Business
An ecommerce site is a business. Our Management & Finance category addresses online payments, funding needs, employee issues, merchant profiles, key metrics, multichannel and omnichannel strategies, cross-border analyses, inventory management, accounting topics, sales taxes, and much more.
Amazon & Marketplaces | B2B | Cross-border Selling | Finance | Fraud Prevention | Inventory | Local Business | Payments | Shipping & Fulfillment | Staffing-
Finance
Charts: Global Economic Conditions, Outlook
October 26, 2022 • Adel Boukarroum
The International Monetary Fund projects a downturn in the global economy. We summarize in four charts research from the IMF and McKinsey & Company.
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B2B
My Experience Selling B2B versus B2C
October 25, 2022 • Christopher Dobroth
Contributor Chris Dobroth is a seasoned ecommerce exec, having sold goods to both businesses and consumers. He shares his experiences in this quick-read post.
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Business
DTC Holsters Are a Last Line of Defense
October 21, 2022 • Eric Bandholz
Mike Pfeiffer is a web developer turned YouTube entrepreneur. In 2015, he made a firearms holster at home for his own use. Then he mentioned it on his videos. Here's his story.
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Business
Charts: Trends in Manufacturing, 3D Printing
October 19, 2022 • Adel Boukarroum
Despite the global economic downturn, investments in manufacturing technology remained stable in Q2 2022. The use of 3D printing is growing.
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Amazon & Marketplaces
Shoppers Buy Necessities, Not Gifts, in Amazon’s October Event
October 17, 2022 • Marcia Kaplan
Consumers responded to Amazon's Early Access Prime event, but not for holiday shopping. Here's our recap.
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Shipping & Fulfillment
Reducing the Environmental Impact of Ecommerce
October 11, 2022 • Pete Bruckshaw
Ecommerce packaging and logistics cause serious environmental harm. But the industry is improving, with many tools, services, and programs to help merchants. Here's an overview.
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Inventory
Alcohol Selling Online Is Complicated
October 11, 2022 • Jeff Siegel
Selling alcohol online has potential. However, U.S. laws and regulations are stringent around the subject. We explain.
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Finance
Financing Options for SMB Ecommerce Merchants
October 10, 2022 • Armando Roggio
Amazon's Community Lending is one of many loan options for small and mid-sized sellers. Here's a rundown, with pointers to consider.
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Finance
Supply.co Founder on Selling the Business
October 7, 2022 • Eric Bandholz
Supply.co is a direct-to-consumer seller of razors and shaving supplies. Co-founder Patrick Coddou has just sold the company, having survived the iOS 14.5 debacle. Here's his story.
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Local Business
Retail Apocalypse Reversal?
October 5, 2022 • Armando Roggio
Physical retail stores face challenges amid ecommerce, supply chain issues, and labor shortages. A Shopify-like approach for brick-and-mortar businesses could be the answer.
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Local Business
Charts: Online Grocery Delivery Trends
October 5, 2022 • Adel Boukarroum
The pandemic-driven shift to online grocery pickup is not declining. That's according to two recent surveys. We explain in four charts.
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Business
What Motivates Consumers to Shop Sustainably?
October 3, 2022 • Marcia Kaplan
Concerns about sustainability vary depending on age, gender, and location. Research shows merchants have different perceptions than consumers on the topic.
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Local Business
Should Ecommerce Brands Sell via Dealers?
October 2, 2022 • Armando Roggio
A brick-and-mortar dealer network could help online businesses. We explain the pros and cons, and how to get started.
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Business
Business Is Art to Fringe Sport Owner
September 30, 2022 • Eric Bandholz
Fringe Sport is a leading online seller of barbells and exercise equipment. Founder Peter Keller addresses his priorities — business and life — in this week's "Ecommerce Conversations" episode.
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Inventory
Charts: Global Supply Chain Trends 2022
September 28, 2022 • Adel Boukarroum
Controlling costs and minimizing risks are among the top challenges of supply chain executives worldwide. Here's our look at a recent survey by a leading research firm.
