Shopify Entrepreneur Weekly

Hey there! 👋

Welcome to this week’s newsletter, where we cover the latest in Shopify, ecommerce trends, and tips to help your brand grow. Let’s dive in!

Here’s what’s new:

• Shopify’s $1M revenue share exemption changes for developers

• DHL lifts suspension on high-value US shipments

• China enforces stricter return refund policies for e-commerce platforms

• Shopify introduces duty-inclusive pricing to improve conversions

• SEO is shifting — what AI Overviews mean for your organic traffic

• A new premium Shopify theme

• Khloé Kardashian launches a Shopify-based protein snack brand, Khloud

Stay tuned for all the details below! 🚀

Ecommerce news and updates

Shopify is ending its annual $1M revenue share exemption for app developers, introduced during the pandemic. Going forward, developers will only get a one-time $1M lifetime exemption, with a 15% revenue share applied beyond that. The change has sparked mixed reactions, with some criticizing it as a "tariff" and others appreciating the remaining exemption, which many developers may never exceed.

DHL has lifted its suspension on high-value shipments (over $800) to the US after negotiating changes to customs rules with the US government. Meanwhile, the US government plans to tighten the "de minimis" rule, which could impact low-value shipments from companies like Shein and Temu by imposing duties starting May 2.

Shopify now offers duty-inclusive pricing for merchants using Managed Markets or the duties and import taxes calculator. This feature prevents checkout surprises by including duties in product prices and allows merchants to adjust prices by region to maintain margins. Customers are notified at checkout that duties are included, helping to improve conversions.

China has ordered e-commerce platforms like Temu, JD.com, and Alibaba to end the refund-without-returns policy starting July. Previously, marketplaces refunded customers without requiring product returns, benefiting buyers but financially harming merchants due to product losses and exploitation. The change aims to protect merchants, giving them control over refunds. While it's a win for sellers, consumers might face slower refunds and more hassle, and marketplaces will bear higher logistical and environmental costs for handling returns.

The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Shopify can be sued in California over claims of unlawfully collecting and storing customer data from third-party purchases. Filed in 2021 by Brandon Briskin, the lawsuit alleges Shopify failed to disclose its data practices. The court's decision revives the case and emphasizes accountability for online companies in states where users reside.

Shopify hack

Boost your eCommerce AOV with pre-built quantity breaks!

Visualizing savings encourages bulk buys without hurting conversions—outperforming traditional upsells.

📑 Research backs this up: bundling can lift AOV by 20% and revenue by 30% (Forrester via Elastic Path, 2023). Shopify’s Tiered Discount Guide (Fastbundle, 2025) also highlights how quantity breaks drive spending and retention.

Overheard on social

If your Shopify store’s organic traffic has dipped recently, you’re not alone — and it’s not your fault.

SEO traffic is entering a new era, and the rules are shifting fast.

Ryan Law from Ahrefs just crunched data on 300,000 keywords and uncovered what many of us have been sensing:

👉 When Google’s new AI Overviews show up in search results, click-through rates for the top organic result drop by a massive 34.5%.

This isn’t a routine algorithm tweak. It’s a fundamental change in how Google works — and how shoppers find your brand.

And remember, this is coming from Ahrefs, a company that sells SEO tools. If they’re raising the alarm, it’s worth paying attention.

Here’s what’s likely next for ecommerce brands that rely on organic traffic:

✏️ Expect lower traffic across the board
AI Overviews are designed to give answers right there in the search results. As they expand and get better, fewer shoppers will click through to your product pages or blogs — even if you rank #1.

✏️ ROI expectations from SEO will need to adjust
Yes, you can still create high-quality content and earn top spots. But the return on that effort? It won’t be what it used to be. Execs and marketers need to rethink traffic and revenue projections.

✏️ Smart brands will double down on ownable channels
Your email list. Your SMS campaigns. Your community. If you can’t count on Google, it’s time to invest in platforms you do control.

✏️ "Ranking #1" is losing its shine
With AI-generated answers eating up the top of the page, traditional rankings matter less. The visibility you thought you had may not translate into actual traffic.

✏️ SEO will shift toward branding and trust
If people aren’t clicking, they better remember you. Content strategies will pivot to brand building, storytelling, and thought leadership — not just keyword capture.

This doesn’t mean SEO is dead.
But it does mean the game is changing — and fast.

New theme alert

Monochrome by Superfine – $250 USD 💵

Elevate your visual storytelling with this minimal yet refined theme, perfect for showcasing products with impact. Featuring over 30 conversion-focused sections like promo banners, galleries, popups, and optimized cards, it’s designed to drive results. Enjoy 5 built-in presets, large typography, smooth sliders, scroll reveals, and clean layouts for a seamless browsing experience. Plus, get unparalleled support with fast, free responses in just 15 minutes—even during your trial.

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

Photo of the week

Khloé Kardashian is launching Khloud, a health-focused snack brand starting with protein-packed popcorn. Each serving delivers 7 grams of protein, redefining everyday snacking. Khloud Store, built on Shopify, showcases a unique style and concept with charming cloud themes and cute details.

That's it for today!

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