Welcome to the V Spot, your home of the eCommerce nearly-news, where every story is a cautionary tale, a business case, or just deeply triggering.
This week: Amazon went full “Dad at the BBQ” and told Prime users they’re doing just fine, while secretly raising prices. Meanwhile, TikTok influencers are unionizing, your favorite DTC brands are pivoting to... airport kiosks, and Retail Media is still being explained like it’s quantum physics.
Oh—and if you're wondering what the next big thing in innovation is, apparently it’s... bringing back physical catalogs. So dust off your 2002 Ikea stash. The future is here, and it’s aggressively retro.
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Let’s dive in before Shein sues us too.
Amazon Prime Gets Pricier… Again
Source: Retail Dive / CNBC
Amazon has “quietly” raised the price of ad-free Prime Video to $11.99/month. Because nothing says transparency like hiding price hikes behind Prime perks. Bezos is somewhere in space cackling while you scroll past the 45th trailer for Reacher just to watch Mrs. Maisel reruns.
TikTok Creators Are Unionizing
Source: The Verge / TechCrunch
In an unexpected plot twist, TikTok influencers are forming a union. Finally, someone’s standing up for the right to lip-sync for a living wage. But let’s be real, negotiating with ByteDance sounds about as effective as asking Elon to chill.
Walmart Tops... Everyone
Source: Retail TouchPoints / WSJ
Walmart’s earnings crushed it again. Why? Because they sell groceries, meds, and now ads. Basically, Walmart is a hedge fund with a deli counter. Every DTC brand CEO should be forced to do a 3-month rotation on the Walmart floor, Survivor-style.
Revolve Launches... A Loyalty Program
Source: Glossy- Yeah I read glossy, big whoop
Revolve is “revolutionizing” customer engagement, with a loyalty program. Because nothing says fashion-forward like a points system that looks like it came out of a 2008 hotel chain CRM. Bravo.
Nordstrom Bets Big on In-Store Experience
Source: Modern Retail
Nordstrom execs say “stores are the new experience.” Cute. That would be convincing if the men’s department didn’t still smell like a Hugo Boss cologne sample from 2004.
Macy’s Turns Flagship Stores Into Pick-Up Points
Source: RetailWire
Macy’s, in its latest bid to stay relevant, is converting large-format stores into pickup centers. So basically… the mall is now a locker. Who had “department stores becoming Amazon returns depots” on their bingo card?
Target Says "No More Woke" (Sort of)
Source: Business Insider
Target claims it’s moving away from “culturally sensitive merchandise.” Translation: “We’re scared of TikTok backlash and Fox News headlines, so enjoy your beige basics, America.”
Crocs Buys Sneaker Brand for $250M
Source: Reuters
Crocs is buying sneaker brand HeyDude for a quarter billion dollars. Because apparently, the world really needed more foam-based footwear. We’ve entered the Post-Sneaker Sneaker era.
Meta's New AI Wants to Sell You Things You Already Bought
Source: PYMNTS / NYT
Meta’s new AI is designed to “predict what consumers want.” Fun fact: 86% of users were shown ads for items they bought last week. Mark, if you’re listening, no, I don’t need another garlic press. Or a 5-pack of boxer briefs. I’m good.
FINAL Story: Starbucks Fall Menu Drops (Again)
Source: Marketing Dive
Starbucks released its Pumpkin Spiced menu... in June. Because nothing says seasonal authenticity like a cinnamon-syrup apocalypse in a 29°C heatwave. It’s not marketing. It’s masochism.
That’s it for The V Spot – your eCommerce nearly-news. Powered by Omnisend: the ESP for marketers who need more revenue and less “WTF is this interface?” Sign up. Send more. Stress less.
See you next week – unless Bolt IPOs, in which case we’re buying a yacht.
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