Chinese tax authorities are requiring Amazon, Temu, Shein, and other major platforms to submit Q3 sales data from Chinese merchants as regulators intensify efforts to curb tax evasion in cross-border ecommerce. The information is expected to reveal higher actual sales than those reported, potentially leaving sellers liable for up to 13% VAT plus back taxes. The move aligns with Beijing’s broader push to recover tax revenue, and it comes as global markets tighten de minimis rules. These shifts could reshape marketplace dynamics as Chinese sellers reassess pricing, participation, and ad spending amid rising compliance pressures.

JD.com beat analyst expectations in Q3 as subsidies, lower prices, and a more diversified revenue base encouraged spending despite China’s soft consumer climate. Growth in users and shopping frequency supported double-digit retail gains, while the company’s push into food delivery lifted sales but squeezed margins. JD is also testing its Joybuy platform in Europe and investing in Ceconomy AG to expand its footprint. While these moves help the company outpace a slowing market, the momentum relies heavily on subsidized growth, raising doubts about how sustainable the gains will be once incentives scale back.

Google is adding agentic checkout to its shopping capabilities in time for the holiday season, alongside other genAI tools. These updates defend Google’s core search ad business as shopping queries move toward conversational interfaces, even as the company still dominates the search journey. They also position Google to benefit from increased genAI adoption this holiday season.

Quick commerce startup Gopuff raised $250 million at an $8.5 billion valuation—a significant downgrade from the $15 billion it commanded four years ago. Gopuff claims to be in the “strongest financial position in company history,” with record revenues and continued growth for its core businesses. To get to that point, the company has forged partnerships with companies like Amazon, Starbucks, and Disney, a strategy that has broadened its audience and the appeal of its advertising platform. However, consumers’ reluctance to use quick commerce platforms, coupled with competition from DoorDash and Uber, could hamper Gopuff’s growth prospects.

Airbnb and Instacart plan to launch a pilot program that would enable guests in select cities to order grocery delivery before and during their stays, per Bloomberg. The partnership is a win-win, offering Airbnb the chance to improve the guest experience, and giving Instacart an opportunity to expand its reach and boost ad revenues. As competition between delivery platforms heats up, deals like these are poised to become more common as companies look for new ways to win over customers.

Swiss sneaker brand On Holding will skip holiday discounts to reinforce its premium positioning, co-founder Caspar Coppetti told CNBC. The strategy follows a strong Q3, with adjusted EPS up 300% YoY and revenue rising 24.9% to 794 million francs, beating expectations. While rivals like Nike and Hoka are cautious about global demand, On raised its full-year forecast for the third consecutive quarter. Positioned in the “accessible luxury” segment, On continues to benefit from affluent consumers’ spending power and consistent innovation, helping it sustain growth despite broader economic softness and market headwinds.

Singles Day transactions in China rose 17.6% YoY to 1.7 trillion yuan ($240 billion), according to Syntun, marking a slowdown from last year’s 26.6% gain despite extended campaigns and heavy promotions from Alibaba and JD.com. Platforms poured billions into vouchers and discounts, but longer sale periods diluted urgency and limited impact. The event’s waning momentum highlights China’s broader economic challenges—rising frugality, youth unemployment, and deflationary pressures. To reignite excitement, platforms may need to move away from drawn-out promotions toward shorter, high-impact campaigns that restore Singles Day’s original urgency and appeal.

Skims is now valued at $5 billion after raising $225 million, per The New York Times. The company plans to use the funds to open stores in international markets, grow its intimates and shapewear lines, and expand into other categories. The fundraising round cements Skims’ status as the buzziest brand in undergarments. The company is now valued at nearly twice as much as Victoria’s Secret, despite having less than one-sixth of its revenues. While Victoria’s Secret has struggled to find a middle ground between sex appeal and comfort, Skims has managed to do both—earning customers’ loyalty in the process.

Amazon’s quiet expansion of its low-cost apps, Haul and Bazaar, into 25 markets highlights a cautious strategy to counter Shein and Temu without diluting its core brand. Despite marking Haul’s first anniversary with an unannounced two-day sale on November 10–11—aligned with Veterans Day and Singles Day—the company offered little promotion, even as it ramped up marketing for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The understated rollout suggests Amazon views Haul less as a major growth engine and more as a defensive play to retain budget-conscious shoppers amid cost-cutting and automation efforts.

More QSRs are relying on outside expertise to stay relevant in China. Restaurant Brands International struck a joint-venture deal with CPE as it looks to more than triple Burger King’s China store footprint by 2035, following a similar move by Starbucks. Seeking local partners is a sound strategy for QSRs, given significant differences in culture and consumer preferences. While US consumers are moved by nostalgia, Chinese customers demand newness at a pace that American companies aren't accustomed to—making partnerships a necessity for brands looking to stay current.

