McFadyen Digital

As ecommerce continues to surge in popularity, a staggering $743 billion worth of products were returned in 2023. Join us for an exciting webinar, Circular Logistics and Platform Strategy: Transforming Ecommerce Returns. Join McFadyen Digital's Peter C. Evans, PhD, the National Retail Federation's Scot Case, and RecirQ CEO and Author of Going Circular, Rich Bulger, as they discuss what this return volume means for businesses now facing an unprecedented challenge in managing these returns efficiently, sustainably, and even profitably. #ReverseLogistics #CircularEconomy #Ecommerce #Marketplaces #Retail #B2B

💻 How a Generational Shift is Transforming B2B Ecommerce 💻 The landscape of B2B Ecommerce is evolving, driven by a significant generational shift. Millennials and Gen Z are not just influencing the market—they are reshaping it. 🔗 Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/ea6qyU9u Our latest blog delves into: 📈 The rise of digital-first B2B buyers 🛠️ Innovative technologies redefining the buying experience 📊 Key strategies for adapting to these dynamic changes Don't miss out on insights that could propel your business forward in this new era of B2B eCommerce. Dive into the full article to learn how to stay ahead of the curve and meet the expectations of the next-gen B2B buyers. #B2B #Ecommerce #DigitalTransformation #Millennials #GenZ #Innovation #BusinessStrategy #FutureOfCommerce

Marketplace is a transformational project that requires the right partners and technology to be successful. McFadyen Digital has been supporting companies in launching their marketplace for almost 2️⃣0️⃣ years now and is a historical partner of Mirakl. Founder Tom M McFadyen shares their best practices with Omni Talk Retail at the Mirakl Go Beyond Summit ⬇️ Anne Mezzenga, Chris Walton

In a new article, I explore the growth of Resale-as-a-Service (RaaS) in the retail industry: "Rise of RaaS (Resale-as-a-Service) Platforms: Resale Solutions for the Circular Economy." Recommerce in the apparel/fashion industry is projected to reach $350 billion by 2028. RaaS providers offer turnkey solutions that enable brands to launch resale programs efficiently, addressing numerous challenges that previously hindered their ability to build resale ecosystems. I explore three main RaaS models: ✅ Managed with Branded Resale Website, ✅ Managed with Centralized Marketplace, and ✅ Managed with Distribution via Network of Marketplaces. Each model offers distinct advantages for brands looking to enter the resale market. Major players in the RaaS space include Trove, ThredUp, Recurate, Archive, Treet, and Reflaunt, each offering specialized services to cater to different brand needs. Platforms are central to the success of RaaS by serving as technological and operational backbones.  Platforms handle various aspects of the resale process, from inventory management to customer service. Most RaaS solutions also include APIs for seamless integration with existing business systems, enabling process automation and real-time data exchange. Over 100 brands have engaged RaaS service providers, including luxury brands like BALENCIAGA and Oscar de la Renta, outdoor and athletic wear brands like Patagonia, REI, Canada Goose, The North Face, Arc'teryx and lululemon as well as mainstream casual wear brands like Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Tommy Hilfiger, Banana Republic and American Eagle Outfitters Inc. RaaS is transforming retail by enabling brands to extend their product lifecycles through secondary markets, complementing traditional business models and supporting the shift to a more circular economy. 👇👇👇 The full article is available here: https://lnkd.in/gBcnaFdf #circulareconomy #RaaS #reverselogistics #platforms #platformstrategy #retail #businessmodelinnovation

Ready to unlock a $4.5 trillion opportunity and revolutionise your business? Imagine your supply chain not as a linear path, but as a dynamic, thriving ecosystem. BSCA's latest video brings you groundbreaking insights from industry leaders Rich Bulger and Peter C. Evans, PhD, who are redefining the future of supply chains through circular logistics and digital marketplaces! In this eye-opening discussion, Rich emphasizes, "Circular logistics is essential for unlocking true circular economies." Peter adds, "Circular marketplaces are not just about the first customer, but about considering the next one, and the next one after that." This transformative mindset opens a world of opportunities for innovation and sustainability. Minimise waste, maximise resource value, and innovate your business models like never before. Don’t miss out on these game-changing insights! Watch the full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/ekVAwZ5J How will you embrace this new perspective to reshape your business strategy? #CircularEconomy #SustainableSupplyChain #DigitalMarketplaces

