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
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 existing customers, boosting cross‑sell rates by seven points. Fee‑based revenue surged 50% to $443 million, underscoring a shift toward capital‑light income streams. SoFi also launched a regulated stablecoin, becoming the first national bank to issue a public‑permissionless crypto token.
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...
Get Practical 8-Flow Blueprint and Segmentation Guide
Most webinars are a waste of time. This one WON'T be. Here's why: - The 8 flows we build for every client, in order - What real segmentation actually looks like - A 90-day build plan so you stop guessing what to do next Tuesday,...
Embedded Finance to ‘Explode’: Panel
Embedded finance is set to explode as apps embed payments, lending, and other services, according to a Cross River Bank panel. Executives highlighted the stickiness created when platforms, lenders, and brands acquire customers simultaneously. They also noted a surge in...
Visa Doles Out Stablecoin Advice
Visa has launched stablecoin advisory services to guide financial institutions, merchants and tech firms on integrating digital assets, debuting the offering last month. The move coincides with the expansion of stablecoin‑enabled cards to about 50 countries and a settlement run...
Best Post-Purchase Survey Questions: 2026 Guide
In this episode, Emily Manley explains why post‑purchase surveys are a critical source of zero‑party data and outlines how to design them for maximum response. She shares best practices—keeping surveys to 1‑3 questions, timing them around checkout and delivery, and...
Amazon Slicing 16K Jobs in Re-Organizational Strategy
Amazon announced it will eliminate approximately 16,000 positions worldwide as part of a re‑organizational effort that began in October 2025. The cuts aim to reduce hierarchical layers, increase ownership, and cut bureaucracy across the company. Affected U.S. employees receive up to...
The Great Consumer Divide: Why the Middle Is Disappearing and Why Brands Should Fear It
Retailers are witnessing a rapid erosion of the traditional middle segment as shoppers split between low‑price value and high‑premium experiences. Across grocery, pet food, fashion, automotive and coffee, brands positioned at the extremes are gaining share while mid‑tier offerings lose...
Planning to Attend Merchant Payments Ecosystem (MPE) 2026? We’ve Got a Little Bonus for You
The Merchant Payments Ecosystem (MPE) 2026 conference will take place in Berlin from March 17‑19, gathering Europe’s leading merchants, acquirers, fintechs and regulators. Organisers are offering a 10 % discount with the code payspace10 through March 17, lowering ticket costs for attendees....
TrumpRx Delayed Amid Potential Anti-Kickback Concerns
The White House postponed the rollout of TrumpRx, the federal direct‑to‑consumer drug marketplace. Officials cite potential violations of the federal anti‑kickback statute as a key factor, prompting HHS to issue a guidance bulletin outlining required safeguards. Major manufacturers including Pfizer,...
Birks Group Reports 11.8% Holiday-Period Sales Increase
Birks Group reported an 11.8% increase in net sales for its FY2026 holiday period, ending Dec. 27, 2025. The growth was driven by recent European Boutique store acquisitions and stronger sales of branded jewelry and timepieces across both physical locations and e‑commerce...
9 Best UI Design Tools for 2026
The episode walks listeners through the nine top UI design tools for ecommerce, explaining how each platform—from Shopify's no‑code builder to AI‑driven Lovable—helps create attractive, conversion‑focused storefronts. It clarifies the distinction between UI and UX, emphasizing that visual design must...
Sengarmi.sn: Sport and Cosmetics Revolution in Dakar 2026
Sengarmi.sn is reshaping Dakar’s 2026 fitness surge by pairing pharmaceutical‑grade sports supplements with dermatologist‑approved tropical skincare. The platform offers creatine, whey isolate, high‑calorie gainers, BCAAs and Omega‑3s, plus local‑flavored bundles, while also stocking SPF‑50+ serums and moisturizers designed for high...
German Companies Unite to Launch EU-Based Product
Three German software firms—STACKIT, Adesso, and Empiriecom—have launched the German Digital Commerce Operation Model, an end‑to‑end ecommerce solution that keeps all data and processes within Europe. The platform stores information in Germany and Austria, complying with GDPR and offering zero‑access...
Crypto Network Mesh Reaches Unicorn Status with $1 Billion Valuation
Crypto Network Mesh announced it has reached unicorn status, achieving a $1 billion post‑money valuation after closing a $200 million Series B round. The funding was led by Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia Capital, with participation from several sovereign wealth funds. Mesh’s decentralized protocol...
NICE Strategy Leader Talks Agentic AI, Retail Industry Trends
At NRF 2026, Tom Yang, head of sales strategy and transformation at NICE, highlighted the rise of agentic AI in retail customer experience. He explained how NICE’s purpose‑built, AI‑powered platforms turn engagements into proactive, safe, and intelligent actions, enabling retailers...
Levi Strauss, Walmart, Amazon Lead Brand Keys Loyalty Index
The 28th annual Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index (CLEI) identifies Levi Strauss, Walmart and Amazon as the top loyalty leaders for 2026, alongside sector champions such as Dick’s, Costco and Whole Foods. The study highlights a rapid rise in...
