Featured Post: My Reading & Podcast List
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My Eye on Retail — Week of June 16
Here are the ecommerce, retail, social media, and other industry articles that caught my attention this week.
Ecommerce and retail stories that caught my attention, plus, some of my honorable mention Bluesky posts from this week.
Retail & ecommerce stories that caught my eye
1. Meta announces new AI tools for advertisers, including video generation and business assistants
2. Sam’s Club takes on Amazon Prime Day
3. US retail sales fell 0.9% in May as bigger-ticket items pulled back
4. Kirkland’s rebrands to Brand House Collective and plans a strategic turnaround
5. Meta and Oakley team up on stylish new HSTN AI smart glasses
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Recapping the top retail news stories
bluesky posts of the week
I just got rid of my glasses and now they're all turning smart. Like it or not, I think smart glasses are here to stay. www.theverge.com/news/690133/... #smartglasses #meta #oakley #ecommerce #retail
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 20, 2025 at 9:53 AM
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The race to be the all-in-one social platform of consequence continues. www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-an... #socialmedia #socialcommerce #meta #ecommerce
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 20, 2025 at 9:48 AM
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Amazon doesn't have pizza now, do they? chainstoreage.com/news-briefs/... #primeday #samsclub #retail
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 20, 2025 at 9:37 AM
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81% expect to adjust their finances or shopping habits in response to the tariffs chainstoreage.com/heres-how-ta... #tariffs #ecommerce #retail #consumers
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 20, 2025 at 9:35 AM
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Spending slows www.cnn.com/2025/06/17/e... #ecommerce #retail
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 18, 2025 at 12:35 PM
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You don't say? chainstoreage.com/survey-most-... #Ecommerce #retail #Tariffs #Consumers
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 16, 2025 at 5:14 PM
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Enjoyed my time on the Email After Hours podcast. youtu.be/C1lALM9LROg?... #EmailMarketing #EmailGeeks #Ecommerce #validity
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 16, 2025 at 2:03 PM
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“Credit card fees are generally the worst because it’s a sizable cost compared to the final price at checkout" www.ntd.com/retailers-ar... #Ecommerce #retail #diningout
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 16, 2025 at 1:42 PM
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My Eye on Retail — Week of June 9
Here are the ecommerce, retail, social media, and other industry articles that caught my attention this week.
Ecommerce and retail stories that caught my attention, plus, some of my honorable mention Bluesky posts from this week.
Retail & ecommerce stories that caught my eye
1. CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor Shows Continued Sales Growth But Less Stocking Up Ahead of Tariffs
2. Pizza delivery leading to e-commerce growth at Walmart’s Sam’s Club
3. Walmart puts 'Sparky' next-generation AI assistant into wide release
4. TikTok Outlines Shopping Returns Policies as Extended US Sell-Off Deadline Looms
5. Private label beer is having a moment. Should grocers order a round?
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Recapping the top retail news stories
bluesky posts of the week
Private labels continue to soar. This reminds me that when I was a kid a local grocer sold beer in a yellow can that just said, "Beer." www.grocerydive.com/news/private... #ecommerce #retail #privatelabel
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 13, 2025 at 2:06 PM
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I have a lot to day on this topic, coming soon :) chainstoreage.com/how-prepare-... #AI #agenticAI #ecommerce
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 13, 2025 at 2:04 PM
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Not sure I needed a survey to tell me this. chainstoreage.com/survey-major... #ecommerce #retail #consumers
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 12, 2025 at 2:12 PM
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A necessary step to become a legit shopping destination. www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-... #tiktok #tiktokshop #socialcommerce #socialmedia #ecommerce
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 10, 2025 at 3:03 PM
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NC + NC for the win. While shopping at Lowe's often frustrates me, I like what they're doing from a business side. chainstoreage.com/mrbeast-help... #Mrbeast #lowes #retail #genz #ecommerce
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 10, 2025 at 3:01 PM
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Predicted this. In fact, I recorded a short video last week saying exactly this — although the video isn't out yet, which makes it kind of besides the point :) chainstoreage.com/news-briefs/... #back2school #ecommerce #retail #B2S
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 10, 2025 at 2:58 PM
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Release the bots ... that go by the same name as my childhood Pound Puppy! chainstoreage.com/walmart-puts... #AI #ecommerce #walmart #retail
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 10, 2025 at 2:55 PM
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Follow me on Linkedin and Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/gregzakowicz.com
My Eye on Retail — Week of June 2
Here are 5 ecommerce, retail, social media, and other industry articles that caught my attention this week.
