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  • Marketplace Shake-Up: Amazon Thrives, Catch Closes, Chinese Platforms to Stall

    Marketplace Shake-Up: Amazon Thrives, Catch Closes, Chinese Platforms to Stall

    Australia’s marketplace sector is rapidly transforming, with Amazon strengthening its dominance, Wesfarmers closing Catch, and doubts growing around Temu and Shein, according to new research from ecommerce and marketplace accelerator, Pattern.

    The findings, published in Pattern’s ‘2025 Marketplace Consumer Report’, reveal that marketplaces are now an indispensable part of the online shopping ecosystem, with 94% of Australians purchasing from one in the past 12 months.

    “Amazon’s increasing prominence in product discovery, its substantial Prime membership base, and the upcoming launch of the price-competitive platform called ‘Haul’ have solidified its position as Australia’s leading marketplace,” explains Merline McGregor, Managing Director for Pattern Australia. “Meanwhile, Catch has closed, Kogan and MyDeal are growing —although from smaller customer bases than the market’s frontrunners—and early enthusiasm for low-cost Chinese marketplaces appears to have peaked as they struggle to meet shopper expectations.”

    Chinese marketplace growth to stall

    New research indicates that high-profile Chinese marketplaces Temu and Shein risk losing shoppers in 2025. Although these platforms have rapidly captured market share, only 12% of consumers trust Temu for its product quality, leading to a predicted 7% drop in shoppers. Shein faces similar challenges, with trust levels at just 11%.

    “Many Australians trialled Temu and Shein over the last eighteen months due to aggressive pricing and large marketing campaigns. Yet early adopters have found these marketplaces unreliable. Although they may still expand in the future, Temu and Shein face a significant challenge in legitimising themselves within the Australian market and delivering on the customer experience,” observed McGregor.

    Alarmingly for the Chinese marketplaces, only 43% of shoppers would consider buying from Temu in 2025, and even this may hinge on improvements in quality and delivery. For Shein, expanding into categories like home and beauty is yet to offset concerns about its core offerings.

    Amazon extends its lead

    Amazon has cemented its position as Australia’s leading marketplace. The platform attracted 1.1 million new Australian users in 2024, bringing its total to 7.9 million shoppers, accounting for 10% of the country’s total online shopping spend1.

    The outlook for Amazon is incredibly strong with a significant 63% of Australians planning to shop on the platform in 2025. Its appeal is particularly strong among younger shoppers (71% of those aged 18-24) and high-income households earning over $200,000 annually (78%).

    “Amazon’s focus on fast delivery, quality products, and a seamless shopping experience sets it apart,” said McGregor. “While Chinese platforms have disrupted the market, Amazon’s trusted reputation and ability to adapt—such as the launch of its low-cost ‘Haul’ storefront—ensure it stays ahead.”

    Consumers discover new products on marketplaces today

    Australian shoppers are also changing how they research and discover new products online, with traditional search giant, Google, experiencing a 7% decline in people using the platform for new product discovery.

    At the same time, the share of consumers who begin their product research on Amazon has risen by 27% year on year, highlighting the platform’s growing impact on purchase decisions.

    In 2024, 63% of shoppers bought a product that they had never purchased from Amazon before and 38% visited a brand’s website after discovering it on the platform.

    “Online marketplaces play a pivotal role in how shoppers discover and evaluate new products,” said McGregor. “Their extensive variety, combined with transparent customer feedback empowers consumers to explore unfamiliar brands with greater confidence.”

    What products will consumers buy from which marketplace in 2025?

    Pattern’s research asked consumers what they were likely to buy in 2025 and through which marketplace, with the results indicating:

    • Amazon’s key shopper categories are Books & eBooks (37%), Electronics & Computer (24%) and Home & Kitchen (24%).
    • eBay is competitive across a range of categories, including Electronics & Computer (20%), Books & eBooks (17%) and Clothing, Shoes & Accessories (16%).
    • Temu attracts shoppers with Clothing, Shoes & Accessories (20%), Home & Kitchen (14%).
    • Shein maintains its appeal in Clothing, Shoes & Accessories (19%), while its expansion beyond fashion drives growth in categories like Skincare & Make-up (7%) and Home & Kitchen (6%).
    • Kogan remains strong in Electronics & Computer (11%) and Home & Kitchen (8%).
    • My Deal gains consumer interest for Home & Kitchen (5%) and Clothing, Shoes & Accessories (5%).

