Apr 30, 2025 7 min read archive

Is ChatGPT about to steal e-commerce?

New Shopify code show AI could become your next checkout lane

Will there be empty store shelves for the holidays? It could happen if the trade war continues. What’s more, retailers and consumers could be paying a “Christmas tax” in the form of higher prices brought on by tariffs and short supplies. We also get into "cookie-nomics," Bobbi Brown’s second act and why ChatGPT is poised to become the next e-commerce platform. And this week, we sat down with photographer Katie Jones to learn how to capture the best images for retail. Let’s get started.

Fortune cookie-nomics. How these Chinese restaurant freebies stay in business.

Top U.S. trading partners. Where do most of our imports come from?

Spending pullback. U.S. consumers are spending less amid tariff uncertainty.

Resale redux. Platforms like ThredUp, OfferUp to see surges.

Why Bath & Body Works works. They make most of their stuff in the U.S.

[ SPOTLIGHT ]

Point, shoot, sell: Retail photography tips from a pro

Photographer Kate Jones, who splits her time between Los Angeles, New York, Miami and Bozeman, has shot for retailers including H&M, NARS and Design Within Reach. Here, she shares her secrets for capturing images that tell your story and sell your product. -Marcy Medina

How would you describe your business, and what led you to photography?

I shoot across a variety of industries, including fashion, beauty, horse racing, portraits, art and travel. The constant variety keeps my creativity sharp and my work evolving. I originally worked in the music industry, where I developed an appreciation for storytelling, energy and atmosphere. That passion eventually led me to fashion, where I discovered the power of visual storytelling through images. From there, my love of photography took hold.

What’s the key to getting great photos?

Work with your photographer before the shoot to make sure they understand your brand story and give them space to bring their creativity to the project. Even with a straightforward e-commerce shoot, there’s always a way to find the story. Inspiration boards and a shots list are a must. If you’re shooting on a seamless background, build in time to grab some shots in a different environment, too. Extra images give you more content for your website, social media and marketing, and help tell a fuller story.

What types of images work best for retail?

I love seeing clean, clear product shots, but I’m just as drawn to images that show the product in a location or setting that reflects the brand. If you're working with a limited budget, a white wall outside can work just as well as a lighting setup on a stage. Offering a product trade or giving your photographer more creative control can be a great trade-off for budget constraints.

Any specific tips to capture the best shots?

Constantly check your images while shooting. The more you get right on-camera, the less post-production work and a quicker turnaround. I always capture a range of angles and crops so clients have a library of images they can pull from anytime. If I’m shooting a model, I have someone on set looking for loose threads, undone zippers, spots, etc. And I love a fan because it adds movement and energy.

What about social media?

Social media should always be part of the plan. My favorite is BTS (behind-the-scenes) content, it’s a great way to give your followers a peek at the creative process, from the first idea to the product being ready to shoot.

Above: Kate Jones on set. (Courtesy Giannina Meidav)

Trade war could mean empty store shelves within months

The effects of a trade war on the U.S. supply chain could be felt within months, in the form of empty store shelves. As manufacturing orders and cargo ship sailings from China decrease due to the 145% tariff, the lowest-margin, fastest-moving goods will disappear first—think toys, games, seasonal kids’ goods, budget home goods, fast-fashion and apparel. Big-box retailers, dropshippers and those taking advantage of the de minimis exemption will feel the impact when that loophole ends on May 2.

Why this matters: Jonathan Gold, vice president of supply chain and customs policy for the National Retail Federation, warns that consumers should expect less inventory, fewer choices and higher prices, particularly at smaller retailers. He says that tariff uncertainty is especially challenging “for small businesses that are currently preparing for critical winter holiday orders.” (CNBC)

Designer, Met Gala co-chair Pharrell Williams on fashion’s big night

There are fewer men more synonymous with The Costume Institute Benefit, also known as The Met Gala, than musician, producer, entrepreneur and creative director of Louis Vuitton menswear Pharrell Williams, who is also a co-chair of this year’s event taking place May 5 (always the first Monday in May). On this week’s episode of The Run-Through With Vogue podcast, Williams describes his day-to-day at the helm of one of the world’s biggest brands and most profitable retailers, as well as why this year’s gala theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” is so prescient today.

Why this matters: Williams is one of the most influential people working across fashion, film and music today, and while The Met Gala doesn’t tend to have a direct impact on retail sales (it’s a largely fantasy-aspirational event), its co-chairs are chosen for their impact on the industry. What Williams wears and designs in real life translates into what his followers buy. He also underscores “the impactful, beautiful night where we celebrate the color Black” and why its progress and success represent a cultural milestone. Listen to the full interview here.

Coach, WNBA announce partnership

Ulta rides on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter coattails

Clothing brand Rails emphasizes CX in new stores

Shoppers willing to pay 25% more for favorite brands

Beauty’s war on dupes: who won?

THE THINK TANK

Bobbi Brown: Reinvention keeps her on top of makeup market

Makeup maven Bobbi Brown sat down to discuss her storied career on the "SheerLuxe" podcast, explaining where she got the name for her current line, Jones Road, aimed at older women. "I'm an Anglophile and I said this [Jones Road] sounds like a bespoke British brand that had been lying dormant, and someone said, 'Bobbi, what would you do to revive it?' I couldn't use Brown and Jones was a good solution." She said it was emotionally difficult to part with her namesake brand, which she sold to Estée Lauder in the 2010s, but finds the public's perception shift of her from makeup artist to entrepreneur gratifying.

" I want people to kind of realize there's nothing you can't do at any age. You can shift, you can pivot, you can accomplish great things."–Bobbi Brown

Why this matters: Brown is one of a handful of older women founding products for her contemporaries (she turned 68 on April 14). Her best advice is "be nice" and "always admit when there's something you don't understand." Listen to the podcast here.

Is Shopify coming to ChatGPT?

It would appear so, from the lines of code added to OpenAI’s popular platform. The move, reported by TestingCatalog, means ChatGPT would become an e-commerce platform and storefront. The code suggests the AI chatbot would offer prices, reviews and embedded checkout, and the ability to connect with AI agents looking for specific products for consumers. The feature sits alongside weather and market data widgets, so it will likely appear inside the “answer” panel. The code is visible in production assets, which typically appear a release or two before public launch, indicating it’s coming soon.

Why this matters: This could initially mean less traffic to retailers’ websites because instead of clicking through to another site, Shopify would populate ChatGPT with the suggested products. Also competing in the AI e-comm space is Microsoft, which introduced its Copilot Merchant Program in April, and Perplexity, which began using one-click “Buy with Pro” in November. OpenAI has been testing e-commerce in its Operator research agent, which already books travel and places grocery orders for paying users. (MediaDailyNews)