This Week In Ecommerce

In Episode 95 of This Week in E-Commerce , Mal Chia flies solo to break down the biggest shifts in the retail landscape. From Amazon Prime Day’s increasingly disruptive influence to the quiet rebellion against free shipping and returns, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the post–EOFY slowdown. Mal also unpacks Lululemon’s lawsuit against Costco, the growing importance of micro-mo...

In Episode 94, Mal Chia and Alex Ross dive into a jam-packed week for Australian retail. Recording on the road, Mal and Alex cover: 💎 Billionaire Bling & Excess Culture — What Jeff Bezos’ $150M wedding says about the rise of flashy consumerism, the return of “swaggy and braggy” style, and its impact on luxury retail and jewellery trends. 🛍 Fit Tech & Virtual Try-Ons — Google’s standalone...

Is EOFY being overshadowed by Prime Day? And what does a $100 million penalty say about retail culture? In this week’s episode, Mal Chia and Alex Ross unpack the headlines that are reshaping Australian retail—from Amazon’s 4-day Prime Day blitz to the fallout at Optus and bold acquisition plays closer to home. 🔍 This Week’s Topics Amazon Prime Day expands to 4 days What Aussie retailers can learn...

This week marks a fresh chapter for This Week in Ecommerce as Alex Ross officially joins as co-host! In this packed episode, Mal and Alex dive into three major stories shaping retail right now: The ACCC Cracks Down: Major Aussie retailers like Michael Hill and Hairhouse have been penalised for misleading Black Friday discounts. What this means for trust, and how brands should rethink their promoti...

It’s the end of an era—and the start of a brand new one. In his final solo episode before bringing in a sharp-tongued co-host, Mal Chia unpacks a wild week in ecommerce. Toys R Us collapses again , TikTok Shop is turning into a digital dollar store, and Aussie wine producers are literally ripping out their vines. Brutal. But wait—there’s hope. With Nike teaming up with Lego and local legends like...

Episode 90 hits hard. While insolvencies shake Australia’s retail scene—with big names like Jeanswest and Mosaic Brands biting the dust—Mal breaks down what’s really causing the collapse: strategic debt, digital irrelevance, and a dangerous addiction to discounting. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Across the Pacific, e.l.f. Cosmetics just dropped a jaw-dropping $1B on Rhode, Hailey Bieber’s skinc...

This week, Mal brings the fire from Retail Fest week with a jam-packed episode that swings from sober reflection to tech fascination and geopolitical trade chaos. Kicking off with a poignant nod to National Sorry Day and the importance of Indigenous partnerships in business, we quickly shift gears to tackle: 🔥 Donald Trump’s new tariff threats and why Apple and Walmart are in his sights (hint: it...

Mal’s back from Singapore and just in time to break down one of the juiciest weeks in retail. With the RBA announcing a second interest rate cut for 2025, you might be tempted to pop some bubbly—but hold the cork. This episode explores what the rate drop really means for consumers, ecommerce brands, and the struggling fashion sector. Mal also unpacks the collapse of cult favourites like SurfStitch...

Reporting from the floor of eTail Asia in Singapore, Mal brings a fast-paced episode packed with big headlines and even bigger opportunities. With Trump scaling back tariffs, Aussie exporters breathe a little easier—though not for long. Meanwhile, SurfStitch quietly bows out, and Zero Co confirms its closure, ending two chapters in local ecommerce. Add to that a tightening capital market as Shopif...

This week, Mal recaps the political mood post-election and what it really means for ecommerce (spoiler: not much), before diving headfirst into a tidal wave of AI drama, market shifts, and unexpected wins for Aussie brands. Meta’s “infinite creative” vision gets both praise and a hard side-eye, Microsoft leapfrogs Apple in value, and Australia Post drops some juicy news that could reopen the US ma...

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 loyal...

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 build...

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...

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 a...

Book a strategy call 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...

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...

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 t...

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 h...

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 strat...

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 B2...

This week, Mal explores the delicate balance between technology, trust, and responsibility in ecommerce. With Shopify facing backlash over a major trust violation, Meta doubling down on AI, and Gen Z rewriting the rules of retail, there’s no shortage of shake-ups in the industry. 💡 Key Topics: Shopify’s Trust Crisis : How a major controversy put the platform in the spotlight for all the wrong rea...

In this bonus episode of 'This Week In Ecommerce', we sit down with Stewart Smith, Managing Director APAC of Global-E to discuss the recent US tariffs and end to de minimis exemptions. With a career spanning three decades, Stewart has navigated the realms of technology, cross-border and domestic ecommerce, and international freight. Before his tenure at Global-E, he held significant commer...

This week on This Week in Ecommerce , Mal unpacks the latest major moves in retail, from Amazon’s record-breaking quarter to Peloton’s ongoing decline. With Valentine’s Day spending set to hit a new high and brands like Allbirds making big bets on sustainability, there’s a lot to cover in this packed episode. Amazon’s $32B Profit Surge : How better last-mile logistics and a Prime-fuelled strategy...

This week, Mal breaks down the global headlines that will shake up eCommerce in 2025. From eye-watering $7M Super Bowl ad slots to Trump’s new trade tariffs and a game-changing AI breakthrough, this episode is packed with insights to keep you ahead of the curve. Super Bowl’s $7M Ad Spots : Why brands are still betting big on the NFL’s biggest stage—and what Meta’s Ray-Ban push signals for the futu...

From celebrating Lunar New Year to the fall of an Australian ecommerce pioneer, episode 72 unpacks the highs and lows of a rapidly evolving retail landscape. Plus, a closer look at what Kogan’s sharp turnaround can teach retailers about smart strategy in tough times. Lunar New Year’s Growing Impact on Retail : How brands like Burberry and Allen’s are embracing cultural diversity with targeted coll...