eBay teams up with Luxe Collective to launch a consignment service for luxury handbags, starting with top brands like Chanel and Hermès. The service promises a potential 45% increase in sales price.

American Eagle filed a lawsuit against Amazon for unauthorized use of its Aerie and Offline by Aerie trademarks in ads and URLs, redirecting customers to substandard knock-offs. The lawsuit demands tripled damages and a halt to infringements. AEO claims Amazon’s tactics began after AEO denied Amazon’s request to sell Aerie products, aiming to protect its brand. Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit fights counterfeits but the line between counterfeits and ‘dupes’ remains blurred.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced a 5-day return-to-office (RTO) mandate, sparking dissatisfaction among employees. An internal survey reveals strong opposition, with concerns about collaboration and the risk of brain drain. Will Amazon listen?

Walmart is launching its first Holiday Deals event from Oct. 8 to Oct. 13, with Walmart+ members receiving 12-hour early access. The event coincides with Target's Circle Week and Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days, intensifying the competition among retailers.

Amazon has launched its fully-managed Supply Chain service, allowing sellers to streamline operations and improve delivery speeds by 20%. The service also reduces costs by up to 25%. Sellers like Juvo+ report doubled sales conversions due to faster deliveries.

Expedia's new Travel Shops feature over 100 shoppable stores curated by influencers and brands. This exclusive launch, involving names like Jaime Camil and Virgil Van Dijk, offers users a way to book travel experiences directly from social media. By 2025, more creators can join, aligning with a growing trend in social commerce seen on platforms like TikTok.

Etsy launched Etsy Insider with free shipping, aiming to increase growth. New features like Gift Mode and improved search tools are designed to boost sales, app usage, and customer loyalty.

Olive Garden is partnering with Uber Direct to offer home delivery via Uber Eats drivers. This partnership, announced Thursday, aims to boost sales after a 2.9% drop in same-restaurant sales. A national rollout is expected by May 2025.

Instacart has upgraded its FoodStorm order management system with new features, boosting visibility and flexibility for retailers and customers. With holiday sales approaching, these updates aim to streamline ordering, improve inventory management, and maximize sales.

Grubhub’s campus dining tech, linked to over 360 colleges, now serves 4.5M students. It offers robot delivery, reusable containers, and Amazon's Just Walk Out tech at select schools, enhancing convenience and sustainability in college dining.

Oakland-based Trove strengthens its grip on the U.S. branded resale market by acquiring Recurate. Trove's platform now supports peer-to-peer resale, giving brands more flexibility in secondhand fashion. The company’s CEO, Terry Boyle, sees resale as key to growth.

Shein's recent survey reveals that 80% of U.S. customers choose the platform for its unique items, and 79% appreciate its variety. Despite limited funds, 90% of respondents believe they should still be able to buy clothes that make them feel good, highlighting Shein’s appeal among budget-conscious shoppers.

PayPal expands its partnership with Shopify to process online credit, debit, and wallet payments through Shopify Payments in the U.S. This integration provides a unified experience for merchants, building on their 2022 collaboration in France.

After two hours of intense debate in a Washington court, TikTok’s future in the U.S. hangs in the balance. Judges are examining whether a law targeting its Chinese ownership is constitutional, which could lead to a nationwide ban.

Amazon introduces Project Amelia, an AI assistant for sellers, starting in the U.S. The tool helps sellers manage and grow their businesses by answering questions about sales metrics and customer traffic. Available now in beta.

Amazon's Buy with Prime now accepts PayPal for payments. Starting next year, Prime members can link their Amazon and PayPal accounts for seamless checkout. Despite reported growth, some experts argue that Buy with Prime remains niche.

Cavela's AI marketplace simplifies product sourcing for brands. With $2M funding from XYZ Venture Capital, the platform reduces supplier engagement from 1,000 to just 10 touchpoints and lowers sourcing costs by 40% on average.

Nostra AI raises $8.9M, led by High Alpha, bringing total funding to $20M. With enterprise clients like Forever 21, the new funding will expand their technology into Shopify and Salesforce, improving website performance.

Ecomtent, an AI-driven startup, raised $850K to help retailers optimize for AI-based search. Its technology enables faster content generation, increasing conversions by 30%. Founders Max Sinclair and Timur Luguev plan to expand operations after this funding.

Shopsense AI teamed up with Paramount at the 2024 VMAs to let viewers shop for affordable dupes of their favorite artists' outfits. The AI can identify similar items from over 1,000 retailers, offering both style and budget options.

Simon has expanded and rebranded its online outlet marketplace as ShopSimon, featuring sale and discounted items from over 360 retailers like Adidas and Hugo Boss. The platform allows customers to shop by image, color, and access same-day pickups.

Innovative Food Holdings is selling igourmet.com for $700K plus $350K in liabilities. After years of losses, the company is refocusing on its retail cheese business to improve profits. CEO Bill Bennett sees big potential.

Walmart teams up with Parafin, a US fintech, to provide sellers with easy access to capital through its Marketplace Capital program. Parafin has already extended over $8B in financing across platforms.

The EPA has approved rules in Southern California allowing communities to sue warehouses for truck emissions. These warehouses are linked to a 20% rise in nitrogen dioxide levels. Non-compliance rates are high, with 1,400 out of 2,000 warehouses failing to meet standards.

Instacart aims to convert 25M annual users into monthly shoppers, driving up order frequency. CEO Fidji Simo sees a chance to increase average purchases from 11 to monthly. The company leads in large basket share at 70% of the market.

