See where retail foot traffic tripled in Q2

On today's episode, we discuss Spotify's Q2 performance, what to make of its ad revenue growth, and how its podcast investments are getting on. We then talk about where Amazon wants to take Alexa, social audio's monetization issue, and the significance of the NBA and iHeartMedia podcast partnership. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer senior forecasting analyst at Insider Intelligence Peter Vahle.

Amazon fined under GDPR: The tech giant was fined €746 million for using consumer shopping data for ad targeting without consent—which doesn’t bode well for other Big Tech companies that are facing privacy-related scrutiny.

If the new $9.95 fee rolls out nationally, it could help cover Amazon’s expenses—but perhaps at the cost of dominating the US online grocery market as rival Walmart nips at its heels for the lead

EU privacy regulators fined Amazon a record €746 million for alleged GDPR violations. The move marks an uptick in enforcement by Europe’s privacy regulators and may force tech firms to reevaluate their GDPR compliance.

Sustainability is a hot topic, especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. In 2021, most ecommerce buyers, sellers, and logistics firms are taking steps to be more eco-friendly. But commitment and progress are patchy.

Online grocery sales will surpass $100 billion in the US this year, per our forecast, but traditional grocers may not see as much of that spending as the major ecommerce players are.

These partnerships streamlined Amazon’s returns process

here Etsy outperforms Amazon

Amazon’s Q2 earnings are tomorrow: Due in part to the coronavirus pandemic, we expect Amazon’s retail sales to best last year’s.

A job posting suggests the etailer wants to dive into the growing crypto payments space—and perhaps develop a proprietary digital currency—before it falls behind other Big Tech firms.

Nonstore retailers like Amazon and Wayfair, which operate solely online, are dominating the US ecommerce market.

The pandemic supercharged ecommerce sales in the US, accelerating the digital market about two years into the future in terms of its penetration of total retail sales.

Taboola buys Connexity: The merger will help Taboola's publisher clients tap into ecommerce dollars while also helping Connexity's retail clients diversify away from Amazon.

eMarketer was pleased to moderate a Tech-Talk Webinar featuring Feedvisor’s Dani Nadel, president and chief operating officer, and Andrew Altersohn, general manager, enterprise brands. They will share strategies for brands on Amazon that leverage advertising, pricing, and content optimization in unison to drive engagement and conversions this holiday season.

It’s been six years since Amazon’s inaugural Prime Day, and since then, the sales bonanza has evolved from the unofficial kickoff of back-to-school shopping into an event other major retailers try to emulate—so much so that the ecommerce giant has tried to obfuscate when the annual sales day will occur.

Amazon is maneuvering to become a dominant player in direct-to-consumer healthcare services, beginning with its online pharmacy and telehealth services for its employees. It may acquire more healthcare delivery outlets, such as primary care and urgent care clinics. Entrenched industry players are watching carefully.

As Amazon raked in more than $11 billion in Prime Day sales worldwide, health and beauty product sales boomed on the platform. In a survey conducted by Numerator throughout the event, 28.0% of US Prime Day buyers said they made a purchase in that category. Consumer electronics also made a spark: 27.5% of respondents reported buying tech gear and gadgets.

The company acquired a Facebook team of engineers and physicists to boost its satellite internet venture off the ground. The stealthy acquisition is a much-needed injection of resources and talent as Amazon rushes to enter a market quickly being swallowed up by SpaceX.