Layoffs target Amazon Advertising

New funding for Amazon seller tech, digital fashion, 3PL robotics

This week, brands including Leesa Sleep, Bundle x Joy and Khaite raised funding for retail expansion. Plus, there’s new investment for self-serve Amazon advertising, digital fashion and automated ecommerce logistics.

Inside Foot Locker’s plan to reach $9.5 billion in sales by 2026

Under a new strategy called Lace Up, Foot Locker will invest in technology to enhance its app and expand its loyalty program. The retailer set a target of digital accounting for 25% of sales by 2026. In the process, Foot Locker will also close 400 stores and prioritize off-mall locations. – Footwear News

Amazon advertising to face cuts as ecommerce leader lays off 9,000

Amazon is making a second round of layoffs in six months. The 9,000 job cuts will affect some of Amazon’s most lucrative divisions, including advertising, AWS and Twitch. In recent years, the ecommerce leader's increasingly ubiquitous advertising business grew to rival media giants like YouTube on its own.

Google flags apps made by popular Chinese ecommerce giant as malware

Researchers are raising concerns that Pinduoduo’s Android apps contain malware that is built to monitor and even hack users. On Monday, Google suspended the Chinese company from the Play Store, and activated a security feature that blocks downloads. Pinduoduo rejected the claims. –TechCrunch

Easter spending expected to blossom to a record $24B in 2023

Easter shopping is expected to take a big hop to historic highs in 2023. According to NRF and Prosper Insights, the April holiday will see $24 billion in spend. That would be well above the record of $21.7 billion in 2021. One-third of consumers plan to shop online, and they’re signaling a willingness to seek out discounts and seasonal offers.

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