This week, Mal covers everything from nostalgic sneakers to AI creativity—and why some brands are thriving while others are tanking. Crocs and Adidas are tapping into comfort, culture, and collabs to surge in sales. Meanwhile, Gucci and Setire are feeling the pinch of global uncertainty.

Plus, Adobe’s new Firefly AI tools are here to make your content stand out (finally), and we unpack brand loyalty data that reveals just how much extra customers are willing to pay for a brand they love. Spoiler: it’s a lot.

In this episode:

• Crocs’ first Aussie concept store and why they’re a Gen Z staple

• Adidas’s comeback: How retro kicks saved the day

• Gucci’s sales tumble—and what it says about luxury’s future

• Adobe Firefly: A creative upgrade or more AI fluff?

• 68% of customers say they’re loyal—but what really earns that loyalty?

• The 3 must-haves for creating a brand people will pay 25% more for

Peak season is coming fast. Is your strategy ready?

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This week, Mal's digging into three major forces shaking up ecommerce—from international tariffs turning up the heat on cheap imports, to Australia's federal election falling flat for retail, and why your ad strategy needs a serious binge-watch makeover.

We’re talking big shifts and even bigger opportunities, especially for brands ready to ditch the one-hit-wonder campaigns and start building binge-worthy content experiences.

In this episode:

• Tariff shock: Why the US is turning off the tap on Temu and Shein—and how their ad dollars could flood Australia

• The federal election and retail: tax cuts, bill relief, and why none of it may move the needle

• The ‘binge effect’: How streaming habits are reshaping attention spans, ad strategy, and the marketing funnel

• Why your content needs to be as addictive as your customers’ favourite Netflix series

• How to build sequential stories across Meta, YouTube and Google to stay top of mind

If you're still relying on the same five ads from 2023, it's time for a rethink.

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This week on This Week in Ecommerce, Mal Chia is (finally) not talking about tariffs—but don’t worry, there’s plenty of retail chaos to go around. In a packed episode, Mal unpacks three of the biggest stories shaking the industry: the eyebrow-raising $1.4B acquisition of Versace by Prada, the creepy rise of “ghost stores” scamming shoppers online, and how generative AI is rapidly changing the way consumers discover and choose products.

With political ad blitzes inflating your CPCs and ghost boutiques flooding social media, it's getting wild out there. But there’s opportunity too—especially if you’re ready to optimise for AI-driven discovery and protect your brand reputation.

What’s in the basket this week:

• The Versace x Prada deal: Why a $700M haircut could reboot Italian luxury

• Ghost stores are everywhere: How scammers are fooling shoppers with AI and fake storefronts

• The ad platforms' responsibility in filtering scams (hint: they're falling short)

• AI search is changing everything—yes, even before it shows up in your Google Analytics

• How to future-proof your brand for AI assistants and stay top-of-mind in the AI age

• Easter lull + election ads = a weird few weeks for ecommerce marketers

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This week, Mal Chia returns—again—to unpack the whirlwind of changes shaking up global retail. After re-recording (twice!) to keep pace with the ever-evolving tariff drama, Mal breaks down the seismic $5 trillion market hit caused by new US tariffs, and why the latest freeze (targeting all but China) is sparking chaos across supply chains.

He also gets into the recent acquisition of Cue Clothing and why it’s a loud and clear signal that local manufacturing could be retailers’ best insurance policy. From there, it's a journey into the thick of the US-China trade war and what it means for different sectors. And if that wasn’t enough, Mal flips the script to the rise of AI in retail, exploring how smart tech is cutting creative costs while raising new questions about brand authenticity.

Key Takeaways:

• US market losses from new tariffs have hit a staggering $5 trillion.

• A global wave of tariffs is shaking economic stability.

• Cue Clothing's acquisition underscores the rising value of local production.

• China’s role in global trade is more pivotal than ever.

• AI is reshaping retail advertising, slashing costs and speeding up content creation.

• Retailers must pivot quickly or risk falling behind in a tech-driven future.

• Crisis creates prime opportunities for retail innovation.

• AI adoption is still early-stage but accelerating fast.

• Maintaining brand voice and trust is crucial in AI-generated campaigns.

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In this jam-packed episode, Mal tackles the latest headlines shaking up Australian retail and beyond. From the second collapse of Jeans West to Nike’s bold new strategy to revive its brand, we unpack the challenges and opportunities facing eCommerce and bricks-and-mortar retailers alike. Plus, a government data blunder puts Signal in the spotlight—what does that mean for your data governance?

🔍 Here's what's inside:

• 👖 Jeanswest collapses again: Why legacy retail models are crumbling under pressure from fast fashion, online-native brands, and changing consumer habits.

• 🏃‍♂️ Nike’s “Win Now” strategy: Cutting supply, embracing scarcity, and partnering with Skims—how Nike’s trying to get its brand heat back.

• 🛍️ Forever 21’s final fall: Once a disruptor, now disrupted. Lessons from the US fast fashion chain’s downfall.

• 🔐 SignalGate scandal: A slip-up at the highest levels of US government reveals how not to handle sensitive data—and why your eCommerce brand should take note.

• 📊 Actionable tips: How to protect customer data, reduce risk, and build trust in an era of privacy paranoia.

