Know What's Happening in Ecommerce
Know What's Happening in Ecommerce
Ecommerce Pulse
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EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
E‑commerce solidifies 16.6% share as online grocery set to hit $250B by 2025
The pandemic cemented e‑commerce’s share at 16.6% of U.S. retail, and online grocery sales are projected to reach $250 billion by 2025. Contactless payments surged, with roughly two‑thirds of consumers adopting the technology and 74% saying they will keep using it post‑pandemic.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Grab acquires Foodpanda Taiwan for $600M
Simon Property Group CEO David Simon said tariffs will keep weighing on retailers, potentially removing a few hundred million dollars of EBITDA from the company’s Catalyst Brands portfolio. He downplayed the effect of recent bankruptcies, noting that closed stores such as Francesca’s and Saks Off‑5th can be replaced with higher‑rent tenants to boost mall productivity. Simon also pointed to heightened ICE activity and Canadian consumer frustration as factors dampening traffic at northern‑border locations. Despite these headwinds, overall sales, tenant demand and foot traffic are trending upward post‑pandemic.
Estée Lauder Companies reported a 6% rise in Q2 net sales to $4.2 billion, marking the first growth after its “Beauty Reimagined” turnaround plan. Fragrance, skin‑care and hair‑care all posted double‑digit gains, while makeup slipped 1% despite MAC’s TikTok Shop debut....
The Federal Reserve announced Fedwire will run on Sundays and holidays, signaling a regulatory move toward 24‑hour payments. Mihail Duta of Finastra argues banks must modernize to meet digital‑native expectations for instant fund availability. Legacy systems lack the scalability and...
Retailers are redefining in‑store spaces, moving from seasonal inventory displays to experience‑driven environments that blend pop‑culture moments, digital balance, and personal relevance. Emerging trends include curating brand‑centric “shop‑within‑a‑shop” zones, nature‑inspired biomorphic designs, and modular display systems that can be reconfigured...
Staples Canada, a three‑decade leader in next‑day delivery, has modernized its fulfillment network by adding Locus Robotics to two warehouses and plans three more deployments this year. The robots, integrated with a Manhattan Active WMS, have nearly doubled productivity, boosted...
Doorly, formerly Appacut, has rebranded and expanded from a mobile barber booking app into an on‑demand home‑services marketplace operating in nine UK cities. Backed by £600,000 of investment, the platform now offers eight service categories ranging from personal chefs to...
Lightspeed Commerce reported fiscal Q3 revenue of $312.3 million, slightly beating its own and analysts’ forecasts, while posting a net loss of $33.6 million, wider than a year ago. The company upgraded its full‑year revenue outlook to $1.22 billion and expects higher gross...
Brands are sidestepping the $7 million Super Bowl TV spot by rolling out real‑world activations across the Bay Area. eBay is converting its End Zone pop‑up into a live‑shopping studio, while Abercrombie & Fitch debuts an NFL‑licensed capsule and Pro Bowl...
The article outlines five March 2026 content‑marketing ideas—spring renewal, National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day, Live Long and Prosper Day, Make Up Your Own Holiday Day, and the America at 250 celebration. Each concept pairs a seasonal or cultural moment with product‑focused storytelling...
The episode breaks down whether selling on Etsy is worthwhile in 2026, covering the platform’s massive buyer base, fee structure, and the most popular product categories such as personalized jewelry and craft supplies. It highlights the major advantages—low startup costs,...
Aldi celebrates its 50th U.S. anniversary by unveiling an aggressive expansion plan, targeting more than 180 new stores across 31 states in 2026. The retailer aims to reach nearly 2,800 locations by year‑end and has a five‑year Colorado strategy that...
Cross‑border B2B sourcing has become overwhelmingly mobile, with over 70 % of inquiries now made on smartphones or tablets. Ecer.com, an early mobile‑first marketplace, has built a comprehensive trade ecosystem that combines real‑time messaging, AI translation, and immersive VR/3D tools. These...
ATEC America’s Vice President Ryan Loebs showcased the C3L Compact Cash Recycler at NRF 2026, emphasizing its multi‑function capabilities beyond a traditional ATM. Despite its small footprint, the device delivers high‑speed cash dispensing, deposit, and recycling, positioning it as a...
The article argues that retail success in 2026 will be defined by flawless execution rather than elaborate planning. Tight budgets, leaner teams and faster‑moving customer expectations force brands to gain real‑time visibility into store‑level actions. Companies that close the gap...
Pashley Cycles, a century‑old British bike maker, appointed former Ribble CEO Andy Smallwood to spearhead a brand revival. Smallwood has consolidated manufacturing, showroom and sales under one roof, emphasizing fully UK‑made frames built from Reynolds steel. The company shifted its...
