Know What's Happening in Ecommerce
Know What's Happening in Ecommerce
Ecommerce Pulse
EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
Pandemic cemented e‑commerce’s share and boosted contactless payments
The COVID‑19 shock locked e‑commerce at 16.6% of U.S. retail sales and set online grocery sales on a path to $250 billion by 2025. Two‑thirds of shoppers now use contactless payments, with 74% planning to keep the habit post‑pandemic.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Grab acquires Foodpanda Taiwan for $600M
The Social Outfit, a Sydney‑based fashion brand that blends charity, retail and manufacturing, employs refugee and migrant women while operating its own workroom and stores. CEO Amy Low is adding commercial systems—cash handling, sourcing, inventory controls—to a model that has thrived for a decade without them. The vertically integrated operation uses donated dead‑stock fabrics, can produce missing sizes in weeks, and has paid more than $2 million in wages to over 125 participants since 2014. Low sees the approach as a way to address Australia’s fashion skill shortages while proving ethical enterprises can scale profitably.
Aldi has committed £22 million to slash prices on hundreds of items, ranging from fresh produce to household essentials. The discounts include staples such as red lentils, porridge sachets and organic oats, as well as meat and cheese products. By lowering...
AI‑driven fragrance startup Osmo announced a $70 million Series B round, led by Two Sigma Ventures and backed by Alumni Ventures and Patrick Collison. The capital will fund a move to a new manufacturing hub in New Jersey and the addition of three...
Fitigues, the iconic 1990s casualwear label, has returned after founders Steve and Andi Rosenstein reclaimed its intellectual property from Sycamore Partners. The duo opened a new flagship store in Scottsdale’s luxury shopping center and added a location at Newport Beach’s...
Puma relaunched its AI Creator platform in January, inviting fans to co‑design the Olympique de Marseille 2027‑28 third kit. The contest attracted over 35,000 unique users, who spent an average of eight minutes each, produced five designs per participant and...
Goodwill Industries posted a record $7 billion in revenue for 2025, its strongest performance in 125 years, and processed roughly 300 million store transactions. Its online platform, ShopGoodwill.com, achieved $450 million in gross merchandise value, underscoring digital growth. To capitalize on rising thrift...
Plustek’s eScan document scanner is accelerating the digital transformation of Lynch Family auto dealerships. The hardware’s plug‑and‑play design eliminated the need for employee training, while built‑in remote management cut IT installation and support costs. Integrated directly with the dealership’s Docuware...
The Modern Retail Marketing Summit will convene top brand and retailer marketers in Huntington Beach from April 20‑22, spotlighting how companies are navigating rapid shifts in SEO, influencer, and AI-driven channels. Speakers include ThredUp’s SVP Kristen Brophy, Thrive Market’s CMO Amina Pasha, PacSun’s CMO...
The episode examines USPS’s new bidding platform that opens its 18,000+ delivery units to all shippers, ending Amazon’s long‑standing exclusive access to last‑mile delivery. It explains how flexible, zip‑code‑level pricing and customized service agreements could lower costs and give mid‑size...
Retail is rapidly evolving into an AI‑driven ecosystem, with technologies like computer‑vision loss prevention, dynamic pricing and personalized promotions relying on constant connectivity. Stores now operate as distributed data centers, where any network interruption instantly halts revenue and degrades the...
Plug Technologies, a marketplace for buying and selling electric vehicles, announced a $20 million Series A round led by Lightspeed. The round also included participation from Galvanize and existing backers Autotech Ventures, Leap Forward Ventures, and Renn Global. Since its launch in...
The episode explains what a UX competitive analysis is and why it matters for conversion rates, focusing on how users complete key tasks on rival sites. It walks listeners through a six‑step process—identifying direct and indirect competitors, comparing features, mapping...
In this episode Alanya Hammond breaks down new research on "agentic" AI shopping, revealing that two‑thirds of North American and UK consumers have already tried or are open to AI assistants, and pinpointing the journey stages where AI adds the...
Truist Financial unveiled an AI‑enabled receivables platform that automates payment‑to‑invoice matching for corporate clients. Leveraging machine learning and business rules, the solution scans checks and electronic payments, extracts remittance data, and integrates with ERP systems for straight‑through processing. The platform...
