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
Zellers reopened its first new standalone store in Edmonton’s Londonderry Mall in October 2025, marking the launch of a privately‑owned, smaller‑format “Zellers 3.0” concept. The store quickly outperformed traffic and sales expectations, validating a value‑driven department‑store model that blends core apparel and home categories. CEO Joey Benitah says the success accelerates a phased national rollout, targeting former anchor spaces in major Canadian markets. The brand also plans a 2026 e‑commerce launch and a modernized Club Z loyalty program.
The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is prompting fashion brands to overhaul ESG reporting, emphasizing supply‑chain traceability, dual materiality, and audit‑level assurance. Europe’s experience shows that rigorous, transparent disclosures not only satisfy regulators but also improve access to capital...
Good American shattered the fashion myth that size dictates choice by expanding from plus‑size to petite offerings, creating a loyal, inclusive customer base. Gymshark, meanwhile, doubled down on its core lifting apparel, generating roughly $1 billion in sales while limiting brick‑and‑mortar...
eBay UK disclosed its 2025 most expensive vehicle parts, with an original aluminium Jaguar E‑Type bonnet leading at £18,564. The second‑most costly item was a complete Ford Transit Custom front end (£17,180), followed closely by a BMW M5 4.4‑litre V8...
Walmart‑backed fintech OnePay has announced a partnership with Klarna to embed buy‑now‑pay‑later (BNPL) functionality directly into debit card transactions. The new service lets shoppers convert completed purchases into instalment loans, effectively offering retroactive financing. By leveraging Klarna’s established BNPL platform,...
Google’s Demand Gen campaign type has matured into a powerful visual advertising solution for ecommerce, offering granular audience and placement control across YouTube, Discover, Gmail, and Shorts. When paired with Performance Max, which excels at automated, conversion‑driven scaling, advertisers can...
Shopify unveiled its open‑source Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), co‑developed with Google, to enable agentic AI shopping that surfaces products based on personalized recommendations. The new Agentic plan lets non‑Shopify merchants upload product data to Shopify’s infrastructure, granting AI agents access...
Fruugo has warned sellers that the EU will eliminate the €150 low‑value parcel exemption, introducing a fixed handling fee and a €3 customs duty as interim measures before the 2028 threshold removal. Italy and Romania are already applying national handling...
Morrisons has introduced Morrisons Travel, a new travel‑booking platform built with Expedia Group and accessible via Morrisons.com and the More app. The service lets shoppers reserve hotels, flights, car hire and activities while earning 10 More Points for every £1...
Birdzi introduced Journey, a platform that lets grocers and retailers push real‑time, behavior‑driven offers to shoppers. The solution fuses retailer shopper data with Birdzi’s personalization engine, automating promotion delivery and enabling rapid implementation. It also opens a data‑sharing channel for...
Retail storytelling is reshaping hospitality by turning spaces and services into emotionally resonant experiences. A cohesive brand narrative—anchored in a clear point of view, reinforced through design, and subtly supported by technology—creates lasting guest memories and drives repeat visits. The...
Digital PR agency 3PR has launched an upgraded service aimed at ecommerce brands, integrating AI-driven visibility tactics into its productized campaigns. The new offering adds features to enhance search engine rankings, secure high-authority media placements, and improve conversion rates on...
Vahdam Teas has teamed with UK third‑party logistics provider 3PL to run its B2B multi‑channel fulfilment operation across the United Kingdom. The partnership enables the tea brand to meet strict retailer requirements for Amazon, Costco, Holland & Barrett and others...
Associated British Foods (ABF) confirmed a softened outlook for Primark, reporting a 2.7% like‑for‑like revenue decline over the 16 weeks to 3 January. European sales fell 5.7%, while the UK market posted a modest 1.7% increase and combined UK‑Ireland sales rose...
The Works reported a modest 0.3% rise in like‑for‑like sales for the 26 weeks to 2 November 2025, driven by a 4% surge in store sales that outpaced the broader UK non‑food market. Total revenue slipped 0.3% to £123.8 m, while e‑commerce...
A PYMNTS Intelligence survey of 2,108 U.S. adults shows financial stress is driving a sharp rise in digital‑wallet usage. High‑stress consumers were more than twice as likely to use a wallet for their last retail purchase (28% vs. 11%) and...