Foodmakers are relying on a combination of novelty, limited-edition releases, and pop culture tie-ins to keep shoppers interested in their wares. In recent weeks, Kraft released apple pie-flavored mac and cheese, Taco Bell introduced a Mountain Dew-flavored pie, and Hostess rolled out Wicked-themed cupcakes. Delivering a steady stream of fresh and unusual products is one way for food companies to keep private labels from further encroaching on their market share. It’s also an effective way to get the attention of younger consumers, whose desire for novelty and enthusiasm for limited-time offers helps spur impulse purchases.

Convenience continues to outweigh cost savings for many shoppers, driving strong growth across the grocery delivery market. Instacart led the sector in Q3 with a 14% increase in orders and a 10% rise in gross transaction value, while Uber and DoorDash also posted solid gains. As online grocery adoption accelerates, Instacart is doubling down on affordability through price parity and loyalty integrations to counter economic pressures. Convenience remains a powerful growth driver, but its durability will depend on how effectively delivery platforms balance ease with value as consumers grow more price-conscious.

US online sales jumped 8.2% year over year to $88.7 billion in October, with $9.1 billion spent during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days and rival promotions, according to Adobe Analytics. The surge highlights ecommerce’s growing clout, driven by social and influencer-led shopping. Despite resilient consumer spending, rising reliance on Buy Now, Pay Later and record credit card debt hint at mounting financial strain. With forecasts pointing to slower but still solid holiday growth, the season is set to reflect a polarized economy—strong at the top, stretched at the bottom, yet collectively keeping ecommerce momentum alive.

Amazon has launched its low-cost shopping app, Amazon Bazaar, in 14 international markets including Argentina, Hong Kong, and Nigeria, expanding the reach of its Temu-style platform first introduced as Amazon Haul. Offering mostly sub-$10 items and interactive deals, Bazaar targets price-conscious shoppers across fashion and home goods. The move underscores Amazon’s strategy to capture growth in emerging markets while competing with Shein, Temu, and TikTok Shop. However, as nations tighten import rules and close tax loopholes, the company’s discount-driven model may face mounting logistical and regulatory challenges in sustaining profitability.

Gen AI tools are making it easier to carry out ecommerce fraud. Bad actors are increasingly using genAI tools to trick moderation teams, Nicolas Waldmann, the head of external affairs for TikTok’s global governance and experience unit, told Business Insider. That includes creating more convincing listings for fake or counterfeit products, as well as fabricating brands. While AI slop is not unique to ecommerce marketplaces, the stakes are high—especially for emerging ones like TikTok Shop that are still trying to win consumers’ trust. Shoppers who lose money on products that don’t exist are unlikely to become loyal customers, and widespread fraud can deter consumers from purchasing in the first place.

Saks Global will close nine Saks Off 5th stores next year, a move that will help it cut costs as it navigates increasing headwinds. While Saks is positioning the closures as an opportunity to optimize its off-price footprint and elevate the customer experience, it’s likely that the company’s cash-flow challenges and vendor troubles played a major role in its downsizing. Off-price could have been a real opportunity for Saks to win over price-conscious shoppers. Instead, the retailer has become a cautionary tale about the importance of staying in vendors’ good graces and what can happen when those relationships falter.

Cracks are beginning to appear in the previously resilient beauty category. Coty, e.l.f. Beauty, and L'Oréal all delivered quarterly performances below expectations as US demand softened. Beauty companies must ride out a number of headwinds, including tariffs, growing price sensitivities, changing category preferences, and a shift in where consumers choose to do their beauty shopping. Keeping ahead of those pressures will require flexibility, and an embrace of ecommerce platforms like Amazon and TikTok Shop.

Ralph Lauren and Tapestry reported standout Q3 results as the strength of their brands and product assortments helped insulate them from broader weaknesses in the luxury and apparel industry. Their successes show that demand for accessible luxury is recovering. But they also demonstrate the challenge of appealing to consumers’ lofty expectations. With more immediate concerns like grocery prices and labor market uncertainty pressuring discretionary purchases, companies need to be laser-focused on delivering high-quality, on-trend assortments.

Starbucks Workers United is planning an open-ended strike in more than 25 cities on November 13, aligning with Red Cup Day, one of the company’s busiest annual events. The move comes after months of stalled contract talks and the union’s rejection of Starbucks’ economic proposal earlier this year. With key issues like pay, hours, and staffing unresolved, the strike threatens to disrupt Starbucks’ lucrative holiday season, potentially affecting sales of gift cards, merchandise, and seasonal drinks amid ongoing pressure on consumer spending.

Target is overhauling its ecommerce fulfillment model by reducing the number of stores that handle online delivery orders to ease strain on operations and improve the in-store experience. After testing the approach in Chicago, it has expanded to 36 markets with more planned next year. The strategy helps cut transportation costs, reduce out-of-stocks, and raise customer satisfaction, while allowing longer next-day delivery windows. However, Target still trails Walmart and Amazon in delivery speed and coverage and faces ongoing challenges as shoppers increasingly focus on essential purchases.