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
EBay Strengthens Authentication for Luxury Watches with Integration of Enquirus
eBay has bolstered its Authenticity Guarantee for luxury watches by integrating Enquirus, the world’s largest free database of lost and stolen timepieces, into its authentication workflow in the US, UK and Germany. The new layer automatically cross‑checks each watch against global theft records, adding a data‑driven safeguard beyond traditional authenticity checks. Since launching in 2020, eBay’s service has authenticated more than 15 million items. In the UK, free authentication applies to watches above $1,920, while an optional $127 service covers $1,280‑$1,918 pieces.
TikTok Targets Australian E-Commerce Brands With Ecommerce Equation Partnership
TikTok Australia has teamed up with e‑commerce education platform Ecommerce Equation to help local online retailers grow on the app. The partnership launches a “TikTok Bootcamp” that teaches organic and paid media tactics and provides members with exclusive ad‑credit rewards....
Rufus, ChatGPT, and the Agentic Ad Convergence
Amazon disclosed that roughly 20% of shoppers who engage with a sponsored brand prompt in its AI assistant Rufus keep the conversation going, marking the first concrete performance metric for ads inside an AI shopping interface. Rufus’s monthly active users...
Amazon’s Latest AI Feature Allows Shoppers to Interact with Product Summaries
Amazon introduced the Join the Chat feature within its Hear the Highlights audio product summaries, letting shoppers ask questions via text or voice while listening. The AI host pulls information from product specs, customer reviews, and the ongoing narration to...
Marketplace Briefing: Temu Wants to Sell You a Steak Now
Temu, the bargain‑shopping app famed for cheap Chinese imports, has added U.S.-sourced steaks and other food items, marking a strategic pivot toward domestic warehousing and a broader marketplace. The move follows the loss of the de‑minimis exemption that made cross‑border...
US Agentic Sales to Reach $1T by 2030: Report
A joint ICSC‑McKinsey report projects U.S. agentic commerce—AI‑enhanced B2C retail—to generate $1 trillion in revenue by 2030. Today, 68% of consumers have used an AI tool while shopping, and 62% rely on AI for brand, price and review comparisons. Physical stores...
Mirakl Introduce Advanced AI-Powered Trust & Safety Capability
Mirakl has launched Trust & Safety, an AI‑powered moderation add‑on for its marketplace operating system. The tool automatically scans product listings—both text and images—for illegal, illicit or inappropriate content such as weapons, hate symbols, and child sexual exploitation material. Integrated...
Is Amazon.com (AMZN) the Best Strong Buy S&P 500 Stock to Invest In?
Bank of America announced Amazon’s launch of Amazon Supply Chain Services, a full‑stack third‑party logistics platform that opens its extensive freight, distribution and fulfillment network to external customers. The move follows Amazon’s Q1 earnings beat, with revenue of $181.5 billion and...
Shopee Launches Three Brazil Fulfillment Hubs, Adding 700,000 Daily Order Capacity
Shopee inaugurated three cross‑docking fulfillment centers in Vitória, Curitiba and Fortaleza, giving the platform the ability to process more than 700,000 orders per day and generating roughly 900 jobs. The expansion lifts Shopee’s Brazilian footprint to 22 distribution centers, 200...
Atlanta Dream Hand Over Merch Business to Monarch Subsidiary
Atlanta Dream has partnered with Monarch Commerce, a subsidiary of Monarch Collective, to run its merchandise business end‑to‑end. Monarch will manage product manufacturing, the online Shopify store, and in‑arena sales at both Gateway Center Arena and State Farm Arena, and...
Opinion: The Infrastructure Gap in Agentic Commerce – Payments Are Ready, Disputes Are Not
Donald Kossmann, CTO of Chargebacks911, warns that while payments infrastructure for agentic commerce is maturing, a critical dispute and consent‑evidence layer is missing. McKinsey estimates the model could generate $3‑5 trillion in global revenue by 2030, prompting Visa, Mastercard and AP2...
Interview: Pets at Home’s Sean Dorgan on How the Retailer Plans to Move Faster
Pets at Home is entering the “next phase” of its transformation, rolling out a dropship fulfilment model with commerce platform Rithum to broaden its online assortment while avoiding inventory risk. The programme promises to cut months from the traditional buying...
