Around The World In Commerce No. 323

Dear Readers,

The three things on my mind this week:

The big news of the week is JD.com announcing its intention to acquire Germany's Ceconomy (owner of MediaMarkt and Saturn) for $2.5 billion. JD.com has decided that 2025 is the year in which they will make big bets (enter the competitive food delivery sector) and now acquire a retailer that requires investment.
Amazon announced its Q2 earnings, and while they beat market expectations, investors are still not sure about their AI investments. Amazon's retail business is not growing as fast as it should. Meanwhile, eBay appeared to have turned back the clock and announced growth.
Lastly, BigCommerce has a parent company called Commerce, a holding company that contains BigCommerce, Feedonomics, and MakeSwift. The rebrand reads like a company that wants to change the narrative about its future, but the promises feel unattainable.

I want to thank all the readers who take the time to reply to this email (I spend a considerable amount of time creating this newsletter) and appreciate any comments, even if you disagree with me. I want you to know that all comments are confidential and are not shared.

If you'd like to help me, please share this newsletter so I can grow my list.

Onwards, Hendrik

Around The World in Marketplaces

Africa

Takealot Group Launches TFS to Transform South Africa’s Supply Chain Industry. Admyt expands into e-commerce with SHôPING acquisition. Libya’s Mataa closes seed round from local angel investors.

China

STO Express to acquire Alibaba-backed logistics firm DanNiao for $50M (RMB 362M). Douyin folds supermarket unit into Xiaoshida in quick commerce push. Prosus trims Meituan stake amid clash. Alibaba, Meituan, JD.com commit to truce after regulator calls for ‘rational’ competition. When ugly sells: what Taobao’s ‘Era of Uglies’ says about Chinese youth, creativity & brand strategy. How a Chinese Brand Reshaped Hong Kong’s Food Delivery Scene

Europe

JD.com to buy Germany's Ceconomy in deal valuing it at $2.5 billion. Unlocking Switzerland’s potential: The rise of online marketplaces Everli, an Italian e-grocery marketplace, signs agreement to go public via a $180M SPAC.

Ozon Bank to roll out network of 350 ATMs in Russia by year's end.

Allegro blocks the sale of ‘non-new’ products in international markets. EU regulators seek feedback on Prosus' offer to sell down Delivery Hero stake. Prosus set to win EU nod for $4.74 billion Just Eat deal, sources say.

EU Commission preliminarily finds Temu in breach of the Digital Services Act in relation to illegal products on its platform

India

Inside Samir Kumar’s plan to bring order to Amazon India’s chaos. Myntra introduces Glamstream, bringing shoppable streaming to India. India's Swiggy reports wider quarterly loss on marketing cost spike. Toys marketplace Snooplay raises $913K for recommerce.

Latin America

TikTok Shop to launch in Mexico this month, Mexico to Hike Import Tax on Low-Value Packages to 33.5%, Amazon Mexico’s Prime Day Hits Record MX$1.6 Billion in savings. Amazon invested more than R$55 billion in Brazil in a decade. Mercado Pago subsidiary makes debt tap from new notes programme. Brazilian small businesses break into Southeast Asia via Shopee. Shopee expands logistics network in Rio de Janeiro with three new hubs [in Portuguese]

Middle East

GMG, Amazon partner to transform online shopping for MENA customers. JD Property Expands into Middle East with Abu Dhabi Airport Project. Food delivery service Calo scores $39M in Series B extension as it sets eyes on the UK.

South East Asia and Australia

POP MART Partners with Lazada, Twinkle Twinkle Charms Runners Across Southeast Asian. As furniture buyers turn to Shopee and Taobao, local brands struggle to compete. Carousell Group 2024 results: Revenue edges up, net loss narrows. Blibli H1 revenue rises 22% to $592.6m. Bukalapak's revenue grows 12% quarter-on-quarter in 2Q. Grab turns a profit as ride-hailing, food delivery returns beat forecasts.

Novaluxia has launched in the Philippines. Sellers exit en masse from Vietnam’s e-commerce platforms in early 2025.

TikTok Shop narrows gap with Shopee in Vietnam. Gumtree Australia adds PayPal Pay in 4 for flexible payments. eBay partners with Mamamia to turn fashion influence into impact via iProspect Temu and Shein ‘flooding’ Australia with advertising dollars. Team Global Express & TEMU deliver 1 million parcels nationwide.

eBay unveils new checkout solution for vehicle transactions..Etsy beats quarterly revenue estimates on strong demand. Faire surpasses 100K members.

US end of parcel tax relief threatens eBay, Etsy trade. Trump revokes de minimis privilege for global e-commerce imports. Amazon makes bad seller reviews worse. Former Amazon staff raise questions about verification of online sellers. Spreetail introduces new pricing engine “Price Pulse” to gain a competitive advantage.

