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
How Shipway Is Rewriting the Economics of D2C Shipping
Shipway, the AI‑driven logistics platform owned by Unicommerce, has reached a Rs 100 crore annualised run‑rate and breakeven adjusted EBITDA after crossing 1 million monthly shipments. Its ShipSense AI engine evaluates warehouse proximity, courier performance, payment mode and return patterns in real time to select the optimal carrier for each order. The technology has lifted on‑time delivery rates for D2C brands such as Dr Veda from 70% to 78% while cutting returns and customer queries. With India’s parcel market projected to double by FY30, Shipway’s intelligence layer positions it as a strategic growth lever for online retailers.
Newcastle eBay Business Roadshow 12th May
eBay is hosting its Business Roadshow in Newcastle on May 12, 2026, the third stop of its UK tour. The half‑day event at Northumbria University offers hands‑on workshops, one‑on‑one seller clinics, and networking with eBay experts and local entrepreneurs. Attendees...
Learn From Retail Media Leaders at Retail MediaX
Retail MediaX Europe 2026 convenes on May 14 in London, bringing together leading retailers, brands, agencies, and technology partners. The agenda features a keynote panel with Criteo’s Andy Stephen, Zalando’s Joanna Rogers, and Google’s Roxanne van Duijn, followed by three...
TemperPack Launches New Mailer to Replace Boxes for E-Commerce Shippers
TemperPack unveiled a recyclable padded mailer that replaces traditional cardboard boxes for e‑commerce shipments. The mailer uses proprietary WaveKraft® paper‑based material, delivering 50‑80% better cushioning than plastic or standard padded mailers. Its gusseted design opens wide, speeds packing, and meets...
Wayfair Launches Paid Loyalty Programme for UK Shoppers
Wayfair has introduced Wayfair Rewards, a paid loyalty scheme for UK shoppers, charging an annual £20 fee (about $25). Members receive a 5% cash‑back rebate on every purchase, free standard delivery regardless of order size, and perks such as a...
Prologis and Singapore’s GIC Commit $1.6 Billion to Build New U.S. Logistics Centers
Prologis and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC have formed a $1.6 billion joint venture to develop new logistics centers in the United States. The partnership aims to expand the supply of high‑quality industrial space amid surging e‑commerce demand, positioning both firms...
StubHub to Refund $10 Million and Revamp Ticket Pricing After FTC Settlement
StubHub agreed to a $10 million consumer refund and a mandatory redesign of its price‑display system after the FTC charged the platform with deceptive ticket‑pricing practices. The settlement, pending court approval, compels the company to show total ticket costs up‑front, a...
The Financial Case for Hiring an Amazon Marketing Agency Vs. Building In-House
CFOs facing Amazon advertising budgets in the six‑ to eight‑figure range must decide whether to build an in‑house team or hire an Amazon marketing agency. The article breaks down fully loaded costs for specialists—including salaries, benefits, software and turnover risk—and...
Hers Disrupts Women’s Primary Care with Direct‑to‑Consumer Telehealth Platform
Hers, the women‑focused arm of the Hims brand, provides a full‑service telehealth experience that lets users complete a diagnostic quiz, receive a provider review and have prescription meds delivered to their door. The model challenges traditional primary‑care clinics by turning...
Costco Rolls Out "More Stay, Less Pay" Hotel Bundles, Promising Savings for Millions
Costco is adding a "More Stay, Less Pay" option to its travel platform, letting members book longer hotel stays at a reduced rate and receive digital Costco Shop Cards. The move targets budget‑conscious travelers and could pressure online travel agencies...
Kobo Clara Colour Debuts at $159, Undercutting Amazon's Kindle Colorsoft by $90
Kobo has introduced the Clara Colour e‑reader at a U.S. price of $159, positioning it as a cheaper alternative to Amazon's Kindle Colorsoft, which retails for $249. The device adds a color front‑lit display, warm night lighting, a 49‑hour battery...
Verizon Hospitality Leader Shares Insight on Eliminating Retail's Phantom Inventory
Verizon’s hospitality strategy leader Katie Riddle explains how phantom inventory—when system data shows stock that isn’t physically present—drives lost sales and erodes loyalty. She identifies legacy batch‑update systems and poor shelf monitoring as root causes. Riddle highlights computer‑vision cameras and...