    “Marketplaces in Australia are set for strong growth in 2025, driven by the strong consumer pull toward convenience, competitive pricing, and rapid delivery. With 94% of Australians already shopping on these platforms, brands can’t afford to sit on the sideline. They must be present where consumers shop. To attract new customers and succeed in a competitive online shopping environment, brands need a dedicated marketplace strategy and to collaborate with specialists like Pattern to maximise their impact,” concluded McGregor.

    For more information and to download the full report please click here: ‘2025 Marketplace Consumer Report’

    About Pattern Inc

    Pattern is the category leader in global ecommerce and marketplace acceleration. It is the number one reseller on Amazon globally, selling over $3 billion of product each year into 60 countries. Since 2013, Pattern has profitably grown to over 2,000 employees operating from 24 global locations – including Melbourne, Sydney and the Gold Coast – to help leading brands achieve accelerated growth on D2C websites and global ecommerce marketplaces. Pattern is also present on Tmall, JD.com, eBay and other ecommerce marketplaces. We act as the authorised Amazon seller to more than 300 brands globally, buying their stock to sell on the marketplace and taking care of every aspect of their Amazon presence. For more information, visit https://au.pattern.com/

    Media Contact

    Paul Manser

    Mulberry Marketing Communications

    [email protected]

     

    1 Roy Morgan. (August 2024). SHEIN and Temu Continue to Grow Strongly.

  • Amazon seeks to contest Temu, Shein with budget store selling items like $3 iPhone cases

    Amazon seeks to contest Temu, Shein with budget store selling items like $3 iPhone cases

    American e-commerce giant Amazon has launched Amazon Haul, an affordable e-commerce storefront which offers products priced US$20 or less.

    Items such as a $3 iPhone case or a pack of four socks for $7 are sold with a variety of options on the new store, which is advertised as offering “crazy low prices,” according to a company release.

    Over 300 million products in the main categories of clothing, home goods, jewelry and electronics are available on the store, which can be found on Amazon’s mobile app.

    Most items are $10 or less, and the company offers free shipping on orders of $25 or higher.

    The Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon Haul items will take longer to deliver because they ship directly from warehouses in China, similar to Chinese competitors Temu and Shein which have been rapidly expanding to many markets in recent months.

    Although products priced under $3 are not eligible for return, Amazon guarantees that all items have been screened for safety and authenticity.

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  • Pattern Helps Australian Brand Recover Over $200k Amazon Revenue

    Pattern Helps Australian Brand Recover Over $200k Amazon Revenue

    Pattern, global ecommerce and marketplace accelerator, has announced the launch of Pattern Recovery, a new service designed to help Australian brands optimise their Amazon marketplace presence and safeguard past and future profitability.

    As Australia’s most popular marketplace, Amazon, offers unparalleled opportunities for brands to reach millions of customers. However, the scale and complexity of the platform can often result in Australian brands becoming overwhelmed and not making the most of the marketplace opportunity. Pattern Recovery supports brands operating as first-party (1P) or third-party (3P) vendors on Amazon to optimise their marketplace presence and recover on average up to 6% of any revenue they may have missed from a five-year look back window.

    “Most Australian brands currently struggle to navigate all the moving parts that come with selling on Amazon. This leads to errors resulting in repeated missed opportunities for revenue relating to overcharges, misapplied fees and inventory recovery,” explained Merline McGregor, Managing Director at Pattern. “Working on behalf of Australian brands, Pattern Recovery can identify and recover up to 70% of these missed revenue opportunities and back-date them as far as five years. This ensures brands can gain back profits that would otherwise have been a loss and optimise processes to safeguard profitability into the future.

    “Optimisation and recovery efforts have led to some impressive revenue gains. One first-party Amazon vendor in Australia had 19,300 disputes made on its behalf for both new and old fees dating back five years. This achieved a $216,000 recovery.”

