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
Blog•Jan 23, 2026
OpenAI API Unit Adds $1 Billion in Annual Recurring Revenue
OpenAI announced its API unit generated over $1 billion in annual recurring revenue in the past month. The API powers third‑party developers such as Perplexity and legal‑tech startup Harvey, cementing its role as core infrastructure. The revenue boost arrives as the company evaluates advertising and other monetization strategies to counter rising compute expenses. Altman's statement underscores the rapid scaling of OpenAI’s enterprise services.
By Shopifreaks
Social•Jan 23, 2026
AI Agents Erase Traditional Brand Loyalty Forever
AI Agents Are Killing Brand Loyalty — And Reshaping How We Shop AI driven personalisation and recommendations are changing consumer habits — the article argues we may be witnessing the end of traditional brand loyalty. Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/eKJxW8du #AI #Retail #ConsumerBehaviour #BernardMarr
By Bernard Marr
News•Jan 23, 2026
Caleres Taps Interim CFO; Details Saks Bankruptcy Impact
Caleres named its chief accounting officer, Daniel Karpel, as interim CFO after Jack Calandra resigned effective Jan. 15 and will leave by Jan. 30. The company launched an external search for a permanent finance chief. Caleres also revised its Q4 guidance, flagging...
By Retail Dive
News•Jan 23, 2026
Ulta Continues Middle East Expansion with UAE Debut
Ulta Beauty is debuting in the United Arab Emirates with a flagship store at Mall of the Emirates on Jan. 29, marking its first UAE location. The expansion is executed through a franchise partnership with Alshaya Group, which also oversees Ulta’s...
By Retail TouchPoints
Social•Jan 23, 2026
Use AI for Summaries, Not Autopilot Guides
🤖 Let’s talk about good AI content use cases: Although AI-generated content is used in many scenarios, in some cases it doesn’t make sense and can do more harm than good (eg. writing guides on autopilot, without real human experience...
By Aleyda Solis
News•Jan 23, 2026
Affirm Seeks Nevada Bank Charter
Affirm Holdings has filed applications with Nevada’s Financial Institutions Division and the FDIC to obtain a state charter for an industrial loan company, dubbed "Affirm Bank." The move aims to expand its buy‑now‑pay‑later (BNPL) offerings and diversify beyond merchant‑only financing....
By Payments Dive
News•Jan 23, 2026
Verifone Tackles Identity Challenge
Verifone is tackling the biggest friction in omnichannel commerce—consumer identity—by unifying identification, loyalty and payment into a single transaction flow. The company highlights that while digital shoppers can be recognized with cookies and device fingerprints, in‑store shoppers remain anonymous until...
By Payments Dive
News•Jan 23, 2026
Iceland Bolsters Retail Media with ‘UK First’ Sensor Technology
Iceland Foods has partnered with Stratacache to roll out Walkbase sensor technology across its 766‑store retail media network, making it the first European retailer to use camera‑free, privacy‑safe audience measurement. The sensor solution will provide real‑time, closed‑loop attribution for in‑store...
By Retail Gazette
News•Jan 23, 2026
M&A Advisor on Ecommerce Valuations
Frank Kosarek, co‑founder of BizPort, explains that ecommerce valuations now hinge on seller discretionary earnings (SDE) rather than top‑line revenue, with multiples typically 2×–2.5× and up to 5× for subscription‑heavy brands. He notes that buyers prefer companies generating recurring sales,...
By Practical Ecommerce
News•Jan 23, 2026
HiStone Refreshes Flagship Portfolio
HiStone unveiled a refreshed flagship POS portfolio at NRF 2026, featuring five models powered by Intel’s 12th‑ and 13th‑Gen Core processors. The new devices—HK568A, HK578A, HK600A, HS330A and HK968A—offer clock speeds up to 4.6 GHz, expanded Smart Cache, DDR4 memory and PCIe Gen 4...
By Retail Customer Experience
News•Jan 23, 2026
Banks Without Invoicing Services Are Missing a Small Business Opportunity
The episode highlights how small businesses now view invoicing as a core part of their payments experience and why banks are uniquely positioned to capture this market. Ian Benton explains that effective invoicing tools—ranging from simple payment requests linked to...
By PaymentsJournal
Podcast•Jan 23, 2026•39 min
M&A Advisor on Ecommerce Valuations
In this episode, Frank Kosarek, co‑founder of the M&A marketplace BizPort and former head of acquisitions for a major ecommerce aggregator, explains how ecommerce business valuations have shifted toward discretionary earnings and recurring revenue models like subscriptions. He outlines the...
