying updated on the latest in ecommerce, marketing, AI, and DTC. If you are not enthusiastic about receiving our emails, please reply and let us know why. Or you can unsubscribe from all updates by clicking the link below.

Reply

or to participate.