Happy Nine-Nine! 😎

Cool cool cool cool morning to y'all! (Yes, that was a Brooklyn Nine-Nine reference!) Anyway, like we said, it's a cool morning, but we're bringing you the hottest news in retail and e-commerce!

So, let's dive in!

• Maybelline collaborated with video game developer Zynga to create an in-game playable advertisement.
• ZineOne uses cash infusion to improve predicting customer behavior for e-commerce companies.
• One couple hosts an Amazon-themed wedding to spotlight how e-commerce brought them together.
• A new Amazon service will allow third-party sellers to store long-term inventory in its distribution centers.

Top Retail and E-commerce Stories

Play with Maybelline: Maybelline and Zynga Create an In-Game Playable Ad

Literally get your makeup game on! The first across Zynga's hyper-casual games, Maybelline's playable advertising activation, explores mobile gaming as a marketing tool. The strategy may pay off as many are now betting on social gaming platforms like TikTok, which is also a partner of Zynga, for short video game prototypes.

Maybelline Mascara Merge is a combination of shoppable ads and mobile gaming that allows players to put together like-icons to reveal different types of Maybelline mascaras. For every mascara revealed, there will be a product review available as well. If all icons are matched up or time runs out before that happens, players will see some branded video content along with a link to an Ulta Beauty landing page where they can make their purchase.

Customers will be able to play the ad game on Zyga's hyper-casual games, allowing Maybelline to reach out to players around the world who have already downloaded its games.

Skip the Guesswork: Predict Customer Behavior with ZineOne

No more guessing! ZineOne, a San Francisco-based startup that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help e-commerce companies better predict and engage customers in real-time, announced that it has raised $12 million in Series A funding.

ZineOne has announced that they have attracted customers such as Men’s Wearhouse, Wynn Resorts, Advance Auto Parts and Kohl’s. SignalFire led the round of Series C funding which amounted to $28 million, with participation from Norwest Venture Partners and others. This brings ZineOne's total amount raised up to $42 million.

ZineOne, which is designed specifically for e-commerce enterprises, utilizes artificial intelligence to evaluate behavior and customize the online and app experiences of each user. The technology may purportedly adapt messaging, discount deals, and product suggestions in real time based on a person's initial few clicks or taps.

Amazon Wedding: Couple Celebrates How E-Commerce Brought Them Together

Amazon delivering the romance. From Amazon-inspired wedding favors to Prime Day photo backdrops,  Eddie Levine and Jing Gao went all-in on an Amazon-themed wedding to showcase how a kiss outside an Amazon seller summit turned into I Do. 

However, their story wasn't love at first sight. After an initial introduction through a consultant, who also happened to be a friend of Levine's, the couple first started off as friends who continued to run into each other at various e-commerce conferences. 

Over time, friendship turned into love, and the couple dated long-distance until June 2020. But when Covid no longer allowed for bi-weekly visits, that's when the couple decided to move in together. And in September, Levine popped the question. 

Struggling to decide what type of wedding they wanted, Levine jokingly came up with the Amazon idea. However, the couple decided that the best way to celebrate their special day was to celebrate what brought them together in the first place. 

The Amazon Corner

Thanks, Amazon!: Amazon Opens Up Storage to Third-Party Sellers

Amazon is launching a new service to keep your products in stock.In good news for small and medium-sized businesses, Amazon has announced that it will now allow third-party sellers to store inventory in its distribution centers on a long-term basis.

This is a significant move because it gives these businesses access to Amazon's world-class logistics network without having to worry about the cost and hassle of maintaining their own storage facilities. Storing inventory at distribution center will allow sellers to effortlessly keep their inventory levels up in Amazon’s fulfillment network. Additionally, they'll be able manage all of their global inventory from one place on the Amazon Seller Central platform.

A LITTLE MORE

• The growth in demand for more inclusive shopping experiences has prompted brands to enter a gender-neutral category that redefines how labels and measurements work.
• American Express has introduced American Express Global Pay, a cross-border payment solution for small businesses in the United States.
• New survey shows that most people believe influencers don't actually use the products they promote.

FUN FACT

The most common reason people buy online is because they can do it at any time of day or night.

QUICK TIP

Try this. Create a video marketing campaign. If you’re not using video as part of your e-commerce marketing strategy, you’re missing out. Video is one of the most versatile and effective tools in your arsenal, capable of boosting everything from product discovery to brand loyalty.