Retail Goes Global: Cross-Border Online Shopping Surges Among Consumers Worldwide October 16, 2024 - Baystreet.ca Issued on behalf of PlantX Life Inc. VANCOUVER – USA News Group News Commentary – How we shop is seemingly moving towards more and more online purchases than before. Within a report from Forbes Advisor, more than one in five retail purchases are expected to take place online this year, with that number rising to 23% of retail purchases by 2027. According to Statista, in 2024, retail e-commerce sales are estimated to exceed US$4.1 trillion worldwide, with expectations this will hit new heights in the near future. Much of this growth is coming from technological innovations, and strategic expansions into new markets, with recent market developments coming from: PlantX Life Inc. (CSE: VEGA) (OTCQB: PLTXF), Shopify Inc. (NYSE: SHOP) (TSX: SHOP), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG, GOOGL), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), and Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST). The article continued: In many ways, e-commerce represents an opportunity to more global purchase options. According to a 2021 survey from Statista, 52% of global online shoppers bought from both local retailers and international websites, taking advantage of the ease of international shipping and online ordering simplicity. PlantX Life Inc. Launches “Bloombox Club” E-commerce Platform in Spain PlantX Life Inc. (CSE: VEGA) (OTCQB: PLTXF), a pioneer in building strong communities and operating innovative experiential online and in-store platforms that make it easier for individuals to lead happier and healthier lives, today announced the launch of a new Bloombox Club e-commerce platform in Spain. Available in both English and Spanish, the new website will expand Bloombox Club’s plant subscription service and curated online shop to yet another key market in Europe. “After closely observing the Spanish market for years, we believe now is the perfect time to introduce Bloombox Club to Spain,” said Lorne Rapkin, CEO of PlantX Life Inc. “E-commerce in Spain has been on a rapid growth trajectory, and we’ve identified a strong interest in the indoor plant sector. While there are a few competitors in this space, their presence confirms that the demand for indoor plants is well-established. After reviewing their product offerings, we are confident that Bloombox Club’s unique blend of curated plants and superior customer experience will allow us to thrive in this market.” The launch marked Bloombox Club’s seventh e-commerce operation, now live in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Austria, the Republic of Ireland, France, and Spain. The Spanish Bloombox Club platform, integrates PlantX’s cutting-edge e-commerce infrastructure, delivering an enhanced online experience tailored to boost customer satisfaction. All orders placed through the platform will be processed through Bloombox Club’s centralized distribution hub in the Netherlands, ensuring seamless and efficient fulfillment across Europe The Spanish launch update came just a week after PlantX Life provided another update for BloomBox Club with an expanded product catalog and streamlined shipping processes. According to the update, BloomBox Club will now benefit from its fulfillment partner, Flora, having been acquired by Bloomique, a Netherlands-based greenhouse provider. According to Bloomique, this acquisition significantly expands the product catalog by providing access to a larger range of greenhouses, enabling BloomBox Club to offer customers an even broader selection of plants. As part of this transition, BloomBox Club is set to add 200 new SKUs to its online platform, giving plant enthusiasts more variety than ever before. Additionally, the company has implemented automated packing processes to streamline operations and reduce the risk of missing items in orders, enhancing the overall customer experience. CONTINUED… Read this and more news for PlantX Life at: https://usanewsgroup.com/2024/10/08/from-plants-to-plates-wellness-delivered/ In other industry developments and happenings in the market this week include: Shopify Inc. (NYSE: SHOP) (TSX: SHOP), was recently identified as the most popular ecommerce software in Germany, in a study from software provider Uptain. According to the study, Shopify’s software has a nearly 40% market share in Germany, increasing its market share by 35.5% since 2018. “Shopify has managed to conquer the German SME online shop market with a simple user experience and strong marketing,” said Julian Craemer, CEO and founder of Uptain. “In practice, it continues to be evident that local shop systems lag behind in many aspects. It seems unlikely that Shopify’s success will be slowed down in the next five years.” Back in August, Shopify shared some big gains in its Q2 2024 financial results, with revenue up 21%, and gross profit up 25% YOY. "Our Q2 results make it clear: Shopify is rapidly strengthening its position as a leading enabler of global commerce and entrepreneurship," said Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify. "More and more merchants across the world are putting their trust in Shopify's unified commerce operating system to fuel growth and simplify complex operations. We're fully committed to executing our growth strategies and delivering immense value to our merchants for years to come." Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG, GOOGL), parent company of Google, recently announced a redesign of Google’s shopping website to better match consumers with merchant storefronts, seeking to distinguish the platform from other popular e-commerce sites. The new shopping experience centers on scrollable feeds similar to those in social media apps. The redesigned home page will feature a personalized feed of products, reviews, and auto-playing video shorts from YouTube. A Deals page will offer a similar curated feed showcasing discounted items. Shoppers can thoroughly research a potential purchase without ever leaving Google's network of sites—browsing suggested items on Google Shopping, watching review videos on YouTube, and finding local stores on Google Maps. According to Google executives, the company hasn’t considered directly challenging e-commerce storefronts by handling payment and shipping within Google Shopping. “Since we don’t have inventory, we don’t take payment, we don’t ship anything — we’re also not trying to maximize profit on a per product basis,” said Sean Scott, vice president and general manager of consumer shopping at Google, stating this gives their platform a “unique advantage.” Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), through its Amazon Ads department, recently introduced its two new generative AI tools, AI creative studio and Audio generator, designed to lower creative carriers and expand opportunities for advertisers to scale their reach, at the recent unBoxed 2024. "We’re excited to introduce these new AI-powered creative tools, which have the potential to transform how brands connect with Amazon customers," said Jay Richman, Vice President of Creative Experiences for Amazon Ads. "By reducing the complexities of working across multiple formats and placements, these innovations empower advertisers to more easily reach their target audiences at every stage of the marketing funnel. They can also easily update creatives seasonally, generate fresh, trend-driven content, and tailor ads to different use cases. This leads to a more dynamic and engaging customer experience, ultimately helping to drive overall campaign performance." Brands using Amazon Ads’ AI-powered creative tools can now experiment and optimize ad campaigns more efficiently, with Image generator driving nearly 5% higher sales on average between October 2023 and June 2024. By bringing these tools together in the newly released AI creative studio, Amazon Ads offers a single application for building and refreshing content across formats, from video and audio to static images. This central hub streamlines the creation of adaptable, innovative ads that can evolve with seasonal trends or reach new customer segments, helping brands scale campaigns and enhance customer engagement effortlessly. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST), a leading retailer, recently reported both its Q4 and FY 2024 operating results and September sales results, with the biggest growth coming from its e-commerce operations, growing 18.9% and 22.9% respectively. “We have great momentum with this business and expect big and bulky items will be a key part of our continued progress with ecommerce in the coming year,” said Ron Vachris, CEO of Costco in an investor earnings call. According to Gary Millerchip, Executive Vice President and CFO of Costco, the retailer’s ecommerce benefitted from “strong sales growth, item mix and fulfillment productivity, which included the rollout of buy online, pick up in warehouse for televisions in the USA. “This allows same-day pickup of a new TV for members who prefer not to wait for delivery,” said Millerchip. “While buy online, pick up in warehouse isn’t cost effective for us on lower-priced items, for high-value items with high shipping costs like TVs, the freight savings more than offset the added labor required in warehouses to fulfill those orders. We’re now testing a similar program on laptops.” Source: https://usanewsgroup.com/2024/10/08/from-plants-to-plates-wellness-delivered/ CONTACT: USA NEWS GROUP [email protected] (604) 265-2873 DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. USA News Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market IQ Media Group, Inc. (“MIQ”). MIQ has been paid a fee for PlantX Life Inc. advertising and digital media from the company directly. There may be 3rd parties who may have shares of PlantX Life Inc., and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. The owner/operator of MIQ own shares of PlantX Life Inc. which were purchased in the open market, and reserve the right to buy and sell, and will buy and sell shares of PlantX Life Inc. at any time without any further notice. We also expect further compensation as an ongoing digital media effort to increase visibility for the company, no further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as notice that all material disseminated by MIQ has been approved by the above mentioned company; this is a paid advertisement, we currently own shares of PlantX Life Inc. and will buy and sell shares of the company in the open market, or through private placements, and/or other investment vehicles. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between the any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.
