Get in touch

Insights

Practical guides for marketplace sellers.

Straight answers on agencies, US market entry, shipping costs and TikTok Shop — from a team that runs stores every day.

Walmart Marketplace Referral Fees: Rates, Tiers and Examples

Walmart Marketplace referral fees by category, how price bands differ from portion-based tiers, worked examples and a pricing checklist from Walmart's fee page.

2026-10-15 · 6 min readRead →

September 2026 Retail Sales: Nonstore Up 8.2% as Spending Holds Up

Census data out Oct 15: US retail and food sales hit $745.0B in September, up 6.3% YoY; nonstore retailers rose 8.2%. What the numbers mean for Q4 sellers.

2026-10-15 · 5 min readRead →

The FTC Fake Reviews Rule: What Sellers Can and Can't Do

The FTC rule banning fake and paid-for reviews took effect Oct 21, 2024, with fines up to $53,088 per violation. What's banned, what's allowed, and a checklist.

2026-10-14 · 6 min readRead →

IEEPA Tariff Refunds: $122B Certified as CAPE Phase 3 Opens

CBP has certified about $122B in IEEPA tariff refunds and set CAPE Phase 3 for Oct 6, 2026. Who qualifies, the $1.3B stuck on bank details, and what to do now.

2026-10-14 · 5 min readRead →

USPS Ground Advantage for Sellers: Rules, DIM Weight and Savings

USPS Ground Advantage rules for sellers: 70 lb limit, ounce tiers, $100 insurance, DIM weight ÷ 139 over 1 cu ft, temporary 2026 prices and a savings checklist.

2026-10-13 · 6 min readRead →

TikTok Shop Trends 2026: Beauty, $40 Products and a Top-Heavy Market

Marketplace Pulse tracked 150,000+ US TikTok Shop sellers: body-related products lead, beauty is ~30%, top items sell near $40, 1% of sellers drive 60% of GMV.

2026-10-13 · 5 min readRead →

Texas Moves to End Sales Tax on Marketplace Seller Fees

On Sept 30, 2026, Texas's Comptroller ordered a rule change to stop taxing marketplace fees as data processing. Timeline, the math, and why to keep paying now.

2026-10-12 · 5 min readRead →

US Sales Tax for Marketplace and DTC Sellers: Nexus Basics

When must an online seller collect US sales tax? Economic nexus, marketplace facilitator laws and official thresholds for CA, TX, IL and FL, plus a checklist.

2026-10-12 · 6 min readRead →

Amazon Seller Central Now Connects Walmart, eBay, Shopify and TikTok

Amazon's free multichannel tools let US sellers connect eBay, Shopify, TikTok and Walmart in Seller Central. What is live, what is coming, and what to check.

2026-10-11 · 5 min readRead →

CPSC eFiling: Product Certificates for US Importers and Sellers

Since July 8, 2026, most CPSC-regulated imports need certificate data eFiled with customs. Which certificate you need, what to file, and a readiness checklist.

2026-10-11 · 6 min readRead →

TikTok Shop Adds Box-Free Returns at ~10,000 UPS Happy Returns Locations

On Sept 29, 2026, UPS-owned Happy Returns joined TikTok Shop: box-free, label-free returns at ~10,000 US drop-off points. Facts, open questions, seller steps.

2026-10-10 · 5 min readRead →

Amazon Brand Registry Growth Tools: What Amazon's Data Says

A+ Content, Manage Your Experiments, Brand Stores, Subscribe & Save and Attribution: the Brand Registry tools Amazon says lift sales, with official figures.

2026-10-10 · 6 min readRead →

Amazon Holiday Returns: A Seller's Guide to the Extended Window

How Amazon's extended holiday return window works for FBA and seller-fulfilled orders, what NRF data says on return rates, and a 5-step plan to guard Q4 margin.

2026-10-09 · 6 min readRead →

Prime Big Deal Days 2026 Results: $9.86B Online, Deeper Discounts

Adobe says US shoppers spent $9.86B online during Amazon's Oct 6–7 Prime Big Deal Days, up 8.5%. Category lifts, discounts, mobile and what sellers should do.

2026-10-09 · 5 min readRead →

How to Size Your US Market Opportunity Using Official Data

US e-commerce hit $340.2B in Q2 2026, 17.1% of retail, per Census. How to go from the national total to your category, measure demand and set a sales target.

