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Category: Retail & eCommerce

eCommerce, Online Retail & Retail News

  • Honda Cutting Production by 40% in Japanese Plants

    Honda Cutting Production by 40% in Japanese Plants

    Honda is the latest automaker to be hit with supply chain issues, cutting production at two Japanese plants by up to 40%.

    The auto industry has been especially hard hit by the semiconductor shortage and supply chain issues. Companies have had to scale back production, cannibalize some models to finish others, and ship some vehicles without their full complement of electronics.

    Honda is the latest to have issues, according to Reuters, and is cutting production as a result. In early October, the company plans to reduce production by 40% on two lines at its Suzuka plant in western Japan. The plant in the Saitama prefecture will reduce production by roughly 30%.

    In the meantime, Honda plans to reduce its Saitama production by 40% in September while also reducing Suzuka production by 20% for the rest of the month.

    Honda’s announcement illustrates the ongoing challenges automakers are facing, even as much of the world is rushing to return to normal. It’s still unclear how long supply chain issues will last or when automakers will be back to full production.

  • Amazon Sends Out Invites to Its Annual Launch Event on September 28

    Amazon Sends Out Invites to Its Annual Launch Event on September 28

    Amazon’s annual product launch event is scheduled for September 28, with the company sending invitations to journalists.

    According to The Verge, new Echo devices are most likely to debut later this month. Unlike some past years, there haven’t been many substantial rumors about what to expect. The Echo is a logical choice, however, since it’s been two years since the last big update.

    The event is slated to begin 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET on September 28. Interesingly Amazon is reportedly planning to roll out a second Prime Day in Q4 2022. It’s possible whatever products are unveiled on the 28th will help anchor the Prime Fall Deal Event.

  • Don’t Waste Time on YouTube’s Dislike Button; It Doesn’t Work

    Don’t Waste Time on YouTube’s Dislike Button; It Doesn’t Work

    YouTube users smashing the “Dislike” button are likely wasting their time, according to new research from Mozilla.

    YouTube, like many online platforms, provides a button for individuals to dislike content. The idea is that disliking something will fine-tune the platform’s algorithm to show the user less content of a similar nature.

    According to Mozilla, however, the “Dislike” button doesn’t really work.

    Indeed, Mozilla’s research found that people who are experiencing unwanted recommendations and turn to the platform’s user controls for assistance prevent less than half of unwanted recommendations.

    The issue is made even worse as a result of the type of content often found on YouTube.

    This is especially troubling because Mozilla’s past research shows that YouTube recommends videos that violate its very own community guidelines, like misinformation, violent content, hate speech, and spam. For example, one user in this most recent research asked YouTube to stop recommending war footage from Ukraine — but shortly after was recommended even more grisly content from the region.

    Needless to say, users don’t trust YouTube’s controls to provide them with the tailored experience they’re looking for.

    “We learned that people don’t feel YouTube’s user controls are effective tools for managing the content they see,” says Becca Ricks, Senior Researcher at Mozilla. “Our research validates these experiences — the data shows that people don’t actually have much control over the YouTube algorithm.”

    “Our study found that YouTube’s user controls have a negligible impact on preventing unwanted recommendations, leaving people at the mercy of YouTube’s recommender system,” adds Jesse McCrosky, data scientist with Mozilla. “As a result, YouTube continues to recommend videos that people have clearly signaled they do not want to see, including war footage and gruesome horror clips.”

  • Twitch’s Biggest Streamers Will Earn Less Under New Terms

    Twitch’s Biggest Streamers Will Earn Less Under New Terms

    Twitch is changing the terms of its deals with top streamers to pay them less than it has been.

    Twitch currently has a 50/50 revenue deal with the majority of its streamers, but some of the top ones earn 70%. According to a blog post by company president Dan Clancy, that is changing with Twitch updating the terms of its revenue sharing agreement.

