2025.4.14 GoodsFox Daily E-commerce News: DTC Website Sellers Beware! Transshipment to Avoid Tariffs Carries Risks
- Target Partners with DTC Food Brand ButcherBox to Expand Grocery Offerings
- DTC Website Sellers Beware! Transshipment to Avoid Tariffs Carries Risks
- TikTok Shop GMV Soars 305%, Amazon Sellers Pivot to New Channel
- Trump’s Tariffs Hit U.S. E-commerce Brands, Europe Emerges as Haven
- Shopee Launches Program to Promote Vietnam’s Culture and Products
1. Target Partners with DTC Food Brand ButcherBox to Expand Grocery Offerings
Target has teamed up with ButcherBox to offer high-quality, ethically sourced meat and seafood without subscriptions. Thirteen curated boxes, priced from $99 to $189, are now available. ButcherBox’s Chief Commercial Officer, Reba Hatcher, says the partnership removes ordering barriers for U.S. families seeking premium protein.
Using Shopify Marketplace Connect, ButcherBox seamlessly joined Target Plus. Both brands share aligned audiences and values. ButcherBox’s DTC model prioritizes transparency and sustainability, disrupting traditional meat markets. GoodsFox shares its social media ad creatives driving this growth.
Source: GoodsFox
2. DTC Website Sellers Beware! Transshipment to Avoid Tariffs Carries Risks
U.S. tariffs are squeezing independent station sellers, pushing some toward transshipment to cut costs. But is it safe? Transshipment involves exporting goods to a third country, repackaging or reprocessing them, then shipping to the final destination under that country’s origin to leverage lower tariffs.
GoodsFox warns that origin certificates aren’t easy to obtain. For example, Vietnam requires 50% local production, verified by customs. Fake certificates risk shipment holds. Sellers must comply with rules, establish legitimate overseas production, and secure valid certificates to safely reduce tariffs.
3. TikTok Shop GMV Soars 305%, Amazon Sellers Pivot to New Channel
In 2025, Amazon sellers are shifting strategies. TikTok ad spend by small-to-mid sellers doubled to 62%. Top sellers saw 305% GMV growth via short video sales. Amazon’s rising ad costs (up 38%) contrast with TikTok’s precise social traffic.
Data shows authentic review videos drive 4x views and 2x conversions. Collaborating with micro-influencers (under 50K followers) yields 42% higher efficiency than mega-influencers. Tarte Cosmetics, for instance, hit $6.4 million in 30-day sales with 14,000 videos and 1,800 livestreams.
4. Trump’s Tariffs Hit U.S. E-commerce Brands, Europe Emerges as Haven
Trump’s “Independence Day” tariffs, aimed at boosting U.S. manufacturing, are shaking e-commerce brands reliant on Chinese production. Chinese goods face up to 125% tariffs. Of U.S. imports under $800, 67.4% ($228.3 billion) come from China, threatening integrated supply chains.
Europe offers hope with 326 million e-commerce consumers and 97.6% online penetration in the Nordics. Advertising there is cheaper—Meta’s CPM in Q1 2025 is one-third of the U.S. cost. Brands must localize content across 50 countries and 24 languages to succeed.
5. Shopee Launches Program to Promote Vietnam’s Culture and Products
On April 14, Shopee introduced the “Vietnam Essence Together” initiative via Shopee Live to promote Vietnam’s unique products and culture. Partnering with businesses and farmers, it builds on the success of “Vietnam Tourism Essence 2024.”
Monthly livestreams on the 15th feature guests sharing stories and showcasing “Made in Vietnam” brands. Shopee’s Tran Tuan Anh says it fosters pride in local goods. From April, support packages offer free international shipping, consulting, and ad tools to boost Vietnamese crafts and fashion in Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
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