Know What's Happening in Ecommerce
Know What's Happening in Ecommerce
Ecommerce Pulse
EMAIL DIGESTS
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EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
Amazon fuels rural delivery with $4B logistics push
Amazon is accelerating its delivery network in rural America, raising same‑day or next‑day coverage to 16% of remote customers, up from 8% mid‑2024. The $4 billion logistics investment helped ship more than 13 billion items on same‑day or next‑day terms in February.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Grab acquires Foodpanda Taiwan for $600M
Tractor Supply opened its 2,400th store in Aiken, South Carolina, marking a milestone in its rapid expansion. The retailer continues its aggressive growth plan, targeting 100 new stores in 2026, matching its 2025 rollout. The new location featured a $2,400 donation to an equine rescue and community events, underscoring its local‑focused strategy. As of September 2025, Tractor Supply operated 2,364 stores in 49 states plus 206 Petsense outlets.
Pilgrim’s Europe used deep consumer insight to reposition Richmond from the nation’s favourite sausage brand to a broader mealtime brand. By shifting focus from product to the emotional moments of togetherness, the company identified a meat‑free opportunity that aligns with...
Chris Harrison recounts how he and two high‑school friends turned a single pot of cocktail syrup into Liber & Co., now producing 1,500‑gallon batches sold globally to bars, restaurants, and consumers. He explains the brand’s DIY, learn‑by‑doing culture, from sourcing...
Retailers are revamping product detail pages (PDPs) to become machine‑readable, partnering with AI‑content platforms Cimulate and Bazaarvoice. Structured markup now tags key attributes, enabling generative AI, voice assistants, and visual search to surface products that were previously invisible. Early pilots...
Topshop has unveiled a dedicated EU ecommerce site, eu.topshop.com, covering 23 European markets and built on Shopify for faster browsing and richer storytelling. The launch follows ASOS's 2021 acquisition of the brand after Arcadia's collapse, aiming to transform the iconic...
WHSmith North America Media Network has teamed with In‑Store Marketplace (ISM) to launch a retail media network across U.S. airports. The collaboration merges more than 700 digital screens and audio assets into a single programmatic ecosystem, leveraging Mood Media’s hardware...
Online retailers face heightened regulatory risk over greenwashing as the UK’s CMA and ASA intensify enforcement of the Green Claims Code. Recent ASA rulings against Nike, Lacoste and Superdry for unsubstantiated “sustainable” ads illustrate the pitfalls of vague claims. The...
Amazon’s new ‘Buy for Me’ and ‘Shop Direct’ beta tools let shoppers purchase items from brand websites via the Amazon app, but many independent sellers report being listed without opting in, facing incorrect product details, out‑of‑stock items, and proxy order...
IKEA is piloting a virtual product experience inside the Roblox game Welcome to Bloxburg, targeting players in Sweden and Australia. From 22 January to 5 February, shoppers can unlock iconic items like the Stockholm sofa and Elsystem rug through an in‑game pop‑up...
Topshop has unveiled a dedicated European e‑commerce site, eu.topshop.com, serving 23 EU markets. The Shopify‑powered platform offers the brand’s full range of denim, dresses, footwear and accessories, expanding beyond its previous presence on ASOS.com. Managing Director Michelle Wilson highlighted plans...
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has promoted Allison Swaine‑Hughes to chief commercial officer, consolidating oversight of its 680 retail stores, e‑commerce platforms, and new commercial ventures. Swaine‑Hughes brings over 30 years of senior retail experience, including roles at Gap and...
Cocokind has pivoted its PR mailer program from top‑tier influencers to a community‑first model, sending unreleased products to micro‑creators with 200‑300 followers. The December "leak" mailer introduced the $18 Milky‑Soft Face and Body Cleanser and replaced a quiz with a...
Harrods’ January sale exploded onto TikTok, turning a traditionally discreet event into a viral showcase. The platform streamed floor‑by‑floor discount maps and brand highlights, making the sale’s pricing details publicly visible. This unprecedented exposure challenges luxury retailers’ reliance on scarcity...
Saks Global announced bankruptcy, confirming long‑rumored debt woes and exposing hundreds of millions owed to luxury vendors such as Chanel and Kering. Amazon, which funded Saks' acquisition of Neiman Marcus, now labels its investment worthless. Brands have already halted shipments and...
The United States Postal Service will begin enforcing stricter customs data requirements for mail sent to or from overseas military and diplomatic post offices on March 16, 2026. Any shipment containing a good, weighing 16 ounces or more, or sent...
