ClickZ Amazon Insights Newsletter - 09.26.2024

PLUS: Join TikTok, Seraphine and Sweaty Betty for Fospha's BFCM webinar on October 3

Author

Sophie Bruxner-Randall
September 26, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

Editor’s Pick 🌟

Peak season is the single best opportunity for D2C brands. 

To help you capture it, Fospha has assembled a panel of industry experts. Join them for a live discussion featuring leaders at Sweaty Betty, Seraphine, and the Head of Measurement at TikTok. 

📅 Date: Thursday, 3 October 2024 

🕒 Time: 11 AM EST / 4 PM BST 

P.S. You'll have the chance to ask the experts questions about peak season strategies in real-time!

Gain exclusive insight into: 

  1. Proven tactics to maximize peak period opportunities, shared live by experts 

  2. Strategies for capturing customers efficiently through a full-funnel approach 

  3. Insights on growing your customer base profitably with effective measurement 

  4. Methods for identifying and capitalizing on growth headroom for efficient scaling across channels 

Specialty Bites 🍪

Retailers are jumping into the holiday shopping season early, with Amazon leading the way by launching its Big Deal Days sale on October 8 and 9. That’s right—October. Not to be outdone, Target will kick off its Circle Week on October 6. It’s as if the holiday season has arrived ahead of schedule, bringing both excitement and a bit of stress.

So, why the early rush? The upcoming presidential election and a shorter-than-usual gap between Thanksgiving and Christmas are driving retailers to capture your attention before political ads and holiday festivities take over. Best Buy is getting a head start with a Member Exclusive Sale from September 27 to 29, followed by a 48-hour flash sale on October 8 and 9. They’re also planning a Prep for the Holidays event starting October 21 and a gaming sale on October 25. It’s shaping up to be a retail marathon, and consumers are trying to keep pace.

Even Big Lots, despite its recent bankruptcy filing, is joining the fray with its Black Friday Fridays, featuring one-day deals every Friday until December 6. It’s a bold move in challenging times, but as they say, desperate times call for desperate measures.

The bottom line? Retailers are wisely pushing holiday shopping into October, sidestepping the election chaos and encouraging you to start your gift buying before Halloween. According to a Bazaarvoice survey, 55% of shoppers plan to purchase gifts by October. So, get ready to shop early—the holiday season is officially in full swing, whether you’re prepared for it or not.

Amazon is using generative AI to enhance personalized product recommendations and descriptions. By analyzing customer preferences and shopping history, AI tailors suggestions and highlights key product features. This innovation aims to make shopping more efficient and enjoyable, ensuring customers find products that best meet their needs.

Amazon's Buy with Prime and Multi-Channel Fulfillment services have introduced new features to enhance merchant and shopper experiences. These updates aim to boost sales across various channels, leveraging Amazon's fulfillment network and Prime brand. Key enhancements include faster delivery, new advertising solutions, and expanded payment options, driving significant growth and efficiency for merchants

Prime Big Deal Days on October 8-9 offers Prime members 48 hours of exciting deals across top categories. Early access to select deals starts now, with savings on Amazon devices, small business products, travel, and more. Prime membership includes fast, free delivery and exclusive benefits.

Amazon Ads has introduced a new generative AI feature, Video generator, to help advertisers create engaging video ads quickly and at no extra cost. This tool, along with the live image capability, aims to overcome creative barriers, enhancing ad performance and customer experience.

Performance Platters 🍽️

Brands like Belgian Boys and Olipop are shifting their focus to reach U.S. shoppers in smaller cities. They are investing in retail media networks and hyper-localized marketing to connect with busy parents and larger households. Platforms like Hummingbirds help brands create targeted campaigns, driving sales in specific regions.

Perplexity, backed by Nvidia and Jeff Bezos, is in talks with brands like Nike and Marriott to revolutionize AI-powered search advertising. They aim to replace Google's auction-based system with sponsored questions featuring AI-generated answers. This shift promises unbiased answers while enhancing user experience and advertising effectiveness.

VTEX's survey reveals that 45% of U.S. consumers have engaged in live shopping, with men leading in participation. Social video commerce is also popular, especially among Gen Z and millennials. Brands should leverage these trends, focusing on consistent, engaging experiences to boost consumer engagement and sales.

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