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11.21.2023
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onshopify:
11

A weekly bulletin detailing the latest news and updates from Shopify.

11.21.2023
read
onshopify logo
11

A weekly bulletin detailing the latest news and updates from Shopify.

Hi from the Toms,

If you've snuck a moment to skim through our newsletter amidst the BFCM madness, well done for finding a brief sanctuary. 

Alongside a last-minute checklist, we’ve got the usual dose of industry news, brand highlights, and partner updates. It's all eCommerce related, so no guilt necessary – allow yourself a productive pause 🙏

If you’ve got last-minute queries or concerns ahead of the big weekend, get in touch with our team of Shopify experts at hello@superco.io  

See you all soon,

Tom & Tom

Your last-minute BFCM checklist 📝

Time is of the essence, here’s a quick sanity check to ensure you're not missing anything that could have a huge impact on numbers…

Website Performance and Stability

At this stage, rather than making any major changes that could result in a last minute panic, focus on maintaining stability. Ensure your hosting can handle increased traffic and double-check that all recent updates are stable.

Advanced Analytics and Segmentation

Use customer segmentation to personalise and target your marketing efforts. Have you considered using predictive analytics to forecast demand? Have you optimised your inventory accordingly? 👀

Mobile Optimisation

Ensure your current mobile experience is as smooth as possible. Verify that your site is responsive, pages load quickly, and key features like search and checkout are easily accessible. Encourage mobile users with clear CTAs and triple check that your payment gateway is mobile-friendly!

Streamlined Checkout

Simplify the checkout process to reduce cart abandonment. Consider enabling guest checkout and multiple payment options if this isn’t standard. 

Omnichannel Strategy

Ensure a consistent experience across all channels. Integrate your online and offline marketing efforts for a unified brand message. Leverage social commerce capabilities, like shoppable Instagram posts, to drive traffic.

Customer Support

Be prepared for an increase in customer inquiries. Consider extended support hours or chatbots for efficiency.

Post-BFCM

Plan follow-up campaigns to keep the momentum going and encourage lifetime value. 

What Went Down at OpenAI 👀

If you're anything like us, you've always got an eye on AI developments, but we’d bet your focus has been elsewhere over the past week. You may have missed a few events and surprising headlines, so here’s a summary: 

Nov 6 - Positive Start

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, shone at the company’s first-ever DevDay, announcing new features and pricing. All seemed well at the forefront of AI innovation.

Nov 16 - A Sudden Shift

Altman received an unexpected message from Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI’s chief scientist, leading to a Google Meet the next day where he was abruptly fired. The reason? Issues of transparency with the board.

Immediate Aftermath

Mira Murati took over as interim CEO, a role that was short-lived. Greg Brockman, co-founder, also announced his departure from the board.

Staff and Investor Reaction

Altman's dismissal caused unrest among staff, with some threatening to resign. Investors, including those from Microsoft, were taken aback by the sudden change.

Negotiations and New Leadership

Altman was seen at OpenAI's headquarters with a visitor's badge, amid rumours of his potential return. However, negotiations fell through, and Emmett Shear of Twitch fame was named the new interim CEO.

A New Chapter at Microsoft

In a final twist, Microsoft hired Altman, Brockman, and several key OpenAI personnel to lead a new advanced AI research team.

So in other words, things have changed quickly! For those of us in the digital space, it's a signal to remain adaptable and prepare for the unexpected — you just can’t predict what’s going to happen in the world of tech. 

Stuff we’re talking about

The world's first AI Pin is now a reality, and although expectations have been mixed, there's no doubt that it's sparked a healthy curiosity — is the future really this creepy? 🤖

Are checkout pages overcomplicating tipping? Are they being built to trick consumers? 'Tipflation' sounds great for hospitality workers but not so great for brands trying to maintain a consistent and positive omnichannel experience. 

Musk's chatbot Grok is raising eyebrows with vulgar language. We're not sure why anyone's surprised given its creator's unfiltered approach to everything.  

Shoppers can now buy Amazon products without leaving social apps. A deal with Snapchat follows a recent partnership with Meta, both feel like a response to rival platform TikTok's current popularity with consumers looking for trending products. 

AI-generated deepfake livestreamers are now a fixture in China's eCommerce, replacing human hosts with cost-effective, 24/7 virtual influencers. A bold, yet slightly unnerving step into the future of digital marketing 😅

Google has launched a shopping deals hub ahead of the promotional period. Great news for shoppers that like the perfect mix of convenience and savings. It's also a win for brands that are out-doing their competitors on price this BFCM.

