Know What's Happening in Ecommerce
Know What's Happening in Ecommerce
Ecommerce Pulse
EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
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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
Fifth Third Bancorp reported record net interest income and strong operating leverage in Q4, driven by aggressive branch expansion and digital upgrades. The bank added 50 new branches in 2025, including its 200th in Florida and 100th in the Carolinas, while its mobile app received over 400 updates. Digital engagement rose, with active users climbing to 3.19 million and digital deposit originations increasing to 31%. The company also confirmed the merger with Comerica will close on Feb. 1, promising further scale and innovation opportunities.
Netflix’s Q4 2025 earnings call revealed that the streaming giant is pivoting from pure growth to a retention‑centric model, using artificial intelligence as core infrastructure. With 325 million paid members and $45.2 billion in revenue, the company views churn reduction as the...
The episode compares two leading e‑commerce messaging platforms, Attentive and Klaviyo, breaking down their core features, pricing models, and integration capabilities. Hosts highlight Attentive's strength in SMS automation and compliance, while noting Klaviyo's robust email segmentation and data analytics tools....
At NRF 2026 in New York, a wave of retail startups announced they are building next‑generation AI commerce platforms. The firms highlighted advanced machine‑learning models for personalization, inventory optimization, and automated checkout. Miya Knights of Retail Technology Publisher noted that...
Léger’s 2026 WOW Index reveals a measurable decline in in‑store experience across Ontario and Western Canada, driven by higher prices, longer checkout waits, stockouts and fewer staff interactions. The study surveyed over 18,000 shoppers, evaluating 264 retailers in 34 sectors....
Amazon is rolling out the next‑generation Dash Cart to dozens of Whole Foods stores across the United States by year‑end. The new cart adds credit‑card, mobile‑payment and Amazon‑linked payment options, expanding beyond its original Amazon‑only model. It also features a...
Lululemon Athletica has temporarily halted online sales of its new “Get Low” workout leggings after customers reported the fabric becoming see‑through during bends and squats. The collection remains on shelves in North American stores while the company investigates the feedback...
Casavogue has launched a limited‑time “We Pay the Taxes” promotion, covering sales tax on all furniture purchases and pairing it with a 12‑month interest‑free financing option. The offer focuses on high‑end sectional sofas, positioning them as the centerpiece of a...
In this episode Janis Lazda walks listeners through a six‑step roadmap for launching a children’s clothing line using Printify’s print‑on‑demand service, emphasizing low‑risk startup and rapid launch. She details how to craft a solid business plan—including brand vision, market research,...
Enterprise retailers hit by summer import‑threshold shifts faced sudden tariffs, shipment delays, and a flood of frustrated customer inquiries. The operational disruption exposed gaps in agents’ readiness, leading to miscommunication and reputational risk. ReflexAI proposes AI‑driven simulation platforms that let...
The episode explores how sleep has shifted from a cultural stigma to a core pillar of wellness, driving a booming market of high‑tech pillows, smart mattresses, and natural sleep aids. It highlights that ergonomic and temperature‑controlled products not only relieve...
The episode explains how DTC brands can convert one‑off trend shoppers—who surge from viral TikTok hits—into repeat customers by replacing immediate discount codes with styling content, early‑access rewards, and a "micro‑drop ladder" that releases small, low‑MOQ trend capsules followed by...
The United States Postal Service has launched a new bidding platform that lets any shipper compete for access to more than 18,000 destination delivery units nationwide. The move challenges Amazon’s long‑standing exclusive Sunday‑delivery contract, which runs until October 1 2026, and aims...
Omnichannel retail is no longer a one‑size‑fits‑all proposition; success depends on tailoring strategies to each retailer’s customers, operating model, and growth goals. Consistent experiences across digital and physical touchpoints are now a baseline expectation, not a differentiator. Persistent challenges such...
Google is sunsetting its legacy Shopping APIs and mandating migration to the Merchant API, the new single source of truth for Shopping Ads. Advertisers using the beta version must switch by February 28 2024, while Content API users have until August 18 2024. Failure to...
The article highlights a resurgence of communal experiences—watch parties and pop‑up events—as powerful growth drivers for local businesses. It cites Tom’s Watch Bar, which saw a 900% sales surge, generating nearly $30,000 in one night during a Love Island watch...
