World e-commerce: trends & news

📱 Amazon is preparing a new smartphone 10 years after the Fire Phone failure Amazon may return to the smartphone market — more than a decade after the unsuccessful launch of the Fire Phone. Inside the company, the project is reportedly being developed under the codename Transformer. Two device formats are being considered: a traditional smartphone and a simplified version with limited functionality, positioned as a way to reduce dependency on gadgets. The key focus is on integration with AI and...

Vertical marketplaces are expanding again — Sigma Sports opens its platform to third‑party sellers Sigma Sports (UK) is launching a marketplace and is already recruiting specialist sellers ahead of its Summer 2026 rollout. Why it matters: broad marketplaces are not the only game. Vertical platforms can offer higher intent traffic and better conversion — but they enforce stricter standards (content, delivery, product authenticity). Playbook for sellers: start with 10–20 best-fit SKUs, build categ...

📊 Temu, TikTok Shop, and Walmart are reshaping competition with Amazon Their GMV is now estimated at $15–22B, putting them in the same competitive tier. Each platform operates with a distinct model: — Temu → low price + supply chain — TikTok → content-driven discovery — Walmart → offline + online integration The market is no longer dominated by a single player.

US cross‑border: the $800 de minimis exemption is still suspended — cheap imports still get tariffs Even after the US Supreme Court struck down many tariffs last month, the “de minimis” rule hasn’t come back: packages under $800 are still facing tariffs. That matters for platforms like Shein/Temu and for sellers relying on low-value direct-to-consumer cross-border shipping. Why it matters: landed cost volatility turns into pricing volatility. The practical hedge is local inventory (bul...

⚡️ Quick commerce for laptops: ASUS reports +167% MoM sales on Instamart Fast delivery is expanding the basket: “quick” apps are moving beyond FMCG. When speed beats price, even electronics starts to fit. Implications: • QC assortments will tilt toward simple SKUs • descriptions/specs must be unambiguous • availability and inventory forecasting become a competitive lever

Attacks on Middle East Data Centers Disrupt Internet Services and Logistics Over the past few days, major disruptions to internet infrastructure have been reported across the Middle East following attacks on several data centers. According to media reports, some of the targeted facilities were connected to the cloud infrastructure of Amazon, including sites in Bahrain and Dubai. The incidents caused temporary outages affecting banking systems, online platforms, and logistics networks in the regi...

Jeff Bezos ranks 4th on Forbes’ global billionaire list Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, has taken 4th place in the latest global billionaire ranking published by Forbes. The list is once again topped by Elon Musk. Second and third places are held by Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Bezos dropped one position compared to last year, when he ranked third. His net worth is estimated at $224 billion, having increased by $9 billion over the past year.

📈 Etsy Shows Signs of Recovery in the E-Commerce Market Etsy shares have started to rise as analysts see signs of recovery in the online retail market. Some forecasts suggest the stock could increase by around 13%. The marketplace continues to focus on unique and handmade products, positioning itself differently from mass-market platforms like Amazon or Temu. For sellers, this indicates that niche marketplaces with distinctive products may regain momentum as some consumers grow tired of generic...

Facebook Marketplace adds Meta AI tools for sellers: listings and replies get semi‑automated • Meta announced new AI features for Marketplace to speed up listing creation and help sellers respond to buyers. • The market is moving toward a baseline where “response speed” is built‑in, not a competitive edge. • The next layer of competition shifts back to listing quality and real operations (pricing, delivery, returns).

AI customer service in 2026: from “chatbot” to revenue channel. E‑commerce teams are moving from FAQ bots to specialized agents: pre‑sale guidance + post‑purchase order management. What to watch: — deflection rate vs CSAT — impact on conversion and AOV — tight integrations (Shopify/Woo/Magento + OMS)