Shopify Inc will ban all vapes from its platform as soon as this week following pressure from a bipartisan coalition of 25 U.S. state attorneys general aiming to curb sales of illegal e-cigarettes online, according to two sources familiar with its plans.

The Ottawa-based company provides the underlying infrastructure that lets millions of merchants operate and scale e-commerce channels. It has been in talks since last year with the coalition, who have been pushing Shopify to do more to clamp down on a booming market for vapes that lack the legally required licence for U.S. sales, or violate other laws.

Scope of the Ban

The geographic scope of the expected ban is currently unclear. However, sources indicated that in the U.S., the ban covers both legal and illegal vapes.

Avia by Retailogists has integrated with Shopify's Sidekick App Extensions, becoming one of the first launch partners to bring physical store intelligence to the AI assistant. The integration allows merchants to access in-store data, such as foot traffic and conversion rates, directly within Sidekick. This move bridges the gap between online and offline retail analytics for Shopify merchants.

Key Features

The integration enables merchants to diagnose store performance by analyzing foot traffic, conversion, and revenue changes. It offers predictive hourly forecasts up to 14 days in advance, helping with staffing and inventory planning. Merchants can also log external events, like local concerts or holidays, to update location-level forecasts conversationally.

Data Capabilities

Avia provides demographic intelligence, including gender and age groups, beyond simple headcounts. The data is sourced from a compact edge-AI device installed at store entrances. This allows for a comprehensive view of shopper behavior, including average time spent in-store and in-store conversion rates.

Availability

Avia is available now in the Shopify App Store. The Sidekick integration is live for all Shopify merchants using Avia. The app is currently deployed across 500+ stores globally, including enterprise Shopify merchants in North America, Europe, and Asia. Merchants interested in Avia can apply for a 90-day pilot through the Retailogists website.