Today's Ecommerce Pulse
Target launches Circle Deal Days to rival Amazon Prime Day
Target announced its Target Circle Deal Days running June 23‑26, positioning the free‑to‑join program as a direct competitor to Amazon Prime Day. New members who enroll between June 14‑22 receive a 15% discount on their first purchase and a free Starbucks coffee or Bullseye cookie on June 23. Additional perks include 50% off the first year of Target Circle 360.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Howdens to acquire DIY Kitchens for $495M
Ruby Lane Blames USPS for Upcoming Errors in Shipping Prices
Ruby Lane announced that, starting Jan 26, its calculated shipping rates for USPS services may become unreliable due to the postal service’s ongoing API transition. The marketplace has chosen not to adopt the new USPS API, citing rate limits and instability, and is urging sellers to switch to fixed‑price or free shipping in the interim. Ruby Lane is building a third‑party shipping solution that will include in‑house label purchasing, tracking, and possible discounts. The change follows a seller warning from May and reflects broader e‑commerce logistics challenges.
Bank of Italy Models Ethereum Risks in Extreme Price Collapse Scenario
The Bank of Italy’s financial stability unit released a stress‑test model that simulates the impact of an extreme Ethereum price collapse on the Italian financial system. The scenario assumes an 80%‑plus drop in ETH value, triggering liquidity strains for banks...
Amazon Insert Cards: How Sellers Get Banned and How to Avoid It
The episode explains that Amazon permits insert cards but treats them as seller‑to‑buyer communication, meaning any language that nudges buyer behavior—especially review solicitation—can trigger enforcement. It outlines safe practices (simple thank‑you notes, clear instructions, neutral support info) and prohibited tactics...
NATSEC Roundtable No. 9: Capital, Cloud, and Commerce
The defense ecosystem is evolving into a three‑layer stack of venture capital, cloud infrastructure, and digital commerce. Mandate‑driven VC firms such as In‑QTel, a16z’s American Dynamism and Shield Capital are financing AI, autonomous and cyber startups that resemble Silicon Valley...
Modern Retail Podcast: Cautious Optimism at NRF Around AI and Shopper Sentiment in 2026
At the National Retail Federation’s 2026 conference, retailers displayed cautious optimism about AI’s role in commerce. Brands highlighted agentic commerce use cases, including AI-powered checkout and product discovery, while tech giants Google and Microsoft unveiled new retail AI tools. Despite...
Google Launches AI-Driven Platform for Shopping Agents
Google bolsters bet on #AI-powered commerce with new platform for shopping agents by Jennifer Elias @CNBC Learn more: https://t.co/1C6sB9oc2F #GenerativeAI #LLM #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning https://t.co/mUHAItPkrY
Ingenico, Samsung, and Talus Introduce Mobile Business Operating Solution in North America
Ingenico, Samsung, and Talus have launched a joint Mobile Business Operating Solution (MBOS) for North American merchants. The platform fuses Samsung’s Galaxy hardware, Ingenico’s payment processing stack, and Talus’s cloud‑based back‑office services into a single, app‑driven point‑of‑sale system. It supports...
2026 eBay Business Seller Meetups
eBay’s 2026 Seller Meetups return with a slate of free, in‑person events running from January through February across multiple UK cities. Organized by local seller leaders, each session blends peer support, practical e‑commerce tips and discussions on emerging tools such...
Incoming Walmart CEO Reshapes C-Suite with Internal Promotions
Incoming Walmart President and CEO John Furner will assume his role on Feb. 1, 2026 and immediately reshaped the retailer’s C‑suite by promoting four long‑time insiders. Seth Dallaire moves to EVP and Chief Growth Officer for Walmart Inc., overseeing global platforms such as...
Pet Retailers Vie for Loyalty with Virtual Vet Services, Pet-Inclusive Air Travel
PetSmart has introduced a virtual veterinary support service powered by Vetster in select U.S. stores, giving associates real‑time access to licensed vets for a range of pet health issues. Petco, meanwhile, has teamed with regional carrier JSX to roll out...
The Next Retail Advantage Is Hiding in Merchants’ Payments Systems
Merchants are hitting conversion walls because legacy checkout systems can’t keep up with mobile traffic and buy‑now‑pay‑later demand. Adobe’s Payment Services, built into Adobe Commerce and Magento Open Source, offers a unified payments layer that simplifies adding digital wallets and...
