Shopify stories

Mailchimp expands eCommerce tools and AI-driven automation, rolling out SMS to 34 new EMEA markets to boost small business marketing ROI.

Maestra’s US customer base jumps 144% as DTC brands abandon Klaviyo for a single platform spanning email, personalisation and paid media.

Loop integrates Sendcloud into Ship by Loop 2.0, giving Shopify merchants wider UK and EU carrier choice for simpler, label-free returns.

Address validation on Shopify cuts failed deliveries, trims shipping costs and boosts loyalty by ensuring accurate, standardised customer data.

YouLend partners with Intuit to embed fast SME funding of GBP £1,000-£2m directly inside QuickBooks as a new UK Capital Marketplace.

Security, privacy and data protection will command the biggest tech spend for Australian retail SMBs in 2026, ahead of AI and global growth.

OpenAI will levy a 4% fee on Shopify merchants for sales made via ChatGPT’s integrated instant checkout from late January 2026.

Vyta Health’s Vytalise shifts from Magento to a Shopify Plus DTC platform, launching a subscription-led eCommerce push across the UK and EU.

SEON and Domaine partner to embed AI-driven fraud prevention into Shopify migrations, aiming to secure merchants without hindering conversions.

Worldline and YouLend launch Cash Advance in Belgium and the Netherlands, offering SMEs embedded card-based funding of up to EUR €250,000.

AI contract software startup Ivo secures USD $55 million Series B to speed contract review, as revenue surges 500% and UK expansion looms.

Google has launched an open Universal Commerce Protocol to standardise AI shopping flows across search, apps, merchants and payments.

YouLend teams up with Teya to launch flexible cash advances of GBP £1,000-GBP £2 million for more than 30,000 UK SMEs, ahead of EU rollout.

Google launches a Universal Commerce Protocol and Business Agent tools as it bets on AI agents to drive the next era of online shopping.

Google launches Universal Commerce Protocol to link AI shopping agents, retailers and payments in a new ‘agentic commerce’ push.

Patchworks debuts MCP integration layer to plug AI into retailers’ live systems, promising real-time workflows beyond basic recommendations.

Loop Returns warns UK brands that neglected international returns risk eroding margins and loyalty as global eCommerce hits USD $6.3 trillion.

Widdop launches its first direct-to-consumer eCommerce site for Softies plush toys, marking a major digital shift for the 140-year-old brand.

Sibling-founded app Villagehood launches in beta, using geo-based meetups to help local mums tackle loneliness and build real-life support.

Brands are ditching fragmented martech stacks for centralised platforms as AI, richer messaging and costs expose the limits of siloed channels.