The rapper caps off a prolific year with a new product launch — The last 12 months have been big for Jacques Berman Webster II, the musical artist professionally known as Travis Scott. In April, he capitalized on stay-at-home orders with a virtual Fortnite which reportedly grossed $20 million. In September, he became the first celebrity since Michael Jordan to get their own…

Vaccines get added to the already-bursting fulfillment network — Perhaps the busiest time of the year for e-commerce shopping (and shipping) just got another shipment added to the backlog. Vaccines being shipped out starting this week add more complexity to an already stressed distribution network. Shopping from home This is a historic week. The first COVID-19 vaccinations were administered on Monday and…

These products may be the perfect stocking stuffers — If you’re starting to think about the obligatory gifts you have to give to your nephew or mother-in-law, 2020 may be the perfect year to switch it up (because it’s 2020 and why not?). …

Online sites had a record Black Friday — This past weekend, the leading e-commerce platform Shopify (SHOP) announced that its merchants achieved $2.4 billion in sales on Black Friday. This was a 75 percent increase from last year. Our fast-changing world The real story of this year’s Black Friday and current holiday shopping season isn’t what Shopify’s stores did or will…

Yet another tradition looks different this year — Thanksgiving isn’t looking the same this year, as I’m sure you’ve found out: the biggest drinking day of the year — colloquially known as Blackout Wednesday — is ending at 10 P.M. for much of the country, as states like Ohio, New York, and California implement curfews; the airports are…

This week’s announcement is a good sign for other companies — On Monday, Airbnb — the home-sharing, hotel-destroying startup founded in 2008 — submitted paperwork to the Securities and Exchange Commission for its initial public offering. This news alone doesn’t indicate a rebound, but a profitable third quarter sends an encouraging signal to businesses who cater to globetrotters. The sun will rise again

The retailer is bringing a big-name brand into its stores — In an unexpected improvement, Target announced yesterday that it would be welcoming new Ulta Beauty installments in locations starting in 2021. This partnership furthers Target’s success both before and during the coronavirus pandemic. Red hot Target (TGT) is on fire. Just since the end of March its stock is up over 50…

Etsy, Faire, and Amazon Handmade bring local crafts to the world — 2020 has been a difficult year for local shops, with forced shutdowns and a drastically-declined tourism and travel industry. But the past few weeks have brought some encouraging news for the industry. Technology and policy A series of both technological advancements and changing foreign relations has impacted both how and from where American…

Retailers direct customers to e-commerce — America’s biggest shopping day is going to look a little different this year. As many states still grapple with rising cases of COVID-19, businesses are trying to reimagine the shopping experience. The challenge of balancing reopening and safety is facing its biggest challenge yet. Spreading out the deals Rather than have a weekend-long event…