Hey, it’s Cam from Platter 👋

Hope you’re having a productive week. I’m feeling a bit heavier than normal. I spent the long weekend celebrating Thanksgiving up here in Canada, eating too much and spending quality time with family.

Back to it now… Lots happening in the world of ecommerce and AI, plus a big week for Ben (more on that below).

In this issue

🧠 Walmart brings AI-first shopping to ChatGPT
💤 Breathewave’s new Shopify store with Platter
📈 Oura hits $11B, tariffs rise, and PayPal enters ads
🧩 Shopify ups variant limits + adds POS subscriptions
🎥 DoorDash’s viral LAFC activation + more content
🥊 Ben’s charity boxing match for cancer research

STORY OF THE WEEK

Walmart becomes the first major retailer to launch shopping inside ChatGPT

Walmart announced a new partnership with OpenAI this week to power what it calls AI-first shopping experiences.

The deal will soon let customers shop Walmart directly inside ChatGPT using Instant Checkout — the same feature that launched last month with Etsy and is expected to expand to over one-million Shopify merchants. Walmart will handle fulfillment and payments behind the scenes, while OpenAI earns a transaction fee on each purchase.

CEO Doug McMillon described the partnership as the next evolution of ecommerce, moving past search bars toward shopping that’s “personalized and contextual.”

The move reflects a broader shift in how consumers are shopping. Walmart’s integration positions it early in that shift and signals how large retailers expect customers to browse and buy in the future.

Walmart didn’t say exactly when ChatGPT shopping will go live, but the announcement was enough to send its stock up nearly 5%, hitting a 52-week high.

Read Walmart’s Press Release.

QUICK LINKS

• LinkedIn’s Top Startups 2025 → Full list

• DoorDash’s viral LAFC activation → Watch here

• Networking at a $20B NYC event → Watch

• Using Gemini 2.5 Nano Banana + Figma for mockups → Watch

• Platter is hiring → Learn more

STORY OF THE WEEK

Breathewave

Breathewave just launched their new Shopify store with Platter!

If you’re not familiar, Breathewave makes a comfortable nasal dilator that helps you breathe and sleep better. The new storefront takes something clinical and makes it feel premium, approachable, and science-backed.

A few details that I love about this store:

• A clean design that uses soft gradients, calming colors, and negative space.

• Loads of storytelling and education baked in. The “How to Use” section and breathing explainer visuals help differentiate their dilator from traditional nasal strips.

• The PDP balances conversion-focused UX (sticky cart, variant swatches, one-click checkout) with credibility (social proof and FAQs).

• A design and tone rooted in science, delivered with lifestyle flair. The messaging focuses on benefits (“Breathe better. Live better.”) rather than just product specs.

It’s a great example of how good design can make even niche health tech feel like a lifestyle brand.

Check it out at breathewave.com

OTHER NEWS THIS WEEK

Oura hits $11B valuation

Oura has officially become Europe’s first health-tracking decacorn after a new round led by EQT Growth. The company’s expanding well beyond sleep tracking and investing in women’s health, clinical research, and broader wellness tracking. Read more from TechCrunch.

US–China tariff tensions heat up again

The U.S. announced new 100% tariffs on Chinese imports after Beijing restricted exports of rare-earth minerals. Markets reacted fast with the S&P 500 dropping 2.7%, before rebounding this week. Economists say prolonged volatility could weigh on consumer spending heading into Q4. Read more at CNN.

PayPal launches Ads Manager 

PayPal rolled out Ads Manager, a self-serve retail media platform that lets small businesses turn their storefronts into ad networks. Read more at AdWeek.

SHOPIFY UPDATES OF THE WEEK

Here are the most relevant releases this week:

Variant limit increased to 2,048

A big one for merchants with large catalogs. Shopify raised the variant limit from 100 to 2,048 per product.

Subscriptions now available in POS 

Shopify Subscriptions can now be sold in-store. Customers can subscribe to products at checkout.

Country-specific HS codes for international selling

Merchants can now assign HS codes per country for more accurate tariffs and visibility within Managed Markets.

See all of Shopify’s updates in their changelog.

EVENT OF THE WEEK

Ben steps into the ring for cancer research

On November 6th, Ben will fight in Haymakers for Hope NYC XI, raising money for cancer research.

He’s boxing in memory of his Nana, who passed away from lung cancer before he was born. As Ben put it, “Stepping into the ring is scary, but it’s nothing compared to what cancer patients go through.”

He’s already raised over $33,000, with all proceeds going toward finding a cure.

Support Ben’s fight

Building or rebuilding your store?

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