We’re almost at the end of the year! So much has happened in the year of eCom and so much to look forward to heading into 2026.
If you’re looking to start 2026 off with a bang, our annual planning workshop in Gran Canaria could be a great way to get ahead. We have a 3 day workshop from 27-30th January with a select group of founders and decision makers. It’s three days of clarity, reset and proper connection. Less small talk, more honest conversations about what’s working, what’s not, and what you’re planning for 2026.
We’ll help you work through current challenges, learn from other brands and their experiences and ultimately create a network of people in the exact same boat - it’s a life changing experience.
All expenses are covered, you’ll just need to book your flights.
First come, first served.
Apply here.
Yesterday, Shopify released their Winter '26 Edition. They're calling it "The RenAIssance Edition."
Here's what's new and why you should care 👇🏻
Sidekick is Shopify's AI assistant. It used to just answer questions.
Now it can actually do things for you.
You can tell it "make this button rounded" and it changes your theme. No coding needed.
You can say "tag customers who spend over $200" and it builds the workflow for you.
It even edits product photos now, right inside Shopify. Background removal, composition tweaks, all of it.
This is the big one.
Pulse analyses your store and gives you tailored suggestions.
It might tell you to bundle certain products based on what customers add to their carts. Or flag that you're missing a return policy.
It runs in the background, always watching, always helping. Like having a consultant who actually knows your business.
This one’s wild.
Shopify launched Agentic Storefronts. Flip one toggle in your admin and your products show up in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Microsoft Copilot.
Someone asks an AI chatbot for gift ideas? Your products could be recommended.
They can buy without ever visiting your site.
You still control checkout and own the customer relationship. But now you're discoverable in a whole new way.
Two new tools make experimentation way safer.
SimGym lets you test changes on AI shoppers before going live. It simulates real customer behaviour using data from billions of Shopify purchases. Want to try a new layout? Test it first, see projected results, then decide.
Rollouts brings A/B testing right into Shopify. No external tools needed. Schedule changes, test them against your current setup, and ship when you’re ready. All in one place.
The speed at which you can move just got a whole lot faster.
Small teams can iterate like never before. Sidekick handles design changes, workflow automation, and image editing. SimGym and Rollouts let you experiment without the usual risk. Agentic Storefronts put you in front of customers in entirely new channels.
Shopify isn't just adding features. They're rebuilding how eCommerce works.
If you're running a DTC brand, this update matters. A lot.
The brands that move fast on this will have an edge. The ones that wait will be playing a lot of catch-up.
There are tons more updates worth checking out. This is just what stood out to us on a quick skim. The full list has 150+ features to explore!
By James Jago, Head of Marketing at Rainy City
I changed my dog Vinny’s food to a subscription box recently and he hated it.
Most brands would leave me to figure it out on my own, then act surprised when I cancel.
Pure Pet Food did the opposite. And it showed me exactly how a smart subscription brand handles churn.
Here is what they did.
They sent a quick SMS asking if my dog actually ate the food. Yes, No, Some, or Later. Simple and straight to the point.
They want to spot unhappy customers in the first few days, not after the renewal.
They followed up on WhatsApp with a guide for picky dogs, with actual tips! Someone from the team even messaged to check in.
They then moved things to a phone call to talk through the plan properly.
It might look heavy, but it works.
They are finding customers who are most likely to churn and helping them before they mentally check out.
This is the real lesson for subscription founders:
Do not wait for the cancellation.
Find the friction early.
Help the customer before they lose trust.
Most churn is preventable when support turns up at the right moment.