The episode explains how ecommerce order tracking works, outlining the three main system types—automated, manual, and hybrid—and why tracking is essential for customer satisfaction, reduced support load, and logistics insight. It walks listeners through each fulfillment stage, from order confirmation...
B&M reported a 2.9% rise in third‑quarter group revenue but issued a profit warning as near‑term earnings are pressured by strategic investments. UK revenue grew 1.9% while like‑for‑like sales slipped 0.6%, whereas the French operation posted 8.5% total revenue growth...
B&Q will launch its first standalone TradePoint store in Barking next month, targeting trade professionals with a dedicated retail experience. The new concept complements B&Q’s ambition to grow TradePoint into a £1 billion business, after the segment posted a 6.9% sales...
AI-driven answer engines are reshaping the early stages of the customer journey, prompting brands to seek visibility into how these systems represent them. Netrush, an ecommerce growth agency, announced a strategic partnership with IQRush, a Generative Search Optimization and Answer...
IAB Europe has released two new resources – the Commerce (Incl. Retail) Media Measurement Standards V2 and Flexi Ad Sizes Guidelines – to bring greater consistency to retail media across Europe. The updated standards incorporate extensive stakeholder feedback, a refined...
Australian Retailers Association data shows back‑to‑school spending will rise to $2.9 billion, up $200 million from last year, driven by a 9.1 % increase in average spend per shopper. However, only 21 % of adults – about 4.5 million people – plan to shop, down...
Merry Hill reported a record 2025 performance, with sales up 4.3% and footfall rising 5% year‑on‑year. The growth was driven by a £20 million asset‑management‑focused investment programme that added a 100,000‑sq‑ft M&S flagship and attracted new international retailers such as Apple...
Aerie unveiled its biggest collaboration yet, a 64‑piece “Emily + Meritt” capsule that embodies a “remixed vintage” aesthetic. The collection, priced between $18 and $88, spans intimates, sleepwear, loungewear and accessories and is available online, select stores, and prominently at the SoHo...
Fashion executives warn that the U.S. economic outlook for 2026 will be as tough as 2025, citing heightened geopolitical tension, unpredictable tariffs and the growing complexity of AI adoption. Recent market volatility, fueled by President Trump's rhetoric and new trade...
Ulta Beauty is rolling out a new shop‑in‑shop concept called Wellness by Ulta Beauty, a 475‑square‑foot boutique pilot launching next week in four U.S. stores. The boutique features an education‑focused wall, gondolas, end caps, and a sampling table staffed by...
After a regional test in Southern California, beverage brand Hiyo raced to launch in 400 Costco stores across 47 states within six weeks. The company produced an exclusive 18‑can variety pack, prepared over 1,000 pallets, and secured a national shelf...
Sam’s Club is integrating Freeosk’s free‑sample kiosks into its Member Access Program, rebranding the machines and managing sales opportunities in‑house. The retailer treats the kiosks as a retail‑media asset, linking sampling data to its broader advertising ecosystem. New interactive tablets...
In this episode, eleven founders share their 2026 growth playbooks, covering AI‑driven commerce, the power of "slow" evergreen content, gamified loyalty programs, and community‑first acquisition strategies. They each highlight concrete tactics—such as leveraging generative AI for personalized product recommendations, building...
Amazon will enforce stricter supplement listing rules starting March 31, 2026, requiring product pages to exactly match label information, include full label images, and provide third‑party lab test results. The change reflects growing consumer demand for label transparency and aligns...
Alphabet’s drone delivery arm Wing is set to scale its Walmart partnership from 27 to 150 additional stores by the end of 2026, targeting new markets such as Los Angeles, St. Louis, Miami and Cincinnati. The service uses BVLOS‑approved drones...
In this episode Ian and the host dissect the real trends shaping ecommerce as we head into 2026, grounding their analysis in actual 2025 brand performance and financial data. They argue that AI alone won’t rescue businesses unless owners understand...
The episode explains how brand consistency—through visual elements, messaging, voice, tactics, and customer experience—drives recognition, trust, and revenue growth, citing the Rule of 7 and a 10% lift statistic. It outlines practical steps: assess consistency with a brand persona, create and...
