Episodes
Thursday May 27, 2021
Shoppable Inventory Takeover
Thursday May 27, 2021
Thursday May 27, 2021
Shoppable Inventory Takeover
ECOMMERCE STRAIGHT TALK EPISODE 6
This week on Ecommerce Straight Talk we're discussing:
- Last year COVID pushed Prime day from July to October. And with a 17% increase in revenue from 2019, pulled in ~$10 BILLION in estimated revenue. Looking at the trends this year and purchasing patterns, are we going to see familiar numbers this year?
- According to the Morning Brew, Retailers’ Q1 earnings showed us people are back spending $$, with Retail sales up 37% YoY. Walmart, Target, The Home Depot, and Macy’s all reported strong numbers, thanks to continued growth in e-commerce and consumers making larger purchases. BUT, it wasn’t just the big players, either: Shoe Carnival posted its strongest quarter ever thanks to its loyalty program and in-store growth. Despite these impressive figures, analysts expect a leveling off at some point. When do you think retail sales will cool down?
- CNN Business says, Under Armour will raise its minimum wage to $15. With the bulk of service industry workers still collecting unemployment, are we going to continue to see a trend of brands increasing minimum wage?
- Since the advent of Ecommerce, dealing with returns has always been an issue and needed to be added into the margins. This has become an even bigger burden as we see returns averaging around 30% more than the value of the sale... Is it easier just to tell customers to keep the product and send a refund?
- We spoke about this a few weeks ago and its rearing its head again. Shoppable inventory is starting to make rounds on TV Networks and Streaming services. Amazon has been beta testing this idea, but now Netflix, Hulu, and some TV networks want to get on board as well. Allowing people to CLICK and buy while watching. Imagine watching an NBA pre-game and seeing your favorite player showing off some new clothes as he walks to the locker room. With shoppable inventory you will now be able to click or scan a QR code in order to purchase what the player is wearing... Would you ever buy something this way?
Thursday May 13, 2021
Last-Mile Delivery Bandwagon
Thursday May 13, 2021
Thursday May 13, 2021
Last-Mile Delivery Bandwagon
ECOMMERCE STRAIGHT TALK EPISODE 5
This week on Ecommerce Straight Talk we're discussing:
- With Vacation rentals at 85% capacity through August and flight bookings up 111% YoY, do you think retailers are going to see increased purchase activity throughout the summer?
- Peloton recently had some issues with their new product, the treadmill. Will people and children getting hurt and killed they've recalled all their treadmills. The projected impact of this recall is estimated to be around $165 million. As this hurts their reputation and wallet, will Peloton be able to overcome this disaster?
- The cost of not going digital was the tax legacy brands were paying. But the playing field has been altered. As of last week, less than 5% of the users of the latest iOS version (14.5) in the US have permitted Facebook to monitor their device activity. What effect do you think this will have on the smaller DTC brands vs the older legacy brands?
- According to Forbes, "Livestream shopping is having a renaissance, and QVC is still top dog. Qurate, QVC’s parent company, had its best quarter since its creation in 2018. Retailers including Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, and even Petco are attempting to make their mark in livestream shopping."... Does livestream shopping have a future in the US post-pandemic?
- Walgreens started rolling out their same day delivery services. Introducing the ability to pick-and-pack through their app to allow for third-party delivery services to handle the last mile of delivery. On the heels of what we've been discussing over the past 2-episodes, what are the odds more retailers and even smaller brands, hop on this bandwagon?
Thursday May 06, 2021
Apple Faces Antitrust Case + 5 Top Trending Ecommerce Topics
Thursday May 06, 2021
Thursday May 06, 2021
Apple Faces Antitrust Case
ECOMMERCE STRAIGHT TALK EPISODE 4
This week we're discussing:
- "Apple hit with German Antitrust complaint as it prepares to roll out new iPhone software.", reported by Sam Shead of CNBC. With the new iOS-14 update, it seems like a lot of companies have sharpened their claws to combat Apple... Do you think this is just the beginning of the antitrust avalanche Apple will run into?
