Breaking News
Amazon turns Seller Central into an operating system
Amazon sellers will soon be able to connect their eBay, Shopify, TikTok and Walmart accounts to Seller Central. They can manage listings, orders and per-item profitability across channels in one place – initially only in the US, though. On top of that, Seller Assistant is becoming an AI agent. It monitors prices and inventory around the clock and handles routine tasks once the seller approves them, in the US even with a connection to Anthropic’s Claude . This creates a new dependency that could prove more dangerous for sellers than the existing ones. Find out more on ChannelX I (multichannel) , ChannelX II (AI tool) and LinkedIn (dependency)
More News
ASOS is growing again – and earning significantly more
After improving its growth rate quarter by quarter, ASOS returned to slight GMV growth in the fourth quarter of its 2026 financial year. However, the full-year GMV was still 5% below the previous year. Adjusted EBITDA rose by more than 25% and gross margin came in above 50% – driven by better sourcing, more full-price sales and fewer returns. See more on ASOS
Kingfisher raises its profit outlook
Home improvement group Kingfisher (B&Q, Screwfix, Castorama, Brico Dépôt) has raised its full-year guidance after a 9.9% profit increase in the first half and now expects adjusted pre-tax profit of up to $848 million. Growth came mainly from the UK, Poland and Spain. Sales at B&Q and Brico Dépôt France declined. Get more details on Euronext
Allegro raises its forecast – with a tailwind from Brussels
Allegro now expects GMV growth of 11 to 13% in Poland for 2026, up from 9 to 11% previously. This is partly because the new EU levy on small parcels from non-EU countries is slowing direct orders from Chinese platforms. In return, the planned EU customs reform puts more responsibility on marketplaces like Allegro. For direct imports from non-EU countries, they are set to be liable as importers themselves. See the full story on Polen Heute
Whatnot cuts commissions for high-volume sellers
Live shopping platform Whatnot now tiers its selling commission by sales volume. Sellers who sell more within four weeks automatically pay a lower rate in the following 28-day period. In the UK, for example, the commission falls from a standard 6.67% to as low as 3.5% depending on the category. Payment processing and other fees remain unchanged. Read more on ChannelX
YouTube expands shopping and creator commerce
YouTube is expanding its Shopping affiliate program to 35 countries by the end of the year. Brands will be able to book creators for specific products via Affiliate Campaigns. Its AI search Ask YouTube also delivers product comparisons and answers product questions directly in the video. See more on exchange4media
Blocking News
Amazon locks out Meta’s shopping agent Muse
Just under two weeks after Meta’s AI agent Muse launched in the US, Amazon has barred it from shopping on Amazon.com. Amazon cites violations of its Conditions of Use. According to Amazon, Meta never asked for permission, and the bot does not identify itself while browsing. This hits Meta’s business model, as Muse is meant to fund itself through a fee on the purchases it completes. Read more on Trending Topics
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