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Verishop co-founder and CEO Imran Khan says independent brands are flocking to his social commerce marketplace in the wake of Apple’s iPhone privacy changes. In an interview with Modern Retail, he spoke about how he's strategizing the social commerce marketplace's future.
Third-party sellers on Amazon are raising prices to stay in the black during a dynamic trading environment. Many small to mid-sized businesses are still grappling with supply chain delays induced by the pandemic. While Amazon has eased some of its storage restrictions at its warehouses that hurt sellers during the crucial holiday period, additional headwinds including inflation and increased fulfillment and shipping costs still linger.
Left alone to navigate the world of Roblox, an online gaming platform used daily by 49.5 million mostly teen users, retailers risk falling into a marketing minefield amid increased regulatory scrutiny of child-friendly online games. In the absence of any real support from Roblox, businesses are being forced to self-regulate their games to avoid any pitfalls around marketing to children -- who may find it difficult to distinguish between advertising and non-advertising content.
Despite Amazon establishing its grocery business in the U.K. with the help of local supermarket supply partners, its success could hinge on the strength of its owned brand goods. Now, as its grocery business continues to grow, the e-commerce giant is trying to find new ways to grow its market share in that region.
Grocery giants H-E-B and Albertsons are producing shoppable cooking videos, hoping they drive more online purchases. Some are relying on platforms like Facebook Live and YouTube, while others are hosting the content on their own websites.
Amazon is increasingly giving beauty startups access to its premium and indie brand programs. It gives them entry into a gated section on Amazon’s platform free from third-party resellers, and with additional perks such as early notice and access to upcoming promotions and revenue-boosting placement on curated beauty pages. Meanwhile, it makes Amazon more competitive against large retailers like Ulta and Sephora.
Resale platform Chairish has re-sold over 588,000 pieces of vintage furniture and art from 10,000 sellers. Capitalizing on the boom in the wider resale market, the San-Francisco-based company expanded into Europe last month on the back of its acquisition of Europe-based Pamono. With a larger assortment of goods, comes an even greater need for meticulous curation, according to co-founder and CEO Gregg Brockway.
Resale companies like the RealReal and Rebag are vying for a slice of a potentially massive circular economy that insiders claim is growing due to a socially-conscious shift toward sustainability and away from fast fashion. Despite having been around for years, online luxury resale's brick and mortar locations are freshly valuable due to their ability to capture new customers amid an ongoing rise in digital marketing costs, and as people are returning to physical retail.
Amazon's continued push into healthcare pits it against an assortment of competitors, ranging from startups to pharmacies to retailers like Target and Walmart and even third-party sellers on its marketplace. Naturally, some of those businesses and entrepreneurs are closely monitoring Amazon's investments, and how the e-commerce giant impacts pricing and profit margins as it wades further into their market.
Watch brand Jacob and Co. has no shortage of celebrity clients -- Beyonce name dropped the jeweler in a song and Zendaya wore its spider-web earrings worth $31,800 to a red carpet event for “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” But it has shifted its social media strategy to lean more on watch-focused micro-influencers. In an interview with Modern Retail, CEO Benjamin Arabov spoke about how he grew the online following his family's brand, as well as the overall social commerce space.
Upscale grocer Erewhon has struck a unique “affiliate retail” partnership with subscription wellness company Seed Health. As part of the deal, Erewhon will stock the startup’s sole probiotic supplement at its seven locations in Los Angeles from March until the end of the year. The grocer will then net an additional fee as the lead generator when an in-store customer signs up for online refills.
After a bumpy year-plus, skincare brand Apto is now available nationwide for the first time in its six year history through back-to-back wholesale pacts with Walmart and Target. Founder Marta Cros spoke with Modern Retail about the trials and tribulations.
Growth within Amazon’s third-party marketplace has been on a downward trajectory since the spring, with the lifting of lockdown restrictions spurring shoppers to return to brick and mortar stores. At the same time, Amazon has spent more on fulfillment to meet demand amid the pandemic, while also placing restrictions on the amount of stock sellers can send into its warehouses for storage and shipping. This means that its next earnings may have some tough numbers as it relates to third-party sellers.
After sprouting out of an aggregator space focused on supercharging e-commerce brands, Amazon roll-up companies are now looking at growing their physical retail presences. By onboarding brands and personnel from companies with established brick and mortar relationships, they are hoping to bring even more of their portfolio to traditional retailers.
Despite Amazon’s foray into luxury fashion, shoppers are still flocking to casualwear on its platform. The biggest brands on the online marketplace specialize in basics or activewear, according to data from Similarweb. Here's what's driving this apparel growth on the platform.
For years, retail experts have touted live streaming as the hottest new way to acquire customers and create instant sales. However, executing video commerce isn't a one-size-fits-all strategy, as lingerie brand Adore Me has found.
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