INDUSTRY NEWS & ANALYSIS
Amazon Releases State Of Procurement Report
Nov. 30, 2023
SEATTLE – Amazon Business’ 2024 State of Procurement Report (released earlier this month) revealed that a majority of procurement teams expect their budgets to rise next year. According to a press release from Amazon, the report concluded that many leaders are evaluating how they can further invest in tools and technologies to deliver optimization.
The Ecom Cooperative (TECO): Community And Collaboration
Nov. 30, 2023
EATONTOWN, N.J. – The Ecom Cooperative (TECO) is not even three years old, but the Jersey-based venture has made an impact. “The Ecom Cooperative does not offer a traditional service,” explains David Dayon, president and co-founder. “TECO offers a free community resource where we host webinars, produce in-person networking events, and organize service giveaways—all as a free resource to e-commerce sellers—paid for by the solution providers who are committed to building this community.”
Third Quarter 2023 Revenue Up At Shopify
Nov. 15, 2023
OTTAWA, CA – According to a press release from Shopify, third quarter 2023 financial results show a 25% revenue increase, with gross profit Up 36% year-over-year. “Our third-quarter results demonstrate the progress we are making to further solidify Shopify’s position as the global leader in commerce,” said Harley Finkelstein, president of Shopify. “Our ability to help our merchants succeed in any economic environment by delivering innovative product solutions, has not only built strong trust with our merchants but has positioned Shopify for sustained growth and profitability for the future.”
Tactical Logistic Solutions: Build The Brand And Expand
Nov. 15, 2023
SADDLE BROOK, N.J. – According to Ephraim Ausch, online sellers who think they can do it all with Amazon may be limiting their horizons. “If you’re looking to build a brand and expand in the long run, Amazon can’t be your only logistics partner,” says Ausch, chief logistics officer at Tactical Logistic Solutions, Saddle Brook, N.J. “Relying strictly on Amazon Freight, AWS, FBA and partnered carriers restricts you to Amazon’s schedule and a single marketplace.”
Oct. 31, 2023
BENTONVILLE, AR – Business media continues to cover Walmart’s efforts beef up its third party marketplace as it challenges bigger online rival Amazon. “When it comes to e-commerce, Walmart is in a rare spot: the underdog,” writes CNBC reporter Melissa Repko in an Oct. 18, 2023 article. “Its online sales are just a tiny fraction of what Amazon rings up—and that carries over to the companies’ third-party marketplaces, too.”
Solutions For Online Sellers Who Need Financing
Oct. 31, 2023
BUFFALO, NY – Many online sellers who need financing have come to believe that there is no solution to the cash flow gap, or it’s too difficult to secure the needed funding. Tisha Hulburd, chief marketing officer at Kickfurther, Buffalo, N.Y. has heard the concerns. She points out that online sellers want to know: Do I need to take on debt? Do I need to give up equity? How will I cover the cost of buying inventory, for example, before I sell it and earn revenue?
Mid October Prime Big Deal Days Prove Profitable
Oct. 15, 2023
SEATTLE – A post prime press release from Amazon declared that Prime members saved more than $1 billion across millions of deals during Prime Big Deal Days on October 10 and 11. The fastest delivery in the U.S. on the first day of the event was 54 minutes in Ohio, ordered at 7:20 a.m. EDT and delivered by 8:14 a.m. EDT. The customer ordered a pasta attachment for a KitchenAid stand mixer and a book about canning.
Target Seeks To Boost Online Toy Sales
Oct. 15, 2023
MINNEAPOLIS – A new press release from Target boasts that the retail giant is “bringing more fun and holiday magic to toy shopping with its first immersive, all-toy digital experience. For many guests, the shopping experience starts at home, regardless of where it is completed.” With this in mind, Target has created a 360° shoppable experience to make toy discovery easier. According to Target, the experience allows guests to explore a virtual room.
New Stuff At Prosper – Expo Hall Only Passes Are Back
Oct. 15, 2023
LAS VEGAS – It’s that time of year again. Prosper Show 2024 is just around the corner, and there is news to share. Prosper is bringing back Expo Hall Only Passes for Prosper 2024. You can once again experience the buzzing energy of the Exhibit Hall, explore cutting-edge solutions, and network with industry leaders without breaking the bank.
Training, Tips, And Advocacy At 3C
Oct. 15, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Connected Commerce Council (3C for short) has managed to make quite an impact in a relatively short amount of time. In existence since 2018, the nonprofit organization works with digitally empowered small businesses to provide training, tips, and coaching (plus educational roundtables and webinars) through 3C University (3CU). The Prosper Newsletter sat down with Rob Retzlaff, executive director, to learn more about 3C and its goals, priorities, and plans.