By Ecommerce Conversations
News•Jan 23, 2026
Hike in Retail Sales in November: Statistics Canada
Canada's retail sales grew 1.3% in November, reaching $70.4 billion, with core sales up 1.6% after two months of decline. Food and beverage stores led the rebound, posting a 3.0% increase, driven by a 14.3% surge in beer, wine and liquor...
By Retail Insider Canada
News•Jan 23, 2026
Amaze Announces Expanded Partnership with Contend to Scale the Next Generation of Creator-Led Commerce
Amaze Holdings announced an expanded strategic partnership with Contend, elevating the studio from advisor to fully integrated partner. The collaboration will combine Contend’s storytelling expertise with Amaze’s global commerce platform to deliver end‑to‑end creator‑led product launches. Throughout 2026 the duo...
By MarTech Series
News•Jan 23, 2026
Canadian Holiday Shoppers Getting Savvier: NerdWallet
NerdWallet Canada’s Harris Poll reveals that 2025 holiday shoppers spent an average of $828 on gifts, $120 more than the $708 they expected in October. Only 7% attribute the overspend to poor planning, while 43% point to inflation as the primary...
By Retail Insider Canada
News•Jan 23, 2026
OnePay Integrates Rakuten Card-Linked Offers to Make Rewards Easier and More Valuable
OnePay, the Walmart‑backed fintech, has teamed up with Rakuten’s Card‑Linked Offer Network to embed merchant cashback offers directly within its app. The integration delivers automatic, card‑linked rewards at the point of sale, eliminating the need for coupons or manual redemption....
By PaySpace Magazine
Blog•Jan 23, 2026
Form SS-4: How to Complete It & Obtain Your EIN
In this episode, Scott Vinkle walks listeners through IRS Form SS‑4, explaining its purpose as the application for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and why virtually every business needs one for banking, hiring, tax filing, and licensing. He breaks down...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 23, 2026
UK to Spend £1 Billion on Influencers, but 59% Can’t See a ROI
The UK is on track to spend more than £1 billion on influencer marketing by 2029, yet 59% of marketers say proving return on investment remains a major hurdle. Consumer trust is eroding, with authenticity, product use and clear sponsorship disclosure...
By ChannelX (formerly Tamebay)
News•Jan 23, 2026
How to Sell It Well: Expert Tips for Mid‑Winter Success
eBay released a mid‑winter selling guide to help sellers boost listings during January’s slow period. The guide highlights AI‑driven photo listings, detailed item specifics, seasonal product focus, optimized titles, and pricing research. It also advises on choosing the right sale...
By ChannelX (formerly Tamebay)
News•Jan 23, 2026
King’s Cross Reports Sales Growth Driven by Coal Drops Yard Retailers
London’s King’s Cross retail district posted double‑digit sales growth in 2024. Coal Drops Yard recorded a 20% year‑on‑year increase, while the wider estate saw total sales rise 13.5%, driven by a 16% jump in retail and a 10% lift in...
By Retail Gazette
News•Jan 23, 2026
Gr4vy and Ecommpay Partner to Simplify Global Payments Through Single Integration
Fintech platforms Gr4vy and Ecommpay announced a partnership that delivers a single‑integration solution for global payments. The joint offering merges Gr4vy’s payment orchestration layer with Ecommpay’s extensive acquiring network, giving merchants access to over 200 payment methods in more than...
By PaySpace Magazine
News•Jan 23, 2026
Retail Brand Monitoring: Protect Your Reputation
Retailers face instant brand reputation shifts as social media amplifies reviews, influencer posts, and viral content. Distinguishing brand monitoring (mention tracking) from reputation monitoring (sentiment and impact analysis) is essential for omnichannel consistency, product refinement, and crisis prevention. The article...
By The Retail Bulletin
Blog•Jan 23, 2026
What Is Stockpile Inventory? Meaning, Examples & How To Manage It Effectively
The episode defines stockpile inventory as a strategic reserve that cushions businesses against unexpected demand spikes, supply disruptions, or viral events, distinguishing it from safety stock, buffer stock, and working inventory. It outlines when to build reserves—seasonal peaks, promotions, supply‑chain...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 23, 2026
Exclusive: The Nue Co. Brings Its Functional Fragrances to Ulta Beauty
The Nue Co., a wellness brand known for functional fragrances, is launching its scent line at Ulta Beauty, expanding to 1,100 stores by April. The partnership introduces exclusive discovery kits, travel‑size 10 ml bottles, and full‑size options within Ulta’s new wellness‑focused...
