🌀 Temu's Legal Battles⚖️

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Welcome to MarketMaze, the #1 newsletter for staying on top of the latest in Marketplace and E-commerce. Get all the insights you need in just five minutes a week!

🌀This week’s maze:

1. The Big Story 🧠 
Temu's Legal Battles⚖️

2. Data 📊 
Recommerce Boom 💥 
Black Friday Sales Uplift in Europe 🚀

3. News 📖 
🛒 🇺🇸 Amazon’s Haul battles low prices, odd images
🛒 🇺🇸 Amazon unveils immersive holiday gift shop
👗 🇱🇹 Vinted holds off IPO, eyes growth in new areas.
👗 🇺🇸 Farfetch Faces Investor Push Back on Fraud Case
🍔 🇳🇱 Just Eat Takeaway sells Grubhub for $650M!
🍔 🇰🇼 Talabat plans massive $1B IPO on Dubai exchange
🗞🇸🇪 Klarna files for U.S. IPO with $14.6B valuation!
🗞🇬🇧 DPD launches Ottobot for deliveries, boosting efficiency!
🦄🇬🇧 Fleek raises $20.4M to transform vintage trade
🦄🇬🇧 Salesfire secures $3.5M for AI in e-commerce

+ over 25 other news from the last week you need to know 🎁

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This analysis by The Fashion Law examines Temu’s legal challenges since 2022, focusing on lawsuits against and by the company in the U.S. market. For details check the full article

Over 20 lawsuits filed since 2022; 85% involve IP issues.

Cases include TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) violations and pricing fraud.

Most lawsuits end in settlements or dismissals.

15 lawsuits filed by Temu against competitors in H2 2023, targeting trademarks.

The bulk of Temu-filed cases resulted in default judgments in favor of Temu or were voluntary dismissed by Temu as a result of out of court settlements with the defendants.

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This data comes from the "Top 100 Sustainable Marketplaces Report" by Cross-Border Commerce Europe, supported by FedEx Express and Poste Italiane. The report examines the booming recommerce market in Europe and its role in promoting sustainability and circular economy models.

Recommerce reached $109B in GMV in 2024, growing 20.8% year-over-year.

It now accounts for 12.6% of Europe’s total online GMV, doubling from 5.7% in 2020.

Fashion & beauty recommerce is set to hit 6.9% penetration by 2025, up from 4.3% in 2020.

Top 100 marketplaces, including Vinted and eBay, generated $68.6B in turnover, up 19.1%.

♻️ Sustainability Driving Consumer Trends

85% of European consumers regularly engage in secondhand buying or selling.

Circular economy practices and digital passports (QR codes, NFC tags) enhance transparency.

Platforms like Vinted lead with 100% sustainable models, earning full GMV credit.

Subscription models make secondhand shopping accessible and popular.

The insights are brought by Foxintelligence by NielsenIQ. The analysis covers 2.5M e-receipts from 1,500+ merchants across Europe, spotlighting brands like Roborock, Ninja, PlayStation, and Amazon that led in Black Friday sales and annual e-commerce trends.

Appliances, beauty, and consumer electronics recorded the highest sales uplifts.

Coffee machines, cosmetics, and large appliances saw spikes well above their 12-month averages.

Black Friday transformed cautious buyers into deal-focused spenders across Europe.

Fashion led e-commerce with 23%-30% share of total online sales in key markets in 2030.

Consumer electronics and home appliances ranked as the second and third most popular categories.

Food, baby, and home care products remained steady at 21% of total sales.

🇺🇸 Amazon’s Haul battles low prices. Amazon's Haul aims to compete with Temu and Shein by offering low-cost goods, but its AI-generated product photos have led to bizarre listings. Critics argue the launch undermines Amazon's quality standards and faces regulatory risks.

🇺🇸 Amazon unveils immersive holiday gift shop. Amazon’s Virtual Holiday Shop, powered by 3D technology, offers 300+ top gifts and toys. With brands like Beats, LEGO, and Coach, interactive features enhance the experience. AI guides and festive themes simplify holiday shopping.

🇨🇦 Shopify shares surge 21% on strong Q3 results. Shopify's Q3 results impressed, with earnings of $0.35/share, surpassing $0.27 estimates. Revenue hit $2.16B, beating $2.12B predictions. GMV jumped 24% to $69.7B. Shares surged 21% as Shopify projected holiday sales growth of 25%.