Ecommerce and retail stories that caught my attention, plus, some of my honorable mention Bluesky posts from this week.
Retail & ecommerce stories that caught my eye
1. Dollar General says its new high-income shoppers are ‘making more trips and spending more’
2. Survey: Social media overtakes search engines among Gen Z
3. U.S shoppers already worried about rising costs of holiday essentials
4. Amazon is making Prime Day a four-day event in 2025
5. Amazon ‘testing humanoid robots to deliver packages’
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Recapping the top retail news stories
bluesky posts of the week
This seems more like an addition than a replacement. There is no way these walk faster than humans, especially across landscaping and other features. www.theguardian.com/technology/2... #Amazon #delivery #robots
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 6, 2025 at 10:00 AM
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Amazon moving from 2 days to 4 days for its big sale. That's a whole lot of extra ad sales! www.modernretail.co/operations/a... #amazon #primeday #ecommerce
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 5, 2025 at 1:49 PM
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In other words, they want cheaper prices. chainstoreage.com/survey-consu... #ecommerce #retail
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 5, 2025 at 1:28 PM
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99% of the time, thinking customer loyalty is real sets you up to fail. Modern-day loyalty is about being one of the first options, not THE option. Brands that don't approach their customers with this perspective will lose big when journeys move from human to AI-assisted. #Customerloyalty #AI
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 5, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Temu struggling to find its value-prop in the US. It built its reputation on cheap prices and lower quality products. When cheap prices go away, you're left with lower quality. Not a winning combo in my opinion. retailwire.com/temu-us-dail... #Temu #tariffs #deminimis #ecommerce #retail
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 5, 2025 at 8:36 AM
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Product discovery continues to change, and AI will only make it messier. chainstoreage.com/survey-socia... #SocialMedia #GenZ #Search #Ecommerce
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 4, 2025 at 4:07 PM
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Just like Walmart's been seeing for the past year-plus! This should be worrisome, as high0income shoppers don't prefer to shop at DG. www.modernretail.co/operations/d... #DollarGeneral #Retail #Economy
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 4, 2025 at 4:05 PM
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Say goodbye to canned beer and soda??? www.cbsnews.com/news/tariff-... #retail #tariffs #ecommerce
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 4, 2025 at 3:42 PM
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The race continues www.pymnts.com/news/artific... #ecommerce #walmart #AI #agenticAI #retail
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 2, 2025 at 12:17 PM
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You may like hiking, but price hiking is less fun! Walmart warned of this, and it appears to be tricking in. The question on my mind: how will this impact back-to-school shopping? www.businessinsider.com/walmart-pric... #Ecommerce #retail #walmart #tariffs
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) June 2, 2025 at 11:18 AM
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Follow me on Linkedin and Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/gregzakowicz.com
My Eye on Retail — Week of May 26
Here are 5 ecommerce, retail, social media, and other industry articles that caught my attention this week.
Ecommerce and retail stories that caught my attention, plus, some of my honorable mention Bluesky posts from this week.
Retail & ecommerce stories that caught my eye
1. Sam’s Club launches online pizza delivery
2. Consumer confidence rebounds in May amid increased optimism
3. GameStop Buys $512 Million in Bitcoin, Stock Price Slides on the News
4. Victoria’s Secret Latest Hit in Growing Swath of Retail Cyber Attacks
5. Amazon pilots audio product summaries
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Recapping the top retail news stories
bluesky posts of the week
As personal AI appears to be centered around voice, Amazon's Alexa dreams may finally be coming true. But how will it all work when shopping, something that is more visual than anything? www.retaildive.com/news/amazon-... #ecommerce #retail #Alexa #AI
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 30, 2025 at 9:42 AM
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Want to invest in Bitcoin without investing in Bitcoin? This is becoming commonplace, but should public companies also be financial investors? retailwire.com/gamestop-buy... #retail #ecommerce
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 29, 2025 at 1:52 PM
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It's still not all roses at HQ chainstoreage.com/macys-q1-top... #ecommerce #retail
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 29, 2025 at 1:50 PM
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Can Temu survive in the US ... or will they even want to? omnitalk.blog/2025/05/28/t... #ecommerce #retail #Temu
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 29, 2025 at 1:38 PM
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Follow me on Linkedin and Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/gregzakowicz.com
The Retail (Blue)Sky is Falling — Week of May 19
Here are 5 ecommerce, retail, social media, and other industry articles that caught my attention this week.