    Pattern Recovery offers a comprehensive review of all Amazon transactions, pinpointing areas where brands have missed opportunities and efficiently addressing these on the brand’s behalf. This meticulous oversight not only enhances current profitability but also provides valuable insights to help brands refine and optimise their operations to increase future revenue. It does this through in-depth root cause analysis and supply chain coaching, aimed at minimising any future errors before they occur.

    What makes Pattern Recovery stand out is its ability to complement the strengths of Amazon’s platform, turning potential missed opportunities into improvements and profit gains. The service provides continuous support to brands, offering strategic insights and operational advice that align with Amazon’s best practices. This proactive approach ensures vendors can maximise their profitability without any disruption to their selling.

    “In today’s ecommerce environment, it is more crucial than ever for brands to optimise every aspect of their operations to drive profitability – they cannot afford unnecessary losses or inefficiencies. By ensuring that all areas of the business, including Amazon marketplace operations, are operating at peak efficiency, brands can not only safeguard their bottom line but also position themselves for sustainable growth. It’s about being proactive, tightening the ship, and making every dollar count to build future strength,” added McGregor.

    ###

    About Pattern Inc

    Pattern is the category leader in global ecommerce and marketplace acceleration. Since 2013, Pattern has profitably grown to more than 1,400 employees operating from 24 global locations – including Melbourne, Sydney and the Gold Coast – to help leading brands achieve accelerated growth on D2C websites and global ecommerce marketplaces. As well as being one of the largest Amazon sellers in the world, we are also present on Tmall, JD.com, eBay and other ecommerce marketplaces. We act as the authorised Amazon seller to more than 200 brands globally, buying their stock to sell on the marketplace and taking care of every aspect of their Amazon presence. For more information, visit https://au.pattern.com/

     

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  • Amazon Kindle Vella to be discontinued in February 2025

    Amazon Kindle Vella to be discontinued in February 2025

    Amazon has made the decision to shut down its Kindle Vella serialized story platform in February 2025. The platform, launched in 2021, was intended to be a way for readers to discover new fictional stories and for authors to earn money from the Kindle Direct Publishing service. However, the platform has not gained the traction Amazon had hoped for, leading to its discontinuation.

    Authors can continue to publish stories on Vella until December 4th, which is also the last day readers can purchase tokens. After this date, readers can still use their tokens to unlock episodes until the program closes in February. Readers who have already unlocked episodes will not lose access to them and can read them in their library on the Kindle app. Any unused tokens will be refunded by Amazon.

    Vella has received mixed responses since its launch. Some authors appreciated the ability to earn money from unfinished stories, while some readers expressed a preference for purchasing complete books rather than installments. The mixed reception highlights the challenges of introducing new reading formats and subscription models in a market accustomed to traditional publishing models.

    Despite efforts to increase interest, such as offering free episodes and bonuses to authors, Amazon has decided to discontinue the platform. The closure of Kindle Vella marks the end of an experiment in serialized storytelling. While it did not achieve the success Amazon had hoped for, it provided a platform for authors to connect with readers in a new way. It also offered a unique opportunity for readers to discover and engage with stories as they were being written.

    The decision to shut down Vella reflects the dynamic nature of the digital publishing landscape. As technology and reader preferences evolve, platforms and services must adapt to remain relevant. While Vella may not have found its niche, it contributed to the ongoing exploration of new ways to create, share, and experience stories.

    While it is always disappointing to see a service end, it also opens up opportunities for new and innovative platforms to emerge. I am interested in seeing how this will affect the landscape of serialized fiction and what new developments may arise in the future.

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  • Amazon confirms the Kindle Oasis will be discontinued

    Amazon confirms the Kindle Oasis will be discontinued

    Fresh on the heels of the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition announcement, Amazon confirmed that it’s retiring its last Kindle e-reader to feature physical buttons, the Kindle Oasis.

    The information doesn’t really come as a surprise considering the e-reader made its debut on the market more than eight years ago. What’s surprising is that many of those who bought the e-reader when it was launched are still using it. There’s an entire thread on reddit where Kindle Oasis users express their love for Amazon’s e-reader.