Focus on TikTok Affiliate Marketing
TikTok affiliate marketing leverages the Creator Marketplace to pair brands with vetted creators who promote products for a commission. The model emphasizes micro‑influencers and niche communities, where authentic recommendations outperform polished celebrity ads. By integrating affiliate links into TikTok Lives,...
Cainiao Scales Cross-Border
Cainiao is rolling out its five‑day international delivery service to 14 countries, marking a shift toward more integrated air logistics for cross‑border e‑commerce. The expansion leverages stronger hub operations in Liège and Hong Kong and deepened airline partnerships, notably with...
Next Hunts Head of Data Science for AI Search Shake-Up
UK fashion retailer Next is launching a global search for its first Head of AI and Data Science, based at its Leicestershire headquarters. The role will oversee the intelligence layer serving over 3 million daily customers across 80+ sites and drive...
AI Is Changing How Your Shoppers Feel About Your Brand
Retail shoppers are increasingly using large language models (LLMs) as the first point of product discovery, with eight in ten shoppers under 44 relying on AI before visiting a retailer’s site. The Rithum survey of 1,046 U.S. and U.K. shoppers...
RF vs RFID: Why Retailers Are Moving Beyond Traditional EAS
Retailers are augmenting legacy RF‑based Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) with RFID tags that uniquely identify each item. While RF still triggers alarms at exits, RFID supplies item‑level data—SKU, value, time and location of a loss event. The hybrid approach lets...
Amazon Get Strict on Reference Pricing
Amazon announced stricter reference‑pricing rules that take effect on April 23, 2026 for Recommended Retail Price (RRP) and on May 18, 2026 for the “Was” price calculation. Sellers must now prove that the RRP matches a recent featured‑offer sale on...
Why 98% of Startups Fail? A BigBasket Competitor’s Journey From Early Traction to Shutdown
Sushant Junnarkar’s online‑grocery venture captured early traction in the 2010s, reaching 70‑80 orders a day and earning coverage in the Economic Times and Business World. The startup’s low‑inventory model faltered when well‑capitalised rivals like BigBasket entered, raising customer expectations and...
Aligning Manufacturing Support Services with Retail Supply Chain Operations
Retail supply chains have become far more complex as e‑commerce, omnichannel buying and globally distributed sourcing raise delivery expectations. This complexity creates gaps in order accuracy, inventory positioning and fulfillment speed when manufacturing and retail operate in silos. Integrating manufacturing...
Impact on “Taipei International Chain and Franchise Spring Exhibition 2026”
The 2026 Taipei International Chain and Franchise Spring Exhibition, held in March, set a new scale record with hundreds of exhibitors and highlighted themes of Smart Retail, Low Labor Dependency, and AI‑Driven Entrepreneurship. Attendees experienced robotic tea dispensers, AI‑enhanced photo...
Amazon Expands Global Logistics With Shenzhen GWD Facility in 2026
Amazon will launch its first Global Warehousing and Distribution (GWD) hub in Shenzhen, China, in March 2026, creating a single‑origin inventory model for sellers worldwide. The AI‑driven facility will handle warehousing, customs, cross‑border transport and global distribution from one location,...
Seasonal Peaks Drive 22% Surge in Q1 eCommerce Deliveries
Scurri’s Q1 2026 data shows eCommerce deliveries surged 22% year‑over‑year, with 46.7 million shipments processed. Gross merchandise value climbed €907 million (about $990 million) to €5 billion (≈$5.5 billion), underscoring strong consumer demand despite economic headwinds. Seasonal spikes around Valentine’s and Mother’s Day lifted volumes,...
OxygenCare Launches New Online Medical Device Shop – Easing Access to Hospital-Grade Breast Pumps Across Ireland
Irish medical‑equipment provider OxygenCare has unveiled a new online shop and rental platform, giving the island of Ireland exclusive access to Medela’s Symphony hospital‑grade breast pump. The service lets parents and healthcare providers rent or purchase the pump, with delivery...
3PL Fit: Staying in Your Lane Drives 3PL Growth
In this episode, Kevin Lawton talks with Dave Hariger, CEO of Swift House, about the evolution of his 3PL from a textbook resale operation to a boutique fulfillment provider focused on small brands. Hariger explains how a sudden loss of...
