MCM CommerceChat podcast

Fake Reviews and Brushing on Amazon

| Mike O'Brien

Amazon has had a problem with “brushing” on its 3P marketplace, where unscrupulous sellers boost star rankings by loading up listings with irrelevant, bogus reviews. What is Amazon doing to counteract this practice? How widespread of a problem? Chris McCabe, a former investigation specialist at Amazon, helps us understand.

Social Commerce: The Time to Start is Now

| Sharon Gee

Social commerce is a great, cost effective way for merchants to expand channels and visibility. 36% of U.S. internet users say social networks have become as important as other information sources for making product choices and 70% of shopping enthusiasts say they turn to Instagram to discover products.

China Luxury Goods Market Up 48% in 2020

| Mike O'Brien

Driven by a pandemic-fueled lack of travel and more disposable income, the China luxury goods market grew 48% in 2020, doubling the country’s overall share, according to Bain & Company. The upward trend is expected to give China a leading share of 45% of the global luxury market by 2025, outpacing Europe and North America.

2020 Year in Review: Retail Upended, Reset Continues

| Mike O'Brien

As 2020 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect back on a wild and crazy year in retail, to paraphrase the Festrunk brothers from Saturday Night Live. COVID-19 came in like a wrecking ball in February and March, causing widespread shutdowns that hit retail especially hard, leading to hockey-stick growth in ecommerce.

Four Views on Retail, Ecommerce Entering 2021

| Mike O'Brien

You may have read somewhere that 2020 was an extremely disruptive year in every aspect of the retail industry. Ecommerce, already on a rapid trajectory, took off into the stratosphere as consumer flocked online. To take a look into what we can expect in 2021, four experts offer their views and some bold predictions.

Digital Trends Shaping 2020 Holiday Shopping

| Christine Sullivan

As public health concerns have consumers engaging in more online ordering and a down economy impacts spending, typical habits are out the door. In this holiday shopping season like no other, the way retailers address these trends will determine whether consumers return over the long run. It’s all about data-driven engagement.

Report: How Malls Can Reinvent Themselves to Survive

| Mike O'Brien

Mall owners should be looking at a variety of alternative tenants in order to drive traffic and keep their investments vital as more retail stores shutter and pandemic restrictions remain, according to a new report from Placer.ai. The suggestions include micro-fulfillment centers, medical and dental businesses and pop-ups.

Luxury Retailers: Are You Ready for the Holidays?

| Rafael Lourenco

This holiday season, we may see pent-up demand from earlier in the year channeled into even more ecommerce purchases and larger order values. Luxury retailers can take a few steps now to make sure they’re positioned to meet this demand.

Ecommerce and 2021 Tax Trends: What to Expect

| Pete Olanday

While business may be booming, ecommerce companies — especially those selling across state lines — may face overwhelming tax complexity into 2021 and beyond. Here are some trends you need to consider as you look to stay tax compliant in the new year.

MCM CommerceChat podcast

Mobile Apps in 2021: TikTok, Ad Spend and Livestreaming

| Mike O'Brien

Cyber Weekend 2020 presented yet more evidence of the the monster that is mobile commerce: 40% of Black Friday sales were from smartphones, Adobe said. As mobile apps going hand-in-glove with this phenomenon, we talked to Lexi Sydow of App Annie about mobile app trends to follow in 2021, including TikTok and livestreaming.