USPS Falling Prices, Amazon’s ‘Small Business’ Search Filter and More News
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Another week almost over. With Friday already here, it’s time for another Friday News Digest. Last week, we learned that Flexport and Shopify realigned strategies. This week, we have USPS and Amazon on the radar. Watch out, small business owners! This week’s news is especially important for you. Let’s dive in.
Today’s news is 1386 words and takes 5 ½ minutes to read.
USPS New Pricing Structure
eBay and Etsy recently announced positive news for online sellers using their platforms: the cost of shipping parcels is actually decreasing. After years of continuously rising rates, parcel shipping costs are finally starting to decline. The US Postal Service (USPS) leads the new pricing structure, with UPS expected to follow suit.
The platforms stated that shipping parcels through USPS’s Priority Mail service would be up to 18% cheaper, although most reductions are in single-digit percentages. The weight and distance of the shipment determines the pricing. According to Etsy, sellers can expect average savings of around 8%.
eBay also informed its clients, “You will see UPS rates decrease as much as 18% for certain packages lighter in weight and moving across shorter distances, or increase up to 4% for heavier packages going farther distances.”
In a separate development, USPS unveiled its planned pricing structure for the upcoming Ground Advantage product, set to launch on July 9th. This new service combines two ground services, First Class Package and Parcel Select Ground, and introduces a new pricing system based on package dimensions for parcels weighing up to 70 pounds.
Shippers can expect rate decreases of up to 3.2% compared to current rates. The USPS described the offering as a reliable and more cost-effective option, with delivery times ranging from two to five business days.
For our eCommerce sellers
When it comes to price reductions, it seems like there’s good news all around for eCommerce sellers. With shipping cost reductions, sellers who offer free shipping to their customers can enjoy saving a few bucks.
On the subject of shipping, we have a shipping top tips series happening right now on Webretailer. Check out, for example, last Tuesday’s top tips where we talked about multi-carrier shipping.
But wait, there’s more good news for small businesses in the next section…
Big Retailer News
Amazon’s Experiments — The ‘Small Business’ Search Filter
It looks like big companies are really taking care of small business’ needs. Amazon has just announced that it’s introducing a ‘small business’ search filter. The company states that it’s doing so in order to support all small business sellers.
The filter was added so that customers can easily find products made by small businesses, and support them. The new filter is going to appear under the ‘Business Type’ category in the search options.
As Amazon tests out this new feature, any business that meets the criteria will have this ‘small business’ badge added to their products in the search results. However, this announcement has caused some stirrup.
Some users are leaving positive comments,
“ I actually really like this idea. I get a lot of customers who will not buy on Amazon because they’d rather buy from a small business seller. Can you please make very sure your buyers know such an option exists?”.
While others not so much,
“So will that include the small business used book sellers? We can’t brand used media!”.
What’s in it for small business owners?
Amazon is giving a great opportunity for business owners to reach even more customers and promote their businesses. So, if you’re a small business owner, make sure you take advantage of this great opportunity. And on that note, check out our article that lists 7 ways to boost your eCommerce business.
Google Will Remove Inactive Accounts
Attention all small businesses owners! Google has announced that it will delete all inactive accounts. If you happen to have a secondary email address that you haven’t been using so often, it might be time to take a look into it. We know that sometimes important data gets stored on different accounts, so make sure you don’t have anything important on your secondary account.
The contents that will get deleted on these accounts include Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar, YouTube and Google Photos. Google did state that the deletion of inactive accounts won’t compromise schools and businesses, but the platform may not recognize the user as a small business owner.
You can read more about these procedures on Google’s blog.
And while we’re on the topic of Google, did you get the chance to read our latest article about the top five reasons why you need to take advantage of Google Analytics? No? Well, you better crack on with the lecture!
Also in the News
- How NOT to run an Etsy store. Medium.
- The Amazon executive in charge of Astro robot is leaving the company. The Verge.
International Retailer News
Is AI Backfiring On Users?
It looks like the horror-like scenarios are coming true, and AI is taking over some of our works and turning them into their own. With the advanced technology getting better and better, are any of us safe from AI stealing our work? A US citizen who became a victim to these AI shenanigans shared his story with The Washington Post.
In the article, we found out that a software developer, Chris Cowell, spent over a year writing his book, only to find out that three weeks before publishing, someone else wrote and published the exact same book. He didn’t realise at first, but became suspicious when he realised the title of the book is exactly the same, and ‘Automating DevOps with GitLab CI/CD Pipelines’ is a pretty specific title.
The book confirms that it’s written mostly by an AI tool, such as ChatGPT. The only problem with AI tools, is that they don’t always tell the truth — and who’s to confirm whether the information they give is true or false, if more and more books get written by these AI tools?
Growth of The European B2B Marketplace
The European B2B marketplace scene is experiencing a remarkable surge in growth, capturing the attention of investors who are pouring in substantial amounts of capital.
According to a recent report by Applico Inc. titled “The Europe B2B Marketplaces Top 25 Ranking 2023,” these marketplaces have collectively raised over $2.1 billion to date. The report highlights that a staggering 85% of this investment is flowing into marketplaces focused on building materials, retail, and food products.
The United States has seen a similar trend with B2B marketplaces in areas such as building materials and food products.
Also, a new and promising sector is emerging — industrial machinery for contract manufacturing. The report reveals that successful businesses in the US have already attracted $475 million in capital in this area. Europe also boasts a few marketplaces with comparable models and capabilities, making it an enticing opportunity for investors seeking to explore this niche.
What else should we note?
Notable players eyeing European growth include Amazon Business and Xometry. Amazon Business is strategically enhancing its logistics operations in Europe to appeal to corporate clients seeking to make bulk purchases of various supplies. By catering to businesses that order in larger quantities, Amazon Business can enjoy more favorable economics in terms of fulfillment and higher profit margins.
Since its entry into the European market in 2016, Amazon Business has expanded its presence to Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, and Spain, serving prominent companies like ABB, Siemens Gamesa, and Centrica Business Solutions.
Do you have questions about the B2B marketplace? Then check out our article on B2B selling on Amazon: All your questions answered!
Also in the News
- Onyx Coating launches eCommerce store in the USA and Europe. PRWeb.
- Amazon India will raise seller fees. Business Standard.
Webinars
For everyone
Various dates: Amazon advertising’s global webinar program continues with 20+ webinars scheduled, covering Prime Day Preparation, Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, reporting, optimization, and other tips. Amazon.
For US sellers
June 1: The 15 Minute Breakdown. Tinuiti.
For UK sellers
Various dates: Amazon advertising’s global webinar program continues with 20+ webinars scheduled, covering Prime Day Preparation, Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, reporting, optimization, and other tips. Amazon.
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