#168 HTE - 'TikTok Shop gets lit as more US brands join the party' 🎉

Hey There, Readers! 

It's the weekend, so let's throw our hands up and have some fun!

But before you get too wild, take a breather and dive into the latest and greatest e-commerce trends and news with our weekend edition. How to E-commerce has some seriously excellent insights and tips to share with you.

So, whether you're lounging on the lazy boy or busting a move on the dance floor, take a sec to see what we've got cooking. Have a weekend that's out of this world!

Alright, so let’s get right to it!

💄 L'OrĂ©al Goes High-Tech: Building a Beauty Empire in the Metaverse with AI and Data-Driven Science

đŸ™ŒđŸ» Get Your Digital Marketing Game on Point with Northbeam's Ninja-Like Attribution Platform - No More Guessing, Just Winning!

đŸ•č Step Up Your Customer Service Game: Embrace the Super Spy Mindset with These 7 Tips to Delight Your Customers!

đŸ„‡ Brand Of The Week - MUD\WTR

🛒 TikTok's Shop feature gains popularity with more brands jumping on board in the US

🎁 Brand Deals Of The Week

📕 Top Reads Of The Week

⚙ Plenty Of Jobs Await You!

So, scroll down to THE VERY END & read up on what’s yet to come your way!

L'Oréal Goes High-Tech: Building a Beauty Empire in the Metaverse with AI and Data-Driven Science

Hey, hey, hey! Have you heard the latest buzz about L’OrĂ©al? They’re making waves in the digital space with their top-notch innovation game! They're on top of everything from inclusive beauty to the virtual world.

L’OrĂ©al's strategy is to dominate the global market with a “multipolar geographical” approach. They've got 38 factories worldwide, a distribution network out of this world, and e-commerce plans exploring the possibilities of D2C and B2B platforms.

The future of beauty is all about AI and tech, and L’OrĂ©al is ready to take on the challenge! They're using AI to gather large-scale consumer data to better understand skin and aging, and they're using this data to provide personalized recommendations for their customers.

But it doesn't stop there! They're also delving into emerging areas of interest like the metaverse and social commerce. L’OrĂ©al has developed the first dedicated incubator in partnership with Station F and Meta, and they've launched several TikTok campaigns. These efforts are part of the company’s plan to accelerate strategic growth drivers and target the upper half of the middle class.

L’OrĂ©al takes its digital investments seriously, forming a team of 2,000 IT and beauty experts and 800 data analysts to explore new horizons and extend digital leadership. They've even promoted Han Wen to chief digital and marketing officer for L’OrĂ©al USA to lead the company's digital transformation.

So, buckle up, e-commerce start-ups! If you want to keep up with the big dogs like L’OrĂ©al, it's time to step up your digital innovation game. The future of beauty is here, and it's all about AI, tech, and virtual experiences.

Get Your Digital Marketing Game on Point with Northbeam's Ninja-Like Attribution Platform - No More Guessing, Just Winning!

Are you tired of playing the guessing game with your digital marketing efforts? Let Northbeam be your wingman! Their universal attribution platform uses top-notch data models and machine learning to give you the ultimate edge in media buying decisions. 

Their pixel is like a secret agent, collecting data from every channel, touchpoint, and conversion. And their algorithms? Think of them as the masterminds behind creating a centralized hub of performance dashboards and data visualizations that will blow your mind. 

Northbeam's advanced machine learning models will give you the power to attribute revenue to ad spending with ninja-like accuracy, even across omnichannel customer journeys. 

With Northbeam, you'll know exactly which metrics, campaigns, and goals drive performance, so you can confidently spend and grow profitably faster. Say goodbye to the guessing game and hello to growth with Northbeam.

Step Up Your Customer Service Game: Embrace the Super Spy Mindset with These 7 Tips to Delight Your Customers!

"Yo peeps! Are you ready to rock the customer service game? Then it's time to embrace the customer focus mindset! This means putting your customers' needs front and center in every decision you make, from your products and services to your daily operations. It's all about ensuring your customers feel the love and get what they need to succeed. With a customer focus strategy, you'll deliver support that leaves your customers grinning from ear to ear. Let's do this!"

Okay, let's talk about the difference between customer focus and customer-centric.

Customer focus is all about reading your customers' minds and making sure you meet their needs and wants. It's like a secret agent trying to crack the code of what the customer wants.

But customer-centric takes it to the next level! It's like being a super spy who can see into the customer's soul and know exactly what they need before they even know themselves.