Ecommerce and retail stories that caught my attention, plus, some of my honorable mention Bluesky posts from this week.
Retail & ecommerce stories that caught my eye
Friday: Nike reportedly to hike prices on some items — and resume selling on Amazon
Thursday: TikTok Adds a Dedicated AI Assistant for In-App Sellers
Wednesday: Google rolls out agentic AI checkout, expands virtual try-on
Tuesday: Study: Rising prices shaking up consumer loyalty and shopping behavior
Monday: Target removes same-day delivery markups for loyalty members
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Recapping the top retail news stories
bluesky posts of the week
When an AI chatbot is more than a chatbot but is really just a chatbot. Okay, got it! www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-... #Ecommerce #retail #tiktokshop #tiktok #AI
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 23, 2025 at 8:46 AM
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Earnings roundup: 👍 TJX chainstoreage.com/tjx-sales-ri... 👍 BJ chainstoreage.com/bjs-earnings... 👍 LOW www.cnbc.com/2025/05/21/l... 👎 TGT omnitalk.blog/2025/05/22/t... #earnings #ecommerce #retail
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 22, 2025 at 12:47 PM
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Discretionary retailers become, well, discretionary. They need a strong back-to-school season! omnitalk.blog/2025/05/22/t... #ecommerce #retail #target #tariffs
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 22, 2025 at 12:42 PM
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More capabilities for Alexa+ chainstoreage.com/amazon-pilot... #Ecommerce #retail #Alexa
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 22, 2025 at 8:57 AM
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So much drama in the VSc chainstoreage.com/victorias-se... #retail #ecommerce
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 21, 2025 at 2:07 PM
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The race to dramatically alter the brand-customer relationship is on. More on this from me soon. chainstoreage.com/google-rolls... #ecommerce #retail #AI #shopping #google
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 21, 2025 at 10:53 AM
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"That's a bold move, Cotton." Sacrificing profits for sales — probably assuming per-shopper AOV will increase (and it will probably will). I'll allow it! www.retailcustomerexperience.com/news/home-de... #tariffs #homedepot #retail #ecommerce #economy
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 20, 2025 at 4:16 PM
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Loyalty, in the traditional sense, has been mostly dead for some time. I view the new definition of loyalty as, your brand being the first option when someone decides they want to buy. chainstoreage.com/study-rising... #ecommerce #retail #loyalty #customerloyalty #economy
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 20, 2025 at 4:11 PM
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Absolutely trying to create more value for its subscribers and compete with Walmart+ chainstoreage.com/target-remov... #ecommerce #retail #target #walmart
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 19, 2025 at 3:44 PM
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Follow me on Linkedin and Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/gregzakowicz.com
The Retail (Blue)Sky is Falling — Week of May 12
Here are 5 ecommerce, retail, social media, and other industry articles that caught my attention this week.
Ecommerce and retail stories that caught my attention, plus, some of my honorable mention Bluesky posts from this week.
