January 10th, 2022: Walmart leads in click and collect and curbside orders, Amazon’s potential web stores product, Fanatics buys Topps trading card business, and the U.S. retail sales growth
Rick Watson Rick Watson

January 10th, 2022: Walmart leads in click and collect and curbside orders, Amazon’s potential web stores product, Fanatics buys Topps trading card business, and the U.S. retail sales growth

It’s January 10th, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!

Today on the show:

  1. Walmart drove 25% of click and collect and curbside orders in 2021

  2. Could Amazon build a new web stores product in the coming years?

  3. Fanatics is buying Topps trading card business in a nod to the digital future

  4. Mastercard report shows U.S. retail sales grew 8.5% in November and December

And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.

For more news from Rick, check out:

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/

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January 3rd, 2022: Top 5 stories of 2021!
Rick Watson Rick Watson

January 3rd, 2022: Top 5 stories of 2021!

It’s January 3rd, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - your essential eCommerce Digest!

Today on our show we’re going to do something a little bit different and review 2021’s top 5 stories, as seen by my LinkedIn feed:

Number 5. Supply Chain Crisis hits everyone hard.

Number 4. Retail Stores strike back

Number 3. Are Target and Walmart the New Malls?

Number 2. Investors Look to Split Up Several Large Retailers

Number 1. Shopify Executive Departures Cause Concern at the Company

For more news from Rick, check out:

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/

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December 27th, 2021: A New Consumer Probe, Nordstrom's Off-Price Rack Business, McDonald's Sells Software to Mastercard, and Shopify's New Board Member
Rick Watson Rick Watson

December 27th, 2021: A New Consumer Probe, Nordstrom's Off-Price Rack Business, McDonald's Sells Software to Mastercard, and Shopify's New Board Member

It’s December 27th, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - your essential eCommerce Digest!

Today on our show:

  1. Could a new consumer probe blunt the rise of buy now pay later?

  2. Nordstrom is looking to split its off-price Rack business

  3. McDonald’s sells software provider Dynamic Yield to Mastercard in a warning to both retailers and technology companies

  4. Shopify board adds Instacart’s CEO Fidji Simo - What’s the Plan here?

And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.

For more news from Rick, check out:

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/

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December 20th, 2021: Meta and Shopify, Carolyn Everson’s early departure, new marketplaces, and buy now, pay later in 2022
Rick Watson Rick Watson

December 20th, 2021: Meta and Shopify, Carolyn Everson’s early departure, new marketplaces, and buy now, pay later in 2022

It’s December 20th, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!

Today on the show:

  1. Is Meta Taking Aim at Shopify?

  2. Instacart’s President Carolyn Everson Departs After Just 3 Months

  3. What’s With All the New Marketplaces?

  4. What Does 2022 Have In Store for Buy Now, Pay Later?

And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.

For more news from Rick, check out:

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/

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December 13th, 2021: Amazon’s profitability, activist investors and Kohl’s, Allbirds Q3 losses, and the state of the supply chain issue
Rick Watson Rick Watson

December 13th, 2021: Amazon’s profitability, activist investors and Kohl’s, Allbirds Q3 losses, and the state of the supply chain issue

It’s December 13th, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!

Today on the show:

  1. Is Amazon Fooling the Market About Its Profitability?

  2. Kohl’s Is Next Up In a Long Line of Retailers Targeted by Activist Investors

  3. Allbirds’ Q3 Losses Prompt Debate Over Its Future

  4. Supply Chain Issues Will Take Longer To Sort Out Than Many Expect

And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.

For more news from Rick, check out:

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/

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December 6th, 2021: PopSugar partners with Target, Amazon’s sales soar, the Metaverse, and Amazon’s third-party logistics market.
Rick Watson Rick Watson

December 6th, 2021: PopSugar partners with Target, Amazon’s sales soar, the Metaverse, and Amazon’s third-party logistics market.

It’s December 6th, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!

Today on the show:

  1. PopSugar partners with Target for new fitness line

  2. Cyber Monday sales drop but Amazon’s sales soar

  3. What’s really going on with the Metaverse?

  4. Is Amazon already king of the third-party logistics market?

And the Investor Minute which contains four items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.

For more news from Rick, check out:

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/

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December 1st, 2021: Commercetools’ New Acquisition, Cyber Week, UPS and FedEx Holiday Crunch, and Nike Invests in the Metaverse
Rick Watson Rick Watson

December 1st, 2021: Commercetools’ New Acquisition, Cyber Week, UPS and FedEx Holiday Crunch, and Nike Invests in the Metaverse

It’s December 1st, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!

Today on the show:

  1. eCommerce Platform Commercetools Takes Aim at the Mid-Market with a New Acquisition

  2. Tracking the Cyber Week Winners and Losers

  3. UPS and FedEx Looking Good for the Holiday Crunch

  4. Nike Invests in the Metaverse with a Roblox Partnership

And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.

