Episode Summary:

In this episode of eCommerce Deep Dive, Nathan Hogle, Senior Director of Client Data and Resource Management, covers Amazon news and trends for the month of May 2022.

Amazon’s first brick and mortar apparel store 

Amazon Style attempts to blend Amazon’s online and offline shopping experience – giving shoppers the option to order online and pick up in-store, make easy returns, and access in-store purchases in the Amazon app. Equipped with innovative technology, shoppers can use their Amazon shopping app to:

• Set up fittings
• Be notified when fittings are available
• Get additional sizes and colors while fitting
• Pay using a variety of simple and fast payment options. 

Alexa cashback

Alexa Shopping List Savings allows shoppers to collect coupons in the Alexa app for items in their shopping list, the savings are then added up and returned back to the customer in the form of an Amazon gift card within a few days of purchase.  Once shoppers have made their trip to the store, they can then upload their receipt and scan the barcodes of eligible items to the Alexa app to obtain their rebate. 

Transparency codes 

Brands can receive one year of free Transparency codes for every new product enrolled in Transparency through December 31, 2022. At a typical standard rate of $.01 to $.05 per code, the brand savings could be significant for those looking to take advantage, and use this opportunity to onboard the program and its benefits into their eCommerce operations.

Prep chargeback rates 

Amazon’s preparation chargeback rates are changing to reflect the current cost of preparation to ensure that all products are safe for customers and are sent to Amazon in a timely, safe, and receivable manner. New rates went into effect on June 1, and a full list of the updates can be found in the Chargeback help section of Vendor Central. 

unBoxed 2022 

Amazon’s annual advertising conference, unBoxed, is now open for registration. Being held in NYC in October, unBoxed offers advertisers new solutions and innovations to help brands of all sizes connect with customers, grow their brand, and prepare their paid media strategies for the future.

Interactive audio ads

Interactive Audio Ads was rolled out to DSP managed brands on Amazon. When listeners hear an interactive audio advertisement while listening to Amazon Music on an Alexa-enabled device, they can reply to the Alexa call-to-action by voice (without disrupting their streaming content) to take actions such as:

• Adding an item to their cart
• Requesting more info via email
• Setting a reminder 

This is a streamlined version of a previously existing technology that allowed for interaction with the ad, however, now the listener will have a more natural way to engage with their device to perform further product research or to purchase the item outright.

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