Black Friday online shoppers beat expectations

Black Friday online spending reached a record $9.8 billion in the U.S., up 7.5% from a year earlier.

Greetings from the Retailist team! As we turn away from the chaos of Black Friday/Cyber Monday (BFCM), we turn our sights towards the holiday season. What’s to come? E-commerce, retail, and Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) brands are hustling and bustling, getting ready for the holiday season peak in just a couple of weeks. Our dedicated team is on the forefront, ready to deliver the latest and most significant developments in these sectors.

This edition is packed with a handpicked selection of the past week's most influential news, emerging trends, and expert analyses from the retail world. Join us as we delve into this week's crucial topics, with a heightened focus on Black Friday!

New from Retailist

Millennials and Gen Z consumers are at the forefront in embracing financial services from their favourite brands. For businesses, incorporating financial services into their offerings presents a compelling proposition for brands as a path to increase engagement, conversion and repeat visits.

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In the News: This week’s top headlines

Shopify, Etsy, Wayfair stocks rally after Black Friday. Following Black Friday, e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and Wayfair experienced significant stock rallies. Black Friday online spending reached a record $9.8 billion in the U.S., up 7.5% from a year earlier. This surge underscores the thriving state of the e-commerce industry and the growing importance of these platforms in the global retail sector​​. [CNBC]

Temu expands delivery network in Europe. To enhance its competitiveness and customer service in the European e-commerce landscape, Chinese-based, low-cost e-com giant Temu is expanding its delivery network. This strategic move is aimed at catering to the growing demand for efficient and reliable delivery services​​. [Retail Tech Innovation Hub]

FedEx introduces innovative van-loading robot. FedEx has launched a new robot to streamline the loading of delivery vans. This innovation in e-commerce logistics is expected to speed up deliveries and reduce operational costs, offering a glimpse into the future of AI and logistics in the sector​​. [Wired]

Ulta Beauty shares pop. Ulta Beauty reported a 6% increase in its revenue for the third quarter compared to the previous year, resulting in a significant boost in its stock value, with shares rising as much as 10% in extended trading. Additionally, the company announced the retirement of its Chief Financial Officer, set to take place in April. This financial performance, coupled with the CFO's retirement news, has notably impacted the company's market presence. [CNBC]

Mastercard introduces AI personal shopping assistant. Mastercard’s Dynamic Yield platform has launched an advanced generative AI shopping tool, aimed at enhancing consumer shopping experiences​​. The assistant, Shopping Muse, strives to replicate the in-store shopping experience by converting consumer searches into customized product suggestions and recommending complementary items. [Retail Week]

Footlocker raises forecast, shares jump 16%. Foot Locker has uplifted its annual forecast following robust Thanksgiving week sales and progress on its growth plan​​. [Retail Bum]

Job Board: This week’s Top Openings in DTC, RetailTech, and more

Want to submit a role to our talent board? Email [email protected].

  • Associate, Marketplace Support (New York, NY) Rokt - more here

  • Senior Lifecycle Marketing Manager (Boston, MA) WHOOP - more here

  • SVP, Global Merchandising, Footwear (New York, NY) Tapestry - more here

  • Director, Amazon Onsite Marketing and Media (Remote) Nutrafol - more here

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ABOUT RETAILIST

Retailist Magazine is an outlet focused on modern commerce as it relates to digital innovation. The publication examines our culture’s ever-evolving relationship with marketing, commerce and traditional retail. Our goal is to connect our audience to quality content and award programs for retail brands to tell their story of innovation. The publication was launched in Summer 2020 with overwhelming support from thought leaders across the globe.

These experts stand at the helm of their niche in retail and provide readers with real-time, trending insights to ensure you remain on the bleeding edge of commerce innovation. Contributing thought leaders include C-suite executives from Hubspot, Wix, Printful, Global-e, Zapaygo, TradeGala, Birdie, Inurface Media, and more.