Hey there, did you watch the Oscars this past weekend? 🏆

Your order this week:

AP ventures into eCommerce with Taboola partnership

Barbie’s Oscars letdown = $$$

Fraud prevention in online retail

B2B eCommerce experience suffer

Navigating the cookie-less world

AP ventures into eCommerce with Taboola partnership

The Associated Press partners with Taboola to launch AP Buyline, an e-commerce venture aimed at expanding revenue streams beyond content licensing.

This strategic move comes as the AP revamps its website to bolster consumer engagement and advertising income.

AP Buyline is set to debut on March 18th, focusing initially on personal finance advice covering credit cards, investments, insurance, and retirement savings. Additional categories such as home products, beauty, and fashion are slated for launch in April.

Operated by Taboola and closely aligned with AP’s editorial standards, AP Buyline will feature product reviews crafted to ensure quality and relevance. Led by Drew Stoneman, AP’s Vice President for Consumer Revenue, the initiative aims to tap into consumer demand for trusted recommendations.

Taboola’s expansion into e-commerce follows its acquisition of Connexity for $800 million in 2021. The company’s Turnkey Commerce arm offers publishers plug-and-play affiliate advertising solutions. In collaboration with Time, Taboola launched “Time Stamped,” attracting 3 million monthly users, demonstrating its growth in the e-commerce space.

Barbie’s Oscars letdown = $$$

Amid Hollywood’s Barbie fever and the doll’s 65th anniversary, Mattel anticipates robust sales following its 29% global doll sales surge last year, partly attributed to the success of the Barbie movie.

Capitalizing on the iconic doll’s popularity, Mattel plans a comprehensive celebration, including exclusive online promotions across major retailers like Amazon and Walmart.

However, competition for Barbie sales intensifies as brand websites gain traction, especially among Gen Z and millennial consumers favoring direct brand interactions. Despite reservations about pricing and checkout experiences, brand websites attract shoppers seeking trust, customer service, and human assistance.

To maintain Barbie’s market dominance, Mattel could leverage consumer preferences, offering perks like free shipping, easy checkouts, and transparent tracking. As Barbie continues to captivate audiences, Mattel’s strategic adaptation to evolving online shopping trends could secure another triumphant year for the iconic toy giant.

Fraud prevention in online retail

As online retail surges, prioritizing fraud prevention becomes paramount. The festive season of 2023 alone witnessed a 3.7% rise in online spending and a staggering 12.7% increase in ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ (BNPL) methods, heightening security risks.

With cyber threats evolving rapidly, it’s crucial for retailers to revise outdated attitudes and bolster digital defenses.

Global ecommerce fraud losses exceeded $48 billion in 2023, a significant spike from the previous year’s $41 billion. Malvertising campaigns targeting retail websites are on the rise, exploiting vulnerabilities to spread malware. BNPL platforms, characterized by lax security checks, are prime targets for cybercriminals.

To combat these threats, retailers must adopt proactive measures, fortify digital infrastructure, and implement robust security protocols. By prioritizing fraud prevention, retailers can safeguard consumer data and foster trust.

B2B eCommerce experience suffer

In a recent survey by Sana Commerce, 1,000 professional buyers worldwide revealed significant dissatisfaction with B2B ecommerce experiences.

While B2B online purchasing surges, many sellers fail to meet buyers’ expectations. A staggering 74% of respondents express readiness to switch suppliers for better service, particularly pronounced in the U.S. (91%).

CEO Sebastiaan Verhaar emphasizes the need for B2B suppliers to balance scalability with accuracy. Real-time pricing and stock information are crucial for buyer retention.

Despite the increasing reliance on digital platforms, 68% of buyers are deterred by order errors, including inaccurate delivery times and pricing.

These findings underscore the urgency for sellers to prioritize accuracy and enhance the overall online purchasing experience to maintain competitiveness and customer loyalty.

Navigating the cookie-less world

In 2024, data-driven marketing undergoes pivotal changes. With third-party cookies fading and privacy regulations rising, advertisers face a transformative landscape.

Google’s cookie deprecation in Chrome sparks a shift toward authenticated identity, amplifying antitrust scrutiny. Advertisers adopt all-party data strategies, merging first-party insights with third-party enrichment for cross-channel activation.

As more states enact privacy legislation, brands advocate for consumer privacy, emphasizing transparency and personalization. Data privacy experts shape industry dialogue, urging federal regulations.

Amidst these shifts, staying informed and fostering partnerships are crucial for marketers to thrive.

Signing off,

The Merchant @CartHustle