Top 5 Seller Reads this Week: Issue #263

Top 5 this week

1. Retail News: AI Tests Consumer Trust as Amazon and UPS Double Down on Efficiency

“The Walmart & Gemini integration is a big deal. If the trend continues to lean towards higher engagement with AI channels, this could mean a big boom for Walmart business, especially with Google increasingly taking the lead in the AI world. The discussion around how much agents will influence shopping decisions is an important and tricky one. I can’t imagine there won’t be influence, but very curious to see how savvy shoppers become to counterbalance any given agent’s inevitable bias.” ~Nikko Patten

2. Why Retail Media’s Next Era is About Relevance, Not Reach

“Retail media is shifting from simply chasing reach to prioritizing relevance, meaning ecommerce sellers should focus on delivering ads that connect with actual buyer intent using first-party data and more personalized creatives. This new phase emphasizes proof of performance through closed-loop measurement and sourcing discovery beyond the marketplace rather than just ad frequency. Connection matters. With greater focus on personalization and creative nuance, scalability is decreasing. Trust in brands – from creative personalities – matters more than ever.” ~Clayton Atchison

3. Amazon to Pay $309 Million to U.S. Shoppers in Settlement Over Returns

“This settlement suggests Amazon’s technical or process “hiccups” consistently erred on the side of keeping money in their pocket – small amounts here and there that compounded into hundreds of millions at scale. For sellers, the bigger lesson isn’t just policy literacy, but forecasting cash flow and profitability to account for refund and return leakage while you’re still fighting to recover it. It also signals Amazon becoming more aggressive and diligent in refund enforcement, which could translate into higher refund-related costs for sellers across the board.” ~Chelsea Cohen

4. US Retail Growth to Be Slower Than Last Year, Bain Predicts

“A slower climb in retail sales means brands will need tighter demand planning, sharper promotions, and faster reactions to categories losing momentum. Value-conscious shopping is likely to remain a defining constraint in 2026. Vendors need to rethink how they communicate “value” on the digital shelf, not just price cuts. Build a clear price ladder (entry/value/premium), decide where you will and won’t match, and use product architecture to defend margin without surrendering perceived value. Stronger claims, clearer benefits, and smart promo mechanics will be critical to defend share in a slower-growth environment.” ~Shelby Owens

5. Global Trade Shifts Show Why Retailers Need Agile Tech Stacks

“Diversifying sales and fulfillment isn’t optional anymore and your tech stack will determine how fast you can actually do it. With tariffs and trade routes shifting faster than planning cycles, brands that can automate data between systems fastest will be the ones that can pivot pricing, routing, and inventory before disruption hits. Sellers should pressure-test how fast they can onboard a new 3PL, plug in a WMS or ERP, or shift distribution points without breaking order and inventory data. Building that muscle now means fewer costly “transition weeks” where performance dips.” ~Mak Bidikar