DIY Approach Fuels Craft Cocktail Brand
Liber & Co., founded in 2011 by three Texas friends, has grown from a single pot of syrup to multiple 1,500‑gallon tanks supplying premium non‑alcoholic cocktail syrups worldwide. The company’s DIY ethos drives in‑house manufacturing, warehousing, marketing and global sales,...
Tractor Supply, Planning 100 New Stores in 2026, Opens 2,400th Store in South Carolina
Tractor Supply opened its 2,400th store in Aiken, South Carolina, marking a milestone in its rapid expansion. The retailer continues its aggressive growth plan, targeting 100 new stores in 2026, matching its 2025 rollout. The new location featured a $2,400...
Escape the Aisle: Outgrowing the Category You Were Born Into
Pilgrim’s Europe used deep consumer insight to reposition Richmond from the nation’s favourite sausage brand to a broader mealtime brand. By shifting focus from product to the emotional moments of togetherness, the company identified a meat‑free opportunity that aligns with...
DIY Approach Fuels Craft Cocktail Brand
Chris Harrison recounts how he and two high‑school friends turned a single pot of cocktail syrup into Liber & Co., now producing 1,500‑gallon batches sold globally to bars, restaurants, and consumers. He explains the brand’s DIY, learn‑by‑doing culture, from sourcing...
Are Your Product Pages Invisible to AI? Retail’s New Fix
Retailers are revamping product detail pages (PDPs) to become machine‑readable, partnering with AI‑content platforms Cimulate and Bazaarvoice. Structured markup now tags key attributes, enabling generative AI, voice assistants, and visual search to surface products that were previously invisible. Early pilots...
ASOS Bets on Topshop Brand Revival with European Website Launch
Topshop has unveiled a dedicated EU ecommerce site, eu.topshop.com, covering 23 European markets and built on Shopify for faster browsing and richer storytelling. The launch follows ASOS's 2021 acquisition of the brand after Arcadia's collapse, aiming to transform the iconic...
WHSmith North America Media Network Taps ISM for Retail Media Network
WHSmith North America Media Network has teamed with In‑Store Marketplace (ISM) to launch a retail media network across U.S. airports. The collaboration merges more than 700 digital screens and audio assets into a single programmatic ecosystem, leveraging Mood Media’s hardware...
OPINION: How ‘Sustainability’ Claims Can Land Online Retailers in Regulatory Hot Water
Online retailers face heightened regulatory risk over greenwashing as the UK’s CMA and ASA intensify enforcement of the Green Claims Code. Recent ASA rulings against Nike, Lacoste and Superdry for unsubstantiated “sustainable” ads illustrate the pitfalls of vague claims. The...
Amazon’s “Buy for Me” Feature Draws Scrutiny From Independent Sellers
Amazon’s new ‘Buy for Me’ and ‘Shop Direct’ beta tools let shoppers purchase items from brand websites via the Amazon app, but many independent sellers report being listed without opting in, facing incorrect product details, out‑of‑stock items, and proxy order...
IKEA Pilots Virtual Product Experience in Welcome to Bloxburg
IKEA is piloting a virtual product experience inside the Roblox game Welcome to Bloxburg, targeting players in Sweden and Australia. From 22 January to 5 February, shoppers can unlock iconic items like the Stockholm sofa and Elsystem rug through an in‑game pop‑up...
Topshop Launches European Website
Topshop has unveiled a dedicated European e‑commerce site, eu.topshop.com, serving 23 EU markets. The Shopify‑powered platform offers the brand’s full range of denim, dresses, footwear and accessories, expanding beyond its previous presence on ASOS.com. Managing Director Michelle Wilson highlighted plans...
British Heart Foundation Appoints Chief Commercial Officer
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has promoted Allison Swaine‑Hughes to chief commercial officer, consolidating oversight of its 680 retail stores, e‑commerce platforms, and new commercial ventures. Swaine‑Hughes brings over 30 years of senior retail experience, including roles at Gap and...
Glossy Pop Newsletter: Why Cocokind Is Sending Unreleased Products to Creators with 200 Followers
Cocokind has pivoted its PR mailer program from top‑tier influencers to a community‑first model, sending unreleased products to micro‑creators with 200‑300 followers. The December "leak" mailer introduced the $18 Milky‑Soft Face and Body Cleanser and replaced a quiz with a...
