Google's Universal Cart Goes Live in the US, AliExpress Launches a Free Elite Loyalty Tier
4 min read · October 16, 2026 · Covering October 15 · 8 stories from 8 sources
Yesterday in ecommerce: Google's Universal Cart goes live for US shoppers, AliExpress launches a free Elite loyalty tier, and Stripe says its agentic commerce volume went vertical in September. 8 stories, about 4 minutes.
01AI & Agents
Google's Universal Cart goes live for shoppers in the US
Google rolled out Universal Cart to US users on Search and the Gemini app, months after unveiling it at I/O. Shoppers save products while browsing and return later with progress intact, across different retailers. The tool tracks price drops, flags restocks, and factors in card perks and promo codes when suggesting how to pay. Checkout runs through Google's own Universal Commerce Protocol, built this year so AI agents and retailers can work together.
For your store:Expect shoppers arriving mid-research with items already saved elsewhere. Keep pricing, stock status and promo codes accurate, since Google's tool surfaces them automatically.
AliExpress launches a free loyalty tier called Elite
AliExpress introduced Elite, a free membership for shoppers who've spent roughly £600 or placed five-plus orders this year. Members get an extra 5% off labeled products, 8% off on the first of each month, and 15-day no-questions returns. It launches just before AliExpress's 11.11 sale, when Elite perks stack with festival pricing. VP Eric Zhang called it "our way of thanking the shoppers who choose AliExpress time and again."
For your store:A free loyalty perk for repeat buyers, even a discount or faster returns, can cost less than constant acquisition ads and pays off before your own peak season.
Stripe says agentic commerce activity went 'vertical' in September
Stripe president John Collison said AI agents shopping and paying on users' behalf jumped sharply starting in September, which he linked to Stripe features announced in May. On his own podcast with Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and Alexandr Wang, Collison said computer-use tech was "the last big unlock" agents needed. Meta's Muse assistant can now research, order and pay through sites via computer use, though agentic payments, where a bot completes checkout itself, still trail agentic shopping.
For your store:Agent traffic isn't theoretical anymore. Check whether your checkout pages are readable by AI agents, not just human shoppers, before this holiday season.
Nearly 80% of Europe's marketplace sales now cross a border
The 100 biggest marketplaces active in Europe are on track for 175.8 billion euros in gross merchandise volume this year, and 79.5% of it, about 139.8 billion euros, comes from cross-border sales, per Cross-Border Commerce Europe. Amazon, Temu and AliExpress top the ranking. The firm forecasts total GMV rising 8% in 2027, with cross-border's share climbing to 81%, as shoppers keep buying from marketplaces outside their own country without a second thought.
For your store:If you only sell domestically, competitors a border away may already be winning the same searches. Check whether shipping and returns can support one neighboring market.
THG raises its profit outlook as Myprotein partnerships take off
THG lifted its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance to £103 million, above market expectations, and now expects its first year of positive free cash flow since going public. Myprotein-branded unit volumes rose 36.2% in Q3, helped by ready-to-drink products sold through Caffe Nero, plus tie-ins with Krispy Kreme, Gold's Gym, Iceland and Five Guys. CEO Matthew Moulding said "momentum has continued through Q3, with profitability exceeding our expectations."
For your store:Retail partnerships outside your usual channel, a cafe, a gym, a grocer, can move real volume for a niche product line without the cost of opening new stores yourself.
Bealls launches a mobile app ahead of the holiday rush
Off-price retailer Bealls rolled out a mobile app to connect shopping across its stores and website, paired with a campaign called "For the Haul of It." The launch comes as Bealls plans 13 new stores, and as Adobe forecasts US holiday online sales climbing 6.7% to $275.1 billion between November 1 and December 31. Marketing SVP Leana Less said, "Marketing creates the reason to come, and our stores create the reason to return."
For your store:An app isn't just for giants. Even a lightweight one that saves carts and pushes order updates can tie shoppers closer before peak season spend kicks in.
Gap Beauty bets on a gourmand scent for the holidays
Gap Beauty launched Bliss, a limited-edition butterscotch, cocoa and vanilla bourbon fragrance, its holiday push and first move into body care with a matching lotion and hand cream. The $52 eau de parfum arrives as mass fragrance became the fastest-growing US beauty category this year, per Circana, up 15% in dollar sales. Beauty lead Deb Redmond said the goal was "taking your CashSoft sweater and putting it into a bottle."
For your store:A seasonal, limited-run product gives customers a reason to come back without committing to a permanent new line. Keep the batch small enough to feel genuinely limited.
Bogg moves beyond the beach bag with a $90 to $150 travel tote
Beach-bag brand Bogg launched the Go Tote, a zippable, crossbody bag in three sizes priced $90 to $150, aimed at commuters, athletes and travelers rather than beachgoers. The brand built it after feedback on earlier canvas totes that didn't hold up. Bogg has sold over 2.2 million bags since 2025, with most sales direct-to-consumer and on Amazon. Co-founder Kim Vaccarella said the bag keeps what shoppers love, built for travel.
For your store:A single hit product can become a trap. Test whether your core design stretches into an adjacent use case before a competitor claims that audience first.
The Daily Checkout is a daily summary written by KonvertiQ. Every story links to its original source, where you will find full reporting and context. Covered today: ChannelX (Tamebay), Ecommerce News Europe, Glossy, Internet Retailing, Modern Retail, Payments Dive, Retail Dive, TechCrunch.