And....we're back at it again this Friyay! 🙌

And we have some interesting stories to share with you all.

So, let's get into it! 💪

• BigCommerce is attempting to take a bigger bite of the pie by persuading Shopify merchants to switch.
• Salsify, the Commerce Experience Management (CommerceXM) platform, has just released a new report on how to tailor successful omnichannel shopping experiences that customers expect.
• Swiftly, a startup based in Seattle has secured $100 million to provide software to small retail grocers.
• Amazon buys Veeqo, a start-up that assists merchants in managing their online operations.

Top Retail and E-commerce Stories

BigCommerce is Coming for Shopify: BigCommerce Partners with Bolt to Take On Shopify

Will you be jumping ship? BigCommerce and fintech company, Bolt, are attempting to push ahead with their partnership aimed at reducing the checkout time for BigCommerce's tens of thousands of merchants. Bolt's checkout software safely stores customers' payment information for one-click payments. BigCommerce's commerce-size merchants can now use the software, but the expanded cooperation will allow all BigCommerce retailers to use it. According to BigCommerce, vendors utilizing Bolt's one-click checkout have a conversion rate that is up to 53% higher than those who do not.

PayPal, Amazon, and Shopify currently dominate the checkout stage, which is becoming an increasingly competitive space as more players enter the market. 

The Omnichannel Revolution: Salsify Reveals the Secrets of Successful Omnichannel Shopping Experiences

Decoding the #Omnichannel experience. We've all heard the term, but what does it really mean? In short, it's providing customers with a consistent shopping experience whether they're in-store, online, or using a mobile app.

Salsify's new report entitled "Breaking Down Barriers to Winning Commerce" helps companies and stores navigate this profound shift in which customers determine how, when, and where they buy things. According to the report, if consumers don't find the needed product information online or in-store, 46% of retail shoppers in the US would abandon their online and in-store purchases.

Salsify's report further discusses the new set of challenges merchants and brands face, including:

• Increased complexity in the consumer journey
• Siloed POS channels
• IT and data challenges and more

Startups and Grocers Team Up Against Amazon: Scan, Shop and Save with Swiftly’s Grocery App

Grocers, take note! Swiftly, a Seattle-based startup that provides software to brick-and-mortar grocery stores like Family Dollar and The Save Mart Companies, has raised $100 million in a Series B funding round.

Blending the in-store and e-commerce experience, Swiflty's solution powers grocery-branded apps that allow customers to locate things faster, recall prior purchases quickly, scan goods for checkout with their phones, and avoid long queues at the cash register. Customers may also schedule home deliveries for items that they can't locate on the store shelves or they can also arrange curb pickups. 

The Amazon Corner

You Have a Deal: Amazon Buys Veeqo, a Start-Up that Assists Merchants in Managing their Online Operations

The e-commerce world is changing...again! Amazon has bought Veeqo, a firm that develops tools for online retailers to sell items on and off Amazon.

Amazon is expected to take around 40% of the nation's e-commerce sales, but it has long been interested in getting a cut of online transactions on other platforms like eBay, Etsy, Shopify, and Walmart. In this case, Amazon would receive a portion of sales from other sales platforms by charging sellers for services that help them fulfill orders on Walmart's site.

By purchasing Veeqo, Amazon may integrate more sophisticated tools for merchants into its Multi-Channel Fulfillment solution, which could make it a more attractive tool for online retailers.

A LITTLE MORE

• These are the top online purchases in 2021
• Here's how Immersive Advertising will dominate 2022
• SpaceNK and Walmart join forces to create a premier beauty retail business.

FUN FACT

Over 61% of consumers want to be contacted by businesses through email.

QUICK TIP

Try this. Choose which marketing channels you want to focus on and determine you can use these channels both individually and as a group to effectively reach your customers.

TWEET TWEET

“An entrepreneur tends to bite off a little more than he can chew hoping he’ll quickly learn how to chew it.” — Roy Ash

OLDIE BUT A GOODIE

Did you know that Spotify was already around in 2007? Yes, in fact, it was actually launched in 2006! And yes, that's Spotify circa 2007.