eCommerce Minute

Airbnb is buying HotelTonight, the hotel-booking application that lets travelers arrange last-minute accommodations.

The financial terms weren’t disclosed, but sources told Axios the homeshare giant paid close to Hotel Tonight’s last private valuation of about $463m. This would make it Airbnb’s largest acquisition ever.

HotelTonight partners with hotels to offer un-sold rooms, catering to business travelers or those looking to make last-minute arrangements. 

Amazon has stopped selling the Dash button, although -  if you’ve got one already -  it will still work.

The idea behind the button was to make it really simple to buy replacement products for goods when you’re running low.  It also meant a direct pipeline to brands and sellers, which effectively removed the temptation to shop for lower prices.

Amazon created more than 300 Dash buttons for various products.  Not only did they provide a fast way to re-order things, they also served as brand advertising for products when placed in homes.

A super-sized episode: Co-hosts John Suder and Bart Mroz recap Shoptalk 2019, the huge retail show held yearly in Las Vegas. 

Since 2015, Shoptalk has been widely regarded as retail’s best show with 8,000+ attendees, including more than 750 CEOs, and the world's best speaker lineup and agenda.

Martha Stewart is the latest celebrity to lend her name to line of CBD-infused products. CNBC reports that Stewart has signed on as an adviser to Canopy Growth, one of the largest marijuana producers in the world, to develop a line of CBD products for animals. 

FedEx has developed an autonomous battery-powered delivery robot to facilitate same-day, last-mile deliveries.

This episode sponsored by SendPro Online from Pitney Bowes

Once approved, brands that join Project Zero will be able to directly flag and remove counterfeit listings of their products from Amazon on their own.

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Tide Cleaners will offer several laundry services, including 24/7 drop boxes located in high rise buildings, offices, and storefronts. The service lets customers pre-pay for laundry and pick up the clean clothes once the app notifies them they’re ready. 

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PayCode allows people to shop and buy from Amazon’s online store and then pay for their purchases at local Western Union locations.

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The technology allows shoppers to use their smartphones to scan products on grocery shelves and helps pinpoint items that help meet their dietary needs. 

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A group of former company executives have joined together to create a new company, called Tru Kids.

This episode sponsored by SendPro Online from Pitney Bowes