Packaging is no longer a hidden expense but a strategic growth lever. By treating packaging like a marketing asset, brands can boost conversion rates, lower customer acquisition costs, and increase average order value. Real‑world tests—such as a beauty brand’s $1.00...
Amazon reported that it delivered over 13 billion items with same- or next-day Prime service in 2025, a 44 percent increase from the previous year. U.S. shipments alone grew more than 30% to 8 billion items, with groceries accounting for over half of...
BuildDirect.com Technologies Inc. completed the acquisition of Greyne Custom Wood’s operating assets for $450,000 in cash on February 1. The deal brings Greyne’s $6 million FY2025 sales, U.S. inventory, and marketplace fulfillment capabilities into BuildDirect’s platform. BuildDirect expects about $405,000 in...
Spotify announced a partnership with Checkout.com to power its global payment infrastructure, leveraging the fintech’s Intelligent Acceptance, network tokenization, and authentication services. The arrangement will cover more than 180 countries, supporting Spotify’s 700 million monthly active users and 280 million paying subscribers....
In this episode Dave North explains intent‑based marketing, a strategy that uses online behavior signals to differentiate shoppers who are merely researching from those ready to buy. He outlines a five‑step process—identifying intent signals, gathering first‑ and third‑party data, segmenting...
The episode explores how choosing the right eCommerce templates can dramatically reduce cart abandonment by streamlining checkout for a global audience. It highlights key design elements such as localized payment options, transparent shipping costs, guest checkout, mobile‑first optimization, and clear...
Socure announced SocureGov RiskOS, a unified risk platform for government agencies to modernize digital identity verification. The solution merges Socure’s existing public‑sector offerings with new AI‑powered analytics, replacing fragmented legacy systems with a single ecosystem. It leverages behavioral analytics, device...
In 2025 the AI industry learned that rapid feature rollout is insufficient without robust data infrastructure and governance. AutoDS’s CEO Lior Pozin discovered that once a solid foundation of data ownership and access was built, AI shifted from a novelty...
The episode breaks down how Amazon SEO has evolved in 2026 and why high‑quality visuals, conversion rates, and data‑driven keyword research now dominate ranking. It outlines a rigorous agency evaluation framework—emphasizing Amazon‑only expertise, transparent reporting, full‑funnel optimization, proven results, and...
Stripe’s 2025 acquisition of Bridge was intended to power a dollar‑backed stablecoin layer for faster, cheaper cross‑border payments. The Information reports that Bridge’s APIs were used in transactions linked to online scams and U.S. sanctions‑listed parties, prompting fresh compliance scrutiny....
One AI prompt to audit your entire email program. Fill in your data. Get a real breakdown with dollar amounts. Works with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini - whatever you use. Full prompt in the tweet below 👇 https://t.co/Viz4mdJwZe
The episode explains how commercial‑use watercolor bundles can power a print‑on‑demand (POD) business on platforms like Etsy and Shopify, letting sellers launch multiple products quickly without creating artwork from scratch. It highlights the benefits of ready‑made, high‑quality clip‑art—speed, cost savings,...
The episode explains that choosing a Magento (Adobe Commerce) agency should be based on how well the agency’s delivery model aligns with a business’s size, complexity, and growth plans rather than generic rankings. It emphasizes the importance of technical depth,...
The episode examines the fallout from Synergy’s sudden shutdown of its restaurant gift‑card program, leaving consumers with worthless prepaid cards and highlighting the lack of consumer recourse when such issuers fail. It details Costco’s voluntary refunds, despite no legal obligation,...
Marketers, Here’s a table with 6 copywriting formulas for writing effective ads. Bookmark this 🔖 https://t.co/7S7kP7Bs6C
Arc’teryx has appointed Avery Baker, a former Tommy Hilfiger chief brand officer, as its first chief brand officer. Baker will oversee global brand strategy, marketing, communications and a new consumer‑experience team, reporting to CEO Stuart Haselden. The move coincides with the...
Everyone in the office: Counting down to 5pm. Ecom founders: Lost track of time testing a new funnel that's converting at 12%. Different mindset. Different life.
The episode breaks down the custom controller market for competitive gamers, highlighting performance upgrades such as smart triggers, adjustable stick tension, and remappable paddles as essential for faster reactions. It compares five major vendors—RushController, Scuf Gaming, ModdedZone, AimControllers, and EvilControllers—evaluating...
