Today's Ecommerce Pulse
Target launches Circle Deal Days to challenge Amazon Prime Day
Target is launching its Target Circle Deal Days from June 23‑26, positioning the free‑to‑join program as a direct rival to Amazon Prime Day. New members who enroll between June 14‑22 receive a 15% discount on their first purchase, plus a free Starbucks coffee or Bullseye cookie on launch day, and a 50% discount on the first year of Target Circle 360.
Also developing:
By the numbers: FirstClub raises $55M Series B
What Hemp Brands Want From Federal Regulations
Congressman Morgan Griffith introduced the Hemp Enforcement, Modernization and Protection (HEMP) Act, proposing federal caps on THC levels for hemp‑derived edibles, beverages, topicals and inhalables. The bill would limit oral products to 10 mg per serving and 5 mg of delta‑9 THC per serving across categories, while placing higher limits on non‑intoxicating cannabinoids. Industry leaders welcome the move for regulatory certainty but warn that overly low caps could force brands out of the market. The legislation would place oversight under the FDA, aiming to weed out unsafe products.
How Brilliant Earth Is Capitalizing on Couples Shopping for Wedding Rings Together
Brilliant Earth opened a flagship showroom in Beverly Hills, expanding its 42‑store network and shifting from appointment‑only spaces to high‑traffic locations. The brand is redesigning the in‑store experience to cater to couples who now shop for engagement rings together, a...
Gymshark’s Jennifer Lai Discusses Building Range Before Chasing Titles
Jennifer Lai, a former Adidas and Dyson executive, has joined Gymshark to design and launch its first North American brick‑and‑mortar stores. She will oversee expansion, operations and people, creating a community‑first retail experience that mirrors the brand’s digital DNA. Lai...
Product Photography Pricing Factors: How Much Photos Cost
The episode breaks down product photography pricing in 2026, explaining that daily rates typically range from $500 to $3,000 and per‑image fees from $50 to $350, with costs varying by experience, shot type, equipment, location, scope, editing, and turnaround time....
Master All Six Essential Ecommerce Email Flows
The 6 flows that should be running in every ecommerce email account. Most brands have 2 or 3. The ones doing it right have all 6. Here’s how to think about them: Welcome is your handshake. Highest open rates you’ll see. Don’t blow...
Strong BFCM Season Underpins Significant KMD Brands Sales Boost
Outdoor‑wear retailer Kathmandu, part of KMD Brands, posted a 12.9% sales increase in the five months to December 25, driving a 7.9% rise in group revenue. The strong Black Friday and Christmas performance prompted KMD Brands to lift its full‑year EBITDA...
Shoppers Still Wary of AI Agents
Adoption of AI-powered shopping assistants is accelerating, yet most consumers remain hesitant to let these agents complete purchases autonomously. Recent surveys show that trust gaps center on payment handling, with many shoppers fearing fraud or loss of control. The friction...
Why Your Best Ads Are in Your Comments Section
The episode explores how beauty brand Ouai turns customer comments into its most effective advertising and product decisions, highlighting the $300 million company's use of real user language for the hit St. Barts fragrance and hair‑type‑based campaigns. Former CEO Hannah Beals explains...
USPS Delivered Duty Paid Launches for Outbound Packages
The U.S. Postal Service introduced a new international offering called Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), allowing shippers to prepay import duties, taxes, and fees for outbound packages. The service launches today for shipments to Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom and...
10 Bloop Alternatives & Competitors For 2026
In this episode Aaron Orendorff walks listeners through the top ten alternatives to Bloop for loyalty and rewards, highlighting each platform’s key features, from Yotpo Loyalty’s strategic partnership model to Smile.io’s Shopify‑centric simplicity. He stresses three pillars for choosing a...
How To Calculate, Use, and Boost Customer Growth
In this SAP Emarsys episode the hosts define customer growth as the net increase in a brand’s customer base and walk through the simple growth‑rate formula, highlighting the need to account for both new acquisitions and churn. They stress that...