    Unfortunately, Amazon’s rep Devon Corvasce told The Verge that “once current inventory of Kindle Oasis sells out online and in stores, we will not restock the device. Today, all of our devices are touch-forward which is what our customers are comfortable with.”

    The Kindle Oasis can no longer be bought from Amazon, as the e-reader’s page mentions the product is “currently unavailable,” and that’s probably how it will stay until all stock is depleted. The Oasis will probably be completely removed from Amazon’s website in just a couple of months.

    After its original launch back in 2016, the Kindle Oasis received some updates in the form of two new versions, which landed in 2017 and 2019, respectively. Since then, Amazon focused completely on releasing touch-only Kindle models, which made the Oasis rather obsolete.

    Still, it would have been nice for Amazon to have at least one Kindle model that features physical buttons in its portfolio, as many customers prefer the Oasis over the newer models.

    Thankfully, if you’re more of a traditional person who prefers their e-readers have physical buttons, there are plenty of alternatives from the competition like the Kobo Libra, Kobo Sage, Pocketbook Verse Pro, Onyx Boox Page or the Hi Reader Pro.

    Some of these are better than others, but what’s important is that e-readers with physical buttons are still a thing, despite Amazon’s decision to discontinue its only model with this specific perk.

  • Amazon and Flipkart found to have breached India’s antitrust laws

    Amazon and Flipkart found to have breached India’s antitrust laws

    An Indian antitrust investigation has found US e-commerce giant Amazon and Walmart’s Flipkart violated local competition laws by giving preference to select sellers on their shopping websites, according to reports seen by Reuters.

    The Competition Commission of India (CCI) in 2020 ordered an investigation into Amazon and Flipkart for allegedly promoting certain sellers with which they had business arrangements and giving priority to certain listings.

    In a 1027-page report on Amazon and a separate 1,696-page report on Flipkart, both dated August 9, the CCI investigators said the two companies were found to have created an ecosystem where preferred sellers appeared higher in search results, elbowing out other sellers.

    “Each of the anti-competitive practices alleged … were investigated and found to be true,” said both reports, which are not public and are being reported by Reuters for the first time.

    “Ordinary sellers remained as mere database entries,” the two reports said in identical conclusions on both companies.

    Amazon and Flipkart, as well as the CCI, did not immediately respond to Reuters queries. They have previously denied wrongdoing and said their practices are in line with Indian laws.

    The two companies will now review the report and file any objections before CCI staff decide on any potential fines.

    The investigation’s findings are the latest setback for Amazon and Flipkart in a country where they continue to face criticism for their business practices from smaller retailers, who say their businesses have suffered in recent years due to deep discounts offered online.

    The investigation was triggered by a complaint from the Delhi Vyapar Mahasangh, which is an affiliate of the country’s biggest trade body, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), that represents 80 million retailers.

    In a statement to Reuters, CAIT welcomed the CCI investigation findings, saying it would study the reports and “escalate the matter” with the federal government.

    Amazon and Flipkart are leading players in India’s e-retail market which was estimated to be worth $57-60 billion in 2023, and set to top $160 billion in value by 2028, consultancy firm Bain estimates.

    In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission has sued Amazon alleging the company uses “anticompetitive and unfair strategies to illegally maintain its monopoly power”. Amazon has said that the FTC lawsuit is wrongheaded and would hurt consumers by leading to higher prices and slower deliveries.

    Indian investigators raided certain sellers of Amazon and Flipkart during the probe, following a Reuters investigation in 2021 which was based on Amazon internal documents and showed the company gave preferential treatment for years to a small group of sellers on its platform, and used them to bypass Indian laws.

    The company has denied any wrongdoing but the CCI previously told an Indian court the Reuters special report corroborated evidence it had against Amazon.

    The CCI investigation report on Amazon said preferred sellers on the platform “get the advantage in the (online) listing” and when a customer searches for any product, “his attention is drawn towards” those listings.

    The practice of preferential listings and deep discounting of mobile phones – including selling products below cost price – causes a “catastrophic impact on the existing competition in the market.”

