Christmas Sales 2020 and E-Commerce Trends 2021
The new year has begun and we take a look back at the last year: What were challenges and successes, what did 2020 teach us, and what expectations can we base on that for the new year?
2021 started already in a dynamic way for Amazon with several new updates already in this first calendar week. Amazon announced the acquisition of a major podcasting platform and is launching new Sponsored Ads opportunities on some additional marketplaces. We are excited to see what will follow in the weeks and months ahead.
General Updates
E-Commerce trends 2021
In its “Future of Commerce” report, Shopify reveals 5 e-commerce trends in 2021. According to the report, younger people will continue to drive the growth of e-commerce, but small local businesses will also gain in importance. Brick-and-mortar retail will adopt new strategies and technologies. Also, sustainable products and modern payment methods will become even more important to customers this year.
Amazon buys podcast startup Wondery
Amazon has bought podcasting network Wondery, strengthening its position in this quickly growing market against Apple and Spotify. Both competitors already invested heavily in this field in the past. So far, Amazon’s activities were focused only on a few original shows on its audiobooks platform Audible.
Amazon’s Christmas Business: 50% Sales Growth
In the weeks leading up to Christmas 2020, more products were sold on Amazon than ever before during the Holiday Season. Global sales on the platform were up 50% compared to the same period last year. In the US alone, small and medium-sized businesses sold nearly one billion products on Amazon.
Amazon’s support for small and medium-sized enterprises?
Amazon says it has provided major help to SMEs during the Corona pandemic in 2020. The company claims to have taken on more than $5 billion in operating costs for Sellers, deferred the adjustment of fulfillment fees, and invested in new warehouse space. On the contrary, Amazon made it unexpectedly more difficult for Sellers to ship their products to its warehouses last year.
Changes that caught our attention
Amazon has launched Sponsored Ads on its marketplace in the Netherlands. After having started Amazon DSP in October 2020, Sponsored Brand and Sponsored Product Ads are available on the Dutch platform from now on.
Placing Sponsored Brand Video Ads is now also possible on Amazon marketplaces in Italy and Spain. Amazon is thus further expanding its advertising portfolio and once again strengthening the importance of video content.