Retail Technology Magazine’s Post

To reach consumers where they shop, brands need to sell in the channels customers want 🛍. The Forrester Total Economic Impact study revealed that four brands increased sales by 60% in the first year after investing in Rithum's Commerce Solutions. The composite organization was also able to improve its Amazon Featured Offer win percentage, use reporting and analytics to make better decisions, and protect its margins 💰. Download the study to find out how ⬇. #Technology #Marketplaces #Brands https://lnkd.in/e4FeDUsW

Learn more about the differences between Tmall and Amazon and how both can be used to accelerate your brand internationally. https://hubs.la/Q021H5J80 #ecommerce #accelerateecommerce #globalecommerce

DTC brands are losing their competitive edge over traditional retail, as difficulties with supply-chain management make it harder to compete with major players. According to Diffusion’s annual Direct-to-Consumer Purchase Intent Index, just 12% of consumers preferred to shop with DTC brands because they offer fast and free shipping, down from 57% in 2022. Brick-and-mortar retailers continue to invest in expanding their e-commerce and delivery capabilities—chipping away at what was once a crucial differentiator for DTC brands—at the same time that supply-chain challenges hamper the entire industry. Big-name DTC brands emerged prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, when supply chains were under less pressure globally. Now, they have to adapt to survive and thrive in the post-pandemic economy. These circumstances have required some DTC brands to walk back one of the core tenets of the DTC model: making direct sales to customers. Rather than controlling the entire sales process from online purchase to shipping, brands such as Allbirds, Solo Brands, and Peloton are relying more on wholesalers. The motivation for this pivot is that wholesalers allow companies to buy in greater volume, creating cost efficiencies on the supply side—if not big profits. Read more from the great Alex Vuocolo here: https://lnkd.in/estTS3Yr

Agility Over Perfection: Employing Retailer Sticky Tape in Your DTC Strategy Brands looking to boost their direct-to-consumer strategy should learn from retailers' flexibility and innovation, writes Mary Simpson, global commerce director for DTC at VML

Getting started on a new #marketplace can be a daunting task. Not sure where to start? Check out aiCommerce’s blog for some tips and tricks on how to launch your #eCommerce brand on a marketplace successfully! #amazon#walmart#digitalmarketing https://hubs.ly/Q01YBZKZ0

The cross-border e-commerce market is experiencing significant growth and is projected to continue expanding over the coming years! 🚀 Here are some key insights and trends: 🌱 Market Growth and Projections: The global cross-border e-commerce market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27% from 2024 to 2029 (Market Data Forecast). In 2023, cross-border e-commerce sales reached significant levels, with forecasts suggesting continued robust growth across various regions (PBI Research). 🌍 Regional Trends: Asia-Pacific: This region remains the largest market, driven by high e-commerce penetration rates, particularly in China. Countries like Singapore and India also show substantial growth rates. Europe: A significant portion of e-commerce purchases in Europe involves cross-border transactions, with countries like Spain and Luxembourg leading in cross-border shopping and exports, respectively (Market Data Forecast). North America: The U.S. continues to see a steady increase in cross-border e-commerce shoppers, with a projected growth in the number of shoppers from 69.8 million in 2023 to 74.5 million by 2025 (Capital One Shopping). Latin America: This region is also growing, with Brazil and Mexico being key markets. E-commerce sales in Latin America are expected to rise from $121 billion in 2023 to $160 billion by 2025 (Capital One Shopping). 🛒 Consumer Behavior and Preferences: -> Payment preferences vary significantly by region, impacting how businesses need to approach different markets. For instance, digital wallets are highly popular in Asia, whereas credit cards dominate in Western markets (Market Data Forecast). -> Consumers are increasingly expecting faster delivery times and transparency regarding shipping costs and import duties (Retail TouchPoints). 🔓 Challenges and Strategies: -> Logistics remains a critical challenge, particularly concerning last-mile delivery and reverse logistics. Managing these efficiently is crucial for maintaining customer satisfaction (Market Data Forecast). -> Successful cross-border e-commerce requires localized approaches, including website localization, local payment options, and clear communication regarding taxes and duties (Retail TouchPoints). -> Distributed fulfillment strategies, such as using multiple distribution centers, can help manage demand more effectively and provide contingency against disruptions (Retail TouchPoints). Overall, the cross-border e-commerce market presents vast opportunities but also requires strategic planning and adaptation to regional specifics to succeed. ESW powers DTC commerce for the world’s loved brands and can help you to accelerate growth within and across borders. With ease and speed ! 📬 Feel free to reach me for more information. 👇 Watch the ESW video

