Pepper, an e-commerce platform for food distributors, raised $30M in a Series B funding round led by ICONIQ Growth. The company aims to support small distributors with advanced tech, increasing sales by 23% and saving 10 hours per week per sales rep. Pepper's client base has doubled to 200 in a market of 25,000.

Kudos, an AI-driven smart wallet, raises $10M to enhance credit card optimization for rewards. The company grew from 1,000 beta testers to 200,000 users since 2022. Investors include QED Investors, Patron, and others.

BigCommerce launched an open-source Buyer Portal on May 7, 2024, allowing B2B brands to create tailored buyer experiences. This move aims to reduce development costs and time, offering streamlined services and faster time-to-market. The portal supports localized experiences and automates administrative processes.

Meta's enhanced generative AI tools now offer full image and text generation for advertisers. These features help businesses create creative variations and automate ad creation, improving performance. New text overlay and image expansion tools are also included.

Reebok unveils an AI-driven fashion experience on Instagram called 'Reebok Impact.' Users can create custom digital sneakers by sending a photo via DM. This feature is free for up to four creations, usable in games like Fortnite and Roblox.

Poshmark launched "Promoted Closet," a tool for sellers to promote all listings at once. Using machine learning, it boosts items based on search terms. Sellers set budgets and are charged per click. Beta testers saw a 43% sales increase. Available now in the U.S.

eBay introduces a new "resell on eBay" feature integrated into Certilogo's smart labels, allowing users to list clothing with just a few clicks. Save The Duck is the first brand to pilot this feature starting May. This initiative aims to foster a pre-loved fashion marketplace and reduce landfill waste.

Mercari reversed its new return policy after backlash from sellers. Buyers now have three days to return items only if they are not as described. The policy change, effective May 22, aims to balance buyer flexibility with seller protection.

Walmart is cutting hundreds of corporate jobs and asking remote workers to return to office locations, as per a memo. Affected offices include Dallas, Atlanta, and Toronto, with relocations to Bentonville, Hoboken, and Southern California. The company promises support for impacted associates.

Starting today, Walmart introduces e-commerce inside Roblox, allowing players to buy real-world items. This pilot runs through May, targeting U.S. users over 13. It could redefine virtual shopping, leveraging Walmart's vast retail network.

Software company BigCommerce is exploring a sale with help from Qatalyst Partners after a significant drop in market value. The company's strategic shift follows competitive pressures, especially from Shopify.

Allbirds' revenue fell 28% in Q1, totaling $39.3M. Joe Vernachio, the new CEO, addresses urgent restructuring as the company anticipates a 25% sales drop throughout the year.

Etsy's CEO, Josh Silverman, revealed a new machine learning model that reduced USPS transit times by over a day, boosting perceived reliability and increasing estimated delivery dates of seven days or less for triple the orders.

Google's Performance Max now aids sellers on platforms like Amazon by driving sales directly through online marketplaces, eliminating the need for individual websites or Merchant Center accounts. This service has launched in beta and is still evolving.

Despite rising food prices, DoorDash has decreased fees by 12% in 2 years, improving order affordability. The company's operational efficiency and better delivery accuracy support these cuts.

Instacart is venturing into restaurant delivery by integrating Uber Eats' software and logistics into its app, with the same prices and courier pay as Uber Eats.

TikTok's Pulse suite now includes Max Pulse, Pulse Lineups, and Pulse Premiere. These new offerings guarantee ads are placed next to trending, top 4% content. New partners like NHL and Paramount Global join for 2024.

TikTok is taking legal action against the US government, claiming that a law demanding its sale by January 2025 unfairly targets the platform and threatens to disconnect over 1 billion global users.

Amazon's FBA low-inventory-level fee, introduced to improve inventory health, is now in effect but will be credited back for fees incurred from April 1 to May 14 as part of an extended transition period to assist sellers.

Monocle's recent $7.5M funding boosts its AI platform, offering real-time personalized promotions, improving customer engagement and significantly lifting revenue by 30%.

San Francisco-based Ansa raises $14M in Series A funding for virtual wallets, with female investors leading. Total raised hits $20M. Key markets include coffee and QSR.

On April 24, 2024, in Boston, HubSpot introduced Spotlight, featuring new Service Hub and AI tools, making it easier for SMBs to manage and grow customer interactions. These tools promise rapid innovation and support.

At the 2024 Stripe Sessions in San Francisco, Stripe introduced 50+ new features to enhance payments processing and fight fraud, having processed over $1 trillion last year.

Despite a slight drop in sales, Wayfair impresses with a $107M cut in losses and a 3% rise in customer numbers, indicating strong resilience and strategic staffing reductions.

Etsy stock plunged 15% after its earnings report showed a decline in sales. Facing fierce competition from Temu and Shein, Etsy's gross merchandise sales fell by 3.7%, down to $2.99B from an expected $3.03B.

Airbnb launched 'Icons', offering exclusive experiences like a tequila tasting with Kevin Hart and a living room performance by Doja Cat. These unique events tap into the intersection of travel and pop culture, promising unforgettable memories.

Rite Aid collaborates with Uber Eats to offer alcohol delivery in California, Idaho, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington. This service is accessible through the Uber Eats app and website, further enhancing the consumer shopping experience.

Walmart introduces Bettergoods, a new grocery brand offering trendy, chef-driven foods under $5. Designed to attract younger, affluent shoppers, the move aims to leverage the retailer's massive grocery revenue amid persistent inflation.

Sam's Club's new AI exit tech, launched in January, is now in 120 U.S. stores. This tech speeds up customer exits by 23% and reduces staff at checkouts. Full rollout planned for 2024.

Instacart partners with Save Mart to deploy AI-powered smart carts and new e-commerce tools, boosting tech use in stores and aiming for better customer service.

DoorDash achieved new highs in orders, revenue, and total order value in Q1, as it expanded into home improvement, beauty, and pets. CEO Tony Xu highlights growth and consumer engagement.

Shein and Forever 21 enhance their partnership with a new returns program, leveraging Happy Returns technology. This service, available across over 300 U.S. stores, facilitates easy, box-free returns.

Walmart to shut down 51 health clinics and its telehealth service due to unsustainable costs and a challenging reimbursement environment, impacting operations in 5 states.

Nordstrom launched a new digital marketplace to enhance customer satisfaction with more brands and personalized services. Key features include user-friendly navigation and tailored product recommendations.

Temu uses flash deals, gamified elements, and low prices to attract consumers, creating an addictive shopping environment. Lucy Clark, a Manchester-based shopper, shares her engaging experience with the platform's vast array of cheap novelty items and gadgets.

ByteDance stated on Toutiao that rumors of selling TikTok are false. The US law requires sale or ban, but TikTok plans to challenge this. CEO Shou Zi Chew assures users, "We aren't going anywhere."

Amazon boosts same/next-day delivery to nearly 60% for Prime users in major US cities, aims for more with new facilities.

Amazon's Q1 2024 revenue reached $143.3B, driven by AI and advertising. AWS revenue hit $25B, with net income tripling to $10.4B. CEO Andy Jassy sees huge potential in AI and plans to increase capex for AWS growth.

BigCommerce announces over 100 platform updates, enhancing B2C and B2B experiences with new features like Catalyst and BigAI suite.

CommentSold unveiled AI ClipHero, automating video creation for e-commerce, enhancing live selling. PopClips introduced for product tagging. Since 2017, facilitated $4.4B+ GMV.

Newegg introduces Newegg+, a free membership program offering perks like free shipping, exclusive deals, and advanced returns processing. Members gain VIP-style shopping experience. Launch sale until April 28.

Alibaba.com launches Logistics Marketplace, offering affordable solutions for US SMEs to streamline supply chains. With access to pre-vetted providers, SMEs navigate global markets with ease.

Amazon unveils a $9.99/mo grocery subscription for Prime users, $4.99/mo for EBT cardholders. Free delivery on orders over $35.

Rebag launches Rebag+, charging $50/month or $500/year, converting into store credit, with perks like free shipping and returns. CEO Gorra aims to boost sales, targeting dormant customers, amid a "deceleration" in growth.

Cart.com collaborates with Walmart Marketplace to ease seller onboarding and boost sales via advanced multichannel management tools.

StockX launches immersive shopping app for Apple Vision Pro, featuring 3D sneaker showcase, live market data, and 'Shop the look' feature.

Amazon discontinues its drone delivery service in Lockeford, CA, shifting focus to a new facility in Tolleson, AZ. The move aligns with its goals to integrate drones into its broader delivery network.

TikTok has 270 days to decide its fate in the US after President Biden signed a new law. Bytedance, its owner, may contest in court, sell, or shut it down.

Dr. Ali Kashani, co-founder of Serve Robotics, highlighted the role of AI in urban delivery as they raised $40M through an IPO. Planning major expansions in new cities.

OpenAI has appointed Glenn Worthington, ex-Shopify VP, as its new head of support. This move underlines the tightening links between AI and ecommerce.