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*CHANGE IS COMING* Shopify announcing a partnership with Roblox is a game-changer. 👀 With over 200 million monthly active users, this collaboration could lead the way toward immersive commerce, seamlessly blending entertainment, social interaction, and shopping. In this new era, we’re no longer passive consumers of content; we actively become part of the experience. This shift offers innovative ways for brands to starting build meaningful, long-term relationships with the next generation of consumers—creating engagement that goes far beyond traditional marketing. #ImmersiveCommerce #Shopify #Roblox #DigitalMarketing #BrandEngagement #NextGenCommerce #VirtualRetail #EcommerceInnovation #ConsumerExperience #FutureOfShopping #RetailInnovation #InteractiveMarketing #GamingAndCommerce

This week's updates in eCommerce 🛍 ▪ SHEIN is set to launch its first branded credit card worldwide as it ramps up its international expansion ahead of a possible IPO. The fast fashion giant has also partnered with Mexican fintech Stori to offer points on its website with every purchase and double points on clothing orders. ▪ By Rotation is marking its fifth anniversary by opening the "world’s largest" fashion rental pop-up, called ‘The House of ByRo’, in London this month. ▪ Frasers Group is calling for boohoo investors to back its appointment of its founder Mike Ashley as chief executive of Boohoo, claiming it is "in the best interests of Boohoo, its shareholders and its stakeholders". This week Frasers Group has also abandoned its takeover plans for Mulberry England, citing governance concerns after the brand rejected its increased bid of £111 million. ▪ Wayfair has launched a new paid loyalty program. For $29 a year, the online retailer is offering customers free shipping, early access to major sales events and 5% back in rewards on purchases. ▪ Lidl GB is testing a Scan&Go functionality via their app, allowing customers to use their smartphone to scan groceries via barcodes or QR codes and avoid a traditional checkout. ▪ In collaboration with Levis’Store, Zalando is launching a new virtual fitting room that uses customers’ real body measurements to recommend the right fit. The retailer is also rolling out its AI assistant further. ▪ Gen Z’s UK fashion spend is projected to total £1.2 billion over the next six months, with 99% set to spend an average of £150 on clothing, footwear and accessories. That's according to the latest ‘Fashion Report’ from UNiDAYS, in conjunction with QuMind , which surveyed 1,600 UK students on their buying habits. ▪ Deichmann, Europe’s largest shoe retail group, is buying the rights to the Esprit brand for Europe and the US. The plan is to mainly distribute Esprit shoes. ▪ Primark has teamed up with environmental action charity WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) to “support the retailer’s commitment to giving clothes a longer life”. ▪ British women's shirt brand With Nothing Underneath has secured £2.5m of investment in its first funding round, led by Me+Em, Ro&Zo and Tala investor Pembroke VCT, alongside JamJar Investments. ▪ Savile Row tailors sold more bespoke suits this year than any time since the Covid-19 pandemic, as people are returning to the office or attending more formal parties, say retailers on the famous London street. ▪ The Very Group has reported a “resilient” performance for the full year as revenue saw a slight dip and operating profit grew. In the 52 weeks to June 29, the retailer’s group revenue declined 1% to £2.13bn and Very UK revenue increased 0.7% to £1.84bn. #eCommerce #news