    Under the new terms, top streamers will still earn a maximum of 70% on the first $100,000 annually. After the first $100,000, however, the revenue sharing will drop to the default “50% for Tier 1 subscriptions, 60% for Tier 2, and 70% for Tier 3 for the remainder of the 12-month period.”

    The new terms will go into effect on June 1, 2023, and will be calculated based on a 12-month period based on a streamer’s annual agreement renewal date. The $100,000 threshold will reset on the first day of every new 12-month period.

    According to Clancy, the changes will help the company shorten payout time as it works toward same-day payouts.

    “At the time of this posting, more than 22,000 of you have weighed in on UserVoice asking us to move all streamers to 70/30 and to pay streamers faster,” Clancy writes. “Let’s chat about the latter part first.

    “As you probably heard by now, we’re in the middle of rolling out the largest change to payouts in years by cutting the payout threshold in half to $50. This is an important middle step that will help streamers put money in their pockets now, while getting us closer to our goal of same day payouts and lower thresholds.”

    Clancy says the cost of delivering the service was also a factor.

    “Lastly, we have to talk about the cost of our service,” Clancy adds. “Delivering high definition, low latency, always available live video to nearly every corner of the world is expensive. Using the published rates from Amazon Web Services’ Interactive Video Service (IVS) — which is essentially Twitch video — live video costs for a 100 CCU streamer who streams 200 hours a month are more than $1000 per month. We don’t typically talk about this because, frankly, you shouldn’t have to think about it. We’d rather you focus on doing what you do best. But to fully answer the question of “why not 70/30,” ignoring the high cost of delivering the Twitch service would have meant giving you an incomplete answer. “

  • YouTube’s ‘Creator Music’ Will Let Creators Monetize Videos Containing Licensed Music

    YouTube’s ‘Creator Music’ Will Let Creators Monetize Videos Containing Licensed Music

    YouTube is eliminating a major pain point for content creators, paving the way for them to be able to monetize videos containing licensed music.

    Content creators have had to tiptoe around licensed music for years. Even something as simple as showing off video gameplay often requires creators to mute the audio to avoid running afoul of licensing issues.

    YouTube is working on a solution, dubbed Creator Music, that will allow creators to buy licensed music for use in their videos. Creators will also be able to monetize those videos. Best of all, creators will have a choice whether to pay upfront or split revenue from their videos with the artist behind the music.

    We’re introducing Creator Music, a new destination in YouTube Studio that gives YouTube creators easy access to an ever-growing catalog of music for use in their long-form videos. Creators can now buy affordable, high-quality music licenses that offer them full monetizing potential—they will keep the same revenue share they’d usually make on videos without any music.

    And for creators who don’t want to buy a license up front, they’ll be able to use songs and share revenue with the track’s artist and associated rights holders. Creator Music, currently in beta in the US and expanding to more countries in 2023, will offer a streamlined process for creators—they’ll be able to instantly see the terms for their song selection.

    The new feature will be a welcome improvement for content creators, giving them more freedom and flexibility than they have previously enjoyed.

  • Walmart’s ‘Be Your Own Model’ Expands Virtual Fitting

    Walmart’s ‘Be Your Own Model’ Expands Virtual Fitting

    Walmart is expanding its virtual fitting service, letting users upload their own photo in addition to using existing models.

    Walmart purchased Zeekit in 2021 and used its tech to unveil virtual fitting rooms. Customers could choose from a selection of models to see how clothing items look would look. The company is now expanding the service to let customers upload their own photo, giving a more accurate representation of how the clothes will look on them.

    Called Be Your Own Model, the service uses technology originally designed for topographic maps. This allows the software to accurately and realistically approximate how an item of clothing will look, right down to the shadows and fabric draping.

    Credit: Walmart

    Walmart is already delivering the new feature at scale, with some 270,000 items supported for a variety of brands, including Athletic Works, Avia, ELOQUII Elements, Free Assembly, Love & Sports, No Boundaries, Scoop, Sofia Jeans and Sofia Active by Sofia Vergara, Terra & Sky, Time & Tru, and The Pioneer Woman.

