WatchPro: Jaeger-LeCoultre returns 360 degree 3D images in Google search results. “In November, Richemont, Kering, Farfetch and Alibaba Group announced the creation of a steering group with the lofty ambition to redefine luxury retail for this century. The latest initiative sees Richemont and Google working together to offer augmented reality presentation of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Master Control […]
Mashable: How to get in-stock alerts for everything from toilet paper to a PS5 . “As coronavirus cases crippled the U.S. in the spring, cleaning wipes and soap were also hard to get online and in store. With store shelves left bare, Amazon prices surged. Then I was introduced to the stripped-down website that sends […]
Washington Post: What negative candle reviews might say about the coronavirus . “Terri Nelson had an unusual question about covid-19: If the virus robs people of their sense of smell, would that be reflected in online reviews of fragrant products? To find out, the Portland, Ore., science illustrator and cartoonist said she looked up reviews […]
KnowTechie: China is introducing tighter regulations for livestreaming. “The National Radio and Television Administration in China has introduced new regulations for the livestreaming industry. Now, gift-givers and hosts will need to provide their real names. Furthermore, new regulations ban teenagers from making purchases. So the users will buy virtual goods only using their real names, […]
New York Times: ‘Bleak Friday’ for Stores as Pandemic Pushes Holiday Shopping Online. “Analysts at Morgan Stanley estimated that retailers’ overall Black Friday sales fell 20 percent from last year, based on early reports of drops in store foot traffic and increases in online sales. Consumers spent $9 billion online on Friday, a 21.6 increase […]
BetaNews: More than 5,000 Black Friday-related scam sites registered in November. “While the holiday season is a peak time for retailers, it also represents an opportunity for cybercriminals. This is particularly true of 2020 when more people than ever are likely to be shopping online. Research from Comparitech analyzed around 30 million websites registered this […]
EurekAlert: When consumers trust AI recommendations–or resist them. “Researchers from Boston University and University of Virginia published a new paper in the Journal of Marketing that examines how consumers respond to AI recommenders when focused on the functional and practical aspects of a product (its utilitarian value) versus the experiential and sensory aspects of a […]
MakeUseOf: How to Spot Mail Fraud and Online Scams This Holiday Season. “Studies suggest Americans will spend over $400 billion in total on holiday gifts, goodies, and travel, making it a big target for scammers. So, here’s how to spot mailing scams during the holidays and keep yourself safe.”
KnowTechie: Amazon now has more than one million employees as demand for online shopping ramps up. “According to The Washington Post, Amazon has invested more than $30 billion this year in equipment, property, and other assets. At the same time, Amazon is apparently finding it challenging to deliver packages even after directing those massive investments […]
BNN: Google tries to turn YouTube into a major shopping destination. “The world’s largest video site recently started asking creators to use YouTube software to tag and track products featured in their clips. The data will then be linked to analytics and shopping tools from parent Google. The goal is to convert YouTube’s bounty of […]
Washington Post: A pandemic-era ode to every tourist’s guilty pleasure: The gift shop. “Gift shops are the dessert at the end of any tour, gallery or attraction, sometimes better than the exhibits themselves. Do I want to visit Baltimore’s Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum? Of course. But do I want a ‘Masque of the […]
Futurity: How will COVID-19 change holiday shopping?. “The upcoming holiday season could really be another make or break point for a lot of retailers. As the pandemic has evolved, we’ve seen retailers that already had invested in omni-channel capabilities were better equipped to adopt their operations to the change in customer shopping habits from in-store […]
BBC: Nike expects permanent shift to online sales. “Sportswear firm Nike has seen a huge rise in online sales as it bounces back from a coronavirus slump. The US company saw digital sales rocket 82% during the June to August quarter, offsetting falling revenue in its stores.”
Retail Dive: Google’s new search features let shoppers see curbside, in-store pickup offerings. “Google’s decision to modify its shopping tools stems in part from search patterns the platform witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The tech giant saw Google searches for terms like ‘curbside pickup’ and ‘safe shopping’ spike ‘tenfold’ over the past few months, Swati […]
CNN: Senators demand recalls after CNN report finds Amazon’s own products are being flagged as fire hazards. “Three senators are demanding the recall of any hazardous products branded with Amazon’s name after a CNN investigation found that dozens of AmazonBasics electronics remained for sale despite customers reporting the products had melted, exploded or burst into […]