Tuesday Tea Break Talks Ep23: What Ecommerce Brands Must Get Right in 2026

We’re kicking off 2026 by breaking down how shopping habits are changing, what the latest Shopify and BFCM data tells us, and where ecommerce brands should focus this year.

In this episode:
• Ecommerce trends shaping 2026
• AI’s real impact on Shopify, CRO and content creation
• UK Black Friday visibility winners and retail shake-ups
• Why authenticity, reviews and UGC still drive conversions
• The return of subscriptions (done smarter)
• Why Boxing Day is still a critical sales moment
• The biggest marketing blind spots heading into 2026

Key stats we cover:
• Shopify BFCM hit $14.6B (+27% YoY)
• 81M+ shoppers bought from Shopify brands
• 39% YoY growth in Shop Pay
• Smartphones now drive 77%+ of retail site traffic
• Nearly 40% of Gen Z use TikTok or Instagram instead of Google

Quivia – test your ecommerce knowledge:
• What % of holiday shoppers planned to shop Boxing Day sales?
• Did “Black Friday” search volume rise or fall YoY?
• What % of shoppers use Google or YouTube to shop?
• True or false: Over half of users leave if a site takes more than 3 seconds to load?

If you’re responsible for Shopify growth, ecommerce marketing or CRO, this episode will help you reset and refocus for 2026.