These past few months have ushered in a lot of changes for the industry. As we dive deeper into the second half of 2020, many brands and retailers are wondering what more they can do to keep business moving in the midst of so many disruptions.
Thankfully, there are plenty of opportunities to do just that.
Since COVID-19 began to garner international attention in early March, we’ve discovered that 46% of consumers are shopping online more frequently. Which is saying a lot, since global e-commerce sales were already projected to top $4.9 trillion before the current crisis shifted buying behaviors.
Consumers are not only spending more time on Amazon and eBay, but are frequenting other marketplaces as well. An estimated 31% are purchasing items they’d never bought online before, and 34% are happy to wait longer for deliveries.
The question to ask is: How can you use these e-commerce trends to your benefit?
As you prepare to make the most of new and emerging opportunities in 2020, it’s important to keep several key dates top of mind.
2020 e-commerce events
While the usual e-commerce conference circuit looks a little different this year, many of the most important networking and learning events are still going strong. Several of them are now virtual, including:
CommerceNext Virtual Summit (July 28-29)
This online event has been designed to serve as a forum for sharing information as companies market and sell during COVID-19 and beyond. Presentations, panel discussions and virtual interviews with industry leaders will all be live-streamed.
eTail Canada Virtual Event (August 18)
The virtual version of this popular in-person event will focus on providing tips, tricks and lessons learned from the top minds in e-commerce and omnichannel.
B2B Online Virtual Event (August 26)
If you work in the manufacturing and distribution industries, this event is for you. Case studies, presentations and interactive panels are being created to provide insights and takeaways companies can use to excel in a post-COVID-19 world.
Shoptalk Meetup (Oct 20-22)
Promoted as “three months of meetings in three days,” this unique event gives brands and retailers an opportunity to participate in group conversations, 15-minute meetings and other options for connecting with peers and sharing ideas.
If you’re looking to create connections in person, several live events are currently being planned for the fall:
- E-Commerce Operations Summit (September 9-10 in Nashville, TN)
- eTail East (October 13-15 in Boston)
- B2B Online (October 29-30 in Chicago)
2020 online shopping holidays
Recent changes will no doubt have an impact on shopping holidays, too. Three that you’ll want to keep an especially close eye on during the second half of the year include:
Amazon Prime Day
One of the biggest online shopping events of the year has been delayed for 2020, which means you have plenty of time to prepare. As you wait for the official date to be announced, be sure to watch our Prime Day preparation webinar and check your readiness with the Prime Day preparation checklist.
Singles Day
If you haven’t already planned for Singles Day 2020, now’s the time. The world’s biggest online shopping holiday drove more than $38 billion in sales last year — much of which went to international brands.
National Returns Day
All brands and retailers know how important it is to prepare promotions and inventory for the busy end-of-year holiday shopping season. But are you also ready to handle an influx of returns?
Each year, millions of holiday-related packages are sent back to brands and retailers on what’s been dubbed National Returns Day. With even more purchases taking place online in 2020, there’s a good chance those numbers will inch even higher in the wake of the Cyber 5 and end-of-year shopping frenzy. Take time now to ensure you have the right processes in place, including technical and support staff as well as automated inventory updates.
Other important dates for brands and retailers
The above highlights are important, but they’re far from the only e-commerce events you’ll want to be prepared for.
If you’d like even more tips and reminders to help you stay organized throughout the second half of this year, download our latest e-commerce calendar for all the important dates you need to know from now through December.