Retail & ecommerce stories that caught my eye
Friday: Survey: Younger consumers drive online growth, cite major delivery issues
Thursday: Walmart Rises As Earnings Top Views; Dow Giant Says Tariff Price Hikes Coming Soon
Wednesday: Consumer spending intentions plunge to two-year low
Tuesday: Three predictions for 2025 back-to-school shopping
Monday: U.S. and China agree to slash tariffs for 90 days as trade talks continue
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honorable mention bluesky posts of the week
American Eagle expects a net operating loss of around $85 million and an adjusted operating loss of about $68 million — yikes!! chainstoreage.com/news-briefs/... #Economy #retail #ecommerce
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 15, 2025 at 9:13 AM
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Because they're not already high enough?? Just what the average American needs. (sarcasm) www.nbcnews.com/business/bus... #ecommerce #retail #tariffs #economy
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 15, 2025 at 8:59 AM
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The UK was feeling left out, I guess? I do wonder, will this actually translate to less holiday spending OR will people want so desperately to feel "normal" again they increase their holiday budgets? www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2025/05... #economy #ecommerce #retail #BFCM
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 13, 2025 at 5:25 PM
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"94% of consumers will prioritize low prices for school supplies." — Private labels winning big right now!! chainstoreage.com/parents-seek...? #ecommerce #retail #backtoschool #marketing
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 12, 2025 at 4:02 PM
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You may want to rethink those "NoReply" send-from addresses. Plus, who knew list hygiene was the hot new kid on the block? techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microso... #emailmarketing #mailgeeks #deliverability #ecommerce
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 12, 2025 at 11:13 AM
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More tariff news. Both countries needed these to come down, but neither wants to admit it. Also, how long before Temu (non-local) is again up and selling in the US? www.nbcnews.com/world/asia/t... #ecommerce #retail #tariffs #economy
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 12, 2025 at 10:33 AM
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The Retail (Blue)Sky is Falling — Week of May 5
Here are 5 ecommerce, retail, social media, and other industry articles that caught my attention this week.
Ecommerce and retail stories that caught my attention, plus, some of my honorable mention Bluesky posts from this week.
Retail & ecommerce stories that caught my eye
Friday: Amazon now sells prescription pet pill
Friday: Trump suggests cutting China tariff to still-high 80% ahead of U.S.-Beijing trade talks
Thursday: Instagram Launches First Official Use of Unlockable Reels
Wednesday: Apple’s Eddy Cue: ‘You may not need an iPhone 10 years from now’
Monday: Temu reportedly ends U.S. direct shipments from China
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honorable mention bluesky posts of the week
Ruh Roh Shaggy! arstechnica.com/security/202... #ecommerce #retail
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 7, 2025 at 4:09 PM
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If you plan to spend, how much are you planning? chainstoreage.com/news-briefs/... #mothersday #ecommerce #shopping #marketing
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 6, 2025 at 9:32 AM
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Pinterest debuts generative AI-based visual search features chainstoreage.com/pinterest-de... #socialmedia #pinterest #ecommerce
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 6, 2025 at 8:52 AM
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The Retail (Blue)Sky is Falling — Week of April 28
Here is a collection of ecommerce and retail industry articles I found interesting and some correlating Bluesky posts from the week.
Ecommerce and retail stories that caught my attention, plus, some of my Bluesky posts from this week.
Retail & ecommerce stories that caught my eye
Friday: Ecommerce Trends: What tariffs are doing to toys ahead of the 2025 holiday season
Thursday: Visa and Mastercard unveil AI-powered shopping
Wednesday: Beyond to open Overstock stores, test BuyBuy Baby location
Tuesday: China Tariffs Cast Shadow Over Amazon’s Prime Day As Sellers Pull Back
Monday: Temu customers in the U.S. hit with steep import charges due to tariffs
bluesky posts of the week
Will this mean less competition from sellers? Is that a good thing, and if so, for who (sellers or buyers)? And how much could this hurt Amazon ad revenues during Prime Day? omnitalk.blog/2025/04/29/c... #ecommerce #retail #marketing #primeday #tariffs
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 2, 2025 at 8:40 AM
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This is an area I am curious to watch play out. People are slow to change behavior. I more curious about these tools buying things that are way off the mark — and then how credit card companies deal with the aftermath. techcrunch.com/2025/04/30/v... #ecommerce #retail #AI #Marketing #agenticAI
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) May 1, 2025 at 8:53 AM
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It's going to be a challenging year for ecom brands. » Inflation is up. » Discretionary spending is down. » Consumer confidence is low. That’s not a recipe for success But what does it mean for brands? martechvibe.com/article/trus... #ecommerce #retail #inflation #tariffs #economy
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) April 30, 2025 at 12:24 PM
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I'm excited to join Kayle Larkin & Chase Dimond on 5/7 to talk about how to turn browsers into buyers using high-intent email & SMS flows. It's free & we'll smile, so come join us! 👉 go.getelevar.com/turn-browser... #ecommerce #retail #consumerconfidence #marketing #SMS #emailgeeks
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) April 30, 2025 at 10:07 AM
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A $32 import charge on a $23 item? Will Americans curb their shopping on sites like Temu as they said they would in this report » www.omnisend.com/temu-vs-amaz... #Ecommerce #retail #tariffs
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) April 28, 2025 at 11:52 AM
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Trust is Currency: Capturing Every Sale in a Downturn
Overall consumer confidence may be fading but that doesn’t mean brands can’t take steps to build value and establish trust. By staying laser-focused on the customer and delivering exceptional experiences, brands can force shoppers to think twice before purchasing from other stores. Here are three simple ways brands can protect themselves from a downturn.
