🎉 We made it to 100! In this special centennial episode of This Week in E-Commerce, Mal Chia and Alex Ross reflect on the ever-evolving world of retail — and prove once again there’s never a quiet week.
From Yotpo’s shock email/SMS shutdown, to Zara’s banned ads, to the rise and potential fall of Crocs, Labubus, and kiddulting, this episode is packed with insights on trend cycles, product strategy, and the power of focus in a crowded market.
Plus: we dive into the under-recognised brilliance of the National Indigenous Fashion Awards, and whether Australia’s fast fashion giants are simply… running out of steam.
🔑 Key Topics:
📉 Yotpo Pulls the Pin on Email/SMS
Abrupt shutdown of its messaging product & sale to Attentive
What it says about the all-in-one stack model
Why best-in-class still beats bundle-and-hope in MarTech
🚫 Zara’s Ads Banned in the UK
Ads featuring ultra-thin models pulled for breaching standards
How editing, posing, and lighting all play into body image
The growing push for healthy representation in fashion marketing
📉 AKA Brands Plateau in Australia
Culture Kings & Princess Polly struggle with relevance
A demographic with less cash and higher expectations
Can these brands age with their audience—or will they fade out?
🌈 The Rise of Kiddulting (and Maybe the Fall?)
Labubu, Jellycats, Pokémon collabs & the “lipstick effect”
Is nostalgia the new luxury?
Signs the resale bubble may be popping
🩴 From Crocs to Havianas: Are Chunky Shoes Over?
Crocs shares tumble 30%
Shift to “barely there” shoes like mesh flats & slides
What this trend says about post-pandemic style psychology
🌿 National Indigenous Fashion Awards
A must-watch moment for Australian fashion
Representation, authenticity & cultural storytelling
Why it deserves mainstream attention (and retail support)