Retail Goes Global: Cross-Border Online Shopping Surges Among Consumers Worldwide October 16, 2024 - Baystreet.ca Issued on behalf of PlantX Life Inc. VANCOUVER – USA News Group News Commentary – How we shop is seemingly moving towards more and more online purchases than before. Within a report from Forbes Advisor, more than one in five retail purchases are expected to take place online this year, with that number rising to 23% of retail purchases by 2027. According to Statista, in 2024, retail e-commerce sales are estimated to exceed US$4.1 trillion worldwide, with expectations this will hit new heights in the near future. Much of this growth is coming from technological innovations, and strategic expansions into new markets, with recent market developments coming from: PlantX Life Inc. (CSE: VEGA) (OTCQB: PLTXF), Shopify Inc. (NYSE: SHOP) (TSX: SHOP), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG, GOOGL), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), and Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST). The article continued: In many ways, e-commerce represents an opportunity to more global purchase options. According to a 2021 survey from Statista, 52% of global online shoppers bought from both local retailers and international websites, taking advantage of the ease of international shipping and online ordering simplicity. PlantX Life Inc. Launches “Bloombox Club” E-commerce Platform in Spain PlantX Life Inc. (CSE: VEGA) (OTCQB: PLTXF), a pioneer in building strong communities and operating innovative experiential online and in-store platforms that make it easier for individuals to lead happier and healthier lives, today announced the launch of a new Bloombox Club e-commerce platform in Spain. Available in both English and Spanish, the new website will expand Bloombox Club’s plant subscription service and curated online shop to yet another key market in Europe. “After closely observing the Spanish market for years, we believe now is the perfect time to introduce Bloombox Club to Spain,” said Lorne Rapkin, CEO of PlantX Life Inc. “E-commerce in Spain has been on a rapid growth trajectory, and we’ve identified a strong interest in the indoor plant sector. While there are a few competitors in this space, their presence confirms that the demand for indoor plants is well-established. After reviewing their product offerings, we are confident that Bloombox Club’s unique blend of curated plants and superior customer experience will allow us to thrive in this market.” The launch marked Bloombox Club’s seventh e-commerce operation, now live in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Austria, the Republic of Ireland, France, and Spain. The Spanish Bloombox Club platform, integrates PlantX’s cutting-edge e-commerce infrastructure, delivering an enhanced online experience tailored to boost customer satisfaction. All orders placed through the platform will be processed through Bloombox Club’s centralized distribution hub in the Netherlands, ensuring seamless and efficient fulfillment across Europe The Spanish launch update came just a week after PlantX Life provided another update for BloomBox Club with an expanded product catalog and streamlined shipping processes. According to the update, BloomBox Club will now benefit from its fulfillment partner, Flora, having been acquired by Bloomique, a Netherlands-based greenhouse provider. According to Bloomique, this acquisition significantly expands the product catalog by providing access to a larger range of greenhouses, enabling BloomBox Club to offer customers an even broader selection of plants. As part of this transition, BloomBox Club is set to add 200 new SKUs to its online platform, giving plant enthusiasts more variety than ever before. Additionally, the company has implemented automated packing processes to streamline operations and reduce the risk of missing items in orders, enhancing the overall customer experience. CONTINUED… Read this and more news for PlantX Life at: https://usanewsgroup.com/2024/10/08/from-plants-to-plates-wellness-delivered/ In other industry developments and happenings in the market this week include: Shopify Inc. (NYSE: SHOP) (TSX: SHOP), was recently identified as the most popular ecommerce software in Germany, in a study from software provider Uptain. According to the study, Shopify’s software has a nearly 40% market share in Germany, increasing its market share by 35.5% since 2018. “Shopify has managed to conquer the German SME online shop market with a simple user experience and strong marketing,” said Julian Craemer, CEO and founder of Uptain. “In practice, it continues to be evident that local shop systems lag behind in many aspects. It seems unlikely that Shopify’s success will be slowed down in the next five years.” Back in August, Shopify shared some big gains in its Q2 2024 financial results, with revenue up 21%, and gross profit up 25% YOY. "Our Q2 results make it clear: Shopify is rapidly strengthening its position as a leading enabler of global commerce and entrepreneurship," said Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify. "More and more merchants across the world are putting their trust in Shopify's unified commerce operating system to fuel growth and simplify complex operations. We're fully committed to executing our growth strategies and delivering immense value to our merchants for years to come." Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG, GOOGL), parent company of Google, recently announced a redesign of Google’s shopping website to better match consumers with merchant storefronts, seeking to distinguish the platform from other popular e-commerce sites. The new shopping experience centers on scrollable feeds similar to those in social media apps. The redesigned home page will feature a personalized feed of products, reviews, and auto-playing video shorts from YouTube. A Deals page will offer a similar curated feed showcasing discounted items. Shoppers can thoroughly research a potential purchase without ever leaving Google's network of sites—browsing suggested items on Google Shopping, watching review videos on YouTube, and finding local stores on Google Maps. According to Google executives, the company hasn’t considered directly challenging e-commerce storefronts by handling payment and shipping within Google Shopping. “Since we don’t have inventory, we don’t take payment, we don’t ship anything — we’re also not trying to maximize profit on a per product basis,” said Sean Scott, vice president and general manager of consumer shopping at Google, stating this gives their platform a “unique advantage.” Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), through its Amazon Ads department, recently introduced its two new generative AI tools, AI creative studio and Audio generator, designed to lower creative carriers and expand opportunities for advertisers to scale their reach, at the recent unBoxed 2024. "We’re excited to introduce these new AI-powered creative tools, which have the potential to transform how brands connect with Amazon customers," said Jay Richman, Vice President of Creative Experiences for Amazon Ads. "By reducing the complexities of working across multiple formats and placements, these innovations empower advertisers to more easily reach their target audiences at every stage of the marketing funnel. They can also easily update creatives seasonally, generate fresh, trend-driven content, and tailor ads to different use cases. This leads to a more dynamic and engaging customer experience, ultimately helping to drive overall campaign performance." Brands using Amazon Ads’ AI-powered creative tools can now experiment and optimize ad campaigns more efficiently, with Image generator driving nearly 5% higher sales on average between October 2023 and June 2024. By bringing these tools together in the newly released AI creative studio, Amazon Ads offers a single application for building and refreshing content across formats, from video and audio to static images. This central hub streamlines the creation of adaptable, innovative ads that can evolve with seasonal trends or reach new customer segments, helping brands scale campaigns and enhance customer engagement effortlessly. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST), a leading retailer, recently reported both its Q4 and FY 2024 operating results and September sales results, with the biggest growth coming from its e-commerce operations, growing 18.9% and 22.9% respectively. “We have great momentum with this business and expect big and bulky items will be a key part of our continued progress with ecommerce in the coming year,” said Ron Vachris, CEO of Costco in an investor earnings call. According to Gary Millerchip, Executive Vice President and CFO of Costco, the retailer’s ecommerce benefitted from “strong sales growth, item mix and fulfillment productivity, which included the rollout of buy online, pick up in warehouse for televisions in the USA. “This allows same-day pickup of a new TV for members who prefer not to wait for delivery,” said Millerchip. “While buy online, pick up in warehouse isn’t cost effective for us on lower-priced items, for high-value items with high shipping costs like TVs, the freight savings more than offset the added labor required in warehouses to fulfill those orders. We’re now testing a similar program on laptops.” Source: https://usanewsgroup.com/2024/10/08/from-plants-to-plates-wellness-delivered/ CONTACT: USA NEWS GROUP [email protected] (604) 265-2873 DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. USA News Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market IQ Media Group, Inc. (“MIQ”). MIQ has been paid a fee for PlantX Life Inc. advertising and digital media from the company directly. There may be 3rd parties who may have shares of PlantX Life Inc., and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. The owner/operator of MIQ own shares of PlantX Life Inc. which were purchased in the open market, and reserve the right to buy and sell, and will buy and sell shares of PlantX Life Inc. at any time without any further notice. We also expect further compensation as an ongoing digital media effort to increase visibility for the company, no further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as notice that all material disseminated by MIQ has been approved by the above mentioned company; this is a paid advertisement, we currently own shares of PlantX Life Inc. and will buy and sell shares of the company in the open market, or through private placements, and/or other investment vehicles. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between the any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.