CASE STUDY: L’ERA Tops £140k in TikTok Live Sales as Livestream Shopping Gains Momentum
London jewellery brand L’ERA recorded over £140,000 in TikTok Live sales in 2025, nearly doubling its livestream revenue since launching in August 2023. The founders host four to six weekly livestreams, securing individual orders above £1,400 and using the channel to showcase higher‑priced pieces. While TikTok once contributed more than half of L’ERA’s turnover, it now serves as a growth catalyst rather than the primary revenue source. The case underscores livestream shopping’s shift from impulse buys to a viable channel for premium products.
What CFOs Need From Banks and FinTechs in Cross-Border Payments
Cross‑border payments are undergoing a structural shift as CFOs demand more predictable, liquid, and compliant solutions. FinTech firms have accelerated speed and API‑driven usability, opening new corridors and transparent pricing. At the same time, banks are investing in modern settlement,...
Unilever Turns to AI for ‘New Era of Shopping for Brands’
Unilever has signed a five‑year partnership with Google Cloud to embed advanced AI, data and platform capabilities across its global operations. Leveraging Google’s Vertex AI and Gemini models, the consumer‑goods giant will build an AI‑first digital backbone that powers faster...
John Lewis to Roll Out Topshop to 32 Stores Nationwide
John Lewis is re‑introducing Topshop to 32 of its stores and Topman to seven locations as part of an £800 million multi‑year fashion investment. The rollout follows a redesign of the Oxford Street flagship and adds a slate of new international...
Commission Launches Investigation Into Shein Under the Digital Services Act
The European Commission has opened formal proceedings against fast‑fashion giant Shein under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The probe targets Shein’s addictive design features, opaque recommender‑system algorithms, and the sale of illegal items, including child sexual abuse material. Regulators will...
Retail Brand Monitoring Software: Track What Customers Say
Retail brand monitoring software transforms the way retailers listen to digital word‑of‑mouth, using AI to aggregate mentions across social, review sites, forums and emerging AI‑generated answers. The tools deliver real‑time alerts, sentiment scores and competitor share‑of‑voice, turning scattered feedback into...
Is International Shipping the Next Growth Lever for UK eCommerce?
UK eCommerce faces saturated domestic growth, prompting retailers to look abroad. Around 59% of global shoppers have bought from an international retailer and cross‑border sales already represent 20‑30% of worldwide eCommerce. The market is projected to expand from $1.47 trillion in...
Hourglass Launches DTC Channel In Australia & New Zealand
Hourglass has launched its first direct‑to‑consumer website, hourglasscosmetics.com.au, targeting Australia and New Zealand. The rollout includes free standard shipping for the first month, a 10% welcome discount, and complimentary gifts for orders over $120 and $150. The DTC channel runs alongside...
Retail Expansion Drives Record Earnings for Baby Bunting
Baby Bunting posted record half‑year sales of $271.4 million, a 4.9% increase year‑on‑year, driven by a mix of new large‑format stores, small‑format openings, and six "store of the future" refurbishments. Online sales climbed to 24.8% of total revenue, up 18%, reflecting...
MECCHA Sets Up Pre-Orders for Japan Exclusives with Worldwide Shipping
MECCHA Japan has launched a pre‑order service that lets international fans purchase exclusive Japanese anime figures, trading‑card boosters, and themed merchandise with worldwide shipping. The catalog includes high‑profile items such as a 45 cm Monkey D. Luffy statue, a Final Fantasy VIII musical box,...
How Retailers Should Respond to Events Like Ramadan and the Lunar New Year
Retailers face a rare calendar convergence as Ramadan and Lunar New Year begin almost simultaneously in February 2024. Luxury and beauty brands are launching limited‑edition products and pop‑up events, but many consumers criticize superficial zodiac imagery and token gestures. Experts...
Automate, Augment, Simulate: How Retailers Are Building Resilient Supply Chains for 2026
Retail supply chains face chronic labor shortages, rising costs and heightened customer expectations, prompting a shift toward technology‑driven models. By 2026, automation will move from advantage to requirement, with feasibility assessments guiding investments in robotics and AI. Simultaneously, AI‑enabled workforce...
Your Retail Media Network Isn’t a Network — and What to Do About It
Retail media is booming, but most so‑called retail media networks are merely on‑site ad products. True networks demand off‑site reach, unified cross‑channel measurement, and first‑party data activation, a capability only a few retailers like Walmart and Amazon currently possess. The...
Let’s Be Straight on Deliveries
Online shoppers increasingly value reliable delivery dates, yet many experience shifting timelines and missed windows. A recent Avery Dennison survey shows 37% of consumers rank delivery delays as their top frustration, and 32% would abandon a favored brand after a single...
SiteOne Ramps up Digital Push as Online Sales Jump in 2025
SiteOne Landscape Supply reported a 120% jump in digital sales for 2025, boosting net income 23% to $151.8 million while overall revenue grew 4% to $4.7 billion. The company’s revamped e‑commerce platform attracted roughly 10,000 regular online users and integrated delivery‑optimization software,...
