It’s Tuesday.
TikTok just dropped its first UK Shopping Trend Report, revealing the top products and trends actually driving purchases – from fashion to beauty to home. The data pulls from in-app orders, search, and hashtags, making it a useful peek into what’s converting.
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Influencer content is now built for Google, not just the feed
The search bar is changing how creators make content. Short videos from TikTok and Instagram are showing up in Google’s AI Overview and search results. The best-performing content? It’s not always trending – it’s searchable.
→ Brands like DIBS are partnering with creators who have blogs to show up in chatbot answers
→ Agencies are rewriting captions and titles using real sentences, not SEO keyword dumps
→ Posts that answer questions like “what’s the best gym bag?” tend to rank higher and last longer
What to do: If you're working with creators, think beyond engagement. Make sure their content helps you show up in search. Ask for location tags, longer captions, and even blog-style repurposing.
🤝 Supported by impact.com
Their hybrid model—$36 sample packs + 10–30% commission—turned creators into a high-ROI growth engine.
With impact.com, they screened partners, automated promos, and tracked everything in one place.
📈 982% ROAS. 200% growth.
New soda brands want their own Poppi moment
Pepsi just bought Poppi for $2 billion. Now other brands are jumping into prebiotic soda with their own spin.
→ Bloom Pop is using clinically proven ingredients and got early traction at Walmart
→ SunSip (by Health-Ade) is skipping stevia and adding vitamins for wellness shoppers
→ Slice is back with a retro look and real fruit juice to grab Gen X and millennial buyers
What to watch: These brands aren’t starting from scratch. They’re backed by players like Keurig Dr Pepper and Suja Life, which gives them retail access. If you're a new brand in this space, you’ll need a strong hook – clean ingredients alone won’t cut it anymore.
AI is filling in for cut customer service teams
Tariff hikes and slower job growth are pushing brands to cut costs. One of the first things to go? Customer service reps.
→ Beau Ties cut a rep and now uses Zendesk bots to handle common tickets
→ Outlines’ chatbot handles 70% of support queries, saving $5,000 a month
→ Made In is prepping AI to handle seasonal spikes without overhiring
What to know: Most customer service questions are repetitive. Bots are getting better at handling order status, returns, and shipping FAQs. Brands using AI aren’t just saving money – they’re letting their team focus on growth tasks like upselling or improving loyalty.
The investor behind Hero Cosmetics is looking for the next big thing
Aria Growth Partners just raised $152 million for a second fund and is looking for brands ready to scale.
→ Ideal range is $10M–$50M in revenue, with healthy margins
→ They want brands that can win both online and in-store
→ They’re looking for clear value, like affordable pricing or new categories
If you're raising: Aria is hands-on with founders and helps with product development, hiring, and retail strategy. Brands like Hero and LesserEvil were early bets that paid off because they filled a gap in the market and scaled fast. They’re now looking for the next one.
Read more
DTC brand Quince valued at over $4.5 billion → The Business of Fashion
Netflix is on the hunt for a video podcast exec as it tries to catch YouTube → Business Insider
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