Ecommerce
Coverage from the Ecommerce desk.
Vrbo Rolls Out Reserve Now, Pay Later With Stricter Cancellation Terms Than Airbnb
Vrbo now lets travelers book eligible vacation rentals with nothing due at checkout, mirroring a payment option Airbnb credits with driving growth. The twist: Vrbo's version leans more toward hosts and narrows the window in which guests can cancel without a penalty.
Intake Breathing secures $62M from Camino Partners to push nasal strips into retail
Direct-to-consumer nasal strip brand Intake Breathing has raised $62 million from Camino Partners, the investment firm founded by Kind Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky, to fund a move into physical retail and expand its internal operations.
QVC lines up TikTok livestreams, celebrity guests and exclusive launches for 40th holiday season
QVC is marking its 40th holiday season with a push spanning television, TikTok and creator partnerships, backed by exclusive product launches and a three-day November sales event.
Retailers Rework Holiday Hiring as Sales Forecast Tops $1 Trillion
U.S. retailers and logistics operators are adding seasonal staff with more targeted, flexible plans as holiday sales are projected to exceed $1 trillion for the first time. Companies are balancing store roles with fulfillment and cross-training needs.
Instagram Tests 90-Minute 'Features' Videos in Shift Away From Short-Form
Instagram is testing a long-form video format called Features that lets creators upload clips of up to 90 minutes, a break from the short vertical video that has defined the platform. The move puts the Meta-owned app in more direct competition with YouTube over creator payouts.
DoorDash and TikTok Shop expand easier returns options
DoorDash has added retail returns with a $7.99 pickup fee, while TikTok Shop now lets shoppers return items through Happy Returns drop-off locations. Both moves reflect a push to make returns more convenient as marketplaces compete for sales.
Walmart Connect goes direct to brands with on-site brand lift studies ahead of holiday ad deals
Walmart's retail media arm is approaching brand clients directly, rather than through their agencies, to offer on-site brand lift studies before the holiday shopping season. The pitch lands as marketers press for harder proof that retail media spending drives incremental sales.
Holiday Returns Need a Fresh Retail Approach, Sensormatic President Says
Retailers should rethink how they manage holiday returns, balancing shopper-friendly policies with return fraud and inventory-accuracy risks, says Tony D’Onofrio, president of Sensormatic Solutions.
Two dormant PHP flaws, dubbed PHP2Shell, trigger global scramble to patch
Two critical vulnerabilities in PHP, the open-source web language underpinning most of the internet, briefly threatened mass exploitation before patches landed on Wednesday. The flaws, tracked as CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619, allow password-free access to websites and internet-facing servers.
Jana Craig of 'Love Island USA' Enters Beauty With Aura by Jana Lash Line
The reality star and influencer is launching her own beauty brand, Aura by Jana, starting with a lash collection that goes direct-to-consumer on Nov. 6. The debut range comprises six glue-on lash packs and one self-adhesive cluster set.
NikeSkims debuts first outerwear collection in University Red
NikeSkims, the joint venture between Nike and Kim Kardashian’s Skims, is releasing its first outerwear collection worldwide on Thursday, led by a new University Red colourway and two new fabric lines.
Beijing's Post-00s Rethink Rubbish as Neighbors Scavenge Recycling
Young adults in Beijing are waiting until late at night to throw out waste and destroying packaging first, as older neighbors comb communal bins for cardboard and other recyclables.
NBCUniversal shoppable TV expands to about 12 shows, led by Traitors and Love Island USA
Source signal: NBCUniversal’s shoppable TV business is seeing a boost from shows like ‘Traitors’ and ‘Love Island USA’
Target leans on daily deals, exclusives and AI assistant for holiday season
Target is rolling out more than 8,000 new gifts, most priced at $20 or under, alongside an AI-powered shopping assistant and a daily deal cadence running from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24.
Kohl's Pushes Clearer Discount Labels, Gift Bundles and Delivery Apps for Holiday Shoppers
Kohl's is sharpening its value message for the holidays with plainly marked percentage-off pricing, fixed $5 to $20 price tiers and buy-now, pay-later through Klarna. The retailer is also adding bundled gift sets and delivery through DoorDash, Instacart and Uber Eats.
AI narrows the gift hunt, but shoppers still lean on reviews to close the sale
New survey data shows AI assistants are increasingly where holiday shoppers begin product searches, yet only a small fraction complete a purchase on the spot. Most still cross-check reviews, prices and retailer policies before committing.