JLL projects that 65% of former Hudson’s Bay retail space in Canada will be leased within two years, driven by multi‑tenant strategies. Ontario’s new job‑posting regulations introduce mandatory pay transparency, AI disclosure and hiring follow‑up, reshaping retail employment practices. Brands...
The episode warns Shopify and DTC founders about the "$1 M revenue trap," where strong revenue masks a shift from creative leadership to autopilot, checklist‑driven management. Tony Robbins and Alex Hormozi stress protecting at least 20 % of weekly time for creation,...
The British Retail Consortium’s January BRC‑Opinium survey shows consumer confidence edging higher, with the economy index improving to –32 from –38 in December. Personal financial outlook also rose to –8, while expectations for retail spending slipped to –6 after a...
Luxury fashion brand Coach announced a partnership with Electronic Arts’ The Sims franchise, introducing a line of virtual clothing, accessories, and home décor for players. The collection will be available for purchase through The Sims’ in‑game store, marking Coach’s first...
The episode explains how European Shopify ecommerce founders must first secure strong unit economics and cross‑border readiness before seeking capital, as investors favor scalable, profitable models. It maps a funding roadmap—from bootstrapping through revenue‑based financing to EU public programs—highlighting the...
Apple is preparing to launch Apple Pay in India later this year, negotiating with Mastercard and Visa while seeking regulatory clearance from the Reserve Bank of India. The initial rollout will focus on card‑based contactless payments, with a later phase...
In this episode, Steve Hutt explains how hair‑care brands can slash visual production costs by 40‑60% using AI‑generated “Digital Twins” and hybrid workflows that blend annual studio shoots with on‑demand AI imagery. He highlights how AI instantly creates diverse, hyper‑realistic...
Shopify will enable AI‑driven sales through ChatGPT, charging merchants a 4% fee on transactions processed via OpenAI’s checkout, in addition to its own fees. The feature launches Jan. 26, letting sellers opt into or out of AI channels and making products...
Steve Hutt explains how Shopify brands can sell complex technical products by flipping the traditional sales script: start with the buyer's high‑stakes problem, then educate before showcasing features. He outlines the Education‑First Framework, which layers quick answers, deeper content, and...
PcComponentes, a leading Spanish tech retailer, denied a claim that a breach exposed 16 million customers, stating the figure was inflated. The company confirmed a credential‑stuffing attack that compromised a limited set of accounts, revealing names, addresses and contact details. Threat...
Robertet has launched e-Robertet, a B2B ecommerce platform for the U.S. and Canada, giving professional buyers direct online access to its natural fragrance, flavor and health‑beauty ingredients. The site features real‑time inventory, transparent pricing, smaller pack sizes for sampling and...
Foodology, a Korean inner‑beauty brand, leveraged TikTok’s Super Brand Day to launch its Cutting Jelly in the United States. A Kylie Jenner mention sparked viral buzz, helping the product earn Amazon’s Best Seller badge and a 378% year‑over‑year revenue increase...
Regions Bank announced a partnership with payments technology firm Worldpay to create an integrated platform that streamlines payment acceptance and cash‑flow management for its business customers. The solution adds omnichannel processing, anti‑fraud tools, dispute and charge‑back handling, and compliance services,...
Visa has partnered with Acquired.com to launch Visa A2A, an account‑to‑account payment solution for recurring and variable payments in the U.K. The service uses Faster Payments to settle transactions in real time while Visa supplies operational governance and a commercial...
The episode explains why user‑generated content (UGC) is essential for Shopify stores, highlighting that shoppers who engage with UGC convert up to 161% more and that visual reviews boost purchase likelihood by 137%. It outlines how making UGC shoppable—by tagging...
The episode outlines how U.S. businesses can tap the European market, comparing expansion models such as exporting, strategic alliances, licensing, and multidomestic operations, and presenting a seven‑step roadmap—from selecting target countries and registering for VAT/EORI to localizing marketing and ensuring...
The episode explains that fast warehouse shipping alone doesn’t guarantee quick fulfillment for products requiring installation, because the real bottleneck is the coordination gap between delivery and on‑site service. It highlights the need to measure total time to product functionality,...
