consumer insights

Latest Consumer Insights; Chewy’s 4Q Results; 1Q Amazon Sales Growth

Ecommerce

In our recent consumer study comparing seven key online retailers for general merchandise, the majority of consumers reported plans to use the sites for a similar amount of purchases a year from now, with a net 33% expecting to use them for more purchases. Saving time and convenience were the…

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Online Grocery Convenience

Online Grocery Convenience; Amazon Apparel; Retail Memberships

Ecommerce

Based on our recent survey, convenience and saving time were the top two reasons cited by consumers for why they buy groceries online, which aligns with the results of our 2020 survey as well. These are characteristics that should be durable post-pandemic and largely follow why consumers like buying general…

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Walmart Digital Initiatives

Walmart Digital Initiatives, Yahoo! Shops, Online Grocery Price Improvements

Ecommerce

Walmart has several digital initiatives in place including a push for a more positive Walmart+ experience score, improving pick-up and Walmart Connect capabilities, and growing delivery. Priorities for Walmart Connect include growing offerings, introducing in-store experiences and unifying paid search across OPD and core. Manufacturers have made changes in response to…

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online grocery growth

Amazon Order Variability; Amazon Fresh UK; Online Grocery Growth

Ecommerce

Despite positive reception to online grocery growth, businesses are frustrated with Amazon’s algorithmic ordering patterns because of demand planning and inventory management. 79% of brands report inaccurate forecasting from Amazon and 95% reported week-to-week ordering variability. Due to this, 71% of manufacturers report that they reference Amazon’s forecasts in the demand…

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Amazon demand trends

Strong Amazon Demand; Target’s Same-Day Delivery Services; Q4 Digital Sales

Ecommerce

Our research suggests demand trends remain very strong 1Q to-date and brands and Amazon management alike expect elevated demand to continue for the near term at least. In many categories, Amazon appears to be ordering aggressively in 1Q as it works its way back to healthier in-stock levels. While in-stocks are…

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Digital funding

Club Channel Digital Funding; Shopify Growth; Amazon AVNs

Ecommerce

CRC’s recent research on the club channel suggests both Costco and Sam’s Club are coming to vendors asking for digital funding. Our work suggests Costco is still resistant to sacrifice margin within its eCommerce business and is working to get vendors to cover shipping costs, or otherwise charging higher prices…

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Amazon Strategic Account

Amazon SAS Program; Shop Pay Expands; Amazon 1Q21 Sales Growth

Ecommerce

Amazon has increasingly pushed manufacturers to invest in what they now call their Strategic Account Services (SAS) resource [previously known as Strategic Vendor Services (SVS) and Amazon Vendor Services (AVS)]. In our recent manufacturer benchmark, 44% reported currently using the program (vs. 39% in our July 2019 benchmark), and 67%…

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Amazon Business Growth

Jeff Bezos’s Transition; Walmart Connect; Amazon 4Q Results

Ecommerce

Amazon announced this week that Jeff Bezos would be transitioning from CEO to Executive Chairman, passing the baton to Andy Jassy, long-time CEO of Amazon Web Services. Based on reports, Jassy is a well-respected executive at Amazon, essentially starting and leading the industry-changing AWS business, which some estimate would be…

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Amazon Fresh B&M

Amazon Fresh Stores; Walmart Distribution Centers; eCommerce Growth in 2021

Ecommerce

Amazon has launched five Fresh (“Mendel”) B&M stores to date, including four in California and one in Illinois. The Amazon Fresh team appears to have ambitious goals for store expansion this year (indicating to many brands that it plans to open 100+ stores this year), and has suggested these B&M…

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