Shopsense AI teamed up with Paramount at the 2024 VMAs to let viewers shop for affordable dupes of their favorite artists' outfits. The AI can identify similar items from over 1,000 retailers, offering both style and budget options.

The EPA has approved rules in Southern California allowing communities to sue warehouses for truck emissions. These warehouses are linked to a 20% rise in nitrogen dioxide levels. Non-compliance rates are high, with 1,400 out of 2,000 warehouses failing to meet standards.

Instacart aims to convert 25M annual users into monthly shoppers, driving up order frequency. CEO Fidji Simo sees a chance to increase average purchases from 11 to monthly. The company leads in large basket share at 70% of the market.

Australia plans to set a minimum age of 14-16 for social media use, aiming to reduce social harm. This could make it one of the first countries to enforce such a rule. Critics argue it may drive youth into riskier, unregulated platforms.

Ochama expanded its pickup point network in Paris to streamline fulfillment, responding to a 172% year-on-year order growth in France from Jan-Aug 2024. Offering faster delivery and a broader product range, the move improves shopping for French customers.

Swiggy launches Incognito Mode, allowing users to place private orders that are hidden from their order history. Currently available to 10% of users, this feature caters to the rising demand for privacy in online transactions.

Two CPSC commissioners are calling for a probe into e-commerce giants Shein and Temu. They want to examine their safety practices, particularly after reports of dangerous baby and toddler items. Both companies say they prioritize safety.

Amazon Fresh has added four new supermarkets, including its first Northern California location. The new stores in California, Illinois, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania offer advanced shopping tech and local products, bringing the chain close to 50 locations nationwide.

Amazon launched a grocery delivery subscription for $9.99/month, giving Prime members unlimited delivery on orders over $35. An annual plan at $99.99 offers two months free. EBT users get a $4.99/month rate. This benefit covers over 3,500 U.S. cities.

Asos may be ending free returns for some customers in the UK. An email update hinted at changes to the returns policy, similar to a move made in the US last year where a $4.99 fee was introduced. The potential change targets "serial refunders".

Bol.com has raised its free shipping minimum from €20 to €25, citing rising costs and inflation. This is the first increase in over ten years. The company hopes customers will consolidate orders to reduce shipping movements.

Tilt, a UK-based live-shopping app, raised $18M in Series A funding, led by Balderton Capital. The app, founded by ex-Revolut employees, has gained 500K users since launching. Tilt focuses on real-time fashion sales, aiming to tap into the Gen Z market.

DoorDash now offers an in-app appeal process for deactivated gig workers. The new feature allows workers to appeal directly via the Dasher app with real-time status updates. The goal is to resolve cases within a few days, addressing concerns about fairness and income disruption.

Just Eat's ad, featuring McDonald's burgers, has been banned by the UK's ASA for targeting minors. Despite using age filters, the ASA ruled that the ad violated the CAP code by not preventing exposure to those under 16.

Instacart unveiled new money-saving features, including fee-free next-day deliveries for orders over $10 and personalized digital circulars highlighting discounted items. These initiatives aim to make online grocery shopping more affordable.

Boohoo has halted payments to a few suppliers due to low-quality clothing. Sales dropped 17% to $1.8B as Boohoo faces tough competition and rising inflation. The company, dealing with $407M in debt, is under pressure to resolve issues.

eBay has changed its purchase cancellation policy, enabling buyers to cancel orders until the item is marked as shipped, effective August 28, 2024. This adjustment, tested with minimal impact on abandonment rates, has led to a 25% boost in customer satisfaction, helping to maintain trust between buyers and sellers.

The FTC has finalized a rule prohibiting fake reviews, including those generated by AI. The rule, effective 60 days after its Federal Register publication, targets deceptive practices like fake endorsements, AI-made reviews, and review censorship. Violations could result in fines up to $51,744 per incident.

PayPal introduced a new package tracking service in Germany on August 14, 2024. This service lets merchants synchronize shipping statuses automatically with PayPal, saving time, reducing costs, and enhancing customer satisfaction. Merchants can now offer real-time shipping updates, reducing customer inquiries by up to 80%. The service is free for German retailers and available via PayPal Checkout.

Allegro, Poland's largest e-commerce platform, will implement a mandatory product-based display for all search results from October. This change is expected to streamline the shopping experience and generate 6M additional annual transactions.

Walmart exceeded Wall Street's expectations with a nearly 5% revenue growth in Q2 2024, leading to a 6% stock increase. The retailer raised its full-year outlook but warned of a potentially weaker second half due to economic uncertainties.

eBay launched a major search redesign to enhance the shopping experience. The new design includes larger images, intuitive navigation, and AI-driven features. This update focuses on visual categories like Clothing and Toys, improving both buyer and seller experiences.

Turkey lowers its de minimis from €150 to €30, doubles customs duty to 60% for non-EU goods, and introduces an additional 20% Special Consumption Tax. The new regulations start on August 21, aiming to curb the influence of Temu and protect local businesses.

TikTok has agreed to permanently stop its Lite Rewards program across the EU, following the European Commission’s concerns about potential risks to minors. This decision aligns with the new Digital Services Act and marks a significant regulatory win.

Grubhub introduces new app features, including priority delivery for $2.49, personalized recommendations, and live tracking on iOS devices. These updates aim to enhance user experience and increase order frequency.