    In the report on Flipkart, the CCI said preferred sellers were provided various services such as marketing and delivery at a “miniscule cost.” They were also enabled by Flipkart to sell phones with deep discounts which amounts to “predatory pricing” and forecloses competition, the CCI said.

    “The anti-competitive practies are not limited to sales of mobile phones. They are equally prevalent in other categories of goods,” both reports said.

    Flipkart and Amazon for months tried to block the investigation through legal challenges in courts, but the Supreme Court in 2021 allowed it to go ahead.

    Last month, India’s commerce minister publicly called out Amazon by saying the company’s investments were often used to cover its business losses.

    Amazon in June last year said it will increase its Indian investment to $26 billion by 2030, including for its cloud business. It is also targeting merchandise exports worth $20 billion from India by 2025.

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  • 17 million Vietnamese products sold on Amazon in 2023

    17 million Vietnamese products sold on Amazon in 2023

    he number of Vietnamese products sold on Amazon soared by 300% in the previous five years to 17 million in 2023.

    The value of the goods exported through the U.S. e-commerce platform increased by 50% during the period, Trinh Khac Toan, northern regional director of Amazon Global Selling Vietnam, which supports sellers, said at a forum Thursday.

    The number of Vietnamese sellers with annual sales of $1 million increased 10-fold between 2019 and 2023, while those who have legitimized their brands through the Amazon Brand Registry program increased by 35 times, he noted.

    The figures demonstrate the astonishing potential of cross-border e-commerce, he said.

    Amazon Global Selling forecasts cross-border e-commerce in Vietnam and Southeast Asia to grow at 20% annually until 2026.

    Bui Trung Kien, vice chairman of the Vietnam E-Commerce Association, said developing cross-border e-commerce is crucial to boosting Vietnam’s exports.

    But the country’s legal framework for businesses could pose a hurdle to this, he warned.

    Cao Cam Linh, a representative of the Vietnam Association for Logistics Manpower Development, said logistics need to be developed to support e-commerce.

    Toan said online businesses need to invest in market research to identify customer needs, improve their products and build their own brands with a long-term vision.

    In Vietnam, Amazon has collaborated with the E-commerce and Digital Economy Agency to train 10,000 people for the cross-border e-commerce industry.

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  • Amazon Music takes on Spotify with Maestro, an AI-powered playlist generator

    Amazon Music takes on Spotify with Maestro, an AI-powered playlist generator

    Spotify’s AI DJ raised the bar for music streaming, and now Amazon Music is throwing its hat into the ring with Maestro. This new AI-powered playlist feature is currently rolling out in beta to select Amazon Music users in the US on iOS and Android.

    If you’re part of the rollout, you’ll spot Maestro either on your home screen after updating the app, or by hitting the plus button to create a new playlist. However, where things get interesting is how you create them. Maestro uses natural language, meaning you don’t need technical terms to build your playlists.

    With Maestro, everything starts with a simple prompt telling it what you want to hear. Want a playlist bursting with energy? Type “songs to get me pumped!” or maybe “upbeat summer jams”. Maestro even understands emojis, in case you’re struggling to find the words to describe your mood best.

    However, Amazon is clear: this is a beta feature. Maestro, like any new AI tool, will probably have some hits and misses as it learns what you like. They’ve even built-in safeguards to try to block offensive language or prompts that are just too inappropriate.

    As a brand-new feature, Maestro is currently accessible to a limited number of Amazon Music users across Free, Prime, and Unlimited tiers. If you’re in the beta, you’ll see the option front-and-center in the app. While Unlimited subscribers can instantly listen to and save their generated playlists, Prime and free-tier users get 30-second previews to help them decide if the playlist is a good fit.

    The battle for your ears is getting interesting. Spotify jumped ahead with its AI DJ, but Amazon’s Maestro signals that the competition isn’t far behind. Soon, generating playlists based on moods, vibes, or even bizarrely specific requests might become the standard way we listen to music.

  • Meet Rufus, Amazon’s new AI shopping assistant

    Meet Rufus, Amazon’s new AI shopping assistant

    Amazon is among the companies that has iterated a lot when it comes to artificial intelligence. The US-based giant continues to develop new AI tools, especially now that AI is the main buzzword in the tech world.