While scaling offline distribution in GT/MT, founders should never forget the interdependence of demand and supply A brand irrespective of how good it is, won’t sell if consumers don’t find it at their preferred point of purchase And irrespective of how strong its distribution is and how widely available it is, consumers won’t buy it if the product- price-brand proposition isn’t strong enough It takes both demand and supply to fire at the same time to achieve sales There are 2 problems that can happen if brands aren’t able to maintain the balance and why sales don’t scale up a) Poor Distribution : While the product proposition is strong and the brand creates demand, but the product wasn’t available and visible in places where consumers were buying the category. This renders marketing spends useless. Distribution and visibility problems will have to be solved by sales and trade marketing teams b) Poor Demand/Pull: This is the more common and bigger problem for new brands. The products are available and visible in stores, but the product price brand proposition isn’t great (could be lack of PPCMF or brand awareness problem ) and offtakes are low. This triggers a vicious cycle. Retailers hate slow moving items with poor stock turnover. So brands that don’t sell much lose shelf space and even gets delisted from the shop. In this sales, field sales team can’t do much to influence or increase numbers. Demand problems have to be solved by product and brand marketing teams So, any brand looking to scale offline in General Trade or Modern Trade have to balance supply and demand and ensure both grow in tandem. Second chances also don’t come easy here And that is what makes it very difficult. The consumer tech equivalent of this is the difficulty in scaling 2 sided marketplaces

While scaling offline distribution in GT/MT, founders should never forget the interdependence of demand and supply A brand irrespective of how good it is, won't sell if consumers don't find it at their preferred point of purchase And irrespective of how strong its distribution is and how widely available it is, consumers won't buy it if the product- price-brand proposition isn't strong enough It takes both demand and supply to fire at the same time to achieve sales There are 2 problems that can happen if brands aren't able to maintain the balance and why sales don't scale up a) Poor Distribution: While the product proposition is strong and the brand creates demand, the product wasn't available and visible in places where consumers were buying the category. This renders marketing spends useless. Distribution and visibility problems will have to be solved by sales and trade marketing teams b) Poor Demand/Pull: This is the more common and bigger problem for new brands. The products are available and visible in stores, but the product price brand proposition isn't great (could be lack of PPCMF or brand awareness problem) and offtakes are low. This triggers vicious cycle. Retailers hate slow moving items with poor stock turnover. So brands that don't sell much lose shelf space and even gets delisted from the shop. In this sales, field sales team can't do much to influence or increase numbers. Demand problems have to be solved by product and brand marketing teams So, any brand looking to scale offline in General Trade or Modern Trade have to balance supply and demand and ensure both grow in tandem. Second chances also don't come easy here And that is what makes it very difficult. The consumer tech equivalent of this is the difficulty in scaling 2 sided marketplaces

Big brands keep reducing their wholesale contribution over time. As a brand if you’re just starting your offline journey, it is a good time to evaluate your strategy and get it right from day one. Check the post to know why.

For the longest time, manufacturers were shackled to a system that required them to wade through retailers, wholesalers, and resellers to reach their audience. Enter the 21st century, and thanks to the advent of e-commerce and digital technologies, direct-to-consumer brands are now flipping the script. They're toppling markets and connecting directly with customers, all without the need for a middleman. This seismic shift has left intermediaries scrambling as consumers are magnetically drawn to manufacturers, all thanks to the connective power of the internet. #directtoconsumer #dtcbrands #inventorymanagement #mrp #supplychain #ordermanagement #fulfillment #inventorycontrol https://lnkd.in/emeNFhvt