Conversation with… Nina Daniels, Founder of Nina D
Swedish designer Nina Daniels founded Nina D in early 2020, turning a personal ritual of buying placemats into a handmade tableware brand. Launching weeks before COVID, she pivoted to an online‑only model, emphasizing luxury‑grade gift‑wrapping and handwritten notes to create a...
Reclaim Traffic with Smarter Ads
With AI chatbots and shopping agents siphoning organic visits, ecommerce marketers are shifting toward smarter ad targeting to sustain growth in 2026. A Harvard Business Review survey shows 74% of U.S. adults 18‑30 used an AI chatbot in the past...
Are You Impacted by Amazon KYC with Disbursements Held?
Amazon’s Know Your Customer (KYC) verification is once again stalling payouts for a growing number of sellers, with many reports of documents being rejected and disbursements withheld for months. The issue disproportionately affects UK merchants who cannot use a driving...
Relisting: Boost eBay Views Without Ad-Spending
David Brackin shows eBay sellers how a manual bulk relist of stale inventory can dramatically boost visibility without spending on Promoted Listings. By ending and restarting the bottom third of low‑engagement listings during their scheduled renewal, the items receive a...
Negative Reviews: How To Handle Negative Product Reviews
The episode explores why negative product reviews happen and how businesses can turn them into strategic assets. Host Jake Miller of Fellow explains that gaps between expectations and reality drive most bad reviews, and that passionate customers often leave detailed...
Websites Must Evolve Into User‑Controlled Dynamic Interfaces
The annoying part about being able to build ANY interface at the drop of a hat with Claude Code is that… You want to pull your hair out when a website’s design doesn’t serve you. Pinterest: why aren’t ads pinnable? Why...
22‑Year‑Old Rakes $200K Days
Investigating The 22/yo Who Got Rich Selling Boring Digital Products WATCH HERE 👉 https://t.co/zuimbouzPJ Franco has built a massive business selling digital products. He’s scaling to $200k days, becoming one of the highest-paid digital product sellers at the age of 22....
SmartThings Ventures Ltd Expands Merchant Payment Capabilities With New Paytech Platform
SmartThings Ventures Ltd has launched the Paytech platform, a turnkey payment solution aimed at eCommerce and digital‑first merchants. The service consolidates transaction processing, settlement and reporting into a single, secure framework, reducing the need for fragmented tools. It emphasizes consistency,...
Ecom Founders Turn Sunday Dread Into Strategic Planning
Everyone on Sunday: I don't want to go to work tomorrow. Ecom founders on Sunday: Planning the week's A/B tests and product launches. Different mindset. Different life.
Shopify Retail Release Roundup (2026)
The January 2026 Shopify retail roundup introduces a wired POS Hub for reliable countertop setups, new Verifone Victa card readers, and enhancements to the Shop app’s pickup experience with QR‑code order retrieval. It also adds multi‑entity offline payments, refined location storefront...
Early Influencer Gifting Fueled MVMT’s $100M Success
MVMT watches made $100M with ONE strategy: influencer gifting before anyone else did it at scale. Meanwhile you're waiting for organic reach. That's the gap.
Why Ecommerce Revenue Is Being Won (And Lost) At Discovery—Not Checkout
The episode argues that ecommerce revenue is now decided during the discovery phase rather than at checkout, emphasizing that shoppers form confidence and intent early through search, category navigation, and recommendations. While checkout optimization remains important, it only impacts a...
How To Use a CRM POS System To Grow Sales (2026)
In this episode Brooke Kiley explains how integrating a CRM with Shopify POS creates a unified customer record that syncs online and in‑store activity, enabling true omnichannel commerce. She outlines the benefits—single‑view insights, personalized clienteling, and automated loyalty/retention marketing—backed by...
The Infinite Tail
The blog revisits the Long Tail theory, noting how platforms like YouTube and Netflix shifted consumer choice from a few hits to millions of options. It argues that large language models now push this trend further, enabling AI to generate...
