New year, fresh opportunities, and a reality check for ecommerce brands heading into 2026.

This week, we break down the shifts that actually matter: AI-driven personalisation that’s now powering real-time selling, shopping that’s happening everywhere (from TikTok to AI assistants), and why first-party data is becoming the backbone of growth as privacy tightens.

We also unpack the biggest Q4 lesson: brands cutting marketing to “save money” aren’t fixing the real problem - tracking and performance are.

Add in faster mobile expectations, Gen Z searching on social instead of Google, and what Shopify’s latest trends signal for 2026 - and you’ve got a short, sharp reset for the year ahead.

Grab a drink and join us for a Tea Break designed to spark smarter decisions.

Happy 2026, everyone! We’re kicking off the first episode of the year with a clear-eyed look at what’s coming next for marketers, founders, and growth teams.

In this episode, Nick uncovers the three blind spots quietly killing growth, he runs through the biggest marketing shifts coming in 2026.

Nick also shares an optimistic outlook on AI, regulation, economic pressure - and why tough times always produce better businesses.

We wrap up the episode with one big focus for 2026: getting customers to come back. Plus a surprising lesson from Tupperware - a brand that scaled without traditional marketing.

Grab a tea and let’s set the tone for the year ahead☕️

Get yourself a festive cuppa (or brandy and mince pie!) and take a break as we wind down for Christmas.

This episode is the perfect end-of-year listen as we unwrap the biggest moments in ecommerce and marketing.

🎁 Fact of the Week: Shopify BFCM

Black Friday Cyber Monday landed like an early Christmas present for Shopify merchants.

From record-breaking sales to standout shopping behaviours across the globe, this year’s BFCM numbers tell a powerful story about how consumers shopped in 2024, and what brands should be preparing for next.

We won’t spoil all the stats… but let’s just say it was a very merry BFCM.

Big Topics: Looking Ahead to 2026

As the year winds down, we’re turning our attention to what’s coming next.

In this episode, we chat through the marketing trends set to dominate 2025, including:

• How AI is becoming part of everyday marketing life

• Why video (especially short-form) is still topping wish lists

• The growing importance of data-driven decisions for better results

Agency Updates:

Before we sign off for the holidays, we’re sharing a little festive teaser:

We’ll be hosting a January webinar (date TBC) with TaxCloud & Seguno - more details coming in the new year !

Perfect listening while wrapping presents or planning for the new year.

This week on the show we are joined by Jean Harper!Jenn is the Founder & CEO of Cheekbone Beauty - a purpose-driven, Indigenous-owned cosmetics brand that blends culture, sustainability, and social impact.🎙️ In this episode:- The story behind Cheekbone Beauty- Transitioning from corporate to founder- Scaling from basement startup to selling in major retail stores- Why B Corp certification matters (and how she did it)- The real challenges and wins of mission-driven growth- Advice for founders building with culture and impactIf you’re building on Shopify or building with purpose, this one’s for you!

Takeaways:

0:00 Introduction

1:41 How Cheekbone Beauty Started from a Dream

9:30 Why hitting rock bottom can be a good thing

11:09 How to communicate a personal story through a brand

15:02 How to choose winning products?

18:46 Being the face of the brand

23:17 The real challenges of mission driven growth

28:27 How to Hire the Right People

31:46 The important KPIs and Data to track35:19 Advice For Starting a Business Today

EXCLUSIVE WWS OFFERS:Get a short, tactical session with insights on things like tax reconciliation, returns, compliance, and more — all led by experts from the tools top brands rely on. Sign up now at https://taxcloud.com/summer/Join the bootcamp and elevate your inventory game: https://info.brightpearl.com/winning-with-shopify-holiday-planning-bootcampWinning With Shopify listeners get 20% off the first three months of Seguno Email Marketing with code WWS20: ⁠https://seguno.com/winningwithshopifyCheck out Yoast and get 15% off ALL monthly Shopify purchases for the first 6 months using code WWS15! https://yoast.com/winningwithshopify-exclusive/

This week on Tuesday Tea Break Talks, we explore why no one owns the customer anymore and why that changes everything.

From the latest UK Black Friday visibility shifts to major changes inside Google Search and Ads, we unpack what’s really happening beneath the headlines. Who stayed on top, who surged unexpectedly, and who quietly disappeared?

We also touch on:

• The data marketers should be paying attention to

• A new Google Ads bidding approach that could change campaign strategy

• A live Google core update and what it means for visibility

• Why AI in marketing isn’t being understood properly

• Signals that shopper behaviour may be changing again

Short & sharp insights - perfect for your tea break ☕

Welcome to our 2025 Christmas Wrap-Up!

A special edition where we revisit the biggest lessons, biggest wins, and most game-changing insights shared by our guests this year.

