2PM - eCom everywhere else

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Let’s revisit 2021’s Netflix Playbook 2.0, shall we?

In the above forecast, I laid out a three-phased projection for the streaming giant, timed to Josh Simon’s hire as VP of Consumer Products. The forecast revolved around Netflix’s eventual transition from a straightforward streaming platform to a brand with tangible, immersive physical experiences akin to Disney. After reading the recent Bloomberg article on Netflix’s physical retail plans, it’s clear several of these projections have come to pass.

Netflix Delivers 2.0

Netflix to open physical retail stores

Lead / Hypebeast Excerpt: "The first two locations are slated to open in the U.S. in 2025, though Netflix has not yet confirmed the location just yet. This is not the first time Netflix has tried to use brick and mortars to amp up their experiences."

Netflix finally joins live sports space

Lead / FOS Excerpt: The newly created Netflix Cup — a made-for-television event developed by the streaming giant — is hardly on the level of an established golf major or championship in another top sport. But it does represent Netflix’s first move into live competition — and the entire business of sports will be paying close attention.

Lina Khan's rise was heralded as an antitrust revolution

Amazon Antitrust / CNN Business: Amazon has said the case is “wrong on the facts and the law,” and a trade group that represents the company, NetChoice, argues that Khan’s track record shows she has already fallen flat on the lofty expectations of systemic change that accompanied her confirmation.

From our article on Lina Khan (2018): Lina Khan went on to say: “The law against vertical mergers is merely a law against the creation of efficiency.” With the election of President Reagan, this view of vertical integration became national policy. This has been known as the Chicago School approach.

Amazon and the Antitrust Blackhole (2023): "By the logic of the Chicago School, a company like Amazon shouldn’t even exist. No company should be able to run losses for years on end while its share price soars and gobbles up more and more markets. It’s clear that the Chicago School’s understanding of antitrust was already blinkered by its commitment to libertarian ideology. The transition to a digital economy has only highlighted its willful blindness."

Goodwill tries to figure out online commerce

eCommerce / NYT: The timing couldn't be better for Goodwill. Here's what I wrote earlier this year: "Gone are the days of being shamed for shopping for previously worn items. This should be a signal to suitable brands that reCommerce can be a marketing solution." Last year, the total U.S. market for secondhand retail was $174.1 billion, lifted by consumers’ growing interest in buying sustainable options and finding ways to save money. That’s expected to reach $258.8 billion by 2027, according to the consultancy firm GlobalData. Analysts note that Goodwill is growing more slowly than its competitors.

Under review

eCommerce / CJR: Digital media’s collective embrace of product reviews brings to mind lessons of the “pivot to video” debacle, when dozens of companies poured resources into video verticals at the pleasure of Facebook, only to lose out, hemorrhaging revenue and laying off hundreds of journalists.

New DoorDash study looks at quick commerce

Data / DoorDash (.pdf): DoorDash has released a new report based on a survey of 1,200+ DoorDash customers that indicates a change in how consumers are purchasing grocery, household, personal care, pet care, and alcohol products or consumables. DoorDash also announced today new ad and promotions capabilities.

EU to crack down further on microplastics

The European Commission aims to cut plastic pellet pollution by 74% by the end of the decade. Further steps could see the EU tackle microplastics that are unintentionally released, for instance, from clothes when they are washed or car tires. Bernsel hopes the new regulation might inspire other regions in the world to consider taking action.

Over the course of several weeks, 2PM audited 60+ rising apparel operations from across the globe to better understand the technologies that they are using to better their customer experienced. Below, you will find our results in the first edition of this database that is currently presented by Bold Metrics.

67 Bold Brands

Flexport's Petersen sets long timetable for profits, IPO

Logistics / WSJ: Flexport expects to get back to profitability by the end of next year or early 2025, founder Ryan Petersen said, as he reorganizes the freight forwarder's leadership and seeks to reshape the business.

Hero Cosmetics founder Ju Rhyu on what's next

CPG / WWD: In the year since Hero’s acquisition, the brand has expanded outside of the U.S. for the first time, launching in Canada, Australia, the U.K. and its first French pharmacy — Pharmacie du Palais Royal in Paris.

Monos CEO on surviving as a DTC brand

DTC Brands / Retail Brew: At Monos, we’re trying to build the future of travel. We want to be a future authoritative brand in the luggage and travel space, truly generational. We want to be in the ranks of LVMH and some of these 100-plus-year-old brands that have been around.

The new era of manufacturer eCommerce

eCommerce / Aftermarket News: Traditionally, parts manufacturers worked behind the scenes and relied heavily on distributors and retailers to sell their products to the end consumer. However, there has been a recent paradigm shift that has placed the end consumer at the forefront of business strategies. 

Member Brief 🔐: Rising customer acquisition costs, rising logistics costs, inflation, and SaaS – yes, it’s more expensive than ever to run a brand. [...] The world of eCommerce is undergoing a transformation. A rising cohort of marketplaces and DTC retailers are using a blend of technological innovations and strategic positioning to capture international markets. Amid this shift, US-based SaaS solutions find themselves in an enviable position — one where forming relationships within burgeoning regions like India can be a win-win.
 

Where eCom SaaS Should Look Next