This week's featured #Ecommerce & #Marketplaces Newsletter articles delve into the transformative dynamics shaping the #B2B ecommerce landscape. In Digital Journal "Millennials and Gen-Z: The New Power Players in B2B Purchasing" explores the significant generational shift in buying behaviors, with 71% of B2B buyers now being Millennials and Gen-Z. Forrester's "Younger Generations Are Shaking Up B2B Buying — Are You Prepared?" further emphasizes this trend, revealing that 71% of B2B buyers are now from these younger cohorts. BigCommerce’s "Don’t Sleep on These Valuable Brand-Building Tips for Attracting Gen Z and Gen Alpha" highlights how Gen Z's preference for online shopping is reshaping ecommerce strategies. Digital Commerce 360's "B2B Buyers Increasingly Seek Digital-First Omnichannel Options" outlines the growing demand for omnichannel purchasing. Meanwhile, DC Velocity reports on Alibaba's upcoming AI-powered sourcing engine, poised to revolutionize B2B sourcing. Total Retail’s "B2B to DTC and Back Again: How Tech Influences the Way Brands Sell" underscores the integration of technology in seamless shopping experiences. Lastly, Benziga explains the factors behind Fiverr’s stock surge, including its strategic acquisition of AutoDS - Automatic Dropshipping Tools. The convergence of these insights signals an urgent need for B2B ecommerce operators to modernize their experiences. As younger buyers dominate the market, their digital-first mindset and expectations for consumer-like conveniences, including AI-augmented features, are reshaping B2B purchasing. These buyers, having grown up with the internet, demand seamless, intuitive, and efficient buying processes that mirror their personal shopping experiences. B2B companies must swiftly adapt to these evolving expectations by integrating advanced technologies and omnichannel strategies to stay competitive and meet the sophisticated demands of this new generation of buyers.

TheNTWK Summit by TheNTWK | Digital Business Models has emerged as Europe’s premier gatherings for insights into platforms and business ecosystems.  This year in my opening remarks, I introduced four lenses through which to anticipate the future of platforms and ecosystems. Rather use PEST, Porter’s Five Forces, or SWOT, I introduced an alternative framework: Megatrends, Shocks, Constraints, and Enablers. This framework encourages a holistic view of the future landscape, taking into account both internal factors within companies and external forces shaping the broader economic and technological landscape. Here are some of the examples: 🌏 Megatrends: ◾ Advanced manufacturing: Involves technologies like industrial robots, cobots, 3D printing, and factory data analytics. These are revolutionizing production processes and often require platforms for deployment. ◾ Circular economy: A shift from the traditional "take-make-waste" approach to a more sustainable, regenerative system. This trend is giving rise to "circular platforms," with over 70 circular marketplaces already operating in Europe. ⚡ Shocks: ◾ Bursting of the AI bubble: Concerns about excessive optimism and unrealistic valuations in the AI sector, which could impact the platform economy if a crash occurs. ◾ Trade wars: Potential escalation of trade conflicts, particularly between the United States and China, could disrupt global economies and digital marketplaces for both new products. 🤲 Constraints: ◾ Availability of critical materials: Limited supply of materials needed for clean energy technologies could slow down the transition to a more sustainable economy. ◾ End of cheap money: Rising interest rates are creating a more challenging environment for platform development and growth, particularly in Europe, by making it harder for startups to secure funding and scale operations. 🎯 Enablers: ◾ Diverse monetization strategies: Digital marketplaces can employ various methods beyond traditional commission fees, including subscription plans, financial services, on-site advertising, cross-border expansion, complementary services, and compliance fees. ◾ Skilled platform professionals in areas such as platform architecture, user experience design, data analytics, and regulatory compliance are crucial for building and operating successful platforms. The NTWK Summit provided a unique opportunity to explore these topics and many others with platform leaders from across Europe. For a detailed summary of the NTWK Summit program and speakers see: https://lnkd.in/dwApsRc2 A big thank you to Marina Planas, Anna Noakes Schulze and Milja van 't Noordende and the many NTWKers who attended. #trends #platformeconomy #marketplaces #future #innovation #circulareconomy McFadyen Digital

