E-Commerce

2020 has affected lots of aspects of everyday life, including how we shop for essentials. The shift to online shopping for groceries was rapid and unprecedented. In fact, it's estimated that e-commerce sales in the U.S. will increase by 18 percent in 2020, while brick-and-mortar retailers will face a 14 percent drop. Most believe this…

2020 is a year we will always remember, yet one we would like to forget. It was a year that changed our lives forever. Some have been affected more than others, but we all have a story to tell. People talk about “the new normal,” but what exactly does that mean to retailers and direct…

The zeitgeist of 2020 retail commerce can be summarized in two words: survival mode. COVID-19 kept shoppers at home, away from brick-and-mortar stores, and encouraged many consumers to order online for the first time, adding their purchases to the already increased activity of users already confident in digital transactions. The pandemic increased e-commerce sales 44…

Holiday retail sales rose a stronger-than-expected 8.3 percent from 2019, or $789.4 billion, according to data released by the National Retail Federation on Friday. Consumers apparently embraced the gift-giving season as a way to cheer themselves up during the pandemic. The numbers include online and other non-stores sales, which were up 23.9 percent at $209 billion. The NRF had forecast that sales during…

The e-commerce industry recently saw a massive boom from the pandemic, causing a shift to more online shopping. This led to 20 percent growth for the e-commerce industry, which was originally estimated to take five years. This shift led to a loss of one-on-one interactions between businesses and customers — an experience many consumers desire.…

Amazon.com has shuttered Amazon Pantry (originally known as Prime Pantry), its grocery and household essentials delivery service, according to Bloomberg.com. Launched in 2014, Amazon Pantry was one of the retailer’s first forays into selling food online. It featured a selection of shelf-stable food and snacks, as well as cleaning products, designed to get shoppers to…

As COVID-19 continues taking an immeasurable toll on our lives and businesses, wholesale vendors and retailers have had to shift sales strategies fast. The online channel, however, continues to see significant growth during the pandemic, positioning companies with existing e-commerce websites in better shape to weather the storm. In fact, McKinsey & Company reported how…

When my wife and I started a small e-commerce business in our living room seven years ago, we could have never imagined that we would grow it into a $100 million online fashion retailer. This journey has been full of ups and downs, opportunities and missteps. I couldn’t be more grateful for what we’ve achieved…

In episode 276 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Sean Kell, CEO of Blue Nile, the largest e-commerce retailer of GIA-certified diamonds and fine jewelry. Listen in as Kell discusses his career journey leading up to his joining Blue Nile last year, the company's recently announced store expansion plan, and why now is…

People are spending a lot more time inside than they used to, which has obviously led to more time online. We’re video chatting more, gaming more and, of course, shopping online more. Whether you’re peddling pet clothes, furniture or even medical essentials, you’re going to see a surge in orders as the pandemic holiday crush…