Are we about to see department stores return to their former glory, or are they a relic of the past? Only time will tell. However, reading business news makes me a little pessimistic about their future. Maybe I missed something big here, but the latest news on JCPenney led me to think the company won’t make a comeback anytime soon.
Continue readingAuthor: Francois Maingret (Page 2 of 14)
As a customer, I found that AI-chatbots can sometimes be very convenient, but many times a nightmare to deal with. So I was skeptical when I read in an article I won’t link here that “AI-powered chatbots played a key role in boosting online sales during the 2024 holiday season”.
Convenience alone doesn’t necessarily equal increased revenues, not to mention these are often implemented as a cost saving measure by companies. While chatbots might help speed up simple tasks like tracking an order or processing a return, they still aren’t there when it comes to complex inquiries and making sales.
Are these AI-driven tools really boosting sales because they improve the customer journey—or would the customer have purchased the same items through a different journey? And what’s the long-term impact on brand loyalty when customers are left frustrated by unhelpful bot interactions?
I have no doubt that AI has a ton of potential in ecommerce, especially with product discovery and personalization. But retailers should find the right balance between authenticity and the use of AI. No customer wants to deal with an AI when trying to buy something, and feel like they are trying to reach customer service but the AI won’t let them talk to an actual employee.
What do you do when the ugly sweater you got for Christmas doesn’t fit? Chances are, it’s pretty easy to return it—and maybe even hopefully exchange it for something you actually like. Now, multiply this by millions of dissatisfied customers, and you’ve got “Returnuary,” a term I have recently read in the news to describe the period of time in January, after the holidays, when retailers see an influx of returns.
The scary part? According to an article published on PYMNTS, the rate of product returns went from 8.8% in 2012 to 14.5% last year. Returns aren’t just a pain for retailers —reverse logistics are also a massive expense.
Continue readingI’ve made many questionable investment decisions over the years, but buying Walmart stock is not one of them. Don’t worry, I’m not here to give personal finance advice, but rather to talk about the retail giant and how it compares to the current king of ecommerce, Amazon.
For many years, Amazon has dominated the ecommerce world, performing much better than all of its competitors. But 2024 was different: Walmart is no longer flying under the radar and is getting more attention from marketers. But how big is it really?
Continue readingLike every month, there are some other news pieces I didn’t elaborate on but still found interesting. I’ve shared my thoughts on the linked articles, which come from various sources. I hope you find them interesting! Let me know if you think I missed anything big.
Amazon-Walmart Rivalry and Loyalty Programs
Interesting article on the Amazon-Walmart rivalry. I agree with the author that the two companies are becoming increasingly similar, and loyalty programs could make a difference.
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Benjamin Franklin may have said, “In this world, nothing is certain except death, taxes, and supply chain nightmares before the holidays.” And I’d agree with him. To be fair, the marketplace has become so competitive and complex that large variations in volumes are bound to create some troubles. However, it seems like this year has been especially challenging for those selling through Amazon FBA.
Should we blame the port strike earlier this year, larger volumes of inventory being shipped, or other factors? In today’s article, I’d like to go over what happened with Amazon and see how the company is dealing with it. We’ll then look at how sellers were impacted, but more importantly, why fixing these issues is critical for the ecommerce titan.
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As you can find in the full report, here are some other news pieces I didn’t elaborate on but still found interesting. I’ve shared my thoughts on the linked articles, which come from various sources. I hope you find them interesting! Let me know if you think I missed anything big.
The Challenges of Attracting and Retaining Sellers for Amazon and Temu
Not every Amazon seller is the same, but many sellers are worn out. I think that’s something the article missed.
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My favorite thing about thrifting is the treasure hunt. You never know what you’ll find or how good of a deal you’ll get. Thrift stores and garage sales have always been my go-to, but the internet has brought us even more options. Platforms like eBay, Etsy, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace offer a million possibilities for finding secondhand items. Some are even industry-specific, like Vinted and ThredUp in the fashion industry. Thrifting has always brought me joy and excitement, but some people worry that the fun of the treasure hunt might be coming to an end.
With new technologies, especially AI, everything is becoming a lot more “optimized”. If algorithms can quickly find the hidden gems, what’s left for people like us? Today, we’ll see how technology has impacted online thrifting and the secondhand market, and how the experience has changed over the years.
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If you live close to a large city, you’ve probably seen all these Spirit Halloween stores popping up recently. It’s impossible to miss them with their bright orange signs. I find it impressive that a company can generate enough revenue during the Halloween season to have the resources to open all of these temporary locations. But what’s even more impressive is that, even when operating within such a short time frame, they place a heavy focus on the online experience.
Let’s see how this company operates and review some key parts of their online strategy. Spirit Halloween recently added some interesting shipping options and seems to perform well online. Halloween is certainly an interesting time of year for businesses, and I thought it would be insightful to examine one of these extremely seasonal businesses that succeed online.
Continue readingAbout This Blog
My name is François, I’m the author of this blog. I love writing and talking about business and ecommerce. I hope you enjoy my work, feel free to contact me for any suggestion!