Let me say it plainly: 2025 is shaping up to be a challenging year for ecommerce brands. Inflation is up. Discretionary spending is down. Consumer confidence is low. That’s not a recipe that’s traditionally good for many businesses. But what does it really mean?
I am not an economist, nor do I play one on TV. I connect the dots and call it as I see it. When inflation was reportedly down I looked around and saw plenty of things continuing to increase. I felt little, if any, relief. I saw discretionary spending among friends, family, and vacation goers begin to slow. That micro view was telling and was slowly emerging at the macro level.
That was all before tariffs, potential trade wars, and geopolitical instability we currently find ourselves in. So what do I see coming for ecommerce brands in 2025 and how can they adapt to grow, or worst case, stay afloat this year?
Let me explain and explore.
State of The Consumer and Spending
We feel it: consumers are on edge. Prices on everyday goods and services continue to increase, tariffs are expected to increase prices further, discretionary spending is decreasing, government layoffs are adding to unemployment numbers, and overall consumer confidence is low. February’s Consumer Confidence Report was ugly. March was even worse, showing a decrease of 7.2 points in the Consumer Confidence Index, the biggest drop since we were in the throes of the pandemic. Maybe more concerning, the Expectation Index dropped by 9.6 points, finishing at 65.2. A score under 80 typically signals a recession is on the way — something even the President couldn’t rule out.
Over the past year-plus, we’ve seen consumer shopping habits shift toward a value-first mindset with purchases, trading down, often to private labels, when value aligns. This shift to value-minded shopping has resulted in consumers spending a larger share of their wallets with stores, meaning there are fewer purchases to go around. This trend of consolidated shopping was on full display during BFCM week this past holiday shopping season, which saw overall order volumes dip while the average order value increased 55% year-over-year, increasing from $152.54 to $235.94.
These changes have benefited large, price-focused retailers like Amazon and Walmart. Walmart, in particular, has seen its share of higher-income households increase from this change, indicating that families of all incomes are feeling the squeeze. But even these brands aren’t immune. Walmart, Target, Amazon, Costco, Lowe’s, and even airlines are forecasting a further pullback on spending in 2025.
Then there are tariffs. We don’t quite know the full impact tariffs will have on spending, but brands are expected to raise prices to maintain profits. Target has publicly said prices will increase on many products, from produce to clothing. Companies like Walmart may have enough buying power to mitigate some price increases, but they won’t be immune. Reciprocal tariffs imposed on US exports will further impact domestic prices.
Shoppers have turned to stores like Amazon, Temu, and Shein to save money, but many products sold on those platforms are made in China and, as of May 2, no longer qualify for the de minimis exemption, exposing them to price increases. In response, Temu and Shein have already announced they will raise prices as of late April.
Though US consumers trust Temu less than Amazon, sometimes money talks — but only so much. Nearly 20% of shoppers said they’d stop purchasing products on Temu if prices went up significantly. This could quickly become a reality if there are substantial changes to de minimis exemptions, which the President has talked about.
My view: inflation isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Groceries and insurance will continue to gouge Americans’ wallets. Unemployment will increase, and consumers will spend less.
My theme for this year is to capture every … sale … possible.
What Can Brands Do?
Overall consumer confidence may be fading but that doesn’t mean brands can’t take steps to build value and establish trust. By staying laser-focused on the customer and delivering exceptional experiences, brands can force shoppers to think twice before purchasing from other stores. Here are three simple ways brands can protect themselves from a downturn.
1. Utilize High-ROI and First-Party Marketing Channels
The bigger the ROI the bigger the profits. One of the consistently best ROI marketing channels is email at 68:1. Email open rates continue to increase year over year, ending 2024 at a healthy 26%. We’ve also seen click-to-conversion rates increase, indicating that when consumers find something they want to purchase, they do so.
