EcomCrew
Blog and podcast sharing candid insights into running an e-commerce business, including niche selection, sourcing, and marketing. Co-founder Mike Jackness and team document their own brands’ journeys and provide advanced Amazon seller strategies, making it a practical resource for store owners
E643: Dos and Don’ts for Amazon Imagery in 2026
In this episode, host Dave interviews former professional poker player turned Amazon seller Michael Shackelford about best practices for Amazon main gallery images in 2026. Michael explains how AI tools enable rapid iteration and A/B testing, recommends mixing plain‑white shots with packaging, lifestyle, or keyword‑rich elements, and shares technical tips on image resolution and mobile optimization. He also outlines effective testing methods, favoring Amazon’s Manage My Experiments and a daily‑swap approach for high‑ticket items, while cautioning against over‑reliance on external polling. The conversation blends Michael’s gambling‑honed risk‑taking mindset with practical e‑commerce tactics.
Target Speeds Up Delivery in $5 Billion Overhaul
Target announced a $5 billion strategic transformation aimed at accelerating its delivery network. By spring 2026 the retailer will extend next‑day delivery to 60% of U.S. households, covering more than 50 major metros. The plan also expands eligibility to 85% of store...
US Tightens Import Rules for 600+ Product Categories
Starting July 8, 2026, the United States will require electronic filing of import data for more than 600 consumer product categories through the Customs and Border Protection ACE system. Importers must submit at least seven core data elements, such as...
E642: Here’s the SOP On How to Actually Make Millions with Supplements
In this episode, host Dave interviews John Smitty of NutraMarketers about the massive U.S. supplement market—roughly $33 million in daily Amazon sales, or about $1 billion a month. They break down a step‑by‑step SOP for small brands or solopreneurs, emphasizing problem‑focused product...
Don’t Miss These Urgent Prime Day 2026 Deadlines
Amazon has moved Prime Day 2026 up, shrinking the seller preparation window by two to four weeks. Critical deadlines now include an April 30 early‑deal fee cutoff (reducing the fee from $100 to $50), a May 26 final deal‑scheduling closure, and May 27...
TikTok Shop US Sales Surge 84% in 2025
TikTok Shop’s US sales surged 84% year‑over‑year between March 2025 and February 2026, propelled mainly by health and beauty products that now generate over $44 billion, or 81% of platform revenue. The average American spends about $118 annually on the platform, and roughly...
Amazon’s New Label Rules Aim to Block Counterfeit Goods
Amazon has revised its Transparency Program labeling policy to tighten product authentication. Each enrolled item receives a unique code that must appear on a label or packaging and be uploaded by sellers when listing. The new rules require scanning of...
FedEx, UPS, and DHL Are Filing for Tariff Refunds. Here Is What Customers Can Expect.
FedEx, UPS and DHL have begun filing CAPE claims through Customs and Border Protection’s refund portal to recoup Phase 1 IEEPA tariffs they collected as importers of record. The portal opened on April 20 and attracted more than 55,000 claimants covering over...
Shein and Temu Hit With Lawsuits Demanding Customers Get Their Tariff Money Back
Shein and Temu are facing coordinated class‑action lawsuits alleging they overcharged U.S. shoppers after the Trump administration imposed IEEPA tariffs that later were ruled unconstitutional. Bloomberg tracked price spikes of up to 377%, far exceeding the actual tariff cost. The...
Amazon Opens First Distribution Center in Spain, Investing €100 Million in Zaragoza
Amazon is opening ZAZ8, its first dedicated distribution center in Spain, investing roughly €100 million ($108 million) in La Muela, Zaragoza. The 30,000‑square‑meter hub will serve as a regional inventory buffer for high‑velocity essentials and is slated to start operations in September 2026,...
How to Reduce Ecommerce Returns and Save Your Margins
U.S. ecommerce returns hit $849.9 billion in 2025, representing 15.8 % of sales and an average 20.8 % return rate—far above physical stores. The article identifies poor product information (≈40 % of returns) and fit‑related issues (20‑40 %) as the primary drivers, while fraud and...
