Simplisales, founded by Ihsan Diskan, provides B2B wholesalers with tools to thrive in e-commerce. Through an AI-powered platform, it eliminates manual order-taking with ERP-integrated apps and websites. Since launching, the company has attracted clients with annual sales up to €100M, achieving €20M GMV to date. Simplisales now connects 24/7 to clients’ ERP systems, updating inventory and custom pricing every five minutes. Diskan plans to add AI-driven marketing tools for cross-selling and upselling, positioning the company to meet high demand in a largely untapped B2B market.

Yodel partners with InPost to handle final-mile delivery from InPost lockers to customer doors across the UK. The collaboration supports a rising demand in Out of Home parcel services, with C2C deliveries up 200% over two years. Tracking is provided via InPost's app, adding convenience. This move reflects Yodel’s growth in second-hand markets and InPost’s expansion of its locker network, offering UK customers more delivery options.

Deliveroo, with 160K partners in ten markets, is driving major growth and innovation. At its Food Forward event, Deliveroo unveiled its strategy with three key pillars: building trust, expanding delivery occasions, and empowering partners. According to Kantar data, only 2% of the UK's 50B annual food occasions are takeaways, showing vast room for growth. Deliveroo aims to expand its active user base, which currently places 300M orders annually. By 2026, Deliveroo plans for more users to join its Plus loyalty program, which already accounts for 40% of orders. Technologies like AI-powered support and a Hub Manager app aim to improve customer experience and partner support.

Just Eat Takeaway.com expands its in-car ordering app to Ireland, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Austria. Initially launched in the UK, the app is accessible via the Mercedes-Benz In-Car App Store. More car brands will soon have access. Just Eat has added new features, like Group Ordering, and tools like Menu AI, for a smoother customer and partner experience. By year-end, one app will serve all markets to streamline operations and cut costs.

Unilever’s investment in AI for beauty is paying off, creating immersive experiences for users while boosting sales. In the U.S., Dove’s AI-powered Scalp and Hair Therapist, launched in March, gives scalp-care advice with scientifically-backed responses. BeautyHub Pro, available in Asia, has attracted 3M+ users with selfie-based recommendations. Customers getting AI-driven suggestions are 43% more likely to buy, with basket values up 39%. Despite success, Unilever faces challenges in AI accuracy and reliability, plus layoffs of 3.2K roles by 2025 amid shareholder pressure.

Luxury retailer Harrods has launched an e-commerce platform with Scayle, aiming to provide seamless luxury shopping across the globe. With custom landing pages, product management tools, and integrated ERP, Harrods targets the US and Middle East. Caitlin Innes, Harrods' digital chief, praises Scayle's ability to manage categories globally and their quick, successful migration. Upcoming upgrades include a mobile app and a multi-channel, global rollout.

British retailer Next launches Seasons, a new e-commerce platform offering premium brands like Marc Jacobs and A.P.C. to capitalize on the demand for luxury in the UK. Following recent acquisitions and industry changes, Seasons will focus on high-quality service and curated selections aimed at discerning customers. International expansion is set for 2026, and discussions with luxury groups Kering and Richemont are underway.

From November 11, 2024, Amazon sellers with UK customers must either provide a domestic return address or a prepaid return label. If neither is available, Amazon will refund customers automatically without requiring item returns. Sellers from France, Germany, Italy, and Spain must adapt quickly to avoid losing both sales and inventory. By setting these stricter rules, Amazon aims to enhance the customer experience but adds new responsibilities and costs for international sellers. Adjusting systems and processes to meet the 4-day response time is crucial to avoid unwanted refunds.

The UK will ban disposable vapes on June 1, 2025, a win for Trojan Electronics' campaign. With vaping risks addressed, focus now turns to e-waste from small devices, stronger repair laws, battery recycling, and VAT-free electronics repairs.

Fleek, co-founded by Abhi Arora and Sanket Agarwal, streamlines sourcing for second-hand fashion. It connects 10,000+ sellers to wholesale suppliers, enabling the trade of 2.5M pieces. The market is expected to hit $350B by 2028.

Storfund is deepening its collaboration with Mangopay to provide sellers with an embedded wallet solution. This partnership enhances cash flow, offering faster payments and better currency conversion across 50 marketplaces globally, including Amazon.

eBay is investing $1.2M into its Circular Fashion Fund to support startups that promote sustainability. The fund provides financing, mentorship, and networking. Launched in 2022, it now covers the U.S., Germany, Australia, and the U.K.

