It's that time of the week again! ✨

And for this week's edition of the C&C Newsletter, we've got some *juicy* news for you. From Amazon's new product launch to Shopify's partnership with a major fashion retailer, there's plenty to keep you informed (and a bit entertained 😉).

So without further ado, let's get into it!

• YouTube collaborates with Shopify to provide live shopping capabilities.
• Businesses on Instagram can now accept payments via chat.
• Shein beats Amazon as the most downloaded US shopping app.
• Amazon sues over 10,000 Facebook Group administrators for failing to stop the spread of bogus reviews.

Top Retail and E-commerce Stories

Collaboration of the Year: Shopify and YouTube Team Up for Live Shopping

Together at last! YouTube integrates with Shopify to provide live shopping capabilities that allow people to buy items from the website without leaving it. It implies, for example, that if you're viewing a YouTube video, you may see a list of products on the page that the creator thinks the viewers will like.

Using YouTube Studio's "Shopping" tab, creators may choose which items they would want to be included. Youtube also intends to add shopping capabilities to Live, Shorts, and long-form videos in the future.

#Insta...Pay?: Instagram Now Accepting Payments via Chat

Chat payments: easy as 1,2,3... On Monday, Meta launched the ability for users to pay for items inside Instagram chat, according to a press release.

Qualified businesses on Instagram may now use Meta Pay to convert consumer inquiries and interests into purchases without requiring consumers to leave the chat. Completed orders can also be tracked in the same chat, creating a dedicated space for follow-up queries separate from other conversations.

Small and medium-sized businesses that don't have a digital storefront on Instagram can now do business with customers in the app using this feature.

Amazon Who?: Shein is Beating Amazon at Their Own Game

Shein dominates the downloads. It's hard to believe that a single clothing company would be able to compete with Amazon, but Shein ( pronounced "shee-in") has done it at least in terms of app downloads.

According to a new report from Apptopia, Shein surpassed Amazon in terms of global app downloads in 2021 and became the world's most downloaded Chinese language app by the end of 2021. However, for the first six months of 2022, it has narrowly beaten Amazon in the United States—with 22.4 million Shein downloads versus 22 million for Amazon.

The Amazon Corner

Got Served: Amazon Sues Facebook Group Admins For Not Stopping Fake Reviews

Phony reviews abound on Amazon, but the company is taking a stand. On Tuesday, Amazon filed a lawsuit against the administrators of more than 10,000 Facebook groups who were allegedly operating as phony review brokers. The accusation is that the group admins solicited reviews for items in exchange for money or free stuff. One group called, "Amazon Product Review," had more than 43,000 members and allegedly paid customers to post fraudulent reviews on cameras and car stereos.

Another group, dubbed "Amazon Verified Buyer & Seller," had more than 2,500 members, the complaint said. According to screenshots of Facebook messages included in the complaint, administrators sought out phony reviews and offered them to Amazon vendors for $10 each review.

Amazon said that Facebook subsidiary Meta has removed approximately half of the more than 10,000 groups reported by Amazon, and is continuing to investigate others.

A LITTLE MORE

• The only top e-commerce company to see a revenue decrease is Wayfair.
• The plateau has arrived for online grocery, and it's now a convenience-focused section of the shopper's overall repertoire.
• Amazon Prime Day 2022 disappoints online customers.

FUN FACT

40% of customers are indifferent whether they're talking with a human or a bot as long as someone responds to their inquiry about a product or service.

QUICK TIP

Try this. Invest in Q-commerce (quick commerce). Shoppers demand more efficient and adaptable home deliveries as a result of increased consumption. A 2021 poll revealed that 68% of customers would place an order if their goods arrived quickly.

TWEET TWEET

“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” – Albert Einstein