Instacart is growing by adding emerging brands to its ad base and expanding retail partnerships. CEO Fidji Simo said these moves, announced Sept. 12, could double the growth rate of retailers launching new services with Instacart.

Amazon introduces its new grocery brand, Amazon Saver, with most items under $5. Prime members receive up to 50% off rotating weekly groceries. This move aims to beat Walmart and Target’s price cuts as the grocery battle intensifies.

Zara will launch its ‘Pre-Owned’ platform in the US by October 2024, offering secondhand sales, repairs, and donations. The service already operates in 16 European countries. Inditex, Zara’s parent, sees this as part of its sustainability push.

Amazon’s new Export Central tool simplifies cross-border selling, allowing merchants from six European stores to sell in 39 countries. This program boosts traffic and sales, with FBA sellers automatically enrolled and MFN sellers required to set shipping rates.

Amazon launches a new “Refund Without Return” solution for U.S. FBA sellers, allowing refunds without the need to return items. Sellers can enable this, with restrictions on item eligibility and customer abuse safeguards in place.

The Biden administration plans to change the "de minimis" import rule, affecting Shein and Temu. The new proposal will add tariffs and more inspections to their shipments, aiming to protect US workers and businesses.

Temu's U.S. sales growth decelerated to 37% in August, down from 45% in July. Despite a slight market share gain to 3.4%, DAUs fell 17%. Bank of America cites plateauing sales and tough comparisons, along with challenges from parent Pinduoduo.

GoHealth has announced the acquisition of e-TeleQuote, expected to close on Sept. 30. This acquisition will strengthen its Medicare-focused offerings, combining GoHealth's scale and technology with e-TeleQuote's experience and talent.

Google expanded its AI-powered virtual try-on tool to include dresses, supporting brands like Boden and Sandro. Dresses are more complex than tops, so Google developed new technology to provide lifelike, detailed virtual experiences.

eBay shifted its global media account from WPP's EssenceMediacom to Dentsu's iProspect. After a competitive pitch involving Havas Media, iProspect stood out with its passion for eBay and an integrated campaign model.

Two CPSC commissioners are calling for a probe into e-commerce giants Shein and Temu. They want to examine their safety practices, particularly after reports of dangerous baby and toddler items. Both companies say they prioritize safety.

Walmart has teamed up with StockX to sell high-demand sneakers like Nike Jordans. StockX will launch next week on Walmart.com, offering hundreds of pre-verified shoes. The move is part of Walmart’s strategy to boost its marketplace’s growth.

Shopify has expanded its partnership with YouTube. Eligible U.S. merchants can now join the YouTube Shopping affiliate program. Creators can tag products in videos from thousands of new brands. This collaboration empowers businesses and creators.

GrubMarket, a $3.6B food delivery startup, has acquired FreshGoGo, a B2C platform for Asian groceries, expanding its customer base by 210K across 27 states. This is part of GrubMarket's strategy to grow through strategic acquisitions. FreshGoGo, which generates $30M in revenue but is not yet profitable, joins GrubMarket following its recent purchase of Good Eggs. The deal mixes cash and shares, with FreshGoGo founder Jianbing Duan staying on board to continue operations. GrubMarket aims to scale these acquisitions for better profitability and growth.

Branded and Heyday, two leading Amazon aggregators, plan to merge into a new entity named Essor, with an expected annual revenue of $400M. The merger reflects the contraction in the industry that once thrived on $16B in investments.

Mavely, the "Everyday Influencer" platform, achieved $675M in GMV, up 175% from last year. It supports micro- and nano-influencers, offering commissions from brands like Adidas and Macy’s. Over $37M has been paid out to influencers since 2019.

Similarweb has launched a new Rank Tracker feature that helps marketers and SEO professionals identify which keywords trigger Google's AI Overview. This AI-generated summary at the top of search results could change user behavior and search strategies. According to Baruch Toledano, VP at Similarweb, the tool is available for all SEO subscription tiers.

BigCommerce launched new tools like AI-powered product recommendations and B2B features, aiming to help brands globally. Updates include an enhanced visual editor, local payment options, and quicker checkout to boost sales by up to 200%.

GoDaddy's new AI-driven Digital Marketing tools help small businesses manage SEO, social media, and email marketing. With tools like Airo Assistant and a unified inbox, entrepreneurs can efficiently attract customers and grow their business.

🔍 Etsy has introduced a new Search Visibility Page for sellers. This tool gives personalized recommendations to improve product listings in Etsy's search results, including tips on images, return policies, and shipping costs.

Instacart's Daniel Danker shares their vision for the future of grocery shopping, centered around AI personalization. New features like personal planograms and digital flyers aim to make grocery shopping more tailored and cost-effective.

Amazon Fresh has added four new supermarkets, including its first Northern California location. The new stores in California, Illinois, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania offer advanced shopping tech and local products, bringing the chain close to 50 locations nationwide.

Amazon launched a grocery delivery subscription for $9.99/month, giving Prime members unlimited delivery on orders over $35. An annual plan at $99.99 offers two months free. EBT users get a $4.99/month rate. This benefit covers over 3,500 U.S. cities.

Uber Eats is launching robotic deliveries with Coco in L.A. Coco will deliver from hundreds of local merchants starting this week, with plans to expand. The partnership aligns with Uber's aim for sustainable delivery methods and broader U.S. expansion.

ThredUp and Vestiaire Collective join American Circular Textiles in petitioning to end double taxation on secondhand apparel. The move aims to promote sustainability, make resale more appealing, and support the growing circular economy.