December 2023 in eCommerce
Bite-size updates on what happened in eCommerce and marketing this month, to keep you ahead of the curve and inform your campaigns.
Black Friday showed a Year-on-Year Decline in Online Sales
Black Friday didn't perform as well this year compared to last, with a 1.9% drop in online sales during the peak week, according to data from IMRG. Despite this decline, it matched market expectations. Overall, November saw a 0.8% decrease in sales compared to last year, which is considered decent given the current trading conditions. Online audio sales, particularly ear pods, experienced a notable 28% increase, showcasing the success of in-demand products. Clothing started slowly in November but saw positive growth in the final week. Read expert deep dive.
European Union Agrees 'Historic' Deal on the Use of AI
The European Union has achieved an agreement to establish the first comprehensive laws governing the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Following 36 hours of negotiations, officials agreed on regulations for AI in systems like ChatGPT and facial recognition. The AI Act proposals will be subjected to a vote by the European Parliament early next year, with any resulting legislation not taking effect until at least 2025. Described as "historic" by EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, the agreement signifies the increasing integration of AI into daily business operations, suggesting it isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
TikTok Releases the 2024 Trends Report for Brands
TikTok recently released its 2024 'What's Next Trends Report,' revealing the important themes that will capture users' attention next year. Through 'trend signals,' TikTok has pinpointed emerging patterns and shifts in user behaviours. This information is crucial for brands to shape their long-term content strategies effectively. It's also a noteworthy step for TikTok, especially since many businesses are still figuring out how to use the platform for marketing and building stronger connections with their customers.
Meta Is Ready to Launch Threads App in the EU
Meta is gearing up to introduce its Threads app in the EU by the end of the year, reaffirming its dedication to expanding its Twitter-look-alike microblogging service. While Threads currently doesn't display ads, brands can still expand their audiences through influencer collaborations. It's important to recognise that ads on Threads are on the horizon and will likely play a substantial role in the app's overall revenue once they are implemented.
Latest News
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Whisper It…but eCommerce Might Just Be Back
30 Oct 2024 Andy Mulcahy, Strategy and Insight Director, IMRGECommerce has been in the doldrums for a few years now, with negative revenue growth, lower conversion and dips in site traffic becoming an accepted part of market conditions; that has been the post-p ... -
Meet Our Exhibitors: BigCommerce's Mark Adams
02 Oct 2024Mark Adams, senior vice president and general manager of EMEA at eCommerce platform BigCommerce talks to us about the industry trends he was excited to see during the show and the exciting development ... -
Meet Our Exhibitors: Nibble's CEO Rosie Bailey
02 Oct 2024Rosie Bailey, Founder & CEO at AI negotiation platform Nibble, talks about what she found most insightful from the show and the hottest trends driving developments in eCommerce and marketing. -
Meet Our Exhibitors: SCAYLE's Craig Smith
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Anna Sutton, Co-founder & CEO of data and analytics platform The Data Refinery talks about the challenges eCommerce retailers are facing ahead of peak season and the importance of industry events in b ...
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Harshal Shah, CEO and Founder of virtual assistant service ECOMVA talks about the trends he found most interesting during the show and his best pieces of advice as we head on into peak season.
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Hugo Borensztein, Co-founder & CEO of 3D visualisation tool Omi, talks about what he’s most looking forward to from this year’s eCommerce Expo and Technology for Marketing and the advice he’d give for ...
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Sam Theakston, Director at B2 Agency, discusses what he’s most looking forward to at the events and the critical challenges facing eCommerce retailers ahead of peak season.
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Eva Palatinsky, Founder and CEO of Globalfy, shares what excites her most in the current eCommerce and marketing landscape and the top advice for newcomers to the fields.
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Zaria Parvez: Senior Global Social Media Manager at Duolingo – Creativity, Community, and Social Media Strategy
11 Sep 2024 Laura DazonMeet Zaria Parvez, the mastermind behind Duolingo's viral social media success, who grew their TikTok from 50K to over 11M followers. Discover how she transformed Duolingo into a social-first brand, c ... -
Lucas van der Schalk, CEO at circular plastics solution provider Corplex highlights the biggest trends and challenges within eCommerce and marketing and what’s exciting him the most in those industrie ...