Lucidworks Unveils AI Agent Purpose-Built for Delivering Grounded Answers Where Generic Chatbots Fail
Lucidworks introduced a Conversational Q&A AI Agent that pulls answers from technical PDFs, spec sheets, images, and product manuals, delivering highly accurate, grounded responses on e‑commerce product pages. The agent tackles common chatbot pitfalls such as hallucinations by using a...
Amazon Pharmacy Adds Same-Day Delivery, Kiosks for New Ozempic Pill
Amazon Pharmacy is rolling out same‑day delivery and in‑office kiosk pickup for Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic oral pill, the only FDA‑approved GLP‑1 treatment for type‑2 diabetes. The service will initially cover nearly 3,000 U.S. cities, expanding to about 4,500 by year‑end,...
How Anyone Can Make $1,000,000 in 24 Months: How to Start Live Shopping in 2026
In this episode of the Gary Vee Audio Experience, Gary Vaynerchuk urges listeners to tap into the booming live social shopping market—now a half‑trillion‑dollar industry in China and rapidly growing in the U.S. via platforms like TikTok Shop and Whatnot....
5 Content Marketing Ideas for June 2026
June 2026 presents a rich tapestry of cultural and seasonal moments that ecommerce marketers can turn into high‑impact content. The article outlines five ideas: capitalizing on the North American FIFA World Cup, the lucrative wedding season, historic anniversaries such as...
Sony Music India Launches Vinyl and Merch Store StampEight
Sony Music India unveiled StampEight, a new e‑tail platform that sells vinyl records and limited‑edition merchandise from legacy rock acts such as AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Metallica and Pink Floyd. The launch coincided with Record Store Day and follows the 2025...
HSE Grows Revenue and Profitability Despite Pressure on Teleshopping Sector
German teleshopping broadcaster HSE posted a 4% revenue increase in 2025, reaching €641.6 million (about $700 million), and lifted its adjusted EBITDA margin to 14.7%. The growth came despite a broader sector slump, highlighted by Channel21’s insolvency and QVC’s Chapter 11 filing. HSE’s...
Complete Guide to Salesforce Connections 2026
Salesforce Connections returns June 3‑4, 2026, hosted at Chicago’s McCormick Place and streamed live on Salesforce+. Targeted at marketers and Commerce Cloud specialists, the two‑day event will feature over 280 sessions—including keynotes, workshops, and peer‑to‑peer circles—plus networking parties. Early‑bird tickets cost $699...
DoorDash Grocery Push Sparks 37% Marketplace Sales Surge
DoorDash said its first‑quarter marketplace gross order value hit $31.6 billion, a 37% year‑over‑year rise, as grocery delivery became the engine of growth. The company credited a surge in new grocery shoppers, record DashPass sign‑ups and AI‑driven operations for the jump.
Oldest E-Commerce Platform in South Africa Hit by Security Vulnerability
South Africa’s oldest e‑commerce platform, Netflorist, was found to have a critical API vulnerability that exposed the full personal details of its entire customer base. The flaw stems from sequential integer IDs in the user‑ID and address‑book endpoints, allowing anyone...
Your Delivery Guy Might Be Your Brand Ambassador. (Sorry.)
In this episode of the Liquid Lunch Project, hosts Matthew Armiehan and Professor Luigi Rosa Bianca interview Randy Vlasic, founder of LIWMI Logistics, a third‑party trucking brokerage. Randy explains how his firm connects shippers with carriers, navigates rising diesel costs,...
Vitamin Shoppe Leader Talks Delivery Strategy
The Vitamin Shoppe has launched an in‑house same‑day delivery service on its website and app, using its network of over 700 stores as local fulfillment hubs. While it continues to partner with DoorDash, Uber Eats and Instacart, the new channel lets the...
Amazon Retreats From Singapore Groceries, Leans on Cross-Border Instead
Amazon announced the closure of Amazon Fresh and its local fulfillment network in Singapore effective 6 July, ending partnerships with Little Farms and AS Watson. A small number of Singapore staff will be cut, while AWS, retail, and Global Selling operations remain intact. The...
What Does GameStop’s ‘Audacious’ Bid for eBay Mean for Secondhand Fashion?