OpenAI Expands Agentic Commerce Push
OpenAI is turning ChatGPT into a full‑service commerce platform by expanding its Instant Checkout feature and launching the open‑source Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP). The company has integrated payments through Stripe and PayPal and added grocery ordering via Instacart, initially supporting...
Vinted’s Rise Signals a Turning Point in Europe’s Circular Fashion Economy
Vinted has become the UK’s third‑largest fashion retailer, reporting €813.4 million in revenue for 2024—a 36 % jump from the prior year—and is on track to breach €1 billion. The platform now serves over 17.4 million UK users and leads in France by volume,...
New Customs Rules for Imported Parcels
The EU Council approved new customs rules that will end the duty‑free exemption for parcels up to €150, imposing a flat €3 charge per item category starting July 1. Last year, 5.8 billion low‑cost e‑commerce parcels entered the bloc, a 26 % rise...
QuicKart Secures $1.5 Million to Expand Fresh Commerce Across the UAE
QuicKart, the UAE’s first dedicated fresh‑commerce platform for dairy and farm produce, closed a $1.5 million seed round led by Orbit Ventures. The funding will be used to optimise supply‑chain logistics, upgrade technology, expand last‑mile fulfilment and cold‑chain infrastructure, and add...
International PPC: Why Consistency Is So Hard To Maintain via @Sejournal, @Brookeosmundson
International pay‑per‑click (PPC) programs become chaotic when brands expand across borders, juggling different languages, regulations, and agency partners. The article argues that consistency is the primary obstacle, not scaling, and outlines a framework that blends a global brand playbook with...
Access THG’s Cult Beauty and LOOKFANTASTIC Audience Through The Trade Desk
THG has struck a strategic partnership with advertising technology leader The Trade Desk, allowing media buyers to access THG’s Cult Beauty and LOOKFANTASTIC audience segments via The Trade Desk’s self‑serve Kokai platform. The integration brings high‑quality, real‑world commerce data to...
TikTok Joins EASA to Advance Advertising Standards
TikTok has joined the European Advertising Standards Alliance (EASA) as a full digital member, aligning with 28 self‑regulatory bodies across Europe. The move underscores the platform’s push for responsible advertising, complementing its expanded TikTok Safety Suite and clear commercial‑disclosure settings....
Are Social Sellers Missing an Important Piece of the Data Puzzle?
Social commerce now accounts for roughly 20% of Southeast Asia’s online spending, a surge accelerated by the pandemic. iKala’s research shows that revenue per order on social channels jumped 88%, indicating not just higher volume but larger baskets. While new...
Binance Rolls Out Mastercard Crypto Card Across CIS
Binance has launched a Mastercard‑branded crypto debit card in the CIS region, allowing users to spend digital assets at any merchant that accepts Mastercard. The card supports instant conversion of major cryptocurrencies into fiat, with zero‑fee withdrawals and a 5%...
Amazon Deemed Seller VAT Fraud Reform Would Raise Tax Revenues and Tackle Fraud
UK policymakers are considering extending the VAT deemed‑seller rules to cover both overseas and domestic sellers on online marketplaces. Amazon argues that the change would close a loophole exploited by fraudulent sellers, streamline VAT collection and generate roughly £700 million in...
Firms Report Improved Financial Performance Linked to Use of Embedded Finance
A new PYMNTS Intelligence study of 515 senior leaders shows embedded finance is now a strategic imperative for mid‑size and large firms. Nearly 90% of respondents prioritize strengthening customer and employee relationships, while 75% plan technology upgrades within the next...
Stablecoin Payments Show Up at Checkout Despite Crypto Markets Slump
Despite a broad crypto market downturn, stablecoin‑linked cards are gaining traction at U.S. checkout counters. Monthly payment flows through these cards have surpassed $1.5 billion, and annualized spend now tops $18 billion. The growth is driven by card networks embedding stablecoins as...
INTERVIEW: Why Independent Retailers Are Surviving on Service, Speed and Sheer Grit
Matt Sweeting, managing director of Claytons, explains how independent clothing retailers survive amid cost inflation and heightened competition from multichannel giants. He highlights that rising expenses, cautious shoppers, and pressure to match discounting and fast delivery erode margins, but superior...
Q&A with Shaunacy Burne, Corporate Donations Manager, Salvation Army Trading Company
Salvation Army Trading Company (SATCoL) is the charitable trading arm of The Salvation Army, helping UK retailers divert surplus stock, returns and textiles into reuse and recycling streams. Corporate Donations Manager Shaunacy Burne explains that SATCoL tailors take‑back programmes with...
Co-Op Introduces Member Pricing on Just Eat
Co‑op has become the first convenience retailer to offer member‑only pricing on Just Eat, extending its quick‑commerce service to more than 1,000 stores. Shoppers can now order everyday essentials such as baked beans, milk, spaghetti and British bacon with reduced...
Inside the Retail Impact of the Wuthering Heights Revival
Emerald Fennell’s upcoming *Wuthering Heights* film has sparked a retail wave, driving U.S. print sales eight‑fold and UK sales up 469 percent in January. Warner Bros. pre‑emptively signed 35 brand partners, turning the novel into a multi‑category merchandising engine. Fast‑fashion giant...
