Walmart Ecommerce Surges 28%

Despite economic uncertainty, the National Retail Federation (NRF) projects robust holiday spending. Online and non-store sales are expected to grow between 8% and 9%, reaching up to $315 billion. The data suggests consumers are still spending, but the shift to digital channels is accelerating. → via NRF

A new wave of fraud has hit e-commerce: AI-powered deepfakes. Cybercriminals are now generating over 1,000 calls a day to customer service centers, impersonating real customers to obtain refunds fraudulently. This industrialized social engineering is a major wake-up call for fraud prevention teams. → via Axios

While companies rush to automate support, a new report finds that nearly 20% of consumers find AI customer service ineffective. The disconnect highlights a critical risk: prioritizing cost-cutting over resolution can damage brand loyalty, especially when AI agents fail to solve complex problems. → via Forbes

The future is transparent. The EU's Digital Product Passport (DPP), mandated for 2026, will force sellers to provide detailed product histories. This regulatory shift will likely set a new global standard for sustainability and supply chain visibility that all sellers need to prepare for. → via Akeneo

Amazon has expanded its automotive push, allowing Ford to sell certified pre-owned vehicles directly on the platform. The pilot, launching in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Dallas, marks a significant shift in high-ticket e-commerce, expanding beyond parts and accessories to include full vehicle transactions. → via Digital Commerce 360

Amazon’s network now supports faster, compliant Walmart order fulfillment with unified inventory and automated tracking. The waived 5% fee gives operators more room to control costs as they scale. → via Amazon

Amazon has reaffirmed its dominance as the low-price leader. A new Profitero study confirms Amazon's prices are on average 14% lower than 23 other major online retailers. This pricing gap puts immense pressure on multichannel sellers to adjust their strategies to remain competitive this holiday season. → via Amazon

A significant number of Amazon sellers are pulling back on Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts this year. Facing squeezing margins from rising tariffs and platform fees, 60% fewer sellers are participating in deals compared to last year, risking lost visibility in a bid to protect profitability. → via Modern Retail

Amazon has launched "FBA Returnless Resolutions" in the US, allowing sellers to set rules for automatic refunds on items priced between $1.00 and $75.00. By skipping the physical return, sellers can avoid processing fees and shipping costs on low-value items where the return math doesn't add up. → via Seller Central

Amazon has introduced new tools for Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM) sellers, including the ability to set custom holidays and location-specific operating hours. These updates provide greater transparency in delivery date calculations, helping sellers manage customer expectations more accurately during peak periods. → via Seller Central

Target's digital sales grew 2.4% in Q3, fueled by a massive 35% jump in same-day delivery services like Circle 360. Despite a 1.5% dip in total sales, the digital growth highlights the critical importance of rapid fulfillment options in retaining customers. → via Digital Commerce 360

Walmart's U.S. e-commerce sales jumped 28% in Q3, marking its seventh consecutive quarter of growth above 20%. Driven by faster delivery speeds and a growing membership base, Walmart is successfully capturing the value-driven shopper and stealing share from rivals. → via PYMNTS.com

Lowe's reported an 11.4% increase in online sales for Q3. Looking ahead, the retailer plans to enter the "agentic commerce" market, preparing its catalog for a future where AI agents shop on behalf of customers, a move that parallels Target's recent integration with ChatGPT. → via Digital Commerce 360

Major retailers, including Best Buy, Kohl's, and Dick's Sporting Goods have raised their full-year outlooks following improved sales reports. The positive adjustments signal that, despite price sensitivity, the holiday shopping season may be stronger than initial fears suggested. → via Axios

Betting big on e-commerce, the USPS projects a 9.4% revenue increase in its package delivery segment for FY2026. While international mail revenue is projected to drop 42%, the focus on domestic parcels confirms that e-commerce volume is the primary lifeline for the postal service's future. → via Supply Chain Dive

The tables are turning. As new regulations threaten the direct-from-China shipping model, Temu and SHEIN are adopting local fulfillment strategies to compete with Amazon's speed. This "supply chain reversal" means the low-price giants are now building domestic infrastructure, changing the cost/speed equation for everyone. → via Marketplace Pulse

If you’ve wondered whether “omnichannel” and “multichannel” mean the same thing, you’re not alone, but they’re very different approaches. This post breaks down the difference so you leave clear on what each term means and why multichannel is the strategy that actually moves the needle for serious ecommerce operators.

Target is the growth channel serious operators are quietly winning on. In this conversation, Yoni Mazor breaks down how brands are pulling in $500K+ in their first year on Target — thanks to a curated, gated marketplace with far less competition than Amazon. You’ll get clear insight into who qualifies, which categories Target wants right now, and how our partnership accelerates approval and gets you selling faster. If you’re a 7- or 8-figure operator looking to expand with control and confidence, this is the playbook worth watching.

We are still searching with text, but the web has fundamentally changed. A new report reveals that 90% of internet content is now video. With platforms like Instagram allowing search engines to index posts, the era of text-based SEO is rapidly giving way to a visual-first reality. → via Forbes

iHerb's dominance in the $1 trillion wellness economy offers a roadmap for niche sellers: prioritize trust and transparency. By focusing on authentic supplements and consumer education, they've built a loyal global base in a sector flooded with skepticism. → via NRF