2026-10-08 · 6 min readRead →

Ship with Walmart Comes to ShipStation: Discounted Labels and Lost-Package Protection

Walmart Marketplace sellers can now buy Walmart-negotiated labels in ShipStation, with up to $100 lost-item protection. What it includes and what to check.

2026-10-08 · 5 min readRead →

Stripe to Buy Parafin, an Amazon Lending Provider: What Sellers Should Know

Stripe is buying Parafin, which has funded $3B+ to 60,000+ US businesses and provides Amazon Lending offers. What changes and how sellers should respond.

2026-10-07 · 5 min readRead →

How to Compare Seller Financing Offers: Factor Rates, APR and Hidden Costs

Loans, credit lines and cash advances quote costs differently. How to compare any offer on an annual basis, what lenders must disclose, and when to borrow.

2026-10-07 · 6 min readRead →

E-commerce Agency Pricing Models Compared: Fixed Fee, % of Sales or Hybrid?

How agency retainers, percentage-of-sales and hybrid fees work, a worked cost comparison at different sales levels, and the questions that reveal the real cost.

2026-10-06 · 6 min readRead →

SHEIN's First Results as a Listed Company: Flat Revenue, Profits Halved

SHEIN's H1 2026: revenue up 1% to $20.1B, adjusted profit down 55.6%, US Q2 revenue down 6% and fulfillment costs at half of revenue. What it means for sellers.

2026-10-06 · 5 min readRead →

LTL Freight Class Explained: How Density Sets Your Shipping Cost for Bulky Items

How NMFC freight classes work after the July 2025 density changes: the 13-tier density table, how to calculate density, a pallet example and ways to cut costs.

2026-10-05 · 6 min readRead →

Amazon Adds LTL Freight Labels, Walmart Builds Bulky Hub: What It Means for Big-Item Sellers

Amazon adds LTL labels to Buy Shipping and plans regional bulky pricing; Walmart invests $300M in an oversized-goods hub. What changes for heavy-item sellers.

2026-10-05 · 5 min readRead →

Best Buy Launches on TikTok Shop: What It Means for Sellers

Best Buy brings nearly 10,000 products to TikTok Shop in late October 2026. The details, TikTok Shop GMV data, and how independent sellers should respond.

2026-10-04 · 5 min readRead →

Amazon AI Image Rules: How to Label AI-Generated People in Listings

Amazon requires a contains-synthetic-performer tag on images with photorealistic AI-generated people. What qualifies, how to tag files, and an audit checklist.

2026-10-04 · 5 min readRead →

Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) Fees Explained, With Examples

WFS fulfillment fees by weight, surcharges, peak and long-term storage fees from Walmart, plus worked examples and a checklist to protect your margin.

2026-10-03 · 6 min readRead →

When Holiday Discounts Peak by Category: What Adobe's 2026 Data Shows

Adobe's full 2026 forecast: $9.9B for October Prime Days, the day each category's discount peaks, Cyber 5 surges and new traffic sources for sellers.

2026-10-03 · 6 min readRead →

US–China Truce Extended to Jan 10, 2027, and the "30-for-30" Tariff List

The US–China tariff truce now runs to Jan 10, 2027, and a White House list names 77 Chinese product lines for possible tariff cuts. What it means for sellers.

2026-10-02 · 6 min readRead →

How to Find Your Product's HTS Code and US Duty Rate

How US HTS codes are built, how to search the official schedule, check extra duties, use CBP rulings, and request a binding ruling. A step-by-step guide.

2026-10-02 · 6 min readRead →

TikTok Shop Account Health Rating (AHR): Thresholds, Penalties and Recovery

How TikTok Shop US Account Health Rating works: 200-point start, 150/100/50/0 thresholds, 180-day expiry, how to earn points back and protect your shop.

2026-10-01 · 6 min readRead →

Amazon Adds Prime Delivery to Merchant Websites and Cuts MCF Fees up to 25%

Since Sept 24, 2026, MCF merchants can offer Prime delivery on their own sites at no extra fee, and FBA sellers can save 15–25% on MCF fees. What it means.