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We spoke to Dorota Wróbel, Chief R&D at digital marketplace G2A on what she’s looking forward to most about the show and the importance of bringing the community together at the event.
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Is The Future of eCommerce Looking a Bit Brighter?
10 Sep 2024 Andy Mulcahy, Strategy and Insight Director, IMRGIf you are a regular reader of this column, you’ve probably gotten used to the updates often containing news that don’t paint a great picture of eCommerce performance. But I’m just the messenger! I ca ... -
Gavin Warwick, European Partnership Manager at supply chain software provider SmartFreight explains what’s exciting him about the industries today as well as the trends helping shape the future.
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Meet Our Exhibitors: Gnatta's CEO Jack Barmby
05 Sep 2024Jack Barmby, CEO of communication tech provider Gnatta, discusses the industry trends he’s most looking forward to seeing at eCommerce Expo and Technology for Marketing this year as well as the bigges ... -
Beth Chapman, Managing Director at global delivery solution provider Starlinks Global talks to us about what she’s most looking forward to at the show and her advice for newcomers entering the industr ...
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Georgia Leybourne, CMO at eCommerce inventory and order management software business Linnworks discusses the things she’s most looking forward to at the show and the importance of the event in bringin ...
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Meet Our Exhibitors: Ecommpay's Moshe Winegarten
05 Sep 2024Moshe Winegarten, Chief Revenue Officer at payment service provider Ecommpay talks about the biggest challenges facing eCommerce retailers ahead of peak season. -
Meet Our Exhibitors: SnapFulfil's Chris White
05 Sep 2024Chris White, EMEA Chief Revenue Officer at warehouse management system SnapFulfil to discuss the key challenges he’s seeing in his sector and why events like eCommerce Expo and Technology for Marketin ... -
Meet Our Exhibitors: Ucraft's Founder Gev Balyan
05 Sep 2024Gev Balyan, Founder of eCommerce website builder Ucraft tells us what he’s looking forward to most from eCommerce Expo and Technology for Marketing this year and why the shows are so important in brin ... -
Pratik Padhiar, Director of New Business at digital marketing communications agency h2o Creative talks to us about the biggest challenges online retailers are facing right now and what’s exciting them ...
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Meet Adam Ull, Global Product Information Lead at H&M, who is transforming commerce by using data and AI to enhance customer experiences across digital channels. He discusses building agile systems an ...
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As we approach this year’s eCommerce Expo and Technology for Marketing events, Na’ama Sheba, Chief Marketing Officer at B2B payments provider Mondu discusses the hottest trends in eCommerce payments r ...
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In the ever-evolving world of eCommerce, UK merchants must adopt strategic approaches to ensure sustainable growth both at home and abroad. In our recent webinar featuring Emily McMorran, CX Lead at w ...
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5 Top Tips for Speaking at eCommerce Expo & Technology for Marketing
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A new source of information for businesses wanting to expand and increase their customer base.
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Health & Beauty: A Bright Spot For eCommerce
30 Jul 2024 Andy Mulcahy, Strategy and Insight Director, IMRGWhat a miserable year it’s proving to be for eCommerce. Revenue has performed well below expectation, site traffic overall has seen barely any growth in 2024 so far and conversion remains suppressed. ... -
LeMieux's Head of eCommerce On International Expansion Strategies
28 Jul 2024 Laura DazonShaun Loughlin, Head of eCommerce at LeMieux, shares his 20-year journey in retail and eCommerce, emphasising international expansion strategies. -
Building Strong Partnerships Between Retailers and Marketplaces for Excellent Customer Service
27 Jul 2024Discover how Deliveroo enhances grocery delivery by partnering with retailers, offering logistics, and advanced tech integration, ensuring fast and reliable customer service. -
Is Discounting Usage Intensifying in eCommerce?
26 Jun 2024 Andy Mulcahy, Strategy and Insight Director, IMRGExplore how increasing discount usage in eCommerce is impacting revenue growth in 2024. Discover the trends, challenges, and strategies retailers are employing to navigate tough trading conditions.