Cyclones, Chopsticks & Clean Undies. It's Been A Wild Week 🌪️

For the past week, I’ve spent my time refreshing BOM images, hearing why Barbie’s legs can be used as chopsticks and losing games of Risk to my ten-year-old son (yes, I still call myself a “strategist”).

Cyclone Alfred locked us down, but fortunately, we escaped without any real damage. But it’s been a week.

We’ve had garages taped up, all outdoor furniture inside, tarps at the ready, bathtubs filled with water, and a pantry with too many cans of beans. In hindsight, beans would have been a horrible choice for a family in lockdown with minimal fresh air or no running water.

The anxiety was real, but we were really lucky. Many weren’t, and they will need lots of support over the coming months. As always, the usual suspects will lead the charge.

In our retail world, I think Thread Together is a fantastic organisation that can help us help others. They take excess stock and distribute it to those in need. Floods, fires, domestic abuse, homelessness - they make sure that those who need the essentials of clean clothing and a little dignity receive it.

So, if you are a retailer with excess undies, socks, shirts, or sheets, consider skipping the clearance section on your website and calling Anthony and the team at Thread Together. They’ll get it to the communities who really need it. I know the Thread Together team would be very grateful, and we are thankful to them.

While we are still waiting out the tail end of this storm, my biggest concern this week is that I’ve got a major project ready to go live, and schools remain shut. But I’m safe, have a dry house and clean undies. And that’s a massive win.

Stay safe out there!

Cheers, Bushy

PS. Brisbane folk, I’d love to see you at our Add To Cart LIVE this month. Grab your tickets here before GA sells out. $10 of every ticket will go to Thread Together.

Introducing ADD TO CART CAMPUS

The Learning Community for Australian eCommerce Professionals
If you work in eCommerce, you don’t have to figure it out alone. CAMPUS is your space to connect with like-minded professionals, get expert insights, and access live webinars- all for free. Join now → campus.addtocart.com.au

ECOMMERCE NEWS (from the past week)

😎 Google Gets Serious About AI By Activating ”AI Mode”
I don’t think I’m alone in saying Google’s AI is a little ‘meh’. But I feel that the second mover advantage will work for them… again. This week, they announced Gemini 2.0 and Google AI Mode, which turns traditional searches into conversations. Currently testing in Labs in the US. It spells disaster for search click-through rates, which are already 15-25% down with AI Summaries. Google also released more AI shopping tools, but I struggle to see mainstream adoption in their current form - they’ll continue to evolve. DISCUSS ON CAMPUS

👑 Big W Crashes and Bashes Their Way To The Crown
It’s a retail party with some awards thrown in for tax industry recognition. Big congrats to the Big W for taking out the Number One Retailer Award at Power Retail’s All-Star Bash. I’ll be honest and say I was surprised, but I hadn’t been on the site for a while. They do a great job with product discoverability across multiple categories, including sustainability, marketplace, and even partnerships, such as “as seen on Mamamia.” It’s not easy to excel as a department store online right now. Shout out to DECJUBA, who picked up the best social retailer - they’re joining us on our upcoming Mastering Last Mile Logistics webinar. DISCUSS ON CAMPUS

🛠️ The ‘All-in-One’ eCommerce Platform Expanding Down Under
Swap is the “all-in-one e-commerce operating system" that combines inventory solutions, cross-border sales, returns management, and shipping and logistics, and it's on its way to Australia. They’ve just secured $40 million in Series B funding to boost growth in the US and UK while making a mark in Australia and Canada. Early days but expect a few tremors. DISCUSS ON CAMPUS

🦚 Are Discounts Driving More Returns? Birdsnest’s Data Tells All
This little gem was tucked away on the US site, Fashion Network. They unpacked Birdsnest’s 85,000 returns. Lots of great data in there for apparel brands. Most interesting for me - 26% of sale items were returns vs 19% for full-priced items. Beggars really ARE choosers. Additionally, 1-star items were returned 26% of the time, compared to 23% for 5-star products. I’ve even heard from Jane, who assures me the data is 100% real! Return rates may seem high, but they offer a very generous 365-day return policy - hear from Jane on our recent Klaviyo podcast to understand true customer centricity. DISCUSS ON CAMPUS

👟 Running the Content Game: Teva’s Clever Strava Play
When I look at Strava, I’m usually a breathless beetroot hanging on for dear life. But apparently, some people browse it for fun. Outdoor footwear brand Teva has engaged ten ambassadors to hit the trails and fill Strava with social content showcasing their adventures- and the footwear getting them through. Smart, low cost and very targeted. DISCUSS ON CAMPUS

Got thoughts? Hot takes? Ecommerce gossip? Join Add To Cart CAMPUS, our free learning community for ecommerce professionals.

CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS

• We discuss - are refer-a-friend emails actually legal?

• Recommendations are sought for returns & refund software

• Simon Davis from SBO shared a brilliant US Trade Tariff calculator

• The Silent Report is our Weekly Action Challenge as inspired by Anna Samkova

• UPCOMING WEBINAR: Mastering Last-Mile Logistics with THE ICONIC, DECJUBA & Shippit

ADD TO CART LIVE IN BRISBANE - Tickets are available now!

Brisbane Edition (26th March) - Early tix now on sale!

Join us for a very special Add To Cart LIVE with Jackie Kruger, CEO of Black Milk, on the 26th of March. We’re capping this at 100 attendees. Tickets are $20 and include a bar tab, thanks to our friends at Retail Fest. An absolute steal.

🍻 Get your tickets

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WORK WITH NATHAN

Nathan Bush is an independent Australian ecommerce transformation consultant, with expertise in marketing, technology, and team leadership. If you're looking for fresh ideas, facing key decisions, or implementing significant investments, I'd love to work with you. Learn more and get in touch.