Target unveils Circle 360 for $99/year, targeting Amazon Prime with unlimited same-day delivery. With 300 new stores on the horizon, Target's not slowing down.

Advertisers are broadening their retail media horizons, shifting ad dollars from Amazon to platforms like Walmart and Target, sparking a competitive frenzy in the ad world.

TikTok fires up 170M users to fight a looming US ban, leveraging its platform for a massive call to action. As Congress eyes a TikTok crackdown, the app unites creators and users in a digital showdown.

Amazon's pivot from lender to third-party financier marks a major shift for its $140B Marketplace. Sellers, making up 60% of sales, face new challenges and fee increases, stirring a mix of outrage and concern.

Thrasio, once a beacon of e-commerce, has hit bankruptcy, despite raking in over $3B. With $90M in emergency funds, it's a story of rapid rise and fall, reshaping the Amazon marketplace landscape.

Pinterest partners with Tastemade for "Deliciously Entertaining," a shoppable streaming series aiming to blend inspiration with instant shopping. The show, hosted by Danni Rose, promises to turn Pinterest trends into tangible experiences.

Despite hitting a 52-week high, DoorDash's Q4 earnings reveal a 39-cent-per-share loss, overshooting analyst expectations and leading to a 9.5% share drop. Yet, the company highlights record user growth and international expansion, betting on future profitability.

Instacart has faced its third valuation cut this year, plummeting to $13B from a high of $39B in 2021. The company's move to slash valuation and lay off 250 workers signals a strategic pivot as it prepares for an IPO in a volatile market.

Amazon Fresh's new Recurring Reservations feature lets you book grocery pickups or deliveries a week in advance. With customizable Repeat Items, your favorites auto-fill your cart. Available in 1,300 U.S. cities, it's grocery shopping made effortlessly convenient.

Walmart's e-commerce surge to $100B not only underscores its marketplace dominance but also outpaces Amazon's growth from a decade ago. With a blend of digital and physical retail, Walmart is setting new benchmarks in shopper experience and global reach.

Jeff Bezos sells $2.03B in Amazon shares, totaling over $6B this month. With these sales, his stake reduces to 952.26M shares. Moving to Miami for family and tax benefits, Bezos's chess moves reflect strategic financial and personal planning.

Amid the glitz of tech innovation, Octup, an AI maestro, bags a cool $4M in pre-seed funding. This cash infusion fuels their quest to redefine e-commerce with AI, promising up to a 40% profit spike for online retailers. Investors are all in, betting big on Octup’s AI magic to streamline shopping.

Lyft's stock took a wild ride, soaring 60% on Q4's strong earnings, then dropping after a typo inflated profit margin forecasts. A clerical error turned a promising 500 basis points increase into a modest 50. CEO Risher's "My bad" couldn't curb the stock's rollercoaster journey.

Despite a dip in supermarket visits and orders, online grocery sales in the U.S. hit $8.5B in January 2024, marking a 1.8% increase from last year. Ship-to-home sales soared, with Amazon leading the charge, evidencing changing consumer habits amidst financial shifts.

Last summer, a DoorDash driver in Indiana discovered an app promising to reveal tips, a game-changer in a gig economy where seeing base pay only is the norm. Amidst the delivery app battlefield, bots like "Batch grabbers" and Para are offering gig workers a controversial edge, promising higher earnings by showcasing hidden order details or automating order claims. Despite the allure, these digital shortcuts violate company policies, with consequences for those caught.

As Q3 debt hits $274.7M, up from $235.4M in 2022, Express Inc. haggles with creditors, eyeing a lifeline away from Chapter 11. Amidst a potential product drought, Q3 reveals a $454M revenue rise yet a $36.8M net loss. The plot thickens with a 5% YoY sales jump, despite a looming delisting shadow.

Amazon is on a green mission, launching a "Ships in Product Packaging" programme for FBA sellers in the US, Canada, and Europe. The initiative promises to reduce unnecessary packaging, making deliveries more eco-friendly and cutting costs. A new European product safety page enhances shopping confidence.

Walmart's potential $2 billion Vizio buy could shift the TV ad game, leveraging 18M Vizio users against rivals Amazon and Roku. With over 70% of Vizio’s TVs sold at Walmart, this deal could redefine in-store and smart TV advertising.

