Welcome to the Moast newsletter. We spend the week collecting news, trends, and other content that we think would be interesting to e-commerce founders and CMOs. Our goal is to provide value without sounding like a promo for our app. Helpful wether you use Moast or not.

Mark Cuban announced that this is his final season on Shark Tank. His next move? Starting a $750M private equity fund that invests minority stakes in NBA, NFL and MLB franchises that may be undervalued.

Talk about a dream job (for me a least 🙂).

Here's what is happening in the world of DTC / e-commerce 👇

DTC Headlines

Dick’s Sporting Goods acquires Foot Locker for $2.4B to expand global reach

→ Dick’s Sporting Goods is acquiring Foot Locker for $2.4 billion, marking its largest deal to date.

→ The acquisition provides Dick’s with international exposure through Foot Locker’s 2,400 stores across 26 countries.

→ Foot Locker will operate as a standalone brand, allowing Dick’s to diversify its portfolio and strengthen relationships with major brands like Nike.

Church & Dwight acquires Touchland for up to $880M

→ The deal includes $700M upfront and up to $180M in performance-based earnouts, with Touchland generating $130M in sales over the past year.

→ Known for its sleek, colorful packaging, Touchland has become the No. 2 hand sanitizer brand, appealing to younger consumers.

→ Church & Dwight plans to leverage its scale to grow Touchland's presence in existing and new markets.

Meta expands ad offerings with trending Reels and Threads video ads

→ Meta is introducing 'Reels trending ads,' placing brand advertisements alongside popular short videos across its platforms.

→ The company is testing video ads within the Threads feed, with initial trials involving a limited number of brands.

→ These initiatives are part of Meta's strategy to enhance monetization of its short-form video content and compete more effectively with platforms like TikTok.

TikTok launches $1M ad credit giveaway for U.S. small businesses

→ TikTok is awarding $2,000 in ad credits to 500 U.S.-based small businesses as part of its Small Biz Fest initiative.

→ Eligible businesses must have 500 or fewer employees, be new to TikTok Ads, and apply by May 31; credits must be used by July 14.

→ The program also includes weekly webinars, a video podcast series, and in-person events to support small business growth on TikTok.

Read more / Apply here

Shopify Stuff

Shopify powers first-ever physical product sales on Roblox

→ Fenty Beauty is one of the first brands to sell real products directly in Roblox, enabled by Shopify’s integration with the platform’s new commerce APIs.

→ Users can buy exclusive items like a Gloss Bomb in-game, explore virtual labs, and join events—blending real-world shopping with immersive digital experiences.

What We Found Helpful

Why BNPL is becoming a must-have at checkout

→ BNPL usage is booming—93M U.S. shoppers used it in 2024, with holiday spend topping $16.6B and making up 20% of online purchases.

→ Brands not offering BNPL risk losing conversions, as 66% of users abandon carts if their preferred option isn’t available.

→ Once a perk, BNPL is now essential: 25% of users are using it for groceries, and over half say it’s helping them get by in a tough economy.

What We Found Interesting

This Passport report reveals ecommerce leaders' strategies for global growth amid tariff concerns

→ 81% of e-commerce leaders express concerns about tariffs disrupting their international strategies, yet 91% find global sales profitable, with half attributing over 20% of revenue to international markets. ​

→ To mitigate risks, 94% plan to expand in-country fulfillment within five years, and 69% aim to increase international ad spending, focusing on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

→ The report highlights that 44% of brands prioritize partner flexibility over cost, emphasizing the need for adaptable logistics and compliance solutions in global expansion.

Read the full report here

TikTok launches AI Alive to animate photos into short videos

→ The feature transforms static photos into dynamic videos within TikTok Stories using AI-generated movement and effects.

→ Users can access AI Alive through the Story Camera, select a photo, and apply animations that add motion and atmosphere, enhancing storytelling without the need for editing skills.

→ To ensure responsible use, TikTok implements safety measures including content moderation and labels AI-generated videos with embedded metadata to indicate their origin.