Here's your Add To Cart wrap up of Online Retailer 2024 ???
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The mood was trepidatious leading into Online Retail. A few weeks out, we tried to organise an Add To Cart event with Thread Together but RSVP responses of "unsure of plans", "not going to OR" or "short on time" meant that we rescheduled the get-together.?
I honestly didn't know what to expect for Online Retailer. Were people too time and budget poor to make the most of OR this year???
Luckily, it was, as always, brilliant. Highlights for me were...?
?? Inspiring speakers across all stages - if you look up. There wasn't one session I didn't take a tangible tip. However, I spoke to a keynote speaker after their morning session. "It was an odd vibe. It felt like everyone was looking down at their phones. It zapped some of the energy." Most of these speakers gave up their time and knowledge for free. They can see you from the stage. Can we stop looking down at our screens while they are sharing? I know I can be guilty of this too.?
?? The partner mix is shuffling. It was great to see new solution partners taking their presence to the expo - notable mentions to PaySquad and VelOzity. It was also nice to see partners exhibiting for the first time, including WorldFirst, farsiight and impact .com. Also noticeable - some of the big vendors who haven't been showing their faces since retail "got tough". After speaking to most partners, it felt like connections were above the targets set. And no, I didn't nab a farsiight hoody but I did get my fill of Koko Black chocolate.
??? Top tier talent is ready to go. I do not recall a time in retail when there's been so much experienced talent ready for their next opportunity. Whether that be forced due to redundancy or just ready to step up to the next challenge, the next six months are a great opportunity to bolster your team. Most that I spoke to are not publicly searching but there are a lot of shuffly feet if you ask the question.
?? Community sideshows are gold for connection. We hosted an ad hoc CAMPUS community event on Wednesday afternoon. Thanks to all those who turned up! Brilliant seeing your beautiful faces. I was also lucky enough to attend The Aggregate Co & crew night on Tuesday night. There were a bunch of satellite FOMO events. These mini-communities are a brilliant way to get true insights (usually after the second cocktail) of what's happening in ecom. If you are a retailer, the world is your oyster here - literally and metaphorically.?
???? ALL the random catch-ups. From expo hall run-ins to lunches with old workmates to finally having "THAT coffee"... I was a shattered shell leaving OR. I sat on the plane and the guy beside me started a conversation about my water bottle. I smiled politely at him and put my headphones in. There was nothing left in the battery. And I wouldn't have it any other way. I'll be doing my follow-ups in the next 20-30 business days.?
Cheers?
Bushy
ECOMMERCE NEWS FROM THIS WEEK
?? As you would have heard by now, Google has given up on the third party Cookie game. But what does this mean for retailers? Well, first, the short-term pressure is off. If you still rely on third-party cookies for key conversion events, go join the army. You just dodged a bullet. There's no doubt that moving away from third-party cookies is the long-term play - there's going to be some messy opt-out UX, compliance and targeting strategies by region. I expect we'll know more when Google cracks the AI ad revenue model. Google's Privacy Sandbox remains but they should probably update this page. Well, that was a fun four years.
?? Speaking of big teases, Aldi officially announced that they will not be opening up an ecommerce channel, citing a focus on "keeping our costs low". I was looking forward to trying to rapidly catch all the parcels as they are flung through my front door.?
??? Don't think you're off the hook with Google though. This week they announced that all merchants who aren't on the new Google Merchant Centre will be automatically switched over in September. Just a couple of months before the biggest sales event of the year. With a focus on UI and AI, it's worth the switch - get in early if you aren't already. ?
?? Luxury fashion brand Coach has released their products into the Roblox world. Impressive for a brand whose logo is a horse and cart. With 77.7m active daily users, it's a busy shopping mall but the ultimate long-term strategy with 42% of the audience under 13. Smart or slimy??
??♀? Big shout out to the team at Alpha-H who have teamed up with a coalition of retailers such as Bunnings, DISSH and Lorna Jane to offer The Encoreship. The program offers opportunities for women who have been out of the workforce to continue or change their career direction. There's a good range of opportunities now available.?
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For a business that is rapidly expanding with new stores, influencers and products - these two are very calm! I really enjoyed their philosophy on continuous improvement.?
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Bianca doesn't dodge the hard questions and lobs up some contentious opinions about Temu, MCoBeauty and Brene Brown. Actually, she's really nice to Brene - how could you not be??
That's it for this week! I'd love to hear from you. Feel free to reply to this email or contact me on LinkedIn.?
Nathan Bush is an independent Australian ecommerce consultant specialising in ecommerce and omnichannel transformation. With availability starting in September, now is the perfect time to discover how Nathan can elevate your team and drive business growth. Hit reply or send him an email to explore the possibilities.