Anthropologie Opens Holiday Push With 'Love Actually'-Style Film and DoorDash Tie-In
Anthropologie's holiday campaign, launching October 19, leans on airport-reunion romance and a product mix spanning travel outfits, partywear and pajamas, backed by an expanded food range, new home collaborations and a DoorDash partnership.
Deloitte survey: 28% of holiday budgets to be spent by end of October
A Deloitte holiday shopping survey of 4,000 U.S. consumers finds 22% plan to start buying earlier than last year, with 28% of budgets expected to be used up by the end of October — the highest share in six years.
Barefaced Launches Rx Platform for Clinician-Guided Prescription Skin Care
Skin care brand Barefaced, founded by nurse practitioner Jordan Harper, is moving into personalized medical skin care with Barefaced Rx, a platform pairing online intake with state-licensed clinician review.
Glow Recipe Turns to Buldak's Spicy-Noodle Fame for $38 Lip Balm Duo
Glow Recipe has partnered with Buldak, the viral Korean spicy noodle brand owned by Samyang Foods, on a limited-edition two-piece Glass Balm set tinted after the company's Original and Carbonara flavors.
Walmart's Shenzhen mooncake pop-up turns a herbalist's cabinet into a Woji Fresh showcase
Walmart staged an eight-day Mid-Autumn Festival pop-up in Shenzhen built around its Woji Fresh private label, using a traditional Chinese medicine cabinet as the centrepiece. The activation reached No. 2 on Douyin's trending list.
Depop Builds Its Marketing Around Music, Tapping Zara Larsson and Olivia Rodrigo
Peer-to-peer resale platform Depop is using music to set itself apart from rival marketplaces, citing data that 56% of its community attends live music events. The London-based company has rolled out wardrobe drops with artists including Kacey Musgraves, Zara Larsson and Olivia Rodrigo.
China’s Gen Z Gets a Pocket-Sized ‘Cyber Book of Answers’ for Everyday Dilemmas
A pocket-sized electronic device called the Halotomo Cyber Book of Answers is offering China’s youth randomized answers to everyday decisions, from lunch to texting an ex. The gadget pairs a digital screen and chunky buttons with blind-box culture and retro Y2K styling.
Stylist Alex Brown Launches Ruti Ruti, a Clip-In Extension Brand Built for Fine Hair
Celebrity hairstylist and salon owner Alex Brown has launched Ruti Ruti, a self-funded direct-to-consumer clip-in hair extension brand aimed at women with fine-to-medium-density hair who want fullness without bulk.
Ruggable shifts 10% of ad spend from Meta to creators and connected TV
Ruggable has moved roughly a tenth of its overall advertising budget out of performance channels such as Meta and into brand channels including influencers and connected television since last August, with plans to add another 15% to 20% next year.
TikTok Shop U.S. Beauty Sales Hit $992.9M in Q3 as Growth and Video Productivity Cool
Source signal: TikTok Shop Quarterly Beauty Sales Near $1B Again As Growth And Video Productivity Slow
Ipsy Moves Into Supplements With Quarterly Wellness Boxes Priced at $65
Ipsy is entering the wellness category for the first time with Ipsy Wellness, a trio of curated supplement boxes covering skin, hair and overall well-being, each priced at $65 and released quarterly.
Brands Rush Into ACOTAR Licensing as Sixth Book Hits Shelves Oct. 27
Retailers and consumer brands are rolling out merchandise tied to Sarah J. Maas's "A Court of Thorns and Roses" franchise ahead of the series' sixth installment, "A Court of Splintered Harmony," which arrives Oct. 27.
TikTok Shop Beauty Chief Expects Holiday Sales Jump as Brands Go Live
TikTok Shop expects beauty sales to significantly surpass last year's holiday season, with brand-run livestreams set to take a much larger share of the platform's business, according to its beauty general manager Ajay Salpekar.
Hint Rolls Out Dessert-Inspired 'Treat Yourself' Water Pack
Hint is launching a limited-edition Treat Yourself variety pack of zero-calorie waters flavored after desserts, betting that sweeter, indulgent profiles will draw younger and first-time buyers. The pack follows a successful summer release and has already drawn a waitlist of more than 8,000 customers.
Monica + Andy Expands Into Baby Care With Walmart Distribution
Monica + Andy, a kids’ clothing brand, has launched its first baby-care line, with products available at Walmart.com, more than 1,400 Walmart stores and its own direct-to-consumer site.
