Business
An ecommerce site is a business. Our Management & Finance category addresses online payments, funding needs, employee issues, merchant profiles, key metrics, multichannel and omnichannel strategies, cross-border analyses, inventory management, accounting topics, sales taxes, and much more.
Amazon & Marketplaces | B2B | Cross-border Selling | Finance | Fraud Prevention | Inventory | Local Business | Payments | Shipping & Fulfillment | Staffing-
Inventory
The 5 R’s of Merchandising (for Ecommerce)
January 30, 2023 • Armando Roggio
A 100-year-old merchandising concept applies to modern-day ecommerce retailers — the right people, right product, right quantity, right price, right time.
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Business
Ridge Wallet CEO Aims for $1 Billion Exit
January 27, 2023 • Eric Bandholz
Sean Frank addresses the overall state of ecommerce in 2022, the perils of excessive debt, and his goal of selling the company within three years.
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Business
Charts: 2023 Economic Outlook of U.S., Global Execs
January 25, 2023 • Adel Boukarroum
Executives in the U.S. and worldwide are mostly gloomy about the broader economy but optimistic about their own companies. We tell the story in four revealing charts.
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Inventory
3 Flaws of Cost-plus Pricing
January 22, 2023 • Armando Roggio
Cost-plus pricing on the surface seems straightforward. But then market forces intervene.
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Payments
Trouble Brewing for Buy Now, Pay Later Providers
January 17, 2023 • Marcia Kaplan
Consumers love buy now, pay later programs. But after rapid growth, the industry is staggering under rising interest rates, delinquent borrowers, and overexpansion.
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Staffing
Does Your Business Need an AI Operator?
January 15, 2023 • Armando Roggio
Selecting artificial intelligence tools is one thing, but using them is another. It takes skill and training. Dedicated "AI operators" could be the answer.
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Staffing
Entrepreneurs Are Arsonists, Says Business Coach
January 13, 2023 • Eric Bandholz
According to Tim Conley, a business coach, most founders prefer putting out fires in their businesses and neglect long-term strategy. If there are no fires, they often set them.
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Business
Charts: U.S. Retail Ecommerce Sales Q3 2022
January 11, 2023 • Adel Boukarroum
Ecommerce sales in Q3 were robust, growing nearly 11% over the previous quarter and comprising roughly 15% of total retail. We tell the story in four charts.
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Business
Please Take Our Short Reader Survey
January 10, 2023 • Kerry Murdock
Our winter 2023 reader survey takes just a minute or two. Your confidential responses help us tailor our content to your needs. Plus, you can win one of four $25 Starbucks gift certificates.
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Finance
Cryptocurrencies and SPACs Implode
January 8, 2023 • Marcia Kaplan
In 2022, the value of cryptocurrencies and special purpose acquisition companies dramatically declined. Here's our analysis.
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Amazon & Marketplaces
End-of-year Reflection and 2023 Forecast
January 6, 2023 • Eric Bandholz
Beardbrand founder Eric Bandholz, the host of the "Ecommerce Conversations" podcast, reflects on his company's performance in 2022 and beyond.
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Shipping & Fulfillment
Tips for Sustainable Last-mile Deliveries
January 3, 2023 • Pete Bruckshaw
The "last mile" of ecommerce delivery typically produces the most emissions per package. Here are five ways merchants can help.
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Business
2022 Top 25: Our Most Popular Posts of the Year
December 29, 2022 • Kerry Murdock
We published roughly 500 articles in 2022. Here are the 25 with the most page views.
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Amazon & Marketplaces
Amid FBA Fee Hikes, Sellers Consider Alternatives
December 20, 2022 • Marcia Kaplan
Rising fees strain FBA sellers — forcing some to raise the price of goods and others to pursue alternative sales channels. Contributor Marcia Kaplan takes a closer look.
