Shoplazza Awards Mark Fourth Year as Merchants Shift Toward AI-Driven, Sustainable Growth, Spotlighted on the Nasdaq Tower in Times Square

NEW YORK, Feb. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Shoplazza recently announced the winners of the 2025 Shoplazza Awards at Times Square in New York City, marking the program's fourth year. In partnership with PR Newswire, the campaign communication partner, the annual recognition honors merchants and ecosystem partners for building distinctive brands and resilient operations that support long-term growth across markets.

Beyond performance outcomes, the awards also recognize a shift in how leading merchants operate. As online stores become central to day-to-day business activity, this year's recipients stand out for investing earlier in site optimization, localization, and customer relationships, moving from isolated improvements to integrated infrastructure.

Merchant Award Winners Demonstrate Scalable Online Store Growth

Supported by Shoplazza's global commerce platform capabilities, including flexible page building, multi-site management, localized payments, global logistics integrations, and data-driven operations, the 2025 merchant award recipients show how coordinated commerce capabilities are applied in real-world, multi-market environments.

This year's recipients span consumer electronics, smart mobility, fashion and lifestyle, baby and home, and premium materials. While operating at different stages of global expansion, they share a common approach: using a unified commerce system to scale bold products and reinforce clear brand positioning without increasing operational complexity.

In technology and hardware categories, this year's winners demonstrated how global expansion is shifting from supply-driven exports to brand-led execution.

• GMKtec operates in the Mini PC and AI supercomputing segment. Founded in 2019, the company has expanded into more than 70 countries, establishing a scalable global footprint supported by consistent direct-to-consumer operations.
• SAFNIX focuses on modular portable power solutions. Evolving from a manufacturing-led business, the brand has successfully entered the North American market by pairing product engineering with localized commerce execution.

In fashion, lifestyle, and mobility categories, recognized merchants highlighted how brand differentiation increasingly depends on direct customer relationships and execution depth.

• ICOICE is a global colored contact lens brand and a two-time Shoplazza Awards recipient. By aligning fast-fashion responsiveness with a direct-to-consumer operating model, ICOICE continues to expand internationally while maintaining strong repeat purchase performance.
• KuKirin competes in the high-ticket e-bike category. Built on a highly responsive supply chain, the brand uses direct commerce supported by integrated payments and logistics to operate effectively in a fulfillment-intensive market.

In specialized, emotionally driven segments, long-term product investment and trust-building proved central to scalability.

• Babeside operates in the reborn doll category, a niche segment with high barriers to entry. Through proprietary product development and disciplined brand execution, the company has built a trusted customer base across international markets.
• Real Silk Life focuses on premium lifestyle products made from high-quality natural materials. Emphasizing material integrity, craftsmanship, and long-term comfort, the brand has developed a recognizable positioning while expanding its presence in global markets.

Partner Awards Spotlight the Systems Behind Reliable Growth

The Shoplazza Awards also recognize ecosystem partners whose capabilities support execution across marketing, payments, and logistics, functions that increasingly determine conversion, retention, and operational stability in global commerce.

In marketing and user growth, partners are helping brands move beyond traffic acquisition toward sustainable customer relationships. MambaSMS focuses on lifecycle communication through high-deliverability messaging and automated engagement. TidalFlow connects content-driven platforms such as TikTok with commerce operations, translating attention into repeatable growth. TuopuTech brings a data-led approach, helping merchants optimize site experience, user behavior, and advertising efficiency.

In payments, partners address one of the most critical points in eCommerce: transaction reliability and trust. Checkout.com supports high-volume, multi-market operations with enterprise-grade acquiring capabilities. PayPal contributes global consumer trust and broad market coverage, reducing friction at checkout. WINTOPAY complements this layer with multi-channel acquiring and tiered risk management, helping merchants balance growth with security.

