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Top 2024 resources on todays

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  • A Candid Update on the Job Board: Traffic, Full Stats & More - Today’s episode is a follow-up to one I did back in June about the eCommerceFuel Job Boards. It’s been a while since I launched that project, and I wanted to share some updates to document the journey so you can get a behind-the-scenes look at the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes [...]
    Topics: candid, stats, board, went, todays, techvibesshare, job, updates, ugly, update, wanted, things, going, traffic, youderian, share.
  • A Look Back at 30+ Years of Website Design - Web design has come a long way since 1991, when the first ever website was published. Exclusively text-based, this site marked the beginning of what would become a digital revolution.
    Topics: today, look, websites, web, elements, user, todays, content, design, website, way.
  • All-New Shopify POS: Rebuilt for Today's Retail Experience—and Free Until October 31, 2020 - At Shopify, we believe retail is poised to adapt to the recent crisis and rebound stronger than ever. That’s why we’re introducing the all-new Shopify POS, our fully reimagined point-of-sale solution, to help brick-and-mortar retailers reopen stores into the modern retail environment. And we're making it completely free until October 31, 2020.More
    Topics: customers, staff, customer, allnew, pos, free, products, sales, rebuilt, experienceand, online, todays, business, shopify, retail.
  • Brian Beck, B2B ecommerce expert and author, on digitally native buyers entering B2B industries [video] - Digitally native consumers are entering into B2B buying roles and their experiences in the consumer market are dictating their B2B expectations. Going forward, Brian Beck urges B2B organizations and commerce practitioners to get started and align channels.
    Topics: practitionershe, buyers, industries, digitally, brian, making, ecommerce, todays, notes, stresses, expert, set, video, entering, native, b2b, win, mind.
  • Digital Merchandising Best Practices - No argument that eCommerce sales skyrocketed in the last two years, as the world turned to mobile devices to buy everything from a week’s worth of groceries to a new couch for the family room. But even as the world opens up post-pandemically, eCommerce retail sales maintain the top spot on the leaderboard. Projections point to upwards of $7 trillion in sales by 2024. What’s happened to merchandising as we’ve made the shift from brick-and-mortar to a virtual store and cart? Plenty. How do you translate an in-store experience into an engaging digital one that leads a shopper to Buy Now sight unseen? Let’s dive into the world of eCommerce merchandising and find out how retailers create a path to purchase from the physical to the digital experience. What is Digital Merchandising? Also known as eCommerce or online merchandising, digital merchandising is the practice of marketing goods in the digital space. Just as you map product placement and displays in-store with branding considerations to draw the customer over, the same actions happen in a virtual store to entice the shopper from their chosen device. Product merchandising is about having the right assortment, and showcasing it at the right time to the right customer. You are essentially creating content; and given the 2024 online sales projections retailers can’t afford to sit this one out. Make a Plan & Get Campaigning You may have a number of goals for your business; you’ve targeted a specific sales growth percentage or doubling down on the number of promotions per month, or you’d like to grow your loyalty program for top spenders. Whatever the case may be, once you’ve set the goals it’s now time for strategizing. You’ve stated the what - now you need to flesh out the how. Personalization: It’s a New Day for Data Collection When it comes to eCommerce merchandising campaigns it’s ok to get personal. In fact, it’s mission critical. With the death of third-party cookies, retail marketers are forced to revisit how they collect data and lean in on first or zero-party solutions to power personalized shopper experiences. Research shows today’s shoppers care how you get their data and what you do with it. “Seventy percent of consumers like personalization, as long as brands are using data they’ve shared directly.” Source: Twilio A Common Personalization Trap: The Creep Factor There are many schools of thought on how much personalization is too much. I think we can all agree that ultimately personalization should best serve the customer and fulfill a need. Stepping outside the boundaries and creating an inaccurate assumption defeats the purpose of winning trust. For example, I’m a pet owner. I often browse and shop online for pet food and supplies and have tried the numerous subscription services based on this category But that also means over the years I’ve had to