Today's Ecommerce Pulse
Updated 2h agoAmazon automation offers semi‑passive income but demands disciplined oversight
Amazon automation can generate profitable, semi‑passive income in 2026, but success hinges on disciplined execution and seasoned oversight. Modern automation relies on advanced software for research, pricing, inventory and ad optimization, while strategic decisions remain human‑driven. Investors now expect transparent reporting, compliance and sustainability.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Edeka raises €430M to increase stake in Picnic
News•Feb 2, 2026
Lego Reseller Bricks & Minifigs Rapidly Doubles Store Count to 300 Locations
Bricks & Minifigs, an authorized Lego reseller, opened its 300th store in 2025, doubling its footprint after adding 150 locations since 2023. The chain now spans the United States, two Canadian sites, and has secured authorization to sell in Australia. Revenue surged past $95 million, with a single outlet generating over $1.7 million in 2025. Executives aim to scale the network to more than 3,500 stores worldwide.
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Feb 2, 2026
Autonomous Organization Workflows: Decreasing Manual Work in 2026
In 2026 businesses of all sizes are turning to autonomous workflows to eliminate repetitive manual tasks. Cloud‑based POS platforms like Epos Now automate sales recording, inventory tracking, and reporting, delivering real‑time data across locations. The article outlines how these systems free...
By TechBullion
News•Feb 2, 2026
B2B Sellers Rewire Operations as Ecommerce and EDI Converge
B2B manufacturers and distributors are stitching ecommerce platforms together with EDI networks and ERP systems to create a single, real‑time order‑processing fabric. The integration delivers consumer‑grade self‑service—contract pricing, live inventory, shipment tracking—while automatically converting online orders into standardized EDI documents...
By Digital Commerce 360
News•Feb 2, 2026
Why CFOs Are Letting AI Agents Touch Their Cash — Carefully
AI‑driven agentic treasury systems are moving from prediction to execution, allowing CFOs to automatically sweep excess cash into short‑term instruments under predefined rules. Major vendors such as Oracle, SAP and Bottomline are embedding these agents into core finance platforms, and...
By PYMNTS
News•Feb 2, 2026
Bed Bath & Beyond’s Latest Move: Buying Blockchain Platform Tokens.com
Bed Bath & Beyond announced the acquisition of blockchain investing platform Tokens.com, aiming to launch a unified investment and personal‑finance hub for homeowners by July 1, 2026. The move aligns with CEO Marcus Lemonis’s strategy to create an integrated home ecosystem that...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Feb 2, 2026
Target’s 30 Store Openings This Year Will Run to Larger Sizes
Target announced it will open 30 new stores in 2026, including seven this spring that exceed its typical 125,000‑sq ft footprint. Five of the spring openings range from 148,000 to 150,000 sq ft, while two are smaller at 40,000 and 110,000 sq ft. The retailer...
By Retail TouchPoints
News•Feb 2, 2026
U.S. Bank Debuts Small Business-Focused Visa Card
U.S. Bank launched the Business Shield Visa Card, a credit product aimed at small‑business owners. The card offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers and integrates a spend‑management platform that automates expense controls, accounting, and receipt capture....
By PYMNTS
News•Feb 2, 2026
Product Subscriptions Used by 23% of German Online Shoppers
A Bitkom survey of over 1,000 Germans finds 23% use product subscriptions, averaging three each. Subscriptions cover essentials like razor blades, shampoo, flowers and surprise boxes. The market still has room to grow, as roughly 75% of shoppers lack any...
By Ecommerce News Europe
News•Feb 2, 2026
Bol Builds External Fulfillment Network
Dutch e‑commerce platform Bol announced the creation of an external third‑party logistics (3PL) ecosystem for its marketplace sellers. The initiative will let all 45,000 partners, currently limited to Bol’s own “Logistics via Bol,” outsource warehousing and order processing to vetted...
By Ecommerce News Europe
Podcast•Feb 2, 2026•15 min
What’s Driving the Rapid Growth in ACH Payments
In this episode, Michael Herd of Nacha and analyst Ben Danner discuss the surge in ACH payments, highlighting a 4.9% rise in transaction volume and a 7.9% jump in value in 2025, driven largely by B2B use cases and the...
By PaymentsJournal
News•Feb 2, 2026
Chrome Ad Blocker Caught Hijacking Amazon Affiliate Links
A Chrome extension called Amazon Ads Blocker, marketed as an ad‑hider, was found to silently replace creator affiliate tags on Amazon product links with its own identifier (10xprofit‑20). Socket researchers discovered the extension injects the tag on page load and...
