Google Launches AI Shopping Tools Ahead of the Holidays 🤖

The holidays are here, and this time, it looks like Santa’s not the only one working overtime—AI’s joined the holiday rush 🤖 .

Hi there, and welcome to another issue of The Ecom Press 🗞️!

This week, Google and Target are rolling out smart AI tools to make shopping smoother (and maybe even fun). Shein’s making a plot twist into the book biz 📚, and we’ve also cooked up a hands-on workshop to help you set up profitable Google Ads step by step.

Grab some cocoa — let’s unwrap it all 🎄👇

In a rush? Here's the juice🤭:

🤖 Google launches AI shopping tools ahead of the holidays.

🎁 Target rolls out conversational AI gift finder.

📚 Shein expands into book sales with new partnership.

🛠️ Workshop: How to set up Google Ads for your business.

⚡️Worthy Mentions

🤖 Google launches AI shopping tools ahead of the holidays.

Google is introducing new AI shopping features designed to make product discovery, price tracking, and local availability easier for consumers ahead of the holiday season. The tools combine Google’s Shopping Graph, Duplex calling tech, and the Gemini model to reduce manual effort in finding, comparing, and buying products.

Here’s the lowdown ⬇️:

🗣️ Conversational shopping in Search: Users can now describe what they are looking for in AI Mode using natural language. Google returns results with images, product details, prices, inventory status, and review insights, organized based on the type of query.

📱 Shopping in the Gemini app: Gemini now supports shopping-related questions by surfacing product listings, comparison tables, prices from across the web, and links to buy, all within the chat interface. This is currently available to users in the U.S.

📞 Let Google call nearby stores: When users search for a product “near me,” they will see the option to let Google call local stores to check stock, price, and promotions. The responses are summarized and sent by email or text.

💳 Agentic checkout with Google Pay: Users can track a product’s price and authorize Google to purchase it if the price drops within their budget. Checkout is completed using Google Pay on eligible merchant websites after user confirmation.

📦 All features powered by Shopping Graph: With over 50 billion listings, Google’s product database helps ensure updated, accurate results across search, Gemini, and checkout tools.

Why it matters 🤔

When time is short and demand is high, shoppers tend to choose the easiest option. These tools help reduce friction, which could shift customer attention away from who has the best offer to who makes it easiest to buy.

🎁 Target rolls out conversational AI gift finder.

Target has introduced a series of new app features for the 2025 holiday season, using conversational AI to help shoppers plan, browse, and complete their in-store visits more efficiently.

Here are the deets ⬇️: 

🎁 AI-powered Gift Finder: Shoppers can input age and interests of a gift recipient to receive personalized product suggestions. The tool is built into the Target app.

📝 List Scanner: A new feature allows customers to scan handwritten holiday lists, turning them into shoppable carts directly in the app.

📍 Store Mode enhancements: The app now activates Store Mode automatically upon entry. It guides users to items in-store and suggests fulfillment alternatives like same-day or next-day delivery when products are unavailable.

🎮 In-store mascot game: Users can play a digital scavenger hunt for Target’s mascot, Bullseye, and earn a sticker at checkout while supplies last.

🛍️ Broader strategy: Target is redesigning nearly 2,000 stores as Alpine Villages and launching shop-in-shop experiences tied to popular brands like Netflix’s Stranger Things. The brand has also lowered prices on 3,000 essentials and added 20,000 new products for the season.

Why it matters 🤷‍♂️

Most shoppers still use their phones while in-store. Target is meeting that habit with tools that make the trip smoother, more personal, and easier to convert into a sale. For brands, it’s a reminder that omnichannel isn’t just about options but about removing the little frictions that make shoppers stop short of checkout.

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📚 Shein expands into book sales with new partnership.

Shein is launching its first-ever book category through a partnership with Alibris, a U.S.-based online marketplace for books. The Alibris storefront is now live on Shein’s U.S. platform and features over 100,000 titles across multiple genres.

