retail 2021 year in review feature

Retail Year in Review: Many Positives in Transition Period

| Mike O'Brien

From ongoing supply chain and port woes tying up production, distribution and fulfillment worldwide to an encouraging bounce on holiday sales, 2021 was an up-and-down affair in retail and ecommerce, but deep-pocket investors saw all kinds of potential as billions poured in and unicorns proliferated.

Amazon Prime box feature

Prime Members Are 68% of All Amazon Shoppers

| Mike O'Brien

More than two-thirds of Amazon shoppers are Prime members, the highest figure recorded by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) since the company started tracking it in 2012, adding there are now 142 million Prime members in the U.S. as the pandemic floods its ranks.

Target Reports 34% Growth in Ecommerce, Blows Out Projections

| Mike O'Brien

Target reported strong Q2 performance, with 34% growth in ecommerce sales, nearly 75% of which was attributable to its same-day order fulfillment strategy including buy online pickup in store, curbside pickup and local delivery. The retailer beat expectations on earnings, comp growth and revenue, and raised 2019 guidance.

Prime Day Crystal Ball: What Will This Year Bring?

| Daniela Forte

Amazon announced Prime Day will be a two-day event starting at midnight on July 15. If you think that somehow this concocted shopping holiday has lost steam over the years, you’d be mistaken. Here is a look into the crystal ball to find out what this Prime Day is expected to bring.

Merchants Looking to Strike Gold Inside, Outside Prime Day

| Mike O'Brien

As Amazon Prime Day 4.0 is set to run for 36 hours Monday and Tuesday, merchants are making last-minute preparations on ads, promotions, pricing and Prime eligibility. Others are looking to create their own buzz, drafting on an extended ecommerce holiday projected to grow by 40% to $3.4 billion. See what else is in store.

Amazon Prime Day Date Accidently Leaked

| Daniela Forte

The date for Amazon Prime Day was accidently leaked to the public, reportedly starting at midday on July 16 and running through July 17. Should these be the actual dates of Amazon Prime Day, it would make it the biggest shopping day for the marketplace giant. Here is a look back at Amazon Prime Day 2017.

Prime Day Huge For Amazon, But Rising Tide Didn’t Lift All Boats

| Mike O'Brien

Amazon had a massive Prime Day, reporting its biggest sales day ever, surpassing even its results on Black Friday or Cyber Monday as it overcame checkout glitches and social media grumbling. But some sellers said their results weren’t as off the charts as those of Amazon itself. See what else took place on Amazon’s much-promoted 21st anniversary.

More Merchants Jumping In as Prime Day Opportunities Grow

| Mike O'Brien

After the success of Prime Day 2015, merchant sellers on Amazon are getting over their initial apprehension and jumping in with both feet, according to an executive with a company that works with several hundred of them. Read about the challenges and opportunities associated with this now-major sales event.