GameStop announced a merger with eBay that will transform its 1,600 U.S. retail locations into a nationwide hub for authentication, intake, fulfillment, and live‑commerce of secondhand goods. The plan positions GameStop as the physical backbone of eBay’s resale ecosystem, especially...
Farfetch Looks to Enrich Customer Experience With Speedier Deliveries
Farfetch is rolling out a new premium delivery service called Farfetch First, which guarantees free next‑day shipping on thousands of luxury items. The program launches this week across major European markets—UK, Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland—before expanding globally. The initiative...
Amazon Launches UK’s First Retail Drone Delivery Service in Darlington
Amazon has launched the United Kingdom’s first retail drone delivery trial in Darlington, using its MK30 autonomous drones to ship lightweight items such as beauty products, batteries and cables. The service, limited to customers with a garden or yard, delivers...
Temu Caught Deceiving Shoppers, Fined $3.7M in Hungary
Hungarian Competition Authority fined Temu 13.3 billion forints (~$3.7 million) for deceptive discount practices. Temu admitted the violations, waived its right to appeal and offered a 2,000‑forint (~$5.5) voucher to affected shoppers. Despite the penalty, the platform recorded over 9 million orders and...
DoorDash Beats Earnings, Stock Soars Amid Revenue Miss
$DASH: +33% revenue growth, +37% GOV growth, and the stock jumped despite a revenue miss DoorDash delivered another strong quarter. Revenue was $4.04B, up 33% YoY, but below the $4.15B estimate. EPS came in at $0.42 vs. $0.37 expected. Marketplace GOV reached $31.6B,...
EU E‑commerce De‑minimis Reform Unlikely by July 1
I sincerely doubt the EU removal of de minimis (e-commerce reform) will go ahead on 1 July. At least not in full. Or not in a harmonised way. There simply isn't enough time.
‘The Chanel Hunger Games’: Shopping Haul Videos Go Luxury
Luxury influencers are turning haul videos into high‑stakes spectacles, dubbing the trend the "Chanel Hunger Games." Creators showcase multi‑thousand‑dollar purchases, sparking fierce competition for likes, comments, and brand partnerships. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram amplify these displays, driving measurable spikes...
China's AI Agents Foreshadow Commerce via Built-In Delegation
What China’s AI Agents Reveal About the Future of Commerce China matters not because it has the best models, but because the infrastructure for delegated action is already deeply embedded in everyday life. #China #techwar #chips #tech @baoshaoshan @thecyrusjanssen @DOualaalou @lajohnstondr @PSTAsiatech https://t.co/CbmPUYIkbp
Inside RadioShack’s Audio-Fueled B-to-B Revival
RadioShack relaunched in August 2024 as a wholesale and direct‑to‑consumer electronics brand, leveraging its nostalgic appeal. About 60% of sales now come from B‑to‑B channels, with turntables and AM/FM radios driving rapid sell‑outs. The company works with over 170 authorized...
Target’s New Supply Chain Facility Could Be First of Many
Target opened its first "receive center" in Houston, a pilot hub that stores imported, seasonal and bulky merchandise before it reaches regional distribution centers. The facility serves six distribution centers and a Chicago flow center, giving Target three‑week inventory visibility...
We Impersonated a Restaurant on Glovo and Chowdeck; the Platforms Never Noticed
Techpoint Africa’s investigation revealed that Nigeria’s leading food‑delivery platforms, Glovo and Chowdeck, can be duped by impersonating existing restaurants. The team created a fake vendor, supplied fabricated tax IDs and CAC documents, and was approved within 48 hours on Glovo and...
Cloudinary Rolls Out AI Agents to Automate E‑Commerce Media Management
Cloudinary announced the general availability of a five‑agent AI suite that automates tagging, search, workflow, moderation and coordination of visual assets for e‑commerce teams. The tools integrate via APIs with existing DAM stacks, aiming to cut manual effort for its...
Google AI Shopping Lens Spurs 239% Jump in E‑Commerce Product Discovery
Google’s AI Shopping Lens, rolled out globally in March 2026, has driven a 239% surge in product discovery and an 84% lift in conversion for retailers that optimize their catalogs. The tool now handles over 2.3 billion visual searches daily, reshaping...
