Ikea is growing ecommerce through the store

Author

Stephen Babcock
April 21, 2023

Ikea announced a big U.S. expansion on Thursday, with plans to open 17 new stores over the next three years. Despite what the headlines suggest, growing the physical footprint isn't just about increasing foot traffic. The stores are being built to fulfill and deliver orders, as well. It’s a sign of how big box stores are turning into ecommerce hubs. Along with realizing the omnichannel dream, it's a strategy that can help retailers stop trying to play catch-up with Amazon, and build from existing strengths.

In Phoenix, Saltbox is opening a new facility that’s designed for the consumer goods entrepreneurs who outgrew their living room. With colocation, the company helps the emerging brands share order fulfillment, storage and other administrative operations. –Axios

The world’s largest beauty company is continuing to show that cosmetics and skincare products are affordable luxuries, even as consumers exercise more caution in other categories. In fact, Circana found that consumers were trading up for luxe beauty products in 2022, as opposed to cutting back.

New data from Mintel shows there is interest in social commerce from six in 10 consumers. Yet when it comes to making a purchase from a platform, trust in fundamentals like data security remains an issue. Meanwhile, the social platforms are still in the midst of experimenting with livestreaming and buyer journeys. The right formula hasn’t emerged to propel China-like growth, yet.

Earth Day is Saturday. So remember to get outside and celebrate all that Mother Nature has to offer. But today, you can take a moment to check out the brand campaigns centering sustainability. WWD provides a look at Awe Inspired, Cotton On and Propaganda Agency. – WWD

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