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
Samsonite Leans on Ecommerce Growth as Wholesale Demand Weakens
Samsonite posted a modest rebound in Q4, with sales rising 2.2% to $963.3 million, though full‑year revenue slipped 2.5% to $3.5 billion. Ecommerce revenue surged 12% year‑over‑year to $145.5 million, lifting its share of total sales to 15.1% in the quarter. Direct‑to‑consumer channels grew 7% in Q4, now representing 45% of quarterly revenue, while wholesale fell 1.4% in the quarter and 5.6% for the year. The company announced a $135 million 2026 spend on digital platforms and marketing to accelerate the DTC shift.
Depop Faces Class Action over Hidden Marketplace Fees Weeks Before Its $1.2B eBay Acquisition Closes
Depop is facing a California federal class‑action lawsuit over its mandatory marketplace fee that is disclosed only at checkout. The suit alleges the hidden $1.55 fee on a $17 purchase violates the state’s Honest Pricing Law, which bans drip pricing...
Mercari Launches Limited-Time Tiered Fee Discount Beta for High-Volume Sellers Through May 2026
Mercari has launched a limited‑time beta fee‑discount program for high‑volume sellers, running from March 19 to May 14, 2026. Sellers are placed into tiered discount levels based on their cumulative sales during the eight weeks preceding the program, with tier status displayed via...
Why 24/7 USDT Liquidity Is Replacing Traditional Overnight Bank Transfers for Large Corporations
Large corporations are replacing traditional overnight bank wires with 24/7 USDT settlement, leveraging platforms like Bitget Wallet. The stablecoin settles in under 60 seconds on networks such as Tron and BNB Chain, cutting cross‑border transaction fees to under $10 per...
Google Tightens Rules on Out-of-Stock Product Pages
Google Merchant Center now mandates that out‑of‑stock product pages display a visibly disabled, grayed‑out buy button instead of removing or keeping it active. The rule also requires a clear availability label—such as “out of stock” or “back order”—that matches the...
Amazon Surveys Sellers on FBA Returns Solutions
Amazon is conducting a survey of FBA sellers to evaluate its ten returns‑management solutions and a dedicated dashboard. The questionnaire captures which tools sellers use, their satisfaction levels, and likelihood to recommend each option. It also asks participants to compare...
Walmart Says ChatGPT Checkout Converted 3x Worse than Its Own Website
Walmart’s real‑world test of OpenAI’s Instant Checkout showed that purchases completed inside ChatGPT converted at roughly one‑third the rate of transactions on Walmart.com, a 66% drop in conversion. The underperformance prompted Walmart to pull back from the in‑chat checkout model....
Ditch the Discount, Says Brand Marketer
Cherene Aubert, founder of Growth Capital, advises D2C brands to stop discounting slow‑moving inventory and instead use bundles or free‑gift tactics that preserve margins. She recommends pairing a popular full‑price product with a discontinued item, allowing customers to perceive added...
Mobilezone Inks Agreement to Buy Apfelkiste.ch and Marein for CHF 180 Mln
Mobilezone has signed an agreement with the AK Group to acquire the Swiss e‑commerce platform Apfelkiste.ch and retail branding specialist Marein for CHF 180 million. The deal will integrate Apfelkiste’s online catalog with Mobilezone’s extensive brick‑and‑mortar network across Switzerland. By adding Marein’s...
Ditch the Discount, Says Brand Marketer
In this episode, host Eric Banholz chats with e‑commerce strategist Shireen, known as the "D2C queen," about moving beyond deep discounting to smarter offer strategies. Shireen shares how AI agents can automate tasks without forcing new habits, and emphasizes that...
Amaze to Launch Live Shopping Tools Enabling In-Stream Purchasing for Creators, Brands
Amaze, the creator‑powered commerce platform, announced new live‑shopping capabilities that let creators and brands sell products directly within live streams. The tools include instant in‑stream purchasing, real‑time audience interaction such as comments, polls, dynamic product highlights, and time‑limited promo codes....
Mother’s Day Is No Longer a Last-Minute Rush as Shoppers Spread Demand and Embrace More Flexible Delivery Options
UK e‑commerce orders rose 8.47 % YoY in the week leading up to Mother’s Day, but the growth was evenly distributed rather than concentrated on a single rush day. Shoppers spread purchases across the entire week, with the strongest lifts on...
One Year on From Retail’s Devastating Cyber Attacks, What’s Changed?
A year after a wave of sophisticated cyber attacks crippled ecommerce platforms and supply chains, retailers have begun overhauling their security models. The industry is moving from perimeter‑based defenses to zero‑trust architectures, with roughly 63% of organisations adopting at least...
AI Model Ads Look Fake, Killing Conversions
Everyone is doing AI image ads wrong. Especially model shots. You can spot them instantly. Plastic skin. Dead eyes. Weird hands. Fake lighting. Brands think they’re saving money… But they’re actually killing conversions. Meanwhile there’s a hidden method that makes AI models look 100% real. Ultra-realistic. Natural...
EBay's Depop Acquisition Targets Younger Shoppers
The @ebay acquisition of @depop from @etsy makes so much sense, especially because EBay has been trying to build its customer base and reach younger demographics. #ebay #depop #etsy #fashion #business
It’s Time to Reshore: Why AI-Augmented Development Changes the Equation
An engineer used Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.5 and Claude Code to build a multi‑brand, multi‑locale e‑commerce platform for Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan in just 2.5 days, completing seven sprints that would normally require a distributed offshore team for weeks. The project...
Turn Products Into Subscriptions, Not One‑Off Sales
Quip sold 50M+ products by turning a toothbrush into a subscription. Refills every 3 months on autopilot. Millions of subscribers locked in. Meanwhile you're fighting for one-off sales with no recurring revenue. That's the gap.
Live Shopping Takes Over Social Media: Share Your Experience
The social media live shopping 🛒 📲 era is here … leave a comment with your stories on how it’s going because too may won’t believe me …. https://t.co/X1aLLTYdWf
How Can AI Transform Retail: 5 Key Ways
Artificial intelligence is reshaping retail by delivering hyper‑personalized experiences, real‑time inventory forecasting, and 24/7 virtual assistance. AI‑driven dynamic pricing and computer‑vision‑enabled in‑store tools are boosting sales margins while reducing stockouts. Fraud detection and supply‑chain optimization further enhance security and efficiency....
This Brand Broke the Biggest Rule of E-Commerce—And Made Customers 3.5x More Valuable
Huckberry’s newsletter, launched 15 years ago, includes external links to curated stories, defying the e‑commerce rule against outbound links. The brand treats customers as community members, offering entertainment, education, and connections beyond its product line. This content‑first approach yields customers...
5 Tips for More Reliable Shipping Operations
The article outlines five practical steps to make shipping operations more reliable: ensuring order accuracy, standardizing procedures, leveraging third‑party logistics (3PL), maintaining precise inventory records, and setting clear deadlines. Each tip targets common pitfalls such as mis‑picks, inconsistent packing, and...
Steam Spring Sale 2026 Launches with Deep Discounts on Thousands of Games
Valve kicked off its 2026 Steam Spring Sale on March 19, running through March 26 and slashing prices on thousands of titles. Discounts reach as high as 95% off, with marquee games such as Fallout: New Vegas priced at $1,...
Customers Reject AI Slop: Don’t Let Automated Ads Ruin Your Retail Marketing Strategy
Retail marketers are facing backlash as AI‑generated ad “slop” erodes brand trust. Recent incidents like Blue Apron’s gibberish copy highlight consumer rejection of low‑quality automated content, now dubbed Merriam‑Webster’s 2025 Word of the Year. While platforms such as Meta and...
DTC Bundles Engineered for UGC: How to Turn Every Kit Into a Content Machine
Direct‑to‑consumer brands are repurposing product bundles and starter kits as engines for user‑generated content. By pairing each kit with influencer storytelling scripts, companies can lift average order value while keeping customer acquisition costs flat. The article highlights micro‑influencer pods and...
From the Archive: Tesco Online
Tesco launched its online grocery platform in 1997 and by February 2001 had grown sales to £237 million, up from £59 million the previous year, on a modest £40 million investment. The retailer pioneered an in‑store picking model, expanding delivery from a single...