Gen Z will be the ones to spend the most money this festive season, according to Harley Finkelstein. If that's the case and your products might appeal, we recommend taking a look at your current marketing efforts and making sure your messaging meets their...vibe check? 🤷‍♀️

Brands we’re watching 👀

💎John Hardy’s website exudes luxury. The homepage is clean and content-focused, the navigation is intuitive, and the copy uses storytelling to evoke a sense of artistry and craftsmanship.

🇲🇽Paquera captures the essence of Mexican culture with vibrant colours, playful illustrations and bold typography. It all comes together in a lively user journey that you’ll struggle not to enjoy. 

👦Boys Lie is fast growing in the US, and as winter hits over here, we’re not complaining that tracksuits and trainers are back in. The customer experience is edgy with attitude — a Gen Z dream. 

📷Tom Harrison is a shining example of how less is more. The use of whitespace enhances the experience, allowing the photography to shine — we couldn’t stop scrolling. 

Partner updates (BFCM special)

Klaviyo is hosting open office hours for brands in search of last-minute BFCM answers — book your session here

Shopify advises brands to assemble a Black Friday toolkit with this list of helpful apps

Loyalty Lion reminds brands not to forget about their retention efforts when making BFCM plans. Check out their ultimate checklist here.

Rebuy insists that the law of eCommerce is “always be testing” and we don’t disagree. Here’s their guide on how to A/B test well

Meet the Partner 🤝

Senior Marketing Manager - Penny Black

A bit about you

I’ve been bouncing around the world of ecommerce for around 5 years, working for tech platforms with a focus on the post-purchase journey and building retention. I was raised by retailer parents, so the value of really knowing your customers to build loyalty was drilled into me from day dot! Today, I head up marketing at Penny Black – the technology that allows brands to bring digital marketing to print for the first time. 

I’m also a cat person, love a cheeky G&T, and spend way too much time on TikTok.

Tell us about your tech

Penny Black enables brands to deliver targeted marketing as soon as customers open their orders with hyper-personalised inserts. This builds customer loyalty, leading to an 11% increase in repeat purchases. We partner with various DTC brands like SURI, Bird & Blend Tea Co, and Dr. Sam’s Skincare, transforming their unboxing moments into a powerful marketing channel.

What work are you proud of?

Crafting Penny Black's market messaging and helping brands discover the hidden potential in their unboxing experiences. I enjoy surprising people with how simple it is to get started, and that prints can be as targeted and dynamic as email marketing – quite the revelation!

What can you offer our readers?

As a subscriber of the Superco newsletter, we can offer you 30% off the Penny Black platform for the first month! Just claim the offer here – it won’t be around forever!

Or, if you want to chat more about Penny Black, book a time to speak to their team here 🤝

🤝Got a mate or colleague that might be interested in what we have to say? Please share On Brand with them or forward on this link.

11.21.2023
read
on brand logo
11

Feeling BFCM prepared? Here’s the ultimate checklist…

s for superco logo
11.21.2023
read
onbrand:
11

A weekly bulletin detailing the latest news and updates from Shopify.

Hi from the Toms,

If you've snuck a moment to skim through our newsletter amidst the BFCM madness, well done for finding a brief sanctuary. 

Alongside a last-minute checklist, we’ve got the usual dose of industry news, brand highlights, and partner updates. It's all eCommerce related, so no guilt necessary – allow yourself a productive pause 🙏

If you’ve got last-minute queries or concerns ahead of the big weekend, get in touch with our team of Shopify experts at hello@superco.io  

See you all soon,

Tom & Tom

Your last-minute BFCM checklist 📝

Time is of the essence, here’s a quick sanity check to ensure you're not missing anything that could have a huge impact on numbers…

Website Performance and Stability

At this stage, rather than making any major changes that could result in a last minute panic, focus on maintaining stability. Ensure your hosting can handle increased traffic and double-check that all recent updates are stable.

Advanced Analytics and Segmentation

Use customer segmentation to personalise and target your marketing efforts. Have you considered using predictive analytics to forecast demand? Have you optimised your inventory accordingly? 👀

Mobile Optimisation

Ensure your current mobile experience is as smooth as possible. Verify that your site is responsive, pages load quickly, and key features like search and checkout are easily accessible. Encourage mobile users with clear CTAs and triple check that your payment gateway is mobile-friendly!