Chanel bags command above-retail prices on the resale market, Fashionphile report finds
Pre-owned buyers are paying premiums of 13% to 15% above retail for several Chanel bag lines, according to luxury re-commerce platform Fashionphile, which also ranked the year's top-selling bags, shoes, watches and jewelry.
ChatGPT ads won't rescue holiday sales, brands warn as budgets stay with Google and Meta
Brands testing OpenAI's ChatGPT advertising are heading into the holiday quarter with modest expectations, citing steep costs and unproven conversion and keeping the bulk of their budgets with Google and Meta.
Amazon's Fall Prime Day Pushes Holiday Shopping Into October
Amazon's Prime Big Deals Days has shifted the start of holiday shopping into October, with consumers researching and comparing prices earlier and sellers treating the event as a testing ground before Black Friday.
Beauty Brands Are Getting Lost in AI Answers, Visibility Study Finds
Beauty brands angling for mentions in ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude results may do better by owning one narrow consumer problem than by chasing an entire category, according to an agency analysis of generative AI output.
Gen Alpha Tells Shoptalk Panel: Skip the AI Ads, Show Real People
Five Gen Alpha shoppers took the stage at Shoptalk Fall in Nashville to say what they want from brands — and what they don't. AI-generated advertising drew a blunt rejection, while analog media and proof of authenticity won praise.
Retailers Told to Look Past Technology as Digital Edge Becomes Easy to Copy
Retailers are being urged to compete on strategy, customer experience and execution as digital tools become cheaper to adopt and harder to use as a differentiator.
Agentic Commerce Moves to the Center of Black Friday Cyber Monday Prep
E-commerce brands are being urged to treat Black Friday and Cyber Monday readiness as a year-round infrastructure project, pairing AI-powered storefronts with backend systems that can carry an order through delivery and returns.
Retailers Push Into Retail Media, Fintech and Data to Widen Margins Beyond Product Sales
Retailers facing intensifying competition are building new revenue pools in advertising, fintech services, data monetisation and commissions, with retail media pitched as a profit engine for physical stores.
Brian Monahan Exits Albertsons Media Collective as Retail Media Unit Moves Under CMO
Brian Monahan, hired in late July to lead Albertsons Media Collective, has left the grocery chain's retail media business. The unit now reports to Albertsons chief marketing officer Emily Turner, effective immediately.
Shapermint Tracks Toward $10M in TikTok Shop Sales as Its Creator Roster Skews Older
Shapermint is on pace to reach roughly $10 million in TikTok Shop sales this year, powered by an affiliate network in which 60% of top-performing creators are over the age of 35.
Melius Raises $25M for AI Ad-Creative Platform After Scrapping Its First Product
The New York startup has pulled in $25 million across a Series A and seed round for an AI platform that generates ad campaigns, images and videos, after abandoning its original performance-marketing tool.
Hong Kong visitor arrivals forecast to hit 59 million in 2026 as retail sales rise 9.7%
Hong Kong retail sales climbed 9.7% year-on-year to about $25.9b (HK$203b) in the first half of 2026, with visitor arrivals projected to grow 18% to 59 million for the full year.
Cakes Body Brings Virality In-House With Launch of Cakes Media
The TikTok-native beauty brand has formed its own entertainment arm, Cakes Media, to convert paid social reach into a permanent, brand-owned audience. Its first release, a 57-minute YouTube documentary, has drawn more than 371,600 views.
India Unveils National Digital Tourism Stack, With Pilot Slated for January 2027
India's Ministry of Tourism and the Open Network for Digital Commerce have launched a National Digital Tourism Stack aimed at pulling homestays, guides and small operators onto shared digital rails. A pilot is planned for January 2027, followed by a broader rollout from July 2027.
Dr.G Lands on TikTok Shop as L'Oréal Accelerates U.S. Push
Dr.G, Korea's best-selling skin care line, is launching on TikTok Shop in the U.S., marking the first time L'Oréal has debuted a brand on the platform. The move follows the brand's earlier U.S. entry through Amazon and comes a little over a year after L'Oréal acquired it.
Tate McRae Debuts First Fragrance, Tate 01, With Scent Beauty
The pop star's debut eau de parfum, Tate 01, launches direct-to-consumer before arriving at Ulta Beauty online on Oct. 16 and in stores on Oct. 25, priced from $30 to $82.
Mondelēz turns to everyday micro-occasions to lift digital commerce
Mondelēz International is looking past major calendar events and building products around smaller, everyday shopping occasions as it pursues digital commerce growth, a senior executive said at the Retail Asia Summit 2026 in Singapore.