Dealmoon Rolls Out Global Super App Uniting Community, Content and Commerce for 12M Shoppers
Dealmoon, a Moon Commerce Group brand, launched a unified global super app that merges its regional platforms in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Australia and Italy. The app serves over 12 million monthly active shoppers and gives brands a single...
Dollar General Unveils Integrated On‑Site/Off‑Site Retail Media Platform
Dollar General announced a new retail media solution that links its DG Media Network on‑site inventory with off‑site activation through The Trade Desk, using Kevel’s ad‑serving technology. The integration promises advertisers a single framework for planning, activating and measuring campaigns...
Vivid Seats Q1 2026 Revenue Drops, Net Loss Expands Amid Ticket‑Market Pricing Pressure
Vivid Seats Inc. disclosed that its first‑quarter 2026 revenue fell while its net loss widened, according to its Form 10‑Q filing. The company attributes the decline to pricing pressure in the secondary‑ticket market, raising questions about the sustainability of its resale...
Zalando Attributes 24% Q1 Revenue Jump to AI Boost From ABOUT YOU Deal
Zalando posted a 23.8% rise in first‑quarter revenue to €3bn ($3.2bn), saying AI‑driven personalization and logistics improvements from its ABOUT YOU acquisition powered the growth. The German‑based fashion marketplace also lifted GMV 21.7% and adjusted EBIT 38.7% year‑on‑year.
Interlink Commerce Gains Walmart Marketplace Provider Status, Targeting Mid‑Market Sellers
Interlink Commerce announced its approval as an official Walmart Marketplace Solution Provider, giving the Boston‑based integration firm direct API access to Walmart’s platform. The move positions Interlink to serve the $50,000‑$1 million‑per‑month seller segment that has been underserved by existing marketplace...
RealReal Inc (REAL) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
The RealReal reported Q1 2026 GMV of $606 million, up 24% year‑over‑year, and revenue of $190 million, up 19%. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $13.1 million, expanding margin by 430 basis points to 6.9%. Take rate slipped to 36.4% as the mix shifted toward...
VTEX (VTEX) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
VTEX reported Q1 2026 GMV of $5.1 billion, up 17% in U.S. dollars, and subscription revenue of $60 million, a 14% increase. Non‑GAAP subscription gross margin rose to 81.5%, expanding 240 basis points, while total gross margin reached 80% after a 400‑basis‑point...
Carparts.Com Inc (PRTS) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
CarParts.com posted its first positive adjusted EBITDA since Q1 2024, reporting $585,000 after a $7 million swing year‑over‑year. Net sales slipped 10% to $132 million, driven by lower advertising spend and weather‑related demand softness. Operating expenses fell 26% to $46 million, reflecting headcount reductions,...
Commerce.com Inc (CMRC) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Commerce.com (CMRC) reported Q1 2026 revenue of $86.8 million, up 5% YoY and ahead of guidance, while GMV rose 14% to $8.3 billion. The company posted its first GAAP‑profitable quarter with net income of $3.7 million and generated $18.4 million of operating cash flow. New...
Grove Collaborative Holdings Inc (GROV) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Grove Collaborative reported Q1 2026 revenue of $42.4 million, a 14.3% YoY decline, driven by fewer orders after an e‑commerce platform migration and reduced advertising. The company posted its first positive adjusted EBITDA in six quarters at $1.6 million and...
Liquidity Services Inc (LQDT) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Liquidity Services reported Q1 2026 gross merchandise volume of $398 million, a 3% year‑over‑year increase, while GAAP revenue slipped 1% to $121.2 million due to a shift toward consignment sales. Profitability rose sharply, with GAAP net income up 29% and...
Warby Parker Inc (WRBY) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Warby Parker reported Q1 2026 revenue of $242.4 million, an 8.3% year‑over‑year increase, and adjusted EBITDA of $29.6 million at a 12.2% margin, slightly below prior year. Retail sales rose 13.6% while e‑commerce fell 4.1% after ending the Home Try‑On...
Groupon Inc (GRPN) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Groupon reported Q1 2021 results featuring $554 million in gross billings, $264 million in revenue and $30 million of adjusted EBITDA. The company highlighted a 56% recovery of North America Local billings versus 2019 and a 70% rebound in gross profit. Cost‑reduction initiatives...