This Week’s Highlights in E-commerce 🌐 After its 2020 IPO, online mattress retailer Casper faced rough terrain. Now, it's a subsidiary of Carpenter Co., a company known for manufacturing polyurethane foams, signaling a major pivot for the brand. Tumbler giant Stanley 1913 is upping its supply chain game with the AI-powered Kinaxis Maestro platform. This promises real-time transparency and operational flexibility across their entire supply chain. Let’s see how this unfolds. Wayfair is rolling out a $29/year membership offering perks like free shipping, early sale access, and 5% rewards. The initiative aims to capture customers frustrated by slow loyalty earn rates with other brands. Fashion retailer MANGO is opening a new location in Washington, D.C., as part of its U.S. growth plan. By 2024, Mango plans to operate 40 stores in the U.S., aiming to make the country one of its top three revenue markets by 2026. Harper Collective is redefining online shopping with its new digital flagship, delivering an immersive, 360-degree e-commerce experience powered by Shopify . COO Victor Haymann described it as more than just a store, but a “groundbreaking experience” blending top-tier 3D visuals and storytelling. Denim-focused GOOD AMERICAN has appointed Paul Griffin as its new president. Griffin brings years of experience from his tenure at SMCP and Ted Baker, signaling a robust strategic shift. Lee , known for denim, is expanding into handbags and totes, making these available for the first time on TikTok Shop alongside their e-commerce platforms. German footwear brand BIRKENSTOCK is deepening its presence in South Korea with a new dedicated e-commerce site and plans for standalone stores and concessions in major department stores by spring 2025. Crocs, Inc. expects its 2023 revenue to grow approximately 8%, slightly adjusting from its previous 7%-9% estimate. The company reported a 4.4% rise in DTC sales, while wholesale revenue showed a slight decline. Ermenegildo Zegna Group reported €1,357.4 million in unaudited revenue for the first nine months of the year, marking a 1.7% increase. Third-quarter revenue saw a dip, with DTC channels up by 10.2%, showcasing mixed but notable growth trends. These are the highlights shaping the industry this week! Which update did you find most interesting? 👇

This week's updates in eCommerce 🛍️ ▪ Zara owner Inditex, the world’s biggest listed fast fashion company by sales, is expanding its low-priced Gen-Z focused brand Lefties to counter SHEIN's increasing market growth. ▪ Fast fashion giant SHEIN is set to debut its spring-summer collection via a shoppable livestream. The event, which will be available on YouTube, X, Instagram and Facebook, will go live this Sunday. SHEIN is also in the process of onboarding a number of boohoo suppliers in order to fuel its expansion plans. ▪ MR PORTER has launched a trial of its first-ever virtual try-on experience for menswear across over 90 styles in its Mr P. own label. The luxury menswear site will utilise a 3D avatar that "realistically mirrors" customer measurements, with the aim of also helping to reduce returns rates. ▪ Tesco has launched a new media partnership with Vauxhall Motors Ltd. The car manufacturer will advertise products through channels within the Tesco Media and Insight Platform, including social, digital and connected TV. ▪ Gymshark posted its “biggest revenue number ever” in 2023. Sales grew +15% YoY to £556m, which the retailer said was “underpinned by the relevance and quality of our product” and “the resonance of our brand". Gymshark has also announced the launch of new premium athleisurewear range. ▪ A Chinese e-commerce company has said it is considering making an offer for Currys plc, sending the electronics retailer’s shares soaring amid hopes of a bidding war with private equity investor Elliott. ▪ Wayfair's revenue inched up +0.4% in Q4 last year as the home category continues to struggle to maintain growth post-lockdown. ▪ Sports Direct has launched Swiss sportswear brand On in selected stores as part of its aim to become the number one running destination in the UK. ▪ Walmart also saw growth in Q4, with the U.S. retailer’s comparable-store sales (excluding fuel) rising +4% YoY, with growing sales across grocery and health and wellness categories. ▪ SECRET SALES has reported 85% sales growth for 2023 after adding 250 new brands and retailers to its platform. ▪ Sainsbury's and Costa Coffee have announced a partnership to open 11 new in-store cafes in 2024. Costa will invest over £3m in the partnership. ▪ Polish fashion retailer LPP RESERVED UK LIMITED, is set to open its fifth store in the UK later this year at Westfield White City. #ecommerce #news ------------- Want to be the first to know when news happen? Join my free WhatsApp community for eCommerce professionals, click the link via mobile: https://lnkd.in/eVqVdsXS

I'm starting to see a shift here in China in the apparel e-commerce space. Platforms, agencies, live sellers, etc are starting to move up in price and quality. Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok was primarily known for lower end, low priced goods. We have a certain level of quality that has been the standard for too long to change and we didn't think it would ever be a competitive platform for us. Yet, in the past month or two, we've been approached by sellers on Douyin seeking manufacturers who can make quality apparel. Given Douyin's typical selling prices, we asked what prompted their change. They said "The low quality, low price competition is very crowded. Finding a factory that can make lot of cheaply made, low quality merchandise isn't that hard. But with so many competitors, the margins are tight. Finding a factory is much harder and we believe it gives us a competitive edge to justify the higher prices." Which makes sense to me. Selling at the super cheap end with additional incentives like subsidized shipping is great in the beginning. You're basically attracting buyers by pricing it so low that it doesn't feel like a risk. It's a logical starting point for a lot of VC backed platforms. Yet the velocity at which they entered has shown that even mass market goods have a limit. Sellers that can deliver quality goods are going to find a market. What do you guys think? Do you think this is the start of a trend or an anecdote? Curious to hear what folks think about this and what they're hearing. ********************************************************* I started the brand Ida’s Collection, named after my mother, whose faith, love, and generosity constantly inspire me. I also run an agency that provides emerging high end women’s brands with a vertical manufacturing infrastructure. Follow me if you want to hear more about this journey. 

