Our latest head-to-head test reveals a widening gap in the AI shopping race, and honestly, it’s starting to feel like the haves versus the have-nots. Gemini’s paid tier is flexing with agentic shopping and price tracking—basically dangling the “future of shopping” in front of anyone willing to cough up for Pro. Meanwhile, ChatGPT is quietly eating Gemini’s lunch on the free side with slick visual carousels, price tags, and review summaries that actually make sense. The big question: is this turning into a two-tier AI mall where only the premium shoppers get the good stuff, while free users are left wandering around the food court with half-baked product lists?

This podcast is sponsored by 50-Pound Boson, an ecommerce marketing agency that aims to help small to medium–sized brand owners grow their ecommerce sales channels. For questions, feedback, ecommerce growth assistance, or if you'd like to be on the show, connect with Ecommosaurus at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or discover ecommerce solutions at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠50poundboson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

August brought a whirlwind of ecommerce news worth unpacking. AOL finally announced the end of its dial-up service (yes, it was still a thing), while global trade got a shakeup as the de minimis rule exemption officially expired, sending ripples through the ecommerce world. Amazon dominated headlines with same-day grocery expansion, controversial review changes, costly Black Friday participation fees, and new GDSN and variation rules hitting sellers right as Q4 looms. Meanwhile, TikTok is quietly embedding itself deeper into U.S. commerce despite looming political drama, Best Buy relaunched its marketplace, Warby Parker pivoted away from its iconic at-home try-on, and Fanatics debuted a loyalty program. From nostalgia to disruption, this month’s recap covers how retail giants—and scrappy challengers—are reshaping the future of online shopping.

This podcast is sponsored by 50-Pound Boson, an ecommerce marketing agency that aims to help small to medium–sized brand owners grow their ecommerce sales channels. For questions, feedback, ecommerce growth assistance, or if you'd like to be on the show, connect with Ecommosaurus at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or discover ecommerce solutions at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠50poundboson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of Ecommosaurus, we take a deep dive into GS1 — the global non-profit that created the barcode and remains the gold standard for product identity worldwide. We unpack the differences between UPCs, GTINs, and EANs, and explain why GS1-issued codes are the only safe bet for long-term growth on platforms like Amazon, Walmart, and Target. From avoiding the pitfalls of cheap resold UPCs to understanding how renewals and variations can quickly multiply your costs, we cover the critical lessons every brand needs to know before scaling. Plus, we touch on the often-overlooked world of GDSN and how GS1 standards shape the future of commerce. If you’ve ever wondered whether GS1 really matters, this episode gives you the full picture.

This podcast is sponsored by 50-Pound Boson, an ecommerce marketing agency that aims to help small to medium–sized brand owners grow their ecommerce sales channels. For questions, feedback, ecommerce growth assistance, or if you'd like to be on the show, connect with Ecommosaurus at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or discover ecommerce solutions at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠50poundboson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of Ecommosaurus, Ted, Sonny, and Jaclyn dive deep into the ad buying world and put different channels head-to-head. Kicking things off with Steven Pope’s bold claim that “Sponsored Product is perhaps the single most important ad type in U.S. e-commerce marketing,” the crew unpacks how Amazon’s shifts in ad spend, from pulling out of Google to still fueling Bing, are shaping the landscape. From the high-intent muscle of search to the reach of display, the discovery power of social, the storytelling punch of video, and the trust factor of influencers. We unpack the ROI, conversion stats, and strategies that actually work. If you’ve ever wondered where your next $100 in ad spend should really go, this episode has the answers.

This podcast is sponsored by 50-Pound Boson, an ecommerce marketing agency that aims to help small to medium–sized brand owners grow their ecommerce sales channels. For questions, feedback, ecommerce growth assistance, or if you'd like to be on the show, connect with Ecommosaurus at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or discover ecommerce solutions at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠50poundboson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Back-to-school 2025 is already shaping up to be one of the most complex shopping seasons in recent memory—and in this episode of Ecommosaurus, we break it all down. From early July start dates and inflation anxiety to a wider-than-ever shopping list that includes everything from self-care items to AI tools, consumers are adjusting fast. We dive into spending shifts, new timing patterns, and where shoppers are actually buying—plus what it all means for small and mid-sized brands trying to stay relevant. With economic uncertainty, tariff fears, and Gen Z's growing influence, is back-to-school now just as strategic as the holidays? Tune in to hear what’s changed, what’s next, and the key takeaways for retailers and marketers.