In this festive episode, we look back at the real stories behind sell-out launches, the email strategies driving up to 75% of revenue, and the behind-the-scenes moments that shaped some of the fastest-growing Shopify brands in 2025. From relying on Seguno and Canva Connect for rapid-fire, on-brand marketing to navigating the chaos of inventory planning, this episode is packed with the best knowledge bombs our guests dropped throughout the year.

We also cover what “Built for Shopify” really means, how authenticity beats staged influencer content every time, and why customer feedback (especially the unhappy ones!) might be your most valuable gift this season. Plus, TaxCloud joins us to break down the essentials of sales tax, Nexus, and how to keep compliant as you scale into the new year.

Whether you're wrapping gifts or wrapping up Q4, this episode brings you the standout insights you’ll want to carry into 2026.

EXCLUSIVE WWS OFFERS:

Get a short, tactical session with insights on things like tax reconciliation, returns, compliance, and more — all led by experts from the tools top brands rely on. Sign up now at ⁠https://taxcloud.com/summer/⁠

To get 50% off a product sample order & fast-track the waiting list, use code WINNING and this link: ⁠https://www.cavela.com/signup?affiliate=WINNING⁠

Winning With Shopify listeners get 20% off the first three months of Seguno Email Marketing with code WWS20: ⁠⁠https://seguno.com/winningwithshopify

⁠Check out Yoast and get 15% off ALL monthly Shopify purchases for the first 6 months using code WWS15! ⁠https://yoast.com/winningwithshopify-exclusive/⁠

Join the bootcamp and elevate your inventory game: ⁠https://info.brightpearl.com/winning-with-shopify-holiday-planning-bootcamp⁠

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

0:00 How to Win With Shopify

0:37 Selling Out Using Email & Tiktok

6:34 Purpose Meets Profit

13:29 How To Find The Best Shopify Apps

19:29 Dropshipping That Works

25:39 A Quote To Reflect On

27:15 A Multi Million $ Growth Story

34:56 AI in Ecommerce

40:09 The First Thing To Think About With Sales Tax

Consumer shopping habits are evolving faster than ever, and brands that adapt early win.

In this episode, we dive into the trends shaping ecommerce today:

- How AI is powering hyper-personalisation, content creation, and shoppable video

- Why authenticity (reviews, unboxing videos, real customer content) still matters

- The smart comeback of subscriptions, from warranties to replenishment plans

- Key timing tips for Shopify freezes and the Boxing Day rush

Whether you’re running an ecommerce brand or just curious about the future of retail, this episode gives actionable insights to stay ahead of the curve.

Tune in and discover how to turn these trends into opportunity.

Ever wondered how an established retail brand suddenly becomes 80% digital?

In this episode, we break down the digital marketing strategies behind Green People’s transformation with Matt, their Head of Digital.

We cover the tactics that actually work today - turning reviews into revenue, telling stories that sell, using AI the right way, building a one-click customer experience, and navigating the messy parts of international expansion.

If you love brand transformations, big pivots, and real talk about how companies reinvent themselves after decades in business, this one’s for you.

Hit play. Let’s get into it.

Get in touch with Matt here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-burgess-2a65331b3/

EXCLUSIVE WWS OFFERS:

Winning With Shopify listeners get 20% off the first three months of Seguno Email Marketing with code WWS20: ⁠https://seguno.com/winningwithshopify

Check out Yoast and get 15% off ALL monthly Shopify purchases for the first 6 months using code WWS15! https://yoast.com/winningwithshopify-exclusive/

Get a short, tactical session with insights on things like tax reconciliation, returns, compliance, and more — all led by experts from the tools top brands rely on. Sign up now at https://taxcloud.com/summer/

To get 50% off a product sample order & fast-track the waiting list, use code WINNING and this link: https://www.cavela.com/signup?affiliate=WINNING

Join the bootcamp and elevate your inventory game: https://info.brightpearl.com/winning-with-shopify-holiday-planning-bootcamp

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

00:00 – How Shopify’s 50,000 Reviews Help You Win

03:53 – How to Tell Brand Stories That Sell

07:20 – How to Target and Convert a Broad Audience

10:30 – Shopify Promote: Covella’s 50% Off First Sample Strategy

12:10 – AI in Shopify: What’s Worth Using

15:34 – How to Build a One-Click Customer Experience

21:55 – Why Being Customer-Obsessed Actually Pays Off

28:55 – How to Build a Digital Business with Shopify

34:53 – Green People: The Hidden B2B Challenges

38:23 – Why People Leave an Agency

40:34 – How to Get Your Ad Copy Approved

44:54 – Green People: The Internationalisation Process

50:14 – How to Launch a Shopify Store the Right Way