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🧠 Big Story:
eBay’s Losing Ground 🕳️

📊 Key Data:
Amazon Basics dead?☠️

📖 Ecommerce ecosystem news:
🇺🇸 Google Ads removes parked domain placements by default
🇺🇸 Instagram eyes standalone Reels app in Project Ray
🇺🇸 Microsoft tests free Office for Windows with ads
🇺🇸 X unveils AI-powered ad tools for brands
🇺🇸 Walmart launches new API to boost ad sales
🇺🇸 Amazon tests paying media firms for shopper traffic

+ over 15 other handpicked hot news from the last week you need to know 🔥

We’re teaming up with Skubi.io to bring you even deeper insights powered by exclusive data! To make sure we focus on what matters most, we’d love your input. Vote in the poll below to help us prioritize our next deep dive.

P.S. Small correction from our last issue: Switzerland had the highest ecommerce AOV, not Sweden. The online version and our LinkedIn post have been updated accordingly.

eBay, once a dominant force, is losing ground quickly.

Amazon & Walmart are pulling ahead, fueled by influx of Chinese sellers.

In 2021, eBay reported an $87B GMV, surpassing the combined $83B of vertical rivals like Etsy, Zalando, and Wayfair.

A peer group that eBay selected for their investor presentation in 2022. It wash showing also that eBay’s market cap stood at just $33B—while its competitors boasted a collective $107B, showing how undervalue eBay was.

By 2024, eBay’s GMV is expected to shrink to $74B, while vertical competitors (same ones that they selected) climb to $85B GMV.

The race is tightening, and eBay is falling behind.

This stagnation highlights a seismic realignment in eCommerce, with Amazon and Walmart pulling far ahead.

Cross-border sellers are changing the game.

Walmart’s global sourcing push has placed it in a direct head-to-head battle with Amazon, while eBay remains on the sidelines.

Data from Skubi.io reveals eBay’s dominance in selling outdated and used items. Looking at iPhones on eBay, 2020 models, including the iPhone 12 and SE (2nd Gen), lead the market. These models account for 50% of total eBay inventory sales, selling at a 60% discount from their original price.

Is Amazon Basics dead?

Many assumed Amazon pulled back its private label business after the 2023 FTC lawsuit.

But here’s the reality in 2025… It’s alive and thriving.

According to Consulterce (via SmartScout data):

The U.S. remains Amazon’s biggest market for private labels generating over $180M in monthly GMV

Key categories?
- Health & Household ($47M monthly)
- Office products ($34M monthly)

Amazon Basics’ global turnover? $2.7B+ per year.

🇺🇸 Google Ads removes parked domain placements by default. Starting March 19, Google Ads will opt out all advertisers from showing ads on parked domains. The move aims to improve ad quality but may reduce reach.

🇺🇸 Instagram eyes standalone Reels app in Project Ray. Meta is reportedly developing a Reels-only app under Project Ray. It may offer videos up to 3 minutes and aims to rival TikTok in the US market.

🇺🇸 Microsoft tests free Office for Windows with ads. Microsoft is testing an ad-supported Office for Windows in select markets. The free version lacks key features and forces cloud storage on OneDrive.

🇺🇸 X unveils AI-powered ad tools for brands. X launches 'Prefill with Grok' and 'Analyze Campaign with Grok' to help advertisers create and optimize ads using generative AI.

🇺🇸 Walmart launches new API to boost ad sales. Walmart Connect is opening an API for display ads, working with adtech firms like Pacvue, Skai, and DataCaciques to expand its self-serve ad business.

🇺🇸 Amazon tests paying media firms for shopper traffic. Amazon’s NCA pilot pays publishers for driving traffic, not just sales. CNN, Vox, and Future are early testers as Amazon expands ad inventory.

🇺🇸 Amazon tests paying media firms for shopper traffic. Amazon’s NCA pilot pays publishers for driving traffic, not just sales. CNN, Vox, and Future are early testers as Amazon expands ad inventory.

🇩🇪 Commercetools cuts 10% of staff amid slowing growth. The e-commerce software firm laid off around 70 employees, including top executives, after missing revenue targets, marking a shift from its pandemic-fueled boom.

🇺🇸 WordPress launches 100-year domain for $2,000. WordPress now offers 100-year domain registrations for $2,000, separate from its $38,000 hosting plan. Users get lifetime security, avoiding admin errors and expiration risks.

🇺🇸 Yottaa launches web speed and security service. Yottaa introduces Web Performance Services to optimize eCommerce speed, security, and operations, cutting costs by up to 40% and enabling rapid migration.

🇺🇸 Mailchimp unveils enhanced popup forms for marketers. Mailchimp launches interactive, AI-powered popup forms with 8 new offer types, boosting lead generation and audience engagement.

🇺🇸 Liferay partners with PayPal for B2B payments. Liferay integrates PayPal’s payment solutions, enabling businesses to offer Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more for secure B2B transactions.

🇬🇧 Amazon offers sellers up to £5M in financing. Amazon partners with TradeBridge to launch Term Financing, giving UK sellers access to up to £5M based on business performance, with fast approvals.

🇨🇳 FedEx launches tool to simplify global imports. FedEx unveils the Collaborative Shipping Tool, streamlining imports by improving shipment visibility and pickup efficiency for global businesses.

🇬🇧 DHL eCommerce opens UK hub, adding 600 jobs. DHL eCommerce’s new 25,000m² hub near Coventry boosts parcel capacity, supports SMEs, and features sustainable innovations.

🇺🇸 Flexport launches 20+ AI tools to modernize logistics. Flexport introduces AI-powered insights and real-time tracking, boosting supply chain efficiency and visibility for global businesses.

🇺🇸 Ranpak unveils Print’it!™ for on-demand box printing. The new Print’it!™ solution prints custom designs on up to 15 boxes per minute, enhancing personalization for 3PLs and e-commerce brands.

🇸🇦 DHL eCommerce enters Saudi parcel market with AJEX stake. DHL eCommerce acquires a minority stake in AJEX Logistics, expanding into Saudi Arabia’s booming e-commerce parcel sector.

🇬🇧 Relay raises €33.4M to scale AI-powered delivery network. The London-based startup secured funding to expand its decentralized, AI-driven delivery model across the UK, aiming to cut costs and improve speed.

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Best,
MarketMaze team