GoodsFox Daily Insights – September 29, 2025: U.S. Niche Brand Makes $2.6M Selling Photo Fridge Magnets
- U.S. Niche Brand Makes $2.6M Selling Photo Fridge Magnets
- Global Ocean Freight Rates Hit New Lows
- New Tax Rules for Cross-Border Platforms Start in October
- Shein U.S. Store to Use Amazon MCF for Fulfillment
- Shopee Reminds Sellers to Follow New Tax Regulations
1. U.S. Niche Brand Makes $2.6M Selling Photo Fridge Magnets
U.S. studio HeartPrinted built a $2.6M business with custom photo fridge magnets. Each pack sells for $25 plus $6 shipping. The brand tapped into demand for family rituals and emotional gifting. On Instagram, short production videos created a warm, stress-free vibe and attracted 1M+ followers. Their DTC site gets 20K+ monthly visits, mainly from the U.S. and Europe. Direct and search traffic dominate. They expanded into custom photo gifts, optimized off-site traffic, and achieved high repurchase with low returns. This proves the long-term potential of personalized niches.
2. Global Ocean Freight Rates Hit New Lows
The Shanghai Shipping Exchange reports the SCFI index at 1114.52, down 7% in a week. Europe rates dropped below $1,000 to $971/TEU, down 7.7%. Mediterranean rates fell to $1,485/TEU, down 9.3%. U.S. West and East Coast rates dropped 10.8% and 6.7%, to $1,460/FEU and $2,385/FEU. South America rates plunged 14.6% to $2,133/TEU. Weak pre-Golden Week demand worsened supply-demand imbalances. Post-holiday cargo volume and rate trends remain key industry concerns.
3. New Tax Rules for Cross-Border Platforms Start in October
China’s State Taxation Administration requires all e-commerce platforms, domestic and overseas, to report Chinese seller data starting Oct 1. AliExpress and Shein notified sellers to declare income across all channels. The first filing covers July–September. Quarterly reports must follow. Sellers exceeding RMB 5M must register as general taxpayers. Platforms must also provide order, transaction, and account data. Amazon has not issued guidance, but the law applies to all platforms hosting Chinese sellers. Non-compliance will trigger penalties.
4. Shein U.S. Store to Use Amazon MCF for Fulfillment
Shein U.S. will launch Amazon’s Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF) by late 2025. Sellers can process Shein orders using Amazon’s logistics system. The MCF app works across multiple e-commerce platforms at no cost. Shopify merchants can also integrate MCF, while Walmart orders can be fulfilled via Amazon with tracking and unbranded packaging. These moves show Amazon is expanding its fulfillment network to third-party platforms, consolidating cross-platform demand and enhancing global logistics coverage.
5. Shopee Reminds Sellers to Follow New Tax Regulations
Shopee Global reminded sellers of China’s new tax rules starting Oct 1. Companies must report export revenue and corporate income tax. Producers must declare self-run or commissioned exports. Agents must report both their income and the exporter’s details. For parcels shipped via Shopee SLS, the seller’s registered identity will be used for customs export. Shopee urges sellers to self-check and adjust compliance to avoid penalties.
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