Amazon reports double-digit sales growth
In Q3 2025, Amazon posted net sales of $180.2 billion, up 13% year over year. Operating income was $17.4 billion (roughly flat YoY) and net income rose to $21.2 billion. Yet the marketplace giant faces mounting headwinds. Agentic & social commerce, U.S. customs policy effects, and seller fatigue could weigh on performance, argues Malte Karstan. More on Retail-Insight-Network (figures) and LinkedIn (Malte Karstan)

More News

eBay lifts Q3 revenue significantly
In Q3 2025, eBay posted revenue of $2.8 billion, up 9% compared to the same quarter last year. GMV also increased, up 10% to $20.1 billion. $597 million. Find out more on ValueAddedResource

Amazon tightens Prime criteria for the holiday season
To handle peak volumes, Amazon is adjusting Prime requirements between Nov 2, 2025 and Jan 10, 2026. This affects the countries in Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Belgium, and Ireland. The changes affect FBA, FBM, and Amazon Retail offers. More on Onlinehaendler-News (German)

Amazon intensifies competition with bol
Amazon will invest more than €1.4 billion in the Dutch market over the next three years. The company also recently announced an injection of more than €1 billion in Belgium. The goal: to win over shoppers and online buyers across the Benelux region in its battle with local market leader bol. See more on Ecommercenews

eBay & Condé Nast double down on pre-loved fashion
Through a global partnership, eBay becomes the official pre-loved partner of Condé Nast in the U.S., U.K., and Germany – aiming to further cement eBay’s position for high-quality pre-owned designer fashion. Read more on FashionNetwork 

AliExpress launches price-guarantee offensive
With its most extensive Brand+ program so far – covering brands, savings, and a best-price guarantee – AliExpress positions itself against Shein, Temu, Amazon, and eBay. For sellers, this likely means tougher price competition and margin pressure. To benefit, lean into dynamic repricing, tight competitor monitoring, and strong listings/services (e.g., bundles, faster delivery). More on Cedcommerce 

Resistance News

Shein opens a store in Paris
On November 1, Shein opened a store in Paris as a shop-in-shop at BHV. Like before Pimkie’s cooperation with Shein, the move faces heavy resistance: brand withdrawals from BHV, protests, and a petition with 100,000+ signatures. Political pressure is rising, too – a Senate bill targets ad bans for ultra-fast fashion and an environmental levy of up to €10 per item. Full story on WFAE

Don’t want to miss any news? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!

Der Beitrag Marketplace Universe News 03.11.2025 – Amazon stays strong / AliExpress giant gains ground / Shein sparks protests in France erschien zuerst auf Marketplace Universe.

Pimkie joins Shein in a cooperation – and the French fashion industry is not happy about it. The deal is pitched as a survival strategy for Pimkie, but critics see it as betrayal. Is this simply “selling out” for quick revenue, or a blueprint for how ultra-fast-fashion platforms will reshape the European market?

Blueprint or Sellout?

In business, it’s nothing new for brands to prioritize survival over tradition. Some call that “selling out.” But the case of French fashion brand Pimkie raises the stakes: the company now faces lawsuits and industry exile over a deal that could fundamentally redefine its future.

Pimkie was founded in 1971 by Gérard Mulliez and until 2023 belonged to the Mulliez family. Years of economic decline and store closures forced a sale to new majority shareholders under CEO Salih Halassi. To protect jobs, the Mulliez family association signed a deal offering Pimkie access to €140 million in funds.

Fast-forward to 2025: Pimkie is still struggling. Halassi has admitted EBITDA losses of minus €40 million, with online sales making up only five percent of business. Faced with that reality, the choice becomes stark: stay small and risk collapse, or embrace a partnership that promises online growth to 30 percent of sales and access to 160 markets in just a few years.

Enter Shein’s Xcelerator

That is what Pimkie did by joining Shein’s global Xcelerator program. Launched in the UK, later rolled out to China and France, the initiative gives brands access to Shein’s supply chain, shipping network, and enormous shopper base.

The Xcelerator runs on two tracks. The Creative-Led Partnership supports new designers by letting them focus on creativity while Shein handles production, logistics, and global sales. The Independent Brand Builder caters to established labels, offering full control over IP and operations while plugging into Shein’s supply chain, marketing power, and access to more than 160 markets.

Case studies highlight the impact: UK label Missguided joined the program in 2023 after bankruptcy and is now projected to reach $250 million in revenue within two years. Its founder, Nitin Passi, also launched a new brand with Shein as an investor. That venture, Sumwon, founded in 2023, is already projected to surpass $3 billion within its first three years. In short, Xcelerator isn’t just shelf space on Shein – it’s a plug-and-play system for global fashion growth.