    The latest AI-powered feature introduced by Amazon is Rufus, an AI assistant that’s supposed to help users with their shopping sprees. As the biggest retailer in the United States, it’s only fitting for Amazon to launch such a product.

    According to Amazon, Rufus has been trained on its product catalog, customer reviews, community Q&As, as well as information from the web. The AI shopping assistant has been specifically designed to answer customer questions on a wide range of shopping needs and products. Rufus can even provide comparisons and make recommendations based on conversational context.

    Rufus is now available in beta, but Amazon will be starting to roll it out to customers in waves, beginning with a small subset of customers in the United States via the mobile app. Rufus will eventually be rolled out to the rest of the US customers in the coming weeks, Amazon says.

    If you’re interested in checking this one out, here are some of Rufus’ key features:

    • Learn what to look for while shopping product categories
    • Shop by occasion or purpose
    • Get help comparing product categories
    • Find the best recommendations
    • Ask questions about a specific product while on a product detail page

    To start using Rufus, simply start typing or speaking your question into the search bar in Amazon’s mobile app and the shopping assistant chat dialog box will pop up at the bottom of the screen. Keep in mind that this is only available for select customers in the US while it’s in beta.

  • Amazon tells its Prime Video subscribers that ads are coming on January 29th

    Amazon tells its Prime Video subscribers that ads are coming on January 29th

    Get ready for a dose of reality (and advertisements) between your binge sessions: Amazon Prime Video officially joins the ad-fueled streaming party. After announcing what was coming a few months back, Amazon has now confirmed via an email sent to its Prime members, that their favorite movies and shows will be punctuated by ads starting January 29, 2024.

    This shift significantly departs from Prime Video’s ad-free haven, a perk previously bundled with the $139/year (or $14.99/month) Prime subscription, known primarily for its free two-day shipping. But for those averse to mid-episode interruptions, Amazon is offering an option that will cost you: an ad-free tier for an additional $2.99/month, plus applicable taxes.

    Justifying the move, Amazon cites the need to fuel its ever-expanding content library. “This will allow us to continue investing in compelling content and keep increasing that investment over a long time,” their email reads, assuring us of “meaningfully fewer ads” compared to traditional TV.

    Interestingly, Amazon is already pre-selling the ad-free tier, giving Prime members a head start on securing uninterrupted viewing. This change, of course, does not apply to rented or purchased content from the streaming service. However, note that certain types of content, such as sports or Freevee titles, will continue to include ads even when the viewer is subscribed to the ad-free tier.

    While some appreciate the “investment in compelling content” reasoning, reactions by long time Prime subscribers show that they feel betrayed by the broken promise of ad-free streaming. The price hike adds fuel to the fire, leaving members questioning the true value proposition of Prime Video.

    Will Amazon’s ad-spiked strategy pay off? Only time will tell. But one thing’s certain: the golden age of ad-free streaming seems to be fading, leaving viewers with a choice – pay more, pay less with ads, or seek greener (and ad-free) pastures elsewhere.

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  • Amazon books 244 per cent surge in net income

    Amazon books 244 per cent surge in net income

    Amazon has delivered a stunning 244 percent growth in third-quarter net income as – in the words of one analyst – it overrides the slight slowdown impacting the wider US consumer economy.

    The e-commerce giant booked a net income of $9.9 billion during the third quarter of FY23, which GlobalData MD Neil Saunders attributes to efficiencies the management implemented, such as responding to concerns of overcapacity and the reorganization of the fulfillment network to both reduce costs and improve services for customers.

    “It is very easy to look on these things as obvious steps after they have been implemented, but the level of thinking and planning required to implement them is very high and is a testament to Amazon’s entrepreneurial zeal and spirit,” said Saunders.

    “One of the factors that makes Amazon less susceptible to some of the challenges in the economy is that it has become a reliable and important partner to many in the consumer sector. When it becomes more difficult to reach customers and shoppers become a little more reticent to spend, many companies turn to Amazon and its various solutions from advertising to seller services.”