Quick Fashion on Quick Commerce Quick Commerce (q-commerce) platforms such as Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart might soon deliver clothes to your doorsteps. These platforms are reportedly in talks with apparel manufacturers including Puma, Woodland, Fabindia, Liberty etc. The platforms are looking to tap a large section of consumers in the top 15 cities who are moving to buy products beyond groceries through q-commerce. For FMCG, q-commerce has become the fastest growing channel for the likes of HUL, ITC, Nestle etc. and contributes 30-35% of e-commerce sales. Fashion brands are now planning to ride the q-commerce wave for sale of essentials such as innerwear and accessories like socks, belts etc. Q-commerce players have already tested the waters by selling cricket jerseys during the recent cricket tournaments such as IPL and World Cup.   The platforms are hoping to exploit the growing fashion business which is currently the 2nd largest category in e-commerce after smartphones/electronics, accounting for 20-25% of sales. Q-commerce is also foraying into electronics, smartphones etc. Q-commerce currently do not have a return policy for products sold on their platform. Currently, at max, these platforms refund money for products with manufacturing defects. Hence, focus is to start with basic and fast selling products like innerwear, socks, white shirt, black trousers, blue jeans, formal shoes, school shoes, home slippers etc. The platforms have done a soft launch of fashion products by selling basic color t-shirts, track pants, limited footwear.   In order to succeed, the platforms need to solve for fulfillment. Currently, they operate on dark store model. With fashion goods, this model would require a tweak as fashion goods require special handling and storage (sorting basis variety, size, color etc.) as compared to grocery/FMCG items. Hence, an optimal model could be to store fast selling products in their dark stores as storing all fashion goods would take up a large amount of space. For rest of the items, the platforms can negotiate with fashion brands to link their retail stores inventory on their platform to offer a wider product assortment and avoid logistical challenges. In the hybrid model of dark store combined with inventory from retail store/pick point, the platforms need to solve for the 10-15 minutes delivery promise as this is their core business model/value add. They will require a robust logistics infrastructure, seamless technology integration and agile supply chain management.   Q-commerce is rewriting economic theory by helping control/regulate inventory along with enhancing/improving customer satisfaction quotient by getting quick access to new collections necessitated in the times fast-fashion rules and there is an argument to be made here that fashion too is perishable. Its the order of the day for apparel players to adapt and embrace this new mode of retail to stay relevant and competitive. #quickcommerce; #newtrends

Nothing beats the convenience of shopping from your armchair. Skipping the crowds is a big advantage in most cases, especially if you already know the product you’re buying. But what if you buy something for the first time and would need to try it before making up your mind?   The beauty industry certainly knows about this issue, and so does fashion. Discover the world of online fashion marketplaces and learn about four massively popular platforms! https://lnkd.in/eFq-S8Jr #onlineshopping #fashionmarketplaces #ipprotection

"By 2027, it is expected that fashion, grocery, and general merchandise will capture two-thirds of the e-commerce market- showing large potential and room to grow." - Falguni Nayar Interesting read https://lnkd.in/dZq_G9N5 #fashion #grocery #fmcg #generalmerchandise #ecommerce