Birkenstock warned that tariff pressures will erode profitability in fiscal 2026, projecting a 100‑basis‑point decline in both gross margin and EBITDA. The company’s 2025 strategy of front‑loading shipments and modest price hikes will not be repeatable next year. CFO Ivica...
E‑commerce retailers are shifting Philippine outsourcing from a pure cost play to a fraud‑resilience strategy as cyber threats intensify. Leading BPOs now embed machine‑learning, behavioral analytics, device intelligence and seasoned fraud analysts, delivering 40‑60% lower fraud losses, 50‑70% fewer false...
Brands claim to master personalization, yet most deliver fragmented experiences that break at channel handoffs. Maryna Hradovic outlines a three‑step framework—map distinct persona journeys, fix disconnects starting with website personalization, then iterate with AI and testing—to create real‑time, whole‑journey experiences....
Quince, the online fashion retailer, announced a limited‑edition collaboration with rapper A$AP Rocky to celebrate his new album “Don’t Be Dumb.” The partnership features a co‑branded vinyl priced at $22.99 and a $50 T‑shirt, both sold exclusively on Quince’s website. This...
The episode details how Clean-eez, a family‑run cleaning‑product brand, uncovered a hidden $45,000 monthly ad‑spend leak on Amazon caused by an agency over‑investing after Meta ads boosted sales. By mapping the strong halo effect between Meta campaigns and Amazon revenue...
Walmart announced the launch of its Premium Musical Instrument Shop, a curated third‑party marketplace featuring brands like Fender, Roland, Boss, Squier and Zildjian. The new storefront is the first phase of a broader push into professional‑grade music gear, adding amplifiers,...
Agentic commerce is reshaping digital transactions by letting AI‑driven software agents select products, optimise pricing and initiate payments without direct shopper input. In this new model, the once‑dismissed guest checkout is re‑emerging as a friction‑free, network‑centric payment option. EMVCo’s Secure...
Longtime Neiman Marcus merchant Russ Patrick has been hired as Bloomingdale’s general merchandising manager of home. Patrick brings more than three decades of luxury retail experience, most recently overseeing men’s, gifts, home and children’s categories at Neiman Marcus and Horchow. He said Bloomingdale’s...
Asda plans to outsource the fulfilment of its George clothing line to a DHL‑run depot in Derby, consolidating operations from three existing sites. The move could put up to 1,200 jobs at risk, prompting the GMB union to warn of...
Pinterest announced two senior‑level hires to accelerate its global advertising business. Lee Brown, former DoorDash CRO and Spotify ad chief, becomes the company’s first Chief Business Officer, overseeing sales, content, ad product marketing and customer operations. Claudine Cheever, who led...
Sephora is teaming with South Korean retailer CJ Olive Young to create dedicated K‑beauty zones in its stores, beginning in the second half of 2026. The rollout will debut in the United States, Canada and key Asian markets such as...
Since Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025, the White House has issued a cascade of tariff announcements, pauses, and reversals affecting North America, China, the EU, and dozens of other partners. Tariffs have ranged from 10 % to over 150 %, prompting...
The retail sector spent 2025 scrambling to absorb a wave of unpredictable tariff hikes that forced many brands to delay product launches, tighten inventory, and curtail hiring. Frequent duty changes eroded profit margins and triggered cost‑cutting measures, including layoffs. As...
SALESmanago is rolling out a native WhatsApp integration and AI‑driven Recommendation Frames to give eCommerce marketers real‑time, hyper‑personalised customer experiences. The platform now supports multimedia messaging, automated journeys, and dynamic CTAs that target abandoned carts, restock alerts, and on‑site product...
Product development cycles in fashion now span 10‑18 months, with production adding another 4‑6 weeks, and data gaps between design, sourcing and factories cause costly delays. Ultra‑fast retailers like Shein have accelerated style turnover, exposing weaknesses in handoffs where specifications...
Macy’s announced the closure of its Cheshire, Connecticut fulfillment center, eliminating 993 positions. The shutdown will occur in phases, beginning with night‑shift staff on March 14, 2026 and ending with full‑time day workers by August 29, 2026. A small crew will remain...
Amazon has launched its Amazon Now quick‑commerce service in London, offering 30‑minute delivery of everyday essentials. The rollout centers on a new micro‑fulfilment hub, “QLD1,” serving the Southwark district. The initiative involved 57 internal Amazon teams and introduces a new...