In addition to email, SMS is another first-party channel that consumers increasingly prefer. In 2024, Omnisend’s US customers generated $25 million in SMS-generated sales. Conversion rates for scheduled SMS campaigns finished the year better than those for email campaigns. Brands should capitalize on both channels’ effectiveness and continue growing their email and SMS lists.
2. Rely on Automations
Email and SMS automation helps brands capture every possible sale because they are sent based on users’ actions at high-intent stages of the shopping journey, such as visiting a product page or abandoning a shopping cart. Automated emails generate 37% of all email marketing sales and only 2% of sends.
As we navigate through 2025, a post-purchase messaging strategy will be critical for customer retention and capturing every possible sale. Brands should create a series of messages that enhance customers’ experiences, such as how-to, tips and tricks, and customer service-oriented messages. These can be the difference between a repeat sale and a lost customer.
3. Reinforce Brand Value
Shoppers are value-driven, but this can mean more than price. It can be a combination of differentiators such as product quality, customer service, and shipping and return policies. Brands should actively promote these differentiators on websites, email messages, and social media platforms. Constant reinforcement can help shoppers see the overall value, even if a brand and its products aren’t the lowest prices.
Looking ahead
In the best-case scenario, geopolitical tensions will stabilize, inflation will recede, and consumer confidence will rise. Worst case, we enter a full-blown recession causing economic ripples around the globe. In either case, ecommerce is strong and resilient. Brands making the effort now to prove their value to consumers and to create a stellar purchase experience will be the ones that grow during these challenging times. We did it before, we’ll do it again.
»» This article originally appeared on Martechvibe
The Retail (Blue)Sky is Falling — Week of April 14
Here is a collection of ecommerce and retail industry articles I found interesting and some correlating Bluesky posts from the week.
Ecommerce and retail stories that caught my attention, plus, some of my Bluesky posts from this week.
Retail & ecommerce stories that caught my eye
Friday: US Wine Industry ‘Crushed’ by Trump Tariffs, Canadian Trade Retaliation
Thursday: Temu is in big trade war trouble
Wednesday: Survey: Consumers to prioritize lowest prices in coming months
Wednesday: Michaels looks to fill void left by Party City; expands balloons, party supplies
bluesky posts of the week
No one is immune retailwire.com/us-wine-indu... #ecommerce #retail #tariffs #wine #economy
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) April 18, 2025 at 11:08 AM
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De minimis is coming to an end in two short weeks. qz.com/temu-amazon-... #ecommerce #temu #deminimis #retail #tariffs
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) April 17, 2025 at 6:33 PM
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Lowe's ... It's in the game! chainstoreage.com/lowes-extend... #Ecommerce #retail #culture #gaming #marketing #lowes
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) April 15, 2025 at 1:00 PM
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Shoppers seeking value everywhere! Personally, I feel food quality has gone down while prices have increased to the point that I don't even want to go out anymore. retailwire.com/us-diners-sw... #retail #consumers #economy #dining #ecommerce
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) April 15, 2025 at 12:57 PM
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The Retail (Blue)Sky is Falling — Week of April 7
Here is a collection of ecommerce and retail industry articles I found interesting and some correlating Bluesky posts from the week.
Ecommerce and retail stories that caught my attention, plus, some of my Bluesky posts from this week.
Retail & ecommerce stories that caught my eye
Thursday: Most consumers jump brands after 2 negative experiences
Wednesday: China slams US with 84% tariff after new wave of Trump levies: Live updates
Wednesday: Amazon Reportedly Canceling Wholesale Orders From Asia Due to Tariffs
Tuesday: US companies are adding tariff surcharges to customer bills: ‘New norm in Trump economy’
bluesky posts of the week
Nearly 1/4 will stop purchasing after just one bad experience, 70% after two! Customer service is a differentiator! Also, create value-added post-purchase email series — it works! www.retailcustomerexperience.com/news/most-co... #EmailMarketing #emailgeeks #customerservice #retail #ecommerce
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) April 11, 2025 at 11:52 AM
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There won't be a trade war, the world will bow to us, it'll be fixed day 1, they say. I say, you failed to recognize our economic reliance on global partners. You could've chosen a methodical approach instead of tanking the economy. So, who blinks 1st? #tariffs #ecommerce #tradewar #retail
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) April 9, 2025 at 9:36 AM
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Let the surcharges begin. I believe that calling it a surcharge gives companies an excuse to raise prices — legit or not — without having to face the same blow-back that simply raising prices would. www.financialexpress.com/trending/us-... #tariffs #retail #ecommerce #economy
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) April 8, 2025 at 12:30 PM
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Yesterday was busy. Did anything happen? Unrelated, people are worried about tariffs (sarcastic) chainstoreage.com/consumers-se... #ecommerce #tariffs #retail #business #economy
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) April 8, 2025 at 12:28 PM
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The Retail (Blue)Sky is Falling — Week of March 31
Here is a collection of retail industry articles I found interesting and some correlating Bluesky posts from the week.
