Next week... it's go time!

If e-commerce sellers had a Championship, next Friday would be it. No one needs distractions during game day, so we'll be taking the week off so you can keep your head in the game.

But for now, we've got news!

• TikTok has launched a new in-app e-commerce feature, making it easier than ever for users to buy and sell products directly through the app.
• At first, Facebook thought that the increased online shopping due to the pandemic would be a long-term trend. However, data has since shown that this was not the case.
• Retailers are connecting the metaverse to increase revenue in both the digital and real world.
• According to reports, Amazon is planning on 10,000 layoffs with a focal point on retail businesses.

Top Retail and E-commerce Stories

Shopping on TikTok?: Yes, Please!

Tiktok is the new Facebook Marketplace for influencers! TikTok Shop, where users can now make purchases directly through the app, is TikTok's most recent launch.

TikTok after previously being exclusive to Southeast Asia and the UK. Currently, TikTok is inviting select U.S. businesses to participate in the initiative, which means that live streamers from places where the feature is not live will need to continue directing shoppers to third-party websites.

Nothing Lasts Forever: Facebook Finds that the Pandemic Shopping Boom is Over

False alarm... E-commerce sales have reached a standstill as shoppers begin to go back to physical stores. It turns out that the pandemic shopping boom was just a blip on the radar. According to Facebook, online sales have returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Many social media platforms made a killing when the pandemic struck and people were too afraid to leave their homes. Zuckerberg believed that once vaccines allowed people to return outside, e-commerce would continue to grow at its current rapid pace. He was sadly mistaken.

The Future of Retail: Connecting to the Metaverse

Courtesy of Virtual Brand Group

Is this e-commerce 2.0? Many businesses in different industries are now conducting activations on platforms that belong to the metaverse. Although there is some debate surrounding what the metaverse truly is, it can be described as a virtual version of the internet that people can immerse themselves in.

According to Q2 reports from Statista, the platform has caught on especially well with younger kids aged 13 and under--24.2 million of its daily active users fall into that category. It's not shocking then that retailers are scrambling to market themselves where these children will be spending most of their time in the coming years.

The Amazon Corner

Corporate Bloodbath: Widespread layoffs begin in Amazon's corporate ranks

A long-awaited reckoning is coming for Amazon. The company has announced it will lay off around 100,000 workers in its corporate offices worldwide, about 3% of its corporate workforce.

The company plans to lay off many workers in retail, human resources, and device divisions. Last month, Amazon announced it would halt hiring for its white-collar workforce for an unknown duration.

A LITTLE MORE

• According to a recent study done by Fiverr, an overwhelming majority of 88% of United States business owners or executives expect their holiday season earnings to either stay the same or increase in comparison to last year's—despite recession indicators.
• Droppii is bringing innovative e-commerce business solutions to the United States
• QReal Launches TRYO, a virtual shopping experience app that enables you to try on clothes and accessories from multiple brands in various categories

THIS WEEK'S POLL

The holidays are just around the corner, but which e-commerce platform are you expecting to get more sales from? We will publish the final results in next week's Click & Conversion newsletter. 

QUICK TIP

Try this. Including high-contrasting call-to-action buttons on your website can lead to increased conversion rates and improved site usability. To make sure your CTAs are effective, think about button size, colors, and positioning.

FUN FACT

The two largest concerns people have with mobile shopping are small links and possible security threats.

LISTEN UP

On this 59th episode of The E-Comm Show, our host and BlueTuskr CEO Andrew Maff is with Yuki, the co-founder of Plufl, the world's first dog bed for humans. Tune in to this episode of The E-Comm Show as Yuki shares Plufl’s brand story from product ideation and conceptualization to manufacturing to successfully closing a deal with Mark and Lori on Shark Tank!