Luxury Briefing: Why Harrods’ Big Sale Swept TikTok, and What It Means for Luxury Brands
Harrods’ January sale exploded onto TikTok, turning a traditionally discreet event into a viral showcase. The platform streamed floor‑by‑floor discount maps and brand highlights, making the sale’s pricing details publicly visible. This unprecedented exposure challenges luxury retailers’ reliance on scarcity...
Glossy Podcast: The Ripple Effects of the Saks Global Bankruptcy
Saks Global announced bankruptcy, confirming long‑rumored debt woes and exposing hundreds of millions owed to luxury vendors such as Chanel and Kering. Amazon, which funded Saks' acquisition of Neiman Marcus, now labels its investment worthless. Brands have already halted shipments and...
USPS to Enforce Stricter Requirements on Military Mail in March
The United States Postal Service will begin enforcing stricter customs data requirements for mail sent to or from overseas military and diplomatic post offices on March 16, 2026. Any shipment containing a good, weighing 16 ounces or more, or sent...
NRF 2026: LVMH Puts "Quiet Tech" To Work
At NRF 2026, LVMH unveiled a "quiet tech" strategy that embeds digital tools into its luxury ecosystem without eclipsing the brand’s artisanal heritage. The approach leverages AI, RFID, and augmented‑reality to streamline inventory, enhance traceability, and enrich the client experience....
‘Temu Matches Amazon in Cross-Border Sales’
Temu, the international arm of China‑based PDD Holdings, has surged to a 24 percent share of cross‑border e‑commerce, matching Amazon according to the IPC’s 2025 shopper survey. The platform grew from a 1 percent share in 2022 to parity with Amazon in...
Marketplace Briefing: Inside the Marketplace Strategies of Target, Best Buy and Nordstrom
At NRF’s Big Show, executives from Target, Best Buy and Nordstrom detailed how their third‑party marketplaces have evolved into strategic growth engines. After years of investment, each retailer is using the marketplace to broaden product assortments, boost margins and enhance...
Uniqlo to Debut Stores in Miami, Add to Texas Footprint
Uniqlo will launch its first Miami stores this fall while entering Austin and adding a location at Houston’s Galleria, expanding its Texas presence that began in 2024. The new stores will showcase RFID‑enabled self‑checkout, on‑site alterations, RE.UNIQLO donation bins, and...
EBay Makes International Shipping Easier for German Sellers
eBay has introduced SpeedPAK in Germany, a logistics service that provides customs‑cleared shipping with duties prepaid, simplifying cross‑border sales for German merchants. The offering, built with logistics partner Orange Connex, integrates directly into eBay’s platform, allowing sellers to purchase labels...
45% of Peak Returns Were Paid For: Why Retailers Are Redrawing the Lines
During the 2025 peak season, 45% of returns were paid for, rising to 69% among smaller retailers, according to ZigZag data. The cost of processing these returns hit roughly £1.5 billion, with each return consuming 20%‑65% of the item’s value. Retailers...
Beauty and Fashion in 2025: What Really Mattered and What Will Shape 2026
After a turbulent 2025, beauty and fashion brands discovered that consumers now prioritize authenticity over polished perfection. Data from Mention Me shows micro‑influencer content generates 60% more engagement, while imperfect and upcycled aesthetics drive higher loyalty. The shift signals a...
How SharkNinja Creates Products Consumers Love — Really Love
SharkNinja turns roughly 70 product ideas into 25 market launches each year, leveraging deep ethnographic research and up to 200 design revisions per item. The company outpaces the small‑appliance sector with a 20% CAGR, generating $3 billion in revenue across price...
Lawmakers Eye Dynamic Ecommerce Pricing
U.S. lawmakers are intensifying scrutiny of AI‑driven dynamic pricing, highlighted by Senator Chuck Schumer’s criticism of Instacart’s 2025 experiment that showed up to 23% price variation on grocery items. In Tennessee, House Bill 1468 would outlaw personalized algorithmic pricing by...
WhatsApp Loyalty Programmes: The Future of Modern Retail
WhatsApp loyalty programmes are rapidly replacing traditional point‑based schemes as retailers tap into the platform’s 90% UK adult penetration and near‑instant open rates. By embedding rewards directly in a channel customers already use, retailers eliminate the friction of separate apps...