Shein enlists Barclays and UBS for its $61B IPO planned in London. The fashion giant, already working with Goldman Sachs and others, faces scrutiny over labor and tax practices as the listing nears in early 2025.

Snapchat launches Snap Street, an AR-powered shopping experience on 19 and 20 October in London. Partnering with Boots and Depop, they aim to blend digital and physical retail. Visitors can test makeup, play games, and win prizes.

OnBuy, a UK-based e-commerce marketplace, will expand to 14 EU countries by 2024, and enter North America in 2025. With a £2.5M investment and a Google Cloud partnership, OnBuy aims for 10x growth, offering cashback and a customer-first experience.

ClearCourse has acquired GOb2b, a B2B eCommerce platform. ClearCourse's CEO praised the deal as a milestone. The company has made 40+ acquisitions since 2018, including the recent CSY Retail Systems. GOb2b’s 20+ years of experience aligns with ClearCourse’s strategy.

Asda teams up with Virtualstock to expand its online product range through a dropship marketplace. Decathlon is the first major brand onboarded, offering sporting equipment. Asda plans to onboard more sellers in the coming weeks.

ASOS has sold 75% of Topshop and Topman to Heartland for $176M. ASOS retains 25% and design/distribution rights. The deal may lower ASOS' profits this year but promises long-term growth, including a relaunch soon.

OnBuy announces a strategic collaboration with Google Cloud to power international expansion. With Google Cloud’s Virtual Private Cloud and AI tools like Vertex AI, OnBuy will improve its marketplace efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and reduce costs globally.

eBay will prohibit private sellers from listing e-bikes and e-bike batteries in the UK starting 31 October 2024. This move follows rising concerns over lithium-ion battery fires, with 155 e-bike fires reported in 2023. Only approved business sellers can list these products. eBay aims to boost consumer safety, following CE audits introduced last year. Safety experts and insurers highlight the increased risks from second-hand batteries, urging caution when using lithium-ion powered devices.

HungryPanda, a food-delivery app for the Chinese diaspora, raised $55M at a $500M valuation. The funds will boost expansion into groceries, acquisitions, and AI-powered tech upgrades. HungryPanda has 6.5M customers, 100K merchants, and operates in 80 cities.

Selfridges partners with Criteo to launch sponsored products on its online platform. This two-year deal lets brands target luxury shoppers with personalized, premium ads. It marks the first time Selfridges uses sponsored ads for product discovery. The partnership will also provide brands with in-depth performance data, helping them engage with customers more effectively.

London-based startup Ameba raised $7.1M led by Hedosophia to disrupt retail supply chains. Its AI-powered platform extracts unstructured data to predict disruptions, cut manual data input by 30%, and reduce inefficiencies. Co-founders Hoffmann and Massie bring experience from VALOREO and Palantir.

Checkout.com reports crypto is less than 4% of its volume, focusing on e-commerce and fintech. The company saw 40% growth last year, with valuation now at $9.35B. It recently launched new products and plans to expand into Brazil and Canada.

Just Eat has warned customers in the UK and Ireland about a dangerous contamination of mustard products containing undeclared peanuts. This follows an FSA investigation, affecting 66 products, as peanut allergies pose a life-threatening risk.

Vinted Pro has launched in the UK, allowing businesses to sell on the platform. Key features include free listings, mandatory 14-day returns, and access to an API for larger-scale sellers. Professional sellers must display their business info.

SportsShoes.com achieved a 22% increase in international sales and a 17% rise in European customers. The e-tailer plans to expand into new markets like Poland, Belgium, and Switzerland.

UK fashion giant Boohoo is reportedly considering divesting brands such as Debenhams and Karen Millen to boost value, as its stock has plunged 85% in five years. With declining market share and competition from Shein, a business split might help refocus.

eBay drops seller fees in the U.K. for most products to combat competitors like Vinted and Depop. This move, already successful in Germany, aims to boost C2C sales. Fashion resale is growing fast, with the global market hitting $197B last year.

Next buys a 16% stake in Rockett St George for £800K. The deal strengthens their existing partnership and brings Next onto Rockett St George’s board. The investment is set to help the homeware brand expand its product range and customer base.