Nykaa reported Rs 2,873 crore revenue in Q3 FY26, a 27% year‑on‑year increase, while net profit surged 2.5‑fold to Rs 68 crore. The beauty segment continued to dominate, delivering 91% of total sales, and operating costs rose to Rs 2,753 crore. Sequentially, profit more than doubled...
Sainsbury’s chief retail, logistics and supply chain officer Tracey Clements and Amazon’s EU Fresh director Matt Birch have been appointed trustees of the Retail Trust, joining a board that already includes senior figures from Landsec, New Look and Matalan. The charity works...
The Scoop trade show opens at London’s Olympia on 8 February, celebrating its 15th anniversary. Over 250 designers from Europe, the US and Australia will present collections spanning fashion, accessories, home, beauty and menswear. Leading retailers including Harrods, John Lewis,...
A PYMNTS Intelligence study of 2,199 cardholders reveals that 67% of limit‑increase requests are denied, while 56% of granted increases occur automatically. Subprime borrowers experience a 94% denial rate, and after a denial, 31% cut usage, 20% seek a new...
Digital wallets have moved from niche to mainstream, propelled by Apple Pay’s rapid adoption and the pandemic‑driven eCommerce surge, making tokenized checkout the new standard. Over the past five years issuers expanded Apple Pay across markets, while consumers shifted to...
Lydia, a leading European mobile wallet, announced a partnership with Mistral AI to embed generative‑AI capabilities directly into its payment processing stack. The collaboration will power real‑time fraud detection, dynamic risk scoring, and personalized checkout experiences across Lydia’s merchant network....
Marks & Spencer opened an 83,000‑square‑foot flagship in Bath’s SouthGate, replacing its former city store. The four‑storey venue houses a 14,000‑square‑foot market‑style food hall, a 1,600‑square‑foot beauty hall featuring Estée Lauder and other brands, and a top‑floor homeware collection including the...
Gymshark has promoted Carly Natalizia to chief commercial officer after four years as vice president of marketing and most recently chief digital officer. Natalizia previously led marketing at The Very Group and held senior roles at Virgin Money, MBNA, Bank...
Best & Less has partnered with Connecting Plots Group to launch a new brand repositioning campaign called “So. Much. Better.” The campaign reframes value as freedom for Australian families, emphasizing authentic, messy moments over curated perfection. Research underpinning the work...
Marico announced the acquisition of a 60% stake in plant‑based nutrition startup Cosmix, adding the brand to its growing D2C portfolio that already includes Plix, True Elements, Just Herbs and Beardo. Cosmix more than doubled its FY25 revenue to ₹50.93 crore...
CHINI KUM, a zero‑sugar beverage startup, secured ₹1 crore in pre‑seed funding from a group of angel investors and founder participation. The capital will fund product innovation, flavor expansion, and nationwide distribution, with a focus on quick‑commerce channels. The brand launched its...
Dotshop, an Australian luxury e‑commerce platform founded by Lisa Ruffle and Steve Jensen, combines human editorial curation with AI to deliver intuitive product discovery. Unlike algorithm‑driven marketplaces that prioritize scale, Dotshop’s AI interprets taste, intent and behavior within a framework...
JB Hi-Fi announced the launch of its own retail media network, the first dedicated to the consumer electronics sector. The service is built in partnership with Retail MediaWorks and will allow brands and agencies to run targeted omnichannel campaigns across...
The episode discusses Amazon’s recent leadership reshuffle in its Worldwide Selling Partner Services (SPS) division, with VP Dharmesh Mehta moving to a Technical Advisor role for CEO Andy Jassy and Amit Agarwal taking over SPS while also overseeing Customer Trust....
Coresight Research projects the U.S. GLP‑1 drug market to surge from $42.6 billion in 2024 to $137 billion by 2030, driven by broader insurance coverage and next‑generation oral therapies. The rapid adoption of GLP‑1 medications is reshaping retail demand, with consumers buying...
The episode examines Shopify's recent overhaul of its partner program and API terms, which now require explicit permission for any use of merchant or customer data to train AI models, and its parallel initiative to give founders of acquired startups...
Celebrity makeup artist Mary Phillips’ brand m.ph by Mary Phillips introduced Le Skin Weightless Serum Foundation, a $49, 35‑shade, medium‑coverage formula with 2% niacinamide. The launch follows the brand’s underpainting palette and aims to become Sephora’s number‑one foundation, challenging Haus...