Iceland Offers Free Same-Day Delivery This Week in Online Growth Push
Iceland Foods is rolling out free same‑day delivery for orders over £40 (approximately $51) from now until Thursday, 16 April. The service, available until 9 pm each day, promises delivery within two hours and applies to the full range of Iceland and...
Drone Delivery Is Taking Off in the US, Could 2026 Be the UK’s Breakthrough Moment?
Walmart announced a 150‑store expansion of its Wing‑partnered drone delivery program, bringing the total to 270 stores by the end of 2027 and putting roughly 40 million Americans within reach of ultra‑fast aerial shipments. The move underscores a shift from pilot...
Customer Friction: How To Spot and Reduce Customer Friction
Customer friction describes any obstacle that makes it harder for shoppers to complete a purchase or engage with a brand, ranging from confusing checkout steps to limited payment options. The article explains how friction differs from pain points and why...
Kohl’s Is Stepping up Its Creator Efforts as It Attempts a Sales Reset
Kohl’s is expanding its creator marketing program to reverse a 4% drop in net sales and a softer‑than‑expected fourth‑quarter. The retailer now works with about 1,500 nano‑creators, offering commissions, free products and exclusive event access, while maintaining a roster of...
Candy Brand Behave Bet Everything on TikTok Shop, Went Viral and Secured a Target Launch
In summer 2024, low‑sugar candy brand Behave faced bankruptcy with only 60 days of cash left. The founders pivoted to TikTok Shop, posting multiple daily videos until a viral post of their Super Sour Skulls sold out in three days...
Creator Content Has Become Critical for Retail Media Networks
Retail media networks are weaving creator‑led content into brand campaigns, leveraging sales data to pinpoint influencers with the highest conversion potential. Walmart Connect has expanded its Omnicom partnership to include Meta insights, while Best Buy will run seasonal YouTube spots with...
AI Could Make MEDVi $1b in Sales – but It Could Also Break It
MEDVi, an online GLP‑1 weight‑loss drug retailer, posted $401 million in 2025 sales and is projected to reach $1.8 billion in 2026 after scaling from a $20,000, two‑person AI‑built operation. Founder Matthew Gallagher leveraged generative AI for everything from code to customer...
Pacsun Rolls Out PS Vintage Resale Shops in 16 Stores, Targeting Gen Z Circular Fashion
Pacsun has introduced its PS Vintage resale concept in 16 brick‑and‑mortar stores, moving the online‑first program onto the shop floor. Partnering with second‑hand specialist Springy, the retailer aims to capture Gen Z’s demand for unique, sustainable fashion while revitalizing physical...
Google and Shopify Unveil Universal Commerce Protocol, Shifting E‑commerce to AI Agents
Google and Shopify introduced the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) at the NRF conference, collapsing discovery, checkout and payment into a single AI‑driven conversational interaction. The shift threatens traditional e‑commerce funnels and forces marketers to rethink measurement, visibility and monetization strategies.
Vietnam: Emerging Global Test Bed for AI-Driven Commerce
Vietnam is emerging as a global test bed for AI‑driven commerce, with 89% of online adults messaging businesses weekly and 78% finding AI chatbots helpful. The market has matured from basic social commerce to a "social commerce 2.0" where AI...
Amazon’s Major P&G Sale Is Back: Spend $80, Get $20 Credit – Save on Tide, Pampers, Dawn, Gillette, & More
Amazon has revived its partnership promotion with Procter & Gamble, offering shoppers a $20 Amazon credit when they spend at least $80 on qualifying P&G items. The deal covers household staples such as Tide detergent, Pampers diapers, Bounty paper towels,...
The 10-Person, $10 Million Brand: Where AI Compresses Teams and Human Judgment Wins
Shopify’s 2025 AI‑first memo now forces teams to prove a task can’t be done with AI before requesting new hires, reshaping hiring logic for fast‑growing merchants. A contrasting example from Klarna shows that full automation of customer service can erode...
Why Ecommerce SEO Is More Complicated Than It Looks
E‑commerce SEO is far more complex than standard website SEO because online stores must optimize thousands of product pages, manage crawl‑budget constraints, and handle faceted navigation. Technical factors such as page speed, duplicate content, and structured data become critical, especially...