And that’s precisely why Pimkie’s move matters. For the brand, the partnership promises digital transformation and renewed relevance. For Shein, it’s a clever strategy: every alliance with an established label buys local trust and legitimacy – assets the company badly needs after years of criticism over working conditions, environmental harm, and data concerns.

In other words: Pimkie is betting on survival while Shein is executing a blueprint for embedding itself into Europe’s fashion ecosystem.

Backlash from the Establishment

Not everyone applauds. The Association Familiale Mulliez (AFM) is suing Pimkie, claiming the partnership violates their sale agreement. The €140 million was meant to preserve independence – not to tie the brand to an ultra-fast-fashion giant that much of the French industry wants banned by law.

And the pressure isn’t just legal. Pimkie has been expelled from the Federation of Clothing Labels, part of the French Alliance du Commerce. The exclusion was unanimous – a clear message from the traditional industry: work with Shein, and you’re out.

Pimkie Pushes Back

So far, Pimkie shows no sign of retreat. CEO Halassi insists the company remains independent and retains creative control. Rather than destroying jobs, the Shein partnership is expected to create at least 50 new positions in France. As for losing federation membership, Halassi dismissed the impact: in his view, the group never offered any real support, while Shein is providing tangible backing.

More Than One Brand’s Gamble

The Pimkie-Shein rift is part of a larger confrontation. It’s not just about one struggling French brand. It reflects the collision between traditional European businesses – with deep roots and strong institutions – and fast-moving, mostly Asian platforms that thrive on scale, speed, and new distribution models.

For legacy brands, Shein represents a threat to status and tradition. For struggling players, Shein’s Xcelerator offers an easy plug-in to global reach and a ready-made infrastructure. The blueprint is simple: let local brands keep their identity while riding Shein’s system.

The question is whether Pimkie is the exception – or the first of many. If the model works, Shein won’t just be rescuing a struggling fast fashion brand. It might just be rewriting the rules of market entry for fashion in Europe.

Also, check out our “Let´s talk marketplace” podcast news episode where we dive deeper into the topic.

Der Beitrag Pimkie Joins Shein: A Fashion Lifeline or a Faustian Bargain? erschien zuerst auf Marketplace Universe.

Amazon steps up its game with Agentic AI
At its Seller Conference Accelerate, Amazon introduced a new Agentic AI designed to independently develop and execute strategies. The enhanced Seller Assistant will automatically warn sellers about potential overstock fees, suggest price adjustments, optimize inventory levels. And it will – based on sales and customer data – create growth strategies ranging from new product variations to full marketing campaigns. More on t3n (Agentic AI, German) and LinkedIn (Accelerate Recap)

More News

Mirakl transforms content for AI agents
Marketplace solution provider Mirakl has developed a new tool that prepares product data specifically for research by AI agents. The tool automatically structures and enriches the data so that AI agents can understand, compare, and even execute transactions directly. Find out more on LinkedIn.

Otto bets on AI-generated model images
The Otto Group and its tech subsidiary Otto One have expanded their “Movex” tool to include AI-generated model images. The technology is set to replace traditional photo shoots – cutting costs by 60% while producing five times more visual content within minutes. More on t3n (German)

Amazon ramps up investment in the key German market
Amazon is expanding its logistics network in Germany with new sites, alongside rolling out same-day delivery and launching Amazon Haul. The company plans to invest heavily – €24 billion in 2024 alone, up €2 billion from the previous year. More details at Absatzwirtschaft (planned investments, German) and Wortfilter (Sellers, German)

More logistics options for Temu and Shein
After the US, Canada, and Australia, ShipStation’s Temu integration is now available in European markets such as Germany, the UK, France, Spain, and Italy. At the same time, Amazon has expanded its Multichannel Fulfillment service to include several platforms – among them Shein. More on ChannelX (Temu) and Supply Chain Dive (Shein) 

Shein Xcelerator launches in France and the UK
Shein has rolled out its Xcelerator programme in France, the UK, and China. The French fashion retailer Pimkie is among the first partners. Pimkie gains access to on-demand manufacturing, logistics, and a global customer base across 160 markets. More on Fashionentwork 

News From Turkey

Strong platform dependence in Turkey
Most online sellers in Turkey rely on a single marketplace – primarily Trendyol or Hepsiburada – eaving them highly dependent on the algorithms, pricing, and policies of these dominant platforms. In 2024, e-commerce spending in Turkey rose by 62% in Turkish lira. Converted into euros, growth amounted to 16%, reaching €61.5 billion from around 6 billion transactions. A significant share of this increase was driven by inflation. Read the full story on Ecommercenews

Don’t want to miss any news? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!

Der Beitrag Marketplace Universe News 22.09.2025 – Amazon launches strategy AI tool / Shein Xcelerator in Europe / More Logistic options for Temu and Shein erschien zuerst auf Marketplace Universe.