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Express Checkout #80 - the latest in CPG, Retail, and eComm

CPG and Retail news from the week of 6/24/24

Author

Nate Rosen
July 01, 2024

Hello hello!

I cannot believe it’s already July! My birthday month 👀 

Keeping this intro short today with an ask: I want to make Express Checkout the best possible newsletter, and I need your feedback. 🫵 

If you have a few minutes today, please fill out this quick survey (promise it’ll be fun)!

It’s been almost 2 years since I started Express Checkout (I know, I can’t believe it either), and your support means the world. Thanks in advance for taking the time to make Express Checkout even better.

Now onto the retail + CPG news of the week…

Events! 🥳 

Next week we have a ton of events happening, I’d love to see you there!

  • Coffee Meet up at GROW NY on June 9th

    🤝 Digioh, Smartrr, Levitate Foundry, Stord, and Toki

    📍 NYC |Tuesday, July 9 | 8:30 AM

    🔗 RSVP HERE

  • Happy Hour on July 10th (at Tin Building)

    🤝 Levitate Foundry, Reviews.io, Firework, and Revenue Roll

    📍 NYC | Wednesday, July 10th | 6pm

    🔗 RSVP HERE

  • Happy Hour on July 11th

    🤝 Levitate Foundry and Rebuy

    📍 NYC | Thursday, July 11th | 6pm

    🔗 RSVP HERE

Brought to you by….

Simplydepo — Attention brands with field sales teams!

Streamline your operations with SimplyDepo and say goodbye to scattered data! Their platform digitizes sales and merchandising activities. Their platform provides a centralized hub for all your information, simplifying the management of orders, customers, and deliveries. Gain valuable insights, reach potential customers, and effortlessly scale your business. Partner with SimplyDepo to empower your field sales reps and conquer independent stores!

For more information, contact [email protected] or visit HERE

Express Checkout x Spate - weekly data deep-dive

📊 Check out my weekly series with Spate, where we dive into the latest trends taking TikTok by storm –– read last weeks insights HERE!

Now on to the news of the week!

(If you’re reading this email in gmail it might get clipped! You can always view full issues here.)

🔥 Big News - 10 items or less 🔥

  • Target x Shopify - Target has announced a partnership with Shopify to expand its online marketplace, Target Plus, with a curated assortment of products direct from Shopify merchants. This partnership will also bring select Shopify merchants' products into Target's physical stores. Anna Hensel brought up something really interesting on about this...how selective Target traditionally is about who it lets into its marketplace. I bet they're feeling significant pressure from Walmart and Amazon as they’ve expanded their marketplace offerings. Source

  • Speaking of pressure from Amazon - TikTok is set to challenge Amazon’s July Prime Day with its own sales event called "Deals For You Days" starting on July 9. The event will offer exclusive deals on fashion, beauty products, and more, aiming to grow its TikTok Shop U.S. business tenfold. Source

  • Speaking of Amazon - They’re set to launch a new marketplace featuring low-priced items shipped directly from China, competing with platforms like Temu, Shein, and AliExpress. Source

🗞️ News from the week (6/24/24 - 6/30/24)

🛍 Retail

  • Framebridge, a custom framing brand, has announced the opening of its first Texas retail location in Austin. They’ve been expanding their retail presence over the past few years. Source

    • A DTC first brand opening storefronts isn’t new, what is however is these brands taking their time to open stores. I feel like the Warby Parker’s of the world opened stores too fast too furious. The new generation seems to be more strategic.

  • L.L.Bean is expanding its store footprint beyond New England and has three locations this fall. They also plan to expand its retail presence in the Southeast and Midwest next year. Source

  • Saks Fifth Avenue plans to open 20 stand-alone Fifth Avenue Club locations by the end of 2024. Source

  • Wakefern Food Corp owned ShopRites has added Instacart's Caper Carts, an AI-powered smart shopping cart, at four stores in the Philadelphia area, bringing the total to 11 stores. source

  • Well looks like Boisson is on its way back! After shutting down back in April. source

🛒 CPG & Consumer Goods

  • BOBABAM has launched a new line of Refreshers, offering fruit-forward flavors and clear boba. Source

  • Big Grill Energy is introducing the 5-hour ENERGY® Inspired Energizing BBQ Sauce, partnering with BBQ pro and The Office star Brian Baumgartner. source

  • Heinz has launched a new sauce called the "Every Sauce," which includes a combination of 14 different sauces from their flavor range. source

  • Away has launched a new softside luggage collection. The collection aims to capture a significant portion of the market, as over 50% of luggage sales in the U.S. are for softside luggage. source

  • Actress Emma Watson is launching Renais, a gin brand made from upcycled grapes, in the U.S. Source

  • Tilray Brands, Inc. has announced the launch of Runner's High Brewing Company, a new brand of premium non-alcoholic brews. The brand aims to cater to the social running community. source

  • Califia Farms has launched Complete Kids, a plant-based milk designed for children. Made from a mixture of peas, chickpeas, and fava beans. source

    • I think there aren’t enough new products geared towards kids, I’m excited to see more innovation in this space

  • De La Calle has repositioned its Tepache beverage as "Modern Mexican Soda." Source

    • This is not a surprising move, as brands like Olipop and Poppi have moved more into the soda category to better meet consumers interest in a better soda

💻 eCommerce

  • Whatnot, the largest livestream shopping platform in North America and Europe, has introduced "Rewards Club," a customizable loyalty program for sellers

  • MadeMe Buy It has recently launched a sampling service that provides brands with daily access to different buyers' contact, shipping, and background information. They are offering a three-day free trial for interested users. For more information, visit mademebuyit.io/samples

  • Ordergroove has launched its newly revamped Rotating Clubs, a solution that transforms the traditional subscription model and turns product discovery into recurring revenue. Source

🏭 Supply Chain

  • SunOpta has invested $26 million in expanding its oat milk production in Modesto, California by over 60%. Source

  • Tailored Brands has announced the opening of a new rental distribution center in Aurora, IL, aimed at reducing shipping time and costs to and from Men's Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank stores. The 285,000 square-foot facility will serve multiple cities and enable next-day deliveries. source

💸 Funding news

  • Samsara Eco, a clothing recycler, has secured $100 million in funding including from Lululemon to scale up its recycling capabilities and build more commercial facilities in Southeast Asia. Source

  • Pear Commerce, the retail ecommerce enablement platform for omnichannel brands, has secured $10 million in Series A funding led by Stage 2 Capital. source

  • Hoodie Analytics, a cannabis data and technology firm, has closed a $5 million Series A funding led by Measure 8 Partners and included participation from Entourage Effect Capital and Satori Investors. source

  • Function, a health platform based in Austin, TX, has raised $53M in a Series A funding round. Source

  • WET Hydration has successfully closed a seven-figure funding round and announced a brand refresh. With $1.5 million in new financing, the Las Vegas-based startup aims to expand its presence nationwide. Source

  • Naomi Watts and L Catterton have announced their partnership for the acquisition of Stripes Beauty, a leader in the women's beauty and wellness market. source

🧐 Interesting reads

💡 Data, reports, and trends

😋 Brands and things I’ve tried this week

I GOT THE MINI TJ’S INSULATED TOTE BAG

Nate :)

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