Wake up in the morning feeling like it's...FRIDAY! 🎵

The weekend is finally here, and you know what that means- it's time for some Friday catch-up with the latest retail news so sit back, relax, and enjoy your pre-weekend reading!

• Shopify just released Shopify Editions: Connect to Consumer which contains everything you need to know about what Shopify has been building in the world of e-commerce
• Despite the fact that there are many political and economic tensions between China and the West, many online Chinese consumers are still after Western products.
• An interactive live shopping platform is coming from eBay.
• With five new stores, Amazon Fresh is stepping up its expansion.

Top Retail and E-commerce Stories

The Big Shopify Update: Shopify Editions - Connect to Consumer

Shopify has been on a roll lately! (stock not included) They've been cranking out new features and updates left and right, and their latest update is no different. Shopify Editions: Connect to Consumer was released just this week and it contains everything you need to know about what Shopify has been building in the world of e-commerce.

• Shopify Audiences - Shopify Audiences is a brand-new app from Shopify that can be used to discover your next best customer. Shopify's unique viewpoint on purchase intent, as well as its large merchant network, helps identify buyers who are looking for your products. Create and send high-interest audiences to ad platforms like Facebook.
• Shop Cash rewards - Shopify will give purchasers millions of dollars in Shop Cash incentives for purchases made through the Shop Pay app. You may create offers to entice new consumers who are already using the Shop app with Shop Cash Boosts.
• Twitter Shopping - Sell your products directly on Twitter.
• Dovetale - Dovetale is Shopify's all-in-one creator management solution, which helps you discover new creators, establish real communities, manage relationships, and monitor affiliate sales.
• Linkpop - Create easily shoppable links in bio.
• Marketplace Kit - With Shopify's versatile APIs, you can connect any platform to your e-commerce sites.
• B2B on Shopify - Sell to both direct and wholesale customers through your one site—all in one platform.
• Shopify Point of Sale - Shopify Point of Sale is the most flexible and effective way to sell in person—on any device, in many more retail locations, and throughout the world. Accept payments directly from your iPhone. With the most recent Shopify POS hardware, you can sell everywhere.
• Shopify Markets - Shopify Markets allows you to sell in new countries and optimize your business for worldwide sales—all from the same location in your Shopify admin.
• Hydrogen + Oxygen - With a React-based framework built by Shopify, you can create fast, headless storefronts for Shopify. Hydrogen provides the tools you need to speed up development, including pre-built components and starter templates, as well as hooks and utilities that map directly to Shopify's APIs. Then Oxygen will take care of the rest.
• Tokengated Commerce - Your fans can link their crypto wallets to your store and access personalized goodies like exclusive products, early entry to drops, exciting collaborations with other companies, or even real-life events.
• ShopifyQL Notebooks - You may now use ShopifyQL Notebooks, a query language developed specifically for e-commerce. This allows you to create your own data narrative and chart your own course to discover insights and business opportunities.

News Flash! : Chinese Consumers Still Love Western Brands

The UNO reverse card seems to be working alright! Despite the fact that China's relationships with the United States and Europe may be tense, many Chinese consumers still want their Nike shoes and Burberry trench coats. According to a May 2022 poll of 1,000 Chinese online shoppers who have purchased cross-border in the previous year, 51% intend to increase their purchases from Western companies over the next year.

The top reason why Chinese consumers search for Western brands is that they believe that these companies provide a higher level of quality than their local competitors. Following that, 60% of online shoppers also cited that they want goods that are unique or that fit their style. And with Chinese consumers increasingly seeking quality and authenticity, vitamins and nutritional supplements come in as the most popular cross-border product category.

Shop from Home with a Click of a Button: eBay Launches Interactive Live Shopping Platform

Get a front-row seat to the best deals on eBay! eBay is getting into the live shopping game and is following in the footsteps of Amazon and Instagram with the launch of a new live shopping feature. The service is called eBay Live where users will be able to purchase goods in a live and interactive setting with the service. This month's new experience is being tested out in beta. Bleecker Trading, an eBay seller, will host the company's first live shopping event, which will provide a curated selection of unique trading cards.

eBay plans to use the Live Events platform to allow customers to interact with goods as if they were in a traditional store, according to the company. The events will be accessible through the eBay app and the internet. Shoppers will have the opportunity to communicate with sellers directly in the chat and by pressing reaction buttons during these events. Purchases may be made directly from the livestream.

The Amazon Corner

Expansion On the Way! : Amazon Fresh is Opening Five New Stores

Expansion ahead! Amazon is working at full speed with the expansion of its Amazon Fresh supermarket brand, which has nearly doubled in number each year. Last month, Amazon announced the opening of three new Amazon Fresh stores. Following that, Amazon announced five more new Amazon Fresh locations this month, three of which have already opened.

The company has also confirmed plans for three new Amazon Fresh locations in northern Virginia, the most recent of which was announced last week. On June 9, a 45,000-square-foot store opened in Manassas, and on June 23 a 38,000-square-foot shop will open in Lorton. A fourth Amazon Fresh is expected to open in Arlington "in the coming weeks," according to Amazon. The retailer did not provide a size for the Arlington store but said all three of the new northern Virginia shops would feature Just Walk Out cashier-less technology, which allows customers to pay for their goods without waiting at the checkout line.

A LITTLE MORE

• Lowes has released a limited-edition NFT collection and digital assets for builders.
• Customers that use AR less frequently are more likely to return items.
• eBay has acquired the NFT marketplace KnownOrigin.

FUN FACT

The most prevalent reason why customers put off making a purchase is because of the lack of free shipping.

QUICK TIP

Try this. Don't blow your marketing dollars on paid ads. Going all-in on social media advertising before assessing their organic growth potential is a common blunder for new e-commerce companies. Before spending your advertising budget, learn the ins and outs of Facebook advertising or design a funnel strategy.

TWEET TWEET

“The first one gets the oyster, the second gets the shell.” – Andrew Carnegie