Ecommerce XL #003 | Mixed-Realities, CX-Cavities, Wise Words from Winnie & More

Howdy pixel pushers,

No need to adjust your screen's brightness - you are indeed reading the third edition of the much-adored, never-ignored Ecommerce XL. Buckle up, because we've got another exciting round-up of the latest and hottest from the ecommerce cosmos, where digital dollars twinkle like stars, and each hyperlink might just lead to your next big idea.

Let's go...

Byte-Sized Headlines

• Apple’s mixed-reality headset: Vision Pro, finally announced!
• “Mobile payments are up 117% this year” - The Future of Commerce 2023
• 38% of consumers surveyed would rather get a cavity filled than contact customer service
• The surprising trend catching Gen Z’s attention: Soothing Content
• There were 20-25% fewer total ranking domains in Australia and the UK in a three-year downward trend as Google tightens things up, according to Semrush’s State of Search 2023
• Final transfer call as Universal Analytics sees the sunset July 1st - time to rethink measurement planning
• Microsoft announces Copilot for MS Clarity, analysts muse prospect of losing jobs to AI
• Learn leadership from the best via the brand new mini MBA in management with Mark Ritson

Circa 50 Y.O. Ad-tastic Treasures

Strap into your time machines, folks, because we're making a retrograde trip back to the 1970s - the decade that gave us avocado-coloured appliances and these enduring campaigns:

Pondering Over Proverbs

Speaking of thinking... here are a few morsels of wisdom. Perfect for spicing up your all-hands meetings or deepening your afternoon thoughtfulness:

"Change is the only constant in life." - Heraclitus

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." - Lao Tzu

"I think, therefore I am." - René Descartes

Note-worthy Dates in June

Break out your calendars and make a note:

1. International Men's Health Week (June 12th-18th)
2. International Sushi Day (June 18th)
3. International Caps Lock Day (June 28th)
4. International Asteroid Day (June 30th)

Encouraging Echoes from Childhood

• "The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all." - Mulan
• "When life gets you down, you know what you gotta do? Just?keep swimming." - Dory
• "The things that make me different are the things that make me." - Winnie the Pooh

Famed Success Stories Born During a Recession

Yes, storms do give birth to rainbows. These three businesses not only weathered the storm but came out shining on the other side:

• Microsoft: Born amidst the 1973-75 recession, now a key partner in leading AI lab, OpenAI
• Netflix: Founded in 1997 during the dot-com bubble burst. Today, a streaming giant.
• Airbnb: Born in 2008, it has reinvented the way we travel.

Wowee, talk about a rollercoaster ride through the past, present, and future of ecommerce - and we didn't even have to leave our ergonomic desk chairs. But remember, even as we’re rushing toward a future of AI, web3, and virtual fitting rooms, don’t forget the simple joys of leaving the office early or dancing down the real-world shopping aisle.

You never know where you'll find your next dose of inspiration.

Signing off until next time. Keep those pixels popping!