For more news from Rick, check out:

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/

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November 22nd, 2021: Shopify’s Hydrogen Custom Storefront Framework, Walmart’s Q3 Earnings, Amazon’s New Payment Options, and Target Continues Great Operational Execution
Rick Watson Rick Watson

November 22nd, 2021: Shopify’s Hydrogen Custom Storefront Framework, Walmart’s Q3 Earnings, Amazon’s New Payment Options, and Target Continues Great Operational Execution

It’s November 22nd, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!

Today on the show:

  1. Shopify releases its hydrogen custom storefront framework - but more is needed

  2. Walmart’s Q3 earnings highlight its grocery gains

  3. Amazon introduces new payment options and delivers an ultimatum to Visa in the UK

  4. Target continues great operational execution triggered by growth in same day services

And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.

For more news from Rick, check out:

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/

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November 15th, 2021: Saks eCommerce split, Square and the future of currency and payment, the status of livestreaming in the U.S., and American Eagle Outfitters acquires logistics capabilities
Rick Watson Rick Watson

November 15th, 2021: Saks eCommerce split, Square and the future of currency and payment, the status of livestreaming in the U.S., and American Eagle Outfitters acquires logistics capabilities

It’s November 15th, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!

Today on the show:

  1. Saks eCommerce split sounds worse every day: What makes it so bad?

  2. Square stakes its claim on the future of currency and payments

  3. What’s the status of livestreaming in the United States?

  4. Retailer American Eagle Outfitters continues to acquire logistics capabilities - should other retailers be paying attention?

And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.

For more news from Rick, check out:

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/

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November 8th, 2021: Supply Constraints Slow Down Advertising, Bed Bath & Beyond Signs With Kroger, Amazon’s Challenging Earnings, and Shopify’s Fulfillment Strategy
Rick Watson Rick Watson

November 8th, 2021: Supply Constraints Slow Down Advertising, Bed Bath & Beyond Signs With Kroger, Amazon’s Challenging Earnings, and Shopify’s Fulfillment Strategy

It’s November 8th, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!

Today on the show:

  1. Advertising is slowing down with supply constraints

  2. Bed Bath & Beyond signs a big partnership with Kroger

  3. Amazon has surprisingly challenging earnings

  4. Shopify’s fulfillment strategy remains a mystery

And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.

For more news from Rick, check out:

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/

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October 25th, 2021: J.B. Hunt’s shipping costs, instant delivery startups, Instacart acquires Caper, and shoppers may spend more this holiday season.
Rick Watson Rick Watson

October 25th, 2021: J.B. Hunt’s shipping costs, instant delivery startups, Instacart acquires Caper, and shoppers may spend more this holiday season.

It’s October 25th, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!

Today on the show:

  1. Transportation company J.B. Hunt looks for shipping costs to keep rising through 2022.

  2. Are instant delivery startups the new investment bubble?

  3. Instacart’s new acquisition Caper means it’s still searching for its next act.

  4. New data suggests that shoppers may spend more and sooner this holiday season.

And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.

For more news from Rick, check out:

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/

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October 18th, 2021: Macy’s eCommerce business, Michael’s eCommerce marketplace, Thrasio delays SPAC deal, and the port delays prompt big-company workarounds.
Rick Watson Rick Watson

October 18th, 2021: Macy’s eCommerce business, Michael’s eCommerce marketplace, Thrasio delays SPAC deal, and the port delays prompt big-company workarounds.

It’s October 18th, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!

Today on the show:

  1. Will Macy’s be forced to spin off its eCommerce business?

  2. Arts and crafts chain store, Michael’s, looks to launch its own eCommerce marketplace.

  3. Amazon aggregator, Thrasio, delays SPAC deal as executives exit.

  4. Port delays prompt big-company workarounds and government action.

And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.

For more news from Rick, check out:

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/

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October 11th, 2021: Amazon and Target get a head start on the holidays, Google updates its eCommerce strategy, Home Depot signs up with Walmart GoLocal, and Rent the Runway files for IPO
Rick Watson Rick Watson

October 11th, 2021: Amazon and Target get a head start on the holidays, Google updates its eCommerce strategy, Home Depot signs up with Walmart GoLocal, and Rent the Runway files for IPO

It’s October 11th, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!

Today on the show:

  1. The holidays are starting early this year at Amazon and Target.

  2. Google is looking to update its eCommerce strategy, but is it enough?

  3. Home Depot signs up with Walmart GoLocal for same day delivery.

  4. Rent the Runway files for IPO, but the road ahead looks difficult.

And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.

For more news from Rick, check out:

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/

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October 4th, 2021: Amazon’s fall showcase, Bloomingdale’s new Bloomie stores, Content Play from Pinterest and Albertsons, and an IOU Christmas?
Rick Watson Rick Watson

October 4th, 2021: Amazon’s fall showcase, Bloomingdale’s new Bloomie stores, Content Play from Pinterest and Albertsons, and an IOU Christmas?

