Blog and Research Digest — Week 13, 2020
Every week, the Digishare team prepare a digest of the previous 7 days of online retail news. Along the way, we’ll pick the most interesting stories from the worlds of technology, social media, marketing and more, allowing you to see everything at a glance.
Retail News and Trends
Amazon stops taking orders for some non-essentials in France and Italy
https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/22/amazon-stops-taking-orders-for-some-non-essentials-in-france-and/
“The online retailer told Reuters in a statement that it would temporarily stop taking orders for “some non-essential products” in France and Italy to help Amazon warehouses focus on more vital deliveries. The company didn’t say just what it was stopping, but it believes essentials include groceries, health products, household items, personal care, industrial goods, scientific products and pet supplies.”
Amazon Focus on Essentials Sows Panic, Confusion Among Merchants
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-23/amazon-delivery-delays-on-many-products-extend-another-month?srnd=premium-europe
“Amazon.com Inc.’s delivery delays of non-essential goods will extend for at least another month for many customers in the U.S. and Europe, stirring panic among online merchants who rely on the web retailer for business.”
Learn from Italy and prepare for online sales to grow further (halfway down the page)
https://internetretailing.net/themes/updated-coronavirus-round-up-marks–spencer-scs-hotel-chocolat-travis-perkins-frasers-group-ikea-joules-imrg-fta-and-more-as-the-way-we-shop-changes-21133
“It says that in Italy, online sales of consumer products increased by 81%, compared to the previous week between February 24 and March 1.”
E-commerce also pulls back amid pandemic precautions
https://www.retaildive.com/news/e-commerce-also-pulls-back-amid-pandemic-precautions/574554/
It seems like digital sales should benefit retailers during a global disease outbreak. For many, health and safety concerns extend to those operations too.
Amazon could win big in the post-coronavirus retail economy
https://marketingland.com/amazon-could-win-big-in-the-post-coronavirus-retail-economy-277897
“The company said it was hiring 100,000 new employees to meet increased demand.”
Symptoms of coronavirus in e-commerce
https://www.retailcustomerexperience.com/blogs/symptoms-of-coronavirus-in-e-commerce/
“Online businesses will also be greatly impacted as both rational and irrational fears take hold.”
Online sales flat in February – until coronavirus: IMRG
https://internetretailing.net/industry/online-sales-flat-in-february–until-coronavirus-imrg-21134
“The latest IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Index for February shows year-on-year online retail sales down by 0.4% during the month, which was mostly marked by heavy rain and, in some areas, flooding.”
It’s Amazon vs Bol.com as ecommerce giant debuts in Netherlands
https://internetretailing.net/marketplaces/its-amazon-vs-bolcom-as-ecommerce-giant-debuts-in-netherlands-21122
“Amazon has launched a local language site in the Netherlands, offering a new challenge to the country’s largest online retailer and marketplace, bol.com.”
Lots of web content not catching consumer attention
https://www.retailcustomerexperience.com/news/lots-of-web-content-not-catching-consumer-attention/
“A Contentsquare study reveals over two thirds, 69%, of all web content published by brands, is “unseen” by consumers, with the banking sector leading the list at 75% of content not being viewed.”
Marketing
How Does Coronavirus Change the Way We Do Our Job as Marketers?
https://contently.com/2020/03/13/coronavirus-change-job-marketers/
“However, it’s a necessary question to ask. Because even though many of us are working from home, we’re still working. And a pandemic changes how we do that.”