This podcast is sponsored by 50-Pound Boson, an ecommerce marketing agency that aims to help small to medium–sized brand owners grow their ecommerce sales channels. For questions, feedback, ecommerce growth assistance, or if you'd like to be on the show, connect with Ecommosaurus at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or discover ecommerce solutions at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠50poundboson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

July 2025 was anything but quiet in ecommerce. In this episode, we unpack Amazon’s sudden pull from Google Shopping, looming tariff changes, the FTC’s crackdown on “Made in USA” claims, and rising scam alerts from USPS. We also break down AI’s growing role in ecommerce—from ChatGPT checkout to Amazon’s Starfish project—and what it all means for sellers and agencies trying to stay ahead of the curve.

Whether you’re managing ad budgets, optimizing listings, or navigating platform policies, this one’s for you.

This podcast is sponsored by 50-Pound Boson, an ecommerce marketing agency that aims to help small to medium–sized brand owners grow their ecommerce sales channels. For questions, feedback, ecommerce growth assistance, or if you'd like to be on the show, connect with Ecommosaurus at [email protected] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or discover ecommerce solutions at 50poundboson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

AI is supposed to make shopping easier, but is it actually helping? In this episode of Ecommosaurus, we pit top AI platforms (ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Amazon’s Rufus, Microsoft CoPilot, and Perplexity AI) against each other in a real-world shopping test. From shampoo bars and bug spray to high-end mountain bikes and sewing scissors, we asked the platforms to recommend products and analyzed how they responded. We talk about which platforms were visual, which ones felt like they were just guessing, and how trust in product sources plays a critical role. Plus, tips for optimizing your listings for AI-driven search—especially now that platforms like Rufus are embedded right into Amazon listings. It's early days, but this episode is your map through the evolving AI shopping jungle.

This podcast is sponsored by 50-Pound Boson, an ecommerce marketing agency that aims to help small to medium–sized brand owners grow their ecommerce sales channels. For questions, feedback, ecommerce growth assistance, or if you'd like to be on the show, connect with Ecommosaurus at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or discover ecommerce solutions at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠50poundboson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, we dive into our 2025 crystal ball predictions, now with the benefit of hindsight. From the TikTok ban and Meta’s ad rollercoaster to the AI tools that actually delivered (hello, Shopify Sidekick) and Amazon’s still-buggy experiments, we explore where we nailed it and where reality laughed in our faces.

Spoiler: Sonny called the Celtics’ second-round exit with eerie precisionThis podcast is sponsored by 50-Pound Boson, an ecommerce marketing agency that aims to help small to medium–sized brand owners grow their ecommerce sales channels. For questions, feedback, ecommerce growth assistance, or if you'd like to be on the show, connect with Ecommosaurus at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or discover ecommerce solutions at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠50poundboson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Originally released at the start of the year as Episode 122, this episode features our boldest predictions for e-commerce in 2025—now re-released as a midyear check-in to see what’s coming true, what’s still on the horizon, and what may have totally missed the mark. We tackle everything from the rise of AI-powered shopping experiences to the ongoing shift away from big brands in favor of value-priced goods. We discuss how the "Vibe-Cession" will continue to reshape consumer behavior, why AI's buzz will settle into practical applications, and how the demand for authenticity in marketing will reach new heights.

Tune in for our fearless forecast of what’s next in e-commerce—and get ready for next week’s follow-up episode, where we’ll reflect on what’s playing out and what caught us off guard.

This podcast is sponsored by 50-Pound Boson, an ecommerce marketing agency that aims to help small to medium–sized brand owners grow their ecommerce sales channels. For questions, feedback, ecommerce growth assistance, or if you'd like to be on the show, connect with Ecommosaurus at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or discover ecommerce solutions at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠50poundboson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

June brought the heat in ecommerce news: Shopify announced a game-changing partnership with Sovos to automate sales tax filing, while Meta quietly backed away from social commerce yet again. Disney and Universal teamed up to sue MidJourney over AI-generated images, sparking new copyright questions for marketers and creators alike. Meanwhile, Costco is facing a major lawsuit over its “free shipping” claims, which could reshape how retailers present pricing online. We also cover Amazon’s AI-driven shakeups—from robot delivery tests to purging billions of listings—and look at how consumer spending trends, tariff impacts, and summer sales events (hello, Prime Day and TikTok Deal Days) are setting the tone for Q3.

This podcast is sponsored by 50-Pound Boson, an ecommerce marketing agency that aims to help small to medium–sized brand owners grow their ecommerce sales channels. For questions, feedback, ecommerce growth assistance, or if you'd like to be on the show, connect with Ecommosaurus at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or discover ecommerce solutions at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠50poundboson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.