What Keeps Singapore’s Retail Growth Resilient?
Singapore’s retail sector has quietly outperformed expectations, delivering a 12.3% inflation‑adjusted sales increase over the past decade while the population grew 10.4%. Excluding automotive sales, non‑auto retail rose 11.8% since 2019, translating to a healthy 0.7% annual per‑capita gain. Mall...
Diamonds-USA.com: Luxury Jewelry. Personal Attention. Real Trust
Diamonds‑USA, founded by gemologist David Braverman in 1997, blends boutique‑level service with an online platform to sell certified diamonds and custom jewelry. The company’s hand‑checked ordering process and 100% money‑back guarantee have produced a near‑zero return rate, a rarity in...
“I Had No Assumptions. I Was Just Building:” Day 1-1000 of Selar
Selar, the African creator‑commerce platform founded in 2016, paid out over ₦18 billion ($12.8 million) to users in 2025, nearly double its 2024 payouts. The growth stemmed from relentless product iteration, a shift toward disciplined distribution, and a strategic pivot after the...
US Foods Adds AI Ordering Tools to as Digital Commerce Drives Growth
US Foods is rolling out AI‑driven ordering tools within its MOXē ecommerce platform, allowing customers to upload photos, PDFs or handwritten notes that are automatically converted into digital purchase orders. The initiative coincides with a strong fiscal Q4 2025, where...
Tech Tracker: Toast and Instacart Team up to Tackle Emergency Restaurant Supply Challenges
Toast, a restaurant POS leader, has teamed with Instacart to launch a joint solution for emergency inventory replenishment. The integration lets operators order pantry staples, produce, and cleaning supplies through Toast’s interface and receive same‑day deliveries, often within an hour....
Instacart Jumps 7% on Strong Results as CEO Calls Grocery Competition Fears 'Overblown'
Instacart reported fourth‑quarter revenue that beat expectations and a 14% rise in gross transaction value, its strongest growth in three years. Orders reached 89.5 million, surpassing StreetAccount forecasts, and the company projected GTV of $10.13‑$10.28 billion for the year, above analyst estimates....
AI in Fulfillment: Separating the Hype From the Operational Reality
Artificial intelligence is rapidly entering warehouse fulfillment, but its impact is often overstated. Fidelity Fulfilment’s pilots show AI can increase picker efficiency, reduce errors, and improve exception handling when paired with human oversight. Modern AI solutions are modular, cloud‑based, and...
Who Wins If the Debit Fee Cap Limit Gets Raised?
The episode examines a bipartisan bill to raise the Durbin amendment’s $10 billion asset threshold for debit interchange fee caps, indexing it to inflation and potentially expanding the exemption to banks with assets over $15 billion. Senators Ted Cruz and Katie Britt...
From Talent to Service Quality: How Digital Marketplaces Are Helping Building Owners Maintain Clean, Compliant Facilities
Digital labor marketplaces are reshaping facility management by linking building owners with vetted, on‑demand cleaning professionals. Real‑time scheduling and centralized communication reduce manual coordination, while transparent worker profiles improve accountability and compliance. Flexible staffing mitigates turnover‑driven service gaps, enabling managers...
Unlocking Your Retail Insights with LLMs
Best Buy is leveraging large language models to clean and enrich messy retail data, turning unstructured customer signals into actionable insights. The article stresses that LLM adoption must start with a clear business case rather than hype, especially for tasks like...
Ecomm Cowboy Talks AI and Underdogs
Chris Hall launched Ecomm Cowboy, a daily livestream on X and YouTube that breaks down ecommerce news, AI developments, and D2C strategies for online retailers. The hour‑long show, debuting a month ago, aims to both inform operators about the fast‑moving...
‘Selling in Germany Requires Consumer-Oriented Approach’
Germany’s e‑commerce market generated €83.1 billion last year, attracting cross‑border sellers. Andreas Giese of Dexport warns that German shoppers prioritize trust and deliberate decision‑making over impulse purchases. Success hinges on authentic social‑media content, user‑generated proof, and a mobile‑first brand website, while...
FAST42 2026: Announcing The Ranking Of India’s Fastest-Growing D2C Brands
Inc42 unveiled FAST42 2026, its fifth edition ranking the 42 fastest‑growing Indian direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) brands. The list, compiled from over 250 applications, uses FY23‑FY25 CAGR and a minimum ₹1 Cr FY23 revenue threshold. Collectively the winners generated ₹2,100 Cr in revenue, secured...
Return Policies Deterring Nearly Half of Shoppers Before Checkout: Cashew Research
Cashew Research’s "Data Drop: The Returns Revolt" surveyed 2,000 North‑American shoppers and found that 47% hesitate to buy when return shipping isn’t free. The study shows returns act as a trust signal that shapes conversion rates before checkout, not just...
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...
Newland AIDC North America CEO Talks Scanning Innovations
At NRF 2026, Newland AIDC North America CEO Roy Chen outlined the company’s expanding portfolio of scanning solutions, ranging from mounted and kiosk units to handheld and wearable devices. He emphasized how these technologies streamline store operations, accelerate checkout, and...
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...