Bargain hunters drive strong Q1: TJX and Ross Stores reported strong earnings last week as discount retailers prepare to rapidly expand their brick-and-mortar operations this year.
For some time now, consumers have been moving toward demanding more frictionless payment methods across online and offline channels. The social distancing and sanitizing practices brought on by the pandemic proved to be the push that encouraged many consumers to try proximity mobile payments (paying for goods using a mobile phone as a physical POS) for the first time. Ecommerce retailers, not to be outdone, are finding ways to improve their transactions as well.
On today's episode, we discuss sustainable shopping: the "circular economy" leading to the popularity of recommerce, social media playing a role in secondhand selling, and how smaller retailers can benefit from the pandemic-fueled local shopping trend. Tune in to the discussion as eMarketer principal analyst Bill Fisher hosts principal analyst Karin von Abrams and research director at Insider Intelligence Matteo Ceurvels.
Snapchat goes all in on AR ecommerce: The platform's long history with augmented reality innovation gives it a boost over competitors like Amazon or Pinterest looking to leverage AR for shopping.
The Google store: The tech giant is preparing to open its first brick-and-mortar location this summer.
Coronavirus relief programs might make credit scores a less reliable indicator of financial stability—which may push issuers to adopt alternative measures like account deposit data.
The mandate will let consumers use their mobile wallets at any UPI-accepting merchant and send payments to consumers using different wallet brands—making way for increased digital payment adoption.
Even as consumers develop stronger appetites for emerging payment methods, opinions remain mixed on biometrics—and providers will need to win customers over.
Google dives deeper into ecommerce with Shopify: The two companies have worked out an integration that will give Shopify's merchants easy access to Google's suite of features, contributing to its over 1 billion daily shopping journeys.
Will consumers adopt Facebook live shopping?: The company is kicking off a series of livestreaming ecommerce events, but it's facing a battle to get US consumers on board with the idea.