Google Shopping is dominated by large brands, making it challenging for smaller merchants to compete. Many brands end up wasting a significant portion of their ad spend on irrelevant clicks. A former CMO highlighted the value of vertical search, where users have higher intent and are more likely to make a purchase. This concept provides a better user experience and is seen as a competitor to traditional search. Discussions with Google Shopping team members revealed a focus on ensuring a great experience for users while not undermining the larger advertisers who pay for ad space.