Alibaba RFQ versus browsing listings: which gets better supplier quotes
RFQ brings suppliers to you, listings make you hunt. Each surfaces a different type of seller, and the request wording decides which.
E-commerce
Coverage of global e-commerce marketplaces, online shopping platforms, and cross-border selling.
Whatnot Hits $20 Billion Valuation as Live Shopping Reshapes Marketplaces
Whatnot, the livestream shopping platform, has raised $545 million in a Series G round that values the company at $20 billion, roughly double its worth …
Auditing Amazon FBA fees and filing reimbursement claims
FBA overcharges are routine and refundable within a claim window. Here is the audit process and how claims are filed.
Nike cuts 1,000 online storefronts in China: brand control over reach
Nike will close more than 1,000 online storefronts run by partners across Chinese marketplaces and route sales through official channels only, effective January. The reset trades near-term volume in its third-largest market for tighter control of price and brand.
EU fines AliExpress €550m: record DSA penalty over illegal goods
The European Commission has fined AliExpress €550 million (about $629 million) for breaching the Digital Services Act, its largest penalty yet for failing to control the sale of illegal, unsafe and counterfeit products. Alibaba has signalled it will appeal, setting up a landmark test of Europe’s platform rulebook.
Why Amazon opens its marketplace to external AI agents before the 2026 holidays: 3 hiring signals
A 40-engineer agentic commerce team, a new standards-council seat, and June’s maturing payment rails point the same way: Amazon likely ships a first external-agent commerce path before the 2026 holidays, base case in Q4.
Caraway Just Hit 500 Walmart Stores, and the DTC Rulebook Is Officially Torn Up
Caraway, the ceramic nonstick cookware brand that built its name selling directly to shoppers online, is now stocking more than 500 Walmart stores. The rollout, …
Amazon GOAT Sale 2026: Date, End Date, and What It Actually Is
If you have been hunting for the Amazon GOAT sale date, here is the twist that trips up most shoppers: Amazon does not run a …
Shopify Editions Summer 26: What Shopify Actually Announced
The Shopify Editions Summer 26 release landed on June 17, 2026, and it is Shopify’s biggest drop of the year: more than 150 updates shipped …
Why TikTok Shop becomes a pan-European marketplace before the 2026 holidays: 3 signals
TikTok Shop’s June four-market launch and its Sell Across Europe tool signal a pivot from a per-country app to a unified pan-European marketplace. The pattern points to the Shop Tab reaching all ten EU markets before the 2026 holiday quarter, with a GMV milestone in the same window.