“THE BRIEFING”
Mailchimp Gets AI Involved.
Mailchimp is launching a new AI layer. Their new Analytics AI agent lets marketers ask questions about campaign performance and revenue in plain English, while a new AI Segment Builder and native Claude/ChatGPT integrations are primed to add more tools in the chest for email marketers.
Reddit x Shopify
Reddit just made its Shopify integration available to advertisers worldwide, and the results from early testers are positive. The tool lets merchants connect their storefronts directly to Reddit's ad platform and run Dynamic Product Ads. It's the latest move in Reddit's quiet but determined push to become a true shopping destination
Amazon finally releases the Prime Day dates: June 23 to June 26. Emarketer expects Amazon’s US sales to rise 7.1% during the four-day event. The company is also bringing back its “Today’s Big Deal” section, which was first introduced in 2025. Deals drop three times a day, featuring five or more products with price cuts of up to 50% off.
“THE ANALYSIS”
E-Commerce Is Booming. Sales increases start to beat pandemic levels.
Ecommerce is growing at more than twice the rate of total retail in 2026, and the more interesting question is what's actually driving it. It seems counterintuitive, fuel costs have surged amid ongoing geopolitical tension, and consumers appear to be making a quiet, rational decision: let the retailer absorb the logistics burden instead. It's a small behavioral shift that, repeated across millions of households, shows up in a big way in the numbers.
In April online retail grew at over 11% year-over-year, the fastest rate since 2021, while total retail managed less than half that. Every single month of 2026 has now recorded an ecommerce share of total retail above 18%, a level that had never been sustained outside of the early pandemic period.
The 2020 spike was written off almost immediately as a forced aberration with people locked indoors with nowhere else to spend. The assumption was that share would drift back once life reopened, and largely it did. But something shifted in the years since. Faster delivery, more reliable returns, and a consumer base that formed its default shopping habits during lockdown have quietly rebuilt ecommerce's structural position. What looked like a pandemic ceiling has become a baseline.
“THE SPOTLIGHT”
Mary Wells Laurence: The Original Girl Boss
Before "personal branding," before founder-led marketing, before creative agencies became cultural powerhouses, there was Mary Wells Lawrence. In an industry dominated by men, she didn't just break through—she reinvented the role of advertising itself. From the iconic "I ❤️ NY" campaign to unforgettable work for Alka-Seltzer and Braniff Airlines, Wells understood something many businesses still miss today: people don't buy products, they buy stories, identities, and feelings.
We feature her this week in our video series on The Starters Instagram.
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“THE OPS”
Each week we feature recent hires, showcasing top brands partnering with human brilliance to build their brand. This week’s hires include:
Retention Marketer
A CPG brand have hired an email marketer to work on taking their retention marketing within email to the next level.
$2,500 flat fee.Paid Media Specialist
A fashion e-commerce brand have hired a paid media specialist to take a look at creative strategy and current campaigns, to increase ROAS and ultimately sales in digital channels.
$2,000 per week.Fractional Head of Growth
A wellness brand have hired a Head of Growth to help them scale their revenue. Focusing on acquisition and the broader funnel.
$2,000 per week