Shopify Entrepreneur Weekly

Welcome back! Tariff uncertainty and back-and-forth decisions are ongoing, and it feels a bit like the early days of COVID—lots of unknowns. But just like back then, this could be a chance to take a fresh look at how you run your business. Focus on what you can control, and use this time to uncover new opportunities as you move forward. You’ve got this! 🚀

Here’s what’s new:

• The latest updates from Shopify and the world of ecommerce.

• Have you ever been paid just to chat about your job?

• Chinese suppliers shared the real cost behind luxury goods, and it’s got TikTok buzzing!

• 2 brand-new premium Shopify themes.

• Photo of the week

• Let’s dive in!

Ecommerce news and updates

Shopify merchants in Canada with early access can now offer Shop Pay Installments powered by Affirm, marking its first availability outside the US. Eligible customers can split purchases of $35 to $30,000 into bi-weekly or monthly payments. Shop Pay Installments will roll out to all merchants in Canada and the UK this summer, with cross-border commerce features between the US, Canada, and UK coming next, followed by planned expansions to Australia, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Shopify POS version 10.0 is here, focused on making selling faster, more intuitive, and efficient. Key updates include a refined visual design, improved navigation for faster access, smarter inline search for precise results, and enhanced cart management for larger orders. New branding tools allow you to customize the lock screen, idle screen, and checkout with your logo and colors, creating a polished, professional in-store experience. These updates are designed to save time and elevate your brand at the point of sale.

BeReal, the social media platform known for encouraging authentic, real-time sharing, is introducing advertising in the US after being acquired by French mobile publisher Voodoo for €500M. Initial ad offerings include in-feed ads and full-day brand takeovers designed to integrate seamlessly into the user experience. Recent ad tests with brands like Levi’s, Nike, and Netflix paved the way for this launch. Ben Moore, BeReal’s US managing director and former TikTok executive, will lead the initiative, emphasizing ads that align with the platform’s authentic ethos. BeReal has 40M monthly active users, 70% of whom are aged 18-27, with the US, Japan, and France as its top markets.

Wix has introduced Astro, a chat-based AI assistant designed to streamline website operations and business tasks. Astro helps users track performance, analyze behavior, manage SEO and sales, create content, organize programs, add products, and control site settings. It also provides personalized suggestions to improve websites. Currently available in English for Wix and Wix Studio users, it will expand to other languages soon. This launch adds to Wix's recent product updates like Functions, Automations, print-on-demand, and an AI customer support chatbot.

A hacker known as "Satanic" claims to have stolen WooCommerce user data on 4.4M individuals, including records from major organizations like NVIDIA. The data appears to have been taken from systems linked to WooCommerce sites, such as CRM or automation tools, rather than WooCommerce's core infrastructure. Automattic denies a direct breach of WooCommerce but is unsure how the data was accessed. The hacker is reportedly selling the database via Telegram.

Have you ever been paid just to chat about your job?

Well, now you can! Researchers on AppStoreResearch is offering compensation between $85-$250 for a 1-hour audio interview where they get to pick your brain. ​Sign up here​ – it’s quick, easy, and free!

Here are some of the latest projects you can apply for:

• Driving post-purchase monetization and repeat purchases – $250, 30 min.

• Looking for owners/director of marketing of stores with high number of SKUs spending > $15k/month on Google Ads – $200, 30 min.

• Seeking Marketing Agencies that builds and runs UGC Ads for E-Comm brands – $85, 60 min.

• Seeking CX insights: What do you LOVE or HATE about your current CX platform? – $100, 30 min.
  

👉 Sign up as participant 

Overheard on the socials

China is flipping the luxury market on its head — and TikTok is spilling all the tea 🍵

In response to the US tariffs, Chinese manufacturers are now selling luxury-brand-level goods directly to consumers at jaw-dropping prices. We’re talking Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Lululemon... but without the logos. Same materials, same craftsmanship — minus the branding markup.

📉 A Chinese supplier revealed the actual cost of a $34K Birkin bag is just $1,400.

"More than 90% of the price is for the logo," they said. "If you don’t care about the logo, you can buy from us."

👀 One TikTok user posted: “China TikTok is so messy rn… they’re exposing big brands and encouraging you to buy directly from the source. Even with shipping and tariffs, it’s still cheaper!”

💬 Another added: “My FYP is flooded with Chinese manufacturers. The gag is… even WITH tariffs, it’s cheaper than US prices. We are not winning this trade war lmao.”

It’s not just bags — there are Fila, Under Armour, Lululemon knockoffs going for $5 instead of $100.

Some even come with free global shipping and zero duties.

As the trade war between the US and China intensifies, it’s clear who’s holding the manufacturing power. With tariffs as high as 145% flying back and forth, the internet is asking:

Why pay full price when the source is offering the same goods for a fraction?

Would you buy a “logo-free” luxury product direct from China? 🤔
Drop your thoughts!

New themes alert

Desert by Crown Studio – $220 USD 💵

The ultimate theme for luxury brands, combining sleek design with seamless functionality. Perfectly tailored for high-end stores, it captivates customers and enhances conversions. With three stunning presets—Luxury, Royale, and Super—you can create an elegant shopping experience that reflects the sophistication of your products.

Charm by Sweetcode – $280 USD 💵

A modern, mobile-first theme designed for effortless shopping and ultimate flexibility. With 35+ customizable sections, you can build and adapt your store with ease—no coding required. Sleek, minimal, and intentionally clean, this theme puts your brand front and center while delivering a seamless shopping experience on any device. Perfect for businesses looking to impress and grow with style.

⚡️ If you need help getting started with a new theme or updating your current one, just ​let us know​.

Photo of the week

Serena Williams celebrated WYN Beauty's one-year launch anniversary with a vibrant pop-up event at Lighthouse Venice last weekend. The pop-up showcased WYN Beauty’s commitment to empowering confidence through clean, cruelty-free, and inclusive skincare products, which have gained a massive following since their debut in 2024. Fans gathered to experience the event’s interactive displays, exclusive product previews, and Serena’s personal touch in creating memorable moments.

That's it for today!

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