At NRF 2026, LVMH unveiled a "quiet tech" strategy that embeds digital tools into its luxury ecosystem without eclipsing the brand’s artisanal heritage. The approach leverages AI, RFID, and augmented‑reality to streamline inventory, enhance traceability, and enrich the client experience....
Temu, the international arm of China‑based PDD Holdings, has surged to a 24 percent share of cross‑border e‑commerce, matching Amazon according to the IPC’s 2025 shopper survey. The platform grew from a 1 percent share in 2022 to parity with Amazon in...
At NRF’s Big Show, executives from Target, Best Buy and Nordstrom detailed how their third‑party marketplaces have evolved into strategic growth engines. After years of investment, each retailer is using the marketplace to broaden product assortments, boost margins and enhance...
Uniqlo will launch its first Miami stores this fall while entering Austin and adding a location at Houston’s Galleria, expanding its Texas presence that began in 2024. The new stores will showcase RFID‑enabled self‑checkout, on‑site alterations, RE.UNIQLO donation bins, and...
eBay has introduced SpeedPAK in Germany, a logistics service that provides customs‑cleared shipping with duties prepaid, simplifying cross‑border sales for German merchants. The offering, built with logistics partner Orange Connex, integrates directly into eBay’s platform, allowing sellers to purchase labels...
During the 2025 peak season, 45% of returns were paid for, rising to 69% among smaller retailers, according to ZigZag data. The cost of processing these returns hit roughly £1.5 billion, with each return consuming 20%‑65% of the item’s value. Retailers...
After a turbulent 2025, beauty and fashion brands discovered that consumers now prioritize authenticity over polished perfection. Data from Mention Me shows micro‑influencer content generates 60% more engagement, while imperfect and upcycled aesthetics drive higher loyalty. The shift signals a...
SharkNinja turns roughly 70 product ideas into 25 market launches each year, leveraging deep ethnographic research and up to 200 design revisions per item. The company outpaces the small‑appliance sector with a 20% CAGR, generating $3 billion in revenue across price...
U.S. lawmakers are intensifying scrutiny of AI‑driven dynamic pricing, highlighted by Senator Chuck Schumer’s criticism of Instacart’s 2025 experiment that showed up to 23% price variation on grocery items. In Tennessee, House Bill 1468 would outlaw personalized algorithmic pricing by...
WhatsApp loyalty programmes are rapidly replacing traditional point‑based schemes as retailers tap into the platform’s 90% UK adult penetration and near‑instant open rates. By embedding rewards directly in a channel customers already use, retailers eliminate the friction of separate apps...
THG closed 2025 with its strongest quarter, posting a 7.0% Q4 revenue rise and returning to full‑year growth of 2.3% for the first time since 2021. The boost came from a subscriptions‑led model that deepened loyalty across its Beauty and...
Dunelm reported a modest 1.6% rise in second‑quarter sales to £498 million, taking first‑half growth to 3.6% at £926 million. The retailer now expects full‑year pre‑tax profit to sit at the lower end of analysts’ forecasts, with first‑half profit projected around £112‑£114 million....
The Very Group posted a "resilient" holiday season, with Very brand sales rising 1.9% over the six weeks to 27 December. Strong demand drove double‑digit growth in home (7.9%) and toys and beauty (6.4%). Black Friday saw a record 209,000 items...
The beauty sector experienced a resurgence in M&A activity in 2025, highlighted by three transactions exceeding $1 billion each—e.l.f. Beauty’s acquisition of Rhode, Unilever’s purchase of Dr. Squatch, and L’Oréal’s buy of Medik‑8. Industry veteran Kimber Maderazzo says 2026 will shift focus...
Thirdlove is extending its TempSync line into activewear, debuting a $78 active bra and $88 leggings that use thermoregulating particles. The TempSync franchise generated $1 million in sales within six weeks of its T‑shirt bra launch, prompting the brand to broaden...
![[Interview] Building for Where Retail Is Going? Sreeraman MG, Co-Founder Fynd](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://www.theretailbulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/SMG-2.png)
Co‑founder Sreeraman MG outlines Fynd’s 2026 UK launch, positioning its AI‑native commerce layer as a plug‑in solution for mid‑market and enterprise retailers. The company will target fashion, beauty and grocery categories, tackling two core UK pain points: trustworthy cross‑channel attribution and...