In logistics and fulfillment, partners are working to make global delivery more predictable and scalable. Cainiao provides end-to-end global logistics infrastructure, integrating international transport with last-mile delivery. ShipSaving emphasizes automation and cost efficiency, simplifying shipping workflows for merchants. YunExpress adds deep global delivery expertise, supporting merchants at different stages of international expansion.

AI Innovator Awards Highlight Commercialized AI Adoption

As artificial intelligence moves from exploratory use cases into core business operations, the 2025 Shoplazza Awards introduced the AI Innovator category to recognize organizations embedding AI into revenue-critical workflows with measurable outcomes.

• Sandwich Lab operates in AI-driven content and marketing. By combining generative capabilities with clear commercialization paths, the company has translated AI technology into scalable global revenue.
• Stripe develops global payment infrastructure and API platforms. Its continued integration of AI across payments, billing, and risk management supports high-volume commerce operations and platform-scale business models.
• Subotiz focuses on AI-driven subscription and payment infrastructure for AI SaaS and digital businesses. Through its Merchant of Record model systems, Subotiz supports more predictable revenue operations across global markets.

A Four-Year Record of Execution-First Growth

Over four years, the Shoplazza Awards have documented an evolution in global commerce priorities, from growth experimentation to execution certainty, from isolated tools to integrated systems, and from short-term scale to durable operating capability.

"Across four years, the Shoplazza Awards have become less about recognition and more about record," said Jeff Li, Founder and CEO of Shoplazza. "They capture how merchants are adapting to structural change and building systems that can support long-term, AI-enabled growth."

By continuing to invest in platform reliability, AI-enabled workflows, and ecosystem collaboration, Shoplazza aims to lower the operational barriers to global commerce and support merchants building resilient, long-term businesses.

About Shoplazza

Shoplazza is a leading Canadian AI commerce platform that enables global businesses to build, launch, and scale their online stores. Built on an agentic commerce framework, Shoplazza applies AI agents across end-to-end commerce workflows to streamline execution and support sustainable growth across online, in-store, and social channels. Learn more at https://www.shoplazza.com/.

NEW YORK, Feb. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Shoplazza recently announced the winners of the 2025 Shoplazza Awards at Times Square in New York City, marking the program's fourth year. In partnership with PR Newswire, the campaign communication partner, the annual recognition honors merchants and ecosystem partners for building distinctive brands and resilient operations that support long-term growth across markets.

Beyond performance outcomes, the awards also recognize a shift in how leading merchants operate. As online stores become central to day-to-day business activity, this year's recipients stand out for investing earlier in site optimization, localization, and customer relationships, moving from isolated improvements to integrated infrastructure.

Merchant Award Winners Demonstrate Scalable Online Store Growth

Supported by Shoplazza's global commerce platform capabilities, including flexible page building, multi-site management, localized payments, global logistics integrations, and data-driven operations, the 2025 merchant award recipients show how coordinated commerce capabilities are applied in real-world, multi-market environments.

This year's recipients span consumer electronics, smart mobility, fashion and lifestyle, baby and home, and premium materials. While operating at different stages of global expansion, they share a common approach: using a unified commerce system to scale bold products and reinforce clear brand positioning without increasing operational complexity.

In technology and hardware categories, this year's winners demonstrated how global expansion is shifting from supply-driven exports to brand-led execution.

• GMKtec operates in the Mini PC and AI supercomputing segment. Founded in 2019, the company has expanded into more than 70 countries, establishing a scalable global footprint supported by consistent direct-to-consumer operations.
• SAFNIX focuses on modular portable power solutions. Evolving from a manufacturing-led business, the brand has successfully entered the North American market by pairing product engineering with localized commerce execution.

In fashion, lifestyle, and mobility categories, recognized merchants highlighted how brand differentiation increasingly depends on direct customer relationships and execution depth.

• ICOICE is a global colored contact lens brand and a two-time Shoplazza Awards recipient. By aligning fast-fashion responsiveness with a direct-to-consumer operating model, ICOICE continues to expand internationally while maintaining strong repeat purchase performance.
• KuKirin competes in the high-ticket e-bike category. Built on a highly responsive supply chain, the brand uses direct commerce supported by integrated payments and logistics to operate effectively in a fulfillment-intensive market.

