#32 - Trends, Trends & Trends
Apple Vision Pro in Ecommerce. 3PLs elevating Ecommerce. Logistics Trends. Technological Innovations shaping Online Shopping. Temu’s Super Bowl Commercials. New Shopify Plus Case Studies.
Hey there 👋
First of all I need to apologise to all the 830 readers, who missed my newsletter last week. It was the first time, since the launch of this publication when I missed a Friday. My excuses? Half of the week I was sick, and another half I was fully busy with our event: Ecommerce Prague (which by the way was incredibly successful).
This week as usual, I’ll share my top 5 insights and articles about Ecommerce from the last weeks and as an extra, I’ll share a few fascinating case studies about merchants who have just upgraded to Shopify Plus. Hope you enjoy it!
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5 - Apple Vision Pro use cases in Ecommerce
Apple has launched Vision Pro, which is a type of glasses that let you see and interact with computer images as if they were part of the real world. It's the first new kind of product from Apple since the Apple Watch in 2014 and costs $3,499. Before it even hit the stores on February 2, 200,000 of these glasses were sold. Retailers are getting creative with how they use the Vision Pro for shopping online. For example, Lowe’s has made an app that lets you design your kitchen in 3D. J. Crew has an app where you can try on clothes virtually and mix and match outfits. E.l.f. Cosmetics offers an app where you can shop for beauty products and enjoy relaxing activities. These apps show how shopping is changing, making it more fun and interactive with the help of the Vision Pro glasses.
4 - How 3PLs Can Elevate E-commerce to Satisfy Modern Shoppers

The online shopping world is getting more competitive. In the UK, which is one of the top countries for online shopping, customers expect a lot from retailers. This includes having many delivery options, getting things shipped quickly, being eco-friendly, and making returns easy. Third-party logistics (3PL) companies help retailers by managing how products are stored, shipped, and returned. To keep up with what shoppers want, these companies need to offer a wide range of services, like faster delivery and greener options. If they don't, retailers could lose sales because customers might not complete their purchases if they're not happy with the delivery or return options. So, 3PLs play a big part in making sure customers are satisfied and keep coming back.
3 - Globalisation: Four Logistics Trends Shaping 2024

DHL eCommerce's 2024 E-tailers’ Almanac highlights key trends in the e-commerce industry:
E-commerce Growth: Despite economic uncertainties, e-commerce is poised for steady growth, driven by consumer spending on low-cost items, particularly apparel, from Asia.
Stronger Logistics Companies: Established logistics providers have emerged stronger post-Covid, benefiting from investments in automation, increased capacity, and competitive pricing.
Shift in E-tailer Preferences: Online merchants are prioritising speed and quality of delivery over cost, reflecting a strategic shift towards enhancing business expansion and customer satisfaction.
Human Touch in Customer Service: Despite advancements in AI for customer service, there's a strong preference for personal human interaction among e-tailers for resolving logistics and transportation queries.
These insights underscore the resilience and growth potential of the e-commerce sector, offering valuable guidance for online merchants.
2 - Key Technological Innovations Shaping Online Shopping

The e-commerce sector is rapidly evolving, and staying ahead of technology trends is crucial for reaching customers effectively. Here are some key innovations shaping the future of e-commerce:
Augmented Reality (AR): AR is making online shopping more realistic, allowing customers to visualise products in their own space, enhancing the decision-making process. This is especially transformative in fashion and home decor sectors.
Diverse and Secure Payment Options: Providing a variety of secure payment methods is essential to avoid losing sales. Options that allow customers to save their payment information can also speed up future purchases.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning: These technologies are revolutionising customer insights, offering personalised shopping experiences by analysing shopping habits and preferences.
Chatbots: Chatbots improve online customer service by providing immediate assistance, much like a salesperson in a store, making shopping more enjoyable.
Livestream Shopping: Leveraging social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, livestream shopping is turning into a billion-dollar industry, driven by the popularity of online buying.
Voice Recognition: With a significant portion of the global population using voice search on mobile devices, this trend is expected to grow, making it easier for customers to find and purchase products using voice commands.
These technological advancements are set to continue driving the e-commerce industry forward, making innovation and adaptation more important than ever for businesses.
1 - Temu’s Super Bowl Commercials
After Temu aired five commercials during this year's Super Bowl, many people got curious about this new e-commerce platform. Temu offers super low prices on everything from sneakers to electronics, promising deals that make you "shop like a billionaire." It's an online discount marketplace that ships items directly from suppliers, cutting down costs. Despite being new in the U.S. since September 2022, Temu has quickly gained popularity, even though some question the quality of its products. Its parent company is PDD Holdings Inc., based in Shanghai. While Temu says it prioritizes privacy, there have been concerns about data collection and the use of forced labor in their supply chain. However, Temu claims these accusations are baseless and emphasises their commitment to privacy and ethical standards.
New Shopify Plus Case Studies
Decor Steals switched to Shopify in 2023, leading to quicker site launches, reduced costs, and better sales metrics like a 10% increase in conversion rates. This move highlights Shopify's benefits for expanding sales channels and improving customer experiences efficiently.
Since starting on Shopify Plus in 2016, Polysleep has grown into a global multi-million dollar mattress business. They've tripled revenue since 2020, increased organic traffic by 900%, and expanded internationally with a lean team, leveraging Shopify Plus for quick launches, innovation, and efficient scaling.
Bared Footwear adopted Shopify POS, enhancing efficiency and customer experience. This integration simplified inventory management, enabled seamless promotions, and facilitated new sales methods, streamlining their retail operations significantly.
More Shopify News
In case you haven’t heard, Shopify has launched their new pricing. You can discover all the updates about how much Shopify Plus costs now on this post.
Shopify doesn’t simply increase their fees out of nowhere. You need to see it within the context of all the updates they keep launching on their platform. If you want to read all the news about the latest Shopify Winter Edition 2024, you can see everything they announced in this article.