🇨🇳 China’s Singles’ Day exceeds expectations. China’s Singles’ Day sales topped $150B, up 20.1% YoY. Alibaba and JD.com showed strong buyer activity. Outdoor gear, pet care, and toys saw the most growth. Analysts expect consumer confidence to improve by late 2025 with more stimulus ahead.

🇵🇱 Allegro plans expansion to new countries. Allegro aims to launch in Slovenia and Croatia within months, adding 6M potential customers. It already operates in Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, and Hungary, with active buyers reaching 20.5M in Q3, 5.5M outside Poland.

🇪🇺 Ebay and Amazon face GPSR compliance issues. From December 13, 2024, the EU's GPSR will mandate extended safety data for online marketplaces. Amazon and eBay are struggling to meet the standards, citing issues like confusing layouts and technical glitches affecting sellers and buyers alike.

🇪🇸 El Corte Inglés reports $220M profit, up 11%. El Corte Inglés posted $220M profit in H1 FY2024, up 11%. Revenues hit $8.7B, rising 2.3%. EBITDA grew 12.3% to $566M, while net debt fell $205M. Retail sales rose 3.2%, and travel revenues surged 10.3%. All divisions saw gains.

🇳🇱 Bol.com adds refurbished tech to its store. Starting November 13, Bol.com will offer refurbished devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops with a 2-year warranty. Partnering with Fixje, Forza, Leapp, and Renewd, Bol.com aims to promote sustainability and boost the refurbished market.

🇱🇹 Vinted holds off IPO, eyes growth in new areas. On November 15, 2024, Vinted, Europe's largest second-hand marketplace, ruled out an IPO. CEO Thomas Plantenga announced a company valuation of $5.3B, emphasizing expansion into new markets and efficient operations since its founding by Mitkute and Janauskas in 2008.

🇺🇸 Farfetch Faces Investor Push Back on Fraud Case. On November 14, 2024, Farfetch's investors reject claims to dismiss a $2.4B securities fraud lawsuit. The plaintiffs allege misleading information by executives led to Farfetch's financial downfall and a plummet in stock value.

🇲🇽 Shein thrives in Mexico through catalog saleswomen. Catalog saleswomen in Mexico are increasingly selling Shein and Temu products. Since 2022, around 60% of these sellers have added these brands.

🇩🇪 Levi's® launches Amazon Alexa Fit Guide today. This innovative tool uses Amazon Alexa to help customers find their perfect fit by asking questions. Until December, the service is available on any Alexa device.

🇬🇧 Asos faces new lawsuit from Assos of Switzerland. The legal battle is over breach of contract. This marks a repeat conflict since Asos paid $25.8M in 2016 to settle previous trademark issues. Assos is owned by TZP Group.

🇩🇪 Zalando Partners with Adyen for Local Payments, enhancing user experience across 15 countries. This partnership promises more secure payment options and higher authorization rates. Key leaders express excitement for improved services.

🇦🇪 Landmark Group invests $1B to open 400 stores in the Gulf, India, and Southeast Asia. This three-year plan boosts retail by 20% by 2028. Its online sales grow over 20% yearly, says CEO Kabir Lumba.

🇨🇭 Richemont faces challenges with profits down 17%. In the first half of fiscal 2025, Richemont reported €10.1B ($10.7B) in sales, a 1% drop. Their watch division saw a 17% decline, pushing operating profit down to €2.2B ($2.3B). Declines are driven by weak sales in China, down 27% year-over-year.

🇳🇱 Just Eat Takeaway sells Grubhub for $650M to Wonder for $650M, a huge loss. The deal will boost Just Eat's cash flow. Wonder aims to create a super app with Grubhub's partners.

🇰🇼 Talabat plans massive $1B IPO on Dubai exchange this December. This includes selling 15% of its shares. The firm aims to distribute $100M in dividends by April 2025, rapidly expanding in the UAE and four other Middle Eastern countries.

🇮🇳 Swiggy impresses with $1.4B IPO; market cap hits $12.3B. Co-founder Sriharsha Majety aims to excite new investors as India’s tech landscape heats up. The IPO is a key moment with Zomato as the benchmark competitor.

🇩🇪 Amazon exits German grocery to partner with Rohlik. On December 14, 2024, Amazon will cease its grocery delivery in Germany, struggling for 7 years to expand beyond Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich. The new partnership with Czech retailer Rohlik's Knuspr offers 15K fresh products to Prime members.

🇩🇪 Lieferando expands wellness products in Germany. On October 10, 2023, Lieferando launches a new range of sexual wellness products in Germany. The partnership with Womanizer offers over 80 items, including bestsellers and toys for couples. Discreet, speedy delivery to 46 cities is now available.

