Money
E-Commerce here to stay, despite continued lockdowns
With much of the world still in partial lockdown, E-Commerce is here to stay. So where does that leave bricks-and-mortar retail?
Not necessarily in the dust, according to Reuben Mallalieu, Head of Ecom World 2021 and our guest on Ticker Green.
Reuben Mallalieu runs the biggest e-commerce conference in the world, Ecom World 2021. A digital event, run over two days in late June with over 15,000 attendees. The event garners speakers from big tech, e-commerce and media such as Gary Vaynerchuk and other high profile names from Facebook, Snapchat, Spotify and Shopify. It also provides a platform for lesser-known brands making a splash.
In a post-pandemic world, it would be easy to think traditional retail will be dead. Not according to Mallalieu, who believes that a bricks-and-mortar flagship store will still be an aspirational destination for digitally native brands. In Mallalieu’s view, consumers will always want to understand the look and feel of a product in-store. However it’s not a luxury all brands can afford.
That’s where e-commerce comes in. Once upon a time, a business would open its shop doors and wait to receive its first customer. Now, it launches a website. Platforms like Shopify have enabled an explosion of direct-to-consumer e-commerce brands to launch. “It’s easier than ever to build and scale a business just with the tools we have available in the world of e-commerce”, Mallalieu says.
Mallalieu gave us more than just predictions about the future of retail. He let us in on what he believes is the secret sauce to successfully running an e-commerce business in 2021:
“You need to have three key areas in place to be able to build and scale a business to over $1 million.”
- Product & Operations – Good margins, a quality product and operations to scale.
- Brand – The coolest brand possible with amazing product shots and a great online storefront.
- Growth – A robust growth marketing plan based on paid ads or other organic strategies to reach your audience.
So what does this mean for direct-to-consumer brands with a sustainability focus? Well it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that Mallalieu is optimistic.“I am a massive fanboy of Allbirds…they are now a billion-dollar shoe brand focused on sustainability,” Mallalieu says.
For newer sustainability players like my business Single Use Ain’t Sexy, Ecom World 2021 is a place for us to share ideas and talk shop! Our first-to-market dissolvable hand soap tablets & reusable glass bottles have already sold out twice & attracted thousands of eco-friendly customers.
If you’re keen to stay ahead of the curve, drop into some of the online events at Ecom World 2021 on 28 and 29 June 2021.
Money
US stocks face tests from Tesla, Netflix earnings
US markets brace for Tesla and Netflix earnings amid rising volatility and delayed inflation data
US markets brace for Tesla and Netflix earnings amid rising volatility and delayed inflation data
– Earnings reports from Tesla and Netflix might affect U.S. stock performance next week amid high inflation concerns.
– Increased market volatility arises from U.S.-China trade tensions and fewer S&P 500 stocks in an uptrend.
The S&P 500 entered its fourth year of growth amidst these fluctuations, having previously experienced a period of calm. Experts suggest market risks are intensifying as valuations reach peak levels.
Market Volatility
Concerns regarding U.S.-China trade relations escalated last week when the U.S. threatened to raise tariffs by November 1 over China’s rare-earth export policies. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with President Xi Jinping in two weeks to discuss these issues.
Despite these challenges, major stock indexes gained ground over the week, with the S&P 500 up 13.3% year-to-date. However, a noticeable decline in the number of S&P 500 stocks in an uptrend raises caution among investors about underlying market weaknesses.
The upcoming third-quarter earnings will be closely monitored, especially as the government shutdown halts economic data releases. Companies like Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, RTX, and IBM are due to report. The delayed U.S. consumer price index is also expected to provide crucial insights ahead of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy meeting on October 28-29.
Money
Australia’s unemployment rate rises to 4.5 per cent
Australia’s unemployment rate rises to 4.5 per cent in September, prompting calls for potential Reserve Bank interest rate cut
Australia’s unemployment rate rises to 4.5 per cent in September, prompting calls for potential Reserve Bank interest rate cut
– Australia’s unemployment rate rose to 4.5% in September, the highest since November 2021.
– Economists note a cooling labour market, with fewer job ads and increased participation rate amid rising living costs.
Economists suggest that the Reserve Bank should consider another interest rate cut next month. BetaShares chief economist David Bassanese noted a slowdown in employment demand as the labour market struggles to accommodate job seekers.
The number of officially unemployed rose by 33,900 in September, while the employment count increased by 14,900. The labour force expanded by 48,800 people, resulting in a participation rate rise of 0.1 percentage points to 67 per cent, returning to July levels.
In trend terms, the unemployment rate remained steady at 4.3 per cent.
Labour Market
BDO chief economist Anders Magnusson stated that while the unemployment rate has increased, the labour market is cooling, not collapsing.
He pointed out that the 14,900 jobs added in September were slightly below the average for the past year.
A growing participation rate indicates that rising living costs are prompting more individuals to seek employment. Magnusson said the release confirms a gradual cooling of the labour market that keeps the Reserve Bank on track without necessitating immediate action.
He added that hiring activity is slowing, signalled by a 3.3 per cent drop in job advertisements in September, the largest monthly decrease since February 2024.
Despite this, he does not foresee a rate cut in November.
Money
Stocks rebound after Trump eases China trade tensions
Stocks rebound 600 points as Trump eases China trade tensions, signalling optimism in markets following Friday’s sell-off
Stocks rebound 600 points as Trump eases China trade tensions, signalling optimism in markets following Friday’s sell-off
– Stocks rose on Monday after Trump expressed optimism about trade relations with China.
– The Dow Jones gained 621 points, with significant increases in tech stocks and broad market recovery.
Oracle’s stock surged over 5%, with AMD and Nvidia seeing 1% and 3% increases, respectively. Broadcom’s stock jumped 10% following the announcement of a partnership with OpenAI.
Trump’s comments hinted that he might not impose a significant increase in tariffs on China, which had previously caused market turmoil. Vice President JD Vance similarly indicated a willingness to negotiate with China, while also asserting that the U.S. holds advantages in potential trade discussions.
Broader Recovery
Monday’s trading saw a positive shift with four out of five S&P 500 stocks rising, indicating widespread recovery. Small-cap stocks also made gains, with the Russell 2000 rising over 2.5%.
Market concerns persist, however, with a government shutdown continuing and a major payroll deadline approaching on October 15. Earnings reports from major financial institutions, including Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase, are expected this week, potentially impacting market sentiment.
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