👋 The Weekly Edito
This week, we crossed a decisive threshold: with the arrival of Google's "Universal Commerce Protocol" and commissions on ChatGPT, "Agentic Commerce" is no longer a futuristic theory, but an operational reality that is already shaking up margins and customer journeys. The question is no longer if you will integrate AI agents, but how fast your customers will abandon your website to negotiate directly with them. Ready for the shift?
📢 E-commerce & Shopping
🤖 Google unveils the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) Google has officially launched its open standard, co-developed with Shopify and Walmart, allowing AI agents to handle the entire shopping journey. This protocol integrates checkout without leaving the interface, personalized direct offers, and a "Business Agent" to converse with consumers, radically transforming product discovery into immediate transactions. (Google)
🛒 Walmart and Carrefour adopt Agentic Commerce As launch partners for Google's protocol, Walmart and Carrefour are integrating their catalogs directly into Gemini. Walmart enables seamless purchases with fast delivery, while Carrefour becomes the first European food retailer to offer complete shopping journeys via Google Search and the Gemini app. (Lineaires.com)
📦 Amazon announces a new wave of layoffs The Seattle giant plans to part ways with approximately 16,000 corporate employees in late January, bringing the total to 30,000 job cuts. Andy Jassy justifies this decision by the need to eliminate post-pandemic bureaucracy, specifically affecting AWS, Retail, and Prime Video, unrelated to the rise of AI. (01net)
📉 Andy Jassy admits impact of tariffs Amazon's CEO acknowledged at Davos that tariffs imposed by the Trump administration are starting to drive up prices on the platform. After exhausting stocks built up in anticipation, third-party sellers are now forced to pass these costs on to consumers, impacting already tight margins. (Usine digitale)
🇨🇳 Temu matches Amazon in cross-border market share According to the IPC, Temu reached 24% global market share in cross-border e-commerce in 2025, nearly catching up to Amazon. This meteoric rise, propelled by aggressive marketing campaigns, is pushing Amazon to retaliate with its low-price "Haul" offer. (thestar.com.my)
🎓 Gen Z, a "Checked-Out" generation A January 2026 analysis reveals that Gen Z is limiting spending, mostly living paycheck to paycheck. They heavily favor secondhand items and sales, rejecting traditional aspirational marketing in favor of authenticity and trusted creators. (therobinreport.com)
📺 Livestream Shopping heads towards $1 trillion Global livestream sales are projected to cross the $1 trillion mark in 2026. In the US, growth is up 50% year-over-year, driven by TikTok Shop and conversion rates ten times higher than classic e-commerce. (emarketer.com)
📣 Marketing & Ads
💬 OpenAI confirms advertising in ChatGPT OpenAI officially launches advertising in free versions of ChatGPT in the US. These contextual ads, based on intent, mark a major pivot in the economic model and position the tool as a new, unavoidable advertising gateway. (digitalcommerce360.com)
🏎️ La Centrale invests €10 million in ads The French automotive marketplace is launching a massive TV and digital marketing campaign to boost its brand awareness. The goal is to establish the "La Centrale reflex" and consolidate its leadership position in the used car market against competition. (larevuedudigital.com)
🔗 Instagram limits hashtags and uses AI for SEO The platform is imposing a universal limit of 5 hashtags per post, ending the era of "stuffing." In parallel, Instagram is now using AI to generate summaries optimized for Google Search, boosting its visibility in search results. (wedomarketing.co)
🌍 Meta rolls out ads on Threads Threads opens its advertising floodgates globally, allowing advertisers to target over 400 million users. Formats include image and video, with targeting directly inherited from Instagram audiences for seamless integration. (almcorp.com)
🤖 AI & Tech
🤝 PayPal acquires Cymbio for orchestration PayPal strengthens its agentic commerce offering by acquiring Cymbio. This technology will allow brands to connect their inventory to multiple marketplaces and social platforms via a single interface, simplifying omnichannel sales. (finance.yahoo.com)
💸 Shopify imposes a commission on AI sales Shopify will now charge 4% on transactions generated via ChatGPT, in addition to standard fees. This new model is sparking debate among merchants, torn between access to a high-intent channel and margin erosion. (internetretailing.net)
🇬🇧 UK regulates "Buy Now Pay Later" The FCA will take control of the BNPL sector in the summer of 2026, mandating affordability checks and standardized claim rights. It's the end of the "Wild West" for installment payments across the Channel. (explore nemo money)
﹩Results & Financial Health
🧴 P&G stays on course despite difficult context Procter & Gamble reports stable sales growth in its second fiscal quarter, supported by Europe and Latin America. The consumer goods giant confirms its annual targets despite a pressured economic environment. (us.pg.com)
🍞 ABF posts solid organic growth Primark's parent company, Associated British Foods, announces revenue growth in line with expectations, driven by exceptional performance in the US (+12%) and good resilience in the UK. (abf.co.uk)
🕯️ Yankee Candle and American Signature close stores The home goods sector is suffering: Yankee Candle is closing about twenty stores, while American Signature announced the total closure of its banners and Value City Furniture after failing to find a buyer, marking the end of an era for these historic chains. (en.wikipedia.org)
👗 Francesca's launches liquidation Fashion chain Francesca's begins a new bankruptcy procedure with liquidation sales in all its stores. This is the second bankruptcy filing for the retailer in a few years, illustrating the chronic difficulties of mid-range apparel retail. (en.wikipedia.org)
📊 Divergent performances for Target and Costco January 2026 confirms two opposing trajectories: Costco shines with comparable sales up 7% and strong renewal rates, while Target suffers with declining sales and a volatile stock. Target anticipates cautious prospects in the face of competitive pressure from discounters. (investing.com)
📺 Must-Watch Videos & Podcasts
NRF 2026 Recap: A synthesis of major innovations presented at "Retail's Big Show," focusing on operational AI. (youtube.com)
📚 Resources
Nvidia State of AI in Retail: Complete report on AI adoption, confirming that 58% of retailers are actively deploying it. (blogs.nvidia.com) Grocery Innovation Europe: Analysis of three key trends for 2026: product availability, data-driven stores, and automation. (retailtechinnovationhub.com)
🗓️ The E-commerce Agenda
January 27-29, 2026: Warsaw Retail Tech Expo (Warsaw) - Trade show dedicated to POS technologies, RFID, and logistics automation. (warsawretailtechexpo.com)
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