Missing Handbook
E-Commerce & D2C
Are you Head of E-Commerce or responsible for the digital transformation in your organization? Then you've come to the right place! This blog aims to be the missing handbook for anyone who wants or needs to drive the change to direct-to-consumer (D2C) and e-commerce in their company.
Our articles not only provide you with an overview of relevant news from e-commerce and D2C, but also help you to interpret them in the context of your own organization. This way, you are well prepared for the discussion with the C-level.
We also introduce you to the tools and methods we use every day to make informed decisions and build and scale digital business models. From proven frameworks to useful workshop formats, you'll find everything you need to succeed in the fast-paced world of e-commerce.
Subject area
E-commerce continues to grow: New business figures from Shopify, Bike24 and Mirakl reveal trends in online retail
Shopify's latest quarterly figures show that e-commerce is still on a growth trend, but the outlook for sales was lower than expected. Bike24 continues to grow through massive discounts, but with profitability at the lower end of expectations. Mirakl's figures show that the trend towards platform business models in e-commerce continues unabated, particularly in the B2B sector.
E-commerce in transition: the backend as the key to success for Wayfair and Zalando
Wayfair and Zalando are turning the unwritten laws of retail upside down with their business model.
The backend is at the heart of this success.
While Wayfair uses dropshipping and backward integration into logistics to control customer satisfaction over the last mile, Zalando relies on its partner program and fulfillment solutions for brands to expand its product selection.
Amazon Q4 2022 quarterly results & full year 2022: challenges and opportunities for the new CEO
Amazon reports record sales of $514 billion
However, the company posted a total loss of $2.7 billion in 2022, and shrinking international business could be a concern.
Likewise, Rivian's fluctuating stock price is weighing on Amazon's profitability, as the company holds a few million shares of the electric vehicle maker.
E-commerce crisis: cost savings at Zalando and Home24 sale to XXXLutz
The crisis in e-commerce is particularly affecting companies in the fashion sector, which are suffering from full inventories, overcapacity in logistics and high cost pressure. Zalando has taken measures to reduce costs by introducing minimum order values and reviewing investment decisions. There has also been a rethink at Home24: the company was acquired by XXXLutz, which has leverage in Purchasing & Co to quickly turn the online business into profit.
Background to the Keller Sports insolvency: How online retail can benefit from lean management and cost savings
The insolvency of Keller Sports shows that e-commerce companies require a high level of operational excellence in order to be successful. The biggest challenges in e-commerce are too much diversification, logistics problems, excessive costs and the risk of getting bogged down in ambitious tech projects. To achieve operational excellence in e-commerce, companies should implement a philosophy such as lean management, make targeted cost savings and optimize their IT systems and processes.
The crisis in e-commerce 2022 / 2023: Companies in distress and insolvencies in the D2C business
Constantly updated overview of all insolvencies in retail and e-commerce in 2022 / 2023