    It’s also incredibly easy to use. If an item is enabled for virtual try-on, customers will see the “Try It On” button on the item page and have the option to view clothing on themselves (Be Your Own Model) or another model (Choose My Model). To use the Be Your Own Model feature, the customer will be prompted to take a picture of themselves within the Walmart iOS app. Once an image is saved, the customer will be able to view themselves as the model each time they use the virtual try-on experience.

    Be Your Own Model is rolling out to the iOS Walmart app, but the company says an Android version will be available in the coming weeks.

  • California Sues Amazon Over Blocking Competitive Pricing

    California Sues Amazon Over Blocking Competitive Pricing

    Amazon is legal hot water again, with the state of California suing the e-commerce giant for blocking competitive pricing.

    Amazon has a long-standing history of preventing its third-party resellers from offering lower prices on other platforms or outlets. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a suit, claiming the practice is anticompetitive and in violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law and Cartwright Act.

    “For years, California consumers have paid more for their online purchases because of Amazon’s anticompetitive contracting practices,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Amazon coerces merchants into agreements that keep prices artificially high, knowing full well that they can’t afford to say no. With other e-commerce platforms unable to compete on price, consumers turn to Amazon as a one-stop shop for all their purchases. This perpetuates Amazon’s market dominance, allowing the company to make increasingly untenable demands on its merchants and costing consumers more at checkout across California. The reality is: Many of the products we buy online would be cheaper if market forces were left unconstrained. With today’s lawsuit, we’re fighting back. We won’t allow Amazon to bend the market to its will at the expense of California consumers, small business owners, and a fair and competitive economy.”

    Amazon is under scrutiny because of its position in the US retail market, with 74% of US customers reportedly going straight to the retail giant for purchases. Similarly, 96% of the company’s 160 million US Prime members say they are more likely to buy from Amazon than a competing online store.

    As a result of its market dominance, customers and resellers alike have little to no alternative than to agree with whatever terms Amazon imposes. According to AG Bonta, one seller said, “We have nowhere else to go and Amazon knows it.” Another said, “There is no viable alternative to Amazon for my business.”

    California’s lawsuit is the latest effort by regulators and lawmakers to reign in Big Tech and level the competitive playing field.

  • Patreon Just Let Its Entire Security Team Go [Updated]

    Patreon Just Let Its Entire Security Team Go [Updated]

    Update: Story has been updated with a response from Patreon.

    Patreon may have just put a massive target on its back with the news that it has reportedly laid off its entire security team.

    Patreon is the funding platform that many content creators use to support themselves. The platform gives creators a way to build a community around the content they offer and gives fans the ability to become “patrons” of their favorite creators. Unfortunately, especially for a company that handles so much financial information, Patreon appears to have laid off its security team.

    Emily Metcalfe, Patreon Senior Security Engineer, broke the news in a LinkedIn post:

    So for better or worse, I and the rest of the Patreon Security Team are no longer with the company. As a result I’m looking for a new Security or Privacy Engineering role and would appreciate any connections, advice, or job opportunities from folks in my network.

    Ellen Satterwhite, Patreon’s Interim Head of Communications & US Policy Lead, reached out to WPN to provide some clarity on the company’s decision and reassure users that it will remain a safe and secure platform:

    As a global platform, we will always prioritize the security of our creators’ and customers’ data. As part of a strategic shift of a portion of our security program, we have parted ways with five employees. We also partner with a number of external organizations to continuously develop our security capabilities and conduct regular security assessments to ensure we meet or exceed the highest industry standards. The changes made this week will have no impact on our ability to continue providing a secure and safe platform for our creators and patrons.

    Only time will tell if Patreon’s reliance on “external organizations” will be enough to maintain the security its users rely on. Even with its external partnerships, however, it’s hard to imagine a company of Patreon’s significance letting its own internal security team go.