Streamlined Checkout

Simplify the checkout process to reduce cart abandonment. Consider enabling guest checkout and multiple payment options if this isn’t standard. 

Omnichannel Strategy

Ensure a consistent experience across all channels. Integrate your online and offline marketing efforts for a unified brand message. Leverage social commerce capabilities, like shoppable Instagram posts, to drive traffic.

Customer Support

Be prepared for an increase in customer inquiries. Consider extended support hours or chatbots for efficiency.

Post-BFCM

Plan follow-up campaigns to keep the momentum going and encourage lifetime value. 

What Went Down at OpenAI 👀

If you're anything like us, you've always got an eye on AI developments, but we’d bet your focus has been elsewhere over the past week. You may have missed a few events and surprising headlines, so here’s a summary: 

Nov 6 - Positive Start

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, shone at the company’s first-ever DevDay, announcing new features and pricing. All seemed well at the forefront of AI innovation.

Nov 16 - A Sudden Shift

Altman received an unexpected message from Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI’s chief scientist, leading to a Google Meet the next day where he was abruptly fired. The reason? Issues of transparency with the board.

Immediate Aftermath

Mira Murati took over as interim CEO, a role that was short-lived. Greg Brockman, co-founder, also announced his departure from the board.

Staff and Investor Reaction

Altman's dismissal caused unrest among staff, with some threatening to resign. Investors, including those from Microsoft, were taken aback by the sudden change.

Negotiations and New Leadership

Altman was seen at OpenAI's headquarters with a visitor's badge, amid rumours of his potential return. However, negotiations fell through, and Emmett Shear of Twitch fame was named the new interim CEO.

A New Chapter at Microsoft

In a final twist, Microsoft hired Altman, Brockman, and several key OpenAI personnel to lead a new advanced AI research team.

So in other words, things have changed quickly! For those of us in the digital space, it's a signal to remain adaptable and prepare for the unexpected — you just can’t predict what’s going to happen in the world of tech. 

Stuff we’re talking about

The world's first AI Pin is now a reality, and although expectations have been mixed, there's no doubt that it's sparked a healthy curiosity — is the future really this creepy? 🤖

Are checkout pages overcomplicating tipping? Are they being built to trick consumers? 'Tipflation' sounds great for hospitality workers but not so great for brands trying to maintain a consistent and positive omnichannel experience. 

Musk's chatbot Grok is raising eyebrows with vulgar language. We're not sure why anyone's surprised given its creator's unfiltered approach to everything.  

Shoppers can now buy Amazon products without leaving social apps. A deal with Snapchat follows a recent partnership with Meta, both feel like a response to rival platform TikTok's current popularity with consumers looking for trending products. 

AI-generated deepfake livestreamers are now a fixture in China's eCommerce, replacing human hosts with cost-effective, 24/7 virtual influencers. A bold, yet slightly unnerving step into the future of digital marketing 😅

Google has launched a shopping deals hub ahead of the promotional period. Great news for shoppers that like the perfect mix of convenience and savings. It's also a win for brands that are out-doing their competitors on price this BFCM.

Gen Z will be the ones to spend the most money this festive season, according to Harley Finkelstein. If that's the case and your products might appeal, we recommend taking a look at your current marketing efforts and making sure your messaging meets their...vibe check? 🤷‍♀️

Brands we’re watching 👀

💎John Hardy’s website exudes luxury. The homepage is clean and content-focused, the navigation is intuitive, and the copy uses storytelling to evoke a sense of artistry and craftsmanship.

🇲🇽Paquera captures the essence of Mexican culture with vibrant colours, playful illustrations and bold typography. It all comes together in a lively user journey that you’ll struggle not to enjoy. 

👦Boys Lie is fast growing in the US, and as winter hits over here, we’re not complaining that tracksuits and trainers are back in. The customer experience is edgy with attitude — a Gen Z dream. 

📷Tom Harrison is a shining example of how less is more. The use of whitespace enhances the experience, allowing the photography to shine — we couldn’t stop scrolling. 

Partner updates (BFCM special)

Klaviyo is hosting open office hours for brands in search of last-minute BFCM answers — book your session here

Shopify advises brands to assemble a Black Friday toolkit with this list of helpful apps

Loyalty Lion reminds brands not to forget about their retention efforts when making BFCM plans. Check out their ultimate checklist here.

