Shopify’s Latest Moves Are a Sign of What’s to Come in Ecommerce

It changed its terms of use and broke up with Mailchimp

Twelve days ago, Shopify, the Canadian ecommerce platform underpinning thousands of brands, announced a series of changes to its partnership program and API access that has serious implications for its partners and merchants. It was also announced that Mailchimp is leaving Shopify’s marketplace, causing even more concern.

Two big changes to its terms of use stand out: Shopify will now “restrict partners” that try to get merchants to leave Shopify; and it is also requesting that all data collected by a partner that relates to a merchant’s customer “be sent back to Shopify.”

“I’m not surprised to see this happen where Shopify wants to protect their merchants and the data that flows through their platform,” said Casey Armstrong, CMO of Shipbob, a fulfillment company.

AW+

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Spring Special

Save 30% Off an ADWEEK Subscription Today!

View Your Options

Already a member? Sign in