Ecommerce News from the Last Week
Google introduces Shop with AI Mode with price tracking, agentic checkout, and virtual try-on | TechCrunch
It's impossible to understate how much Google AI could revolutionize search and online shopping, including where the majority of product research starts, which Amazon has dominated for more than 10 years. Shifting the point of purchase to AI results disintermediates the path to purchase and moves purchase intent up the funnel, faster. If Google is successful in making a superior shopping experience by offering competitive offers beyond Amazon alone, we will see the landscape shift very quickly.
Walmart Is Preparing to Welcome Its Next Customer: The AI Shopping Agent - WSJ
Pair this update from Walmart with Google AI shopping and you can already see disruption. Rather than resisting AI and Shopping Agents from the likes of Google AI (in competition with the other AI platforms), Walmart is rolling out the red carpet with its own agent, ready to "greet and assist" Shopping Agents to help them find results more easily according to shoppers' prompts. This has massive implications for how content and listings will need to be optimized going forward, not to mention setting a standard for how other retailers need to respond if they want their sites in the consideration sets of AI Shopping Agents. Mind. Blown.
Nike set to raise prices next week, plans to sell on Amazon again | Reuters
According to a message sent to 3P sellers selling Nike products, Nike will start banning those merchants from selling Nike products, indicating they will resume selling directly on Amazon after a six-year break. This news was paired with a price increase announcement as Nike looks to restore growth and win back market share. This move was widely expected, as it has become increasingly common to see premium brands (Saks, Estee Lauder, etc) taking the leap and launching on Amazon. Brands simply cannot afford to pass on Amazon's massive traffic advantage.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says tariffs haven't dented consumer spending
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has expressed concerns that the Trump administration's tariffs could lead to higher prices for everyday goods, as sellers may pass increased costs onto consumers. To mitigate price increases, Amazon is employing strategies like forward inventory buying and renegotiating supplier deals. That said, this feels like a dated analysis in an attempt at appeasement rather than reality, as every credible Amazon data source is starting to report rising prices.
Amazon (AMZN) Gives Refunds, Apologizes for Years-Old Returns Issues - Bloomberg
Amazon is issuing refunds to customers for returns dating back as far as 2018, following an internal review that identified cases where refunds were either not processed correctly or not issued at all. This move coincides with a potential class-action lawsuit filed in 2023, alleging Amazon failed to issue due refunds or reversed them after issuance.
Coincidentally, as I was curating this article, I received an email from Amazon with a sizable refund from 2021. Happy days.
OpenAI is buying iPhone designer Jony Ive's AI devices startup for $6.4 billion
"OpenAI said Wednesday that it's acquiring Jony Ive's artificial intelligence devices startup io for about $6.4 billion."
First AI is replacing search as we know it. Now it may be replacing smartphones as we know them today with screenless AI "companions." If you've seen "Why Him," the AI in the movie named Jessica (or any other movie with deeply personalized AI) suddenly isn't so far fetched.
Walmart’s global ad business soars 50% following Vizio integration | Marketing Dive
"Ensuring its ad segment remains a robust profit driver could be important for the big-box retailer as it contends with the impact of tariffs."
TikTok Shop US Employees Told to Work From Home as Layoffs Loom - Bloomberg
"TikTok told US e-commerce staff to work from home Wednesday while awaiting emails regarding “difficult decisions,” suggesting the social media company is preparing to cut jobs."
Walmart layoffs today: Memo blames technological changes - Fast Company
"Impacted employees include members of the global technology team, e-commerce fulfillment managers, and members of Walmart Connect."
I sense a theme. TikTok Shop and Walmart.com being hit by layoffs. Is this the impact of tariffs? Ongoing inflation? Or has the Amazon moat been too big to challenge?
