The de minimis loophole is dead — and with it, an entire era of ultra-cheap international ecommerce. On this episode of The PlayAbly Podcast, we break down how the U.S. shutdown of duty-free imports from China and Hong Kong is triggering a seismic shift in DTC pricing, fulfillment, and strategy.
From $684 tariff bills on $355 PC orders to $20 phone cases being taxed like luxury goods, this isn’t a policy tweak — it’s an economic shockwave. We explore how rising import fees are forcing brands to rethink sourcing, invest in domestic fulfillment, and double down on retention marketing and customer loyalty programs.
Whether you’re a founder, growth marketer, or retention lead, you’ll learn:
- What the death of de minimis means for your margins
- Why Shopify retention strategies now matter more than ever
- How shoppable games and ecommerce gamification are helping brands increase AOV and loyalty
- Why local fulfillment, bundling, and VIP experiences are the next frontier
Tariffs are inflationary — and small brands will feel the burn first. The good news? When price is no longer your edge, experience becomes your moat. Tune in to learn how to future-proof your brand in the engagement economy.
🔔 Subscribe now — and stay ahead of 2026’s looming policy wave.
Get Your First Month of PlayAbly free when you mention this Podcast during your free PlayAbly Demo - learn how gamification can improve your ecommerce shop at www.playably.ai
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