Soon to be replaced by Tony McNugget…

Interesting to see that searches for VPN have surged since the #OnlineSafetyBill launched. Push young users off open platforms and they’ll flock to encrypted, unregulated spaces. That doesn’t keep them safe, it makes them harder to protect. A classic case of tech-illiterate policy.

Fognini really didn’t make that easy for Alcaraz. Great match. #Wimbledon

Could this be classed as a British Sando? 🤣

Check out the Poop Cruise documentary on Netflix it’s wild 🤣

Given the circumstances shitting in a red bag would be the least or my worries!

One thing they don’t warn you about getting older:
You’ll be minding your business on a random Tuesday, then suddenly find yourself turning Coldplay up on the radio 🫣

Big birthday energy incoming! Our personalised badges are loud, proud, and guaranteed to get you noticed. Add their face, name or age, and let everyone know it’s THEIR day. 👉 www.lookinggifty.com

UK and EU to defy Trump with ‘free and open trade’ declaration The draft U.K.-EU agreement is one of several being drawn up ahead of a May 19 summit.

Potential positive shift for online businesses: UK & EU signal commitment to free, open trade. If realised, it could ease cross-border e-commerce, but it’s early days. #ecommerce #smallbusiness

Greggs breakfast drive-thru is better than Mcdonald’s… don’t @ me

🗣️ Are you truly listening to your customers? Discover how genuine engagement can transform your business. Read more: beyondthebasket.co.uk/%F0%9F%92%AC... #CustomerExperience #BusinessGrowth

Beyond the Basket: It's time to unlock your 2025 E-Com Superpower 🚀 Dive into the latest ecommerce trends: discover hyper-personalization strategies, conversion insights, and smart tactics to boost your DTC brand's success in 2025.

Have you read this week’s issue of my newsletter for UK online businesses and DTC brands?

We cover hyper-personalisation, making your free shipping offers pop, and how a brand refresh turned a disruptor into a category leader.

Read it here:

85 second BBC News hourly countdown is the longest I’ve ever seen!

Auto-reply is on, and the sun is out! Definitely needed this long weekend!

Tomorrow in Beyond the Basket: Why hyper-personalisation is your 2025 superpower, how to rethink free shipping, and a standout DTC rebrand you’ll want to steal from. Don’t miss out, subscribe now👇

Trump rolls back on tariffs against consumer electronics. Is this going to be the slowest, most incremental walk back in history? 🤣

‘Amazon slayer’: the Dublin minnow taking on the giants in drone deliveries The Guardian speaks to Manna Aero founder and orders coffee via startup’s app to be delivered to a suburban home

Manna Aero’s drone deliveries are impressive 80 a day fully autonomous, and now targeting the UK. Great to see European tech making bold moves while America grows more inward-looking. Innovation over isolation every time.

It’s Archie’s first #NationalPetsDay! 🎉

Data: Online cart abandonment cost UK retailers £38bn in 2024 - Retail Gazette Basket abandonment cost UK retailers billions of pounds in potential online sales last year, according to Retail Economics and GFS.

I was shocked to see UK retailers lost £38bn to abandoned baskets 🛒 last year. That’s a lot of wasted ad spend. If you run an online store, this is worth 2 mins of your time:

I’ve noticed that my productivity drops as the temperature and amount of sunshine rises. 🤔

This will either be amazing or terrible there will be no middle ground.

Amazon Cancels Some Inventory Orders From China After Tariffs Amazon.com Inc. has canceled orders for multiple products made in China and other Asian countries, according to a document reviewed by Bloomberg and people familiar with the matter, suggesting the com...

Just spotted news that Amazon’s cancelling big orders from Asia likely due to US tariffs. Wouldn’t be surprised if that stock ends up dumped in the UK. Might mean lower prices, but bad news for British makers trying to stay competitive. Something to watch.

DTC Survival Guide: Navigating Tariffs, Ads, and Marketing Shifts Navigating DTC marketing challenges: Insights on ad performance, UK-US trade impacts, and cutting-edge strategies to keep your brand competitive in a rapidly changing landscape.

This week’s issue of Beyond the Basket is out, here’s what’s covered:

🇺🇸 What the new US tariffs mean for UK sellers
📉 How to revive flatlining ad performance
🍫 A sweet Cadbury’s campaign worth a closer look

Read the latest issue and stay ahead of the game: ✉️👇

Virgin Media has just been installed in our village, and I had it set up today. It’s so good to be able to watch content in 4K again. 💨

The latest issue of Beyond the Basket lands tomorrow! We’re covering how UK sellers can handle US tariffs, tips to revive underperforming ads, and a deliciously clever marketing campaign you’ll love.

Don’t miss out! Subscribe now ⬇️

Shopify CEO says no new hires without proof AI can’t do the job Tobi Lütke shared a memo outlining the expectation.

Shopify’s CEO wants teams to justify new hires by proving AI can’t do the job instead. Interesting move… but is it smart leadership or just AI hype going too far?
Curious what others think. 🤔 💭

How to protect your brand 🛡️

✅ Show why your product’s worth it.
✅ Use bundles or perks to boost value.
✅ Reassure with messaging that feels stable, and trustworthy.

Confidence dips, but smart brands adapt and stay steady.

Falling confidence = tougher sales 💸
• Delayed purchases
• Value-seeking behaviour
• “Nice to haves” get skipped

If you sell gifts, lifestyle, or DTC products, this matters. Positioning & price sensitivity are key.

Worried about Trump’s new tariffs? 🇺🇸📉 For UK ecom brands, it’s not the tariffs, it’s the consumer confidence dip that hits hardest.

When markets wobble, customers hold back. Less spending. More hesitation. It’s already starting.

a man in a black ninja costume is hiding in the sand on the beach . ALT: a man in a black ninja costume is hiding in the sand on the beach .

Working on social media today while also trying to avoid White Lotus spoilers like: