⚡Shopify POS

READ TIME: 2MIN. Shopify POS is no longer a sidekick to ecommerce — it’s becoming a retail operating system.

Author

The Merchant
July 22, 2025

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Happy Tuesday!

Heard someone wondering if AI could do their shopping for them? Spoiler alert: it’s already happening, just remember to double-check what’s in your cart.

From Shopify turning POS into a full retail OS, to Lululemon’s delayed Milan debut, and why smarter store networks are a must this week’s roundup is full of moves shaping ecommerce’s next chapter.

Let’s dive in! 🚀

DIGITAL PAYMENTS

The Next Retail Superpower: Shopify POS

Shopify POS is no longer a sidekick to ecommerce — it’s becoming a retail operating system.

Ray Reddy, a two-time founder and now head of Shopify’s retail team, says the future of commerce is location-agnostic. Whether you're selling in-store or online, customers expect seamless transitions, shared order history, and zero checkout friction.

From casual pop-ups to 1,000-store brands, Shopify POS is evolving fast:

  • 10% of POS users are brick-and-mortar only

  • New “mixed baskets” allow combining in-store and shipped items in a single order

  • Fuzzy search improves speed for large catalogs (think: 47,000 SKUs)

  • Seasonal staff can learn the system in one shift

  • Shop Pay integration aims to remove address and profile friction during in-store checkout

Reddy’s vision? Turn retail into one unified system — no more disconnected tools for online vs in-person. For merchants, that means fewer apps, fewer headaches, and more time with customers. Explore Shopify POS.

ECOMMERCE RESOURCES

📚 Summer Reading Picks from Ecommerce Pros

Summer’s for sunscreen, side hustles… and sharpening your thinking.

Whether you're poolside, mountainside, or stuck in the office with the AC on max, now’s the perfect time to reset and learn from founders who’ve been in the trenches. We asked ecommerce operators what books shaped their strategy and mindset.

Here’s what’s in their beach bags:

  • “The Everything Store” – A masterclass on long-game thinking, essential for marketplace sellers

  • “The E-Myth Revisited” – A crash course on not burning out while scaling

  • “The Mom Test” – Ask better questions, get real customer insight

  • “Made to Stick” – Make your brand messaging unforgettable

  • “7 Powers” – Strategic frameworks for durable advantage

  • “Delivering Happiness” – Culture-first thinking from Zappos’ late CEO

  • “Building a StoryBrand 2.0” – Clarify your message, boost conversions

  • “Let My People Go Surfing” – Chill wisdom from Patagonia’s founder

🧠 Want to get inspired and avoid the August slump? Read the full list.

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ECOMMERCE NEWS

Lululemon Heads to Milan — But Why Now?

Lululemon just opened its first-ever store in Italy — three years behind schedule.

The new two-floor flagship in Milan marks a key step in its plan to quadruple international revenue by 2026. But behind the hype, this is less about global brand love and more about U.S. slowdown pressure.

As domestic growth cools, Lululemon is banking on new markets:

  • Opened July 20th, the Milan store offers men’s and women’s collections plus “endless aisle” tech

  • Local partnerships (studios, run clubs, ambassadors) are lined up to build community

  • Italy joins a growing list: Spain, France, Germany, China, and soon Belgium, Turkey, and more

  • US traffic is down, layoffs hit 150 staff, and the brand’s now relying on price hikes to weather tariffs

While the store is sleek, the story behind it signals a pivot — from North American dominance to global survival strategy. Whether Lululemon can scale this playbook fast enough is still uncertain. 🔗 Full story via Retail Dive.

ECOMMERCE TECH

Retail’s Hidden Weak Spot? The Store Network

AI, dynamic pricing, in-store personalization — none of it works without better infrastructure.


As digital expectations rise, retailers are being squeezed by outdated systems that can’t keep up. The new edge? It’s literal. Edge computing is now the backbone of smart stores.

Here’s why modern retail needs smarter networks:

  • Mass personalization relies on low-latency systems to push real-time offers

  • AI + IoT = a data tsunami, from chillers to customer tracking

  • Cloud-only systems choke on volume, cost, and latency

  • Consolidated edge setups run POS, security, and device orchestration on one box

  • Zero-touch provisioning lets retailers scale without on-site IT

Smart tech requires smart plumbing. Retailers that ignore their store infrastructure risk falling behind — no matter how good their marketing or merch is. 🔗 Full article via Retail Dive x Acumera.

ECOMMERCE AI TRENDS

AI in E-Com: All Talk, No Execution

Billions are on the table, but most e-commerce and RevOps teams are still dragging their feet.


Despite the hype — and potential $4.4 trillion upside — AI adoption across retail, revenue operations, and DevOps is still surprisingly shallow.

Here’s where things stand:

  • 29% of online retailers have never used AI, and just 12% use it daily

  • Top use cases? Content (30%), marketing (18%) — but not pricing or fraud prevention (3% each)

  • Barriers? Legacy tech, steep learning curves, fear of losing control

  • 87% believe in AI’s power, but only 25% use it in revenue-critical workflows

  • Biggest risks of no AI? Higher costs, missed revenue, and leakage

Bottom line: AI isn’t optional — it’s operational.

Retailers that wait risk falling behind on everything from CX to revenue growth. The tech is ready. Are you?🔗 Full article via E-Commerce Times.

NEWSLETTER TLDR;

WEEKLY ROUND UP

DIGITAL PAYMENTS: Shopify POS is evolving into a unified retail OS, blending online and offline sales seamlessly with features like mixed baskets, fuzzy search, and Shop Pay integration—making retail simpler for merchants and shoppers alike.

ECOMMERCE RESOURCES: Summer’s prime reading time. Ecommerce pros recommend game-changing books like The Everything Store, The E-Myth Revisited, and Building a StoryBrand to sharpen strategy and avoid burnout.

ECOMMERCE NEWS: Lululemon finally opens in Milan after a 3-year delay, signaling a strategic shift to international markets as U.S. growth slows. New store tech and local partnerships aim to boost global revenue by 2026.

ECOMMERCE TECH: Retail’s smart future depends on smarter networks. Edge computing and zero-touch provisioning are crucial for AI-driven personalization and operational efficiency — old cloud-only setups just can’t keep up.

ECOMMERCE AI TRENDS: AI hype is real, but adoption lags. Only 12% of retailers use AI daily, mostly for content and marketing. Legacy tech and fear hold many back — but ignoring AI risks higher costs and missed growth.

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Signing off,

The Merchant @CartHustle