Goodfood Market Corp. posted Q1 2026 results showing a 21% drop in net sales to $28 million and a 15% decline in gross profit to $12 million, resulting in a $3 million net loss. Despite lower revenue, the company achieved a 42.3% gross...
DFS Furniture lifted its full‑year profit outlook after a robust first half, forecasting underlying pre‑tax profit of £30‑31 million, up £13‑14 million YoY. Order intake rose 2.3% and gross sales on delivered orders are projected to increase 8.7%, despite a broadly flat...
TikTok has introduced an Off‑site Performance Analysis tool that uses a tracking pixel to follow user actions beyond the app. Launched on December 24, the feature links organic posts, TikTok Shop activity, live streams, and paid ads to purchases on...
Klarna announced the launch of its own stablecoin, KlaraUSD, on the Tempo blockchain, a payment‑focused network backed by Stripe and Paradigm. The initiative targets internal treasury and cross‑border settlements, aiming to cut transaction times from days to seconds and reduce...
The guide walks users through connecting TikTok Shop to Printful, covering eligibility, account setup, warehouse address configuration, app installation, and product syncing for US and UK sellers. It highlights the critical step of switching TikTok’s shipping mode to “Shipped by...
Majestic Wine recorded its strongest Christmas trading in 45 years, posting a 0.9% sales increase for the five weeks to 29 December – its tenth consecutive holiday‑season growth. The gain came as the broader UK off‑trade alcohol market contracted 4.1%...
Retail and hospitality firms are overlooking older shoppers, even as the over‑65 population is set to double to 1.6 billion by 2050 and control a majority of discretionary spend. Older consumers are increasingly active on platforms like TikTok, where they favor...
Knoops reported a 12% increase in UK store‑for‑store sales over its six‑week Christmas trading window, keeping annual revenue on track to surpass £20 million. The retailer also announced a new production and warehousing facility and the appointment of former Game Group...
DFS Furniture reported a strong first‑half performance, with underlying profit before tax rising to £30‑31 million – a £13‑14 million year‑on‑year increase. Order intake grew 2.3 % across the DFS and Sofology brands, and gross sales recognised on delivery are expected to be...
In this episode, StoneAlgo CEO Devin Jones explains how their human concierge service converts website traffic into verified, high‑intent appointments for jewelers. He also reveals the 2025 engagement‑ring trends report, highlighting shifts between lab‑grown and natural diamonds, including rising consumer...
Music Magpie, AO World’s recommerce arm, has teamed up with Timpson to roll out in‑store smartphone trade‑ins across more than 1,300 UK locations after a four‑month pilot. Customers can hand over their device, watch a live assessment and receive cash...
Lacoste is transitioning its Australian presence from wholesale to a direct‑to‑consumer model under distributor Accent Group. The partnership leverages Accent’s 25‑year relationship with Lacoste and its expertise scaling global footwear brands to build a bespoke retail footprint, beginning with a...
Retailers are adjusting operating hours for Australia Day on January 26 after the National Retail Association, Australian Retailers Association and Shopping Centre Council released joint guidance. While all states allow trading, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia impose specific hour limits. Queensland permits...
China’s marriage rate jumped 8.5% in the first nine months of 2025, reversing a decade‑long decline. A May 2025 policy allowing couples to register marriages anywhere in the country has spurred demand at Suzhou’s Huqiu Bridal City, home to over...
John Lewis topped the UK Customer Satisfaction Index (UKCSI) for retailers with an 86.4 score, placing second overall behind First Direct’s 87.0. The index, published bi‑annually by the Institute of Customer Service, shows all 13 sectors improving satisfaction year‑on‑year. Overall...
MPE 2026 is set to be Europe’s premier merchant payments conference, drawing more than 1,600 attendees, including 500 global merchants, 170 speakers and over 90 sponsors. The agenda spans AI‑driven payment solutions, fraud mitigation, stablecoins, account‑to‑account transfers and the upcoming...
Albertsons Media Collective is rolling out an in‑store digital screen network to 800 of its more than 2,200 locations in 2026 after a successful pilot in 80 stores. The expansion follows the onboarding of over 50 advertising partners and a...