Rebuy insists that the law of eCommerce is “always be testing” and we don’t disagree. Here’s their guide on how to A/B test well

Meet the Partner 🤝

Senior Marketing Manager - Penny Black

A bit about you

I’ve been bouncing around the world of ecommerce for around 5 years, working for tech platforms with a focus on the post-purchase journey and building retention. I was raised by retailer parents, so the value of really knowing your customers to build loyalty was drilled into me from day dot! Today, I head up marketing at Penny Black – the technology that allows brands to bring digital marketing to print for the first time. 

I’m also a cat person, love a cheeky G&T, and spend way too much time on TikTok.

Tell us about your tech

Penny Black enables brands to deliver targeted marketing as soon as customers open their orders with hyper-personalised inserts. This builds customer loyalty, leading to an 11% increase in repeat purchases. We partner with various DTC brands like SURI, Bird & Blend Tea Co, and Dr. Sam’s Skincare, transforming their unboxing moments into a powerful marketing channel.

What work are you proud of?

Crafting Penny Black's market messaging and helping brands discover the hidden potential in their unboxing experiences. I enjoy surprising people with how simple it is to get started, and that prints can be as targeted and dynamic as email marketing – quite the revelation!

What can you offer our readers?

As a subscriber of the Superco newsletter, we can offer you 30% off the Penny Black platform for the first month! Just claim the offer here – it won’t be around forever!

Or, if you want to chat more about Penny Black, book a time to speak to their team here 🤝

🤝Got a mate or colleague that might be interested in what we have to say? Please share On Brand with them or forward on this link.

s for superco logo
11.21.2023
read
11

On Brand #11

Feeling BFCM prepared? Here’s the ultimate checklist…

Hi from the Toms,

If you've snuck a moment to skim through our newsletter amidst the BFCM madness, well done for finding a brief sanctuary. 

Alongside a last-minute checklist, we’ve got the usual dose of industry news, brand highlights, and partner updates. It's all eCommerce related, so no guilt necessary – allow yourself a productive pause 🙏

If you’ve got last-minute queries or concerns ahead of the big weekend, get in touch with our team of Shopify experts at hello@superco.io  

See you all soon,

Tom & Tom

Your last-minute BFCM checklist 📝

Time is of the essence, here’s a quick sanity check to ensure you're not missing anything that could have a huge impact on numbers…

Website Performance and Stability

At this stage, rather than making any major changes that could result in a last minute panic, focus on maintaining stability. Ensure your hosting can handle increased traffic and double-check that all recent updates are stable.

Advanced Analytics and Segmentation

Use customer segmentation to personalise and target your marketing efforts. Have you considered using predictive analytics to forecast demand? Have you optimised your inventory accordingly? 👀

Mobile Optimisation

Ensure your current mobile experience is as smooth as possible. Verify that your site is responsive, pages load quickly, and key features like search and checkout are easily accessible. Encourage mobile users with clear CTAs and triple check that your payment gateway is mobile-friendly!

Streamlined Checkout

Simplify the checkout process to reduce cart abandonment. Consider enabling guest checkout and multiple payment options if this isn’t standard. 

Omnichannel Strategy

Ensure a consistent experience across all channels. Integrate your online and offline marketing efforts for a unified brand message. Leverage social commerce capabilities, like shoppable Instagram posts, to drive traffic.

Customer Support

Be prepared for an increase in customer inquiries. Consider extended support hours or chatbots for efficiency.

Post-BFCM

Plan follow-up campaigns to keep the momentum going and encourage lifetime value. 

What Went Down at OpenAI 👀

If you're anything like us, you've always got an eye on AI developments, but we’d bet your focus has been elsewhere over the past week. You may have missed a few events and surprising headlines, so here’s a summary: 

Nov 6 - Positive Start

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, shone at the company’s first-ever DevDay, announcing new features and pricing. All seemed well at the forefront of AI innovation.

Nov 16 - A Sudden Shift

Altman received an unexpected message from Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI’s chief scientist, leading to a Google Meet the next day where he was abruptly fired. The reason? Issues of transparency with the board.

Immediate Aftermath

Mira Murati took over as interim CEO, a role that was short-lived. Greg Brockman, co-founder, also announced his departure from the board.

Staff and Investor Reaction

Altman's dismissal caused unrest among staff, with some threatening to resign. Investors, including those from Microsoft, were taken aback by the sudden change.