inevitably say goodbye to pets. Here is a snapshot of the types of personalization I could experience based on the data capture: Zero Party: The cat food you liked in our poll is now BOGO First Party: The pet carrier you browsed last month is on clearance Second Party: Congrats on the kitten! Need pet insurance? Third Party: It’s hard to lose a furry friend. Next time, check out our pet caskets and internment services You’ll notice as we progress through each scenario, the degree of personalization falls a bit further into the off-putting range. What you ideally want to do is solve a problem or create a convenience; not push the limits of knowing too much. “Personalization can mean a lot of things, so it’s important to understand what a marketer thinks it is and how it’s creepy. This can often clear up initial concerns. Then for us, the guiding personalization principle is to figure out if and how it adds value to the end user…” Source: Paul Munkholm, Kettle Interested in Learning More About eCommerce Merchandising? Discover 10 areas to optimize your eCommerce merchandising strategy for your business and more with our playbook. Go to Playbook Ecommerce Merchandising Trends and Tips to Consider Many of today’s digital merchandising tips and trends are based in AR/VR technology, embraced in greater numbers by Gen X and Millennial groups. A few examples of these tactics include: Virtual dressing or try-on rooms allowing shoppers to try clothing or makeup swatches from any device, wherever they are, before purchase “See it in your room” capabilities for furniture or décor accessories to replicate digitally what the item will look like in a shopper’s home or space (a useful deterrent from returns) Social networks like Pinterest and Instagram have leveraged this technology in their algorithms. Studying how they strategize and leverage it in the path to purchase in-app can be useful if you’re looking to see more AR/VR in play Implement 360 plug ins and enable virtual product tours across devices It really depends on your product assortment and what you’re able to invest in as far as technology – you need to assess what works best for your business. Bear in mind how critical it is for shoppers to get the same level of comfort and confidence they do from an in-store experience and a face-to-face conversation with a retailer - having a unique experience is key to engaging (and keeping) today’s shopper. Product Merchandising Product merchandising is key to all types of channels. And what eCommerce has shown us is the complexity around merchandising. In today’s eCommerce landscape retailers have multiple digital storefronts, complex pricing needs to reflect flash or scheduled sales, loyalty pricing, or bundling models. A Rapidly Changing Landscape Ecommerce changes rapidly so it’s important to be on top of what’s trending in digital merchandising technology and how that affects your customer. The in-store experience is not going away; instead the merging of the physical and virtual is now the combined commerce narrative. Operating and streamlining the experience in both worlds is becoming the norm. Above all – make it easy, friction-less, predictive, and personalized (appropriately), from discovery to purchase. Answer questions for your customers before they even know they had them. Build trust and confidence from the first time they click on your site or app. Make shopping with you an unforgettable experience they simply can’t do without.
    Topics: sales, pet, todays, merchandising, personalization, practices, digital, experience, data, ecommerce, best, virtual.
  • - A vast majority of German retailers are now selling both offline and online to their customers. According to a study by the industry association Bitkom, this figure stands at 85 percent, up from 77 percent in 2021 and just 66 percent in 2019.Three out of ten online-selling retailers already derive…
    Topics: sales, retailers, commonplace, todays, business, bitkom, germany, shopping, german, physical, hybrid, retail, online.
  • Living on a Hippie Commune - Today’s episode is a little less structured, as I’m talking with my good friend Ezra Firestone of SmartMarketer.com about everything from what makes a strong relationship to what it’s like growing up on a hippie commune. Listen in as we dive into what Ezra’s been up to and how he’s creating a communal living space, […]
    Topics: commune, firestone, talking, communal, todays, youderian, hippie, worksthe, living, growing, ezra.
  • Managing a Stressful Six Months - The second half of 2020 was an especially busy and stressful time for me personally.  In today’s episode I reflect back on the period, consider how too much work impacted my personal life and also share  some of my takeaways and lessons.   You’ll learn: Why this period was so hectic and what I was working […]
    Topics: working, stress, youderian, stressful, silver, work, managing, todays, business, life, period, youll, stitcherwith, takeaways.
