Weekend reading: 11th June

Happy weekend folks! This one is forecast to be glorious weather for most of us in the UK, so we hope that you get out and enjoy it, in between preparing for Amazon Prime Day and keeping an eye on your business.

This week we’re talking about internet panics featuring outages and Google algorithm updates, taking a look at how Google are full steam ahead with eCommerce, talking about how customers can now pay in three instalments anywhere with a new Klarna app, and digging into what is happening with department stores and shopping centres.

The latest from us

We were featured on Tamebay this week, with industry legend Chris Dawson talking about our integrations for BigCommerce, OnBuy, Shopify, Wish, and WooCommerce, and why retailers should add additional inventory to their store. Read the post here.

Our partnerships game is going strong! We’ve brought you another chance to get three months of BigCommerce completely free, and you can get a massive 10% off your fees on the Wish marketplace for three months. We’re expecting to bring Avasam users even more great deals with our partners soon, so watch this space.

We brought more products to the platform this week, including a range of professional kitchen knives that you can find by checking the tag on supplier GB010096. We have a list of new suppliers with some incredible products that will be made live in the very near future – so keep logging into Avasam and click the New Products card on the home page to see the latest.

The weekend reads

The big news was the massive outage on the internet this week, with a bug in an update that had lain dormant for almost a month on just one user’s account to blame, according to Fastly. We can all take this as a reminder of the importance of rigorous testing on our systems before making anything live, and the importance of having a backup plan! However, you might have wondered how much it cost the retail companies that were impacted, given that the outage was just an hour long. Well – estimates were more than we expected. Find out how much here.

In further internet panic stations this week, Google rolled out a core update to their algorithm, with another core update expected in July. While this may have an impact on SEO performance, there is evidence that you don’t actually need to panic! Read more about the updates here.

You’re probably already aware of Google getting involved in eCommerce – they announced more integrations and checkout options at Google I/O, and the removal of fees for merchants to sell on Google. This week, they have released the WooCommerce integration, meaning that WooCommerce users can now upload their inventory to Google, manage ad campaigns and more – all through their WooCommerce dashboard. Read more here.

Are you offering your customers the chance to buy now, pay later? Didn’t think it was an option for your business? Well, Klarna have launched a new shopping app that allows customers to pay for their purchases across three interest-free instalments, no matter where they shop. Find out more here.

Department stores as we know them are disappearing from our high streets, with many being turned into residential accommodation. However, there are many in the industry that believe there is still a place for them. Given that many retailers expect footfall in physical stores to rise over the summer months, it is an interesting time in retail. Find out more about the approaches that could revolutionise department stores here, and discussion about the future of shopping centres here.

Dates for your diary

We’re sure you’re aware that Amazon Prime Day is fast approaching, on June 21st and 22nd – and there is a huge amount of money to be made during those two days. There’s a great checklist to help you get prepared here.

Fashion retailers won’t want to miss the FashionCommerce Optimise your Digital Runway event running next week, on June 16th. Hosted by ChannelAdvisor, the event brings together experts in clothing, footwear and accessories, discussing how to make the most of sales channels, steps for success and social commerce. Sign up here.

Ecom World takes place later this month, on 28-29th June. With pretty much all the internet big hitters in attendance, you’re unlikely to want to miss this one. Find out more and register here.