Week 12 - Hot off the press ??

The first news is from Sweden - The sudden wave of age restrictions in skincare ?

The use of skin care is increasing among children, a trend that worries some actors in the Swedish pharmacy and beauty industry. We have all seen trends on for example TikTok amongst young audiences, flocking to Sephora to shop advanced skincare products such as Drunk Elephant and The Ordinary.

This week several actors such as Kicks, Apotek Hj?rtat, and Mantle went public with their new age restrictions - put in place to protect the skin of the young.

"We want to be ahead of the curve, and take greater responsibility for not being part of pushing unhealthy behaviors and ideals that have grown up among many young people," says Monika Magnusson, CEO of the company and pharmacist, in a press release. Therefore, no one under the age of 15 should now be allowed to buy advanced skin care, which includes, among other things, products to reduce wrinkles or create an even skin tone. The only exceptions that may be made are if the children have their parents' approval or if they have a skin condition that justifies the use.

We now hope to see this initiative across the globe. High five! ??

The second update is that Walmart’s AI-driven route optimization software now is available to buy ??

In a nutshell, Walmart's Route Optimization, crafted by their tech gurus, is a game-changer for businesses of any size. By crunching data on traffic, delivery times, and more, it finds the fastest routes for deliveries and pickups, slashing unnecessary miles and emissions. This smart tool not only boosts efficiency for Walmart's team but also extends to other businesses and communities.?

According to the company’s information, using this technology, Walmart avoids 94 million pounds of carbon dioxide by eliminating 30 million unnecessary miles driven and optimizes routes by bypassing 110,000 inefficient paths. We like!

The logistic savvy tool is being offered to other businesses; it offers Walmart’s own proprietary route planning software which essentially simplifies the complex “middle mile” of the supply chain. Happy shopping guys! ??????

Trend of the week: Uber-style pricing ??

In the future, fast food prices may change depending on the time of day, much like Uber rides or flight fares. This is called dynamic pricing, and has already been incorporated by Wendys (which was not well received by their customers ??). While this could potentially revolutionize how we shop online and deliver goods, it has both good and bad sides.

On the positive side, dynamic pricing helps balance supply and demand. For instance, we already see how delivery fees rise during busy times to ensure timely deliveries. It also lets businesses adjust prices based on demand, maximizing revenue. It can make logistics more efficient too. Discounts might be offered for deliveries during quieter times, reducing congestion on the roads.

From a customer's perspective, dynamic pricing could mean personalized discounts and more accurate delivery estimates, making the shopping experience better. But there are concerns. Customers may not like prices changing unpredictably, which could lead to a loss of trust. They might also feel it's unfair if prices go up for reasons beyond their control.

This uncertainty might make customers hesitate to make purchases, leading to lost sales for ecommerce businesses.

Overall, dynamic pricing has the potential to reshape ecommerce and logistics, but businesses need to be mindful of customer trust and satisfaction. What do you think? Is this trend here to stay? ??

Thank you for staying to the end ?? I will see you again next week!