Trendwatch Retail & Ecommerce: June 19, 2020

MIT Technology Review: How Lockdown Is Changing Shopping for Good

Big online stores are based around vast automated warehouses. Smaller and cheaper versions of this tech will be key if smaller stores are to survive through a series of lockdowns.

Venturebeat: Google Now Lets Merchants Accept Bookings for Online Services

Merchants will soon be able to indicate whether they are offering online equivalents of their usual services.

Venturebeat: Shopify Announced a Slew of Finance, Shipping, and Retail Updates

The company unveiled a business account and debit card called Shopify Balance, a “Buy Now, Pay Later” option called Shop Pay Installments, and a new Local Delivery product. Shopify also announced its AI-powered fulfillment network is now actively accepting merchant applications.     

Retail Dive: Walmart Joins Long Line of Retailers Partnering With Resale Site ThredUp

Apparel and footwear deemed "new" or "like new," and accessories and handbags deemed "gently used" have been selected by ThredUp for sale through Walmart's site        

Food Dive: Consumers and Manufacturers Rethink DTC's Promise as Pandemic Alters Shopping Habits

PepsiCo, Mondelez and Unilever are among the companies that have deployed direct-to-consumer shipping, which offers convenience for shoppers but complicated logistics.