The Retail Dispatch: January 9, 2026

News

Your bi-weekly news roundup of ecommerce trends, retail shifts, and fulfillment innovation.

From evolving marketplace rules to changing consumer behavior, retail and ecommerce don’t slow down, and neither do the stories shaping how brands sell, ship, and scale.

This edition of The Retail Dispatch breaks down what matters most right now, including TikTok Shop’s new shipping rules for 2026, Adobe’s forecasted post-holiday returns surge, Forbes’ take on emerging AI risks in ecommerce, the rapid growth of resale driven by ThredUp’s latest report, and the latest WSI | Kase survey capturing how retail supply chain leaders are planning for 2026.

We’re highlighting the trends, data, and decisions influencing fulfillment strategies, customer experience, and operational resilience.

Check back every other week for the latest headlines and insights shaping the future of ecommerce and fulfillment.

TikTok Shop Tightens Shipping Rules and Expands Platform-Managed Logistics

TikTok Shop is tightening control over shipping while rolling out new platform-managed logistics options for U.S. sellers. Beginning this month, January 2026, all USPS shipping labels must be purchased through TikTok Shipping.¹ Labels generated externally through platforms like Shopify, ShipStation, or direct USPS accounts will be rejected, which forced many sellers to adjust workflows before December 31, 2025, to avoid disruptions.

At the same time, TikTok is expanding its Upgraded TikTok Shipping program, a U.S. domestic logistics solution where TikTok centrally manages carriers.² The program offers up to 20% lower shipping costs, automatic carrier selection, exemptions from key fulfillment performance penalties, and TikTok-managed claims for lost or damaged packages. Sellers can continue shipping from their own warehouses while offloading more logistics responsibility to the platform.

TikTok is also introducing Collections by TikTok (CBT), a door-to-door pickup service in select regions (Greater Los Angeles, East Coast, and Texas) offering up to 30% additional shipping discounts. CBT enrollment reopens January 5, 2026, with eligibility tied to order volume and warehouse capabilities.

For cross-border sellers, a major policy change took effect on December 15, 2025, requiring all U.S. orders to be fulfilled exclusively through TikTok Shipping or Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT).³ Seller Shipping will be discontinued for cross-border merchants, while U.S.-based sellers are not impacted at this time.

These updates highlight TikTok Shop’s broader push toward tighter fulfillment control, trading flexibility for cost savings, compliance protections, and centralized logistics management. Brands exploring TikTok Shop in 2026 will benefit from understanding the platform’s rules, guidelines, and challenges. Read the full guide on how to set up a winning TikTok Shop strategy.

Recommerce Gains Momentum as Secondhand Apparel Shapes Retail Sales

Recommerce, the structured resale of previously owned goods, is gaining momentum as more than just a trend. Secondhand shopping is increasingly influencing both consumer behavior and retail performance. According to the 2025 ThredUp Resale Report, the global secondhand apparel market is projected to reach $367 billion by 2029, growing 2.7 times faster than the overall apparel market, while U.S. secondhand apparel sales are expected to reach $74 billion, expanding at a 9% annual rate.⁴

Growth is being fueled by younger consumers, value-seeking shoppers, and rising acceptance of secondhand purchasing.

That demand is now showing up in retail sales data. Wells Fargo economists estimate that sales of used goods helped push the “miscellaneous retailers” category, including thrift and resale, up more than 8% year over year over the past 10 months,⁵ as consumers look to offset tariff pressure and stretched budgets. Analysts note that resale programs launched by major and premium brands are contributing to this shift.

As recommerce scales, logistics becomes critical. The right 3PL can help operationalize resale through returns intake, inspection, grading, refurbishment, storage, and secondary fulfillment. By managing these complex reverse logistics flows, fulfillment partners enable brands to turn secondhand demand into a profitable, repeatable extension of their supply chain.

Cosmetics Industry Ramps Up Anti-Counterfeit Packaging as Retail Crime Rises

The global cosmetics anti-counterfeit packaging market is set for rapid growth as brands respond to rising retail crime, counterfeit activity, and tighter regulations. According to a new MarketsandMarkets™ report, the pharmaceutical and cosmetics anti-counterfeit packaging market is projected to reach $195 billion by 2030, up from $96.3 billion in 2025, driven in part by accelerating demand from the beauty sector.⁶

Cosmetics brands are investing in advanced packaging technologies to combat counterfeit goods circulating through ecommerce, resale platforms, and organized retail theft rings. RFID, tamper-evident seals, holograms, and serialization are gaining traction, with RFID expected to be the fastest-growing technology, offering item-level traceability and real-time authentication without line-of-sight scanning.

Europe currently leads adoption due to strict enforcement and mature beauty markets, while Asia Pacific is expected to see the fastest growth as counterfeit cosmetics and cross-border retail crime rise. As theft and fake products threaten brand trust and consumer safety, secure, intelligent packaging is becoming a frontline defense for cosmetics manufacturers and retailers alike.

Forbes Outlines 3 Potential Risks of AI in Ecommerce

AI has already made its way into retail search, discovery, and shopping. Now, a new Forbes opinion piece outlines that while AI-powered shopping agents could dramatically streamline ecommerce, they also introduce significant risks for brands and consumers. The article,⁷ written by John Werner, outlines three major concerns.

The first is algorithmic opacity, where retailers and shoppers may not understand why AI systems make certain pricing or product decisions in a way that potentially erodes trust and brand reputation.

The second risk is the loss of customer insight, as AI intermediaries could distance retailers from direct consumer behavior, weakening loyalty and cross-selling opportunities.

