The hottest E-commerce Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

Is Ssense hurting the cool-clothes ecosystem?

Blackbird Spyplane • 4795 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🪞 Fashion & Beauty E-commerce Fashion Trends
  1. Ssense's heavy focus on data drives its business decisions and influences small designers with large wholesale orders.
  2. Ssense's pricing strategies, like frequent markdowns and reliance on algorithms, impact both small retailers and independent designers.
  3. Ssense's practices raise concerns about the impact on the cool-clothes ecosystem, from the narrative of brands to the market dynamics of the fashion industry.
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Top 5 US-China Tech Stories

ChinaTalk • 637 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🕹 Technology E-commerce EVs Semiconductors AI
  1. TikTok has defied early predictions of regulatory restrictions in the US due to vested interests and political dynamics.
  2. The splintering of cross-border VC firms like Sequoia and GGV Capital is a tangible impact of US-China relations.
  3. Chinese EVs are dominating globally, posing a challenge to traditional automakers and highlighting the US infrastructure gap.

The AI is eating itself

Platformer • 3419 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
🕹 Technology AI Social media E-commerce AR Cybersecurity
  1. Generative AI is dramatically impacting the internet with a variety of changes to platforms and services.
  2. The increasing use of AI-generated content poses challenges such as misinformation, disruption, and a dilution of human wisdom.
  3. Research shows that relying on AI systems to generate data can lead to degradation and collapse of models, raising concerns for the future of the web.

Briefing: Instagram nudges, Stripe retries, Chrome AI

Department of Product • 275 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Product Management AI Browsers Startups E-commerce
  1. Instagram is implementing a new safety feature to deter teens from night-time app use.
  2. Many companies struggle to train employees on GenAI tools, but new visual AI workflow tools like VectorShift aim to simplify the process for product teams.
  3. Netflix's success in ad-funded plans raises questions on whether this model will extend to other product categories like SaaS.

New cracks emerge in Elon Musk's Twitter

Platformer • 3164 implied HN points • 24 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Social media Software E-commerce Search Engines AI
  1. Twitter employees faced disruptions like Slack going down and Jira not working, causing frustration and questions about payment.
  2. Elon Musk announced plans to open source Twitter's algorithm, but doubts arise among employees about the transparency and actual release of the code.
  3. Twitter's performance has been degrading, with issues like increased latency during peak usage times, including events like the Super Bowl and a Twitter outage in Asia.

What Are Companies Doing With Generative AI? A Tale Of 3 Strategies.

High ROI Data Science • 294 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Retail Data Strategy E-commerce
  1. Companies are using Generative AI tools to decrease training times and improve customer service in retail.
  2. Some companies are implementing Generative AI without a clear business problem statement, leading to undefined outcomes.
  3. Retailers like Walmart are strategically using Generative AI to change customer workflows, improve online shopping experiences, and increase revenue.

Here’s What Happened: Paid Social rises, TikTok Bill passes & LinkedIn’s UGC Success

The Social Juice • 24 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Social media Marketing AI E-commerce Advertising
  1. Paid Social witnessed significant growth with new updates and features, benefiting marketers looking to leverage social media platforms for advertising.
  2. Legislation around apps like TikTok and changes in social media platforms, such as Instagram and LinkedIn, continue to impact the digital landscape and user experience.
  3. LinkedIn offering 250 AI courses for free until April, showcasing a commitment to providing educational opportunities and fostering skill development among users.

The Health of the US Consumer: A DataScore Interview with NielsenIQ

The Data Score • 59 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
💼 Business Data-driven Decision Making Consumer behavior E-commerce Market Trends
  1. The health of the US consumer in 2024 is complex, influenced by both tailwinds and headwinds, with different consumer cohorts showing varied spending behaviors.
  2. Low-income consumers are spending a higher percentage of their income on e-commerce, indicating potential shifts in spending habits influenced by factors like age demographics and value-seeking behavior.
  3. Analysis of specific industries like travel, home improvement, pet products, and fast fashion reveals changing consumer behaviors, highlighting trends such as a shift to home-related spending and considerations for subscription services like online streaming and pet supply shopping.