    Amazon reported a 13 percent increase in net sales to $143.1 billion, as sales grew 11 per cent to $87.9 billion in the North American segment and jumped 16 percent to $32.1 billion in the international segment.

    Its cloud service AWS reported an increase in sales of 12 percent to $23.1 billion.

    “We had a strong third quarter as our cost to serve and speed of delivery in our stores business took another step forward, our AWS growth continued to stabilize, our Advertising revenue grew robustly, and overall operating income and free cash flow rose significantly,” said Andy Jassy, Amazon CEO.

    For the fourth quarter, Amazon forecasts net sales of between $160 billion and $167 billion.

  • What Are People Buying on Amazon Right Now?

    What Are People Buying on Amazon Right Now?

    Amazon is the world’s largest retailer – online, offline, or otherwise. That means by studying the popular site’s revenue and sales statistics, you can get a pretty good feel for the larger global shopping trends. And here’s what’s most interesting: The hot product categories and trends tend to change on a yearly basis.

    In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the biggest shopping trends on Amazon, focusing on the most popular product categories and what experts predict will be the next hot items.

    Amazon Shopping Statistics and Trends

    Did you know that shoppers spent a collective $513 billion on Amazon in 2022? That amounts to a jaw-dropping $977,898 per minute.

    Overall, Amazon’s revenue grew by 9.4 percent year-over-year in 2022, while 59.3 percent of Americans now have a Prime membership.

    In total, Amazon is believed to own 7.34 percent of the total U.S. retail market (and a whopping 37.8 percent of the total ecommerce market).

    To get an idea of how much product Amazon is moving, consider that net sales surpassed the $149 billion mark for Q4 2022 alone. 

    Unbeknownst to most people, 15.6 percent of Amazon’s sales revenue actually comes from Amazon Web Services, the company’s B2B service platform. 

    Beauty and Grooming

    The beauty and grooming category has always been popular, and it remains a top seller on Amazon. Consumers are increasingly interested in natural and organic products, with the demand for sustainable and ethical options growing. Skincare products, especially anti-aging products, are a significant trend, and hair care products are also in demand.

    According to Amazon’s 2021 Beauty Trends Report, top products in this category include collagen peptides, hyaluronic acid serums, and retinol creams. Korean skincare products, including sheet masks and essences, continue to be popular, with sales increasing by 85 percent.

    Sport and Fitness

    The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a surge in demand for home fitness equipment and products that can help individuals maintain an active lifestyle while practicing social distancing. As a result, the sport and fitness category has seen significant growth on Amazon.

    Yoga mats, resistance bands, and dumbbells have all seen an increase in sales, and fitness trackers and smartwatches remain popular. Health supplements, including vitamins and protein powders, are also in demand.

    Home and Kitchen

    As more people spend time at home, the home and kitchen category has seen significant growth on Amazon. Consumers are investing in products that make their homes more comfortable and functional, such as air purifiers and smart home devices.

    Cookware and kitchen gadgets are also in demand, with sales of instant pots and air fryers increasing. Sustainable home products, including reusable food wraps and bamboo utensils, are also popular.

    Toys

    The toy category is always a popular one on Amazon, especially during the holiday season. Electronic toys, including drones and remote-control cars, remain a significant trend, and board games and puzzles have also seen an increase in sales.

    STEM toys, which help children develop skills in science, technology, engineering, and math, are also in demand. Educational toys, such as science kits and building sets, have seen significant growth in sales.

    Electronics

    The electronics category is vast and includes everything from smartphones to headphones. Wireless earbuds, smartwatches, and laptops are all in demand, and gaming laptops have seen a significant increase in sales.

    Smart home devices, including voice-controlled speakers and security cameras, remain popular, and sales of 4K televisions continue to increase. As remote work and online learning become more prevalent, sales of webcams and monitors have also seen a surge.

    Fashion

    Amazon has made significant strides in the fashion industry, and the category is now a top seller on the site. Consumers are increasingly interested in sustainable and ethical fashion, and the demand for eco-friendly clothing is growing.

