Today's Ecommerce Pulse
Bunnings to launch shoppable catalog via Google AI Mode
Australian hardware giant Bunnings will roll out a shoppable product range through Google’s AI Mode within the next two weeks, enabling customers to browse, select and purchase items directly via Google Search, Chrome and the Google app. The move builds on Bunnings’ broader AI strategy, including the Gemini‑powered Buddy assistant that has already doubled online conversion rates.
Currys Upgrades Payment Tech
UK retailer Currys announced a partnership with payment processor Stripe to overhaul its checkout infrastructure. The integration will replace legacy systems with Stripe's unified payments platform, enabling faster, more secure transactions across online and in‑store channels. Currys expects the upgrade to cut cart abandonment and improve customer experience, while supporting a range of digital wallets and local payment methods. The move aligns the retailer with industry trends toward frictionless e‑commerce.
Inside Ergatta’s Game-Driven Model and Two-Year Profit Streak
In this episode, Tom Aulet discusses how he transformed Ergatta into a profitable, game‑driven fitness brand, leveraging $35 million in funding to develop immersive, gamified workouts while maintaining lean operations. He explains the company’s cost‑effective growth strategies, the role of data‑backed...
New Ecommerce Tools: December 31, 2025
The end‑of‑year roundup spotlights a wave of AI‑enhanced ecommerce solutions, from MobiLoud’s real‑time mobile‑app analytics dashboard to Hosted.com’s upgraded WordPress infrastructure. CPGIO expands its accelerator reach by adding more than 40 retail channels through partnerships with Nordstrom, Chewy, Lowe’s, Faire...
#483 - TikTok Shop Advertising & Promotion Guide
In this episode, host Bradley Sutton and TikTok Shop specialist Tamara Žeravljev break down how to build a sustainable TikTok Shop presence in 2026, emphasizing brand‑building over quick virality. They cover the essential first steps—optimizing your profile, testing content hooks,...
Drugstore Chain Rossmann Taps Diebold Nixdorf for Expansion
European drugstore giant Rossmann has selected its long‑time technology partner Diebold Nixdorf to drive its expansion into Switzerland. The agreement adds comprehensive managed services through Diebold Nixdorf’s eServices portal and new retail hardware, including self‑checkout and POS systems, building on a model...
The True Cost of Device Downtime: How Mobile Failures Damage Customer Loyalty
Retail device downtime is eroding customer loyalty, with 60% of shoppers ready to switch brands after a single bad experience. Half of in‑store mobile endpoints run outdated operating systems, and a quarter cannot be upgraded, exposing retailers to freezes, ransomware...
The Psychology of AI SERPs and Shopping
AI-generated search overviews are reshaping how consumers find information and products. A Pew survey in March 2025 found 58% of U.S. adults saw an AI Overview, and only 8% of them clicked a traditional link, compared with 15% click‑through when...
Member Brief: Why Shopify Should Acquire BigCommerce
A viral LinkedIn post by venture investor Jeremy Horowitz joking about buying BigCommerce caught industry attention when Shopify COO Harley Finkelstein publicly liked it. The gesture signals Shopify’s possible interest in acquiring the mid‑market eCommerce platform. Analysts interpret the like...
7 Steps Retail Leaders Can Take to Protect Customer Experience During Peak Seasons
Retail leaders face intense pressure during holiday and promotional spikes, requiring precise demand forecasting and flexible staffing. Updating knowledge bases, creating real‑time command centers, and stress‑testing systems ensure agents can respond quickly and accurately. Automation—through AI routing, chatbots, and CRM...
New Books: Swiftynomics, UX Skills, More
The newest business titles spotlight a shift toward people‑centric strategies, from Misty L. Heggeness’s *Swiftynomics* highlighting women’s economic power to B. Joseph Pine II’s *The Transformation Economy* urging firms to align with consumer aspirations. Other releases focus on UX‑business alignment, emotional drivers...
#481 - How to Stay Profitable on Amazon in 2026
The episode explores how Amazon sellers can maintain profitability in 2026 by treating their operations like both a finance and marketing function, emphasizing disciplined pricing, smarter PPC, and careful inventory management. Guests Ryan Cramer, Leo Sgovio, and Sharona Ozeri share...
Inside Smart Marketer’s Black Friday Strategy – Wins, Curveballs and Campaign Secrets
In this episode, Smart Marketer’s Director of Advertising Denis Paskalev breaks down the team’s Black Friday/Cyber Week 2025 tactics, from leveraging evergreen creative and early promotion to navigating Meta’s budget‑control changes and a Shopify outage. He explains how first‑click attribution,...
How Money Launderers Are Exploiting E-Commerce
Online retailers are becoming prime targets for sophisticated money‑laundering schemes that exploit refund processes, third‑party marketplace sellers, and cross‑border payment channels. Criminal networks use these digital pathways to shift illicit proceeds quickly, sidestepping traditional banking oversight. The rise of platform‑based...
Wrapping Up 2025 - The Best Bits
The episode recaps ten pivotal moments from the past year, covering AI-driven pricing tools and the push for fair markups, the scaling role of JewelCraft as a jeweler’s jeweler, and Google Workspace’s importance for collaboration. It also examines gold price...
Walmart Expands Drone Delivery
Walmart has expanded its use of drone delivery in the US with tech partner Wing
Black Friday 2025 Was Different (And That’s the Point)
The episode explains that Black Friday 2025 felt calmer but more revealing because demand was driven by year‑long brand work rather than the sale itself. Key takeaways include the effectiveness of longer promotions, evergreen campaign structures, diversified creative built months...
Walmart Switches to Nasdaq
After decades on the NYSE, retail behemoth Walmart has debuted on the Nasdaq stock market
Holiday Shoppers Tapping Mobile Device to Buy, Desktop for Returns
Adobe’s holiday shopping data shows mobile devices accounted for 52.4% of online spend between Nov 1 and Dec 12, while desktops handled the majority of returns. Overall returns fell 2.5% YoY, but are projected to jump 25‑35% after Christmas. Consumers have already...
Goodwill Central Texas Pilots ReNu to Transform Operations, Employee Experience
Goodwill Central Texas has rolled out ReNu, an in‑house production platform that replaces its legacy POS system and adds AI‑driven dynamic pricing and channel optimization. The pilot, active in six stores, automates item valuation and directs inventory to the most...
Why Calls Still Matter in Retail
Retail businesses increasingly rely on phone calls to convert leads and gather actionable data. Implementing IVR, AI call agents, call‑tracking analytics, and predictive modeling creates a data‑driven, omnichannel experience that shortens queues, personalizes interactions, and filters low‑quality calls. Coordinating these...