Levi Strauss Sees European Revenue Rise
Levi Strauss & Co. reported a resilient fourth quarter, with net revenues rising 1% to $1.8 bn (5% organic) despite wholesale pressure. Europe stood out, posting an 8% reported and 10% organic increase, while the U.S. saw a 7% decline on...
Digital Wallet Use Still Lags in the Physical Store
The PYMNTS Intelligence study shows digital wallets are twice as likely to be used for online retail purchases (16%) than in physical stores (8%). Consumer payment preferences now align more with shopping channel than with age, as e‑commerce adoption converges...
Why Fraud Doesn’t Look Like Fraud to a Data Scientist
Fraud no longer looks like a discrete incident; data scientists see it as subtle behavioral deviations across a dynamic transaction ecosystem. Traditional rule‑based defenses create excessive false declines, eroding revenue and customer trust. Visa’s shift to deep‑learning models delivers 15‑20%...
Clarity Beats Fancy Design: Simpler Pages Convert Better
I've tested 150+ landing pages. Here's the pattern: Pages I thought were 'too simple' converted at 8%. Pages I 'perfected' for weeks converted at 2%. Your aesthetic doesn't matter. Clarity does. Test everything. Trust nothing.
Four Reasons Why Retailers Need to Get Personal with Their Returns Policy
ASOS has introduced a tiered returns policy that removes the £3.95 fee for shoppers who maintain a low return rate, and it now lets customers track their return history directly in the mobile app. The move highlights a growing industry...
Canadian Retail News From Around The Web For January 30, 2026
Canada’s retail sector shows mixed signals as e‑commerce orders surged 20% in 2025 while payroll employment slipped 1.5% in November. Major players are investing heavily: GoodLife Fitness rolled out a year‑long multichannel campaign, Empire Company expects a $95 million operating‑income lift...
Empire Company to Close Alberta E-Commerce Facilities, Expands Third-Party Delivery Partnerships
Empire Company and its Sobeys subsidiary announced a restructuring of their grocery e‑commerce network, closing the Calgary and Edmonton fulfillment centers in Alberta. The move, combined with an expanded partnership with DoorDash, is projected to generate about $95 million of annualized...
Larry’s Catch Draws Three Offers on CBC’s Dragons’ Den
Larry’s Catch, a Canadian direct‑to‑consumer seafood delivery startup, appeared on CBC’s Dragons’ Den and secured three investor offers during its national television debut. The founders used the platform to showcase a subscription model that sources wild‑caught fish from sustainable family fisheries...
Luxury Briefing: Inside LMVH’s ‘Quiet Opulence’ Jewelry Brand, as Jewelry Outpaces Luxury
Fine jewelry has become the standout performer in luxury, outpacing fashion and leather goods. LVMH’s watches and jewelry division posted an 8% earnings increase in 2025, driven by Bulgari and Tiffany & Co.’s repositioning. Richemont similarly benefits from its jewelry...
Canadian Ecommerce Orders Rose 20% in 2025, with Top Brands Driving Half the Growth: Omnisend
Canadian ecommerce order volume jumped 20% year‑over‑year in 2025, but the surge was unevenly distributed. The top 10% of brands captured half of all order growth, highlighting a widening performance gap. Shoppers engaged with marketing less often, yet those interactions...
Walmart’s and Target’s Outgoing CEOs Leave Contrasting Legacies
After more than a decade, Walmart and Target will each install new CEOs next week, ending the tenures of Doug McMillon and Brian Cornell. McMillon left Walmart with expanded three‑hour delivery coverage, a thriving Walmart+ membership, and a reengineered advertising...
Glossy Podcast: Wholesale Overhauls, AI Strategies and More Hot Topics From Shoptalk Luxe in Abu Dhabi
At Shoptalk Luxe in Abu Dhabi, luxury brands highlighted a dual focus on AI integration and the renewed importance of human storytelling in retail. Executives said AI is best applied to back‑office tasks such as data analysis, while client‑facing experiences...
Billing Support Provides Scalable Billing Support for High-Growth E-Commerce Brands
Billing Support offers high‑growth e‑commerce brands a fully outsourced, 24/7 billing help desk that handles payments, refunds, and account queries across email, chat, phone and digital channels. The service scales with demand, allowing retailers to add support capacity during peak...
Country Road Group Increases Sales Despite Challenging December
Country Road Group posted a 2.3% sales rise for the 26‑week period ending 28 December, with comparable‑store sales up 2.5%. December performance softened to 1% growth, while net trading space grew 0.2% and online sales held at 27.2%. The newly appointed...
Avani K Chandan on Scaling The House of Ara in India’s Ready-to-Wear Market
The House of Ara, founded by designer Avani K Chandan, is scaling a craft‑led ready‑to‑wear label that translates heritage Indian textiles into modern, everyday silhouettes. The brand fills a market gap between fast fashion and high‑end ethnic wear by emphasizing slow...
