Fab wants to become like IKEA, Rocket Internet helps the Brazil ecosystem, eBay offers more logistical opportunities for retailers and are considering investing into Snapdeal
The first calendar week of 2013 is in the record books. In South Africa, I reckon we will see more online shops re-opening and starting to process orders that was placed in the festive season. I wonder if in other markets this phenomenon also happens? Closure over the festive season is something I have become accustomed to.
My thoughts this past week was over the sudden emergence of potential retail for ecommerce businesses. Fab.com is seemingly keen on physical retail. I must say I am slightly surprised by this as I wonder how this would affect their bottom line? Well for starters I am assuming that they have data for their states in which the big sales occur. So, those I am expecting will be the first locations in which their retail operations would be opening. E-commerce is primarily done to ease the costs of retail locations and to create the ability for shoppers to buy any item they desire from their current location. Retail is they way in which commerce is done in a large scale across the globe. Maybe, my Amazon tinted glasses is ensuring that I don’t see the potential of physical retail for ecommerce merchants. I believe ecommerce businesses should stay away from bricks and mortars as long as they possibly can.
The other story which dominated this past week has been Google getting nothing more than a slap on the wrist from the FTC. I find the resolution in the US to be disappointing. I really would like to have seen that the FTC ensuring that Google is kept in check to ensure an Internet that provides potential for all businesses and not a select few.