Whisker Takes Litter Robot to TikTok Shop Without Cutting the $699 Price
Whisker spent the past year joining TikTok Shop to reach Gen Z and Gen Alpha buyers with demo-driven content for its Litter Robot, holding firm on pricing instead of running deep discounts.
UK Fashion Sales Slip in Weakest September in Seven Years
UK retail sales in September recorded their weakest reading in seven years outside the pandemic period, with fashion like-for-like sales falling 0.7% as trading deteriorated week by week.
Favorite Daughter, SharkNinja and Bob's Discount Furniture Share Creator Partnership Lessons at Shoptalk Fall
Marketing leaders from three retailers compared notes on creator-led campaigns at Shoptalk Fall in Nashville, as new industry data shows creator budgets rising and influencer spending projected to keep climbing.
DoorDash Adds Macy's, Anthropologie, Vans and Other Retailers, Plus Returns Pickup and Text Assistant
DoorDash has widened its retail marketplace with five apparel and footwear brands and rolled out new shopping tools, including a returns pickup service and an AI-powered texting assistant, as it pushes to become a one-stop marketplace.
Savvy shoppers account for $11.5b in Southeast Asian e-commerce spending, study finds
About one in four online shoppers in Southeast Asia spends 31% more each month than the typical buyer, a gap valued at $11.5b in annual marketplace spending, according to a Lazada-commissioned study.
Retail Tech Speeds Delivery but Rivals Catch Up Fast, Squeezing Margins
Retail technology can drive rapid growth while simultaneously eroding margins once competitors copy the same capabilities, Flying Fish Lab founder Mário Braz de Matos told the Retail Asia Summit 2026 in Singapore.
Caraway turns big cookware lawsuit over PFAS claims into a marketing message
Groupe SEB and Meyer sued cookware startup Caraway in February, accusing it of false and misleading advertising. Caraway has since leaned into the litigation, telling shoppers it was "sued by big cookware."
Amazon Ads Renames Unified Platform to Amazon Ads Agent, Unveils Full-Funnel and DVA+ Tools
At its Unboxed conference in San Francisco, Amazon Ads rebranded its unified buying platform as Amazon Ads Agent and launched Full-Funnel Campaigns and DVA+, products that merge previously separate ad buying channels under AI-driven execution.
Beauty Shoppers Want In-Store Trial and Brief Guidance, Adviser Survey Finds
A Beauty Barrage survey of 400 field advisers shows that the inability to try products in-store is the top frustration for beauty shoppers, while TikTok dominates brand discovery. Most shoppers prefer short, helpful guidance over high-touch consultations.
Singapore Shoppers Lean on AI Assistants, but 58% Balk at Letting Them Pay
Almost three-quarters of Singapore consumers now shop with AI assistants, yet fewer than a third are comfortable letting those assistants complete a purchase, according to Adyen's 2026 Singapore Retail Report.
Shilla Duty Free Singapore Marks 12 Years at Changi Airport With Beauty Push and BABYMONSTER Ticket Draw
The Shilla Duty Free Singapore is marking 12 years as master tenant of Changi Airport's beauty concession with a month-long October campaign that adds four new brands and offers shoppers a shot at concert tickets.
Retailers Chase 'Phantom Inventory' Losses With AI Stock Rebalancing
Stock that exists in a retailer's system but cannot be bought is quietly costing sales, and Kearney estimates that closing the availability gap could lift revenue by as much as 1%. AI-assisted inventory rebalancing is being deployed to shrink that gap, cutting transfer-planning time by as much as 90%.
Uber to Add Vacation Rentals via Expedia as Airbnb Sets 2027 AI Agent Debut
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi confirmed the company will add vacation rental content through its Expedia Group integration, while Airbnb's Brian Chesky pledged on stage to launch an AI agent in 2027.
Knix's Seamless Invisible Cotton Underwear Took 18 Months and 31 Prototypes
Knix has launched Invisible Cotton, a seamless cotton underwear line that required 18 months of development, 31 prototypes and 1,700 hours of wear testing before it reached the market.
UK tribunal lets part of Apple-Amazon consumer claim proceed
Britain's Competition Appeal Tribunal has allowed a portion of a consumer lawsuit against Apple and Amazon to move ahead over claims the two companies curbed competition in Apple product sales on Amazon's UK marketplace.
Ayna Debuts Beta Women's Wellness Marketplace With 180 Products From 10 Brands
Ayna, a personalized women's wellness marketplace founded by three Cornell classmates, has launched in beta with roughly 180 products aimed at collapsing product research and shopping into a single experience.
