How Amazon Steers Shoppers to Its Own Products (The New York Times)
"It's not just lower prices that are driving Amazon's customers to its private-label goods. Amazon is utilising its knowledge of its powerful marketplace machine to steer shoppers toward its in-house brands and away from its competitors."

What the Supreme Court Decision on E-Commerce Tax Means for Retail (Retail Dive)
"The extent to which small e-commerce businesses, including third party marketplace sellers, could be hurt by the costs of compliance is one of many still unanswered questions. Currently, 31 of the 45 states with a sales tax have provisions to tax online sellers without a physical presence."

Are Chinese E-Commerce Platforms Ready for a Luxury Update? (Jing Daily)
"While some luxury brands have been slow in developing e-commerce in China due to challenges in internet protocol protection and brand prestige, the potential of the market is simply too big to ignore."

Amazon and eBay Join Effort to Combat Counterfeits (Retail Dive)
"Online marketplaces have signed a Product Safety Pledge committing to the faster removal of dangerous products from their listings, agreeing to respond to notifications by member states of the EC about dangerous products within two working days."

How Instagram Became the Natural Showcase for the Fashion World (The Independent)
"Instagram is well suited to fashion brands to whom the visual and 'community' dimensions are essential. Moreover, Instagram is unrivalled as a means to reach millennials: in 2017, 90 percent of Instagram users were under 35."

Marks & Spencer Partners With Microsoft on AI Tools (Fashion United)
"The retailer said that the two organisations would 'work together to explore how technologies such as artificial intelligence can be utilised within the retail environment to improve customer experience and optimise operations.' The move is part of Marks and Spencer's goal to become a 'Digital First' retailer."