This Week In Ecommerce

It’s another jam-packed week in retail as we edge closer to peak season. In this episode, Mal and Alex cover the biggest stories across the e-commerce landscape—from unpredictable collabs to timeless classics making a comeback, and the rising retail moment that is Halloween.

💡 In this episode:

• 🍦 Lovehoney x Billy Van Creamy: Why an unexpected collab between a sexual wellness brand and a cult ice cream maker is winning attention—and how “weird” partnerships are making waves.

• 💍 Havaianas x Arms of Eve: The iconic Aussie thong brand is getting the luxury treatment. Pinterest search interest is up 51%—is it Crocs’ turn to step aside?

• 🧵 Hermès Designer Exit: After 37 years, the queen of “quiet luxury” steps down. What happens when legacy brands bring in the youth?

• 👖 Levi’s Rebound: Up 7% YoY and D2C now 44% of revenue. Is this the rise of “recession-proof boring brands”?

• 🎃 Halloween Spending Tops $500M in Australia: A holiday once dismissed as “too American” is now a retail powerhouse. Why Aussie brands should pay attention.

• 👟 Is Drop Culture Dead?: Gen Z fatigue, resale pricing backlash, and availability anxiety—why sneakerheads (and fashion lovers) might be over the hype.

• 🇺🇸 Bonus Take: With US tariffs on Chinese and Mexican goods tightening, is it time to diversify your supply chain?

🎯 Big Themes:

• The return to trusted, high-quality staples in uncertain economic times

• Collabs that actually work—and how randomness equals cut-through

• Gen Z’s shifting shopping habits (and what it means for DTC brands)

• Cultural moments (like Halloween) as drivers of spend, not just “holidays”

• Why boring might just be the new cool

📍 Mentioned Brands & News:

• Lovehoney, Billy Van Creamy, Havaianas, Arms of Eve

• Hermès, Levi Strauss, Nudie Jeans

• Black Milk, OnlyFans x Urban Decay, RM Williams

• Retail Dive: Drop Culture Commentary

🎧 Listen now to hear what every Aussie retailer should be planning for this Halloween and beyond.

This week, hosts Mal Chia and Alex Ross dive into one of the biggest news weeks of the year for global retail and ecommerce. From Simon Beard’s bold new Creator Army venture to the rise of Digital Product Passports and a 100% tariff on Chinese imports announced by Donald Trump, this episode covers everything Australian retailers need to prepare for.

Plus, we look at Kooki's return to the UK, the closure of Famous Footwear’s Australian stores, and Gap’s new multi-year AI partnership with Google Cloud that’s set to redefine retail operations.

🧭 Key Stories This Week

1. Simon Beard launches Creator Army

The Culture Kings founder is back — and he’s not doing things by halves. Creator Army is a platform to train and connect “full stack creators” with brands, launching via livestream this week. Mal and Alex explore where this sits in the crowded creator–brand ecosystem and why Beard’s personal brand might be the secret weapon that gives it an edge.

2. Kooki returns to the UK

After more than a decade, the iconic Aussie–French fashion label is heading back to London with a corporate-owned flagship planned for 2026. The hosts unpack what this says about the resurgence of UK retail and why control over brand expression matters more than ever.

3. Famous Footwear calls it quits

All 17 Australian stores are shuttering, with online trading to continue only until year’s end. Mal and Alex discuss what went wrong — from weak brand awareness to lack of differentiation — and what retailers can learn about standing out in a crowded category.

4. Digital Product Passports debut in Bangladesh

A world-first initiative in textile traceability is rolling out with support from Fashion for Good and H&M. It promises full visibility into a garment’s origin, materials, and ethical footprint — a move that could reshape consumer trust and regulatory expectations by 2030.

5. Trump’s 100% tariff on Chinese goods

Another shockwave for global trade: Donald Trump has imposed a 100% tariff on Chinese imports to the U.S., sparking immediate market volatility. The hosts unpack what this means for Australian brands selling into the U.S., and how to prepare for supply chain disruption right before Black Friday.

6. Gap x Google Cloud: AI Meets Retail

Gap has signed a multi-year AI partnership using Google’s full stack — Gemini, Vertex AI, and BigQuery — to transform product development, pricing, and operations. Is this the beginning of a smarter, more data-driven retail era?

In Episode 108 of This Week in Ecommerce, Mal and Alex dissect the biggest stories shaping ecommerce and brand strategy this week — from Gucci’s cinematic campaign to Shopify’s major AI integration with OpenAI.

They unpack what brands get right (and wrong) when chasing attention, and how ecommerce leaders can stay ahead as the lines blur between product, performance, and content.

🔍 Key Topics:

• 🧠 OpenAI x Shopify: How deep AI integration changes product discovery — and why structured data is the new SEO.

• 💸 The ‘AI Ad Tax’ is coming: Mal and Alex break down what ad-supported AI could mean for already stretched retail budgets.