Farmers Business Network raises $50M to expand AI and digital upgrades.

Luxury Commerce

Tariffs: Luxury manufacturers worry about their profits. - Le Monde

The global market for perfumes and handbags faces mounting challenges, as European exports to the US will be subject to a 15% tariff starting August 1. The increase in taxes could affect subcontractors.

Zegna Group sells shares in $126M deal. Ferragamo launches action plan after H1 loss. Overstock eyes luxury expansion with Rolex, Patek Philippe. Hermès CEO says the booming Birkin resale market prevents the luxury brand from serving its ‘real customers’: ‘It doesn’t make me feel in a good mood’. L’Oréal Q2 sales rise as China rebound offsets slowdown in Europe.

Fashion and Beauty e-commerce

Thingtesting has been acquired by ShopMy. ShopMy launches a shopping platform.

TikTok reveals biggest shopping trends driving growth in fashion. Tariffs push fashion brands to rethink merchandising strategy.

P.Louise declares 'the future of retail is here' as it unveils first-ever store.

Madden CEO details wholesale issues and talks dress shoe momentum. Steve Madden revenue up in Q2, thanks to its latest acquisition. Shein’s revenue rises to $10 billion in first quarter, before Trump tariffs.

AI-Generated content raises concerns over authenticity of Amazon Beauty reviews,

German fashion brand Saint Sass secures €4.2M in funding. Viral brand Quince raises $200M, hits $4.5 billion valuation. ZozoUsed launches clothing trade-in service. LTK announces new LTK App features, expanding its role as a social platform for creator-led communities.

Global-e acquires ReturnGo. to enhance post-purchase experience. Handled Commerce acquires Hook Logistics to enhance 3PL fulfillment solutions. Veho, GLS US launches parcel delivery services in new markets. Ordoro and Zappy partner to expand innovative shipping solutions for eCommerce merchants

Shift ordered to pay £1.5m in Yodel ownership dispute.

AIR Secures $23M in Series A funding to Accelerate U.S. Expansion. Nevoya raises $9.3M to scale AI-driven zero-emissions freight network. Cameroonian logistics startup Swyft secures pre-seed funding. Less than 2 years after Flexport bought Convoy’s tech stack, it’s being sold to DAT

Consumer

Lenskart plans to file $1 billion IPO this week: Report. DoorDash expands grocery access with 6 local retailer. VEGPRENEUR Teams Up with SHOPLINE to Launch Accelerator Program for Scaling Plant-Based Brands. Laithwaites and DRINKS Partner to Expand Wine Distribution Online. How can Luckin Coffee launch 119 new drinks in a year

Apple introduces Shop with a Specialist over Video in India..Toyota launches e-commerce platform in SA.

NFLPA Spotlights Rising Stars Set to Become Retail Leaders - is this for forecasting inventory or what? Google Chrome adds AI-powered store summaries to help US shoppers.

Coles issues apology after technical error leads to online shoppers being charged twice. Walmart reaches a settlement with food waste tech company.

Fabrica Kraft secures second round of debt funding. Xcel Brands announces pricing of $2.6M public offering. RNDC and Provi finalize settlement, enter national agreement to enhance retailer connectivity. Fitch withdraws Fanatics' ratings. Walmart signs multi-year partnership with Major League Soccer and Leagues Cup.

Payments

Boku Deepens LATAM Commitment, Readies Merchants for Brazil’s Digital Payments Revolution via Pix. EFCC Uncovers Large-Scale Fraud Scheme Involving Stolen Data and Fintech Companies in Nigeria. Lidya's CEO and CTO exit while customers struggle to retrieve funds.

Refundy secures seed funding round.

Stats and Other Interesting News

Only 20-25% of India's 850M internet users shop online. Online fashion sales decreased 7% in Switzerland. Despite erratic summer weather, Irish shoppers spend an additional €57M on groceries. Korea’s retail industry grows 7.8% in H1 2025.

The content here is for informational purposes only and should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice. It does NOT constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase any investment or a recommendation to buy or sell a security. The content is not directed to any investor or potential investor and may not be used to evaluate or make any investment.

This was edition number 323, sent on 3 August 2025.

Hendrik Laubscher

Around The World In Commerce No. 323

Around The World in Marketplaces

Luxury Commerce

Fashion and Beauty e-commerce

AI and Commerce

Advertising

Logistics is sponsored by Third Person - a new way for brands to discover 3PLs

Consumer

Payments

Stats and Other Interesting News

Around The World In Commerce No. 325

Around The World In Commerce No. 324

Around The World In Commerce No. 322