This week's updates in eCommerce 🛍️ ▪ HUGO BOSS has landed on Roblox to promote its new denim-inspired clothing line. The fashion house has set up a Planet Hugo world carrying interactive experiences such as Hugo Fashion Match, which lets players style denim looks and share them with their peers. ▪ Inditex (owner of brands such as ZARA SA and Oysho) saw sales jump by +10.4% to €35.9 billion last year, with sales up in all geographical regions. The fashion group plans to invest around €1.8 billion this year to fuel further growth. This includes a big investment in technology to support its online sales, including the creation of more digitally enabled flagship stores. ▪ French sports retailer Decathlon has announced the launch of its rebrand as it anticipates a growth in demand for sports gear ahead of the Olympics. The retailer is an official sponsor of the Paris 2024 Olympics and is hoping to enjoy boosted visibility and sales because of the event. ▪ Zalando has unveiled a new growth strategy focusing on sports and kidswear, and a bigger focus on overall 'quality' to drive customer acquisition and retention. The new strategy plans to help the etailer return to "strong growth" by 2028. Last year, Zalando group revenues fell by 1.9% year on year to £8.6bn. ▪ MANGO saw soaring performance last year, with sales surpassing £2.6 billion, a +15% increase year-on-year. Spain, France, Germany, Turkey and the US were its top five sales regions for the year, ▪ Morrisons has suffered an annual loss of £1 billion as it battled intense competition and continued to labour under the weight of its debt. ▪ Deliveroo has reported narrowing losses and an increase in revenue in what the group described as a “resilient year of growth” amid tough macroeconomic conditions. In 2023, the group saw losses reduce by £262m to £32m, with gross profit up 13% to £726.4m. ▪ Ann Summers has posted an increase in full-year sales and profits as Halloween proved a hit and customers returned to in-store shopping, with a +4.5% increase in turnover to £104.6m for the last full financial year. ------------- Want to be the first to know when news happen? Join my free WhatsApp community for eCommerce professionals, click the link via mobile: https://lnkd.in/eVqVdsXS #ecommerce #news

This week's updates in eCommerce 🛍 ▪ PUMA Group is on track to meet its full-year outlook after sales growth accelerated in its third quarter, helped by a recovery in its U.S. business which offset weaker sales across China and the Middle East. ▪ E.L.F. BEAUTY grew sales by +40% in its second fiscal quarter, raising its full-year earnings and sales guidance. It now expects sales to be between $1.32 billion to $1.34 billion during fiscal 2025. ▪ Benefit Cosmetics has partnered with Obsess to debut its first virtual 3D shopping experience called “The Benemart". Within the virtual store, shoppers can create their own avatars, play games, try on their favorite products, win discounts, and shop with their friends using the store’s voice chat feature. ▪ Marks and Spencer sales hit £6.5bn for the 26 weeks to 28 September 2024. ▪ Primark's adjusted operating profit rose +51% to £1.1bn in the year to September 14, with sales increasing by +6% to £9.45bn. Primark is also set to open its first store in Texas next month as it continues its US expansion. ▪ Turkish Technology retailer Ebebek, which sells a range of baby, children, and family products, is making its UK bricks-and-mortar debut in 2025 with the opening of three stores. ▪ Albert Heijn is launching a personal assistant in its app that uses generative AI. ‘My AH Assistant’ inspires customers with recipes, product suggestions, and practical tips for cooking or storing dishes. ▪ Selfridges losses more than doubled in its latest annual results. Pre-tax loss hit £340m for the year to 3 February however sales soared +95% to £1.6bn, partly due to a rise in its finance bill including interest paid on borrowings. ▪ Pandora saw an uplift in profit during its third quarter. Earnings rose +6.8% to £110m and sales were up +9.5% to £682m. Pandora reported personalization services were driving incremental growth, with engraving services in particular growing 100% during the quarter. ▪ ASOS.com has reported a full-year loss and decline in revenue but continues to implement its turnaround plan to drive profitable growth. In the year to 1 September, the fashion retailer saw its adjusted pre-tax loss widen to £126 million from £70.3 million a year earlier as group revenue declined by 16% to £2.9 billion. ▪ Zalando has reported a strong third quarter as sales and profits surged amid increasing consumer demand. Zalando said earnings during its third quarter soared from £19.3m to £78.1m. ▪ John Lewis & Partners is to offer online customers a buy now, pay later payment option after teaming up with financial services provider Klarna. ▪ Sainsbury's has posted growth in half-year sales and profit. The supermarket chain’s retail underlying operating profit was up +3.7% year-on-year to £503m. This was driven by strong grocery volume growth, though partially offset by a lower contribution from Argos. #eCommerce #news