• 🎬 Gucci’s Spike Jonze short film: What it says about attention, brand depth, and whether smaller brands can (or should) follow suit.

• 🧘‍♀️ Alo Yoga’s $3,600 bag + ageism lawsuit: Are they stretching the brand — or solidifying their luxury pivot?

• 🧍‍♀️ Body image backlash: Why Aje and Bec & Bridge had ads pulled — and whether the scrutiny is driving lasting change.

• 🏃 Nike’s DTC slowdown: Is the wholesale comeback a sign of bigger shifts in distribution strategy?

• 🛒 Amazon’s Prime AOV play: One-tap add-ons could be a game changer in bundled logistics and habit-forming behaviour.

  
  

With Black Friday just around the corner, it’s a timely pulse check on the state of brand, discovery, and consumer expectations.

In Episode 107 of This Week in Ecommerce, Mal and Alex tackle a chaotic week in retail, tech, and consumer trust.

From Meta’s live demo fail to another sunscreen brand getting caught with dodgy SPF claims, this episode dives into how trust, transparency, and timing are becoming critical differentiators for brands heading into Q4.

💣 Key Topics Covered:

As always, the team brings insights, analysis, and a bit of banter to help you navigate the noisy retail news cycle.

Q4 is coming in hot — and retail is already on fire 🔥

This week, Mal and Alex dig into a scandal shaking one of Australia’s biggest retail groups, the quiet downfall of viral sensation Labubu, and what TikTok’s rise as a search engine means for brands heading into peak.

Also on deck: Aussie consumer confidence is defying global trends, David Jones’ web traffic spikes unexpectedly, and discoverability is shifting away from Google… fast.

If you’re planning Black Friday, betting on bundles, or wondering how to bring your brand story to life in a TikTok-first world — this one’s for you.

🔎 Key Stories:

• Super Retail Group CEO ousted over undisclosed relationship — costing him millions in shares.
• Labubu's $6B valuation crash shows what happens when hype outpaces strategy.
• Australia Post resumes U.S. parcel shipping (earlier than expected!) — great news for merchants.
• David Jones traffic jumps +1M users in August — has their site overhaul paid off?
• Aussie shoppers to spend 14% more this holiday season, says Deloitte.
• TikTok and YouTube are now key discovery platforms — what brands must know.
• Black Friday pricing strategies & PDP optimisation tips — how to win wallet share without eroding margin.

In this episode of This Week in E-Commerce, Mal and Alex unpack the big trends shaping Q4 and beyond — from the slow fade of Lululemon’s dominance, to why fragrance is suddenly every brand’s favourite brand extension, and how Gen Z’s conscious spending habits are forcing a rethink on value.

Whether it’s the rise of K-Beauty, the fall of dark UX, or the EU’s bold stance on fashion waste, one thing is clear: standing still is no longer an option.

🔑 In this episode:

• 🧘‍♀️ Lululemon’s glow-up fades as the brand struggles to maintain momentum in the U.S.

• 🌸 Fragrance is booming as fashion brands turn scent into a scalable product category.

• 🇰🇷 K-Beauty dominates Aussie skincare — affordable, innovative, and culturally aspirational.

• 👙 Monday Swimwear opens in Beverly Hills, proving the playbook for Aussie DTC brands scaling luxury.

• 💳 Click to Cancel gains traction, signalling the end of dark UX in subscriptions.

• ♻️ The EU introduces Producer Responsibility, with massive implications for Australian brands.

• 🧠 Gen Z plans to spend less this holiday season, not just due to cost — but conscious choice.

This week marks two years of This Week in E-Commerce and the hot takes are flowing as freely as ever.

Mal’s just landed in Sydney to deliver the IPX keynote, Alex is dropping a new webinar series, and the industry hasn’t slowed down one bit.

From Qantas’ fashion-forward makeover to Lorna Jane’s bold lifestyle play, and the relentless rise of TikTok Shop, Mal and Alex cover the stories that matter — with a healthy side of chaotic retail energy.

🧵 Topics this week:

• ✈️ Qantas taps Rebecca Vallance for new crew uniforms — and it’s about more than just looks.

• 🧘‍♀️ Lorna Jane acquires a luxury wellness retreat — the blueprint for lifestyle brand expansion?

• 🎟️ Aussies spending big on experiences — concerts > groceries?

• 🛍️ P. Louise breaks TikTok Shop records with $2.7M in 14 hours — and the rise of TikTok TV shopping studios.

• 💳 Harvey Norman loses appeal over “interest-free” advertising — and the court wasn’t subtle about it.

• 🧠 Retail’s mental health crisis — SDA report exposes shocking working conditions for frontline staff.

• 🤖 The AI backlash continues — is the hype bubble about to burst?

Mal and Alex also share their thoughts on building culture, respecting frontline retail workers, and the importance of designing marketing moments (not just new product drops).