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy Warns Tariffs Are Creeping Into Consumer Prices as Stockpiles Dwindle
Amazon chief Andy Jassy told CNBC that the retailer’s early‑year inventory buildup has run out, and tariffs are now showing up in product prices. The comment comes as the U.S. government processes $166 billion in tariff refunds for companies while consumers...
EXEC: Resale Activity Continues to Boom
ThredUp’s 2026 Resale Report shows the U.S. secondhand apparel market reached $56 billion in 2025 and is projected to hit $78.8 billion by 2030, outpacing traditional retail. Gen Z and Millennials will generate 64 percent of incremental resale spend, with Gen Z alone driving 40 percent...
Shake Shack Rolls Out Project Catalyst to Power AI‑Driven Loyalty and Unified Commerce
Shake Shack announced Project Catalyst, a technology overhaul that adds AI‑powered loyalty, unified commerce and edge‑based POS upgrades. Partnering with cloud‑native platform Qu, the chain aims to scale to 1,500 company‑operated restaurants while tightening direct guest relationships.
Car‑Shopping Sites See EV Interest Surge After $4‑per‑Gallon Gas Shock
Cars.com and Edmunds disclosed a noticeable rise in electric‑vehicle (EV) interest after U.S. gasoline prices breached the $4‑per‑gallon threshold, a level the Wall Street Journal says triggers reconsideration of EVs. EV sales jumped 12% in the first quarter, while Chinese...
Unlock Six-Figure Income with Low-Budget Supplement Dropshipping
How To Make F**k You” Money Dropshipping Supplements WATCH HERE 👉 https://t.co/DQBjyLXcH6 Most people are sleeping on one of the biggest opportunities in ecommerce right now: supplement dropshipping. In this video, I break down how to start a supplement brand with...
Retention, Not Acquisition, Drives Explosive Revenue Growth
Right now, this pattern is repeating itself in real time (D2C Wellness Brand) $1.2M/month… growth flat for the last 120 days “We’ve scaled… but now it just feels stuck” The issue wasn’t acquisition—it was weak retention economics We built LTV systems + repeat purchase...
BNPL Use Soars Among U.S. Millennials as Inflation Fuels Flexible Financing
A new Omni Calculator survey finds 74% of U.S. Millennials have used buy‑now‑pay‑later (BNPL) services, outpacing all other age groups. The BNPL market is projected to hit $127.94 billion this year, a growth spurred by March’s 0.9% CPI rise and a...
10 Hidden Email Issues Plaguing Every E‑commerce Account
These 10 email problems show up in almost every ecom account we audit. Including the ones that look like they’re running fine. (bookmark this) https://t.co/TmpJZsENk4
Spotting Niche Trends Early Fuels $10M Success
In 2017, I saw a Facebook post from a mum sewing weighted blankets for her son. Then I launched Calming Blankets and did $10M in first proper year. This is how I predict winning trends before they happen: https://t.co/2y8EKhNoK8
![[Targeted] Amazon: Get Up To 50% Off When Using $3 American Express Reward Dollars (Up To $80 In Discounts)](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://www.doctorofcredit.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/amazon.webp)
[Targeted] Amazon: Get Up To 50% Off When Using $3 American Express Reward Dollars (Up To $80 In Discounts)
Amazon is running a limited‑time promotion that offers up to 50% off, capped at an $80 discount, when shoppers use at least $3 of American Express Reward Dollars from Blue Cash, Blue Cash Business, or Cash Magnet cards. The deal...
Converse's Iconic High-Top Chucks Are an Extremely Rare 20% Off at Zappos
Zappos has launched its "Win The Season" sale, giving shoppers 20% off the iconic Converse Chuck Taylor All‑Star high‑top sneakers. The discount drops the price from $65 to $52 when customers apply the WIN20 promo code at checkout. The promotion,...
Skimmable Pages with 3‑5 Benefits Beat Long Copy
I've reviewed 100+ product pages. Here's the pattern: Pages with 15 bullet points and long paragraphs failed. Pages with a clear headline, 3-5 core benefits, and strong social proof crushed it. Your customers don't read. They skim. Make it skimmable.