Amazon Launches Alexa+ in Mexico in First Non-English Market
Amazon has rolled out Alexa+ in Mexico, marking its first launch in a non‑English market. The assistant is trained to recognize Mexican Spanish slang and cultural cues, such as “chido” and the flexible meaning of “ahorita.” Amazon achieved this by...
Amazon MCF Shopify App Goes Global with Major Expansion
Amazon has extended its Multi‑Channel Fulfillment (MCF) Shopify app beyond the U.S. and U.K., adding Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan and Canada. The free, no‑code tool lets merchants pull inventory from Amazon’s fulfillment centers to ship Shopify orders in unbranded...
CBP 5H Hold: What Amazon FBA Sellers Need to Know in 2026
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has rolled out the 5H (Entry Processing Hold) program to crack down on under‑declared values in China‑to‑U.S. shipments. The automated ACE system flags mismatches, freezing containers at Los Angeles and Long Beach until paperwork is verified, which...
Facebook Affiliate Partnerships Brings eBay, Amazon, and More Into Creator Commerce
Meta unveiled Facebook Affiliate Partnerships at Shoptalk, letting creators tag products from major retailers directly in posts and Reels. The rollout starts with Amazon in the United States and Shopee across eight Asian and Latin American markets, while eBay, Temu...
TikTok Upgrades Ads to Bridge Content and Commerce
TikTok is rolling out upgraded high‑impact ad formats—including Logo Takeover, TopView and Prime Time—to turn the platform into a seamless "content + transaction" experience. These formats give brands immediate, full‑screen exposure when users launch the app and allow multiple impressions within short...
Amazon Introduces New Fee Structure for Prime Day 2026 Price Discounts
Amazon has overhauled its Prime Day 2026 price‑discount fee model, replacing the previous $1,000 flat fee with a $100 upfront charge plus a 1.5% variable fee on sales, capped at $5,000. Sellers who submit deals before April 30 can halve the...
Amazon Closes a Long-Standing SEO Loophole in A+ Content
Amazon has eliminated the seller‑controlled alt‑text field in A+ Content and Brand Story, replacing it with AI‑generated image descriptions. The change applies to new and existing assets across marketplaces, starting in Europe and expanding globally. Sellers can no longer edit...
Alibaba Enters Pakistan Finance Market with BNPL
Alibaba’s subsidiary Coco Tech Pakistan has received a non‑banking financial institution license from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, clearing the way to launch a Buy‑Now‑Pay‑Later (BNPL) service. The move extends Alibaba’s foothold in the country beyond its Daraz e‑commerce platform...
E640: How Much Money Can You Sue Competitors For on Amazon for IP Infringement?
In this episode, Dave interviews Alan Lee of Copycatch.ai, which helps Amazon and Shopify sellers identify and sue competitors for IP infringement using Schedule A group lawsuits on a contingency basis. Alan explains the types of infringement they encounter—trademark, copyright,...
Which Amazon Sellers Are Exempt From the April 15 Ad Change
Amazon announced that starting April 15 ad costs will be deducted directly from seller proceeds, but a follow‑up email clarified the change only applies to a subset of high‑spending advertisers. Sellers who receive the notice will lose credit‑card billing and the...
Amazon Just Bought the Satellite Behind iPhone’s SOS Feature
Amazon announced a definitive agreement to acquire Globalstar for roughly $11.6 billion, with the transaction slated to close in 2027. The deal grants Amazon Leo access to Globalstar’s low‑Earth‑orbit satellite fleet, spectrum licenses, and a direct‑to‑device (D2D) capability that can connect...
Amazon’s New Ad Payment Policy Sparks Seller Revolt
Effective April 15, Amazon will automatically deduct advertising fees from sellers' account balances, ending the ability to pay with credit cards and the 60‑day cash‑flow buffer. The change removes cashback rewards and forces sellers to keep larger cash reserves, prompting...
Amazon’s Direct Review Crackdown Hits Sellers Hard
Amazon is poised to cancel "direct reviews" on its marketplace starting April 8, ending a loophole that let sellers add unverified feedback to boost new products. The platform is already limiting direct reviews to four per ASIN and deleting them...
Persian Gulf Freight Rate Hits 15-Year High
The Shanghai Shipping Exchange’s SCFI index rose to 1,890.77 points, a 1.93% weekly gain, as freight rates on the Persian Gulf route surged to $4,167 per TEU – the first breach of $4,000 since October 2009. North American lanes posted...