In specialized, emotionally driven segments, long-term product investment and trust-building proved central to scalability.

• Babeside operates in the reborn doll category, a niche segment with high barriers to entry. Through proprietary product development and disciplined brand execution, the company has built a trusted customer base across international markets.
• Real Silk Life focuses on premium lifestyle products made from high-quality natural materials. Emphasizing material integrity, craftsmanship, and long-term comfort, the brand has developed a recognizable positioning while expanding its presence in global markets.

Partner Awards Spotlight the Systems Behind Reliable Growth

The Shoplazza Awards also recognize ecosystem partners whose capabilities support execution across marketing, payments, and logistics, functions that increasingly determine conversion, retention, and operational stability in global commerce.

In marketing and user growth, partners are helping brands move beyond traffic acquisition toward sustainable customer relationships. MambaSMS focuses on lifecycle communication through high-deliverability messaging and automated engagement. TidalFlow connects content-driven platforms such as TikTok with commerce operations, translating attention into repeatable growth. TuopuTech brings a data-led approach, helping merchants optimize site experience, user behavior, and advertising efficiency.

In payments, partners address one of the most critical points in eCommerce: transaction reliability and trust. Checkout.com supports high-volume, multi-market operations with enterprise-grade acquiring capabilities. PayPal contributes global consumer trust and broad market coverage, reducing friction at checkout. WINTOPAY complements this layer with multi-channel acquiring and tiered risk management, helping merchants balance growth with security.

In logistics and fulfillment, partners are working to make global delivery more predictable and scalable. Cainiao provides end-to-end global logistics infrastructure, integrating international transport with last-mile delivery. ShipSaving emphasizes automation and cost efficiency, simplifying shipping workflows for merchants. YunExpress adds deep global delivery expertise, supporting merchants at different stages of international expansion.

AI Innovator Awards Highlight Commercialized AI Adoption

As artificial intelligence moves from exploratory use cases into core business operations, the 2025 Shoplazza Awards introduced the AI Innovator category to recognize organizations embedding AI into revenue-critical workflows with measurable outcomes.

• Sandwich Lab operates in AI-driven content and marketing. By combining generative capabilities with clear commercialization paths, the company has translated AI technology into scalable global revenue.
• Stripe develops global payment infrastructure and API platforms. Its continued integration of AI across payments, billing, and risk management supports high-volume commerce operations and platform-scale business models.
• Subotiz focuses on AI-driven subscription and payment infrastructure for AI SaaS and digital businesses. Through its Merchant of Record model systems, Subotiz supports more predictable revenue operations across global markets.

A Four-Year Record of Execution-First Growth

Over four years, the Shoplazza Awards have documented an evolution in global commerce priorities, from growth experimentation to execution certainty, from isolated tools to integrated systems, and from short-term scale to durable operating capability.

"Across four years, the Shoplazza Awards have become less about recognition and more about record," said Jeff Li, Founder and CEO of Shoplazza. "They capture how merchants are adapting to structural change and building systems that can support long-term, AI-enabled growth."

By continuing to invest in platform reliability, AI-enabled workflows, and ecosystem collaboration, Shoplazza aims to lower the operational barriers to global commerce and support merchants building resilient, long-term businesses.

About Shoplazza

Shoplazza is a leading Canadian AI commerce platform that enables global businesses to build, launch, and scale their online stores. Built on an agentic commerce framework, Shoplazza applies AI agents across end-to-end commerce workflows to streamline execution and support sustainable growth across online, in-store, and social channels. Learn more at https://www.shoplazza.com/.