China’s JNBY Group introduced a plant‑based faux‑fur vest for its Croquis menswear line, marking the first large‑scale retail rollout of BioFluff’s Savian material. The collaboration leverages JNBY’s vertically integrated network of over 2,100 stores, allowing the eco‑fur product to reach...
Mark and Ian review 2025, declaring it the first post‑COVID year of "normal" ecommerce and highlighting how agile, lean brands outperformed larger incumbents. They note AI‑driven ad creative shifted from a novelty to a necessity, and that small "skeleton" teams...
Paint brand Coat Paints has unveiled a new AI-powered colour visualiser
Amazon will require all U.S. sellers to use the Amazon Prepaid Return Label (APRL) program for customer returns starting February 8, 2026, ending the previous exemption for high‑value items. The change aims to streamline refunds and cut customer‑service workload, but sellers argue...
eBay unveiled its inaugural Climate Transition Plan, outlining a roadmap to achieve net‑zero emissions by 2045 while deepening its recommerce model. The plan highlights a shift from air to ground shipping, expanded local delivery options, and AI‑optimized logistics to cut...
The article argues that retailers must replace siloed marketing efforts with an integrated omnichannel plan that treats digital and offline touchpoints as a single customer journey. It highlights the pitfalls of double‑counting conversions and the need for centralized reporting, consistent...
Levi Strauss & Co. has launched the Wear Longer Project, a free, hands‑on clothing‑repair curriculum for high‑school students in partnership with Discovery Education. The pilot begins in San Francisco’s Eureka Lab and will expand through 2026, with employee volunteers delivering...
In this episode Shivali Patel and AI expert Kamaljit Singh discuss how sellers can transform a few phone photos into a full Amazon image stack and A+ Content using AI-driven systems. Kamaljit outlines his "Image Framework" for crafting effective prompts—covering...
U.S. e‑commerce orders surged 147 percent in 2025, marking the strongest annual growth in recent years. While overall traffic declined, average order values rose, rewarding brands that responded quickly with faster fulfillment and personalized experiences. The acceleration was driven by widespread...
TodayPay’s survey of 14,000 U.S. shoppers finds 44% would rather schedule a dental appointment than wait a week for a refund. An overwhelming 94% say an instant‑refund guarantee makes them more likely to complete a purchase, while 92% would shop...
N Brown Group has created a chief operating officer position and appointed Natalie Rogers, who has served as chief people and sustainability officer since 2024, to fill it. Rogers previously led people functions at Moonpig and Unum UK. The new role is...
Shane Ashby‑Roche, Head of Organisational Development and Culture at The White Company, returns as a judge for the 2026 People in Retail Awards. He reflects on a decade of L&D experience, including a two‑year IBM secondment, and how his role...
Mulberry reported a 5.1% rise in third‑quarter total sales and an 11% increase in like‑for‑like sales, driven by a 19% jump in full‑price transactions. The luxury brand saw growth across all regions, with the US up 12.7% and Europe up...
ProCook reported a 28% jump in total revenue to £32.8 million for the 12‑week period ending 4 January, driven by a 30% surge in e‑commerce and a 26.8% rise in retail sales. Like‑for‑like revenue grew 17.2% in Q3, marking the tenth consecutive...
Davines Group defied a declining U.S. salon‑product market, posting a 42% increase in professional hair‑care sales through salons from 2019 to 2024 and surpassing $350 million in revenue in 2025. While overall salon sales fell 3% in the first half of...
The wellness sector’s January push centers on high‑impact "new year, new you" collaborations, notably fast‑casual restaurant tie‑ins and the quirky "Quitters’ Day" anti‑resolution campaign. Brands are leveraging these seasonal moments to capture early‑year consumer spend and differentiate in a crowded...
The United States Postal Service has released a preview of its July 2026 pricing plan, even though the January 2026 rates have not yet taken effect. The agency is considering expanding the cubic‑tier maximum length from 18 to 22 inches for both...
Retailers face costly network outages, with Gartner estimating $5,600 lost per minute, and 81% experiencing POS downtime annually. Traditional wired broadband can take weeks to install, delaying store openings and offering limited redundancy. Full‑service Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) like...
The Perfume Shop posted a robust festive season, with perfume bottle sales climbing 6% year‑on‑year. Between 30 November and 24 December customers purchased over 1.58 million bottles, averaging more than 63 000 per day. December sales rose 1.6%, led by Dior Sauvage, Carolina Herrera Good Girl and Chanel Coco Mademoiselle,...