TikTok’s U.S. operation was sold for roughly $14 billion to a consortium that includes Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX, underscoring the platform’s strategic value. Recent data shows TikTok Shop moved about $19 billion of goods globally in Q3 2024, rivaling legacy marketplaces. Brands...
Modern Retail and Glossy highlighted a surge in health‑focused consumer behavior for 2026, driven by wearable tech like the Oura ring and the rise of biohacking. Shoppers are increasingly demanding data‑backed efficacy for functional ingredients such as adaptogens, pre‑biotics, and...
Consumer enthusiasm for health data is reshaping the wellness market, driven by wearable devices such as the Oura ring and the rise of biohacking. Shoppers are increasingly demanding proof of product efficacy and are scrutinizing health claims more rigorously. Brands...
In this episode, founder Kendall Kransdorf of COTTO explains how she sold out her first production batch in just 30 minutes by prioritizing audience building over product readiness. She shares concrete social‑media strategies—such as pre‑launch content, community engagement, and demand...
CommerceX Holdings, a Japanese retail‑tech firm, raised ¥17.3 billion in a Series A round that combines equity and debt financing. The capital will fund an aggressive M&A strategy and upgrades to RECORE, its cloud‑based POS system for the reuse industry. Management targets...
Ermenegildo Zegna Group posted €1.92 billion in full‑year 2025 revenue, a 1.5% decline year‑on‑year, while the fourth quarter saw organic sales rise 4.6% driven by direct‑to‑consumer (DTC) growth across Zegna, Thom Browne and Tom Ford Fashion. The group accelerated its strategic shift toward...
Walmart's market value topped $1 trillion on Tuesday, making it the first traditional retailer to achieve that milestone. The surge followed a 2.9% share price gain after the company highlighted its automation and e‑commerce investments under CEO John Furner. Walmart’s move...
In the second half of their $10 million scaling playbook, Mark and Ian dive into the concrete tactics that turn traffic into sustainable revenue. They argue that email is the true growth engine, outline three levers—margin, lifetime value, and inventory—that dictate...
Walmart’s clearance aisle is offering deep discounts on Nvidia GPUs, with a Reddit user reporting a PNY GeForce RTX 5080 purchased for $562—almost half its $999 MSRP. Similar markdowns include RTX 5070 cards at $439, roughly a one‑third price cut. The reductions...
In this episode Karolina Petraskiene explains what transactional emails are and why they are the biggest revenue drivers for ecommerce, citing 2025‑2026 stats that show a $2.87 average revenue per email and a 19‑times higher conversion rate than marketing blasts....
Performance Food Group appointed Scott McPherson as CEO, pledging a stronger technology and efficiency agenda. The company posted fiscal Q2 net sales of $16.445 billion, up 5.2% year‑over‑year, and net earnings of $61.7 million, a 45.5% increase. Integration of the recent Cheney Brothers...
E.l.f. Beauty posted a 38% jump in Q3 fiscal 2026 net sales to $489.5 million, largely fueled by the recent acquisition of Hailey Bieber’s brand Rhode. The company lifted its full‑year outlook, now expecting Rhode to contribute $260‑$265 million, up from $200 million....
In this episode, Shopify Senior SEO Specialist Arthur Camberlein explains what internal links are and why they’re vital for both user navigation and search‑engine crawling. He breaks down the main types of internal links—navigational, sidebar, footer, breadcrumb, contextual, CTA, and...
The Knot launched its first ChatGPT app, integrating its wedding planning platform with OpenAI’s conversational AI. The app draws on the company’s vendor marketplace and over 14.6 million reviews to deliver personalized, visual‑first vendor recommendations, review summaries, and smart rankings. Couples...
Klarna has joined Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), enabling its buy‑now/pay‑later service to operate within Google’s AI‑driven shopping ecosystem. The protocol, now backed by major card brands and PayPal, seeks to standardise agentic AI interactions for safer, more transparent commerce....
Senators Ruben Gallego and Bernie Moreno introduced the Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct Act (SCAM Act) on Feb. 4, requiring online platforms to take reasonable steps to block fraudulent and deceptive ads. The bill expands the Federal Trade Commission’s and...
Clorox has finished a five‑year, $580 million SAP ERP rollout across the United States and Canada, replacing a two‑decade‑old legacy system in 21 manufacturing plants. The cloud‑based platform unifies finance, supply chain, sales and planning with real‑time data, after training more...
Grainger announced a 2026 AI expansion across its sales, marketing, and inventory services. The company will embed artificial intelligence into its SellerInsights platform to deliver prescriptive selling recommendations, new customer contacts, and coaching insights. Machine‑learning models will also optimize marketing...
