François Maingret

Tag: ecommerce (Page 1 of 10)

Online Thrifting in the Age of AI: How to Preserve the Treasure Hunt Experience

November 16, 2024 / / 0 Comments

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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Zombies and Witches Favor Online Shopping: How Spirit Halloween’s Online Strategy Meets Their Expectations

October 26, 2024 /

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.

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When Most Marketplaces Increase Fees, eBay Removes Them for Private Sellers: Why Would They Do That?

October 13, 2024 /

One of the biggest complaints among Amazon, Walmart, or TikTok Shop sellers is the ever-increasing fees. But eBay UK has taken the opposite direction for private sellers (those who sell items occasionally for personal reasons, without the primary intention of making a profit or running a business). eBay UK has removed selling fees for private sellers across all categories, except for motors. After removing fees for fashion items earlier, eBay has now extended this policy.

They’ve also introduced new features like simplified listings, AI-generated descriptions, and tracked shipping with prepayment by buyers. eBay says they want to tap into an estimated £9 billion in resale potential from 294 million unused household items. I don’t think eBay would do this only to contribute to sustainability (although it helps), so let’s look at how removing fees for private sellers could impact both sellers and the company.

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Is Temu Killing Dollar Stores? Why Are Dollar Stores Stock Prices Crashing

September 27, 2024 /

When I first heard about Temu, my initial thought was about how unsustainable the model seemed. But my second thought went to dollar stores: How could they compete with a website that makes it easy to find thousands of even cheaper items and have them delivered directly to your home, instead of having to search through the aisles of these stores?

Having recently read about Dollar Tree and Dollar General’s stock prices dropping significantly in the last quarter, I immediately wondered if competition from Temu and Shein was too much for these companies. Was my assumption correct, or is the situation more complex? Let’s see what’s happening with dollar stores and see if Temu is responsible for the drop in their stock prices. Then, I’ll quickly review what I observe on the digital side of these companies.

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Changes on the De Minimis Rule : Who are the Winners and Losers?

September 15, 2024 /

Is this the end of $0.50 funny cat socks and $5 disposable dresses? There’s been a lot of buzz over the last year about the de minimis rule, which has been exploited by companies like Shein and Temu. Now, the Biden-Harris administration is pushing for new regulations.

It seems like a direct jab at the two Chinese giants, but these changes would affect a lot more players. How bad could it be for Temu and Shein? And who will lose or benefit from the elimination of the de minimis rule? Let’s find out.

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From Most Hated Brand to Superstar Retailer: An Overview of Abercrombie & Fitch’s Digital Presence

September 4, 2024 /

If I had a time machine, I’d go back to just two years ago, Q2 2022, and buy ANF stock when it was still under $20. Now, it’s hovering around $150, and some analysts are calling it the “comeback of the decade.” In 2016, the brand was considered “America’s most hated retail brand” by the American Customer Satisfaction Index. So, how did the company rise from the ashes to become a major success today?

I’m convinced that part of the answer lies in their digital strategy. Samir Desai, Chief Digital and Technology Officer, said, “The Abercrombie and Fitch Company business through COVID saw their business become 50%, almost 60% digital, so a big spike in digital.” As we’ll see in this brief overview, the company is doing a lot of things right. Let’s review their sales channels, policies, and marketing initiatives.

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Walmart’s Impressive Q2 Ecommerce Performance: Should Brands Prioritize Walmart or TikTok Shops After Amazon?

August 25, 2024 /

If there’s one underdog in the ecommerce world, it’s Walmart. Earlier in 2024, all eyes were on TikTok Shops. We also hear a lot about Shein and Temu, and of course, the current king of online sales, Amazon. But seasoned ecommerce professionals always keep an eye on Walmart. The retail titan finally grabbed more attention with its Q2 results, showing over 20% growth in ecommerce YoY.

This raises an important question: How should brands prioritize sales channels? Should they focus on Walmart or TikTok Shops first? Let’s quickly review Walmart’s performance, see how its marketplace compares with Amazon, and explore what brands should do next.

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