Cross-Border Commerce EU Digest #6
Cross-Border Commerce Europe
News, trends, insights, exclusive events & networking opportunities for Retail C-level executives in Europe ?? Join us!
???? EU POLICIES
Online sales platform Wish commits to price transparency to comply with EU law
Following a dialogue with the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM), working closely with the European Commission and the European network of?national consumer protection (CPC) authorities, the international online marketplace Wish, based in the USA, has agreed to increase the transparency of prices to comply with EU consumer rules. Several EU consumer law concerns were identified in the context of the regular monitoring of commercial practices of online platforms performed by EU consumer authorities. Concerns about the CPC coordinated screening or?“sweep” of coronavirus-related ads on online platforms in 2020. Following the launch of dialogue in April 2021, Wish has committed to putting an end to misleading practices, such as promoting fake discounts (for example, not based on a price which had been charged) and the use of undisclosed personalised pricing based on the purchaser’s behaviour and location. Commissioner for Justice,?Didier Reynders, said:?“Consumers need to be informed upfront about how much they have to pay for a product, including all taxes, such as import duties and other fees, and their choices cannot be based on fake price reductions. Price transparency is a key asset for a well-functioning and competitive Single Market for consumers and businesses. As we welcome Wish’s change of practice in price transparency, we also expect continuous efforts to ensure product safety, in line with their commitments under the Product Safety Pledge.”?As a result of the cooperation, Wish has now implemented a new interface to prevent unauthentic and misleading discounts advertised by their business partners, as well as ceasing the use of price personalisation techniques. More information on the enforcement of consumer protection is available?here and in the ACM?press release. You can learn more about Wish’s commitments to ensuring product safety under the?Product Safety Pledge.
?? INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
???? Challenges of e-commerce for the distribution sector in Belgium (French, PDF)
The Belgian Central Council for the Economy (Conseil central de l'économie / Centrale Raad voor het Bedrijfsleven) has published a report devoted to the challenges of e-commerce for the distribution sector in Belgium, based on analyses from various sources, including Cross-Border Commerce Europe.
Particularly note pages 82 to 100, which address the opportunities and challenges and attempt to explain Belgium's delay in the e-commerce offer, faced with intense competition from Dutch e-shops.
YouTube and Shopify launch game-changing eCommerce partnership
YouTube Shopping will enable retailers and creators to sell to consumers during live streams and across their channels, revolutionising Social Shopping.
Thanks to the new partnership, Shopify merchants now have the functionality to integrate their online store with YouTube, selling to consumers through a variety of avenues, including:
There’s a New Way to Buy Products on Instagram, right in chat
Users can make purchases from small businesses directly on Instagram chat, where it's also possible to ask questions and track the orders. In the same thread, businesses can confirm purchases, create requests, and collect payment.
??? RETAILERS EVENTS
Cross-Border C-Suite Fashion 2022: Brussels, 14-15 September
Cross-Border Commerce Europe organises the first edition of C-Suite Fashion, an invite-only event for a community of 120 executives from the?top fashion retail companies and marketplaces in Europe.
The event is held in Brussels, the hearth of Europe, on 14 and 15 September, and it's free of charge, including hotel and gourmet experiences. Attendees will join roundtables and debates, networking and sharing industry news and best practices, particularly from a cross-border perspective.
Anyone interested in attending the event can book a short call to receive more details and arrange the next steps.
Testimonials from past C-Suite events: Peter Kjellberg, CEO at CDON Sweden
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