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🗣 In this in-person Dropship Unlocked Podcast episode, Lewis Smith and James Eardley sit down to talk candidly about what’s really changing as we head into 2026 — and why the next year will reward smart, lean operators while punishing outdated business decisions.

With rising costs, mainstream AI adoption, layoffs across traditional industries, and changing consumer behaviour, this episode breaks down what actually matters if you want to build a resilient, profitable e-commerce business going into 2026 — and what mistakes are quietly killing businesses before they get traction.

🎥 Prefer to watch instead? Watch on YouTube → https://youtu.be/JCZl0oVsEm4

🧭 Topics Discussed
★ Why 2026 will be unforgiving for bloated, slow, high-overhead businesses
★ How AI is changing execution speed — without replacing real business owners
★ The difference between being scared of AI and leveraging it as an advantage
★ Why high-ticket e-commerce is still resilient (even with economic pressure)
★ The skills that won’t disappear as automation increases
★ Why supplier relationships matter more than ever
★ Escaping negative news cycles and focusing energy where it compounds
★ Using data (not passion or guesswork) to validate products and niches
★ Why demand comes before supply — always

🛠 Links & Resources Mentioned
Lewis’s Book → https://dropshipunlocked.com/book
Shopify £1-for-3-months Offer → https://dropshipunlocked.com/shopify
Free Trial of a Professional Phone Line → https://dropshipunlocked.com/circle

💡 Key Takeaways
★ 2026 Rewards Speed & Leverage: AI won’t replace business owners — but it will replace slow ones.
★ The Model Matters More Than Ever: High-ticket, low-overhead businesses have room to breathe and scale.
★ Don’t Manufacture Demand: The safest businesses sell what people are already searching for.
★ Ignore the Noise: Worrying about politics and tax changes doesn’t build profit — execution does.
★ Follow a Proven Path: Strategy beats motivation, and systems beat guesswork every time.

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Website → https://www.dropshipunlocked.com

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