By eSecurity Planet
Podcast•Feb 2, 2026•51 min
How a Creator Made Five Figures with Live Shopping
In this episode of Tea with GaryVee, Gary outlines why Live Shopping is the biggest opportunity of 2026 and walks listeners through the exact steps to start selling on platforms like TikTok Affiliate, showing how a creator leveraged his framework...
By The GaryVee Audio Experience
News•Feb 2, 2026
OPINION: Retail Subscriptions Need to Take a Leaf Out of the Digital Playbook
Retail subscriptions are the only vertical experiencing a decline, even as the broader subscription economy grew 8.3% year‑over‑year in 2026. Guy Meyers of Recurly highlights that consumers want flexibility, with 38% more likely to pause than cancel, and value pricing...
By InternetRetailing
News•Feb 2, 2026
Urban Outfitters and Dreams Under Fire for Using Gig Economy App
Urban Outfitters and Dreams have been criticized for using the gig‑economy app Temper to staff retail and delivery roles, with some workers earning below the UK minimum wage after fees. The TUC argues the model creates bogus self‑employment, denying basic...
By Retail Gazette
News•Feb 2, 2026
Valentine’s Day Spending Projected to Be Record-Setting
The National Retail Federation forecasts Valentine’s Day spending to hit a record $29.1 billion, surpassing the 2025 high of $27.5 billion. Average shoppers plan to spend $199.78 on gifts, up from $188.81 last year. The holiday’s reach is widening, with 55% of...
By Retail Customer Experience
Blog•Feb 2, 2026
18 PPC Statistics To Inform Your Pay-Per-Click Strategy
The episode breaks down 18 key PPC statistics across conversion rates, social media, search, marketplace, and video advertising, highlighting benchmarks like a 7.52% average conversion rate on Google Ads and a $5.26 average CPC. It shows the massive scale of...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Feb 2, 2026
Custom Channels Intros In-Store Engagement Platform
Custom Channels has launched a unified in‑store engagement platform that links audio promotions with digital signage and loyalty applications, aiming to influence purchase decisions at the point of sale. The solution moves music from background ambience to a data‑driven communication...
By Retail Customer Experience
News•Feb 2, 2026
UK Ecommerce Growth in Q4 2025 Driven by Category-Specific Demand
UK ecommerce in Q4 2025 grew 17% YoY, driven by strong pet‑care (+35.2%) and beauty (+10.3%) shipments, while fashion and homewares fell sharply. Expedited delivery dominated premium categories, with 92% of beauty orders using Express or Next‑Day services. Overall parcel volume...
By ChannelX (formerly Tamebay)
News•Feb 2, 2026
Small Operational Gains, Big Impact: Building Fulfillment Agility
Retailers seeking fulfillment agility are shifting from massive overhauls to incremental improvements. A GXO and Retail Dive survey of 150 brand and retail leaders highlights five focus areas—inventory optimization, flexible workforce, purpose‑driven technology, cross‑functional decision‑making, and strategic 3PL partnerships. Small,...
By Retail Dive
News•Feb 2, 2026
Faire Teams up with Spring Fair to Launch National Survey
Faire and Spring Fair have launched the "Voices of Retail" campaign, a national survey inviting UK independent retailers to share insights via a five‑minute questionnaire available at the Spring Fair exhibition and online. The survey runs until 2 March 2026 and will...
By Retail Gazette
News•Feb 2, 2026
Dusk’s Record December Marks Strong End to 2025
Dusk, the Yorkshire‑born online furniture and homewares retailer, posted a nine‑month revenue of £140.9 million, up 26% year‑on‑year, and recorded its strongest December profitability following a robust Black Friday. The full‑year 2025 results showed a 56% revenue surge, driven by a...
By Retail Gazette
News•Feb 2, 2026
CFOs Say Cash Visibility Matters More Than Capital Access
The 2025‑2026 Growth Corporates Working Capital Index shows North American mid‑market CFOs now value cash‑flow visibility more than sheer access to capital. Firms with $50 million‑$1 billion in revenue report that clear forecasting reduces surprise financing and enables strategic use of working...
By PYMNTS
Blog•Feb 2, 2026
EBay’s New Ad Attribution Rules Look a Lot Like a Seller Tax
The episode breaks down eBay’s new Promoted Listings General attribution model that takes effect on January 13, 2026, explaining that any click on a promoted listing within the past 30 days will attribute all subsequent sales of that SKU to...