It’s October 4th, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!

Today on the show:

  1. Amazon’s fall product event showcases its creativity.

  2. What do Bloomingdale’s new Bloomie stores add to the new small-format retail trend?

  3. Pinterest and Albertsons hook up in an interesting content play.

  4. Is the eCommerce world headed for an “IOU Christmas”? And what to do about it.

And the Investor Minute which contains six items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.

For more news from Rick, check out:

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/

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September 27th, 2021: Chewy’s new marketplace for veterinarians, Kroger doubles down on Instacart, Shopify expands its cross-border services, and FedEx’s first quarter 2022
Rick Watson Rick Watson

September 27th, 2021: Chewy’s new marketplace for veterinarians, Kroger doubles down on Instacart, Shopify expands its cross-border services, and FedEx’s first quarter 2022

It’s September 27th, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!

Today on the show:

  1. Online pet retailer, Chewy, launches a new marketplace for veterinarians

  2. Kroger doubles down on Instacart with a new partnership

  3. Shopify’s Markets offering expands its cross-border services

  4. FedEx first quarter 2022 earnings point to structural issues for the firm

And the Investor Minute which contains six items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.

For more news from Rick, check out:

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/

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September 20th, 2021: Shopify, Big Boxes, Malls, and Mailchimp
Rick Watson Rick Watson

September 20th, 2021: Shopify, Big Boxes, Malls, and Mailchimp

It’s September 20th, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!

Today on the show:

  1. Shopify invests in marketing provider Yotpo

  2. Top Amazon seller Packable looks to go public via reverse merger

  3. Are Walmart and Target the biggest beneficiaries of the decline of malls in America?

  4. Intuit’s acquisition of marketing provider Mailchimp continues its move into eCommerce

For more news from Rick, check out:

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/

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September 13th, 2021: Disney’s Retail Locations, Companies on a Potential Collision Course, Amazon’s Growing Interest in Planes, and the Future of Instacart
Rick Watson Rick Watson

September 13th, 2021: Disney’s Retail Locations, Companies on a Potential Collision Course, Amazon’s Growing Interest in Planes, and the Future of Instacart

It’s September 13th, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!

Today on the show:

  1. Disney is closing virtually all of its retail locations

  2. Are Square, Paypal and Shopify on a collision course?

  3. Amazon keeps investing more and more in planes

  4. Is Instacart nervous about its future?

  5. The Investor Minute which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.

For more news from Rick, check out:

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/

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September 7th, 2021: The Buy Now, Pay Later Space, CPG Brands are Testing eCommerce, The State of the Global Supply Chain, and The Investor Minute!
Rick Watson Rick Watson

September 7th, 2021: The Buy Now, Pay Later Space, CPG Brands are Testing eCommerce, The State of the Global Supply Chain, and The Investor Minute!

It’s September 7th, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!

Today on the show:

  1. The Buy Now, Pay Later space continues to heat up with Affirm and Afterpay news.

  2. Two leading CPG brands are testing eCommerce.

  3. The entire global supply chain is in the trash can, but that trash is actually a treasure for off-price retail.

  4. Finally, we have The Investor Minute which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, private equity, and IPOs.

For more news from Rick, check out:

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/

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August 30th, 2021: Macy's Turnaround Strategy, Walmart’s Delivery Service, Urban Outfitters, Amazon’s Investment in Department Stores, and the Investor Minute!
Rick Watson Rick Watson

August 30th, 2021: Macy's Turnaround Strategy, Walmart’s Delivery Service, Urban Outfitters, Amazon’s Investment in Department Stores, and the Investor Minute!

It’s August 30th, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!

Today on the show:

  1. Is Macy’s turnaround strategy working?

  2. Walmart is launching a local delivery service.

  3. Urban Outfitters is launching a second-hand clothing marketplace.

  4. Why is Amazon Investing in Department Stores?

  5. The Investor Minute!

  6. For more news from Rick, check out:

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/

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August 23rd, 2021: Wish.com, Walmart and Target’s Q2 Earnings, Instacart, and introducing The Investor Minute!
Rick Watson Rick Watson

August 23rd, 2021: Wish.com, Walmart and Target’s Q2 Earnings, Instacart, and introducing The Investor Minute!

It’s August 23rd, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - your essential eCommerce Digest!

Today on the show:

  1. Is the Wish.com marketplace in a death spiral?

  2. Walmart’s Q2 earnings highlight the continued growth of digital & eCommerce

  3. Target’s shows leverage in its model in its own Q2 earnings call, including faster growth than Walmart.

  4. What’s happening at Instacart — something special, or do they need help?

  5. And a new segment on the show! The Investor Minute. This spot highlights all the news in venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs in the North American eCommerce universe.

For more news from Rick, check out:

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/

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