- Ecommerce Coffee Break Newsletter
- Posts
- ⭐ Your Ecommerce Coffee Break Newsletter (Issue 150)
⭐ Your Ecommerce Coffee Break Newsletter (Issue 150)
Top stories for online sellers & DTC brands—your quick ecommerce briefing.
Claus Lauter
July 08, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes
👋 It's Tuesday, and here's your ecommerce reality check: DTC brands are shuttering faster than they're launching as tariff chaos strangles cash flow. TikTok builds a US escape route while Prime Day scammers flood the web with fake sites.
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: The Scariest Ad Mistake Shopify Stores Make
DTC brands are dying faster than ever
👋 And as always, feel free to send feedback or just say hi: [email protected].
📰 WHAT’S HAPPENING
📈 General Ecommerce News
E-commerce Slows Sharply Amid Tariff Uncertainties [read more]
Brands grapple with strained cash flow amid tariffs [read more]
Few consumers trust retailers to use their data responsibly [read more]
US prices for China-made goods rise faster than inflation [read more]
Almost 87% of Dutch consumers shop online [read more]
🛒 Platforms & Marketplaces
📱Social Media & Advertising
🎙️ ECOMMERCE COFFEE BREAK PODCAST
The Scariest Ad Mistake Shopify Stores Make
In this Ecommerce Summer School archive episode, we explore how AI is changing paid advertising for online stores.
Drew Smith, co-founder of upp.ai, explains how artificial intelligence can automate these tasks. He shares how their product data platform helps businesses show more products to customers and increase sales.
Drew discusses real success stories where companies went from showing only 3% of their products to 84% visibility.
🎧 Play Episode: [Website] [Apple Podcasts] [Spotify] [YouTube]
Rate & Review: Help others discover the show by rating the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
How did you like this podcast episode? |
💡 DTC BRANDS ARE DYING FASTER THAN EVER
The big picture: Shopify store closures now outpace new installs for the first time—1.5 closures per install in Q2 2025.
By the numbers:
Small DTC brands:
Revenue down 25% YoY in June
Overall DTC market: Down 9%
YoY Consumer spending sentiment: Weakest since 2023
1% of brands filed Chapter 11 in April alone
Why it matters: This isn't just a downturn—it's a structural clearing of an oversaturated market.
The perfect storm:
Tariff chaos tied up cash in unsold inventory
Rising CAC while acquisition efficiency plummets
Market saturation in key categories post-COVID
Margin compression from inflation + tariffs
Cash flow crisis as brands pulled forward retention revenue
Real examples:
Flaus canceled a $30K Hamptons pop-up.
Beau Ties cut staff hours.
Loftie saw lamp sales drop 80%.
The deeper issue: Brands built on cheap customer acquisition, plug-and-play tools, and operational simplicity are hitting their limits in today's capital-scarce environment.
What's next: Expect accelerating closures as the ecosystem can't support this many brands competing for shrinking demand and rising costs.
→ Action: Audit your cash flow and acquisition costs immediately—the clearing is accelerating and only profitable, well-capitalized brands will survive.
🔥 Free Store Revenue Potential Discovery Call
Want to make more money from your store? Let’s find out what you’re missing.
I’m giving a free 20-minute call to check your store. No boring tips. No pushy sales talk.
I’ll look at your store, find one big problem that’s losing you money, and tell you exactly how to fix it. If it makes sense, we can talk about working together to make your store grow fast.
Ready to make your store better? Don’t guess—get a clear plan. I only do 5 free calls a week, so grab yours now!
After our call, you’ll know one simple step to make more money.
Have suggestions? Help us better serve our 8,198 readers by sharing your honest feedback at [email protected]
Yours in ecommerce success,
Claus
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.
👋 THANK YOU FOR BEING A SUBSCRIBER!
You're on the free plan. Want more? Go ad-free, unlock exclusive content, browse all past issues, and connect with our seller community. Start your 7-day free trial here.
📰 ADVERTISE WITH US
Want to put out your message in front of over 8,000 online sellers, merchants, marketers, founders, and direct-to-customer (DTC) brands? Find our Partner Kit here.
PODCAST | RESOURCES | ADVERTISE | PRIVACY | DISCLAIMER
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here.
Send us your feedback at [email protected]
Reply