Marketplaces

There’s no denying the grip Amazon.com has on consumers. Amazon is reported to account for nearly 50 percent of all e-commerce sales in the U.S. as of 2023. To put it in perspective, Amazon gets one of every two dollars spent in e-commerce at large. This cannot be understated. Brands at all levels — low-margin,…

This week marks the 10th Amazon Prime Day, a major milestone for both Amazon.com and independent sellers that sell on its marketplace. Amazon’s significant investments in marketing, merchandising, operational infrastructure, and people that drive independent seller success result in an end-to-end experience that boosts sales for small businesses. In fact, Prime Day 2023 was the…

Third-party commerce (3P) is growing. U.S. retail e-commerce sales will grow to $588 billion by 2027, with online marketplaces accounting for nearly 40 percent of those gains, according to eMarketer. 3P commerce allows brands to reach consumers directly through retailer marketplaces. However, it can be difficult for brands to effectively manage their presence across multiple…

The American dream of small business ownership faces a harsh reality: bankruptcies are rising. This past year saw a staggering 22 percent increase in Chapter 11 filings. Higher interest rates, inflation, and increased shipping costs have taken a toll on many segments of the economy. Brands and vendors on leading marketplaces are not immune to these…

Nordstrom announced earlier this week that it will roll out a new digital marketplace on its website along with an enhanced search feature. The marketplace will provide the luxury retailer’s customers with a wider selection of products, brands and sizes, while allowing its brand partners to showcase more of their products, Nordstrom said in a blog post.…

In episode 449 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews John Agnew, chief marketing officer at Love.com, an online marketplace focused on sustainable, healthy products and charitable giving. Listen in as Agnew provides an overview of the company (0:55), discusses the conscious shopping trend (1:40), the consumer behaviors Love.com is trying to tap into…

While at NRF 2024: Retail's Big Show in New York City this week, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan spoke with Michael Challinger, CEO of Houzer, an emerging kitchen and bathroom product company, to learn more about the brand's partnership with commerce platform BigCommerce. Challinger discusses transforming the Houzer digital business after joining the company as CEO, why…

Amazon.com is slashing its merchant fees for clothing vendors in an attempt to compete with Chinese fast-fashion retail site Shein, which may be on the docket to IPO in 2024. The online retail giant announced Tuesday that referral fees for items priced under $15 will drop from 17 percent to 5 percent. The fees for…

Peer recommendations have been a trusted endorsement for products and services since the earliest days of commerce. However, in the “age of influence,” brands maximize this word-of-mouth endorsement and spread it far and wide through authentic and paid channels. This age-old practice of sharing advice transcends consumer markets. It's taking hold in the B2B space…

Keeping up with the state of e-commerce is difficult. The online shopping space for both B2B and B2C organizations is in a constant state of flux. Just prior to 2020, most B2C retailers and brands had fully embraced digital commerce. The most successful companies stayed ahead of e-commerce trends and were able to quickly pivot…