It's all about being close to your customers and giving them what they want and need, even before they know they want it. 

Ready to make your customers the star of your show? Here are 7 sure-fire ways to improve your customer focus and set yourself apart from the competition:

  1. Make your customers the center of your company culture

Get everyone in the company on the same page by putting your customers at the heart of your culture. Encourage employees to put themselves in the customer's shoes and strive for excellence in every interaction. This way, even employees who don't interact with customers directly will be motivated to create a top-notch customer experience.

  1. Train your front-line stars

Front-line employees are your business's face, so ensure they have the tools and training they need to shine. Offer training that combines customer focus and orientation; don't stop there! Give them ongoing opportunities to develop their skills and set them up for success. Your customers will thank you!

  1. Meet your customers where they are

Don't make your customers come to you. Be where they are, whether it's your website, chatbot, social media, or messaging apps. Make it easy for them to interact with you on their preferred channel.

  1. Listen to your customers

Your customers are the best source of information about their needs and preferences. Gather their feedback through surveys, reviews, forums, and customer service interactions. Don't just gather feedback; act on it! Your customers will appreciate knowing their input is valued and making a difference.

  1. Make customer data accessible

A customer-focused approach starts with the way you manage your customer data. Centralize all your customer information in one place so everyone can access the same information. This way, your employees can have a more complete understanding of your customers, provide more personalized service, and spare customers from repeating their information every time they reach out.

  1. Use technology to enhance the experience

Technology can be your best friend in improving your customer focus. Use AI chatbots to respond to typical issues, guide customers with information, or triage requests for your agents. Provide self-service tools like help centers, knowledge bases, or FAQ pages to give customers fast, convenient ways to help themselves.

  1. Measure your success

Track your progress and make sure you're meeting expectations with metrics like customer satisfaction (CSAT) and net promoter score (NPS). Use these measurements to identify areas for improvement and adjust your strategy as needed. Now go forth and make your customers smile!

Brand Of The Week - MUD\WTR

MUD\WTR is shaking things up in the coffee world with our magic mushroom drinks! Say goodbye to jitters and hello to focused energy and immunity. Our morning and evening "muds" will give you the boost you need, minus the coffee crash.

We're on a mission to break the caffeine dependency cycle, and we're not shy about it! Our product pages, blog, and FAQs are all about helping you kick the coffee habit, and our coffee detox program is here to support you every step of the way. Plus, we donate a portion of our earnings to psychedelic research. That's right; we're not afraid to take a bold stance and support a sometimes controversial topic.

And we don't forget about you after you purchase. From purchase confirmation emails to shipping updates, we ensure the journey is as memorable as the destination. So, join us on this exciting journey toward a coffee-free world!

TikTok's Shop feature gains popularity with more brands jumping on board in the US

TikTok is ready to take the shopping world by storm and has enlisted more brands to join the party! With its Shop initiative, TikTok lets companies sell their products directly within the app with a smooth checkout experience. The good news is the company has onboarded more brands for this testing phase, including PacSun, Revolve, Willow Boutique, and KimChi Chic. Shopaholics can tap the shopping bag icon on the brand's profile to view catalogs and checkout without leaving the app!

TikTok Shop is still in the testing phase since November, but we're hoping for a wider launch soon! While the app has been available in select markets outside the US for almost a year, TikTok is betting that the US market is ripe for the picking.

But wait, there's more! TikTok has also been experimenting with other shopping features. For instance, they teamed up with Instacart last March to let food creators create shoppable lists linked to recipe videos, and in June, they tested a dedicated shopping feed. In addition, they've also been trying out live shopping in different markets.

While TikTok is ramping up its e-commerce efforts, Instagram and Facebook have scaled back their own e-commerce ventures. But let's not forget that the impact of social commerce on online sales in Western markets remains relatively low. Still, the phrase "TikTok made me buy it" has become increasingly popular, and in-app shopping features could only drive more of those impulse sales. So watch out, world - TikTok's shopping revolution is just starting!

Top Reads Of The Week

IN NEED OF A JOB?  WE'VE GOT PLENTY AWAITING YOU!

E-Commerce Listing Specialist - Faber-Castell USA

Senior E-Commerce Specialist - Cummins

E-Commerce Specialist - BenQ North America

Senior Manager - Walmart

E-Commerce Sales Specialist - Electrolux

CHOOSE SUCCESS below and have a great weekend! Get that D2C business runnin’.