Shopify Entrepreneur Weekly

Hey Shopify store owners,

Staying ahead in the ecommerce game means keeping up with the latest tools, features, and strategies - and we're here to help! This week’s newsletter is packed with must-know updates to optimize your store, improve operations, and increase customer loyalty.

Here’s what’s inside:

• Shopify updates: Linkpop shutdown, legal victory, new analytics, USDC payments, and unified product reviews.

• Partner tools: Recurpay’s new Free Gift Bot to boost customer retention.

• BNPL innovation: PayPal, Klarna, and Zilch launch hybrid payment cards.

• Meta checkout changes: Instagram and Facebook Shops move back to external checkouts.

• Ecommerce themes: Discover Maya, the latest feature-rich Shopify theme.

• Exclusive opportunity: Get paid to share your Shopify expertise with app developers!

Dive in and get inspired to grow your store. Let’s make this week count! 🚀

Key ecommerce updates

Shopify will shut down its Linkpop ‘link in bio’ service on July 7, 2025, as announced in an email to users with no explanation provided. Launched in 2022, Linkpop let brands create bio pages with Shopify checkout integration for easy purchases. Users are now directed to third-party ‘link in bio’ apps via Shopify’s App Store. New signups are closed, and existing pages won’t be editable after the cutoff date.

Shopify won a legal battle against the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), which had requested six years of detailed records on Shopify merchants to verify tax compliance in Canada and Australia. The CRA sought personal information, including names, birthdates, addresses, phone numbers, and bank details, which Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke called "blatant overreach." A federal judge ruled the request too broad and lacking specific targets, ordering Shopify not to release the data and the CRA to cover $90,000 in legal costs.

PayPal, Klarna, and Zilch are rolling out physical payment cards, blending BNPL services with traditional credit card options. PayPal's card offers deferred interest and promotional financing terms, Klarna is introducing a debit-like card with pay-later options, and Zilch is launching a Visa card with rewards and installment payments. These developments blur the line between BNPL and credit cards, offering new ways for Shopify store owners to attract customers who prefer flexible payment options.

Meta has announced that starting June 2025, Facebook and Instagram Shops will transition back to external website checkouts instead of requiring in-app purchases. This shift gives merchants, including Shopify store owners, more control over the checkout process and reduces setup complexity. The move is crucial for online businesses as it aligns with merchant needs and may ease regulatory pressures, while also hinting at Meta's future AI shopping ambitions.

Shopify now lets you duplicate menus directly from the admin. This new feature allows you to create exact copies of menus, including all links, making it easier to build similar navigation without starting from scratch.

The new Analytics experience is now default for all stores, offering real-time data, custom dashboards, and advanced data explorations. With ShopifyQL, you can create custom queries directly from reports for greater control and flexibility.

You can now reply directly to customers who submit a Shopify Form. When email notifications are enabled, your store receives the submission details and a link to the customer record. The reply-to address now connects directly to the customer, making it easier to respond to inquiries like quote requests or custom service questions.

Shopify Payments is introducing USDC on the Base network, allowing merchants in eligible markets to accept US dollar digital currency. Customers can pay using supported crypto wallets, while merchants receive payouts in their local currency without extra fees or can opt to claim USDC via a compatible crypto wallet.

Shopify’s new unified product reviews system: What it means for you

Shopify has launched a major update to simplify product review management and boost buyer trust. Here's what’s new:

Centralized reviews: Reviews are now stored directly in Shopify, not locked in app databases, allowing seamless syncing across platforms.

Verified reviews: Reviews tied to customer and order IDs come with a "Verified by Shop" badge to enhance credibility.

Unified metafields: New standard metafields ("reviews.rating" and "reviews.rating_count") make review data shareable across surfaces like the Shop app and your store.

Better visibility: Reviews collected anywhere can now appear across multiple Shopify surfaces to improve conversions.

For store owners, this means easier app switching, better trust with verified reviews, and more visibility for feedback - driving sales and simplifying management. Check with your review app to start leveraging these updates today!

This Week's Partner Updates

Recurpay introduced the Free Gift Bot. Say hello to smarter gifting! The Free Gift Bot is here to create personalized, seamless gifting experiences right inside your Shopify store.

How it works:

• Curate gifts, surprise rewards, or festive treats for your customers - fully automated using your custom rules.

• Keep personalization and brand control intact while delighting your customers.

Why merchants enjoy it:

• Boost customer loyalty and engagement with thoughtful, authentic gifting moments.

• Enhance retention and stand out from the competition.

• Easy integration with Shopify, Klaviyo, Stripe, and more.

• Set it up in just 30 seconds! Watch the demo here.

Ready to try it out? Install the Recurpay app.

Get paid to share your Shopify expertise

We're inviting a small group of high-volume Shopify brand owners and operators to give feedback to top app developers.

It’s a chance to shape future tools, and get paid $85–$250 per 30–60 min session for your insights.

🧠 Think: attribution, performance, wholesale UX, AI personalization
💵 30+ projects live
💼 Built for high-growth teams like yours

Check out the live list (no registration needed to view): 👉 ​Preview projects

If you're ready to try it out, ​click here to join​.

Know someone who’d be a great fit? Refer them and earn rewards!

• $50 for approved participants who complete a project

• $100 for Shopify Plus participants

• $100 for referring a researcher + $50 recurring if they subscribe

Log in to your Participant account to copy your referral link or ​create a new account​ to get started.

New themes in stock

Maya by Shine Dezign Infonet – $480 USD

Maya is a sleek and feature-rich Shopify theme designed to elevate your store's user experience and visual appeal. With advanced navigation tools like mega menus, smart filters, and predictive search, customers can explore your products effortlessly. Dynamic animations add depth and sophistication, creating a premium feel throughout your store. Featuring 35+ flexible sections, Maya allows you to showcase your brand with bold text, subtle effects, and immersive visuals for impactful storytelling.

Need help upgrading or switching your theme? Connect with top Shopify developers and designers in just minutes! – Submit a project.

Photo of the week

At WWDC25, Apple unveiled the new "Liquid Glass" UI for iOS 26, macOS 26, and iPadOS 26.

While Apple highlighted its innovation, the design has sparked mixed reactions online. Many users criticized readability, particularly in the iOS Control Center, with one viral post on X claiming, “Steve Jobs would have fired everyone.” The post has gained over 18.5 million views, fueling debate about Liquid Glass's usability.

Supporters, however, see it as a bold step for Apple’s design philosophy. They argue early betas may have contrast issues, but these are fixable. Optimized for Apple Silicon and spatial computing, Liquid Glass is seen by some as the future of UI design - just as iOS 7 once was.

Is Liquid Glass the next big leap in UI design or a misstep?

That's it for today!

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