Negotiations and New Leadership

Altman was seen at OpenAI's headquarters with a visitor's badge, amid rumours of his potential return. However, negotiations fell through, and Emmett Shear of Twitch fame was named the new interim CEO.

A New Chapter at Microsoft

In a final twist, Microsoft hired Altman, Brockman, and several key OpenAI personnel to lead a new advanced AI research team.

So in other words, things have changed quickly! For those of us in the digital space, it's a signal to remain adaptable and prepare for the unexpected — you just can’t predict what’s going to happen in the world of tech. 

Stuff we’re talking about

The world's first AI Pin is now a reality, and although expectations have been mixed, there's no doubt that it's sparked a healthy curiosity — is the future really this creepy? 🤖

Are checkout pages overcomplicating tipping? Are they being built to trick consumers? 'Tipflation' sounds great for hospitality workers but not so great for brands trying to maintain a consistent and positive omnichannel experience. 

Musk's chatbot Grok is raising eyebrows with vulgar language. We're not sure why anyone's surprised given its creator's unfiltered approach to everything.  

Shoppers can now buy Amazon products without leaving social apps. A deal with Snapchat follows a recent partnership with Meta, both feel like a response to rival platform TikTok's current popularity with consumers looking for trending products. 

AI-generated deepfake livestreamers are now a fixture in China's eCommerce, replacing human hosts with cost-effective, 24/7 virtual influencers. A bold, yet slightly unnerving step into the future of digital marketing 😅

Google has launched a shopping deals hub ahead of the promotional period. Great news for shoppers that like the perfect mix of convenience and savings. It's also a win for brands that are out-doing their competitors on price this BFCM.

Gen Z will be the ones to spend the most money this festive season, according to Harley Finkelstein. If that's the case and your products might appeal, we recommend taking a look at your current marketing efforts and making sure your messaging meets their...vibe check? 🤷‍♀️

Brands we’re watching 👀

💎John Hardy’s website exudes luxury. The homepage is clean and content-focused, the navigation is intuitive, and the copy uses storytelling to evoke a sense of artistry and craftsmanship.

🇲🇽Paquera captures the essence of Mexican culture with vibrant colours, playful illustrations and bold typography. It all comes together in a lively user journey that you’ll struggle not to enjoy. 

👦Boys Lie is fast growing in the US, and as winter hits over here, we’re not complaining that tracksuits and trainers are back in. The customer experience is edgy with attitude — a Gen Z dream. 

📷Tom Harrison is a shining example of how less is more. The use of whitespace enhances the experience, allowing the photography to shine — we couldn’t stop scrolling. 

Partner updates (BFCM special)

Klaviyo is hosting open office hours for brands in search of last-minute BFCM answers — book your session here

Shopify advises brands to assemble a Black Friday toolkit with this list of helpful apps

Loyalty Lion reminds brands not to forget about their retention efforts when making BFCM plans. Check out their ultimate checklist here.

Rebuy insists that the law of eCommerce is “always be testing” and we don’t disagree. Here’s their guide on how to A/B test well

Meet the Partner 🤝

Senior Marketing Manager - Penny Black

A bit about you

I’ve been bouncing around the world of ecommerce for around 5 years, working for tech platforms with a focus on the post-purchase journey and building retention. I was raised by retailer parents, so the value of really knowing your customers to build loyalty was drilled into me from day dot! Today, I head up marketing at Penny Black – the technology that allows brands to bring digital marketing to print for the first time. 

I’m also a cat person, love a cheeky G&T, and spend way too much time on TikTok.

Tell us about your tech

Penny Black enables brands to deliver targeted marketing as soon as customers open their orders with hyper-personalised inserts. This builds customer loyalty, leading to an 11% increase in repeat purchases. We partner with various DTC brands like SURI, Bird & Blend Tea Co, and Dr. Sam’s Skincare, transforming their unboxing moments into a powerful marketing channel.

What work are you proud of?

Crafting Penny Black's market messaging and helping brands discover the hidden potential in their unboxing experiences. I enjoy surprising people with how simple it is to get started, and that prints can be as targeted and dynamic as email marketing – quite the revelation!

What can you offer our readers?

As a subscriber of the Superco newsletter, we can offer you 30% off the Penny Black platform for the first month! Just claim the offer here – it won’t be around forever!

Or, if you want to chat more about Penny Black, book a time to speak to their team here 🤝

🤝Got a mate or colleague that might be interested in what we have to say? Please share On Brand with them or forward on this link.

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