Medicube Tops TikTok Shop Beauty Livestreamers as Top 10 Pass $83 Million
The ten biggest beauty livestream sellers on TikTok Shop generated more than $83 million combined in the first half of the year, led by K-Beauty brand Medicube with nearly $19.4 million.
Levoit launches Vital Pet Pro air purifier aimed at pet odors for $189.99
Levoit has launched the Vital Pet Pro Air Purifier, a $189.99 device designed for pet-friendly homes that removes up to 70% of pet odors in one hour.
AI Product Recommendations Reshape Retail Shelves as Brands Chase the 'AI Shelf'
Consumers increasingly ask ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini for product suggestions, creating a new 'AI shelf' that is changing how brands position themselves online.
Alibaba Unveils "China's Most Powerful" AI Chip and Teases 10-Trillion-Parameter Model
Alibaba introduced a new AI chip it calls China's most powerful and previewed an AI model with 10 trillion parameters at its annual Apsara Conference in Hangzhou, alongside plans to expand Alibaba Cloud data-center capacity to 20 gigawatts by 2032.
Sephora Opens TikTok Shop With Livestream and Monthly Drops
Sephora has begun selling on TikTok Shop, kicking off with a livestreamed shopping session hosted by influencer Mikayla Nogueira and a limited assortment of POV Beauty and Sephora Collection items.
Target widens K-beauty push with Beauty Studio rollout
Target has deepened its Korean beauty offering, quadrupling its K-beauty assortment earlier this year and folding six K-beauty cosmetics labels into its new Beauty Studio, which replaces the Ulta Beauty shops previously housed inside its stores.
Spot & Tango Commits $3.5M to Brand Marketing After a Year of Zero Top-of-Funnel Spend
The subscription pet food brand is putting $3.5 million into top-of-funnel marketing this year across out-of-home, connected TV and events, a sharp change from last year when it spent effectively nothing in that area.
Instacart CEO Chris Rogers Targets Lower Markups to Grow Online Grocery
Instacart CEO Chris Rogers says reducing online markups, adding loyalty perks and offering cheaper delivery options are central to driving more online grocery growth. Speaking at the Groceryshop conference in Las Vegas this week, Rogers outlined a strategy to remove cost barriers for weekly grocery hauls.
Nykaa and L'Oréal's BOLD Fund to Take Minority Stakes in Indian Beauty Brands
Nykaa, India's largest beauty retailer, and L'Oréal's corporate venture fund BOLD will jointly invest in high-growth Indian beauty and personal care brands, taking minority positions. The investments are purely financial, leaving founders with full ownership and day-to-day control of their businesses.
Costco digital sales pass $33bn as DoorDash and Uber Eats tie-ups widen reach
Source signal: Costco’s digital sales hit $33 billion in 2026, growing more than 20%
Creators Shift Holiday Content Calendars Earlier as Brands Line Up Deals in July
Content creators and the brands that sponsor them are launching holiday campaigns months ahead of the season, with Christmas-themed material appearing as early as August. Brands began approaching Christmas-focused creators for partnerships as early as July this year.
Miu Miu Opens Vinyl Club Pop-Ups Across Paris and Asia
Miu Miu has launched Vinyl Club, a series of temporary retail spaces in Paris and six Asian cities designed as record libraries rather than conventional shops. The pop-ups run through September and October with listening stations and fall/winter collection merchandise.
Apple Explores Screenless Fitness Band in Potential Whoop Rivalry
Apple is reportedly weighing a screenless fitness tracker that would put it up against Whoop, the fitness tech company recently valued above $10 billion. The device is not expected before 2028, if it proceeds at all.
Australian retailers face rising competition from ultra-low-cost online marketplaces
A Deloitte survey found 79% of Australian retailers are concerned about online marketplace competition, with 61% expecting it to increase, up from 28% a year earlier. Nearly half of consumers often or always consider ultra-low-cost platforms.
Tmall Enlists ELLE to Turn Its Fashion Category Managers Into On-Camera Tastemakers
Tmall has teamed up with ELLE on a video podcast lineup that puts eight of its fashion category managers in front of the camera as public arbiters of taste, as the platform looks to differentiate on curation rather than selection and price alone.
Uber and Airbnb Push Into Hotels, Testing Frequency Against Travel Intent
Uber arrives in hotel bookings with a high-frequency daily habit behind it, while Airbnb arrives with travel intent. Their hotel expansion will show which advantage carries further.