    Athletic wear and comfortable loungewear have seen significant growth, as more people work from home. Accessories, including jewelry and handbags, remain popular, and sales of face masks have also seen a surge.

    Tap Into the Power of Amazon

    The beauty of Amazon is that it’s set up for third-party sellers to thrive. In fact, third-party sellers account for 350 million of the nearly 362 million items listed on the site. So if you’re looking to take advantage of these trends, there’s never been a better time!

     

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  • Amazon launches program to identify and track counterfeiters

    Amazon launches program to identify and track counterfeiters

    The company announced that Amazon launched its Anti-Counterfeiting Exchange (ACX), an initiative to help retail stores label and track marketplace counterfeits as part of the e-commerce giant’s efforts to crack down on organized crime on its platform on Thursday.

    Online marketplaces in the United States, including Amazon face hurdles in keeping counterfeiters off their platforms and fake merchandise from entering their warehouses. The new program mimics data exchange programs by the credit card industry to find scammers and identify their tactics.

    Stores and Amazon marketplace sellers can anonymously contribute information and records flagging counterfeiters to a third-party database or use the database to avoid doing business with the bad actors.

    “We think it is critical to share information about confirmed counterfeiters to help the entire industry stop these criminals earlier,” Dharmesh Mehta, Amazon’s vice president of selling partner services, said in a statement.

    The Seattle-based retail giant piloted the anti-counterfeiting initiative in 2021 with an undisclosed number of apparel, home goods and cosmetics stores, where counterfeiting is most common.

    As part of other anti-counterfeiting efforts, Amazon is also working with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection on a data pilot that helps the company identify and target low-value e-commerce shipments that may be counterfeit goods or break other regulations.

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  • Amazon launches program to identify and track counterfeiters

    Amazon launches program to identify and track counterfeiters

    The company announced that Amazon launched its Anti-Counterfeiting Exchange (ACX), an initiative to help retail stores label and track marketplace counterfeits as part of the e-commerce giant’s efforts to crack down on organized crime on its platform on Thursday.

    Online marketplaces in the United States including Amazon face hurdles in keeping counterfeiters off their platforms and fake merchandise from entering their warehouses. The new program mimics data exchange programs by the credit card industry to find scammers and identify their tactics.

    Stores and Amazon marketplace sellers can anonymously contribute information and records flagging counterfeiters to a third-party database or use the database to avoid doing business with the bad actors.

    “We think it is critical to share information about confirmed counterfeiters to help the entire industry stop these criminals earlier,” Dharmesh Mehta, Amazon’s vice president of selling partner services, said in a statement.

    The Seattle-based retail giant piloted the anti-counterfeiting initiative in 2021 with an undisclosed number of apparel, home goods and cosmetics stores, where counterfeiting is most common.

    As part of other anti-counterfeiting efforts, Amazon is also working with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection on a data pilot that helps the company identify and target low-value e-commerce shipments that may be counterfeit goods or break other regulations.

  • Amazon CEO says job cuts to exceed 18,000 roles

    Amazon CEO says job cuts to exceed 18,000 roles

    Amazon.com’s layoffs will now stretch to more than 18,000 roles as part of a workforce reduction it previously disclosed, Chief Executive Andy Jassy said in a public staff note on Wednesday.

    The layoff decisions, which Amazon will communicate starting January 18, will largely impact the company’s e-commerce and human-resources organizations, he said.

    The cuts amount to 6 per cent of Amazon’s roughly 300,000-person corporate workforce and represent a swift turn for a retailer that recently doubled its base pay ceiling to compete more aggressively for talent.

    Jassy said in the note that annual planning “has been more difficult given the uncertain economy and that we’ve hired rapidly over the last several years.”

    Amazon has more than 1.5 million workers including warehouse staff, making it America’s second-largest private employer after Walmart it has braced for likely slower growth as soaring inflation encouraged businesses and consumers to cut back spending and its share price has halved in the past year.

    It began letting staff go in November from its devices division, with a source telling Reuters at the time it was targeting 10,000 job cuts.

    In number, its layoffs now surpass the 11,000 job cuts at Facebook-parent Meta Platforms Inc as well as reductions at other tech-industry peers.

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