  • Russia Is Turning Off the Gas to Europe

    Russia Is Turning Off the Gas to Europe

    After months of sanctions, Russia says it is cutting off the gas to Europe in a move that could have serious repercussions.

    Europe relies heavily on Russia for its energy needs. In spite of that, the bloc has the international community in levying sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Russia is now blaming those sanctions for cutting off gas to Europe, saying they have led to maintenance issues of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, according to Forbes.

    Despite the pipeline closure, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said gas exports would resume if the sanctions were lifted, saying the sanction have “brought the situation to what we see now.”

    According to Forbes, Europe’s gas reserves currently sit at 81.55%. The bloc set a goal of having its reserves at 80% by November 1, putting it ever slow slightly ahead of its target. With Russia cutting off supplies, however, it’s unclear if Europe will need to tap into those reserves immediately, lowering them below the target threshold going into winter.

  • Google Tackles Supply Chain Attacks With New Bug Bounty

    Google Tackles Supply Chain Attacks With New Bug Bounty

    Google is tackling supply chain cybersecurity attacks with a new bug bounty program.

    Supply chain attacks involve hackers compromising the source code or service used by a range of industries and companies rather than targeting each individual organization. As a result, a single successful supply chain attack can compromise hundreds or even thousands of organizations using the service or product.

    WIih supply chain attacks growing in popularity, Google is looking to address the problem with a bug bounty program. Bug bounties refer to the payouts paid to professional hackers and security experts, also known as “white hats,” who find bugs and report them to companies so they can fix them before bad actors exploit them.

    Google posted the new bug bounty program in a blog post:

    Today, we are launching Google’s Open Source Software Vulnerability Rewards Program (OSS VRP) to reward discoveries of vulnerabilities in Google’s open source projects. As the maintainer of major projects such as Golang, Angular, and Fuchsia, Google is among the largest contributors and users of open source in the world.

    Google made it clear that the goal of the new program was to help secure open source software supply chains.

    The addition of this new program addresses the ever more prevalent reality of rising supply chain compromises. Last year saw a 650% year-over-year increase in attacks targeting the open source supply chain, including headliner incidents like Codecov and the Log4j vulnerability that showed the destructive potential of a single open source vulnerability. Google’s OSS VRP is part of our $10B commitment to improving cybersecurity, including securing the supply chain against these types of attacks for both Google’s users and open source consumers worldwide.

    Google says payouts will range from $100 to $31,337, depending on the severity and importance of the bug, as well as whether it is particularly interesting or unusual.

  • Japan Wants a $24 Billion Investment in Battery Production

    Japan Wants a $24 Billion Investment in Battery Production

    Japan wants to ramp up battery production in-country, calling for a $24 billion investment to increase manufacturing.

    Battery production is becoming more important to companies and countries alike as the world pivots to renewable energy, battery-powered vehicles, and energy storage. Amid growing international tensions, many countries are looking to increase production within their own borders rather than rely on China.

    According to Reuters, Japan is the latest country that wants to increase its in-country production, calling on the public and private sectors to develop the manufacturing capabilities the country needs.

    “The government will be in the forefront and mobilise all its measures to achieve the strategy’s goals, but we can’t achieve this goal without the efforts of the private sector,” said industry minister Yasutoshi Nishimura.

    Japan has set the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050, and increased battery production is a critical step in that direction.

  • Samsung Is Already Hard at Work on Google’s Third-Gen Tensor Chip

    Samsung Is Already Hard at Work on Google’s Third-Gen Tensor Chip

    Samsung is reportedly already hard at work on Google’s third-gen Tensor chip, although concrete details are few and far between.

    Tensor is the custom system on a chip (SoC) processor Google uses to power its Pixel line of smartphones. The first-gen Tensor powers the entire Pixel 6 and 6a lines, with the second-gen expected to power the Pixel 7.

    According to Galaxy Club, via 9to5Google, Samsung is in the “early testing and development” phase with the third-gen Tensor. There were no additional details regarding what improvements the new design may bring.

    Why Samsung?