TikTok Shop launches its For You Days sales event in the UK, running from September 23rd to 30th. Shoppers can enjoy up to 50% off on trending brands like Made by Mitchell, Free Soul, and Sweaty Betty through LIVE shopping sessions led by top creators.

Huel faces a second ban in two months as the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority finds its Instagram ad misleading. The advert made unsupported claims about the nutritional value and cost-effectiveness of the Daily Greens product. The watchdog also previously banned a Facebook ad in August.

Iceland partners with Deliveroo to offer 25-minute delivery across the UK. Starting from 53 stores on September 25, the service will expand to 800 stores by the end of October, offering over 3,000 products, including exclusive brands and value ranges.

Not On The High Street partners with Deliveroo to offer over 1,000 gifts from small brands across London, with deliveries in 25 minutes. The initiative supports small UK businesses and expands Deliveroo's growing "Deliveroo Shopping" service.

Tesco is preparing to relaunch its F&F clothing range online, marking its return since 2018. The new digital offering will complement Tesco’s marketplace, which launched in June. This move follows F&F’s exit from Next’s site earlier this year.

Asos is cutting over 200 head office roles as part of a major restructuring effort. This comes after the retailer reported a $120M loss in the first half of 2024. The tech team is most affected, but new roles are being created.

B&Q, part of Kingfisher Group, achieved 40% marketplace participation on diy.com in H1 2024. With 1.5M products and £157M in GMV, the platform saw a 78% YoY growth. Kingfisher's broader strategy includes rapid marketplace expansion in Iberia and France.

Co-op launches a 24-hour grocery delivery service in select UK cities. Partnering with Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats, they aim to capture over one-third of the quick commerce market. Service targets Gen Z and night shift workers.

Amazon will reduce Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) fees by up to £1.60/€1.87 for small oversize items. This fee cut impacts UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain from September 16, 2024. The goal is to expand the range of small oversize products available on Amazon's platforms by lowering seller costs.

Will Shu, CEO of Deliveroo, sold 9.4M shares worth £15M for personal investments after Deliveroo's first profit of £1.3M. Despite the sale, Shu retains 95.8M shares. The company also announced a £150M buyback, and its stock remains stable.

Volt and Farfetch announced a new partnership on Sept. 18, 2024. Farfetch customers in the U.K., Germany, and Netherlands can now make real-time payments directly from their bank accounts. The integration enhances the shopping experience by eliminating chargebacks and reducing fraud risks.

Asos has seen significant sales growth since joining TikTok Shop in March 2024, with 57% of transactions from new customers. Execs believe social shopping may eventually bypass traditional online retailers if shoppers buy directly on TikTok.

UK-based DELLI has raised $6M in a Seed extension to build on its success. The online food marketplace has seen 16X growth in sales, with users doubling their basket size. Founded by Marie Petrovicka and Simon Beckerman, DELLI is now expanding regionally and enhancing its tools for sellers.

The CMA provisionally ruled that Google abused its dominant ad market position since 2015. This could lead to fines up to 10% of Google’s global turnover. Google disagrees, saying the claims misinterpret the ad tech sector.

Amazon has expanded its AI-powered assistant, Rufus, to the UK, offering customers a new way to shop. Initially rolled out to select users, Rufus answers questions, compares products, and enhances shopping experiences.

Delli, founded by Simon Beckerman, secured $6M in new funding. With 16x revenue growth, Delli plans to double its team and expand beyond the UK. Led by investors like Balderton, they aim to tap into the US market.

Uber Eats partners with Michelin-star chef Simon Rogan for a $100 (or £80) five-course delivery menu. Ingredients come from Rogan's Cumbrian farm, with local meat, electric vehicles, and seaweed packaging enhancing sustainability.

Depop launched an AI tool that generates a complete listing from a single photo. The new feature adds item details like brand and color automatically. Depop's AI integration aims to boost second-hand shopping efficiency.

Boohoo will stop fulfilling U.S. orders locally by Nov. 11, closing its Pennsylvania warehouse just over a year after opening it. The change could cost Boohoo $44.5M in write-offs. The company will now fulfill U.S. orders from the UK.

Asos turned down a £215M bid for Topshop by Shein and ABG, favoring a £135M joint venture with Heartland. This gives Asos distribution rights and future royalties for the Topshop brand, boosting long-term growth.