Jumia Makes History as the First African Tech Startup on the New York Stock Exchange

It was a big day on Wall Street as ecommerce platform Jumia became the first African tech startup to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. According to a regulatory filing, Jumia was proposing an offer of 13.5 million American Depository Shares (ADS), which each represent two ordinary shares, at an anticipated price of…

Walmart Is Adding More Robots to Its Workforces, in an Effort to Give Existing Employees ‘More Satisfying Jobs’

Walmart is expanding its fleet of in-store robots following a 2018 trial at “just a few locations,” however, it did not provide assurances about employee jobs in its announcement. Instead, Elizabeth Walker, manager, brand content of Walmart Corporate Affairs, said in a statement, “The idea is that by leaning into the future, associates will be…

The New York Times Is Partnering With Everlane on an Apparel Line to Promote Climate Change Journalism

It’s an unlikely pairing, but the partnership between Everlane and The New York Times works, as both have a perspective around climate change. On Everlane’s side, the company’s ethos centers around transparency and bringing to light just how many resources it takes to produce a piece of clothing. (It also recently debuted a sustainable clothing…

Macy’s Launches Story, an Instagram-Friendly Retail Concept, in 36 Locations

Macy’s unveiled Story today, a new type of store format in 36 retail locations, spread out over 15 states. The roll out comes about a year after Macy’s acquired Story, a retail concept that focuses on a particular theme and changes up the products and layout every few months. Staying true to its roots, this…

Social Video App TikTok Is Steady Stepping Into Shoppable Ads in the U.S.

Every major social platform is attempting to understand shopping behavior. On Snapchat, that means testing out exclusive drops with Jordan Brand or Adidas. On Pinterest, it looks a little more like personalized ads based around what users pin to their digital board. Other platforms, like Google and Instagram, are also wading into the crowded place…

Dote, the Shopping App Popular With Gen Z, Is Rolling Out a Live Shopping Feature

Browsing and buying the looks of influencers and creators is so last year. These days, companies want a QVC for the mobile age. That’s why Dote, a mobile shopping app, is bringing a form of live shopping to its platform. Popular Gen Z creators like Fiona Frills, who has 57,600 followers on Instagram, and Summer…

Even Sears’ Landlord Wants ‘Non-Sears Tenants’

If it’s going to survive much longer, Sears truly needs a miracle. Instead, it is getting Home & Life stores. In May, it will open three such smaller format locations in Anchorage, Alaska; Lafayette, La; and Overland Park, Kan. They will stock a truncated selection of merchandise, including appliances, smart devices and mattresses. Sears is…

How an Email Marketing Company Is the Real Winner From the Shopify and Mailchimp Breakup

Consider this an overnight success story almost a decade in the making–Klaviyo, an email service and marketing company founded in 2012– is currently the hottest company on the block thanks to the ongoing drama with Shopify. As news rolled out over Mailchimp leaving Shopify’s marketplace, many merchants forced to make a decision about email service…

Deny Americans Avocados And The Revolution Begins

Are you ready to go days, weeks or months with no avocado toast? Are you prepared to eat tortilla chips with no assistance from guacamole? The nightmare scenario above could be here sooner than you think, provided Trump gets his way again. Should the worst happen, and the U.S./Mexican border close, U.S. grocery stores and […]

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Walmart and Google Are Making Voice-Enabled Grocery Shopping Possible

“Hey Google, go to Walmart and do my grocery shopping.” Starting this month, Walmart customers will be able to ask Google Assistant to add groceries to their digital carts starting with expanded Voice Order functionality. Tom Ward, senior vice president of digital operations at Walmart U.S., said in a blog post that customers should be…

Casper’s Latest Funding Shows Direct-to-Consumer Hype Isn’t Dying Down Anytime Soon

This week, direct-to-consumer mattress brand Casper reached unicorn status (with a valuation of $1.1 billion) with a $100 million round of funding, making it the third DTC brand this month to do so. The investment is going toward more brick-and-mortar stores–the company currently has 23 stores–and expanding internationally, particularly in Asia, Bloomberg reported. According to…

Poshmark Rolls Out a New Tool to Make It Easier to Collect Sales Tax

Ten months after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled states can make ecommerce companies collect and remit sales tax, Poshmark is debuting Posh Remit to collect this levy on behalf of Poshmark sellers. The new tool is rolling out in 45 states, five territories and other local jurisdictions where laws have passed since the Supreme Court…

JD.com Debuts Joybuy on Google Express

Chinese ecommerce platform JD.com has added a digital U.S. storefront on the shopping service Google Express. JD did not respond to a request for comment, but Google confirmed “an assortment of inventory from JD.com is now live on Google Express.” Another dead giveaway: The Google Express page Joybuy includes JD’s mascot, the dog named Joy….

Shopify’s Latest Moves Are a Sign of What’s to Come in Ecommerce

Twelve days ago, Shopify, the Canadian ecommerce platform underpinning thousands of brands, announced a series of changes to its partnership program and API access that has serious implications for its partners and merchants. It was also announced that Mailchimp is leaving Shopify’s marketplace, causing even more concern. Two big changes to its terms of use…

The NYC Luxury Retail World Is Already Crowded. Can Neiman Marcus and Hudson Yards Stand Out?

Perhaps more than any other city in the world, New York is a metropolis of department stores. The city boasts several famed flagships, including the massive Macy’s in Herald Square, the original Bloomingdale’s on 59th street, luxury epicenter Barneys New York and Fifth Avenue icons Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue. Last week, an outsider…

After Tackling Men’s Health, the Company Behind Roman Is Helping Women Through Menopause

Menopause treatment comes online in the form of Rory, a new telehealth direct-to-consumer brand from Ro, the company behind bringing men’s health issues like erectile dysfunction, to digital. Ro, the parent of Roman, connects men to doctors through an online portal to discuss men’s health issues, like ED and hair loss. Doctors can diagnose and…

Hudson Yards Is Open for Business, and These Two Brands Hope It Proves Their Concepts Work

Hudson Yards is the complete opposite of a “retail apocalypse,” considering the $25 billion poured into the project. Retailers, from the likes of Neiman Marcus to digitally native brands like men’s basics direct-to-consumer brand Mack Weldon, arrived at Hudson Yards ready to reach and chat with whoever ends up coming to the area. Business Insider…

Instagram’s Long-Awaited Checkout Feature Is Finally Here

After rolling out a series of shopping features over the past year, Instagram is finally debuting its ultimate retail tool: checkout. The new tool, which lets consumers pay for products in the app, begins rolling out today in the U.S., with 23 brands, including Nike, Adidas, Zara, Outdoor Voices and Warby Parker, part of a…

As the Classic Department Store Falters, These 4 Challengers Want to Upend the Retail Model

Don’t call it a comeback–call it a renaissance, a golden age of retail. Contrary to headlines bemoaning the death of merchandising, the so-called “retail apocalypse,” it’s still alive and kicking and was all anyone talked about at this year’s Shoptalk retail/commerce conference. While legacy retailers are experimenting with all sorts of ways to keep customers…

This Department Store Takes Everything About Pop-Ups and Turns It Into Retail

Dubbing itself “the most interesting store in the world,” Showfields, a new take on an old retail model by basically renting space to specific brands, today opened up two more floors in its flagship New York store. Located in the city’s NoHo neighborhood, Showfields first opened up its doors in December, debuting only the first…