Welcome to ecom's 5th quarter

Date: Monday 5th of January 2026 Summary: Kevin King discusses the "5th Quarter" - why January is e-commerce's hidden peak season due to the reverse logistics surge, Walmart's aggressive push to close the Amazon online sales gap, several new Amazon features sellers should know about, and the BDSN software tool of the day. Key Points Discussed: The 5th Quarter: January as e-commerce's hidden peak seasonReturn statistics: 20-25% of holiday merchandise gets returned, $850 billion in total returns projected for 2025Returns as a liquidity event creating fifth quarter revenue opportunitiesWalmart closing the Amazon online sales gap (27.2% growth vs Amazon's 9.6%)The multi-channel imperative: why diversifying beyond Amazon is now urgentCategory-specific opportunities on Walmart vs AmazonNew Amazon features: Shop Direct Links (Beta), AlexaPlus.com, AI-powered A+ Content Analysis, Rufus auto-opening in searchBDSN Software Tool of the Day: Inboox.aiStack Influence platform for micro-influencer collaborations Links Mentioned: BDSS13 Virtual Event TicketsInboox.ai - AI Email Intelligence PlatformStack Influence PlatformBlueland Micro Influencer Case Study Hot Picks: Amazon hides products regionally, causing severe drop in sales30 e-commerce predictions for 2026 from 30 top expertsJo's 2026 AI predictions for e-commerce37 social commerce statistics and trends for 2026 Stump Bezos Answer: Amazon's unused gift card liability was $5.4 billion Parting Shot: "AI agents won't simply make recommendations; they'll help you act on them." — Bill Gates Find us at BillionDollarSellers.com Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn.