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
AI Assistant Use Doubles as More Shoppers Tap AI to Handle Buying Process
U.S. shoppers are rapidly embracing AI assistants, with usage climbing to 35% in 2026—more than double the 12% share recorded in 2024. Over half of consumers now say they would let an AI handle the entire purchase journey, moving the technology from a browsing aid to an autonomous buyer. Retailers are keeping pace: 88% are open to AI‑driven checkout and 56% plan to prioritize it this year. Millennials lead the charge, but significant adoption appears across Gen Z, Gen X and even Baby Boomers.
ASICS EMEA Achieves Record Revenues as European Sportswear Demand Increases
ASICS EMEA posted a record €1.204 billion revenue for 2025, an 18.4% year‑on‑year increase. Growth was broad‑based, with SportStyle sales up 44% and strong gains across Performance Running, Tennis, Indoor and Apparel. Channel performance was robust: wholesale rose 22.5%, owned retail...
Amazon Now: Redefining Speed in Modern Retail
Amazon has launched Amazon Now, a 60‑minute grocery delivery service for UK Prime members, positioning it as a premium speed layer within its ecosystem. The offering depends on a network of dark stores and tightly managed last‑mile logistics, raising questions...
OPINION: Zalentine’s Day – How Gen Z Valentine’s Trends Are Reshaping Retail
Retailers are rethinking Valentine’s Day as Gen Z shifts toward friend‑focused celebrations, coining the term “Zalentine’s Day.” Data shows 60 % of Gen Z will celebrate with friends, favoring authentic, shareable content over traditional romance imagery. Brands are urged to create digital‑first experiences—AR...
SHEIN’s Big Bet on American Retail: What Eddie Bauer’s Bankruptcy Reveals
SHEIN bought a one‑third stake in SPARC Group in August 2023, aiming to blend its fast‑fashion e‑commerce engine with legacy American retailers. The partnership promised digital distribution, on‑demand production and shop‑in‑shop concepts for brands like Forever 21 and Eddie Bauer. In 2026...
Purely Elizabeth Is Borrowing From Beauty’s Launch Playbook to Target Gen Z
Purely Elizabeth, the leading natural‑category granola brand, launched Purely Glow, a limited‑edition salted vanilla pistachio granola infused with collagen peptides and biotin. The product debuted exclusively on the brand’s e‑commerce platform and TikTok Shop, supported by a TikTok‑centric creator campaign...
MF Doom Estate Revives Temu Counterfeit Merch Lawsuit
A federal judge has allowed the MF Doom estate to proceed with a revised trademark infringement lawsuit against Temu, alleging the platform actively curates, advertises, and ships counterfeit merchandise bearing the late rapper’s mask and name. The original case was...
Growth Needs Systems, Not Just Speed
Growth is the dream of every operator (or at least your potential acquirer). But if you’re not careful, it can be the siren song of death. Hiring faster. Spending more. Scaling too soon. All in the name of “growth.” The reality is — growth...
Ecom Founders Stay Quiet, Letting Results Speak
Everyone at dinner: Let me tell you about my business idea. Ecom founders at dinner: Quiet because they're actually building and have nothing to prove. Different mindset. Different life.
Ecommerce Trends: How Retailers Say They View Tariffs in 2026
In 2025 U.S. tariffs pushed up prices for online retailers, but by 2026 companies such as Costco and Wayfair are signalling cautious confidence that the shock has faded. The IMF now projects stronger global growth for 2025‑26, while a pending...
Scaling to $10M: Creative, Calendar, and Product Playbook
Do you follow @JoySharma_11 yet? If not let this video convince you that you should: https://t.co/6arD99vusY In the video Joy outlines the key focus areas for brands on the journey from $1M - $10M. He has intimately watched countless brands make this trek...
Amazon Pharmacy to Expand Same-Day Delivery to 4,500 Cities
Amazon Pharmacy announced a same‑day delivery rollout to nearly 4,500 cities by 2026, adding roughly 2,000 new communities including Idaho and Massachusetts. The expansion leverages Amazon’s logistics network, Prime discounts and One Medical kiosks that let Los Angeles patients pick up...
Personal Guarantees Threaten Your Assets—Test Before Signing
One of the most terrifying moments for @billda happened in a deal we did together. He was sitting in his car in a parking lot, hands shaking, staring at a letter. Our main supplier—80% of the SKUs—was terminating us. And he was...
Free 7‑Hour Dropshipping Masterclass Drops This Sunday
This Sunday I’m dropping my 2026 FREE Dropshipping Course on YouTube. 7 hours. Step-by-step. Beginner to advanced. This is the biggest video I release every year. Most people pay $1,000+ for this information in paid courses… I give it away for free. If you’re serious about starting...
Amazon Iceland Grocery Partnership Expanded
Amazon has expanded its Iceland on Amazon grocery service to Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Nottingham, marking the first availability in Northern Ireland. Shoppers can now order thousands of Iceland products through Amazon.co.uk or the app with same‑day or next‑day delivery...
Testing Beats Courses: $40k in 90 Days
I spent $30k on a course teaching 'proven systems.' Applied everything. Made $0. I spent $500 testing products with no system. Made $40k in 90 days. Education doesn't matter. Execution does. Test everything.
Whatnot Prioritizes Strategy Over AI Hype in Live Commerce
While many in Ecommerce are chasing new shopping features from AI labs, @Whatnot is focusing elsewhere I interviewed @tdrobbo, head of product for the #1 shopping app, about where the “live commerce” giant is/isn’t making AI bets More in @ReadTheAisle https://t.co/0CZCtbkC4T https://t.co/FAq2q1n1Ip
Adyen’s Personalized Checkout Tweaks Payment Options
Adyen has launched Personalize, a new service within its Uplift suite that tailors payment options on e‑commerce checkout pages in real time based on each shopper’s past behavior. The tool uses the company’s Dynamic Identification model, built from trillions of...
Diving Deep Into Content Workflows with AirOpsHQ University
Started @AirOpsHQ University this morning...time to get further down in the weeds with content workflows
Shopify's Profit Soars 26% CAGR, Costs Barely Rise
"While $SHOP gross profit compounded at ~26% CAGR since 2022, its operating expenses (S&M, R&D, and G&A) grew by only ~2% CAGR during this period." Shopify's Miraculous Momentum: https://t.co/ezGEIE1lOG https://t.co/WDbrMgAx78
AI Content Licensing for Merchants
Microsoft unveiled its Publisher Content Marketplace and Amazon is reportedly building a similar AI content‑licensing platform, aiming to formalize how large language models access copyrighted material. The initiatives respond to publisher complaints that AI summarizations siphon traffic and revenue without...
Retail Slumps to Fourth Place in Customer Service Rankings – with Ecommerce Brands Performing Even Worse
Esendex’s latest study ranks retail fourth among five industries for customer service, offering only 2.1 contact channels on average. Pure‑play ecommerce brands perform even worse, with just 1.2 channels, mainly email or web forms. Trustpilot scores reflect this gap—2.83 for...
Amazon Disbursement Policy Changes DD+7
Amazon is moving all sellers to a standardized seven‑day reserve period, known as DD+7, which holds payments until seven days after confirmed or estimated delivery. The change aligns older accounts with the majority of sellers worldwide and also applies to...
AI UGC for Marketing Teams: Definition, Benefits, and How To Use It
Artificial intelligence is reshaping user‑generated content (UGC) for marketing teams, turning raw consumer footage into polished ad assets at scale. AI‑driven platforms now analyze performance data, generate scripts, and edit videos, enabling brands to launch authentic creatives within hours instead...
Stripe Launches X402 Payments On Base, Letting AI Agents Transact Autonomously With USDC
Stripe unveiled a preview of its x402 payments feature on the Base blockchain, allowing autonomous AI agents to move funds using Circle’s USDC stablecoin without human oversight. The solution leverages Base’s Ethereum‑layer‑2 scalability to deliver near‑instant settlement and low transaction...