How To Increase Sales in the Clothing Business: 14 Proven Ways (2026)
The episode outlines 14 actionable strategies for boosting sales in clothing retailers, emphasizing the need for a unified commerce platform like Shopify to integrate online, in‑store, and international operations. It highlights optimizing checkout with one‑tap payments, leveraging AI for personalized...
5 Ways Hypersonix’s Pricing Automation Tools Are Transforming Modern Commerce
Hypersonix’s Pricing AI replaces manual spreadsheets with autonomous, data‑driven pricing, enabling retailers to react to market changes in hours instead of days. The platform monitors competitor moves and demand signals in near real‑time, applying margin guardrails to suggest or execute...
The High-Bandwidth Hub: Why Ecosystem Density Is the New Real Estate North Star
By 2026 fintech startups have shifted site selection from pricey downtown cores to high‑bandwidth hubs that combine talent, compute power, and data resources. Entrepreneurs now evaluate locations on ecosystem density—proximity to universities, incubators, and enterprise‑grade fiber or 5G/6G connectivity—rather than...
Modern Retail Podcast: How ICE Activity Became an Issue Retailers Big and Small Can No Longer Ignore
The Modern Retail Podcast examines how increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in cities such as Minneapolis is reshaping the retail landscape. Executives are grappling with heightened security concerns while shoppers stage protests that threaten foot traffic. Brands are...
Community Engagement Marketing: The Ultimate Guide
In this episode Sean Buckley explains why community engagement marketing is the new engine of growth for eCommerce brands, shifting focus from one‑off acquisition to lasting relationships. He outlines the four pillars of a strong brand community—shared identity, authentic connection,...
Top E-Commerce Companies 2026: Influencer & UGC Strategies
The episode breaks down the 2026 landscape of leading U.S. e‑commerce companies, highlighting how giants like Amazon, Walmart, and Apple, as well as niche platforms such as Etsy and Shein, use influencer marketing and user‑generated content (UGC) to stay ahead....
Wing Launches Drone Delivery for Walmart in Greater Houston in Biggest Expansion Yet
Wing has launched its drone delivery service for Walmart customers across Greater Houston, marking the company’s most ambitious expansion to date. The service promises deliveries of everyday essentials, groceries, and OTC medicines in as little as 30 minutes using lightweight...
South Korea Enforces World-First AI Law Requiring Watermarks
South Korea’s AI Basic Act, enacted in early 2024, mandates digital watermarks on all AI‑generated content and requires risk assessments for high‑impact AI systems. The law imposes fines up to 30 million won after a one‑year grace period, aiming to position...
How To Improve and Optimise Core Web Vitals on Shopify – Eastside Co
In this episode, Eastside Co breaks down Core Web Vitals (LCP, CLS, and INP) and explains why they’re crucial for Shopify store performance, SEO, and conversions. The host walks listeners through how Google measures these metrics using field data, how...
Why Your Headless Commerce Investment Isn’t Solving Your Omnichannel Problems (And What Actually Will)
The episode explains why headless commerce alone can’t solve omnichannel challenges, emphasizing the need for a robust orchestration layer that connects front‑end speed with back‑end operations. While headless architecture delivers fast, personalized shopping experiences, it fails at inventory visibility, order...
What Is Local Ecommerce? How To Market Your Store Locally
The episode explains local ecommerce—selling online while targeting a defined geographic area—and outlines a six‑step framework for launching and scaling such a business, from market identification to high‑quality local customer service. It highlights the growing consumer preference for supporting local...
Profits Don't Prevent Bankruptcy—Cash Flow Is Critical
Your P&L looks incredible. Record profits. Then you go bankrupt. How?! By misunderstanding what your financial statements are telling you. Think of your business as an airplane. Your income statement represents trajectory. Assuming you can survive any turbulence and keep flying, you'll get...