In a resale revolution, Beni's new iOS app & partnerships with Poshmark, ThredUp, & Patagonia’s WornWear, make second-hand shopping as slick as new. With 80% of online listings, Beni's aiming to make buying used as effortless as buying new, turning thrift into a trend.

Amidst rising costs and shifting dining habits, Owner.com's fresh $33M Series B is a lifeline for indie eateries. Adam Guild's vision? A digital haven for the mom-and-pop, battling big chains with AI-driven marketing and an all-in-one platform. From "Tell my customers about my new yellow curry," to tangible growth, Owner's on it.

Available on the OpenAI GPT Store, IKEA's new AI assistant brings customised furniture and décor recommendations. Imagine asking for a dining table and getting a holographic circus of options. Joining the AI bandwagon, IKEA is now blending Swedish minimalism with Silicon Valley tech.

BigCommerce unveils "Catalyst," merging headless tech with no/low-code ease for B2C/B2B brands. CEO Brent Bellm hails it as a game-changer, promising rapid, flexible storefront creation. Key feature: Makeswift, for easy content management. Aiming for high performance and faster market times.

Starting Feb 6, Lyft promises drivers at least 70% of rider payments, aiming to boost transparency and earnings. With a national rollout this spring, drivers get an earnings summary app feature, shedding light on fare distribution.

As DoorDash eyes global domination from the U.S. to the sparsely populated landscapes of Europe and beyond, CEO Tony Xu admits there's a long road ahead. With ambitions stretching from Japan to Australia, and a new grocery ally in Ahold Delhaize, DoorDash's menu now includes more than just your favorite takeout.

In a bold move, Gopuff and Starbucks team up, bringing coffee to your doorstep 24/7. Starbucks-trained baristas prep orders in Gopuff's micro-fulfillment centers, promising 30-minute deliveries. The "Starbucks After Dark" campaign aims to boost nighttime sales, targeting a fresh opportunity for orders between 5 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Shein's new Bellevue office is set to supercharge U.S. logistics, amidst IPO whispers and a $66B valuation. But it's not all smooth sailing—labor controversies and ambitious carbon cuts shadow the expansion. Bellevue, get ready for a fashion-forward makeover!

New Balance steps up its game with 'Reconsidered', a resale program letting customers trade in gently worn shoes for vouchers. The initiative, powered by tech platform Archive and Tersus Solutions, aims to reduce footwear's environmental impact. Currently, it's a U.S.-exclusive, but it promises to extend product life and combat landfill waste.

Amazon partners with HEWI, bringing pre-owned luxury fashion to Europe's doorstep. Offering Chanel to Prada on its Luxury Stores, Amazon eyes sustainable shopping, making luxury accessible while championing circular fashion. A move set to redefine online luxury shopping landscapes.

Walmart's Marketplace now allows merchants to choose if returned items are kept by the retailer, simplifying logistics and costs. The policy, effective for both direct and third-party fulfilled items, is set to change the returns game.

As Target considers a dive into paid memberships, dubbed "Project Trident," it faces the challenge of differentiating itself in a crowded market. Nearly 86% of US adults already subscribe to similar services. Will Target's blend of Shipt, discounts, and possibly streaming partnerships be enough to stand out?

After TikTok Shop's US launch, TikTok's exploring auto-identifying products in videos for "Find similar items" links. This expansion could turn all videos shoppable, aiming for $17.5B in 2024 US sales. But, there's a catch: the accuracy needs work—gold rings and fake nails for stone polishing, anyone?

The FTC's dive into AI deals by Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, and Amazon could redefine the competitive landscape. By examining these investments, the FTC, led by Chair Lina Khan, aims to unveil how such partnerships might curb innovation or monopolize the AI sector. This inquiry not only scrutinizes Microsoft's $10bn investment in OpenAI but also puts Google and Amazon's dealings with AI startups in the spotlight. With potential global implications, this investigation signals a new era of tech regulation, focusing on ensuring fair competition and preventing monopolistic control over AI advancements.

Fiverr's Winter Product Release is here, brimming with features set to redefine the gig economy. Launched on January 30, 2024, it introduces Fiverr Agencies, a revamped homepage, a consulting category, and a fresh review system, all designed to enhance the synergy between businesses and freelancers.