    In some ways, it’s somewhat surprising Google is continuing to rely on Samsung as its primary manufacturing partner. While Samsung is a major semiconductor manufacturer, it is widely considered to be behind rival TSMC in the quality of its chips.

    Samsung’s manufacturing issues became evident when some of its Exynos processors experienced heat issues. Some of the latest Snapdragon processors, which Samsung manufactured for Qualcomm, experienced similar issues.. In contrast, Apple and MediaTek processors are manufactured by TSMC and do not have the same issues.

    Given that Google’s North American smartphone market share grew by 230% in Q2 2022, the company clearly has an opportunity to continue challenging its larger rivals in the smartphone space. It is somewhat puzzling that Google does not want to switch to TSMC for its manufacturing needs and is continuing to stick with Samsung.

  • Intel Signs $30 Billion Financing Deal With Brookfield to Expand Chip Factories

    Intel Signs $30 Billion Financing Deal With Brookfield to Expand Chip Factories

    Intel is pulling an industry first, partnering with Brookfield Asset Management Inc to help fund its chip factory expansion.

    Intel is working on expanding its US-based chip production as lawmakers look to help the US become less dependent on foreign semiconductor manufacturing. In an unprecedented move, Intel is partnering with Brookfield to help fund its $30 billion expansion plans, according to The Wall Street Journal.

    Intel will fund 51% of the expansion, with Brookfield funding the rest. Intel and Brookfield will split ownership of the financing entity that will own the factories, as well as the resulting profits, although Intel will retain majority ownership.

    While the financing arrangement is new for the semiconductor industry, it’s a relatively common practice in others, such as telecommunications and energy. Given the challenges Intel is facing, not the least of which is the surprise $500 million loss the company recently reported, the deal made sense.

    “We have gotten behind, and that requires a fairly aggressive investment cycle over the next few years, which is not a place Intel typically finds itself,” said Intel Chief Financial Officer David Zinsner.

  • Amazon Has a Prime Pharmacy Problem

    Amazon Has a Prime Pharmacy Problem

    Amazon may be trying to lure people to its Amazon Prime with prescription cost savings, but customers aren’t buying it.

    Amazon Prime is the company’s popular service that bundles free shipping and lower prices for members. The membership also comes with a variety of other services and features, but it seems that some of them are not very popular.

    According to Business Insider, Morgan Stanley conducted a survey to see what services mattered most to Amazon Prime users. The survey found the company’s prescription service ranks dead last among the reasons people subscribe to Prime. In fact, only 2% cited Prime Pharmacy as the reason for signing up.

    To put that in perspective, Prime Gaming, Echo/Alexa integration, and Amazon Fresh all ranked higher. The company chalked Prime Pharmacy’s lack of popularity up to its relative newness.

    “To compare a newer Prime benefit like the Prime prescription savings benefit, to one like Prime Video or two-day delivery, isn’t a true apples to apples comparison. The Prime prescription savings benefit is relatively new, and we are committed over the long term to making healthcare services easier and more affordable,” the spokesperson told Insider.

    Amazon has been aggressively moving into the healthcare industry, even rumored to be interested in Signify Health. Only time will tell if the company’s Prime Pharmacy eventually gains traction.

  • Foxconn Investing $300 Million in Vietnam Manufacturing

    Foxconn Investing $300 Million in Vietnam Manufacturing

    Apple supplier Foxconn plans to invest some $300 million in its Vietnam manufacturing facilities in an effort to increase production.

    Vietnam has been working to establish itself as a center for tech manufacturing. Reports surfaced last week that Apple is looking to move Apple Watch and MacBook production to the country for the first time ever. As a result, it’s not surprising that Apple’s biggest manufacturing partner is looking to expand its in-country production.

    According to Reuters, “Foxconn has signed a $300 million memorandum of understanding with Vietnamese developer Kinh Bac City (KBC.HM) to expand its facility in the north of the country to diversify and boost production.”