Rewards Embedded in Payment Experience Knock Traditional Loyalty Models Down
Embedded reward mechanisms are being woven directly into payment and e‑commerce flows, turning a routine transaction into an instant incentive. This gamified approach sidesteps the coupon‑hunting fatigue that plagues conventional loyalty schemes. By delivering bonuses at the point of sale,...
Amazon Ads Launches Creative Agent for Professional-Quality Ads
Amazon Ads unveiled Creative Agent, an AI‑driven partner inside Creative Studio that lets UK advertisers generate professional video and display ads via a conversational chat interface. The tool taps Amazon’s retail insights and product data to research audiences, brainstorm concepts,...
Mailchimp Unlocks Profitable Ecommerce Marketing
Intuit’s Mailchimp unveiled a suite of ecommerce‑focused enhancements that combine unified data, omnichannel campaign tools, and AI‑driven automation. The upgrades include an expanded Shopify integration, a Site Tracking Pixel, broader SMS capabilities, a consolidated performance dashboard, and migration utilities. Mailchimp...
UK to Regulate BNPL in Transparency Push
The episode examines the UK’s new regulatory framework for buy‑now‑pay‑later (BNPL) services, which places providers under FCA oversight and mandates clear disclosure of terms, affordability checks, hardship support, and a route to the Financial Ombudsman. It highlights concerns about “phantom...
Omaha Steaks to Open Stores, Expand Fulfillment as It Shifts to DTC
Omaha Steaks announced plans to open more than a dozen retail stores in 2026 and to broaden its fulfillment network, signaling a decisive shift toward direct‑to‑consumer sales. The company will exit its food‑service segment and concentrate on subscriptions, corporate gifting,...
The Battle Between Apple and App Developers Reaches Japan
The episode examines how Apple’s new payment rules in Japan, introduced to comply with the Mobile Software Competition Act, are still imposing 15‑20% commissions even on external payment methods, prompting a coalition of over 600 companies to claim the fees...
#495 - The AI Workflow for Winning Amazon Main Images
In episode 495, Hannah Lyss Tampioc, founder of Mad Cat Creatives, reveals a repeatable AI workflow for Amazon product images, centered on her SORT framework—Spot, Organize, Reason, Test. She explains how to diagnose whether a listing suffers from a click...
Mobile‑first Shoppers Make Stores Digital by Default, New Research Shows
A new Insider Trend and Fern Insights survey of 1,000 consumers in the UK, France and Germany finds that 53% of European shoppers aged 18‑75 use their mobile phones while in store, making the physical shop digital by default. Shoppers...
Serendipity Meets Strategy: 4 Trends Reshaping Thrift Retail in 2026
The global secondhand apparel market is projected to hit $367 billion by 2029, outpacing the broader apparel sector. Brick‑and‑mortar thrift stores will still generate over 70% of resale revenue, with shoppers spending four to five times more per visit than online....
Compounding Growth Powers 14% US E‑commerce, AI‑Ready 2026
Q4 earnings are out. Our growth is compounding. We now power more than 14% of the US ecommerce market. But 2026 is about to get really exciting. AI is changing how people shop. And we’ve made sure our merchants are first out the...
Turning Uncertainty Into Opportunity: Modernizing Retail Finance to Navigate Inflation, Interest Rates and Currency Volatility
Retail finance leaders are grappling with volatile interest rates, persistent inflation, and a weakening dollar, which together strain cash flow and margin stability. To survive, finance teams must shift from reactive bookkeeping to proactive portfolio‑management tactics, using scenario modeling and...
Stripe Valuation Nears $140B in Latest Tender Offer, Company Maintains Private Status
Stripe is arranging a secondary tender offer that could value the payments firm at about $140 billion, up from roughly $107 billion a year earlier. The company reiterated it has no immediate plans for an IPO, preferring private‑market liquidity for employees and...
Nexi Introduces Single-Device Checkout System to Combine POS, Software and Payments
Nexi has unveiled SmartStation, a single‑device checkout solution that merges point‑of‑sale software, store‑management tools and payment acceptance into one Android‑based unit. The system features a 15.6‑inch merchant tablet, an 8‑inch customer display and a detachable payment terminal, supporting cards, NFC,...