  • ManoMano raises $355 million for its home improvement e-commerce platform - French startup ManoMano has raised a Series F funding round of $355 million led by Dragoneer Investment Group. The company operates an e-commerce platform focused on DIY, home improvement and gardening products. It is currently available in six European countries. Following today’s funding round, the company has reached a valuation of $2.6 billion. In addition […]
    Topics: platform, million, improvement, todays, round, startup, company, ecommerce, raises, logistics, products, group, techcrunch, manomano.
  • Merchandising for Today's Omnichannel Shopper - In today’s digital world, merchandisers must take full advantage of the omnichannel space to influence and guide the shopper through the decision-making process. It’s all about the right place, the right price, and the right product to optimize the sale. When you consider there is an 80% increase in revenue  for businesses that focus on improving customer experience, it’s critical to leverage all the tools in the box to guide the experience. Enter online eCommerce merchandising; what was once solely focused on end caps and unique displays, audio/visual, in-store demos, and amply stocked shelves has now transitioned to the digital world. How do we create the same engaging content online to drive the customer through the buying process? Today’s shopper is now demanding an omnichannel experience; so the journey must seamlessly integrate a mix of the in-store and online components. Eye-Catching Homepages to Mirror the Buyer Think of your favorite retailers and what you like about their online presence; do they provide quality imagery, engaging color schemes, great copy, or drive offers front and center to the homepage so you don’t miss the deal? Does this same look and feel weave through their in-store and social media experience? In the case of luxury jeweler, Teilor, they sought to provide what is traditionally an in-store buying experience to their growing population of online shoppers. Through original, curated content they made the online experience a reality. High-quality, detailed imagery of their precious gemstones and diamonds, along with photography to match and attract their target buying persona is set off by product copy; not a standard description full of dimensions and care instructions, but something that reads more like prose to effectively convey the very personal investment of jewelry purchases. Video Clienteling This tactic is used to bring a more personalized experience to buyers either one-on-one by appointment or through live streaming. In the case of Teilor as mentioned above, video clienteling gives the opportunity for customers to see the product and ask questions in real time. With such a personal and significant investment like jewelry, it’s well worth the time to ensure the customer is completely satisfied and more likely to return for repeat purchases. While this tactic is not new to in-person retail experiences, video capabilities and live streaming make it possible in today’s commerce. Advertising Banners Use banners in a variety of ways to call out promotions, sales, best-sellers, etc. Best practices when using banners: keep it simple. While the ad should stand out to attract the shopper’s line of sight, don’t make it so large that it’s distracting or worse yet takes too long to load. Attract not detract. Always keep banners towards the top of the page, and make sure your related content is nearby. Is it a Back-to-School supplies sale? Place the banner close to your product category navigation where the inventory normally lives. The shopper can either click on the banner ad or navigate over to that category link for the same results. Social Proof Word of mouth is fire. Shoppers rely heavily on the experiences of others from product performance to customer service. Customer reviews are a key component to this tactic. Invite your customers to review and post those reviews by their corresponding product. If the response is less than favorable, reach out personally and find out why. (Poor quality, shipping issues, incorrect size, product details not true to imagery). The frontrunner of digital notepads, reMarkable uses social proof by asking customers to share their experiences with the product through a common hashtag. This brings authenticity to the brand with assets that can be used throughout future marketing campaigns. A two-fold win: your customers engage with your product and feel heard, and you have relatable content to support the brand that is best case scenario repurpose-ready. Personalized Offers/Sales Events You don’t need a federal holiday or a gifting season to create a viable offer. While the most popular sales seasons are winter holidays, consider creating offers based on less popular holidays or even an everyday offer. Valentines’ Day, Easter, or President’s Day sale events, or a Treat Yourself-type event can be created with special pricing designed for your loyalty customers. If the inventory can support the event, be creative with your offerings and let your customers shopping behaviors inform them. Know your customers are tea lovers? Create a special event to commemorate National Hot Tea Day. (Yes, it’s a real day, and it’s January 12).   See Catalog Composer In Action Check out our on-demand demo to see how Elastic Path Commerce Cloud makes it easy to manage unlimited unique catalogs for any business. Watch Demo Bundling/Cross-Sell/Upsell Bundling is a common merchandising tactic with many variations. You may use common variations to support a new product launch in the health and beauty category by bundling a more well-known brand with a new to market product. You may also see opportunities with sporting goods to bundle equipment and upsell/cross-sell accessories. When merchandising next gen skis or snowboards, a bundle variation may include an equipment upgrade for the next skill level plus accessories like bindings or boots. If your margins can support bundling it’s a proven tactic for value creation. Visual Hierarchy Visual hierarchy is well covered territory when it comes to in-store merchandising sets, but similar rules apply to your online store or app. When viewing online content, the natural sight line is from the top down, left to right. When refreshing product information you may also consider placing the content you want your customers to engage with the most to be placed in the direct line of sight. As mentioned above, banners should be towards the top of the page with the related content nearby. Similarly, consider elements that guide the customer down the page; this may include a chat bot feature as the customer scrolls that is not intrusive or distracting. A proven tactic to reduce cart abandonment rates is to keep the cart icon in direct line of sight throughout the session. See what’s new from Elastic Path in product variation support to power up your merchandising strategy.