PayPal reported a modest 1% Q4 growth in its branded‑checkout payment volume, a sharp deceleration from the prior quarter, and its shares fell 18% on the news. The earnings release also announced a leadership transition, with board chair Enrique Lores...
The episode outlines seven practical ways e‑commerce brands can boost site performance without costly infrastructure upgrades, focusing on server response time, smart caching, image optimization, selective CDN use, database indexing, real‑device testing, and streamlining checkout. Key takeaways include cutting oversized...
eBay announced a series of free, monthly live webinars aimed at its seller community, beginning on February 19 with a focus on advertising strategies for 2026. Each session will spotlight a single topic, with the March 26 webinar covering store enhancements and...
Peloton announced it is laying off 11% of its global workforce as part of a broader restructuring effort. The cuts support a $100 million cost‑savings plan aimed at stabilizing the business by the end of fiscal year 2026. The move follows...
In this episode Richard and Tony demystify agentic commerce, explaining how AI‑driven shopping experiences are supplanting traditional websites, checkout flows, and even ad placements. They highlight the pivotal role of product data feeds and Shopify’s new agentic checkout, which links...
Walmart’s Post‑Purchase Reviews program lets eligible sellers offer shoppers a promo code incentive for leaving feedback after purchase. Participation is restricted by an internal eligibility algorithm, and sellers are barred from direct email solicitations or external gift‑card offers. The retailer...
Looking to hire a full time experienced @webflow developer (not agency). if anyone has any recommendations would greatly appreciate it
QVC announced the addition of several new beauty and wellness brands, including K18, Make Time Wellness, Karma and Medicine Mama, and will launch dedicated live‑shopping shows to showcase these products. The move aligns QVC with competitors such as Ulta, Walmart...
Turkish and EU regulators conducted coordinated raids on Temu’s offices as part of expanding antitrust and subsidy investigations. The company was fined in Poland for misleading pricing practices, and its parent, PDD Holdings, has seen its stock tumble 30% since...
Shopify’s latest POS release, version 10.20, introduces a native inventory transfer workflow that lets retail staff process both outgoing and incoming shipments directly from the POS app. The feature replaces the need to toggle to the admin dashboard, enabling users...
Advance Auto Parts has introduced a three‑tier Advance Rewards loyalty program, replacing its Speed Perks scheme. The free‑to‑join tiers—1st Gear, 2nd Gear and Top Gear—award five to ten points per dollar and allow members to stack up to $100 in...
Safello, the Swedish crypto exchange, announced its launch in Finland, a market where roughly one‑tenth of the adult population already holds digital assets. The move introduces local fiat on‑ramps and a native app tailored to Finnish regulatory requirements. Safello aims...
Levi Strauss & Co. is debuting an immersive "Home Turf" pop‑up in San Francisco from Feb 3‑5, timed with the Super Bowl at nearby Levi’s Stadium. The three‑day event blends live music, a Jordan Brand sneaker collaboration, and workshops tied to the...
Booths, the 178‑year‑old family grocer, has named Nigel Murray as its new chief executive, establishing a four‑role executive team that reports directly to him. Emma Booth, the sixth‑generation family member, was promoted to chief brand officer, becoming the first female...
Anthropologie is expanding its print catalog program, increasing annual issues from five to seven in 2026. The retailer will boost total circulation to 2.5 million copies, up from 2 million. A test‑and‑learn methodology drives the change, allowing the brand to send catalogs...
Fintech powerhouses such as Stripe, PayPal, Affirm, Revolut, Fiserv and Checkout.com are applying for federal or state banking charters. Analysts say the move promises greater control over payment settlement, cost savings and the ability to offer FDIC‑insured accounts. A special...
Claire’s, rescued from liquidation by Ames Watson’s $140 million acquisition in August 2025, has made its first C‑suite appointment by hiring former Athleta executive Michelle Goad as Chief Brand Officer. Goad will report to Ames Watson co‑founders Lawrence Berger and Tom Ripley...
In this episode, William Gasner breaks down Twitter’s Creator Revenue Sharing program, revealing that a tweet with 1 million impressions earns roughly $8‑$10 for the creator in 2025‑2026. He explains the eligibility criteria, how earnings are calculated, and why payouts are...
