Breaking News
Zalando’s takeover of About You gets greenlight from EU
It’s official: The EU Commission has approved Zalando’s acquisition of About You, roughly six months after the initial announcement. The deal is valued at €1.2 billion. Together, the two fashion platforms now serve around 65 million customers across Europe. With the merger, Zalando aims to better respond to pressure from Shein and Temu – and prepare for a future shaped by AI-powered commerce. More on LinkedIn
More News
US tariffs slow down Temu & Shein – Amazon gains ground
New tariffs imposed by the US government are hitting ultra-cheap platforms like Temu and Shein hard. Early market data suggests that Amazon is benefiting from the shift. While many Chinese Amazon sellers ship from US-based FBA warehouses, Temu and Shein still rely heavily on long-distance shipping. Read more at Retail Dive
Amazon and dm eye pharmacy market potential
Amazon continues to expand its US pharmacy business with new digital prescription services and Medicare offerings. In Europe, however, entering the market remains difficult. Even established players like Redcare and DocMorris are still posting losses – partly due to strict regulation. Meanwhile, drugstore chain dm is increasingly moving into the OTC space. See more at Forbes (Amazon) Stores-Shops (EU-Market; German)
dm in talks with Shein – Sheglam cosmetics may hit store shelves
German drugstore chain dm is reportedly in negotiations with Shein to bring its viral beauty brand Sheglam into physical retail. If talks are successful, Sheglam products could appear in dm stores as early as October 2025. dm says the move is driven by high demand among younger consumers. More at Manager Magazin (Geman)
Zalando has brought back product recommendations
For a long time, they had disappeared – but now Zalando is testing product reviews, recommendations, and verified purchases again. It seems to be a response to the rise of AI-powered search, which increasingly relies on high-quality content and contextual information. See more on LinkedIn (German).
Bol opens up to non-EU sellers
For the first time, Dutch marketplace bol is allowing sellers from outside the European Union to join the platform. Around 100 non-EU merchants are expected to onboard in 2025, provided their goods are warehoused within Europe. With nearly 87% of Dutch consumers shopping online, the Netherlands has the highest e-commerce penetration in Europe. Full story at Ecommercenews: bol and online shoppers.
Robotic News
Amazon: more robots than humans soon?
Amazon now has more than 1 million robots deployed in its logistics centers worldwide – and automation is ramping up quickly. Projections indicate that the number of warehouse robots may soon surpass the number of human workers. The company currently employs around 1.5 million people globally. Read more at Wallstreet Journal.
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