THG Ends 2025 on a High as Subscriptions Drive Loyalty and Beauty Outperformance
THG closed 2025 with its strongest quarter, posting a 7.0% Q4 revenue rise and returning to full‑year growth of 2.3% for the first time since 2021. The boost came from a subscriptions‑led model that deepened loyalty across its Beauty and...
Dunelm Reveals Subdued Second Quarter Trading
Dunelm reported a modest 1.6% rise in second‑quarter sales to £498 million, taking first‑half growth to 3.6% at £926 million. The retailer now expects full‑year pre‑tax profit to sit at the lower end of analysts’ forecasts, with first‑half profit projected around £112‑£114 million....
Very Group Reports ‘Resilient’ Christmas
The Very Group posted a "resilient" holiday season, with Very brand sales rising 1.9% over the six weeks to 27 December. Strong demand drove double‑digit growth in home (7.9%) and toys and beauty (6.4%). Black Friday saw a record 209,000 items...
2026 Beauty M&A Predictions with Industry Vet Kimber Maderazzo
The beauty sector experienced a resurgence in M&A activity in 2025, highlighted by three transactions exceeding $1 billion each—e.l.f. Beauty’s acquisition of Rhode, Unilever’s purchase of Dr. Squatch, and L’Oréal’s buy of Medik‑8. Industry veteran Kimber Maderazzo says 2026 will shift focus...
After Rapid Growth, Thirdlove Expands Its Menopause-Focused Line to Activewear
Thirdlove is extending its TempSync line into activewear, debuting a $78 active bra and $88 leggings that use thermoregulating particles. The TempSync franchise generated $1 million in sales within six weeks of its T‑shirt bra launch, prompting the brand to broaden...
![[Interview] Building for Where Retail Is Going? Sreeraman MG, Co-Founder Fynd](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://www.theretailbulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/SMG-2.png)
[Interview] Building for Where Retail Is Going? Sreeraman MG, Co-Founder Fynd
Co‑founder Sreeraman MG outlines Fynd’s 2026 UK launch, positioning its AI‑native commerce layer as a plug‑in solution for mid‑market and enterprise retailers. The company will target fashion, beauty and grocery categories, tackling two core UK pain points: trustworthy cross‑channel attribution and...
China’s JNBY Group Is Making a Case for Faux Fur, as the Real Thing Falls Out of Fashion
China’s JNBY Group introduced a plant‑based faux‑fur vest for its Croquis menswear line, marking the first large‑scale retail rollout of BioFluff’s Savian material. The collaboration leverages JNBY’s vertically integrated network of over 2,100 stores, allowing the eco‑fur product to reach...
Ecommerce: The Year Ecommerce Got Back to Normal
Mark and Ian review 2025, declaring it the first post‑COVID year of "normal" ecommerce and highlighting how agile, lean brands outperformed larger incumbents. They note AI‑driven ad creative shifted from a novelty to a necessity, and that small "skeleton" teams...
Coat Paints Adds AI Feature
Paint brand Coat Paints has unveiled a new AI-powered colour visualiser
Amazon Removes Safeguard for Sellers of High-Value Items
Amazon will require all U.S. sellers to use the Amazon Prepaid Return Label (APRL) program for customer returns starting February 8, 2026, ending the previous exemption for high‑value items. The change aims to streamline refunds and cut customer‑service workload, but sellers argue...
EBay Shares Climate Transition Plan for ‘Sustainable Commerce’
eBay unveiled its inaugural Climate Transition Plan, outlining a roadmap to achieve net‑zero emissions by 2045 while deepening its recommerce model. The plan highlights a shift from air to ground shipping, expanded local delivery options, and AI‑optimized logistics to cut...
Building an Integrated Marketing Plan Across All Online and Offline Channels: When 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 (and...
The article argues that retailers must replace siloed marketing efforts with an integrated omnichannel plan that treats digital and offline touchpoints as a single customer journey. It highlights the pitfalls of double‑counting conversions and the need for centralized reporting, consistent...
Levi’s Launches ‘Wear Longer Project’ to Teach Basic Clothing Repair Skills
Levi Strauss & Co. has launched the Wear Longer Project, a free, hands‑on clothing‑repair curriculum for high‑school students in partnership with Discovery Education. The pilot begins in San Francisco’s Eureka Lab and will expand through 2026, with employee volunteers delivering...