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👋 Hey Fastlane Insiders,

What a week this has been! Shopify just dropped their biggest platform update in years—150+ game-changing features that are about to reshape how smart brands operate. These updates are set to change the game for ambitious brands everywhere.

But here's the thing: that's just one of several major opportunities I'm seeing right now. Between the Amazon PPC strategies that are quietly separating winners from losers, the clienteling tactics that big brands are using to turn online shoppers into lifetime fans, and a customer support breakthrough that's turning headaches into competitive advantages—there's serious money being left on the table by brands who aren't paying attention.

I've spent the week testing these new tools, digging into the data, and connecting with the people who are already winning with these strategies. What I found? The gap between brands who move fast and those who wait is getting wider every quarter.

Inside this edition, I'm sharing the behind-the-scenes breakdown of what's actually working right now. We're talking a fresh podcast conversation that reveals how brands like Glossier are building customer loyalty that most competitors can't touch, plus the Amazon PPC shifts that could save you thousands (or cost you even more if you ignore them).

Ready to see what your competition is missing? Your next breakthrough might be hiding in the details below ;)

Let's get into it,

– Steve

Your Competitors Are Already Using This Shopify Secret (And You're Getting Left Behind)

While you're drowning in support tickets spread across emails, social media, and different platforms, smart Shopify brands are quietly using eDesk to turn their customer service into a revenue machine.

Here's what's happening: eDesk pulls every customer conversation—Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Instagram, you name it—into one intelligent inbox. But here's the kicker: their AI doesn't just organize tickets, it instantly suggests replies and surfaces real-time order data.

Translation? Your team answers "Where's my order?" in 10 seconds instead of 10 minutes. Customers stop getting frustrated. Support becomes a competitive advantage instead of a cost center.

The brands already using eDesk are seeing faster resolutions, happier customers, and support teams that actually have time to focus on growth instead of just surviving the inbox chaos.

The best part? Most Shopify stores have no idea this exists, which means you're looking at a massive head start if you move now.

[ TRY eDESK FOR FREE ] → See Why Top Brands Switched

🎧 New Podcast Episode!

The Retail Secret Big Brands Don't Want You to Know (Glossier, Allbirds Just Spilled Everything)

Your competitors are quietly stealing your best customers—and it's not through price wars or flashy ads.

While you're struggling to get online shoppers into your stores (and keep them coming back), brands like Glossier and Untuckit are using a "forgotten" retail strategy that's boosting their average order values by 76% and getting customers to buy 55% more often.

It's called modern clienteling, and Leigh from Endear just revealed exactly how they're doing it.

Here's what caught my attention:

• One simple Shopify integration that connects every customer touchpoint

• How to turn your biggest online spenders into VIP store visitors

• The appointment trick that converts 90% of bookings into sales

• Why your return rates drop when you nail this strategy

This isn't about handwritten thank-you notes or luxury-only tactics. It's a scalable system that works whether you have 3 stores or 300.

The kicker? Most Shopify brands have no idea this exists, which means you're looking at a massive competitive advantage if you move fast.

If you're planning to open more locations or tired of watching online customers never step foot in your stores, this episode changes everything.

[ LISTEN NOW ] → The Clienteling Playbook Revealed

💡 Knowledge Drops of the Week

Amazon PPC in 2025: Why It's Tougher—And How the Smartest Sellers Are Winning

While most sellers are getting crushed by Amazon's 2025 PPC changes, a small group of savvy brands just turned a 42% ACoS disaster into an 18% winner in 90 days.

Here's what they know that you don't: Amazon's algorithm completely changed the rules this year, and if you're still running campaigns like it's 2022, you're basically lighting money on fire.

The brutal reality hitting sellers right now:

• CPCs jumped 38% year-over-year—some niches are seeing $2+ per click1

• Amazon now punishes "stale" campaigns by tanking their quality scores1

• The old exact match strategy? Dead. Broad match is suddenly dominating (but only if you know the secret sauce)12

What the winners figured out:
The brands thriving aren't just tweaking bids—they're completely rethinking how PPC works. They discovered Amazon's algorithm now rewards recent sales velocity over everything else, which changes the entire game2.

One supplement brand we tracked went from bleeding $120/day at 42% ACoS to generating $912/day at 18% ACoS using three specific moves that most sellers have never heard of1.

The crazy part? These strategies are the opposite of what "PPC experts" have been teaching for years.

[ READ THE CASE STUDY ] → See the exact 90-day turnaround strategy

Shopify Just Dropped 150+ Game-Changing Updates (And Most Merchants Will Miss the Biggest Opportunities)

While you were checking email today, Shopify quietly released their biggest platform overhaul in years—and the early movers are already claiming their competitive edge.

This isn't your typical "feature update." Shopify's Summer 2025 "Horizons" Edition only drops twice a year, and this release is absolutely massive: 150+ upgrades that fundamentally change how ambitious brands build, scale, and dominate their markets.

Here's what's got the smart money excited:

• AI that actually thinks ahead (not just fancy autocomplete)

• Theme building that cuts dev time from weeks to hours

• Real-time analytics that spot opportunities before your competitors do

• Global commerce tools that make international expansion feel effortless

• B2B features that finally rival enterprise platforms

The kicker? Most merchants won't dig deeper than the surface-level announcements, which means the brands who understand what these updates really unlock will have a 6-12 month head start before everyone else catches up.

One specific example: The new Horizon framework isn't just "easier customization"—it's the difference between launching a site refresh in 3 weeks versus 3 days. That velocity advantage compounds fast in competitive markets.

I spent the day breaking down every merchant-critical update, testing the new tools, and identifying which features will separate the winners from the wannabes over the next 18 months.

[ GET THE INSIDER BREAKDOWN ] → See which 12 updates will define your next quarter

 🙏 Thank You for Your Time and Trust

Here's what keeps me going: every week, I get to chat with founders like Leigh at Endear, test tools that are changing the game, and dig into platform updates that most people won't discover for months. Then I get to share those insights with people like you who are actually building something meaningful.

That access doesn't happen by accident—it comes from eight years of asking questions, 400+ podcast conversations, and genuinely caring about what moves the needle for growing brands. But here's the thing: none of it matters unless it helps you make better decisions, save time, or spot opportunities you might have missed.

Whether it's catching Shopify's latest updates while they're still fresh, understanding why Amazon PPC is shifting, or discovering tools that can turn customer support from a cost center into a competitive advantage—my goal is simple: get you the insights that matter, when they matter.

Your success stories, your growth, and the brands you're building? That's what makes all those late-night conversations and early morning deep dives worth it.

Thanks for trusting me to be part of your journey. Now go make something happen.

– Steve
eCommerceFastlane.com