UK Retailers Hit by Double Whammy of Brexit Frictions and US Tariffs
New ONS data shows that 32.7% of UK retailers report rising export costs since Brexit, while US tariff changes further strain margins. Export volumes fell for 40.6% of retailers in December, and paperwork burdens rose for over a quarter of...
From Click to Conversation – Why India May Define the Next Retail Era
Retail giants such as Target and Walmart are shifting from search‑based e‑commerce to conversational AI, echoing India’s traditional “conversation‑first” shopping habit. Mastercard research shows 51 % of Gen Z trust AI product recommendations, and Fynd’s Kaily assistant has earned 86 % positive ratings,...
Aldi to Invest More than £300 Million in Upgrading Stores Across the UK
Aldi announced a £300 million programme to upgrade and extend its UK stores in 2026, adding more floor space, refreshed layouts and modern fixtures. The plan introduces sustainable technologies such as energy‑saving fridge doors and natural refrigerants to cut carbon emissions....
The High Cost of Going Cashless: Why Payment Choice Is Essential for Economic Equity
The push toward a cashless economy is accelerating, but the hidden fees and infrastructure demands are creating a financial burden for low‑income and unbanked consumers. As merchants adopt digital terminals and fintech platforms expand, cash‑only transactions become increasingly costly or...
HUL-Owned Minimalist Revenue Spikes 48% to Rs 515 Cr in FY25
Hindustan Unilever‑owned Minimalist posted a 48% jump in operating revenue, reaching Rs 514.8 crore in FY25, surpassing the Rs 500 crore mark. The brand’s expenses rose 51% to Rs 504 crore, driven by higher advertising spend and material costs, yet EBITDA remained positive at Rs 18 crore. A...
JD.com to Introduce Express Delivery Service in Europe to Support Joybuy
JD.com is rolling out its JoyExpress express delivery service across Europe to back the upcoming launch of its JoyBuy online marketplace. The service, currently in beta, will go live in March and will operate in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands...
Retail Sales Pick up in January
UK retail sales rose 2.7% year‑on‑year in January, edging up from 2.6% a year earlier. Food sales jumped 3.8%, propelled by health‑focused product launches. Non‑food sales grew 1.7% overall, with online sales up 1.3% and in‑store sales up 2%. BRC...
How Shiprocket Became the Bridge Between Bharatpreneurs and National Markets
Shiprocket has emerged as a critical logistics and commerce platform that bridges India’s small‑town entrepreneurs, known as Bharatpreneurs, with national markets. By consolidating courier networks, payment processing, order management, and offering rapid working‑capital financing, the service enables regional MSMEs to...
With Value Top of Mind, Sally Beauty Is Betting on Dupe Fragrances and Instant Delivery
Sally Beauty is rolling out its fragrance category, anchored by the dupe brand Alt., to over 2,000 stores, offering $25‑$35 scents that replicate $300 luxury perfumes. The retailer reported a modest 1.2% net‑sales growth in Q1 FY2026 and maintains full‑year...
How Social Commerce Became a Real Retail Channel as AI Shapes How People Buy | Reimagining Retail
In this episode, the hosts explore how social platforms have evolved into a genuine retail channel, highlighting the strategies retailers use to make social commerce feel like traditional shopping. They discuss the shift of creators from mere marketing tools to...
Exclusive: Chubbies Launches Women’s Swimwear Brand Cheekies
Chubbies, the men’s‑shorts brand, has introduced Cheekies, a dedicated women’s swimwear line, debuting online and slated for select Dick’s Sporting Goods and Chubbies stores. The collection, a result of a two‑year research effort by an all‑women design team, offers adjustable...
Thrive Market’s Amina Pasha Believes Brands that Focus on Trust Will Win in an AI-First World
Amina Pasha, CMO of Thrive Market, argues that trust will be the decisive advantage for brands in an AI‑first landscape. The online grocery retailer, with over 1.7 million paying members, is leveraging AI to personalize discovery while reinforcing its mission of...