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

Shoplazza Awards Mark Fourth Year as Merchants Shift Toward AI-Driven, Sustainable Growth, Spotlighted on the Nasdaq Tower in Times Square

Announced alongside M Series Smart Assist Module launch on Kickstarter

NEW YORK, April 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Yarbo, a company focused on intelligent yard robotics, today announced the Yarbo Open Platform, a long-term initiative currently under development and planned for release in early 2027. Designed to expand Yarbo's modular yard robot system across both software and hardware, the platform is intended to support deeper customization, broader smart home connectivity, and new forms of user and developer-driven functionality over time. The announcement coincides with the launch of the Smart Assist Module (SAM) for the M Series on Kickstarter.

The Open Platform is not available today. Instead, it reflects Yarbo's roadmap for how its ecosystem may evolve over time, including a three-layer software architecture built around an Open API, SDK, and no-code Automation Editor, as well as a hardware expansion framework designed to support future user-built and developer-built modules.

A Structured Approach to Software Integration and Automation

The Yarbo Open Platform is structured to accommodate different levels of technical expertise, from everyday users to experienced developers. It is designed to provide multiple entry points into the Yarbo ecosystem, enabling both software-driven automation and hardware-level expansion.

On the software side, the platform consists of three layers:

• Yarbo Open API — intended to enable connectivity between Yarbo devices and external platforms, allowing them to participate in broader home automation scenarios.
• Yarbo SDK — a set of development tools, including code libraries and documentation, designed for developers building custom features or integrations.
• Yarbo Automation Editor — a visual, drag-and-drop interface within the Yarbo app that allows users to create automation workflows without writing code.

Together, these components are intended to make automation accessible to a wide range of users, while also supporting more advanced development use cases.

The platform is also designed to support compatibility with widely used smart home ecosystems, including Home Assistant, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa, enabling users to incorporate Yarbo into existing connected home setups.

Extending Capability Through Hardware

In addition to software capabilities, the Open Platform introduces a hardware expansion approach designed to extend Yarbo's functionality beyond its existing modules.

At the center of this is CoreBridge, a standardized hardware interface currently in development that is intended to provide access to Yarbo's mechanical mounting points, power system, and data connections. It is designed to support third-party development and user-built extensions, allowing new types of functionality beyond pre-defined modules.

One example of this extensibility is an electromagnet-based module, which can be attached via CoreBridge to enable Yarbo to latch onto and move objects such as garbage bins. In a potential use scenario, this could enable automated movement of a bin to the curb on collection day and its return afterward.

This combination of software and hardware openness reflects an effort to expand the role of outdoor robotics beyond fixed-function devices.

Smart Assist Module Launch on Kickstarter

Alongside the Open Platform announcement, Yarbo is launching the Smart Assist Module (SAM) for the M Series on Kickstarter.

The module introduces two primary features designed to expand how users interact with their yard robot in everyday use:

• Follow Me Mode — enabling Yarbo to move alongside the user while carrying tools or materials, reducing the need for manual transport during yard work.
• Patrol Mode — allowing Yarbo to move along customizable routes around the property, with features such as remote live view, app-based alerts, and optional audio notifications via its built-in speaker, providing an added layer of awareness and convenience for users managing outdoor spaces.

The Smart Assist Module is positioned as part of Yarbo's broader effort to extend the practical use cases of its modular system.

Looking Ahead

The Yarbo Open Platform is planned for release in early 2027 and is being developed to support both the Y Series and M Series. By introducing a framework that combines software integration, developer tools, and hardware extensibility, Yarbo aims to enable a broader range of applications while allowing users to define how the system evolves over time.

Further details will be shared as development progresses.

About Yarbo

Yarbo is defining a new category of outdoor robotics with its Modular Yard Robot. Known for its automated snow blower robots, Yarbo introduced a modular system designed for year-round use. Powered by a single intelligent core unit, the system supports interchangeable modules for mowing, leaf blowing, snow clearing, and more—creating a more efficient approach to outdoor maintenance for homeowners.

