Wayfair store in Wilmette, Illinois. Courtesy: Wayfair What retail apocalypse? Online home goods retailer Wayfair is opening its first namesake store, near Chicago, following a string of other digitally native companies that have turned to brick-and-mortar for growth. In an ironic twist for a company that became a $12 billion powerhouse by persuading consumers to … Read more
Products are seen at an Amazon fulfillment center where they are being sorted and shipped out as same-day orders during Cyber Monday at the Same-Day Delivery Facility Fulfillment Center in Tampa, Florida, on Nov. 27, 2023. Octavio Jones | Getty Images News | Getty Images Amazon says it is getting even more packages to customers … Read more
Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, reappeared in the public view in China for the first time in months. Alibaba then announced a huge reorganization of its business. Experts see the move as a signal that the Chinese government is softening its stance toward tech giants after a crackdown that began in late 2020. Jean Chung … Read more
The days of buying ultracheap stuff on TikTok Shop may be winding down. Starting today, the fees TikTok charges sellers increase from 2 percent to 6 percent of the price of each order. They will creep up to 8 percent in July. The changes may mark a crucial moment for people who shop on TikTok … Read more
The direct-to-consumer boom is coming to an end. A once-bustling group of companies, backed by billions in venture capital funding, saw a record year for IPOs in 2021. Now, three years later, most of those direct-to-consumer, or DTC, companies still struggle with profitability. “It’s that profitability angle now that demarcates the winners in DTC from … Read more
Alibaba is operating in Suqian City, Jiangsu Province, China, on December 29, 2023. Costfoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images Alibaba missed market expectations for revenue in the December quarter, but announced it is increasing the size of its share buyback program by $25 billion, sending shares to whipsaw after earnings were released. U.S.-listed shares in … Read more
Customers shop at a supermarket in Qingzhou city, East China’s Shandong province on Jan 12, 2024. Future Publishing | Future Publishing | Getty Images The rise of online shopping, social media and easier access to factories are driving the growth of new consumer brands in parts of Asia — putting pressure on traditional industry giants. … Read more
Logos of online social media and social networking sites displayed on a smartphone screen on August 01, 2023 in Bath, England. Matt Cardy | Getty Images News | Getty Images SINGAPORE — As more businesses turn to social media to sell their merchandise, online shoppers in Singapore are exploring new buying experiences — and Gen … Read more