Newegg launches 'Refreshed', embracing the refurb wave with Apple to gaming PCs. Starting January, it pledges a 90-day return guarantee, ensuring top-notch quality. This move targets eco-conscious techies, offering deals and a GPU trade-in program. Despite Apple-like prices, Newegg uniquely offers newer models like the iPhone 15, positioning itself as a key player in the refurbished tech market.

Elliott Investment Management now holds a 13% stake in Etsy, marking a significant move as Marc Steinberg joins the board. Their involvement signals potential major shifts for the e-commerce giant.

After crushing its Q3 earnings, 7-Eleven's 7NOW app is set to transform from a $590M venture in 2023 into a whopping $1B powerhouse by 2025, thanks to its drool-worthy pizzas and wings. With a daily sales average of €225 per store, it's clear that 7-Eleven isn't just about slurpees anymore. The convenience titan is gunning to outpace DoorDash and Gopuff, making a bold play for a bigger slice of the digital dining pie.

After raising eyebrows with AI-generated food images that bordered on culinary horror, Instacart is now pulling these pics from its platform. The grocery delivery giant faced ridicule for images where chickens had extra limbs and hot dogs morphed into tomatoes, sparking a wave of disbelief and laughter across the internet.

StockX, the sneaker resale giant, trims its team by 40, including its CMO, aiming for a sleeker, faster-moving organization amid a strategic pivot. Despite the layoffs, StockX marches on with global hires and remains bullish on its "trade what you love" mission, boasting 27 open roles. With severance and support in tow for the departed, StockX's commitment to innovation, diversity, and culture endures, as it continues to lace up for future growth in a turbulent market.

After a turbulent journey, Amazon's acquisition of iRobot is off, facing hefty EU competition concerns. This setback prompts iRobot to cut one-third of its workforce and sees CEO Colin Angle stepping down amidst a strategic pivot towards innovation and market resilience.

eBay is slapped with a $59M fine by the DOJ for selling pill-counterfeiting equipment, a blow amidst broader cuts. This legal debacle underscores the fine line between e-commerce freedom and the responsibility to curb illegal sales, challenging eBay's compliance efforts and highlighting the dark underbelly of online marketplaces.

Amazon dropped Rufus AI into the shopping battlefield, armed with the entire Amazon catalog and some serious AI smarts. This time the AI knows everything from the fluffiness of your future towels to the zing in your future toothpaste.

"Fastlane" service is leveraging AI to offer one-click checkouts and personalized offers, including a 'Smart Receipt' feature. This innovation promises to reduce checkout times by 50%.

Google introduces 'Circle to Search' for Android, offering a seamless way to search and shop online. This AI-powered feature allows users to circle items in photos or videos to find similar products across the web.

Less than a month into 2024, the tech industry is facing a significant wave of layoffs. eBay, TikTok, and Wayfair are among the major companies announcing job cuts, totaling 13,240 layoffs across 72 companies this year.

Think shopping meets gaming, where your grocery list leads to rewards. It's not just about filling your cart anymore; it's about unlocking perks and spinning for discounts.

Etsy makes a bold play with its 'Gift Mode', dropping big bucks on Super Bowl ads. Their AI-powered gift guide (rather SEO play than actual value for customer) aims to make them the top gift-shopping spot, but I would say it is more sizzle than a steak.

🇺🇸 Flexport secures $260M from Shopify, signaling strong e-commerce partnership. Flexport, a leader in digital freight forwarding, gains a significant boost with Shopify's investment, reflecting confidence in their joint e-commerce and logistics endeavors.

🇺🇸 Sway secures $19.5M in Series A for e-commerce return solutions. Changing the e-commerce landscape, Sway, previously Returnmates, a Los Angeles-based company, rebrands and expands its return services, boasting a 66% reduction in lost packages and a 20% increase in customer repurchases.

🇺🇸 FedEx launches New E-commerce Platform to Rival Amazon. FedEx introduces 'fdx', a data-driven commerce platform. Integrating existing tools with new features, it aims to enhance supply chain management and customer experience, challenging Amazon's logistics dominance.

🇺🇸 Instacart's stock leaps 11% amid Uber Eats acquisition rumors. Instacart's potential acquisition by Uber Eats sparks market excitement, with Wolfe Research suggesting a bullish outlook. The delivery market leader's valuation and Uber Eats' expansion hint at a significant consolidation in the competitive online delivery industry.