Here’s the scoop 🍨:

📚 New category launch: Shein customers in the U.S. can now shop for books on the platform, including genres such as romance, fantasy, mystery, non-fiction, young adult, and student textbooks.

🤝 Alibris storefront on Shein: The Alibris collection is hosted within Shein’s Marketplace and is set to expand over time. Alibris connects buyers to independent sellers offering both new and secondhand books.

🗣️ Customer insight: “The average Shein customer reads one to three books a month — this isn’t a trend, it’s a lifestyle,” said George Chang, GM and Head of Shein Marketplace U.S.

📦 Tariff-free products: Books are exempt from the new tariffs and the end of de minimis exemption affecting many Chinese imports. The move allows Shein to diversify its catalog without incurring extra duties.

Why it matters 🤨

Shein’s move shows that category expansion can be both strategic and opportunistic. With tariff pressure mounting, adding product types with fewer import barriers could be a practical way to defend margins while reaching new customer interests.

🛎️ The Ecom Press Insider

Ecom Fact: Replying to comments boosts engagement by up to 42%. An analysis of nearly 2 million social posts shows that replying to audience comments can raise engagement rates anywhere from 5% to 42%, depending on the platform. (Source: Buffer)

💡 Takeaway: Engagement builds momentum. A simple reply can turn a passive viewer into a loyal follower. For small brands especially, this is an easy win: set aside a few minutes daily to respond thoughtfully to comments and watch your visibility compound.

🛠️ Workshop: How to set up Google Ads for your business.

Feeling stuck figuring out Google Ads? We get it. In our latest tutorial we walk you through the entire Google Ads setup, from creating your first campaign to writing a winning ad copy.

Whether you’re pushing physical products, generating leads, or building brand awareness, here’s a quick walkthrough to get you rolling👇.

✅ Set the right campaign goal: Choose based on your business type, “Purchases” for ecommerce, “Leads” for services, or “Website traffic” for awareness.

🔑 Stick with Search Ads: Start with Google Search Ads before exploring YouTube or Display. Search is easier to control, and you’ll get clearer insights on what converts.

🔍 Target keywords wisely: Use a mix of broad, phrase, and exact match keywords. We suggest starting with 6–10 relevant keywords and refining based on what performs.

📍 Be intentional with location: Targeting local audiences? Be specific but know that narrow geo-targeting costs more. Broad targeting reduces CPC but may dilute quality.

💬 Write simple, search-matching ads: Look at how other brands write theirs. Add 3–5 strong headlines and test variations. Avoid guessing; use what already works elsewhere as inspiration.

💸 Start small with your budget: $10–$25 daily is enough to test. Avoid dropping hundreds on a campaign you haven’t validated yet. Scale after you’ve seen results.

📈 Track conversions with a thank-you URL: Link your conversion action to a page users land on post-purchase or post-lead. Use this to measure actual performance, not just clicks.

We cover budget tips, keyword planners, audience targeting, ad variations, and more in the full video. If you're serious about running smarter ads in Q4 and beyond, watch the full tutorial on YouTube now!

⚡️Worthy Mentions

• Pinterest uses search trends to craft personalized holiday gift guides.

• Experts warn BNPL growth could amplify financial risks and credit issues.

• Amazon’s Black Friday sales start a week early—kicking off tomorrow.

• Google to launch AI-powered Ads and Analytics Advisors in December.

• Levi’s creates AI superagent to boost productivity and data use.

Wrapping up…

Holiday prep is in full swing, and AI’s clearly not sitting this one out 🎯

From smarter shopping assistants to automated checkout tools, retailers are betting big that AI can help drive joy — and carts — this season.

P.S. Amazon’s Black Friday kicks off tomorrow. Got your wishlist ready? 👀

We’ll be back next week with the latest in this space. In the meantime, smash that subscribe button like you’re price-tracking a PlayStation 5 🕹️.