By EcomCrew
Blog•Feb 2, 2026
Top 8 Doran Alternatives For Shopify In 2026
In this episode Greg Styczynski outlines why Shopify merchants outgrow basic review apps like Doran and need more powerful solutions. He reviews eight top alternatives—Yotpo, Judge.me, Loox, Stamped, REVIEWS.io, Okendo, Junip, and Vitals—highlighting each platform’s key features such as AI‑driven...
By eCommerce Fastlane
Blog•Feb 2, 2026
U.S. eCommerce Reaches $10 Trillion in Total Sales
In Q3 2025 U.S. e‑commerce surpassed $10 trillion in cumulative sales, highlighting the sector’s massive scale despite a slowdown to 5‑10% quarterly growth. The episode explains how growth spikes during the pandemic and the 2008 crisis were temporary, and notes a...
By EcomCrew
News•Feb 2, 2026
Sephora UK Gears up for Belfast Opening
Sephora UK announced the opening of its 13th UK store in Belfast on 12 February 2026, occupying a 2,550 sq ft space at Victoria Square. The launch will feature the brand’s own Sephora Collection alongside exclusive “Only At Sephora” labels and a roster of...
By The Retail Bulletin
News•Feb 2, 2026
Primark Launches New Youth-Focused Label
Primark has introduced a new youth‑focused label called The Primark Scene, aimed at Gen Z shoppers who feel underserved by traditional kids’ ranges and adult fashion. The line, shaped over an 18‑month research period with direct input from teenagers, features low‑rise...
By The Retail Bulletin
News•Feb 2, 2026
Zucora and HealthGuard Expand Retail Partnership in Canada
Zucora and HealthGuard have deepened their Canadian retail partnership by launching the SmartOne Sleep Plan, a 10‑year protection program for mattresses and adjustable bases. The new bundle pairs the plan with a complimentary HealthGuard mattress protector and a Zucora mattress...
By Retail Insider Canada
News•Feb 2, 2026
Exclusive: Mac and Depop Are Teaming up to Convert Gen Z to Buy Lipstick
Estée Lauder’s MAC brand is launching a first‑ever beauty partnership with resale platform Depop to tap Gen‑Z shoppers. The collaboration features influencers Jordyn Woods and Leah Kateb curating wardrobes, with each purchase rewarding buyers a MAC lipstick and custom Depop...
By Glossy
News•Feb 2, 2026
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...
By Modern Retail
News•Feb 2, 2026
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...
By Glossy
News•Feb 2, 2026
What C-Suite Additions and New Board Members at Walmart, Target Signal About Their Priorities
Walmart announced a sweeping C‑suite overhaul, moving growth, e‑commerce, and merchandising leaders into roles that centralize its global platforms and accelerate AI‑driven capabilities. New CEO John Furner highlighted the need for shared technology infrastructure to stay ahead of Amazon’s AI...
By Modern Retail
News•Feb 2, 2026
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...
By Inside Retail Australia
Blog•Feb 2, 2026
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....
By eCommerce Fastlane
Social•Feb 2, 2026
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...
By Chase Dimond
Social•Feb 2, 2026
Fewer SKUs, Better Margins, Happier Founder
I know stores doing $500k/year with 2 products. I know stores doing $50k/year with 50 products. Product count isn't the metric. Focus is. Less SKUs better margins happier founder.
By Kamil Sattar
News•Feb 2, 2026
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...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 2, 2026
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...
By Retail Technology (Magazine)
Blog•Feb 1, 2026
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...
By eCommerce Fastlane
Blog•Feb 1, 2026
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...
By EcommerceBytes
Blog•Feb 1, 2026
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...
By eCommerce Fastlane
Blog•Feb 1, 2026
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...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Feb 1, 2026
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...
By The Retail Bulletin
News•Feb 1, 2026
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...
By Practical Ecommerce
News•Feb 1, 2026
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...
By ChannelX (formerly Tamebay)
News•Feb 1, 2026
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...
By ChannelX (formerly Tamebay)
Blog•Feb 1, 2026
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...
By eCommerce Fastlane
Social•Feb 1, 2026
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...
By Allie Miller
Social•Feb 1, 2026
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....
By Kamil Sattar
Social•Feb 1, 2026
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.
By Kamil Sattar