How To Measure Email & SMS Incrementality With Klaviyo
In this episode Ben Zettler explains how ecommerce marketers can measure the true incremental impact of email and SMS using Klaviyo, distinguishing incrementality from standard attribution. He walks listeners through setting up controlled holdout groups and program‑level suppression tests, detailing...
Discover Decathlon’s New Shopping App Today
Decathlon has launched a dedicated mobile app for iOS and Android that consolidates its full product catalog, promotions, membership benefits, and order management in a single interface. Shoppers can browse inventory, check in‑store stock, scan barcodes for detailed product data,...
Amazon and Flipkart Step Up Discounts to Compete with Quick Commerce Leaders
The episode examines how Amazon and Flipkart are intensifying discounting in India's quick commerce market to challenge leaders like Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart. Data from Bizom shows average discounts jumping to 55% in January, driven by Amazon matching Zepto's...
Product Recommendation Quiz Guide: 8 Strategies For Sales
The episode breaks down how product‑recommendation quizzes can transform e‑commerce by tackling choice paralysis and harvesting zero‑party data. It walks listeners through the full quiz creation process—from defining a single goal and selecting the right quiz type, to crafting conversational...
SEO and SMM: How To Use SEO and SMM for Stellar Marketing
In this episode Roxanne Voidonicolas breaks down how SEO and social media marketing (SMM) can work together rather than compete, outlining the core components of each—on‑page, off‑page, technical and local SEO versus organic posts, paid ads and influencer work. She...
How To Make Iron-On Patches In 2026
In this episode, Andris Mucenieks walks listeners through the entire process of creating iron‑on patches in 2026, covering both DIY methods—using transfer paper, embroidery, or fabric paint—and the advantages of leveraging print‑on‑demand services for scalable production. He explains the science...
Free Stock Videos: Unlocking Professional Quality Content Without Breaking the Bank
The episode explains how free stock videos can instantly upgrade the visual quality of marketing, educational, and personal projects without the high costs of original production. It outlines a simple workflow—selecting appropriate clips, checking licenses, customizing with brand elements, and...
How Dresma Hit $2M ARR With Usage-Based Pricing & AI-Powered E-Commerce Imagery
In this episode, Siddharth Sinha, co‑founder and CEO of Dresma, walks through how his AI‑powered platform scales studio‑quality e‑commerce imagery and video for global brands using usage‑based pricing and automated workflows. He explains why the usage model outperformed seat‑based pricing,...
Know Your Numbers: Preserve 30% Margins at Scale
At one point, I was doing over $100M in revenue and genuinely didn't know how much money I had. I didn’t know if I could afford to spend $2,000 a month or $200,000 a month. I literally couldn't tell what I could...
Lane Bryant Enters Canada via Walmart Partnership
Lane Bryant, the U.S. plus‑size fashion leader, is entering Canada through an exclusive partnership with Walmart Canada. The brand’s collection goes live online immediately and will appear in 320 Walmart stores nationwide starting February 1, 2026. In‑store sizes range from 1X to...
Why DTF Transfers Are Becoming a Competitive Advantage For E-Commerce Brands
The episode explains how Direct‑to‑Film (DTF) transfers are giving e‑commerce apparel brands a competitive edge by enabling faster product launches, on‑demand fulfillment, and consistent, durable prints across a range of fabrics. It outlines a practical workflow—printing designs onto film, quality‑checking...
Nordstrom Names Chief Supply Chain Officer
Jason Bell was promoted to executive vice president and chief supply chain officer at Nordstrom, assuming the role immediately and adding transportation oversight to his duties. Bell, who joined Nordstrom in 2021 as senior vice president of supply chain operations,...
PicPay Prices IPO at $19 per Share
Brazilian digital bank PicPay priced its initial public offering at $19 per share, targeting roughly $434 million in proceeds. The offering comprises 22.9 million Class A common shares that will debut on Nasdaq under the ticker “PICS” on January 29, 2026. PicPay currently serves...
Yozo.ai Raises $1.7M to Build AI Revenue Engine
Yozo.ai, a UAE‑based e‑commerce AI startup, secured $1.7 million in pre‑seed funding. The round was co‑led by Access Bridge Ventures and Disruptech Ventures, with participation from Arzan VC and Suhail Ventures. The capital will fund engineering expansion and international market entry...
Print Aura Review: A No-Frills Print on Demand Service for US-Based Stores
Print Aura is a US‑based print‑on‑demand fulfillment service that charges no monthly fees and integrates only with Shopify and Etsy. It offers white‑label options such as custom neck tags and pack‑ins, targeting low‑volume sellers who need branded packaging. Pricing is...
Shopify Updates Chargeback Rate Calculations to Include RDR
Shopify has revised its chargeback rate calculations to incorporate every dispute, including those resolved through Visa’s Rapid Dispute Resolution (RDR) program. The updated metric lets merchants filter data by dispute type, delivering a more precise view of account risk. By...
Meta Outlines AI Shopping Agents and $135B Spending Plan
Meta announced it will roll out AI‑driven shopping agents and new generative models within months, using its vast user data to personalize commerce experiences. The plan is part of a broader investment surge, with 2026 capital expenditures projected between $115 billion...