    Foxconn’s new factory will sit on 125 acres in the Bac Giang province and will reportedly create 30,000 jobs in the local economy.

  • YouTube and TikTok Are Blowing Facebook Away in Teen Usage

    YouTube and TikTok Are Blowing Facebook Away in Teen Usage

    Facebook has a major problem in its attempts to appeal to teens, with the platform being blown away by both YouTube and TikTok.

    Younger markets are critical for social media platforms and their future growth prospects. The more attached users are to a platform early on, and the more their online social lives are intertwined with it, the more impetus there will be for them to continue using it in the coming years.

    Unfortunately for Facebook, its usage among this critical demographic — ages 13 to 17 — has plummeted. According to Pew Research Center, the number of teens saying they use Facebook has dropped from 71% in 2014-2015 to a mere 32% in 2022. In contrast, 95% of teens use Google’s YouTube, while 67% use TikTok.

    Pew also found some interesting demographic differences within the target group.

    There are some notable demographic differences in teens’ social media choices. For example, teen boys are more likely than teen girls to say they use YouTube, Twitch and Reddit, whereas teen girls are more likely than teen boys to use TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. In addition, higher shares of Black and Hispanic teens report using TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and WhatsApp compared with White teens.

    The study is bad news for Facebook and may provide insight into why the company is pivoting so hard toward the metaverse. If Facebook can execute its vision for the metaverse, it may be able to reclaim its crown.

  • TikTok Under Fire for Potential Keylogging, Some Say Concern Is Overblown

    TikTok Under Fire for Potential Keylogging, Some Say Concern Is Overblown

    A security researcher has called out TikTok for inserting code in its in-app browser that could be used to log keystrokes, but not everyone is convinced.

    TikTok is frequently in the news over concerns with its handling of user data and how much influence — and access to that data — Beijing has. In the latest round of concerns, security researcher Felix Krause has highlighted the dangers of apps that have their own in-app web browsers, including TikTok.

    According to Krause, TikTok’s in-app browser injects JavaScript into third-party websites when a user visits them from within the app. The code can be used for a variety of purposes, including logging keystrokes and collecting sensitive information.

    Krause admits that he can’t say for sure how TikTok is using the JavaScript code it’s inserting:

    We can’t know what TikTok uses the subscription for, but from a technical perspective, this is the equivalent of installing a keylogger on third party websites.

    Read more: Oracle Begins Audit of TikTok’s Algorithms for Beijing’s Influence

    Zach Edwards ― the security researcher that discovered some Microsoft trackers were not blocked by DuckDuckGo before the latter fixed the issue — pointed out the dangers of conflating what could happen with what is happening.

    TikTok sent the following statement to Motherboard, strongly denying Krause’s implication:

    The report’s conclusions about TikTok are incorrect and misleading. The researcher specifically says the JavaScript code does not mean our app is doing anything malicious, and admits they have no way to know what kind of data our in-app browser collects. Contrary to the report’s claims, we do not collect keystroke or text inputs through this code, which is solely used for debugging, troubleshooting, and performance monitoring.

    Only time will tell if TikTok is collecting the data people type in the in-app browser, although doing so would likely be the smoking gun regulators would need to crack down on the service. Given how high the stakes are and the lack of any evidence, it seems unlikely that TikTok is guilty of this particular offense.

    At the same time, TikTok remains one of the most controversial apps or services available, with more than its fair share of privacy issues. That alone will make it hard for some people to believe the company isn’t guilty.

  • How to Increase Sales in Online Marketplaces

    How to Increase Sales in Online Marketplaces

    If you’re not selling online, are you really selling? This is a question you likely asked yourself in the beginning stages of building your business. And if you’re an executive of a company who has been selling online for a while, you may be trying to figure out how to sell more online. Even if you have the most revolutionary product lineup, getting into the hands of your audiences is not easy. 

    As the pandemic demonstrated, nearly everything is available online and ready to ship to your door instantaneously. From toilet paper to milk, bedding to televisions, everything you could possibly want, need, or desire can be found online. This fact is mindblowing when you think about how shopping used to be strictly done in-person. Now you can pre-order your groceries from the comfort of your couch and order school supplies for your kids at the same time. 

