Shopify

Spring is here, and it’s changing the way US consumers shop. We analyzed month-over-month sales from thousands of Shopify merchants to pinpoint April's trending products. Here’s what we found: → Parents are investing in essentials for their little ones. Ring slings and hip carriers (+603%), double strollers (+590%), and convertible car seats (+214%) all saw triple digit growth. → Pet parents are going all out too. Non-prescription dog food surged by 1,121%, with dog toys (+114%) and fish feeders (+80%) also in high demand. → Homeowners are ready for spring. Sales spiked for grass edgers (+338%), grill scrapers (+97%), insect repellent (+94%), and fire pits (+50%). → With the warmer weather, families are gearing up for water activities. Sales were up 74% for pedal boats, 67% for fishing tackle kits, and 19% for kayak sails. Entrepreneurs, what trends are you spotting this spring?

If you're searching for your next big idea, start by identifying what's missing in your community. That's your way in according to the founders of Recess Pickleball. Since 2023, pickleball brands on Shopify surged, driving $324 million in GMV — a 280% increase compared to the two years prior. This wasn’t news to avid pickleballers Maggie Brown and Grace Moore, who witnessed neighbors transforming their driveways into makeshift courts during the pandemic, playing and connecting amid uncertainty. They knew the sport was here to stay, but something was missing—paddle options that featured thoughtfully curated designs that reflected their style. Enter: Recess Pickleball. Launching from their living room with just 600 paddles, Recess quickly gained traction at local tournaments, community meetups, and on social media by offering paddles with unconventionally clean aesthetics. Today, the brand is not only known for its innovative designs but also for its commitment to fostering recreational fun through organized pickleball events. The key to their success? Community. Built by those who understand the sport and its culture—the players themselves—Recess proves that when you’re part of something, you can identify the challenges that matter most and create solutions that resonate.

Streamlining fulfillment is key when scaling a business. That’s why we’re adding more third-party logistics partners to the Shopify Fulfillment Network. ShipBob, Shipfusion, and ShipMonk are joining Flexport, and now integrate directly with the Shopify admin. Partnering with the right 3PL means faster deliveries and reduced shipping costs. Now, with more options, merchants can compare multiple 3PL partners in one place to find the right partner. More here: https://lnkd.in/dSemKYA

Doubt is a part of the game, but it’s on you to push through it to get to the good stuff. That was the takeaway from Serena Williams at our co-hosted pop-up in Los Angeles, when she addressed the topic of imposter syndrome. More on Serena's journey conquering a new industry to build WYN BEAUTY by Serena Williams.

Business owners, if listening to your audience isn't your top priority, your products will struggle to resonate. Case in point: 15 years ago, the beverage options for sober and sober-curious individuals fell short in flavor, lacked complexity, and offered little in terms of presentation due to attempts to solve a problem without fully understanding consumers' needs. This gap caught the attention of JW Wiseman, who, after a pivotal night out in 2012, recognized the demand for better non-alcoholic alternatives. What started as experiments in his kitchen transformed into a newfound mission to craft sophisticated, dynamic cocktails sans alcohol. This is where Curious Elixirs was born. Fast forward to today: Curious Elixirs has become a pioneer in the non-alcoholic space, consistently delivering premium options to a community that has deserved better from day one.

Developers, the Shopify.dev MCP server is live. You can now build and refine GraphQL operations within your preferred coding environment: Cursor, Windsurf, or Claude desktop. Add the MCP server to your settings: https://lnkd.in/d9ZvNMJP

A clear signal from March shopping trends: U.S. consumers are ready for spring. We analyzed month-over-month sales from thousands of Shopify merchants to discover what was trending in March. Gardening and grilling accessories rose to the top. Here are the highlights: → March marked the kickoff of those inevitable home and garden projects. Sales increased for sprinklers (+388%), pergolas (+242%), outdoor umbrellas (+240%), and plant bulbs (+131%). → Grilling season is here, with sales rising for outdoor grill carts (+66%), scrapers (+60%), covers (+45%), and even pizza ovens (+45%). → Consumers refreshed their closets for warmer weather, driving a surge in sales for chino shorts (+302%), tank tops (+300%), and bucket hats (+132%). → Outdoor activities are back in full swing. Kick scooter (+437%), pop-up tent (+273%), bike handlebar (+145%), and picnic blanket (+72%) sales were all up. Merchants, what’s trending in your store as we head into spring?

March Madness has become about more than just basketball for college athletes. Now able to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL), athletes are taking control of their personal brands and seizing the opportunity to become entrepreneurs. Consider that less than 2% of NCAA college athletes will go pro, and it raises the stakes for capitalizing on pivotal moments like March Madness. As for the brands working with these athletes, Campus Ink & The NIL Store had its highest revenue month ever during last year’s March Madness, while Athlete's Thread—a brand that partners with 38,000 athletes—reports that 30% of its basketball sales occur in March and April. What other spaces do you think will spark the next wave of entrepreneurs? Drop your thoughts.

Where do the most innovative ideas come from? For rabbit founders Jill Deering and Monica DeVreese, the answer is community. As lifelong marathoners, they recognized a common challenge among runners: the need for great-fitting, functional gear that authentically reflects their community’s culture. Their solution? Building a product and brand hand-in-hand with their community. Jill and Monica began by sharing every running short they could find with friends, gathering insights on what they loved, disliked, and how the brand connected with them. The result: rabbit — a running apparel line deeply rooted in California culture that goes beyond selling high-quality gear. It puts the community first, actively supporting runners through initiatives like organizing shakeout runs before the Boston and Chicago Marathons and sponsoring the inaugural Every Woman’s Marathon. Now in its 8th year, rabbit has grown into one of the largest independent running apparel brands—proof that community collaboration can be the key to success.

Developers, our ecosystem hit new milestones in 2024: → $1B in app payouts (+37%) → 16K+ apps published (+23%) → 1.6B App Store sessions by merchants (+15%) We’re celebrating by bringing the builders back to Toronto this May. Join us at Editions.dev for debugging, pair programming, and an exclusive AMA with Shopify Founder and CEO Tobi Lütke. Tickets are available at https://Editions.dev… because you can’t ask when we’re unifying our app UIs if you aren’t registered.