The third and most systemic threat is AI coordination failure, where millions of automated shopping agents acting simultaneously could trigger price spikes, outages, or digital “stampedes.” Researchers argue the issue is not intelligence, but a lack of coordination among AI agents pursuing individual goals.

While retailers like Walmart and Target are already experimenting with AI-powered checkout and discovery tools, the article concludes that responsible AI controls and transparency will be critical as automated shopping becomes more mainstream.

Holiday Sales End Strong Despite Weaker Consumer Sentiment

U.S. holiday ecommerce sales delivered solid gains in the 2025 season, even as consumer confidence softened under inflation pressures and trade uncertainty. According to Adobe Analytics,⁸ online spending from November 1 through December 31 reached nearly $258 billion, up 6.8% year over year, surpassing Adobe’s earlier forecast of $253.4 billion but slowing from 8.7% growth in 2024.

Much of the momentum came from Cyber Week promotions, where aggressive discounts and flexible payment options helped unlock demand. Buy now, pay later (BNPL) usage hit a new high, accounting for $20 billion in online spend, a 9.8% increase from the prior holiday season. Higher-income shoppers continued to spend, while value-driven consumers leaned into promotions and installment payments to manage tighter budgets.

Discount-led demand lifted sales of higher-ticket categories such as electronics, appliances, and sporting goods. Mobile commerce also expanded, with smartphones driving more than 56% of online transactions. At the same time, traffic tied to AI-powered shopping tools surged, signaling growing reliance on technology to navigate deals and purchasing decisions.

In the end, it was a resilient but more price-sensitive holiday.

Returns Expected to Spike in the New Year

Holiday returns are expected to climb sharply as the post-Christmas period gets underway, despite an early-season decline.⁹ Adobe Analytics found that returns fell 2.5% year over year between Nov. 1 and Dec. 12, with a slight 0.1% dip after Cyber Week. That trend is set to reverse: returns are projected to jump 25% to 35% between Dec. 26 and Dec. 31, and remain 8% to 15% higher through the first two weeks of January.

Data also shows a channel split in shopper behavior. While mobile devices drove more than half of online holiday spending, desktops accounted for most return transactions, with mobile representing 39% of returns. Returns remain a major cost burden for retailers, totaling an estimated $890 billion in 2024, or nearly 17% of annual retail sales, underscoring the operational and financial stakes of the peak returns season.

More Brands Embracing On-Demand Delivery Using Rideshare Services

An increasing number of retailers are turning to rideshare platforms to meet consumer demand for ultra-fast and same-day delivery. During the 2025 holiday season, Pacsun, Camping World, and Lush launched on-demand delivery through Uber, Uber Eats, and Postmates,¹⁰ allowing shoppers to order apparel, beauty products, and outdoor gear directly from nearby stores. The partnerships reflect Uber’s broader push beyond food delivery into discretionary retail categories.

This expansion follows a wider industry trend. Family Dollar and Dollar General have rolled out on-demand delivery with DoorDash and Uber Eats, while Old Navy, Best Buy, and Home Depot have also expanded same-day options. As consumers prioritize speed and convenience, especially during peak shopping periods, rideshare-powered delivery is emerging as a fast, asset-light way for brands to extend last-mile reach without building their own delivery networks.

Amazon Prep Services Officially End

Amazon has discontinued all Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) prep and labeling services in the U.S. as of January 1, 2026.¹¹ This long-used, optional service, which handled tasks like barcode labeling, polybagging, bubble wrapping, and other packaging compliance, will no longer be available for new shipments sent to FBA facilities.

Under the new policy, sellers must fully prepare and label all products themselves or outsource that work to third-party providers before inventory arrives at Amazon fulfillment centers. Shipments that aren’t compliant risk rejection, delays, or extra fees, and will not be eligible for reimbursement if lost or damaged.

Amazon says most sellers now have the packaging capabilities that once justified in-house prep, allowing the company to streamline warehouse operations and focus on faster fulfillment.

New Kase and WSI Survey Captures Retail Supply Chain Leaders’ Outlook for 2026

Ecommerce brands are entering 2026 with a sharper focus on speed, control, and resilience as supply chain strategies evolve under mounting pressure. A new WSI | Kase industry report, based on insights from 250 retail supply chain leaders, finds that regional fulfillment is quickly becoming a competitive differentiator amid tariff uncertainty, shifting trade policies, and rising customer expectations for fast, reliable delivery.

While interest is high, readiness remains limited. Only 21% of retailers say their current logistics networks can support true regional fulfillment, highlighting widespread gaps in network design, technology alignment, and execution. The report shows brands accelerating nearshoring and reshoring pilots, reassessing legacy distribution models, and leaning more heavily on modern 3PL partnerships to increase flexibility.

Retailers are investing in multi-node networks, better visibility, and operational integration to future-proof fulfillment.

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About the Author

Alyssa Wolfe

Alyssa Wolfe is a content strategist, storyteller, and creative and content lead with over a decade of experience shaping brand narratives across industries including retail, travel, logistics, fintech, SaaS, B2C, and B2B services. She specializes in turning complex ideas into clear, human-centered content that connects, informs, and inspires. With a background in journalism, marketing, and digital strategy, Alyssa brings a sharp editorial eye and a collaborative spirit to every project. Her work spans thought leadership, executive ghostwriting, brand messaging, and educational content—all grounded in a deep understanding of audience needs and business goals. Alyssa is passionate about the power of language to drive clarity and change, and she believes the best content not only tells a story, but builds trust and sparks action.