Instagram Affiliate Marketing: What Still Works In 2026
Instagram affiliate marketing now merges influencer and performance tactics as Meta expands shoppable posts and in‑app checkout. Brands must navigate new tagging workflows, tiered commission bands, and stricter FTC disclosures. Hybrid compensation models and native tagging drive higher ROI, but...
AI Builds Complete Sales Funnel in 45 Minutes
🤯 Built a product funnel in under 45 mins 🔥 AI researched the audience 🛠️ Landing page and ad copy done 🤵 Email follow-up sequence set 📦 Entire funnel live This is crushing $10k funnel builders Want the blueprint? RT + comment 'FUNNEL AI'
Strategies for Smooth Transactions in Healthcare E-Commerce Platforms
Healthcare e‑commerce is expanding rapidly, but its transactions must juggle payment security, regulatory compliance, prescription verification, and complex logistics. The article outlines eight strategic pillars—including PCI DSS‑compliant checkout, end‑to‑end encryption, AI‑driven order validation, cold‑chain shipping, and seamless EHR integration—to create...
The Works Closes Ecommerce Website with Immediate Effect
The Works announced it will shut its e‑commerce platform and convert its website into a non‑transactional brand showcase. The decision follows two years of operational problems with third‑party fulfilment partners and a loss‑making online division that contributed only a small...
Amazon Shop Direct Now Accepts Third-Party Product Feeds
Amazon has expanded its Shop Direct program to accept product feeds from three third‑party catalog providers—Feedonomics, Salsify and CedCommerce. The integration pulls real‑time inventory, pricing and attribute data, allowing merchants without traditional Amazon listings to appear in Amazon search results....
How Are Smartphones Remaking Retail
South Africa’s e‑commerce market surpassed R130 billion in 2025, representing roughly 10 % of total retail sales, with 55 % of consumers using smartphones to shop online. Emerging mobile technologies—AI‑driven personalization, social commerce, and augmented reality—are reshaping how shoppers discover, evaluate, and purchase...
How an MBA Internship Led Mitsubishi to E-Commerce Platform Yami—And Into the U.S. Snacks Market
Japan’s largest food wholesaler, Mitsubishi Shokuhin, has signed a strategic partnership with U.S. e‑commerce platform Yami, giving the company direct access to millions of American consumers for its Japanese food and beverage brands. The collaboration originated from an MBA internship...
How AI Is Enabling Hyper-Personalisation at Scale for Online Marketplaces
In 2026 Indian online marketplaces are shifting from simple, history‑based recommendations to AI‑driven, intent‑led experiences. Real‑time interpretation of queries, browsing signals and context enables hyper‑personalisation across search, recommendations and support. AI also cleans and standardises chaotic multi‑vendor catalogs, creating a...
Paris Appeals Court Blocks Bid to Suspend Shein’s Marketplace
Paris’ Court of Appeal rejected France’s request to suspend Shein’s marketplace, upholding a December ruling that the platform must enforce stricter age‑verification for sensitive items. The decision follows a scandal where child‑like sex dolls and prohibited weapons were found on...
Dollar General, Five Below Each Seek to Enhance Omnichannel Experiences
Discount retailers Dollar General and Five Below used their Q4 earnings calls to outline new digital initiatives aimed at strengthening omnichannel experiences. Dollar General reported a 4.3% same‑store sales increase and highlighted its expanded delivery network, upgraded search, and a...
Amelia Van Camp: Preparing for Agentic Commerce Now and for the Future
At the Mirakl Summit in London, Head of Agentic Commerce Amelia Van Camp highlighted how AI is reshaping marketplace ecosystems. She explained Mirakl’s strategy for embedding large‑language models into category mapping, customer experience, product sourcing and retail media. The discussion...
Mexico’s Culture Ministry Urges eBay to Halt Sales of Pre-Hispanic Artefacts
Mexico’s Secretariat of Culture has flagged 195 pre‑Hispanic artefacts listed by the U.S.‑based eBay seller Coins Artifacts and formally asked the platform to halt the sales and return the items. The ministry’s letter cites Mexico’s 1827 export ban and alleges the...