By Glossy
News•Jan 23, 2026
Top Reasons Why Fintech Companies Struggle to Succeed in the Competitive Digital Landscape
Fintech firms face mounting obstacles that impede growth in an increasingly crowded digital arena. Tight regulatory regimes, persistent cash‑flow constraints for SME clients, and fierce competition for talent and technology stack integration are among the primary culprits. Recent moves—Qonto’s credit‑card...
By PaySpace Magazine
Blog•Jan 23, 2026
How to Make Your Instagram Grid Aesthetic (2026 Playbook)
In this episode, Loieto Tugas explains why a cohesive Instagram grid is crucial for e‑commerce brands, linking visual consistency to stronger first impressions, brand trust, and higher engagement that can translate into sales. He outlines practical steps for creating a...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 23, 2026
Gen X Spending Patterns Are Shifting as Costs Rise
Gen X, the 46‑61 age cohort, remains the highest‑spending group, averaging $96,941 in 2024. Rising inflation and living costs have forced 67% to trim grocery budgets and 52% to postpone major purchases such as cars or furniture. Financial strain is...
By PYMNTS
News•Jan 23, 2026
Eight in 10 Small Businesses Want Credit and on Their Terms
A PYMNTS Intelligence survey of 514 U.S. small‑to‑medium business leaders shows that 83% are confident they will be approved for a new business credit card, shifting the market focus from basic access to product flexibility. More than half of card...
By PYMNTS
Blog•Jan 23, 2026
The U.S. Consumer in 2026: Why Relevance, Not Reach, Is Driving Growth
The episode explains that U.S. consumer growth in 2026 will come from relevance, not reach, as eCommerce stabilizes and shoppers—especially Gen Z and Millennials—demand fast, personalized, cross‑device experiences while older buyers seek clarity and confidence. Mobile is now a baseline,...
By eCommerce Fastlane
News•Jan 23, 2026
Razorpay Secures RBI PA-P Licence, Expanding Fully Regulated In-Store Payments Across India
Razorpay has been granted the Reserve Bank of India’s Payment Aggregator‑Physical (PA‑P) licence, allowing its point‑of‑sale solution to function as a fully regulated aggregator for in‑store transactions. The approval comes as physical retail remains the dominant purchase channel in India,...
By PaySpace Magazine
News•Jan 23, 2026
Waterstones Enjoys Healthy Sales Both In-Store and Online
Waterstones reported a 7% sales increase to £565.6 million for the 53 weeks ending 3 May 2025, with like‑for‑like sales up 5%. Growth was broad‑based across regions and channels, driven by strong fiction titles and higher demand for stationery and children’s educational toys....
By The Retail Bulletin
Blog•Jan 23, 2026
7 High-Impact Marketing Strategies for Ecommerce
The episode outlines seven high‑impact marketing tactics for ecommerce—buzz, experiential, interactive, gamification, AR, influencer, and co‑marketing—emphasizing the need to focus on one strategy at a time to drive measurable results. Each tactic is explained with its primary goal, key tactics,...
By eCommerce Fastlane
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News•Jan 23, 2026
Luxury Briefing: Inside Burberry’s Outerwear-Led Recovery
Burberry’s latest fiscal third‑quarter results show a clear rebound driven primarily by outerwear sales, rather than a sweeping brand reinvention. After years of repositioning under the Burberry Forward framework, the company shifted focus from scarves—used to boost store traffic—to high‑margin...
By Glossy
News•Jan 23, 2026
Fabletics Is Turning Its Stores Into Membership Growth Hubs
Fabletics is repurposing its 120‑store footprint as a primary engine for VIP membership acquisition, with roughly half of in‑store shoppers signing up. The VIP program now accounts for more than 95% of the brand’s revenue, supporting a $1 billion revenue milestone...
By Modern Retail
News•Jan 23, 2026
How First Thing Built a Defensible Position in a Noisy Market
First Thing, an Australian intimates brand founded by Georgia Gazal, has carved a defensible niche by focusing on comfort‑first, everyday wear rather than high‑glamour marketing. Its flagship strapless bra, sold out six times and purchased every 34 minutes, solves long‑standing...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Jan 23, 2026
Amazon to Cut 14,000 Corporate Jobs in Second Round of Layoffs
Amazon announced a second round of corporate layoffs, targeting roughly 14,000 employees as early as Jan. 27. This follows an initial cut of 14,000 staff in October and brings the total planned reductions to 30,000, about 10% of its corporate...
By PYMNTS
Blog•Jan 23, 2026
USPS Warns of Disruptions Due to Weekend Storm
The United States Postal Service announced a temporary suspension of its Priority Mail Express guarantee and a nationwide halt to Live animal shipments from 00:01 EST Friday January 23 through 00:01 EST Monday January 26, 2026, citing Winter Storm Fern. The storm is projected to bring Arctic‑vortex temperatures,...