Amazon’s Strategic Moves to Counter Temu’s Competitive Edge: The BuyBox Innovation

Gad’s Newsletter • 41 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
💼 Business E-commerce Competition Consumer behavior Strategic Planning
  1. Amazon is facing competition from companies like Temu, pushing them to innovate strategy like introducing a second BuyBox.
  2. The BuyBox tool simplifies shopping by highlighting one listing, and its introduction boosts marketplace orders, lowers entry barriers for sellers, and can lead to lower prices and higher quality for consumers.
  3. Self-preferencing of Amazon's products in search results may have mixed effects, impacting competition, innovation, consumer choice, and marketplace dynamics.

Best layoffs of the year

SuperJoost Playlist • 157 implied HN points • 22 Nov 23
💼 Business Layoffs Gaming AI E-commerce Blockchain
  1. Widespread job cuts for short-term profits can hurt innovation and diversity in industries.
  2. Reducing costs through layoffs can improve profitability in the short term, but may harm long-term innovation and diversity.
  3. Layoffs in the gaming industry can hinder new talent entry, reduce diversity, and push innovation to smaller, riskier firms.

Amazon's $43B ad business, explained

SatPost by Trung Phan • 329 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
💼 Business Advertising E-commerce Digital Tech Investing
  1. Amazon's ad business has grown significantly, reaching a revenue run rate of $43 billion annually, surpassing other social media platforms.
  2. Amazon's shift towards embracing ads was influenced by the need to reduce dependence on Google search slots and utilize its valuable first-party transaction data.
  3. Amazon ads have become highly profitable and could rival its AWS business in terms of generating absolute profits, signaling a significant shift in the digital advertising landscape.

The Use of Scarcity Cues in E-Commerce: Impact on User Experience and Trust

UX Psychology • 218 implied HN points • 05 Oct 23
💼 Business E-commerce User Experience Psychology Marketing Research
  1. Online retailers often use scarcity cues like countdown timers and limited quantity messages to create urgency, but research suggests they can harm user experience and trust.
  2. Psychological theories show that scarcity can make products seem more valuable, yet artificial scarcity cues in marketing can annoy users and erode trust.
  3. Recent research found that scarcity cues, especially time-based ones, can lead to negative emotions, frustration, and reduced user trust, highlighting the need for transparent and verifiable messaging in e-commerce.

Here's What Happened; Reddit IPO, Walmart-AdTech Revolution & New Marketing Guides

The Social Juice • 24 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
💼 Business Marketing Advertising E-commerce Acquisitions
  1. Recent updates include Reddit's IPO details, Meta expanding Creator Marketplace, and Walmart's acquisition of VIZIO to boost AdTech.
  2. Pinterest's unique B2B campaign mix, X offering new features for non-premium users, and TikTok's global advancements are trending in the marketing world.
  3. Various agencies are making significant moves, like Build-A-Bear naming KNOWN as its Agency of Record and Mod Op acquiring Red Tettemer O'Connell+Partners.

Gumroad Wallet, A $100M Opportunity

Money in Transit • 58 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
💼 Business E-commerce Digital Products Payment processing Network Effects Startups
  1. Gumroad might be missing out on a $100 million opportunity by not leveraging creators' transactions within the platform efficiently.
  2. Digital wallets could revolutionize Gumroad's business model, allowing for direct transactions and lower fees for creators.
  3. Gumroad's pricing structure change indicates a need to evolve in the face of rising competition and changing economic landscapes.

1/25/2024: PayPal's *Innovation Event*

depression2022 • 39 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
💼 Business Technology Finance Stock Market E-commerce Innovation
  1. PayPal announced new innovations at an event, like a one-click checkout product and making Venmo more business-friendly.
  2. The stock initially rose but then fell after the announcement, indicating mixed reactions from the world.
  3. The new CEO highlighted the potential for improvement by implementing simple, customer-focused changes, which could positively impact PayPal's business.

Rethinking the Retail Apocalypse: A Closer Look at Retail’s Evolution

Gad’s Newsletter • 23 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
💼 Business Retail E-commerce Consumer behavior Supply Chain
  1. Despite the rise of online shopping, physical retail locations still play a crucial role in the retail landscape.
  2. The concept of omnichannel retailing, combining online and physical sales channels, has become essential for many retailers.
  3. Understanding consumer preferences and integrating online and offline channels intelligently is crucial for the future of retail.