François Maingret

Tag: shipping

Amazon Plans to Facilitate Direct Shipping from China: Are Temu and Amazon Two Sides of the Same Coin?

July 19, 2024 /

Right before taking a vacation, I saw the news about Amazon planning to assist sellers based in China to ship directly to US customers, similar to what Temu does. While I recognized the importance of this move, the news didn’t surprise me. It’s been clear that China-based sellers have become a key part of Amazon’s strategy. We’ve seen several moves in the past to help Amazon compete with Temu and Shein, so this isn’t entirely new.

However, this might be Amazon’s boldest move to date. My initial thought was, “Some Amazon sellers are in big trouble.” After discussing this shift, I’d like to reflect on the convergence between Amazon’s and Temu’s strategies and review the potential impact on US-based sellers.

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The Fall of Zulily and Why Shifting Customers Expectations Can Kill Once Booming Businesses

January 6, 2024 /

Back in December, several Linkedin posts caught my eye: these were about Zulily laying off part of their workforce, updates by former employees. I have heard of the company and knew it was a significant player in the ecommerce space, but I did not know they were going through a rough time. My initial thought was that they were merely downsizing, like many other tech companies over the last couple of months. 

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Holiday Countdown: How Retailers Manage Customers Expectation When Shipping Orders

December 19, 2023 /

As we get closer to Christmas, many of us prefer to order our presents online and skip the long lines in grocery stores. I make the same mistake every year, waiting until the very last minute to start shopping. And every year, I ask myself the same question: Will my stuff be delivered before Christmas?

For businesses, the holiday season is often a very important time, and setting the right expectations for customers while maximizing sales is key. Let’s take a look at how big retailers do it, what we can learn from them, and what the best practices are.

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Holiday Countdown: How Retailers Manage Customers Expectation When Shipping Orders

December 16, 2023 /

As we get closer to Christmas, many of us prefer to order our presents online and skip the long lines in grocery stores. I make the same mistake every year, waiting until the very last minute to start shopping. And every year, I ask myself the same question: Will my stuff be delivered before Christmas?

For businesses, the holiday season is often a very important time, and setting the right expectations for customers while maximizing sales is key. Let’s take a look at how big retailers do it, what we can learn from them, and what the best practices are.

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From Q3 Hurdles to Holiday Hustle: Are Ecommerce Returns a Good Bet for UPS?

November 4, 2023 /

Have you ever wondered how Santa gets gifts to every home so quickly? He’s got a secret weapon: a brown sleigh with the letters U-P-S on the side. When the reindeer are overworked, UPS is out there, making holiday wishes come true. UPS and other carriers will be busy this holiday season, as up to 80% of customers say they plan on shopping online.

But hold on, we aren’t there yet. Let’s take a moment to go over UPS’s Q3 performance. It’s a big deal in the world of e-commerce, and things haven’t quite lived up to what we were hoping for. UPS isn’t just sitting around, though. They’re on the move, making changes and taking action. Let’s jump into the numbers, UPS strategy, and the outlook on the upcoming Christmas season.

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FTC vs. Amazon: What Would A World Without Amazon FBA Be Like?

October 11, 2023 /

According to the FTC, Amazon now takes nearly half of every dollar in sales from sellers who use its fulfillment services.  Wow, that is quite a bold statement, and I can’t help but picture a high school bully stealing lunch money from scrawny kids. But is the situation really this dramatic? In the final part of my FTC lawsuit review, I’d like to go over the allegations concerning Amazon’s FBA (Fulfilled By Amazon) program.

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