TikTok Sues U.S Gov, Walmart & Roblox eCom Collab?

Hey there 👋

Hope you're having an amazing day! A lot has happened in the past month, and it’s about time we give you a recap.

Let's dive into May's key highlights and insights:

Google Marketing Live 2024 - What's New & Exciting 🚀

BigCommerce Explores Sale & Squarespace Goes Private 🤐

TikTok Sues The U.S. Government ⚖️

Walmart and Roblox Join Forces for E-Commerce 🛍️

Stanley Expands into Trendier Accessories 🥤

New Buy Now, Pay Later Regulations in the U.S. 📝

1. 🔥 Google Marketing Live 2024

Google Marketing Live 2024 wowed with AI innovations that promise to change the game in digital marketing, here are the top changes:

1️⃣ Performance Max campaigns now have AI-generated ad components, new features include automated creation of headlines, descriptions, and images based on your product feeds.

2️⃣ Immersive shopping ads and 3D product views make online shopping more engaging by allowing users to interact with products in a lifelike manner.

The virtual try-on feature lets you see how clothes look on you without ever leaving your couch 👀

3️⃣ YouTube Shopping now integrates with Shopify, making it easier to buy directly from videos, this allows creators to tag products in their videos, which makes shopping seamless for viewers.

4️⃣ Google’s Demand Gen campaigns now support lookalike audiences from as few as 100 users, making targeted advertising more accessible for smaller businesses & creators.

I won’t be surprised if I buy stuff on impulse while scrolling shorts before even getting out of bed 😂

2. 🤐 BigCommerce Explores Sale & Squarespace Goes Private

BigCommerce is exploring strategic alternatives, including a potential sale to maximize shareholder value — this move could attract interest from larger e-commerce platforms or private equity firms looking to expand their portfolios.

Meanwhile, Squarespace is planning to go private, focusing on long-term growth & operational efficiency without being in the public eye.

Looks like Squarespace is going off-grid for some self-care, while BigCommerce is looking for a committed relationship 😆

3. 🚨 TikTok is Suing the US Government

TikTok has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, challenging the app ban on constitutional grounds. The platform argues that the ban violates its rights and threatens its business operations.

This legal battle shows the ongoing regulatory challenges TikTok faces — it’s a high-stakes game where TikTok fights to keep its platform alive and thriving, while the U.S. fights for its citizen’s privacy.

It’s not looking too good for merchants & dancers 😭

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4. 🎮Walmart and Roblox Team Up For E-Commerce?

Walmart and Roblox have partnered to create immersive shopping experiences on the Roblox platform. This blue-ocean collab aims to engage younger consumers by merging shopping with interactive virtual environments.

Shoppers can explore virtual stores and snag deals without leaving their game — this is a blend of retail and gaming nobody’s ever seen before!

Very soon, even your kids will impulse buying real-life items while playing games. This honestly warrants better parental control & monitoring 🚸

5. 🥤 Stanley Expands into Trendier Accessories

Stanley is launching the All-Day Collection, which includes a mini cooler, backpack cooler, and Quencher Carry-All. Stanley's sales are projected to hit $750M this year, up from $73M in 2019, driven by its TikTok popularity.

Now we’ll be seeing every other woman with a Stanley slinging over their hip, matching colors with their outfit 😂

If you want to see how Stanley took advantage of hot young Mormon wives & moms to blow up on TikTok, check out our post here:

6. ⚠ Regulation Finally Comes to BNPL in the US

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services are now facing new regulations in the U.S. to protect consumers. The new rules ensure stricter disclosure requirements and better oversight, helping consumers understand the terms and avoid financial pitfalls.

These regulations are a necessary step to ensure fair lending practices in the rapidly growing BNPL sector.

Finally, some much-needed clarity in the "buy now, regret later" world.

Stat of The Month

TikTok reported that over 500,000 merchants were selling to U.S. users by the end of 2023, doubling in three months. Globally, the platform had 15 million sellers in December, adding 6 million in the latter half of the year.

Next time you scroll through TikTok, remember you’re window shopping at the world’s largest virtual mall! 🛍

Post of The Month

Check out this insightful LinkedIn post on buying $30,000,000 worth of goods from China — a mini-masterclass in global trade and logistics:

🎧 ECORN Radio This Week:

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Daniil from ECORN