Happy first day of spring! đ¸
Like flowers going into full bloom, thereâll come a time when Amazon sellers will eventually reap the fruits (or flowers) of their hard work.
But when one works hard, someone else is cheating their way to cut the system. Whether itâs a good or bad practice, nothing remains hidden foreverâjust like the hot news weâll serve today:
- Counterfeiting allegations against Amazon đ§Ś
- Selling AND saving BIG on Walmart đ°
- Amazonâs only real competitor â
- Content marketing ideas for April đĄ
BLACK MARKET
Yup, you heard that right. Amazon and a clothing manufacturer named V K Knitting Industries are on the other side of a counterfeiting battle after the Chandigarh Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission penalized them for selling counterfeit goods!
đ¤ŚIn a report by The Indian Express, a customer ordered a pair of Marc Jacobs socks at a steal, only to unwrap a disappointing surprise. Hereâs what happened:
- Jatin Bansal, a local from Chandigarh, thought he scored a deal of the century when he snagged a pair of 'Marc Jacobs' socks on Amazon for Rs 279.30 (less than $4).
- But when the item was delivered, he was shocked to receive a knockoff by the name of 'Marc,â courtesy of V K Knitting Industries.
- Whatâs even worseâthereâs no return policy in sight!
đ§ââď¸ The verdict
The Commission wasnât having any of it, demanding Amazon to stop displaying the same product on its platform as âMarc Jacobs.â. They also imposed a penalty of Rs 27 lakh, equivalent to almost $33,000 on the retail giant and V K Knitting Industries.
Here's the penalty breakdown:
- Full refund for customer = Rs 279.30 (roughly $3.37)
Compensation for customers' troubles = Rs 2 lakh ($2412.16) - Litigation costs = Rs 20,000 ($241.22)
- Legal aid account payment = Rs 25 lakh ($30,151.90)
Amazon tried to wiggle out, citing jurisdictional gymnastics and platform policy. But the Commission firmly stood by its decision and reminded Amazon that when it comes to dodgy products, refunds should be as easy as slipping off a sock.
In case youâre wondering, V K Knitting Industries wasnât innocent either. They knew Amazon was peddling their socks under false pretenses but didnât lift a finger to stop it. đŠ
What happens next?
The commission sent a stern letter to the authorities in New Delhi. So, it seems this might have larger implications for Amazon.
đGentle reminders for sellers: Maintain your integrity. It's best to sell in the most honest manner possible. The consequences of doing otherwise might not just break the bank but also your entire business.
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*Source: Walmart first-party data, 2021-22
BITES OF THE WEEK
- Sharing is Caring: Pursuing growth as a tech vendor, Walmart shares its exclusive AI logistics solution called "Route Optimization."
- Fashion Journey: Survey reveals the most influential channels that convert fashion shoppers.
- Gearing Up: eBay unveils new seller tools: the mobile versions of Product Research and Background Enhancement.
ECOMMERCE NEWS
Walmart is Amazonâs only competitor
As Amazon remains the biggest, baddest online marketplace in the U.S., rival platforms continue to try harder to overtake it. But according to Marketplace Pulse, Walmart is Amazonâs only real competitor.
How so? Well, hereâs the breakdown of the ecommerce battle so far:
- eBay remains the 3rd largest online marketplaceâbut spending was up by only 7%. Also, it mainly focuses on enthusiasts and collectors rather than direct shoppers.
- Target is growing wellâbut its marketplace has less than 1,000 sellers.
- Shopify surpassed $200 billion in annualized GMV in 2023âbut its mobile app âShopâ is doing less than $1 billion annually.
- Newbies Temu, Shein, and TikTok Shop did disrupt online retailâbut they still have a way to go in terms of being the top marketplace.
đĽ What sets Walmart apart?
Compared with the ecommerce platforms above, it:
- Has more than 100,000 active sellers.
- Pools in $100 billion in online sales, in the same order and magnitude as Amazon.
- Has been growing faster than Amazon in the past 5 years.
But Walmartâs biggest green flag is its quick adoption of optimal fulfillment, marketplace, and advertising tacticsâat least compared to other platforms.
For now, only time will tell how far theyâll catch up. While keeping an eye out on how this battle will unfold, why not devise your own optimal way to sell on both platforms?
TACTIC TALKS
5 foolproof content marketing ideas to try in April 2024
When it comes to marketing your products, content is king. But if youâre feeling stuck with your content calendar, donât worry because Practical Ecommerce has some awesome ideas to jazz up your content game this April:
- Connect activities to your products. Tap into your customersâ interests by sharing exciting activities related to your products. For instance, you could write about the top 10 hiking trails for Spring and feature your best-selling hiking boots or backpacks within the content.
- National Welding Month. Talk about trends, gears, or even career opportunities in welding in your newsletter or social media to reach the handy ones out there. If youâre selling welding equipment or protective gear, you can consider promoting them in these articles too! đĽ˝
- National Car Care Month. Share car stories and interviews or pair cars with car-related products like car cleaning kits, dashboard accessories, and apparel for car lovers. Donât forget to add links to the products available in your store.
- National Burrito Day (first Thursday in April).Spice up your content by including recipes, fun facts, or quirky burrito-themed ideas in your articles. For example, if youâre selling luggage, you can link your products in your article about the best places to visit for burrito lovers.
- National Handmade Day (first Saturday in April).Showcase handmade products or DIY projects that align with your brand's niche or target audience. Provide step-by-step tutorials or inspirational ideas for creating handmade items, and include links to crafting supplies or tools available in your store. đ¨
đ Do you have other ideas to drive engagement and boost your sales this April? Do share them with us by replying to this email!