🇮🇳 Wheelocity's bold plan to transform rural India commerce. Founded in 2021, Wheelocity has pivoted from B2B to rural e-commerce. Backed by Lightspeed, they raised $15M to expand in 3,500 villages. CEO Selvam VMS says they aim for a $1T market. Their unique “phygital” approach ensures daily delivery.

🇪🇸 Glovo and Mars boost retail media growth in Europe. Glovo and Mars expand their partnership focusing on retail media strategies in Europe and more. The goal is a significant growth in their business by 2030 after achieving over 50% growth in Mars products on Glovo in just one year.

🇺🇸 Instacart delivers impressive Q3 growth with $246M in ads. Instacart reported $1.6B in revenue for Q3 2024, with a 10% order growth. The company expects $8.5-8.65B for Q4. CEO Fidji Simo stated ongoing AI investments drive profitability, but investors get cautious.

🇺🇸 Starbucks introduces DoorDash delivery option. As of November 11, 2024, Starbucks customers in the U.S. and Canada can now order delivery via the Starbucks app. This feature enhances customer convenience and reflects double-digit growth in U.S. delivery demand.

🇸🇪 Klarna files for U.S. IPO with $14.6B valuation, a rise from $6.7B in 2022. The company reported 27% revenue growth and $66M in profits in August. Expectations point to an IPO within the first half of 2025.

🇬🇧 DPD launches Ottobot for deliveries, boosting efficiency! Ottobot is an autonomous delivery robot in Milton Keynes. This robot has eight compartments and can carry up to 70 kg. It aims to improve delivery efficiency and meet customer needs in real-time.

🇬🇧 Brizy launches Shopify App; enhances store design!. Brizy launched a no-code Shopify app, allowing users to easily create stunning landing pages. With over 90 templates and tools, Brizy aims to empower Shopify store owners. The CEO, Dimi Baitanciuc, emphasizes ease for all users.

🇨🇦 Coveo partners with Shopify to enhance AI commerce and to provide AI-powered search for enterprise customers, enabling better product discovery and personalization. This collaboration aims to optimize revenue for Shopify merchants while enhancing shopper experiences.

🇩🇪 Meta price drop aims to satisfy EU regulators. Starting November 13, Meta reduces its ad-free plan by 40%. New prices are €6 ($6.36) for web users and €8 ($8.48) for mobile. These moves try to satisfy EU regulators as investigations continue into Meta's ad practices.

🇺🇸 Encore aims to streamline secondhand shopping online.. Encore, co-founded by Alex Ruber and Parth Chopra, uses AI to simplify your thrifting experience. With 50K searches each month and growing at 26%, it’s revolutionizing the $73B U.S. secondhand market expected to double by 2028.

🇺🇸 Google expands Maps with holiday shopping features. Starting Nov 14, 2024, Google Maps lets users search for local products easily, making holiday shopping simpler. Customers can now find nearby stores with available items, alongside checking travel disruptions and delays.

🇺🇸 Pinterest reveals 1,000 gift guides for hassle-free shopping. Celebrities like Em the Nutritionist and Ayamé have collaborated on these guides. Users can save gift ideas with a new wishlist feature, while Pinterest curates personalized suggestions.

🇬🇧 Fleek raises $20.4M to transform vintage trade. With 10K retailers across 70 countries and 2.5M items sold, it bridges wholesalers to resellers. Major investors include HV Capital and Andreessen Horowitz.

🇬🇧 Salesfire secures $3.5M for AI in e-commerce. Backed by NPIF II via Mercia Ventures, the funding supports tools identifying customer behavior without cookies. CEO Rich Himsworth promises transformative AI solutions.

🇮🇳 BiteSpeed secures $3.5M to expand globally. With $5.6M in total funding, it targets North America, Europe, and Asia. It plans to grow its AI-powered tools for e-commerce and hire across marketing, sales, and tech teams for global expansion.

🇬🇧 Boohoo secures $41.8M in funding round. Frasers Group and Mahmud Kamani contributed $50M in shares. CEO Dan Finley said the funds will help reduce debt and stabilize the company amid a 15% revenue drop.

🇦🇺 Viewa secures $300K to revolutionize shopping by using AR and generative AI. With conversions up 94%, the web-based tool is poised to transform customer experiences, cut returns, and expand globally with 50+ clients onboard.

That’s all. See you next week in the 🌀Maze!