Monthly Ecommerce #26

Golden tickets and self-indulgence: How BFCM became the ultimate self-gifting show

In the most recent study, the retail secret was discovered: 64% of people said they intend to buy a unique item for their loved ones over the Black Friday-Cyber Monday (BFCM) weekend. Ring your Christmas bells, since 13% admitted that their BFCM binge is solely a treat-yo-self event.

Instead of patiently awaiting Santa, consumers take advantage of Christmas sales to purchase products directly from their wish lists and fill up their daily needs. Many astute buyers have their sights set on a big-ticket purchase, and BFCM is their golden ticket to the finest prices.

This intriguing pattern originates from the Shopify-Gallup Holiday Shopping Pulse, a joyful collection of polls meant to provide every detail into the thoughts of US shoppers over December. "BFCM has grown from an exclusive weekend into an international event for deal-hunters globally," says Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify. This season is our retailers' moment to make an impact whether it's for gifts or self-gratification. "The greater the motivations there are to purchase goods, the better!"

Another surprising fact is that every generation is participating in the self-gifting trend. Over a third (34%) of buyers expect to utilize Christmas sales to stock up on everyday items, while a brave 29% will take advantage of the opportunity to make that big purchase they've been eyeing. So brace yourselves, because this BFCM is heading up to be the most joyous ever! 

Monetize in a snap: YouTube's latest features turn videos into effortless shopping experiences

Prepare for a YouTube buying frenzy! A few days after TikTok Shop established its impression in the United States, YouTube is upping the ante for its creative ecosystem. Keep your trolleys handy because they're releasing fresh functions that will make it easier for designers to advertise and market their favorite items.

Creators may now use timestamps to add a little retail magic to their videos, causing the purchase button to appear at just the perfect intervals. This section is all about converting visitors into buyers. 

Keep in mind that this trick is only effective on lengthy videos, not Shorts, and that the video must be no less than one minute long with no more than 30 seconds between timestamps.

By allowing artists to designate affiliate items throughout their entire video collection at once, YouTube is transforming them into ecommerce experts. Consider being able to monetize your back library without practically no effort! Artists can go to YouTube Studio's Shopping page, choose the clips they wish to tag, add a few changes, press "Save," and enjoy monetization.

Shopping spectacle: Online shoppers light up the season

Holiday happiness is in full flow as internet customers begin their holiday shopping spree sooner than ever! Online shoppers spent $76.8 billion in October alone, representing a 5.9% rise over the previous year. Speaking about distributing holiday cheer: that's $4.3 billion higher than the previous year. October expenditure increased by 13.6% when compared to September.

What's the deal with the early buying spree? Smart merchants, on the other hand, added appealing deals, rewarding customers to sweeten the sale with versatile payment methods like buy now, pay later (BNPL). From January to October this year, shoppers have poured $759 billion into ecommerce, a cheery 4.3% increase over the same period the previous year.

The reductions in October were like early holiday gifts, especially in sectors like gadgets and clothes, where prices hit a joyous 12% and 9%. Sporting items (7%) were likewise heavily discounted, while utilities (6%), toys (5%), and home furnishings (5%).

Hold on to your holiday hats, because Cyber Week is set to be interesting. Despite the recession, internet consumers are proven to be Christmas heroes, seizing every chance to score the greatest discounts and managing their spending habits like financial geniuses! 

AI-powered ads: Google's creative revolution

Google is using its AI skills again, and this time it's not only for essays and photo upgrades. The tech titan is releasing new AI systems for advertising that generate text and pictures on the fly based on what customers search for. Say goodbye to creative difficulties and welcome to advertisements that almost create themselves.

Google is changing its ad game. Being an expert at assisting companies in targeting consumers, it is now venturing into AI with capabilities that can produce text and photo-realistic visuals. Google intends to demonstrate to marketers that advertisements account for 80% of its overall sales.

Google's latest bombardment of AI-related news has pushed stocks to skyrocketing. Due to the forecasts of AI, the anxieties about AI dominating Google's engine and ad industries have been forced to take a back seat.

Here's the best part: Google provides these new services to marketers at no cost. Consider options for advertising that save time and money and attract additional clicks. Google may be heading the way in incorporating AI into the everyday grind of the ad business.

AI may be random, but Google is on a quest to produce more pertinent, prettier advertising while allowing marketers to express themselves creatively. Allow the AI-powered advertising transformation to begin! 

Google's shopping wonderland

Google is launching its shopping hero - an area used for fantastic bargains. Whether you like big box retailers, premium labels, or patronizing small businesses, here is the place to go for everything inexpensive and lovely.

Google is transforming into your go-to discount code app. Consider the following scenario: you're shopping for bargains and voila! Chrome's new coupon code feature appears, displaying the enchanted codes to unlock even more discounts.

This season may be a time of joy, but it can also be a period of financial strain. With the latest Chrome tool, Google has your back. If you're looking for bargains, simply put "shop deals" into Google and you'll be swept away to a paradise of deals on anything from gadgets to fashion and cosmetics. 

So, with Google's latest shopping hijinks, prepare to buy smarter, not harder. Good luck with your bargain-hunting!