Legacy brands are folding, consumer trust is fragile, and agility is everything. Whether you're running DTC or juggling retail locations, this episode is your weekly guide to staying sharp in the ever-evolving world of eCommerce.

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This week, Mal breaks down why some of Australia’s most hyped sustainable and influencer-led brands are hitting turbulence. From whispers of trouble at ZeroCo to the sharp decline in repeat purchases for creator brands, the signs aren’t great—but they are telling.

He also takes aim at retail giants like Costco and Walmart, who are shifting tariffs onto their suppliers, and explores how the classic Aussie notion of a “fair go” is under serious pressure. With rising costs and declining trust, what does this mean for the future of retail?

In this episode:

• Zeroco’s struggles and what they reveal about sustainable retail
• The influencer brand bubble: what's working and what’s not
• Why authenticity beats hype in creator partnerships
• Costco and Walmart’s copycat move from the Coles-Woolies playbook
• Gen Z and millennials are losing faith in the system—what that means for spending
• Why brands must lean into transparency, values, and real community

This week, Mal is joined by Alex Ross for a fast-paced tour through the wild world of Ecommerce – from Tesla backlash to Shopify’s AI flex and Designerex’s shock demise.

We kick off with Mecca’s genius Grand Prix beauty pitstop (and a side chat about massage chairs and hair blowouts at Retail Fest), before diving into the breaking news that Designerex has gone into voluntary administration. Is this the death knell for scalable sustainable fashion, or just a tech provider spat gone nuclear?

Then it’s on to Tesla’s tanking sales in Australia and the flood of second-hand Teslas hitting the market. Spoiler: Elon’s political circus might be doing more damage than he thinks.

Australia Post has snapped up 25% of returns startup Shiperoo, and we ask: does making returns easier just encourage more of them?

Finally, Shopify quietly drops ~$100M on AI search firm Vantage Discovery. Is this the upgrade their clunky native search desperately needed – or another acquisition destined for the tech graveyard?

Quick Hits:

• 💄 Mecca steals the show at the Grand Prix.
• 👗 DesignerX folds – sustainability vs. scale.
• 🚗 Tesla owners jump ship amid brand backlash.
• 📦 AusPost’s big bet on returns with Shiparoo.
• 🤖 Shopify’s AI search power move.
• 🍸 Retail Fest bar tab alert – and how to get on the list.

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From regulatory crackdowns to the latest fashion retailer collapse, 2025 is proving to be a tough year for Australian ecommerce. In this episode, we break down:

• ACCC’s Retail Crackdown – The consumer watchdog has completed its audit of 2,000 retail websites, exposing misleading refund and return policies. What retailers need to fix—fast.
• Ally Fashion Goes Bust – Another big-name fashion retailer has shut its doors, taking 250 jobs with it. What went wrong, and the lessons all retailers should learn.
• Consumer Confidence on the Rise – A surprise 4.7% jump in consumer sentiment is driving spending in key sectors. Who’s benefiting, and what it means for ecommerce.
• $5M Boost for ‘Made in Australia’ – The government is betting big on Aussie-made goods. What this could mean for your brand’s positioning at home and overseas.

Plus, why a strong post-purchase experience is your secret weapon, and how to bulletproof your business against retail’s ongoing shakeup.

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The ecommerce world never sits still, and this week’s episode is packed with must-know insights for online retailers. Mal is joined by Justin Irvine from The Aggregate Co to unpack the latest US tariff changes and what they mean for Aussie brands selling internationally.

In this episode:
🔹 De Minimis & Tariff Changes: What new US regulations mean for your shipping costs and supply chain strategy.
🔹 Ecommerce Tech Shake-Up: Why some big players are struggling and where the industry is heading.
🔹 Consumer Spending Strikes: A new movement pushing shoppers to stop spending on Fridays—will it work?
🔹 The Future of Logistics: How investment in Australia’s logistics space is reshaping delivery and customer expectations.

If you’re selling into the US, looking for smarter logistics, or just want to stay ahead of the game in ecommerce, this one’s for you!

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Interest rates have finally been cut — but before retailers pop the champagne, Mal is here to break down what it really means. Will this revive consumer confidence, or are we in for a rough ride as shoppers continue to tighten their belts?

Meanwhile, Klaviyo is making waves by expanding into the CRM space, challenging the way brands manage customer relationships. Could this change the game for B2C businesses? And is this the start of a bigger shake-up for platforms like Zendesk and Gorgias?

And yes, while we've talked about Mosaic Brands’ collapse before, the story keeps unfolding. This isn’t just about one company — it's a wake-up call for retail on the dangers of long leases, supplier relationships, and failing to evolve.

Also on this week’s agenda:

• Why the interest rate cut may not mean a retail spending spree (but could still impact your pricing strategy).
• Klaviyo’s big move into CRM—what it means for your tech stack and customer service.
• Retail strategy shifts: Why brands are reconsidering physical stores and looking at pop-ups instead.
• Stock market drama: How US-China tensions and tech valuations are affecting ecommerce costs.

With big changes happening across the industry, this is the episode you can’t afford to miss.

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Website: ecomnation.com.au
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