Trump Threatens 50% Tariff on Nations Arming Iran
Former President Donald Trump warned that any nation providing military equipment to Iran will face an immediate 50% tariff on its U.S. exports, explicitly naming China. He also announced that the U.S. Navy is enforcing a blockade of the Strait...
Amazon Expands Global Logistics With Shenzhen GWD Facility in 2026
Amazon will launch its first Global Warehousing and Distribution (GWD) hub in Shenzhen, China, in March 2026, creating a single‑origin inventory model for sellers worldwide. The AI‑driven facility will handle warehousing, customs, cross‑border transport and global distribution from one location,...
Amazon Bets $200 Billion on AI: Jassy’s Full Plan
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced a $200 billion capital‑expenditure plan for 2026, centered on AI infrastructure, custom silicon, satellite internet, and faster delivery. AWS AI revenue has hit a $15 billion annual run rate, propelled by contracts such as OpenAI’s $100 billion commitment....
E639: Maybe Credit Card Points AREN’T Going Away?
In this episode the host warns Amazon sellers about two looming cash‑flow threats: Amazon’s new policy to stop credit‑card payments for advertising and the DD7 payment schedule that delays payouts until seven days after delivery. He explains that the credit‑card...
Temu and Shein Face Regulatory Headwinds as UK Consumers Call for Fairer E-Commerce Rules
Temu and Shein continue to dominate the UK’s ultra‑low‑cost e‑commerce segment, with Temu attracting 116 million monthly EU visitors and Shein’s UK sales exceeding £2 billion. However, tighter tariffs in the US triggered a 52% drop in Temu’s daily active users and...
US Tariffs Wiped Out Industrie Africa’s Only Market
Industrie Africa, Africa’s leading multi‑brand fashion e‑commerce platform, will shut its online store on April 30 after five years of operation. The closure follows a wave of US trade measures—tariffs rising to 15‑30% and the end of the de‑minimis exemption—that crippled...
Amazon Adds Top-Seller Benchmarks to Customer Service Quality Dashboard
Amazon has enhanced its Customer Service Quality Insights dashboard with top‑seller benchmarks, allowing seller‑fulfilled merchants to compare their Buyer Contact Rate, Average Contact Response Time, and Buyer Dissatisfaction Rate against the best performers in the same store. The feature, added...
Amazon Updates MCF and Buy with Prime Packaging Starting April 1
Amazon is updating packaging defaults for Multi‑Channel Fulfillment (MCF) and Buy with Prime orders in the United States, with changes rolling out from April 1 through April 30. Packing slips will no longer be included unless sellers opt in, and...
Amazon Cracks Down on Inflated Discounts With New Pricing Rules Starting April 23
Amazon is tightening its pricing policies by requiring seller‑submitted List Prices to be substantiated by actual sales or recent retailer listings, effective April 23, 2026. A second rule, kicking in on May 18, 2026, changes the Typical Price calculation to use the median non‑promotional...
US E-Commerce Tops $365B in Q4 2025, a Record High
U.S. e‑commerce sales surged to approximately $365 billion in Q4 2025, breaking the $350 billion barrier for the first time. This represents a $150 billion jump from the prior record and accounts for 25% of total retail sales, the highest penetration since tracking...
Did Amazon Cross a Red Line by Removing Credit Cards for Ad Payments?
Amazon notified a select group of sellers that, starting April 15, credit‑card payments for advertising fees will be disabled. The change appears aimed at high‑spending vendors and reflects Amazon’s view of sellers as an advertising audience rather than just merchants. Advertising...
E638: The 5 Silent Giants Killing It on Amazon
In this episode, host Dave highlights five Amazon‑dominant brands that quietly generate over $100 million each year, ranging from supplement pioneer Mary Ruth Organics to legacy beauty giant L’Oréal, cleaning‑product specialist Wayman Brands, niche appliance‑cleaner maker Active Official, and historic coffee...
Helium 10 Cuts Platinum Plan Entitlements, Sellers Push Back
Helium 10 announced that its Platinum plan will lose several core entitlements at the next renewal, including a reduction of Cerebro and Magnet keyword searches to 100 per month, a five‑lifetime‑use cap on Listing Builder AI, a five‑ASIN limit on...