In Episode 103 of This Week in E-commerce, Mal Chia and Alex Ross dive into the biggest trends, scandals, and pop culture crossovers shaking up retail this week.
From AI-generated “digital slop” to the Gen Z-led thrifting boom and the impact of Taylor Swift’s diamond ring, this episode explores how brand trust, creativity, and consumer behaviour continue to evolve in unexpected ways.

🔑 Key topics this week:

🧠 AI-generated ads and the backlash:

• J.Crew and Guess slammed for using AI models, sparking backlash over authenticity and even “digital blackface”

• Why customers feel deceived and what brands need to consider around trust, ethics, and creative integrity

• When it’s helpful to use AI (and when it crosses the line)

  
  

👛 The Thrifting Boom is Real:

• 87% of NSW adults shopped secondhand this year

• Why Gen Z loves the thrill of the find and personalised style

• Savers opens a “thrift megastore” and Vinny’s builds its tech stack

  
  

💎 Taylor Swift, Devil Wears Prada & Fashion Pop Culture:

• Devil Wears Prada 2 is already shaping editorial trends

• Swift’s natural diamond sends ripples through the engagement ring market

• Travis Kelce’s American Eagle collab and redefining masculinity in retail

  
  

🧢 Quickfire stories:

• Mosaic Brands hit with a $25M fine for failing to deliver nearly 740,000 orders

• Setire posts a $12M swing into the red and pivots to Asia

• HomeCo Ballarat sells for $54M, highlighting the importance of regional retail hubs

• The bag charm trend is officially mainstream

In this episode of This Week in E-Commerce, Mal Chia and Alex Ross tackle the biggest disruption to Australian retail logistics in years: Australia Post has abruptly halted all standard parcel shipments to the US.

With the end of de minimis on August 29 and tariffs of up to $200 USD per parcel kicking in, brands relying on AusPost are suddenly scrambling to find alternatives — or risk being cut off from the US entirely.

Mal breaks down what’s behind the move, who it hits hardest, and what urgent steps retailers need to take now — from switching to commercial clearance to investing in 3PL or local US warehousing.

Also in this episode:

• 🏬 Adore Beauty’s retail expansion & profit growth

• 🛠️ New Zealand’s Kitchen Things enters receivership

• 💄 Mini Cooper x TBH Skincare: a very pink brand collab

• 🚨 Naked Sundays pulls SPF products amid safety concerns

🔑 Key Topic: Australia Post Halts US Shipments

• Triggered by the end of de minimis and uncertain US tariff processing

• Impacts all standard AusPost parcels to the US and Puerto Rico

• Commercial carriers (e.g., DHL, UPS) still operational via clearance model

• Retailers face $80–$200 USD duties per parcel during transition

• Solution coming via Zonos partnership — but not in time for BFCM

• Small and mid-sized brands especially vulnerable

Mal also gives credit to the WhatsApp retail community for helping brands navigate the crisis — with shoutouts to Dean Salakas, Jethro Marks, and Justin Irvine for their early insights and support.

In Episode 101 of This Week in E-Commerce, Mal Chia and Alex Ross take on a packed week of retail stories — from beauty trends and licensing meltdowns to JB Hi-Fi’s record-breaking run. It’s a wild ride through the strategic, the strange, and the surprisingly successful.

The duo dives into how legacy brands like ASICs are quietly crushing it, why Funko Pop’s licensing-heavy model is falling apart, and how an Aussie distributor turned Pokemon cards into a $200M empire. Plus, they unpack Urban Decay’s eyebrow-raising OnlyFans ad campaign, and what it signals about changing norms in influencer marketing.

All that — and yes, salmon sperm makes an unexpected appearance too.

🔑 Key Topics:

👟 ASICs’ Massive Growth

• Revenue up 17.7% to $2.74B; net profit margin at 13%

• Performance footwear is booming — and so is ASICs’ R&D-fueled product strategy

• Why it’s winning without trend-chasing

🧸 Funko Faces Collapse

• Sales down 22%; 20% of staff laid off

• Tariffs + margin squeeze from licensing = a business model under pressure

• Why relying solely on IP you don’t own is risky

🛒 JB Hi-Fi’s Unstoppable Streak

• FY25 revenue up 10% to $10.5B

• Outperformed ASX by 54%

• New CEO incoming — but can they keep the momentum?

🎴 Pokémon Cards = Big Business

• Aussie distributor Banter Toys turned a 2007 handshake into $200M

• What it tells us about licensing, nostalgia, and the kidult economy

• Pokémon is still the most-searched item on eBay

💄 Urban Decay x OnlyFans

• Is sex selling again — or just evolving?

• Risks, rewards, and what this means for brands chasing reach through controversy

🍣 Beauty Trend of the Week: Salmon Sperm Facials

• Yep, you read that right.