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Shipping & Fulfillment
5 Ways to Upgrade to Eco-friendly Ecommerce
September 27, 2022 • Pete Bruckshaw
In 2022, sustainable selling is not just good for the environment. It also drives sales. Here are five steps to go green.
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Payments
Charts: Global Payments Trends and Outlook
September 21, 2022 • Adel Boukarroum
Funding decreased in Q2 2022 for payment technology companies. Nonetheless, much innovation is afoot. We tell the story in this week's charts.
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Cross-border Selling
Southeast Asia Tops Worldwide Ecommerce Growth
September 15, 2022 • Marcia Kaplan
There are 10 countries in Southeast Asia. Five of them have the fastest ecommerce growth rates on the planet. Here are the numbers — sales, growth %, and leading providers.
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Business
Charts: Trends in Technology, AI for 2022
September 12, 2022 • Adel Boukarroum
The adoption of artificial intelligence and other technologies is accelerating global productivity. We look at the latest trends, using four charts.
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Amazon & Marketplaces
Ecommerce Briefs: FBA Increases Fees; Walmart Expands Healthcare
September 9, 2022 • Marcia Kaplan
Amazon Prime and Walmart+ compete for subscribers; FBA imposes holiday fees; Walmart extends healthcare initiatives.
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Finance
Charts: Global Fintech Trends Q2 2022
September 7, 2022 • Adel Boukarroum
Global investments in privately held financial technology firms slowed in Q2 2022. We tell the story in four charts.
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Business
The Ultimate Brand in Tattoo Skincare
September 2, 2022 • Eric Bandholz
What began as a side hustle for a group of graduates became a multi-million dollar DTC company. Mad Rabbit's Drew Fallon explains the journey in this week's Ecommerce Conversation.
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Inventory
Stagnant Sales Are Creating an Inventory Glut
September 1, 2022 • Marcia Kaplan
Recession fears combined with supply-chain excesses have created a dramatic increase in unsold inventory. We explain.
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Business
Charts: U.S. Retail Ecommerce Sales Q2 2022
August 30, 2022 • Adel Boukarroum
Ecommerce was 14.5% of total U.S. retail sales in Q2 2022. We tell the story in three charts.
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Business
Live Events Lift Chisos Boots, a DTC Brand
August 26, 2022 • Eric Bandholz
Ninety percent of Chisos Boots' revenue is online. But the company still runs a physical store and hosts in-person events. Both are essential for building the brand and community.
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Business
Inflation May Lead to Early Christmas Shopping
August 25, 2022 • Armando Roggio
With prices on the rise, many consumers are tightening their budgets. Some may start holiday shopping earlier while costs are lower.
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Staffing
Charts: CEO Pay for Top Ecommerce, Public Companies
August 24, 2022 • Adel Boukarroum
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy collected total compensation in 2021 of roughly $212 million. Shopify's Tobias Lutke earned $20 million. Here's a rundown of CEO compensation at select U.S. public companies.
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Inventory
Charts: Global Manufacturing Outlook 2022
August 17, 2022 • Adel Boukarroum
Owing to the pandemic, CEOs of large worldwide manufacturing companies are focused on supply chain resiliency. We tell the story in this week's charts.
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Business
New U.S. Law to Spur Electric Vehicles, Clean Energy
August 16, 2022 • Marcia Kaplan
The new Inflation Reduction Act impacts U.S. taxation, healthcare, and climate change. The bill's clean-energy incentives will likely produce more electric delivery vehicles and charging stations.
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Shipping & Fulfillment
3 Ways to Offset Shipping Rate Increases
August 15, 2022 • Armando Roggio
The U.S. Postal Service has announced a temporary increase in holiday shipping rates. Such increases from all carriers are inevitable. Merchants should adopt a shipping strategy to manage costs over the long term.