We start off this week’s #Ecommerce and #Marketplaces Newsletter with a topic that will be impacting every digital commerce provider as Marketplace.org’s MarketplaceTech Podcast highlights the Department of Justice’s update to the Americans with Disabilities Act (#ADA). Also this week we have DesignRush’s Podcast 54 featuring Mitch Joel discussing the enduring relevance of generative AI in B2B marketing. PYMNTS reports on how embedded payments and virtual cards are revolutionizing B2B transactions and buyer-supplier dynamics. Global Sources outlines ten trends in the wholesale distribution industry, emphasizing its critical role in the global economy. FreightWaves covers Stord’s acquisition of the fulfillment segment of Pitney Bowes’ e-commerce division, marking a significant move in supply chain logistics. The PIE reports on edtech platform upGrad raising $35 million in debt capital to bolster its growth. Lastly, Digital Commerce 360 announces David Doctorow’s appointment as CEO of Custom Ink, highlighting the company’s recent technological advancements and acquisitions. The recent updates to the ADA, as discussed on Marketplace.org, underscore the increasing importance of digital accessibility in ecommerce. As online platforms become more integral to everyday life, ensuring they are accessible to all users not only complies with legal standards but also expands the potential customer base. The specific timeline for the implementation of the new ADA guidelines, particularly those related to web accessibility, has not been firmly established. However, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has signaled its intent to update regulations to include clear digital accessibility standards in the near future. While an exact date is not available, ecommerce operators should prepare for these changes to come into effect within the next one to two years, given the increasing emphasis on digital accessibility and ongoing regulatory developments.

#SHEIN US Head of Marketplace GM George Chang & I discuss the growth and opportunity for 3P sellers on this fast-growing #ecommerce & #marketplace platform in their Los Angeles offices. SHEIN was ranked as the world's top shopping app (in 2023 by PYMNTS) & as the world's most popular fashion brand (in 2022 by Money & Google). SHEIN has 500 million downloads of their mobile shopping app, millions of monthly active users, 250 million followers on social media & hundreds of thousands of viewers per livestream (average). For over a decade SHEIN has obviously been very successfully selling 1P products. SHEIN pioneered the on-demand fashion business model which reduces the lag & waste of the typical 6-12 month fashion production cycle that results in a lot of unsold inventory & expensive markdowns for #retailers. Now, US-based 3P marketplace sellers & #influencers have a unique opportunity to join this rocket ship on the newly-launched & fast-growing curated SHEIN marketplace. SHEIN is especially interested in sellers in the categories of fashion apparel, health/beauty & lifestyle (home goods & tech) with a core demographic of Gen Z & Millennial females. The platform offers sellers easy onboarding & ongoing operations with a powerful seller storefront designer (with templates, modules and drag & drop UI) with tools for site decoration, a SellerHub dashboard, payment within 7-10 days, coupon & promo capabilities, social tools, livestreaming, & many seller success professionals that can provide 1:1 guidance & insights. To recruit top-quality sellers, SHEIN is offering an attractive 30-day promotion of:  $0 referral fees  $0 costs for advertising  $0 return costs (for most cases)  $0 monthly subscription SHEIN serves 150+ markets with over 15,000 employees in offices in 19 countries and supports 4,600 SHEIN X designers & artists. They have impressive facilities in their LA US HQ with many well-equipped photo studios & livestreaming facilities. Few people are aware that SHEIN launched a €200 Million #Circularity Fund in the UK & EU, committed another €50 million to broader ESG & sustainability efforts, achieved multiple zero-waste landfill certifications, launched an exchange resale platform & also invests into Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) initiatives. They also invested $50 million into SHEIN X to enable small indie designers, $70 million towards its supply chain empowerment program to make their supplier networks more clean/green & efficient, and $35 million dollars to support underprivileged women & children.  In his new General Manager leadership role, George brings great experience from about two decades of working at marketplace operators (Rakuten / Buy.com, Newegg, Sears), marketplace sellers (Cymax Group Technologies, Spreetail, Bedshe International) & marketplace tech platforms (Mirakl, VTEX). p.s. the proper pronunciation of SHEIN sounds like the English words "She In", which aligns with their mostly female buyers.

🚀 Learn how we helped wholesale specialty food distributor Gourmet Foods International upgrade their Adobe Commerce ecommerce site. 🚀 Benefits to the 18 week Adobe Commerce/Magento upgrade effort: 💸 Realized a substantial increase in month-on-month revenue post-implementation of the new B2B site. 🎯 Conversion rates across categories saw significant growth. 💻 The new B2B commerce site has seen an increase in the amount of orders placed without sales rep interaction. 📈 Implementing Adobe Commerce cloud allowed a broader assortment and increased operational efficiency (such as ERP automation) resulting in improved overall profitability. 🔗 Read the case study: https://lnkd.in/eDjeEnbK #Ecommerce #Magento #Upgrade #AdobeCommerce #B2B