Subscription Commerce

Across the e-commerce landscape, brands and business leaders are reckoning with economic conditions that present serious challenges to growth and profitability. Inflation is higher and consumer sentiment lower than at any point in multiple decades. Continuing disruptions from compounding crises of the pandemic, supply chain, and war in Ukraine have rendered nearly every organization’s growth…

In recent years and particularly during the pandemic, the world went subscription crazy. Led by B-to-C digital commerce ($687 billion), the total market was predicted to surge to $1.5 trillion by 2025. But two years in, many of the factors that led so many consumers to invest in subscription services have begun to evaporate. Some…

Today, subscription experiences are in high demand, with more than half (52 percent) of respondents in our recent survey noting they have between two to five products delivered via subscriptions. In addition, more than a quarter (27 percent) of consumers say convenience motivated their decision to subscribe. Yet, while interested in convenience, consumers want to set their…

Subscriptions have long been an integral part of people’s lives, perhaps even more than they realize. As far back as the 16th century, people were subscribing to news via handwritten news sheets. Fast-forward a few centuries: today there are subscriptions for just about everything — from streaming services to coffee to toilet paper (and even…

A cohesive brand experience across channels is critical to creating a loyal customer. This is especially true in today’s environment where loyalty is fickle and up for grabs. One way brands can ensure a uniform experience is by integrating a subscription program with other initiatives. Subscriptions are one of the most valuable ways to create…

The past two years have marked a tipping point in modern commerce. Suddenly, retail businesses have found themselves struggling to keep up with a dramatic spike in demand as e-commerce sales skyrocketed. Subscription E-Commerce: Not a Passing Fad Is the rush to buy online just a temporary side effect of the pandemic? UBS predicts that the “subscription…

According to Zuora, the overall "subscription economy" has grown more than 435 percent over the last nine years, outpacing traditional business growth. Even major fast-food chains are jumping on the subscription service bandwagon, with Taco Bell most recently offering the Taco Lover’s Pass. This strategy can be seen as a more reliable stream of revenue…

In episode 337 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Natalie Hurst, director of customer success at Nuuly, a clothing subscription rental experience from the Anthropologie, Free People and Urban Outfitters family. Hurst discusses Nuuly's rental and resale services, her role in creating a seamless rental experience for the brand's shoppers, and the customer…

Convenience store chain 7-Eleven last week announced its new 7Now Gold Pass subscription delivery service, which gives customers free delivery on more than 3,000 7-Eleven products. For a monthly subscription fee of $5.95, 7-Eleven customers can order via the 7Now app and get their orders in about 30 minutes, the chain said. Customers with at…

Launching a direct-to-consumer (D-to-C) brand has never been easier, but growing it into a successful business is increasingly difficult. Customer acquisition has become all the more expensive and challenging, with costs increasing by 60 percent in recent years. To compete against big brand names and private label alternatives, emerging D-to-C brands must foster a new…