    The online marketplace is cluttered with literally millions of brands competing for the same consumers. Differentiating yourself as a brand can be tricky, no matter if you are a small business or a large retailer. If you’re looking to increase your brand’s sales online, then you’ve come to the right place. Below are three ways to boost your sales and get consumers coming back for your products time and time again.  

    1. Make Friends with Amazon

    Despite your personal feelings toward Amazon, the truth is, selling on Amazon can be extremely beneficial. Consumers who are willing to try a new product will likely first search on Amazon to see if it’s available. Free, expedited shipping for Prime customers is a gamechanger for consumers in this must-have-it-now landscape. And while buying on Amazon may be simple, selling on this e-commerce site is a different story. 

    Before you start selling on Amazon, be sure to read all of its rules and regulations. Skipping this step may lead you to a suspended amazon seller account. This often happens due to lack of performance, like policy violations or a lack of sales. It can also happen, however, if you have multiple selling accounts or you are selling something prohibited by the site. Having a suspension can be a frustrating experience, and it can take days if not weeks to get your account restored. 

    Your best bet to selling successfully on Amazon is to do your homework. Make sure your business is set up with proper documentation. Once you’re on the e-commerce site, be responsible to your purchasers. If something is delayed due to inventory, communicate this with your buyers. Also, if you receive a negative comment, be sure to respond to the feedback on the site directly. These small tips will boost your Amazon seller profile and hopefully keep you far away from a suspension. 

    2. Be Active on Social Media 

    Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok are making it even easier for users to stop what they’re doing mid-scroll and purchase products. As a business, you want to capture users’ attention when they are most vulnerable and most likely to purchase. You can do this by being an active brand on social media. This can look like creating funny or memorable Instagram Reels or having an enticing giveaway. 

    If you aren’t socially savvy, that’s alright. There are plenty of tutorials online to get you started and inspire you to create buzzworthy content. If you’re still at a loss, you may consider hiring a social guru either as a full-time employee or contractor. Having a dedicated social media person on your team can ensure your business is at the forefront of latest trends. This will pay off quickly when you see how many new customers are finding your brand through social apps. 

    Another thing to note: make sure your checkout experience is simple. The more seamless the checkout experience, the more likely someone is going to buy right away. If the process is tedious or laborsome, users will click back and continue scrolling. The likelihood of them coming back to your site to purchase is slim to none. Monitoring your consumers’ purchase journey is one key way to ensure they are completing their orders quickly and efficiently. 

    3. Manage Your Inventory

    This last tip is especially relevant today. Shortages have become relatively normal since the onset of the pandemic. Currently, everything from baby formula to tampons to Sirarchia is in low supply. The reason for these shortages stems from a weak supply chain. Raw materials are limited, human labor is varied, and shipping or transportation is unstable. This can lead to your business suffering from less or delayed inventory. 

    As a business, being upfront with your customers is key. If you are facing inventory shortages, it’s important to let your customers know before they checkout. This can look like putting a banner on the top of your website communicating this to them. Nobody wants to be surprised after they’ve already paid to find out the new item they bought will be shipped weeks from now. The sooner you communicate issues with your consumers, the more they will trust you as a brand and repeat business. 

    If you are selling on multiple platforms — like your website, Amazon, and social — then keeping up with your inventory is key. You may want to look into an inventory management system to help you and your team keep track of what is available. Moreover, implementing this system can help you track what items are in demand and when you need to order more. 

    Takeaways

    Selling online isn’t as simple as selling lemonade at your neighborhood block party. You have to get in front of the right audience in the moment they are looking to buy. You also have to create a seamless shopping experience and communicate openly to increase customer satisfaction. While you will definitely face hiccups from your online marketplaces, remember that honesty is always the best policy. Represent your business and show up for your customers with respect to become a favorable brand in their eyes. 