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Finance
Quiet Light Founder on State of Ecommerce M&A
December 14, 2022 • Kerry Murdock
Coming off a historically robust 2021, ecommerce mergers and acquisitions had to cool, but by how much? For insights, we turned to Mark Daoust, a pioneering business broker.
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Amazon & Marketplaces
Amazon’s ‘Customers ask Alexa’ Is a Marketing Opportunity
December 12, 2022 • Armando Roggio
Amazon's new "Customers ask Alexa" could be a marketing opportunity for brands and retailers. Here's how to get started.
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Business
Founder’s Gut Health Inspires Poppi, a Soda
December 9, 2022 • Eric Bandholz
Persistent stomach pain prompted Allison Ellsworth to formulate a prebiotic soda, which she named Poppi. That was in 2018. It's now among the fastest-growing beverage brands in the U.S.
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Staffing
Q&A: Executive Recruiter on State of Ecommerce Employment
December 7, 2022 • Kerry Murdock
The news of layoffs at Amazon, Shopify, and other ecommerce companies has caused much industry angst. We asked Harry Joiner, a longtime ecommerce recruiter, for his perspective.
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Inventory
Is Selling Marijuana and Alcohol Online Worth It?
December 6, 2022 • Jeff Siegel
Selling alcohol and marijuana online in the U.S. is subject to a slew of state and federal laws, especially when shipping across state borders. We explain.
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Business
Chaiz Aims to Disrupt Car Warranty Biz
December 2, 2022 • Eric Bandholz
Extended auto repair warranties are expensive and inefficient according to Ryan Hartman, chief marketing officer of Chaiz, a startup price comparison marketplace.
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Business
Sales Report 2022: Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday
December 1, 2022 • Marcia Kaplan
U.S. consumers spent freely this year during the traditional five-day holiday shopping kickoff. We look at the numbers in this our eighth annual Cyber Week sales analysis.
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Fraud Prevention
How SPF, DKIM, DMARC Drive Email Delivery, Security
November 28, 2022 • Armando Roggio
There's no shortage of crooks looking to impersonate an authentic email sender. These three authentication tools prevent that from happening while improving deliverability.
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Business
Winc CMO on Complexities of Online Wine Sales
November 25, 2022 • Eric Bandholz
Jai Dolwani is chief marketing officer of Winc, a publicly-traded wine membership club. Selling alcohol online in the U.S. is challenging owing to 1920s-era laws on distribution and marketing.
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Cross-border Selling
Turmoil for Chinese Ecommerce and Tech Companies
November 22, 2022 • Marcia Kaplan
China's federal government is exerting increasing control over tech companies, including ecommerce. That, combined with a slowing economy, creates uncertainty.
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Shipping & Fulfillment
5 Steps to Sustainable Shipping
November 20, 2022 • Pete Bruckshaw
The rise of ecommerce and the corresponding growth of delivery vehicles results in much more carbon emissions. Here are five tips for implementing sustainable practices.
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Business
Investment Banker Shifts to Male Sexual Wellness
November 18, 2022 • Eric Bandholz
Jordan Elist launched Mate, a provider of male sexual wellness supplements, in 2020. "I’m the son of a urologist. I grew up learning about men’s sexual health," he says.
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Finance
Charts: Global State of Venture Capital Q3 2022
November 16, 2022 • Adel Boukarroum
Worldwide venture capital investments declined in Q3 to the lowest level since early 2020. We tell the story in four charts.
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Inventory
Is Online Marijuana the Next Big Thing?
November 13, 2022 • Jeff Siegel
Sweeping state-based marijuana legalization has created a booming industry. But limitations remain for ecommerce.
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Inventory
5 Tips for after-Christmas Promotions
November 6, 2022 • Armando Roggio
The January sales lull can be frightening for merchants. An after-Christmas promotional event can provide a necessary boost.
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Business
Frugal Living Suits ‘My Wife Quit’ Founder
November 4, 2022 • Eric Bandholz
Steve Chou is a successful entrepreneur. But quality of life drives many of his business decisions. Frugal living is one component.