By EcommerceBytes
News•Jan 23, 2026
Affirm and Esusu to Launch Flexible Payment Option for Renters
Affirm and fintech platform Esusu are piloting a rent‑payment option that splits monthly rent into two interest‑free installments with no late fees. The service will be available to Esusu members, adding to the recently launched Esusu Pay tool. Esusu’s platform...
By PYMNTS
News•Jan 23, 2026
Guzman Y Gomez Sides with Uber Eats as Exclusive Delivery Partner
Guzman Y Gomez (GYG) has signed a multi‑year exclusive agreement with Uber Eats, making the platform the sole delivery channel for its Australian outlets from February 22. The deal includes joint investment aimed at enhancing value, choice and convenience for...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Jan 23, 2026
Why Sa Sa’s Recovery Is Not a Return to the Old Tourist Retail Model
Sa Sa International posted a 12.5% rise in quarterly turnover to HK$1.16 billion, driven by both brick‑and‑mortar and online channels. Offline sales in Hong Kong and Macau grew 11.8% year‑on‑year, with same‑store sales up 14.7%, while average transaction value rose 9.4%....
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Jan 23, 2026
Amazon Upgrades RFID Lanes
Amazon announced a next‑generation RFID lane system that is fully portable and can be installed in a matter of hours rather than weeks. The new lanes retain the high‑accuracy scanning capabilities of earlier models while shedding the need for permanent...
By Retail Technology (Magazine)
Social•Jan 22, 2026
Web3 AI Powers Low‑Fee, Global Crypto E‑Commerce
How is Web 3.0 (blockchain and decentralized Web) and AI mixing to make new kinds of businesses possible? I sat down with the founders of @BasaltHQ to learn about its new store (Shopify competitor) that uses blockchain-based cryptocurrencies to reduce...
By Robert Scoble
Blog•Jan 22, 2026
How to Bootstrap a Business: Strategies From Founders Who’ve Done It
The episode explores how founders of Larroudé, Dapper Boi, and Province of Canada built successful brands on shoestring budgets by prioritizing speed, early validation, and DIY branding. Ricardo Larroudé leveraged tight capital allocation and in‑house production to secure wholesale orders...
By eCommerce Fastlane
Blog•Jan 22, 2026
How to Manage Social Media Content Across Multiple Platforms
The episode explains how to efficiently manage social media content across multiple platforms by turning a single core idea into platform‑specific formats rather than reposting identical material. It outlines a workflow that starts with a central content plan, creates a...
By eCommerce Fastlane
Social•Jan 22, 2026
Shopify Partners Record In‑person Podcast Episode Next Month
Two smart @Shopify partners coming to the studio next month to record in person for The Unofficial Shopify Podcast. IRL hits different. https://t.co/F9J0BU4qre
By Kurt Elster
News•Jan 22, 2026
Temu Challenges Amazon’s Cross-Border Ecommerce Market Share in 2025
Temu captured roughly 24% of cross‑border ecommerce sales in 2025, matching Amazon as the leading seller in that segment. The surge follows a sub‑1% share in 2022 and a high‑profile Super Bowl campaign in early 2023. IPC data shows shoppers...
By Digital Commerce 360
Blog•Jan 22, 2026
Global Baby Furniture Suppliers List: Standards, Materials & Certifications
The episode outlines how importers and brands can secure a market edge by partnering with top baby‑furniture manufacturers such as DaVinci, Babyletto, Bugaboo, Clafbebe, Peg Perego and UPPAbaby, emphasizing their blend of high‑design aesthetics, scalable production, and strict safety compliance. It...
By eCommerce Fastlane
Blog•Jan 22, 2026
Rank Tracking In 2026: 10 Tips For The AI-First Era
The episode explains how rank tracking has become a strategic, data‑driven asset in the AI‑first search landscape of 2026, where zero‑click results and AI Overviews dominate. It highlights the need to monitor new metrics such as citation status, visual rank,...
By eCommerce Fastlane
Social•Jan 22, 2026
UCP Proxy Connects Any E‑commerce System to Shopping Agents
We build UCP Proxy to take any ecommerce system and expose it via UCP to shopping agents. Make commerce better for everyone.
By Tobi Lutke
Blog•Jan 22, 2026
15 Email Marketing Metrics That Really Matter In 2026
The episode breaks down the 15 essential email marketing metrics—ranging from deliverability (delivery, bounce, spam complaint rates) to engagement (open, click‑through, CTOR, engagement rate) and revenue impact (conversion, revenue per email, ROI) and list health (unsubscribe, growth) and attribution. It...
By eCommerce Fastlane