How tariffs are changing retail strategies

𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗳𝘀 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁: 𝗯𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀. 🎁 Sellers offering “gift sets” and multi-product bundles saw 𝟭𝟬–𝟭𝟱% 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 during Fall Prime Day – even amid economic uncertainty. Why? Shoppers chasing value will always choose $300 worth of product for $100 over a single discounted item. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆: bundling doesn’t just boost AOV — it reframes the entire value proposition. At SmartCommerce, we built our 𝗕𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀 & 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 technology for exactly this: ⚡ One-click bundles that turn browsers into buyers 🛒 Dynamic recipes that increase cart size at the moment of discovery 🎯 Flexible theming for seasonal or promotional sets The brands winning right now aren’t just discounting harder — they’re making value feel bigger. 🔗 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀: https://ow.ly/fKoF50XfxLL 📰 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 Retail Brew 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: https://ow.ly/8f5f50XfxLM

Free online returns — once a standard perk of e-commerce — are becoming the latest casualty of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. More retailers are raising the bar for customers who want to ship back unwanted goods. Some brands are even eliminating the perk altogether as they try to mitigate the costs of tariffs. Some of those brands include Joe & Bella, Springrose and BEJOU. In the U.S., the number of retailers requiring a return fee has jumped from 66% to 72% this year, according to a new report from the National Retail Federation and Happy Returns, a UPS Company. Around 33% of merchants surveyed said they began charging or increasing fees for returns due to “economic uncertainty and risk of tariffs,” per the report. Thanks to everyone who spoke to me for this story -- Jimmy Zollo, Carolina Lopez, Nicole Cuervo, Jessica Meher at Loop, David Morin at Narvar and Brandon Thurgood at Redo. Check out the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eVbrHWkW #retail #consumer #returns #tariffs #ecommerce

Temu, Tariffs, and the New Battlefield for Brands Temu’s latest moves tell us a lot about where global e-commerce is headed — and it should make every brand pay attention. The Chinese marketplace built its entire model around direct-to-consumer shipments, ultra-low prices, and the “de minimis” loophole that let millions of small parcels enter the U.S. duty-free. That loophole is now closing — and Temu is scrambling to retool by shipping from U.S. warehouses to keep its costs down and its buyers happy. What does that mean? It means the game is shifting. The next phase of the e-commerce war won’t just be about price — it’ll be about positioning, compliance, logistics, and brand control. Platforms like Temu are teaching consumers to expect impossibly low prices. Amazon is responding with its own “budget” channels. And caught in the middle are the brands — the ones trying to protect reputation, channel integrity, and consumer trust while competing against algorithm-driven marketplaces built to undercut value at any cost. At Howell & Associates, this is exactly where we operate — helping brands navigate the chaos. We track these shifts in real time, enforce MAP and IP rights, and protect brands from the downstream damage of uncontrolled listings, grey-market goods, and unauthorized sellers who exploit platforms like this to erode equity. The message is clear: If you’re not controlling your brand online, someone else will.

Ecommerce in 2025 is defined by higher costs and tougher customers. ➡️ Tariffs that were once 10–25% are now 20–50% or more ➡️ Inflation is making shoppers more price-sensitive ➡️ Consumers are trading down — but still expect fast, flawless service For operators, that creates a gap between what it costs to serve a customer and what customers are willing to pay. Smart brands are closing that gap by: ✔️ Diversifying sourcing ✔️ Modeling tariffs into pricing ✔️ Investing in retention levers ✔️ Adding new margin streams like checkout protection In the end, the strongest brands won’t only withstand the squeeze — they’ll convert it into long-term profitability. 👉 Full breakdown in our latest blog 👉 https://lnkd.in/efajkX26 Or see what this looks like for your brand, book a call here 👉 https://lnkd.in/ebAtmRTp

If you’re running an e-commerce business in 2025, chances are your margins feel like they’ve been put through a paper shredder. That’s not just inflation talking, it’s tariffs. Lonnie Bloom and Manpreet Sangha of Withum's E-Commerce Services team break down how E-Commerce brands can outsmart 2025’s tariff turmoil: https://ow.ly/VPfh50X7Pls

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and the National Consumer Commission (NCC) have warned foreign online shopping platforms, such as Temu. https://lnkd.in/dVnTJnFs

Best Buy has launched a new third-party marketplace, allowing the company to expand its offerings amid rising tariffs without taking on inventory, logistics or unsold-goods risks. KJK attorneys Isra Ghanem and Jon Groza explore the implications: https://bit.ly/4pV00RY #KJKLaw #BestBuy #Marketplace #eCommerce

Over the past several months, online shoppers have been on an emotional roller coaster, worried their affordable e-commerce orders might suddenly come with new tariffs. Earlier this year, new trade rules reshaped how small international parcels were taxed, removing the exemption that once allowed low-value items to enter duty-free. This caused widespread confusion about when the changes would take effect and what it meant for platforms known for their budget-friendly, innovative products. In response, many platforms adjusted their systems to highlight goods available in local warehouses, helping customers avoid unexpected fees and long delays. Others weren’t as fortunate, some buyers from different international marketplaces were hit with heavy duty charges after receiving modest purchases, sparking frustration and uncertainty across online communities. As months passed, platforms quietly resumed direct overseas shipping, reviving questions about possible extra costs. Shoppers cautiously tested the waters with small orders, simple toys, gadgets, or home items, and waited to see if additional fees would follow. Deliveries still arrived efficiently, though the quality of some products varied: some items performed as expected, while others broke or disappointed. Yet the most significant outcome came later—no sudden tariff bills at the doorstep. The relief was clear, but so was the realization that prices had climbed, averaging around 30% higher than before. Even with these adjustments, the appetite for affordable and innovative products remains strong. It’s a sign of how quickly e-commerce evolves, balancing convenience, pricing, and sustainability, and a reminder that innovation often reshapes not only what people buy but also how they value consumption itself. #Innovation #Ecommerce #DigitalTrends #OnlineShopping #SmartSpending #TechInnovation #RetailTransformation #SustainableConsumerism #InnovationInRetail

🎁 The holiday season should be a time of opportunity, but tariffs are pushing costs higher across the board, leaving retailers with tough decisions: absorb the hit, raise prices, or risk losing customers. There’s a smarter way forward. Brands that invest in loyalty and engagement programs are not just shielding themselves from cost volatility, they’re driving stronger lifetime value. With a partner like ebbo, retailers can: • Launch or expand perks and rewards that offset rising prices • Blend free and paid loyalty models to engage every shopper segment • Turn one-time buyers into long-term advocates, even when margins are tight Instead of seeing tariffs as an obstacle, use them as the spark to deepen customer relationships this holiday season. How is your brand planning to keep loyalty strong when external factors are out of your control?

Ever clicked 'add to cart' on a seemingly unbeatable deal and wondered how it's possible? 🤔 The news about Germany's cartel office investigating Temu for potentially influencing merchant pricing hits right at the heart of fair competition and consumer trust. While we all love a great bargain, the integrity of our digital marketplaces depends on a level playing field. If platforms are indeed dictating prices, it doesn't just stifle smaller businesses; it can ultimately lead to higher costs for us, the consumers, and limit our choices. This investigation is a crucial reminder that true value isn't just about a low price tag – it's also about transparent practices and a genuinely competitive environment. It's a conversation worth having: How do we balance the allure of discount e-commerce with the need for fair play and consumer protection? Your thoughts! 👇 #Ecommerce #FairCompetition #ConsumerProtection #DigitalEconomy Read more: https://lnkd.in/gHU6wRiz