Weekend reading: April 23

What a week we’ve had – we hope you’ve seen some of the glorious weather, and have managed to soak some of it up for yourself. As always, we’re heading into this weekend with some more reads for you – best enjoyed in the sunshine with your favourite beverage, we think!

This week we’re looking at Amazon’s solution to ‘like new’ stock, why sustainable packaging really should be on your agenda, what is behind caterpillar wars, how you can get even more from Pinterest marketing, and how Amazon Shipping can help you to get eBay Top-Rated Seller status. Let’s get to it!

The latest from us

We brought a new supplier on board this week, with most of their products falling in the health and beauty category. If this type of product could suit your customers, then log in and take a look at supplier GB010081.

If you’ve been delaying signing up for BigCommerce, but you still want a free trial for three months, time is running out – our special offer runs for another week only, ending on the 30th of April. Don’t miss out – sign up for your free trial here.

With the weather starting to feel much more like spring now, customers are searching for barbecue products, sunglasses and spring clothing and footwear. We’ve made it easy for you to source products from those categories – simply log in and head to the Avasam home page, where you’ll see those categories featured on the cards.

The weekend reads

Have you got stock that has been returned, unused or like new that can’t be sold as new? While you can use eBay to sell this type of stock, it might not be the best solution. Amazon have stepped forward with an alternative – Amazon Renewed. Find out more about Amazon Renewed, and how to get started in this post.

With this week having seen Earth Day, you might have had sustainability measures on your mind. Sustainable packaging is a great way to improve your business, whether you’re using it to send orders out to customers, or you’re selling it so other retailers can increase their green credentials. But it isn’t just retailers – more than a third of consumers will buy products with sustainable packaging. Find out more here.

We’re sure you’ve heard all about the Colin vs Cuthbert battle of the caterpillar cakes this week – the social media interactions have been fabulous, and the internet has been full of memes. But behind the fun, there’s a really serious issue at stake here. Copycat designs have been a thing for as long as design has existed (with Coco Chanel reportedly saying “if you want to be original, be ready to be copied”) but there’s so much more to uncover legally. You can read more about copycat designs in this deep dive.

We mentioned the power of Pinterest and how US brand Anthropologie are using it for their online catalogue in our weekend reading at the start of April, and it really does show no sign of stopping. Shopify and Pinterest are extending their partnership, allowing more businesses to use Pinterest and to reach more potential customers. Find out more about the functionality available, and the potential for success, here.

Do you use Amazon Shipping? They sure want you to – and so much so, they have now made it an option on eBay – and it can help you achieve eBay Top-Rated Seller status. Sound strange? Well, there are certainly pros and cons. Be sure to read more here before you make any decisions.

Dates for your diary

Retail Connected is this week coming, with five days of incredible events starting on the 26th of April. The event is a collaboration between Retail Week, Retail Week Live, Be Inspired and World Retail Congress, and covers categories including agility and partnerships, brand relevance and evolution, culture and purpose, customer experience, and innovation and investment. Find out more and sign up here.

Tamebay Live is running between the 17th and 21st May, with a packed agenda that are relevant for retailers of all types. Find out more and get your name on the list here.

Thinking about implementing an omnichannel strategy in your business? You’ll probably want to sign up for the Digital Transformation event being hosted by The Retail Bulletin on the 20th of May. Find out more, and register for free here.