Podcast Episodes from the Last Week
Unpacking the Digital Shelf: Using Unit Economics to Guide Decisions in Uncertain Times, with Colin Kaster, President of Strategy, Digital Advertising, and Operations at Equity Commerce
Mon, 26 May 2025 11:00:00 +0000 Times of chaos and uncertainty do have an uncomfortable but necessary side effect of focusing one’s mind both on what is important and what is within one’s control. This is certainly true in the zoom rooms and boardrooms of any company in commerce. For our guest Colin Kaster, President of Strategy, Digital Advertising, and Operations at Equity Commerce, an e-commerce agency optimizing Amazon and omnichannel sales, much of the answers lie in understanding the real unit economics of every SKU you sell and then optimizing your business around where the opportunities for maximum profitability lie.
CPG Guys: Customer Acquisition Through Closed-Loop Sampling with Recess CEO Jack Shannon & Advisor Mike Feldman
Sat, 24 May 2025 03:00:00 -0400 The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Jack Shannon, Co-Founder & CEO of Recess, which helps brands drive velocity at retail with turnkey sampling partnerships that reach shoppers who frequent Target, Walmart, Kroger, and 6,000+ top retailers, and Mike Feldman, strategic advisor & former SVP Head of retail Media at VaynerMedia.
EMARKETER Behind the Numbers: Amazon’s ‘Buy for Me’ and Smart CTV Ads Could Drive Growth — If Tariffs Don’t Get in the Way | Behind the Numbers
Fri, 23 May 2025 00:01:00 -0400 On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the potential of Amazon’s new Buy for Me feature, which of its new CTV ads will make the biggest impact, and how much tariffs might slow down the online shopping giant. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Senior Director of Briefings Jeremy Goldman, and Analyst Rachel Wolff. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
AM | PM Podcast: #448 - E-Commerce Will Never Be the Same: Andrew Bell Breaks Down Amazon AI
Thu, 22 May 2025 12:30:46 -0700 In this episode, our guest explores AI’s impact on e-commerce, from voice search to prompt engineering, revealing strategies to future-proof your Amazon and online retail success.
Retail Media Breakfast Club: Career Sliding Doors: The Pivotal Moments That Changed These 4 Ecomm Leaders' Careers
Thu, 22 May 2025 03:00:00 -0700 In today’s episode, I dive into one of my favorite topics—those unexpected career-defining moments that shape everything. I’m talking about the “sliding doors” decisions that, in hindsight, changed the trajectory of some of the most impressive retail media leaders I know. You’ll hear real, raw stories from brand-side professionals who took chances, followed curiosities, or simply annoyed the right person at the right time—and it paid off.
Better Advertising with BTR Media: Four Pillars of Amazon: Supply Chain Strategy (4 PART SERIES)
Wed, 21 May 2025 15:04:27 -0000 Destaney and Gabi welcome Rob Hahn, COO of Pattern, for the final episode of The Four Pillars of Amazon mini-series! They're covering the important yet challenging world of Amazon operations, supply chain difficulties, and the growing changes Amazon has experienced over the years. Rob shares his great background from early days at Amazon to pivotal roles at Whitebox and Pattern, highlighting critical strategies for brands to effectively navigate Amazon’s dynamic operational landscape.
Brave Commerce: Energizer’s Colleen Orani on Merging Retail and National Media to Drive Consumer-Centric Growth
Tue, 20 May 2025 07:00:00 GMT Description
In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstadter speak with Colleen Orani, Vice President of Global Marketing at Energizer Holdings. Colleen shares how Energizer moved from a fragmented media structure to one unified under a single leader, combining national media, shopper marketing, and content development.
Unpacking the Digital Shelf: Conquer Amazon Vendor Central and Win, with Justin Leigh, CEO at Workflow Labs
Mon, 19 May 2025 11:00:00 +0000 Winning search and driving conversion are the two ecommerce victories that get the attention of the Amazon algorithm and drive the flywheel. Turns out, when brands struggle with those metrics, the cause often lies way, way down in the detailed depths of Amazon Vendor Central. Justin Leigh, CEO at Workflow Labs, joins the podcast to talk about strategies to identify the root causes of friction in your Amazon funnel and how to fix them.