    Topics: todays, merchandising, experience, online, content, tactic, instore, customers, customer, support, shopper, product, omnichannel.
  • Need Repeat Customers? Try Low-tech Selling - If you lack the budget for high-end automation tools, there are still plenty of ways to fill the gaps left by massive competitors. Here are nine ways to catch the attention of savvy online shoppers and keep them returning for more.
    Topics: products, need, selling, repeat, sell, support, try, way, rules, lowtech, shoppers, emails, ways, todays, customers.
  • Replay: Shrinking a Business to Save It - Today’s episode is a replay of one of our most well-received episodes from 2019, where Kevin Stecko from 80sTees.com joins the show to discuss how he improved his business by making it smaller. Kevin has undergone the evolution from having a massive warehouse with a huge amount of inventory to scaling back and pricing his [...]
    Topics: stecko, kevin, youderian, wellreceived, undergone, premium, business, 80steescom, todays, grow, shrinking, warehouse.
  • Taking a Sabbatical - This summer the eCommerceFuel team did something we’ve been planning for over a year:  we all took a month-long sabbatical.  In today’s episode we talk about how we made it work from a logistical standpoint, what we learned from our month away and how we’ll do things differently next time.   https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/ecommercefuel/Taking-A-Sabbatical.mp3 Subscribe: iTunes | […]
    Topics: timesubscribe, talk, sabbatical, work, taking, team, things, todays, took, planning, weve, youderian, summer.
  • The Best Cyber Monday Tech Deals: iPad, Roku, 4K TVs and More - Looking for a deal on Xbox, iPad, an Echo Dot or a 4K TV? Check out our Cyber Monday mega-post for today's top discounts.
    Topics: tvs, cyber, storage, todays, 4k, xbox, updating, ipad, desktop, youre, roku, tv, check, deals, best, tech.
  • Today’s top 3 ecommerce marketing strategies - We are in the height of the digital age, spearheaded by the internet, and all that comes with it. Along with having massive socio-political effects, the internet has an enormous impact on the way business is conducted. Ecommerce is now the mainstream way of doing business, and digital marketing is the primary method for advertisement. This article highlights today's top three ecommerce marketing strategies practitioners need to keep top of mind.
    Topics: email, design, customer, digital, content, emails, business, marketing, strategies, todays, ecommerce, website, web.
  • - When Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before Congress last month, one of the biggest criticisms to follow it was the lack of preparedness among the lawmakers asking questions.
    Topics: appearance, parliament, fewer, format, facebook, todays, session, tougher, european, asked, questions, answers, zuckerberg, zuckerbergs, tajani, answer, meps, mark.
  • Why Today's Price Wars Are Ecommerce's Biggest Mistake - For most retailers, it makes sense to steer clear of any price wars, which they may not win anyway.
    Topics: ecommerce, todays, wars, good, market, retailers, prices, price, customers, biggest, mistake, ecommerces, online, customer.