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Amazon tests new feature without retailer consent
Amazon is causing controversy with its new feature Shop Direct. The company lists products from third-party retailers without their prior consent. Product data is sourced from publicly available brand websites and purchases are completed via redirects to external shops. However, retailers can request an opt-out. Industry experts are criticizing the unsolicited data scraping – a practice Amazon itself has historically pushed back against. Read more on Business Insider
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Allegro sells operations in Slovenia and Croatia
Allegro is divesting its unprofitable operations in Slovenia and Croatia, selling them to the investment group Mutares as part of a restructuring. Allegro acquired the platforms Mimovrste and Mall from the Mall Group in 2022. More on Retail-Insight-Network
Zalando to close logistics center in Erfurt
Zalando is closing its logistics center in Erfurt as part of a network consolidation following the acquisition of About You. The company plans to reduce its logistics sites to a total of 14 across Europe. Around 2,700 employees are affected. Find out more on Shoez
Amazon launches free express shipping for merchants
Amazon has launched FBM Ship+, a new shipping solution that enables faster delivery for merchants who fulfill their orders themselves (Fulfilled by Merchant). The program is aimed at sellers based in the Far East shipping to France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Japan. Read more on Online-Händlerbund (German)
Digitec Galaxus gains 500,000 new shoppers
Digitec Galaxus recorded a strong year with 17% revenue growth, driven by 500,000 new shoppers, bringing its customer base to around 5 million. Outside Switzerland, revenue grew by 14%, supported by marketplaces in several EU countries, which together generated €412 million in platform sales. More on Ecommercenews
Asos, Otto and Amazon fights againts returns
Both Asos and Otto are placing more responsibility on customers when it comes to returns: Asos now shows in its app when return fees may apply, while Otto issues warning notices and reserves the right to restrict payment methods or even suspend accounts for frequent returners. Amazon, meanwhile, is providing merchants with consolidated insights into return rates, causes and inventory values for the first time via a new dashboard. More on Retail Systems (Asos), Online-Händlerbund (German) and Amazon
‘No news’ News
Amazon skips its Black Week recap for the first time since 2016
For the first time in nine years, Amazon broke with a long-standing holiday tradition and did not publish a sales recap after Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This comes despite Amazon extending the promotion to 12 days for the first time and the overall Black Week business in the US setting new records: around $11.8 billion in sales on Black Friday (+9%) and approximately $14.2 billion on Cyber Monday – the highest figure in the day’s history. More on Modern Retail and Productsup
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