If the key to Amazon’s success has been to put the customer first, for Shopify the key has been to put the merchant first. In March, the business of Ox Verte, an organic catering company in Manhattan, came to a standstill.

Link: https://www-nytimes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/11/24/magazine/shopify.amp.html

Situated next to a florist and a taekwondo studio in a Portland, Oregon strip mall, Jullienne Adams’ discount store feels like a brick-n-mortar infomercial. A panda shower cap — just $1.25! A comb that turns into a knife — now only $7.68! A “YOLO” pool float — a steal at $13.45!

Link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurendebter/2020/07/30/wish-ecommerce-shipping-rate-increase-china-brick-and-mortar-stores-partnership/

Logistics developer Olof Orstadius is walking down the aisle in a warehouse. In long lines, pallet after pallet in rack after rack, stored products are waiting to be shipped to an IKEA store.

Link: https://ikea.today/how-tech-for-show-business-can-automate-ikea-warehouses/

Salesforce is making the biggest acquisition in its 21-year history, announcing on Tuesday that it’s buying chat software developer Slack for $27.7 billion. Through a combination of cash and stock, Salesforce is purchasing Slack for $26.79 a share, according to a statement.

Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/01/salesforce-buys-slack-for-27point7-billion-in-cloud-companys-largest-deal.html