2026-10-01 · 5 min readRead →

Amazon Sponsored Products Bidding Strategies and Placement Adjustments Explained

How fixed, down-only and up-and-down bidding work, how placement adjustments stack on top, a worked example, and how to choose settings from your own data.

2026-09-30 · 6 min readRead →

FedEx 2027 Rate Increase: 5.9% Headline, Bigger Hikes for Small Parcels

FedEx list rates rise 5.9% on Jan 4, 2027, but 1–5 lb parcels and delivery-area surcharges rise more. The numbers, and what e-commerce shippers should do now.

2026-09-30 · 5 min readRead →

2026 Holiday E-commerce Forecasts: Adobe, Deloitte and eMarketer Compared

Adobe forecasts a record $275.1B in US online holiday sales, up 6.7%. How the major 2026 forecasts compare, and what they mean for marketplace sellers in Q4.

2026-09-29 · 6 min readRead →

Shipping to US Customers After De Minimis: Rules and 3 Fulfillment Models

The $800 de minimis exemption is gone for all countries. What CBP requires now, who acts as importer, and how direct parcels, bulk import and FBA/WFS compare.

2026-09-29 · 6 min readRead →

US Trademark Registration for Chinese Sellers: Fees, Rules and Brand Registry

Foreign applicants need a US attorney, USPTO fees start at $350 per class, and a pending mark can unlock Amazon Brand Registry. A practical US trademark guide.

2026-09-28 · 6 min readRead →

Walmart's October Deals Event (Oct 5–11, 2026): What Sellers Should Know

Walmart's Deals sale runs Oct 5–11, 2026, overlapping Prime Big Deal Days. Dates, advertised discounts, Walmart's eCommerce growth and a seller prep checklist.

2026-09-28 · 5 min readRead →

Prime Big Deal Days 2026 (Oct 6–7): Dates, Data and a Seller Prep Plan

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days runs Oct 6–7, 2026. Last year's results, the Q4 fee and inventory dates around it, and a 7-day checklist for marketplace sellers.

2026-09-27 · 6 min readRead →

Amazon Seller Liability Insurance: Requirements and How to Comply

When Amazon requires commercial liability insurance, what the policy must include, typical costs, and a step-by-step checklist so your certificate passes.

2026-09-27 · 6 min readRead →

Walmart Marketplace Approval Requirements: Documents and Checklist

What Walmart Marketplace requires to approve a seller, which documents business verification asks for, common mistakes, and how 2026 new-seller savings work.

2026-09-26 · 6 min readRead →

2026 Peak Season Surcharges Start This Weekend: UPS, FedEx and USPS

UPS peak charges start Sept 27, FedEx Sept 28 and USPS holiday prices Oct 4. Dates, per-package amounts vs 2025, and a checklist to protect your Q4 margins.

2026-09-26 · 6 min readRead →

10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an E-commerce Agency

Fees, contracts, account access, ownership, reporting and red flags: 10 questions to ask any Amazon, Walmart or TikTok Shop agency before you sign.

2026-09-26 · 5 min readRead →

Selling in the US: 8 Things to Prepare Before You Launch

Launching in the US? Prepare these 8 essentials first: entity and tax, trademark, compliance, insurance, importing, listings, ads, and returns.

2026-09-26 · 5 min readRead →

7 Practical Ways to Cut US Parcel Shipping Costs

Cut US parcel shipping costs: right-size boxes for DIM weight, watch weight breaks, compare carriers, avoid surcharges and rate-shop every shipment.

2026-09-26 · 4 min readRead →

TikTok Shop US: A Practical Playbook for Creator Sampling

A step-by-step playbook for TikTok Shop US creator sampling: set commissions, vet affiliates, write briefs, track results and avoid costly mistakes.

2026-09-26 · 5 min readRead →

Amazon Accelerate 2026: Seller Assistant Upgrade and New AI Plugin

Amazon Accelerate 2026 brought a broader Seller Assistant, background automations and a plugin for Quick and Claude. What's new, and what sellers should do now.

2026-09-25 · 5 min readRead →

How to Lower ACoS on Amazon Without Killing Your Sales

Calculate your break-even ACoS, cut wasted search terms, fix campaign structure and bids, and improve conversion: a practical guide to lowering Amazon ACoS.

2026-09-25 · 6 min readRead →