Welcome to this week’s round-up where we take a look at Amazon’s biggest shopping day ever, Amazon Pay being introduced at physical brick-and-mortar stores, eBay’s trademark ruling and more!
Is Amazon readying to pounce post Brexit?
According to the Food and Drink Federation all available frozen and chilled storage space, which could be used to stockpile food in the event of a no-deal Brexit, has been taken. An inquiry by MPs has been told that the available space has been picked off by Amazon, with Food and Drink Federation chief executive Ian Wright stating: “what we don’t know is whether there is actual product in those places.” If true, this would signal a huge sign of intent from Amazon about pushing its food and drink offerings. Limited storage space for frozen and chilled goods could inevitably lead to higher storage costs which in turn would likely result in higher prices for consumers, however, this could be what Amazon is planning for. It could give Amazon a significant advantage if it can keep its own costs down and pass savings on to the consumer.
Amazon says it had its biggest shopping day ever on Cyber Monday
This year’s Cyber Monday has proved to be the biggest shopping day ever for Amazon in terms of the number of units sold. Amazon is remaining tight-lipped on exact figures on units and sales, only stating that it had had its biggest shopping day ever. Amazon has said that over the Black Friday weekend (from Thanksgiving on the Thursday to Cyber Monday) more than 180 million units were ordered by customers. We won’t know exact figures for the fourth quarter until Amazon reports earnings in the new year, but in its third-quarter earnings report, it estimated revenue for the holiday season to range from $66.5 billion to $72.5 billion.
Amazon also stated that small and medium-sized businesses ‘grew sales over 20 percent on Black Friday year-over-year’ but once again didn’t release any specific figures to quantify the claim.
Alexa can tell you when the last post is this Christmas!
Customers will be able to ask Alexa when the last posting dates are for Christmas for the first time ever. It is hoped that the Royal Mail last posting dates Alexa skill will help to encourage more people to post by the correct date, which in turn will help postmen and women during the inevitably busy Christmas period. The skill will provide info for last posting dates anywhere in the world, including to armed forces overseas via the British Forces Post Office, helping to ensure that cards and presents are delivered in time for Christmas. Ben Rhodes, Director of Group Marketing at Royal Mail has said: “We are always looking for new and innovative ways to remind people of the last posting dates to every destination in the world and for the UK’s own last posting dates, Alexa fitted the bill.”
Amazon Pay being introduced to physical brick-and-mortar stores
It has been announced in the US that Amazon Pay is going to introduce its digital wallet payments at petrol stations, restaurants and brick-and-mortar stores. The e-commerce giant is currently working to persuade merchants to accept its digital wallet, which if successful would expand the service which is currently primarily used for online purchases. It is reported that Amazon Pay will be introduced in physical places which won’t present competition to their offering. What remains unclear is whether shoppers will be able to simply tap a contactless terminal (i.e. Apple Pay) or whether it would utilise a scan-as-you-go format.
eBay lose trademark case against UKBAY
eBay has lost a trademark case against UKBAY and has also been ordered to pay costs as a result. eBay had contested SC ZuMedia Games’ application to register UKBAY under its own EU trademark numbers (for EBAY and BAY). The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) riled against eBay on the basis that there were stylistic differences, a circular pattern and also the UK element. In its findings the IPO stated: “the contested mark is unlikely to be mistaken for the earlier sign and there is no likelihood that a “substantial number” of the opponent’s customers or potential customers will be deceived, even where the field of activity is the same. Consequently, use of the contested mark would not constitute a misrepresentation to the public.’
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