7 Things You Need to Know About Singles Day

| Daniela Forte

While the holiday season is almost upon us here in the United States, China is gearing up for their own Black Friday-like holiday. Alibaba’s Singles Day or 11/11 is coming up this weekend. Here are seven things you need to know about Singles Day.

UPU Fast-Tracking Rate Review After Trump Pullout Threat

| Mike O'Brien

The Universal Postal Union (UPU), a hitherto quiet backwater that sets global cross-border mail and parcel rates, now plans to fast-track review of rate changes after President Trump last week threatened to pull out of the UPU accord, according to the Wall Street Journal.

cross-border ecommmerce globe and boxes

Trump Moves to Pull U.S. from Universal Postal Union

| Mike O'Brien

The Trump administration has announced plans to withdraw the United States from the Universal Postal Union by January 2020. The move is an effort to counteract below-market parcel shipping rates that China has enjoyed for years to the competitive disadvantage of U.S. merchants.

MCM CommerceChat podcast

What You Need to Know When Going Cross-Border with Your Business

| Daniela Forte

Deciding to sell cross-border can be an overwhelming process as there are a lot of moving parts for U.S. retailers to think about. In our latest MCM CommerceChat podcast, Melissa O’Malley, Director of Global Initiatives and Communications for Paypal, discusses what retailers need to consider when looking at selling into global markets.

Sephora Launches New Omnichannel Shopping Experience in China

| Daniela Forte

Sephora announced the launch of a new omnichannel program in China that incorporates its app, website, stores and a new WeChat mini-program to offer customers a fully immersive shopping experience. Here is what the program includes and what it means for Sephora in China.

payment processes

Time is Money: Local Payment and the Omnichannel Experience

| Ronnie d’Arienzo

E-wallets have slowly gained popularity in the United States and now account for 20% of U.S. payments. For merchants to offer a genuine omnichannel experience, they must engage with customers in a consistent, seamless manner across digital, physical and social media. Find out how offering local or alternate payment is one key to getting there.

Guess Brings AI to Fashion with Alibaba Collaboration

| Daniela Forte

Guess is partnering with Alibaba Group to bring artificial intelligence to fashion and provide customers with a richer shopping experience combining online and offline elements. Here are some of the features of the FashionAI concept store and what it means for Guess.

Ecommerce in Europe Grew 11% in 2017 to $624 Billion

| Mike O'Brien

As it has here, ecommerce in Europe is continuing to experience double-digit gains, increasing 11% in 2017 to $624 billion or 534 billion euros, with projected growth of 13% in 2018, according to a report from Ecommerce Europe. See how the spending broke down by region, and which marketplaces were most popular.