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days Set For Oct. 10-11
Sept. 30, 2023
SEATTLE – Prime Day morphed into Prime Big Deal Days as Amazon officials revealed the Oct. 10-11 time window for the “best early holiday deals”—specifically from Oct. 10 at 3:00 a.m. EDT through October 11. “New deals will drop as often as every five minutes during select periods throughout the event across a wide selection of products with fast and convenient delivery options,” write Amazon officials.
Marketplace Sales – Priorities And Challenges
Sept. 30, 2023
by Fareeha Ali
SOMERVILLE, MA – To thrive in today’s eCommerce market, more businesses are selling on marketplaces. In 2022, 31% more retailers and brands started selling on marketplaces for the first time—and they’re not just selling on Amazon. For more seasoned sellers, the opportunity is still growing: 53% of companies now sell on more marketplaces than a year ago, and 62% have plans to expand further in the upcoming year.
EXHIBITOR NEWS: Expanding Artificial Intelligence Assist
Sept. 30, 2023
AUSTIN, TX – Prosper exhibitor Jungle Scout (pictured above at Prosper 2023 in Las Vegas) recently launched AI Assist, a new suite of AI tools to help sellers automate tasks and grow their Amazon businesses. AI Assist, originally introduced within Jungle Scout’s Listing Builder tool in March, now leverages the power of artificial intelligence across three additional Jungle Scout tools.
New Amazon Artificial Intelligence
Sept. 30, 2023
SEATTLE – Amazon Web Services (AWS) has debuted five generative artificial intelligence (generative AI) innovations, so organizations of all sizes can build new generative AI applications, enhance employee productivity, and transform businesses.
Amazon Antitrust – Last Word (At Least For A While)
LAS VEGAS – The Aug. 7 article in the New York Times revealed an open secret; namely that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is pondering an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon. Prosper is revisiting the topic yet again with Chris McCabe, founder and owner of ecommerceChris, Cambridge, Mass. This latest article will be the last word on the topic, at least until the FTC files its lawsuit.
Amazon Touts Hercules Robot And Its Next Gen Progeny
SEATTLE – Officials at Amazon recently touted their first mobile robots in a 9/7/23 posting on About Amazon. The small robots appeared in 2012 to help fulfill customer orders. According to Amazon PR, “these small-but-mighty robots were the predecessors to our current robot drive called Hercules.”
LAS VEGAS – As reported on Techcrunch and elsewhere, TikTok may be planning to ban outside e-commerce links—including Amazon. The initial report came from a site called The Information, but as of this writing no such ban has occurred. A Helium 10 (Prosper Exhibitor) YouTube host stated: “If this happens, obviously this would be huge for anybody who gets outside traffic sales from TikTok.”
Analysis – Mayan CEO Talks Oct 2023 Prime Day Prep
LAS VEGAS – Amazon Prime Day is one of the biggest shopping days of the year, and it’s a great opportunity for sellers to increase sales. With the second-ever Fall Prime Day coming up in October, just three months after the July version, it is more important than ever to stand out from the crowd.
Analysis – Would An Amazon Antitrust Lawsuit Be Good For Online Sellers?
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) continues to prepare an antitrust lawsuit to “challenge the power” of Amazon. Would the lawsuit be a positive development for the online sellers who make up the Prosper audience. If the lawsuit succeeded in “breaking up” Amazon, would online sellers be better off? We asked Jason Boyce, founder and CEO of Oregon-based Avenue7Media.
Prosper Show Adds Walmart to 2023 Lineup to Accelerate Growth of Advanced Marketplace Sellers
Prosper Show, the premier conference for advanced online marketplace sellers, announced today that retail and marketplace conglomerate, Walmart, has signed on to the 8th annual show. […]
Prosper Show 2022 Announces Record Success for Amazon Sellers & Service Providers
Largest Prosper Show to Date Earns Significant Increases in Customer Satisfaction, Participation & Reinforces the Value of Live Events […]
Amazon sellers are such a hot commodity that one start-up is giving away Teslas for referrals
Start-ups are raising hundreds of millions of dollars to acquire the top independent sellers on the Amazon Marketplace, creating a gold rush to “roll up” these mostly small businesses into larger entities that have better resources and can pour money into growth. […]
Bidding wars break out in market for brands selling via Amazon
Investors on the hunt for promising brands sold on Amazon.com are sparking bidding wars as competition intensifies to find the next hit product.
The frenzy’s focus: the bevy of small businesses that have sprung up in recent years to sell their wares on Amazon’s vast marketplace. They’re being snapped up by Wall Street-backed startups known as aggregators, which are betting that their teams of e-commerce veterans can transform products into global brands. […]
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