TikTok Shop’s Sports Category Sees 1900% US Growth
TikTok Shop’s sports and outdoor category generated $3.2 billion in GMV worldwide between 2025 and 2026, with the U.S. site alone accounting for $1.232 billion—a 1,900% annual growth rate. The U.S. market contributed over 80% of total GMV, driven primarily by sports...
FMC Blocks Shippers’ Bid to Skip War Surcharge Notice
The Federal Maritime Commission rejected four major carriers' request to impose an immediate war‑risk surcharge on U.S.–Middle East routes without the required 30‑day notice. The decision forces any new fees to wait until at least early April and obliges shippers...
Lazada Reports 3.5x Sales Surge in Ramadan Promo
Lazada reported a 3.5‑times sales increase on LazMall Indonesia during its "3.3 Ramadan Sale" and THR Promotion, driven by higher order volume and average order value. The surge peaked in the second week of Ramadan, coinciding with Indonesian workers receiving...
Amazon Cracks Down on “WOOT Fraud”, Account Suspension Upgrade Affects Main Account and Funds
Amazon’s North American marketplace has intensified its crackdown on “WOOT” fake‑review schemes, suspending both small and main seller accounts and freezing associated funds. Simultaneously, the EU adopted a new customs supervision policy that, from July 2026, will levy a €3...
How Ben & Jerry’s Turned TikTok Fans Into DoorDash Orders
Ben & Jerry’s leveraged DoorDash Offsite Ads, powered by Symbiosis, to turn its highly engaged TikTok audience into same‑day delivery orders. By pairing TikTok’s targeting tools with DoorDash’s first‑party retail data, the brand delivered shoppable ads that linked directly to...
Shippers to Bear Cost of Abandoned Cargo Under China’s Revised Maritime Law
Effective May 1, 2026, China’s revised Maritime Law overturns the long‑standing rule that consignees bear the cost of unclaimed cargo. Article 93 now assigns all port charges, demurrage, storage, disposal and legal fees to the contractual shipper—the party that booked the...
Bipartisan Bill Would Permanently Bar Chinese AI From U.S. Federal Agencies
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced the No Adversarial AI Act, which would permanently prohibit federal agencies from purchasing or using artificial intelligence developed by China, Russia, Iran or North Korea. The bill tasks the Federal Acquisition Security Council...
E637: Can You Trust Amazon Keyword Tool Estimates? We Found Out.
In this episode the Econ Crew team evaluates how trustworthy Amazon keyword and sales estimate tools are, focusing on Helium 10 and Jungle Scout. By comparing actual search volume data from Brand Analytics for three of their own brands to...
How Pinduoduo’s Surprising $14 Billion Plan Could Transform Global Markets
Pinduoduo announced Xinpinmu, a self‑operated brand platform backed by a $14 billion investment. The Shanghai‑based entity will combine Pinduoduo’s and Temu’s supply‑chain assets to launch first‑party brands aimed at overseas consumers. The plan marks a pivot from the company’s low‑price marketplace...
Shopee and TikTok Shop Are Reshaping Vietnam Logistics
Vietnam's e‑commerce logistics is entering a consolidation phase as two major players, Ninja Van and Flex Speed, have withdrawn from B2C delivery. Shopee and TikTok Shop are projected to capture about 97% of the market, driving 429.7 trillion VND in...
Amazon Shop Direct Now Accepts Third-Party Product Feeds
Amazon has expanded its Shop Direct program to accept product feeds from three third‑party catalog providers—Feedonomics, Salsify and CedCommerce. The integration pulls real‑time inventory, pricing and attribute data, allowing merchants without traditional Amazon listings to appear in Amazon search results....
Amazon’s Big Spring Sale Targets Home and Wellness Shoppers With Seven Days of Deals
Amazon’s Big Spring Sale runs March 25‑31, targeting the home‑refresh and health‑and‑wellness segments that have shown consistent growth. The event introduces three curated Top 100+ lists—All‑Category, Health & Wellness, and Spring Favorites—plus daily themed drops such as Home Refresh and Spring...