Announced alongside M Series Smart Assist Module launch on Kickstarter

NEW YORK, April 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Yarbo, a company focused on intelligent yard robotics, today announced the Yarbo Open Platform, a long-term initiative currently under development and planned for release in early 2027. Designed to expand Yarbo's modular yard robot system across both software and hardware, the platform is intended to support deeper customization, broader smart home connectivity, and new forms of user and developer-driven functionality over time. The announcement coincides with the launch of the Smart Assist Module (SAM) for the M Series on Kickstarter.

The Open Platform is not available today. Instead, it reflects Yarbo's roadmap for how its ecosystem may evolve over time, including a three-layer software architecture built around an Open API, SDK, and no-code Automation Editor, as well as a hardware expansion framework designed to support future user-built and developer-built modules.

A Structured Approach to Software Integration and Automation

The Yarbo Open Platform is structured to accommodate different levels of technical expertise, from everyday users to experienced developers. It is designed to provide multiple entry points into the Yarbo ecosystem, enabling both software-driven automation and hardware-level expansion.

On the software side, the platform consists of three layers:

• Yarbo Open API — intended to enable connectivity between Yarbo devices and external platforms, allowing them to participate in broader home automation scenarios.
• Yarbo SDK — a set of development tools, including code libraries and documentation, designed for developers building custom features or integrations.
• Yarbo Automation Editor — a visual, drag-and-drop interface within the Yarbo app that allows users to create automation workflows without writing code.

Together, these components are intended to make automation accessible to a wide range of users, while also supporting more advanced development use cases.

The platform is also designed to support compatibility with widely used smart home ecosystems, including Home Assistant, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa, enabling users to incorporate Yarbo into existing connected home setups.

Extending Capability Through Hardware

In addition to software capabilities, the Open Platform introduces a hardware expansion approach designed to extend Yarbo's functionality beyond its existing modules.

At the center of this is CoreBridge, a standardized hardware interface currently in development that is intended to provide access to Yarbo's mechanical mounting points, power system, and data connections. It is designed to support third-party development and user-built extensions, allowing new types of functionality beyond pre-defined modules.

One example of this extensibility is an electromagnet-based module, which can be attached via CoreBridge to enable Yarbo to latch onto and move objects such as garbage bins. In a potential use scenario, this could enable automated movement of a bin to the curb on collection day and its return afterward.

This combination of software and hardware openness reflects an effort to expand the role of outdoor robotics beyond fixed-function devices.

Smart Assist Module Launch on Kickstarter

Alongside the Open Platform announcement, Yarbo is launching the Smart Assist Module (SAM) for the M Series on Kickstarter.

The module introduces two primary features designed to expand how users interact with their yard robot in everyday use:

• Follow Me Mode — enabling Yarbo to move alongside the user while carrying tools or materials, reducing the need for manual transport during yard work.
• Patrol Mode — allowing Yarbo to move along customizable routes around the property, with features such as remote live view, app-based alerts, and optional audio notifications via its built-in speaker, providing an added layer of awareness and convenience for users managing outdoor spaces.

The Smart Assist Module is positioned as part of Yarbo's broader effort to extend the practical use cases of its modular system.

Looking Ahead

The Yarbo Open Platform is planned for release in early 2027 and is being developed to support both the Y Series and M Series. By introducing a framework that combines software integration, developer tools, and hardware extensibility, Yarbo aims to enable a broader range of applications while allowing users to define how the system evolves over time.

Further details will be shared as development progresses.

About Yarbo

Yarbo is defining a new category of outdoor robotics with its Modular Yard Robot. Known for its automated snow blower robots, Yarbo introduced a modular system designed for year-round use. Powered by a single intelligent core unit, the system supports interchangeable modules for mowing, leaf blowing, snow clearing, and more—creating a more efficient approach to outdoor maintenance for homeowners.

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

Yarbo Introduces Open Platform Strategy, Opening Its Robotics System to Developers and Smart Home Ecosystems

Yarbo Introduces Open Platform Strategy, Opening Its Robotics System to Developers and Smart Home Ecosystems