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Your order this week:
US Targets Chinese eCommerce Platforms with New Trade Rule Proposals
Headless Commerce: A Game-Changer in eCommerce
Holiday Spending to Rise Despite Inflation Fatigue
Friday: The Best Day for Online Shopping Discounts
Shopify, Oracle, and Deloitte Launch New Retail Model
ECOMMERCE NEWS
Washington Crackdown Trade Loophole Used by Temu and Shein
The Biden administration announced Friday, September 13, plans to revise trade rules to address abuses by Chinese-founded eCommerce platforms. The changes focus on the de minimis exception, which allows products valued at $800 or less to enter the U.S. without duties or taxes.
A White House fact sheet highlighted that shipments under this exception have jumped from 140 million to over 1 billion annually in the past decade, with most coming from Chinese platforms. This surge, officials say, has made it harder to enforce trade laws, safety standards, and intellectual property protections.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo said the abuse of the de minimis exception by Chinese platforms has harmed American businesses and workers. The administration’s proposed rules would exclude 40% of U.S. imports, including 70% of textiles from China, from the exception.
Platforms like Shein and Temu have benefited from these loopholes, but could face increased tariffs under the new rules. Reuters reported that shares of Temu’s parent company, PDD Holdings, fell 5% after the announcement.
Amazon is also reportedly preparing to compete with Shein and Temu by offering low-cost items from China.
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ECOMMERCE TECH
Headless Commerce: A Game-Changer in eCommerce
As ecommerce evolves, headless commerce is emerging as a key innovation. This approach, as explained by Andrew Gordon, eCommerce payments strategist at Discover® Global Network, allows merchants to adopt a more agile and customizable model, improving customer experiences across all platforms.
Unlike traditional eCommerce, where the front-end (customer-facing) and back-end (business operations) are tightly connected, headless commerce decouples these systems. Through API-driven architecture, businesses can manage their interfaces independently without disrupting the entire platform.
This flexibility enables merchants to choose the best tools for different components, from mobile apps to CRM systems. According to Gordon, headless commerce helps businesses adapt quickly to trends like augmented reality (AR) and AI-driven customer service, ensuring a seamless omnichannel experience for consumers.
As legacy eCommerce platforms begin adopting headless commerce, the approach is becoming accessible to mid-tier and even smaller businesses. Key trends supporting its growth include API innovation, AI and machine learning, and the integration of social media and eCommerce.
Ultimately, headless commerce empowers businesses to deliver cutting-edge digital experiences while maintaining backend stability and driving customer engagement.
ECOMMERCE SALES
Friday: The Best Day for Online Shopping Discounts
For online shoppers looking to save, Friday is the top day to find discounts, according to a new report from SimplyCodes.
The study, which analyzed coupon patterns from 30,000 merchants between March and July, found that 52% of coupon codes are released between Wednesday and Friday, with the most significant spike—19%—happening on Fridays. Categories such as women’s clothing, skin care, and alcohol see the most activity as payday approaches.
However, consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch warns shoppers about the dangers of “spaving”—spending more to save more. The temptation of deals, like “buy one, get one free” or free shipping, can lead to unnecessary purchases and high-interest debt.
To avoid overspending, shoppers should use strategies like signing up for store newsletters, using price-tracking extensions such as CamelCamelCamel, and applying coupons on already-discounted items. Woroch also advises avoiding impulse buys prompted by store emails or alerts.
While discounts can be significant, it’s crucial to only use coupons when necessary, ensuring savings without falling into the trap of overspending.
ECOMMERCE DATA
Holiday Spending to Rise Despite Inflation Fatigue
Consumers are set to boost online holiday spending by 7% in 2024, defying inflation fatigue and continuing the trend of trading down for cheaper goods, according to a new projection from Signifyd’s Holiday Ecommerce Pulse report.
Signifyd predicts an 8% increase during the Cyber Five — the shopping frenzy from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday — with overall fourth-quarter sales rising 7% over last year. Despite ongoing economic concerns, shoppers are expected to remain active, though more selective, in their purchases.
“Demand is high, but consumers are showing restraint,” said Signifyd Senior Data Analyst Phelim Killough. This shift reflects a continued preference for value-driven alternatives over premium goods, evident in a 3% drop in August’s average order value.
Notably, grocery, fashion, and electronics are projected to see substantial growth, while home goods and alcohol sales are expected to decline.
With December sales poised to surge by 18% due to the Cyber Five calendar split, online retailers are urged to offer discounts and distinguish their offerings as competition intensifies during the critical holiday period.
ECOMMERCE TECH
Shopify, Oracle, and Deloitte Launch New Retail Model
Shopify, Oracle, and Deloitte Digital have launched a Next Gen Retail Commerce delivery model to help enterprise brands streamline operations and improve customer experiences.
Powered by Shopify’s enterprise commerce platform and Oracle’s Enterprise Platform, the new model focuses on delivering seamless, personalized shopping across in-store, online, and social channels.
This collaboration offers solutions for connected customer journeys, boosting average order value (AOV) through AI-driven recommendations and personalized marketing campaigns. Additionally, the model enhances operational efficiency, optimizing inventory visibility, financial management, and order fulfillment.
Deloitte Digital will implement the model through a flexible pod system and composable accelerator to accelerate delivery and improve efficiency for enterprise brands.
Paul Fitzpatrick, Shopify’s Director of Global Partnerships, emphasized that this new approach will help brands bring solutions to market faster. Kelly Moran, Principal at Deloitte Digital, highlighted the importance of modernizing operations in today’s competitive retail landscape.
Signing off,
The Merchant @CartHustle