Over the past year, Temu has made a splash on the e-commerce scene with its very low prices and wide array of products.

However, this approach has come at a cost: delivery times. It’s one of the main complaints cited about Temu’s operations, alongside product quality. But now the company is shifting its strategy, inviting US-based warehouses to join its platform.

• Under the previous model, Temu would have products primarily shipped directly from China, which is also known as the “managed marketplace” framework.
• This strategy centralized inventory and led to longer delivery times but lower prices. Now, in order to gain even more ground on the likes of Amazon, Temu needs to make sure customers are able to get their purchases in their hands as quickly as possible, Business Insider notes.

Under the new model, sellers in the United States would handle fulfillment and logistics on their own as opposed to being handled in China. Temu plans to highlight the specific products on listings that will identify if it will be shipped from a warehouse in the United States. Those sellers will also be identified with a badge that reads “faster delivery.”

Keep reading here.—KM

Marketing plans usually follow three key flows: planning, budgeting, and team alignment. Want a peek into the process? Uptempo breaks it all down through three different conversations with industry leaders.

Hear from industry pros at Forrester, HubSpot, and IKEA on how they solved their planning and budgeting pain points. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you’ll learn:

• Forrester sets the stage by examining the state of marketing planning and addressing the replanning challenges marketers can expect.
• HubSpot reveals how they design better planning processes, getting their entire team on board by establishing a single system of record for marketing plans, budgets, and work.
• IKEA displays their solution in action alongside the success that digital transformation can bring to a brand.

Soak up all of these insights.

Women control about $31.8 trillion of worldwide spending, per a new report from NielsenIQ, and that power will continue to increase over the next five years, when the demographic is expected to control 75% of discretionary spending. But to win their $$, brands and retailers must adapt to meet their needs and values.

Brands and retailers should keep an eye on women’s purchasing data and interactions across online, in-store, and social platforms to better understand and engage them, the consumer intelligence company said. Equality, sustainability, and authenticity are the three major values driving women’s purchases, while quality, emotional connection, and social responsibility also steer their decision-making.

The $100+ billion health and beauty industry, which NIQ notes is particularly inclusive and accessible, exemplifies many of these values and drivers. Still, there are “glaring” gaps in the marketplace even within this category, particularly in serving menopausal women.

Keep reading here.—EC

Knock, knock—it’s your weekly Retail Brew fashion dispatch, featuring an array of news you may have missed. This week, one fast fashion retailer’s profits soar, while a legendary designer is returning to Pitti Uomo after 31 years.

Shein profits more than double

A recent Financial Times report revealed that fast fashion retailer Shein’s 2023 profits more than doubled YoY to more than $2 billion.The report, based on information from sources close to the company, known worldwide for its cheap and trendy fashions, found that the company earned $45 billion in gross merchandise value last year. The news comes as the retailer awaits IPO approval.

Why this matters: Despite a range of accusations leveled against it, Shein remains popular among US consumers.

Keep reading here.—JS

Keep your on resale. This sector is taking off—with 15x faster growth than the broader retail clothing sector (according to ThredUp’s 2024 Resale Report). This Earth Month, ThredUp invites you to an exclusive webinar on April 10 to uncover the latest trends in sustainable, unstoppable resale. Save your spot (and the planet) here.