Poshmark reported a 41% increase in searches for BHLDN wedding dresses and a 12% rise in wedding dress searches overall. Brides and wedding guests are opting for secondhand options to cut costs. Poshmark allows them to buy designer dresses at a fraction of the cost, with some saving over 50% off retail prices. The trend is also helping brides recoup value from their dresses, with sellers like Victoria listing items like a Carolina Herrera mini dress and Jimmy Choo pumps.

Vinted's attempt to streamline shipping by limiting seller choices backfired. UK sellers, many lacking printers and nearby drop-off points, forced the platform to restore the option to deselect shipping methods.

Shein, the Chinese fast-fashion giant, withdrew 8 out of 21 tested garments after an Öko-Test study found dangerous levels of chemicals. Harmful substances like antimony and lead were detected in these products, posing serious health risks.

Too Good To Go, known for saving food from waste, now offers delivery in Germany. New surprise boxes from brands like Marabu, Neoh, and Toblerone feature items with minor packaging defects or near best-before dates.

Wayfair is opening an outlet store in Naperville, IL, this fall. The store will sell returned and discounted items. It joins Wayfair's first physical store in Wilmette and Joss & Main in Oakbrook. The Naperville outlet is the fifth Wayfair outlet in the U.S.

Albertsons and Instacart expand their partnership to offer nationwide pickup and 30-minute delivery through Albertsons Rapid. The service is available across Albertsons' banner stores. Same-day delivery for Haggen Food & Pharmacy in Washington is also introduced. By August, more than 2,000 locations will support pickup for Instacart orders.

B&Q collaborates with Deliveroo to provide over 600 DIY products for delivery from nine B&Q Local stores in London within 25 minutes. This partnership aims to meet the growing demand for convenience and speed in home improvement shopping.

Grubhub added features to its app to improve the consumer experience, including customized offer carousels, a centralized wallet, order suggestions at checkout, and a $2.49 priority delivery option.

Chinese e-commerce giants Shein and Temu see a sales surge in Africa, with Temu gaining traction in SA. DHL's 2024 report highlights app-based marketplaces' global rise. Shein's 2023 revenue hits $22.7B, with social commerce poised for massive growth.

Rossmann introduces contactless pick-up stations for online orders, trialing in 10 stores starting in Munich on July 27. Customers receive QR codes for easy collection, enhancing shopping convenience and efficiency.

In a significant ruling, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission determined Amazon responsible for 400K faulty products sold by third-party merchants. The decision, following a lawsuit from 2021, mandates Amazon to notify and incentivize customers to return or destroy these products.

Zalando is ordered by UOKiK to improve customer information and give $10 vouchers to customers who bought from platform partners since January 2023. This decision follows complaints about unclear seller information on Zalando’s site.

eBay invited sellers to a survey requiring video uploads. Participants get a $250 Visa e-gift card. The survey runs from July 15 to 26, using dScout. Some sellers worried it was a scam, but eBay confirmed its legitimacy.

Experts criticize TikTok Lite for lacking safety features present in the main app. A report by Mozilla and AI Forensics highlights missing content labels and controls, labeling the app a "safety hazard." TikTok refutes the claims.

South Korea’s privacy authority fined AliExpress $1.4M for not protecting customer data. AliExpress shared info with 180K foreign sellers without proper measures. The decision emphasizes foreign e-commerce operators must comply with national laws. AliExpress is taking corrective steps.

A judge dismissed a class action accusing Amazon of misleading Prime members about Whole Foods delivery fees. The lawsuit claimed a hidden $9.95 fee was deceptive. Amazon argued fee changes were disclosed. The case may be amended.

IKEA U.S. introduces a Spanish language e-commerce platform, providing support and accessibility for Spanish-speaking customers. This initiative enhances the shopping experience, ensuring inclusivity and better customer service.

Global spending on Korean cultural products is expected to nearly double to $143B by 2030, driven by TikTok's influence. Currently valued at $76B, Hallyu's growth is fueled by viral K-content across platforms, especially in the U.S. and Southeast Asia.

Walgreens introduced Nice! For You, a new health-focused line with over 150 items free from artificial ingredients. This move aims to boost sales as private label products gain popularity. Tracey Brown highlights their commitment to high-quality, affordable products.

Aldi Süd has launched pickup stations for their delivery service, starting July 15. This allows customers to schedule pickups at their convenience. Initially, the service is available in select cities, with a minimum purchase of 20 EUR until July 24, after which it will be 50 EUR.

Wolt opens a new virtual supermarket in Hamburg, offering over 5,000 products. Orders can be delivered within 35 minutes. Local products from Luciella's Ice Cream and North Coast Coffee Roasters are included at launch.

Shein, known for its clothing, now sells Xiaomi smartphones. Prices range from $392 for a Redmi Note 12S to $1,232 for a Xiaomi 14 5G, which are higher than other stores. Consumers are advised to shop elsewhere for better deals.

Starting July 27, AliExpress will charge fees on orders under $50 due to new Brazilian tax rules. From August 1, all shipments to Brazil must comply with the new import tax rates, impacting the cost of purchases significantly.

In Feb 2023, an eBay buyer tested positive for meth after taking counterfeit diet pills. eBay settled for $59M with the DOJ for making pill presses accessible to criminals. The FBI and manufacturers confirm widespread issues with fake diet pills on eBay.

Amazon’s Prime Day 2024 event saw US consumers spend $14.2B, a record-breaking 11% increase from last year's $12.7B. Day one sales reached $7.2B, while day two hit $7B. Shopping on phones surged by 18%, making up nearly half of the purchases.