- The Retail Brew says, "Click and collect sales, including curbside pickup, made up around 9% of total US e-comm sales last year. An Ipsos survey found 78% of shoppers had used curbside pickup, or BOPIS, since the pandemic started. 69% planned to use it at the same level, or higher, post-pandemic"... Spinning off of what we discussed last week, are we going to be seeing a major shift in how brands think of omni-channel?
- "Lord & Taylor was just acquired by the Saadia Group, pulling them from a bankruptcy auction for $12MM.", Bloomberg reports. Lord & Taylor isn’t the first legacy retailer to restart from bankruptcy as an online-only venture.... Should we expect to see more of these older brands, with customer loyalty, begin to reemerge from insolvency?
- With the ever increasing prices of nostalgia online, whether through Ebay, or any other marketplace, Lids (the largest hat retailer) thinks hats will become the new sneakers, in terms of fostering an obsessive audience... Do you think Lids is on to something here? Or just pushing hype?
- Shopify's Q1 revenue exploded by 101% YoY, but their C-Suite imploded. With Shopify trying to reverse the executive exodus, will we be seeing a slow down in Shopify's innovation?
Join us every week for a new episode of Ecommerce Straight Talk, where we discuss Ecommerce trends, behaviors, news, and latest topics.
Thursday Apr 29, 2021
Retail Apocalypse
Thursday Apr 29, 2021
Thursday Apr 29, 2021
Retail Apocalypse
ECOMMERCE STRAIGHT TALK EPISODE 3
This weeks episode we're discussing:
- Your favorite classic movies could soon be adding product placement... Do you think this will be an effective way of marketing?
- With this increase in growth for Snapchat and now that their user base is more Android user than iPhone... How can Ecommerce brands leverage this insight?
- 15,000 influencers are launching new products lines... How do you think this will impact future influencer marketing campaigns?
- Discounted or resold furniture has had recent success for the simple reason that people moved a lot amid the pandemic... Do you feel we'll continue to see consistent sales in the resale industry?
- In addition to the pandemic, population dispersion has had a large effect on retail stores - included mostly in this are Malls... Do you think retail will make a come back as we start getting back to "Normal"?
Monday Apr 26, 2021
More Brands are Moving to Ecommerce
Monday Apr 26, 2021
Monday Apr 26, 2021
More Brands Are Moving to Ecommerce
ECOMMERCE STRAIGHT TALK EPISODE 2
This weeks episode of Ecommerce Straight Talk we discuss:
- Apple's Spring Event took place yesterday. What we were really watching out for was iOS 14.5's AppTracking Transparency, what does this mean for brands and advertisers?
- Retail sales spike almost 10% in March, what has led to an increase in Retail sales?
- Jeff Bezos stepped down as Amazon CEO, what does this mean for Amazon moving forward?
- Facebook announced its moving into audio formats (like Clubhouse). Do you think Facebook will have success with this new format?
- Blockchain is allowing high-end brands another way of certifying original products, how do you think this will have a major effect on knock-offs and copycats?
- Has the pandemic paved the way for higher ticket items being purchased through digital channels?
Join us every week for a new episode of Ecommerce Straight Talk, where we discuss Ecommerce trends, behaviors, news, and latest topics.
Monday Apr 26, 2021
Delays and Shortages Are Killing Inventory
Monday Apr 26, 2021
Monday Apr 26, 2021
Delays and Shortages Are Killing Inventory
ECOMMERCE STRAIGHT TALK EPISODE 1
In our first ever Ecommerce Straight Talk episode, we discuss:
- How inventory delays affect marketing efforts and what to do about it.
- How engaging with customers on social media improves customer satisfaction and brand image.
- What to expect when moving business focus away from Amazon and into your own site.
- How to manage advertising budgets.
Join us every week for a new episode of Ecommerce Straight Talk, where we discuss Ecommerce trends, behaviors, news, and latest gossip.