  • Apple Testing MacBook and Apple Watch Production in Vietnam

    Apple Testing MacBook and Apple Watch Production in Vietnam

    Apple is looking to expand its manufacturing presence in Vietnam, testing MacBook and Apple Watch production.

    Apple has been working to diversify its manufacturing process and reduce its dependence on China. The pandemic’s lockdowns highlighted the inherent risks of Apple having its entire manufacturing process in a single country.

    According to Nikkei Asia, the company is looking to expand its manufacturing footprint in Vietnam, including the manufacture of its most complex device, the Apple Watch. Despite the complexity of the iPhone and iPad, the Apple Watch presents even greater challenges due to its smaller size.

    According to the report, Apple’s efforts include doing production test runs with both Luxshare Precision Industry and Foxconn. The transition is presenting some challenges, however, especially with the MacBook. China has been a hub of computer manufacturing for so long that virtually all of Apple’s MacBook supply chain is located in that country, and the supply chain is already optimized and cost-effective. As a result, moving production to Vietnam is taking longer than might be expected.

    Nonetheless, Apple’s focus on Vietnam is a big win for a country looking to establish itself as a center of tech manufacturing.

    “AirPods, Apple Watch, HomePod and more … Apple has big plans in Vietnam, apart from iPhone manufacturing,” one of the people with direct knowledge of the situation told Nikkei. “The components for MacBooks have become more modularized than in the past, which makes it easier to produce the laptops outside of China. But how to make it cost-competitive is another challenge.”

  • Walmart’s Inventory Woes Are the Latest Economic Warning Sign

    Walmart’s Inventory Woes Are the Latest Economic Warning Sign

    Walmart has an inventory problem as a result of an impending economic downturn and its impact on consumer spending.

    According to Forbes, executives outlined the issues the company is facing, including $1.5 billion in unwanted inventory.

    “If we could just wave a magic wand, we’d make it go away today,” said chief financial officer John David Rainey. “We’ve also cancelled billions of dollars in orders to help align inventory levels with expected demand.”

    Executives believe it may take a couple of quarters to clear the additional inventory, much of which falls in the sporting goods, electronics, home, and apparel categories. In addition, changing buying habits as a result of the economy are also making it difficult to predict how customers will spend their money.

    “We’ve seen more pronounced consumer shifts and trade-down activity” Rainey explained. “As an example, instead of deli meats at higher price points, customers are increasing purchases of hotdogs as well as canned tuna or chicken.”

    Rainey indicates the company is struggling with a far sharper return to pre-pandemic norms than many companies expected, as well as a massive increase in inflation.

    “As a backdrop, the shifts that we’ve seen in consumer behavior through the pandemic, shifting from in-store to online, along with big swings in the purchase of goods versus services. and then the reversion back to pre-pandemic norms has been sharp and difficult to predict. These trends have been exacerbated by inflationary pressure on the consumer that many of us have not experienced in our lifetime, the effect of which has recently changed consumption patterns in certain categories for us, notably general merchandise.”

    Overall, Walmart’s situation should serve as a further warning regarding the state of the economy.

  • Amazon Raising Fees for Third-Party Sellers During the Holidays

    Amazon Raising Fees for Third-Party Sellers During the Holidays

    Amazon is raising third-party seller fees during the holidays, the first time the e-commerce giant has ever done so.

    Rising inflation is hitting all corners of life, impacting individuals and businesses alike. According to CNBC, Amazon is raising fees for third-party sellers in response to the economic challenges it’s facing.

    The company sent an email to sellers using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), informing them that they would have to pay $0.35 per item sold in the US and Canada between October 15 and January 14. Amazon said “expenses are reaching new heights,” necessitating the price hike.

    “Our selling partners are incredibly important to us, and this is not a decision we made lightly,” Amazon said in the email.

    The move is not surprising, given that FBA handles the entire processing of packaging and delivering goods to customers, a process that is directly affected by rising labor and fuel costs.