Everyday You’re Already Selling—Now Just Add Checkout
You’re already selling every day. Ideas, perspectives, trust. The only difference now is there’s a checkout link.
Elavon Introduces Payments App Integrated With Microsoft 365 Applications
Elavon, a U.S. Bank subsidiary, has partnered with Microsoft to launch Elavon Live Payments, a payments app embedded directly within Microsoft 365. The solution, now listed on the Microsoft Marketplace, operates inside Outlook and Teams, allowing users to create invoices,...
Affirm Becomes Expedia Group’s Exclusive BNPL Provider in US
Affirm has become the exclusive buy‑now‑pay‑later provider for Expedia Group’s U.S. travel brands—including Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo—under an expanded multi‑year partnership. The agreement will also extend to Canadian travelers on select properties in the coming weeks. The move adds Expedia...
Amazon Changes How It Charges FBA Removal and Disposal Fees
Amazon announced that, starting February 15, 2026, it will bill FBA removal and disposal fees on a per‑unit basis at the moment each item is processed. The fee amounts remain unchanged; only the timing of the charge shifts from a...
FlexLink Launches Online Store to Simplify Conveyor Purchases
FlexLink unveiled an Online Store that lets customers select, configure, and purchase conveyor systems in a few clicks. The platform guides users through industry‑specific criteria, material characteristics, and environmental factors before presenting a tailored solution. Integrated with a real‑time 3‑D...
Inventory Velocity: Formula To Calculate + How To Improve It
The episode explains inventory velocity—a metric that measures how quickly ecommerce businesses sell through stock—and why it’s vital for cash flow, storage costs, and competitive fulfillment speed. It walks listeners through the simple formula (units sold ÷ time period) and...
One Sustainable Innovation Earned $100M, Others Copy
Allbirds made $100M from ONE material innovation: sustainable wool shoes. Meanwhile you're dropshipping the same AliExpress products as 500 other stores. That's the gap.
The Weekly Closeout: Valentine’s Day Spending to Top $29B, Merit to Raise Prices
This week’s retail roundup highlights a record $29.1 billion spend on Valentine’s Day, driven by higher‑income shoppers expanding gift lists to include friends, coworkers and pets. Beauty brand Merit announced price hikes and a higher free‑shipping threshold as logistics costs climb....
Upgrading E-Commerce Client Bolster with Salesforce Involvement Cloud
The episode explains how Salesforce Experience Cloud can transform e‑commerce support by creating a unified, self‑service portal that integrates orders, cases, and CRM data. It highlights the benefits of reduced support costs, personalized omnichannel experiences, and secure customer or partner...
Perplexity Adds Microsoft’s Azure as a Cloud Service Provider
Perplexity AI signed a three‑year, $750 million agreement with Microsoft to run its services on Azure, leveraging the Azure Foundry platform for access to frontier models from X, OpenAI and Anthropic. The partnership runs alongside Perplexity’s existing relationship with Amazon Web...
SoFi Scales Cross-Selling as Loan Originations Hit Records
SoFi reported a record‑breaking fourth quarter, delivering its first billion‑dollar revenue run and $10.5 billion in loan originations, surpassing the $10 billion threshold. The company added a record 1 million new members, reaching 13.7 million, and opened 1.6 million new products, with 40% coming from...
Costco and Instacart Say ‘Si’ and ‘Oui’ to Same-Day Delivery in Europe
Costco Wholesale has introduced same‑day grocery delivery in France and Spain, leveraging Instacart’s technology platform. The service launches across all Costco locations in both countries, including Paris, Mulhouse, Bilbao, Madrid, Seville and Zaragoza. Instacart will work with local European partners...
Walmart’s Choice for New CEO Signals Intent to Expand Digital Footprint
Walmart announced that John Furner will assume the role of CEO on February 1, 2026, succeeding Doug McMillon. Furner, the current head of Walmart U.S., is recognized for his tech‑savvy leadership, including early advocacy for drones and AI‑driven initiatives. The appointment...