Ecommerce and retail stories that caught my attention, plus, some of my Bluesky posts from this week.
Retail & ecommerce stories that caught my eye
Friday: Kroger Expands Private Label With Trendy New Offerings
Friday: Fashion industry reacts to sweeping tariff changes
Thursday: De minimis trade loophole that boosted Chinese online retailers to end May 2
Wednesday: Building Loyalty, Not Just Sales: Key Takeaways From Shoptalk 2025
Tuesday: How brands are falling behind in customer engagement
bluesky posts of the week
Will this give secondhand commerce an added boost? www.retaildive.com/news/trump-t... #tariffs #ecommerce #fashion #retail #deminimis
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) April 4, 2025 at 2:09 PM
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More investment in private labels as shoppers make value-driven purchases retailwire.com/kroger-our-b... #Ecommerce #CPG #Grocery #retail #economy
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) April 4, 2025 at 2:06 PM
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Calling all agencies, join me at Web Agency Summit 5 on April 10 as I talk about how agencies can increase their clients’ sales and retention by using the right automations. REGISTER HERE »» atarim.io/summit/?utm_... #Ecommerce #retail #emailgeeks #Agencies #EailMarketing
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) April 4, 2025 at 9:24 AM
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SO MANY ❓: » Is this the end of the Temu & Shein business model in the US, or a temporary hiccup? » Will this impact TikTok Shop for US users? » Does this make TikTok a less likely acquisition target or is it a ploy to speed up a sale? www.cnbc.com/2025/04/03/d... #Ecommerce #tariffs #retail
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) April 3, 2025 at 11:13 AM
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Most interesting parts of this: 👉 54% of surveyed consumers say they ignore brand names 👉 57% have switched to private label alternatives due to cost 👉 55% think the quality is comparable to branded ones chainstoreage.com/news-briefs/... #Ecommerce #Retail #Marketing #Economy
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) April 2, 2025 at 3:49 PM
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I am pretty sure this is frowned upon by CAN-SPAM. Also, not a good way to engage me personally. You can do better email marketers!!! #EmailMarketing #EmailGeeks #Ecommerce #Marketing
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) April 1, 2025 at 4:20 PM
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A look back on COVID-19’s impact on retail. It feels like yesterday! www.retaildive.com/news/look-ba... #Ecommerce #Retail
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) March 31, 2025 at 7:54 PM
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The Retail (Blue)Sky is Falling — Week of March 24
Here is a collection of retail industry articles I found interesting and some correlating Bluesky posts from the week.
Ecommerce and retail stories that caught my attention, plus, some of my Bluesky posts from this week.
Retail & ecommerce stories that caught my eye
Friday: Numerator Breaks Down Who Is Shopping At Target
Thursday: Walmart Sheds $22 Billion in Valuation as US Consumer Confidence Hits 12-Year Low
Wednesday: Consumer Edge: ‘Value-driven’ shopping reshaping retail industry
Wednesday: How Private-label Beauty Quietly Became Sexy
Tuesday: Consumers' expectations for the future at a 12-year low
Monday: China is turning up pressure on Walmart. That could mean higher prices for US customers (CNN)
bluesky posts of the week
I recently sat down w/ Jordan Welch to discuss his ecommerce successes & failures, marketing, lessons learned from going broke, tips for success, and his chess game. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. youtu.be/0vlA57yXcyk?... #Ecommerce #retail #Shopify #dropshipping #Omnisend
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) March 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
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Consumer confidence drops again. No surprise here! The administration seems incredibly inept thus far and has no sense or care of what the average American is dealing with. Don't expect this to change. www.conference-board.org/topics/consu... #Ecommerce #Retail #economy #ConsumerConfidence
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) March 25, 2025 at 10:53 AM
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Of course they said no. The Chinese govt would rather press their domestic suppliers to accept fewer sales to make US consumers feel pain. It's a long-term strategy to destabilize the US & make the USD a less-desired global standard currency. www.cnn.com/2025/03/24/b... #Ecommerce #retail #tariffs
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) March 24, 2025 at 9:26 AM
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The Retail (Blue)Sky is Falling — Week of March 17
Here is a collection of retail industry articles I found interesting and some correlating Bluesky posts from the week.
