Good Christmas Eve Morning! ⛅️

It's finally time to ring those jingle bells and celebrate! The holiday season is in full swing, and for e-commerce businesses, that means one thing: it's time to rake in the profits and be merry! As you sip your morning coffee and prepare for today's Christmas dinner, here's your weekly dose of the top retail and e-commerce stories.

• For the first time in years, merchants are raising prices and restricting offers, leaving customers without the anticipated significant discounts.
• Chico's FAS has signed on to Walmart Inc.'s GoLocal white-label delivery service.
• Opposites attract as big brands partner with small retailers, new data shows. 

Top Retail and E-commerce Stories

Deal or No Deals: Holiday Shopping Survey Shows Consumers Disappointed by Discounts...or the lack thereof!

Holiday discounts are...dead? This year, certain brands have stuck to price cuts of "10, maybe 20 percent" from Black Friday.

According to industry experts and analysts, consumers' preference for large holiday discounts, which have long been a necessary element of a company's viability, is declining. Shoppers are losing their love for hefty holiday reductions, which have long been a part of businesses' viability. Prices have risen across the board, but discounts are only available to a select few.

Customers have reduced their impulsive purchases and spent more on focused big-ticket goods like home furnishings, appliances, and sports equipment during the pandemic.

Many customers, on the other hand, claim that the scarcity of large discounts has compelled them to be more careful. Some are forgoing impulsive purchases and putting off nonessentials like big-screen TVs and new sneakers until they discover deals that appeal to them.

#Go...Local: Chico’s is the first fashion brand to offer local delivery through Walmart GoLocal

Walmart's GoLocal initiative is an important component of the company's overall plan, which includes broadening revenue streams and profit pools with activities such as Walmart Connect, Walmart Fulfillment Services, and technology commercialization. Now, customers in Chico's brand portfolio, including the company's three brands, Chico's, White House|Black Market, and Soma, will be able to have orders delivered directly to their homes in as little as two hours.

According to Walmart, GoLocal enables companies to expand by leveraging the company's delivery capabilities and worldwide reach affordable rates. This includes delivery on a variety of kits, including those with size or complex criteria, as well as the ability to comply with changing deadlines.

David Joins...Goliath: E-commerce Health Report Reveals Big Brands Partnering with Small Retailers Could Be the Next Trend

Collaboration is the new eCommerce health trend. In a recent Sendlane poll, many small and medium e-commerce firms have had a successful year, but some SMBs are still concerned about the economy and how COVID-19 will affect consumer spending.

According to "eCommerce Health," a popular trend ahead is the willingness of large e-commerce companies, such as Amazon, Target, and Walmart, to collaborate with smaller enterprises. Based on the survey results, another trend will be an increase in consumers shopping with mobile devices.

According to the poll, SMB e-commerce companies are generally fairly optimistic about 2022, with 93 percent expecting sales to increase and 28% anticipating at least 40% growth. 92 percent anticipate profits to improve, with 24% expecting a 40% or more increase at least.

A LITTLE MORE

• Nordstrom reportedly mulling spinoff of off-price Rack business
• Strong demand fuels revenue growth at NIKE, Inc
• The mask is back: Amazon resumes mandating safety masks at warehouses after a high number of Covid cases

FUN FACT

47% of online shoppers say that Facebook has the greatest impact on what they buy. 

QUICK TIP

Try this. Social media links are distracting to visitors, so keep them in the website footer.

TWEET TWEET

"Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit." - Conrad Hilton 

OLDIE BUT A GOODIE

It was only in 2004 when Netflix settled into its signature black and red look. But even then, it was the pre-streaming era, and the core business was is in DVD rentals.