Good Friday Morning! ⛅️

We're one week away from Christmas, but the retail and e-commerce industry never sleeps. So let's continue to take a look at what's been going on in the market recently.

• Etsy is solving the global supply chain problem with just one feature
• A Philly start-up makes it easier for you to sell stuff on the world's biggest online marketplaces (not us...but also, us.)
• Nike buys Rtfkt to create immersive sneaker experiences

Top Retail and E-commerce Stories

#SupportLocal: Here's Etsy's Approach to Supply Chain Problems

The retail world is in chaos and Etsy's just...chillin'? Apparently, while the majority of e-commerce businesses are panicking over shipping delays, Etsy seems to be impervious to all the chaos.

So, what's their secret?

Etsy outlines its new feature that allows sellers to connect with suppliers all over the world. The new feature, which is being rolled out in the next few weeks, will allow Etsy sellers to find suppliers for their products by searching through a database of over one million manufacturers. Etsy's radical transparency gives customers the ability to look for items and sellers by location.

Users may now filter items that are made based on geographic locations. Consumers have more control in this system than any other, allowing them to choose where their stuff comes from and who benefits from their purchases. Through transparent shopping, Etsy puts the world and all of its items at our fingertips. As a result, it's handing power over to the consumer to make more informed decisions and purchases that they can be proud of. 

New Kid on the Block: Amazon Launches a New Direct Competitor to Google and Facebook Ads

Move over Facebook ads! Sidecar has been a startup success story in Philly, lining customers up for businesses via carefully crafted advertisements on Google and Facebook.

But, like many other businesses, Sidecar's clients have been opened to Amazon in the hopes of more profits and scalability. Now, the 175-person firm has been acquired by Quartile, a five-year-old New York company whose software has enabled retailers to gain more customers through Amazon's ad services.

According to Nate Lentz, managing partner at Osage Venture Partners said, “Amazon came out of nowhere as an advertising platform. They are growing more than 50% a year, and quickly catching up on Google and Facebook." Amazon presently has a market share of about 12% in digital advertising, according to projections from eMarketer. This year, Amazon expects to make $25 billion from all digital advertisers, which is around 12% of the national market.

Nike Buys Into The Future Of Retail: Acquires Virtual Sneaker Company Rtfkt

Yup, another acquisition...Nike has acquired Rtfkt, a virtual sneaker company that creates immersive experiences for customers. With this acquisition, Nike aims to improve its digital offerings and provide a highly personalized shopping experience for its customers.

With the purchase of Rtfkt, Nike will have a stronger presence in the virtual shopping spaces, thereby, allowing Nike to provide more customized product recommendations for customers. In turn, Nike provides Rtfkt a reputable retailer with knowledge and resources to assist in its expansion.

A LITTLE MORE

• US retail sales slow with holiday shoppers facing inflation and shortages
• 5G retail tech to streamline operations and reduce holiday stress
• BNPL is a big hit with young Gen Zer shoppers this holiday season

FUN FACT

The world has been going digital for some time, but it's estimated that 95% of all purchases will happen through eCommerce by 2040.

QUICK TIP

Try this. Icons or trust badges may be used to demonstrate that your site is secure. Displaying accepted payment methods such as Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay is a good place to start.

TWEET TWEET

"Commitment shows up before results do!" - John Di Lemme

OLDIE BUT A GOODIE

Best Buy made its debut into the e-commerce business in March 1998, when it launched an online music store on its bestbuy.com website.