Shoppers Turn to Verify Before Buying as Trust Erodes
Shoppers are increasingly using smartphones in physical aisles to verify product details as rising prices and a surge in fraud erode trust in online purchases. Recent Salsify research shows daily online shopping dropped from 21% to 9% within a year,...
Simple Offer Cheat Sheet Boosts 9‑Figure Sales
This cheat sheet has helped me make 9+ figures from our offers… LOW COMPLEXITY (start here): > % off / $ off > BOGO (same product) > Free shipping > Free trial MEDIUM COMPLEXITY (scale here): > BOGO (different product) > Mystery boxes > Bundles > Subscribe & save > Post-purchase...
Platform-Owned Agents Outshine Independent Commerce Bots
The fundamental issue with independent agentic commerce, and what almost certainly led OpenAI to shutter Instant Checkout after just a few months, and Walmart to pivot toward pushing Sparky into other chatbots rather than facilitating direct checkout, is what I've...
Pakistan’s Digital Payments Hit 92% of Retail Transactions in Q2 FY26
The State Bank of Pakistan’s Q2 FY26 payment systems review shows digital channels processed 92% of retail transactions, up from 88% a year earlier. The surge represents 3.1 bn digital payments worth Rs 64 trillion, driven largely by mobile‑app platforms and the Raast...
Rezolve Ai to Showcase Production-Ready Agentic Commerce Platform at Shoptalk 2026
Rezolve Ai announced it will demo its production‑ready agentic commerce platform at Shoptalk 2026 in Las Vegas. The solution lets shoppers move from discovery to checkout within a single conversational experience, powered by the company’s proprietary brainpowa model suite, Brain...
Mid‑Revenue Brands Need Data‑Driven Roadmaps
The $500K-$1M range is where most brands stall out. Too big to keep running on gut calls. Too small to justify a $15K/month retainer. Every dollar has to work and you don't have the infrastructure to know if it is. That's the...
Specialization Beats Generalization: TaskRabbit's Downfall, DoorDash's Pivot
Funny to see Doordash getting into generalized tasks. What killed TaskRabbit was never specializing to get to full liquidity. They were unbundled into Instacart / DoorDash / etc. Read your Bill Gurley and Lenny Rachitsky, marketplace founders.
DoorDash Deepens Retail Push with Foot Locker Partnership
DoorDash announced a partnership with Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker and Champs Sports, adding nearly 1,300 store locations to its Marketplace. Shoppers can now order sneakers, apparel and accessories through the DoorDash app for same‑day delivery. The deal ties the...
Universal Commerce Protocol Simplifies AI Shopping Experience
AI shopping gets simpler with Universal Commerce Protocol updates https://t.co/aqwpcfY5zc < new options, capabilities, and identity-linking features
Ecom Founders Spot Systems; Others Blame Luck
Everyone when they see a successful brand: 'They got lucky.' Ecom founders when they see a successful brand: 'What system did they build to make that repeatable?' Different mindset. Different perspective.
Top 10 E-Commerce Marketplaces in 2026
Amazon remains the clear U.S. marketplace leader with roughly $300 billion in third‑party sales, dwarfing eBay’s $39 billion and the next tier of platforms. Temu, TikTok Shop and Walmart have converged in a tight $15‑22 billion GMV band, each leveraging distinct supply‑chain, content...
Caleres Beats Q4 Guidance as E‑commerce Surge Helps Offset Margin Pressure
Caleres Inc. reported fourth‑quarter 2025 net sales of $695.1 million, an 8.7% year‑over‑year rise, and delivered earnings per share better than its own guidance. The footwear retailer highlighted double‑digit owned e‑commerce growth and a seamless Stuart Weitzman integration as key drivers, while...
Amazon to Invest over 5 Billion Euros in Poland
Amazon announced a €5 billion investment in Poland between 2026 and 2028, adding to the €10 billion it has already spent since 2012. The funding will support a new 200,000‑square‑meter fulfillment center in Dobromierz equipped with 5,000 robots, expanding its logistics footprint...