Ecommerce and retail stories that caught my attention, plus, some of my Bluesky posts from this week.
Retail & ecommerce stories that caught my eye
Walmart expands premium beauty options
Home Depot to host 'Spring Black Friday' event in April (Chain Store Age)
Beyond Sells Majority Stake in Zulily for $5 Million (Total Retail)
Macy’s Launches Arch Studio: A Strategic Addition to Private Label Portfolio (OmniTalk)
Amazon uses Big Spring Sale to promote Amazon Haul (Retail Dive)
Amazon, Walmart to host spring savings events (Chain Store Age)
Costco follows Walmart's lead, pressuring China suppliers to absorb U.S. tariffs (Quartz)
bluesky posts of the week
Consumers are cautious, many are feeling very nervous/scared. I expect it to get worse before it gets better. www.cnbc.com/2025/03/17/r... #Ecommerce #Retail #EmailMarketing #Economy
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) March 17, 2025 at 11:13 AM
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I know mine is. chainstoreage.com/consumer-sen... #Ecommerce #retail #Consumers #EmailMarketing #Marketing
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) March 17, 2025 at 11:26 AM
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Brands attempting to capture every last sale possible while they can. For Amazon, can they convince value-shoppers there truly is "more to Prime?" My question: how much will they push Haul during this event? chainstoreage.com/amazon-walma... #retail #ecommerce #amazon #ecoonomy
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) March 19, 2025 at 2:28 PM
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Per my previous post, I now have the answer. Most shoppers have not tried Haul (I personally think the UX is poor) but this may be a good chance to pull some of those Temu shoppers to Amazon. www.retaildive.com/news/amazon-... #Ecommerce #retail #amazon #emailgeek #marketing
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) March 20, 2025 at 9:59 AM
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This makes sense. Auto parts stores have been feeling serious pressure from online stores for some time, especially Amazon. www.retailcustomerexperience.com/news/advance... #Ecommerce #retail
— Greg Zakowicz (@gregzakowicz.com) March 21, 2025 at 1:21 PM
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How to Combine Email and Social Media Marketing Efforts to Maximize ROI
Brands are expected to spend $247 billion on social media marketing in 2024 to fight for consumers’ attention. With people spending more than two hours a day on social media, brands would be foolish not to spend their ad dollars on social platforms, right?
According to recent data, brands may have it all wrong. For every dollar businesses spend on social media, they get $5 back. Even though this is considered a good return on investment (ROI), other marketing channels, such as email, perform seven times better.
Email marketing has a ROI of 3600 percent worldwide and 7200 percent in the U.S. This means that businesses get $36 for every dollar they spend on email marketing, or $72 if they are based in the U.S.
Brands are expected to spend $247 billion on social media marketing in 2024 to fight for consumers’ attention. With people spending more than two hours a day on social media, brands would be foolish not to spend their ad dollars on social platforms, right?
According to recent data, brands may have it all wrong. For every dollar businesses spend on social media, they get $5 back. Even though this is considered a good return on investment (ROI), other marketing channels, such as email, perform seven times better.
Email marketing has a ROI of 3600 percent worldwide and 7200 percent in the U.S. This means that businesses get $36 for every dollar they spend on email marketing, or $72 if they are based in the U.S.
People don’t open their social media apps to view ads; they’re just a part of the experience. With email, it’s the opposite. People choose to receive them. When they open their inboxes, they’re looking to shop and you have their attention.
Email Marketing Outperforms Social Media Marketing
The ROI difference alone isn't the only metric that proves how email marketing outperforms social media. Consider the following: