Power Retail Sparks | Global E-Commerce News Roundup

Selfridges Introduces… Weddings?

Selfridges is heading in a new direction … down the aisle. The British retailer is starting to offer a series of ‘non-traditional [ceremonies] in an iconic location ‘to ‘celebrate the special experiences everyone has been missing’. As London continues to remove the lockdown measures, many wedding destinations and venues have been booked out for months in advance. According to Forbes, 150,000 couples have either postponed or cancelled their wedding due to the pandemic, and the British government has now allowed non-traditional venues to apply for licenses. There are a few types of ceremonies that Selfridges is offering, from ‘micro’ to ‘extraordinary’. Starting at USD9,200, the retailer will offer small ceremonies for up to six people, eco-friendly weddings with up to 20 guests, and ‘all-out’ weddings.

via Selfridges

Pinterest Testing Livestreaming in New 3-Day Event

Pinterest is taking on the trend of live stream shopping seriously by testing out the concept with a three-day event. The virtual event will feature sessions from 21 top creators and will run inside the Pinterest app. The event will run from May 24 to May 26, featuring shows like ‘Creating a Morning Routine You’ll Love’ with Jonathan Van Ness, Rebecca Minkoff and many others. Furthermore, the users will be able to test the tags to shoppable products within the app. “As a visual platform, people discover billions of ideas on Pinterest every day, and we’re always looking for new ways to help them bring those ideas to life,” said David Temple, the Head of Creators at Pinterest.

Amazon to Launch WorkingWell Prevention Program

Amazon is rolling out a new safety and injury prevention program, WorkingWell. The initiative aims to reduce the number of on-site injuries within the workplace by 50 percent by 2025, the company said. This program offers employees with mental, physical and nutritional support and will be rolled out across the US by the end of 2021. The online retailer is currently investing USD300 million into health and safety programs following backlash from employees and the recent calls to unionise.

According to CNBC, 40 percent of injuries at Amazon are musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), which include sprains and strains caused by repetitive actions and movements. “We want them to be healthy and safe and feel cared about and proud to work for Amazon,” shared Heather McDougall, the VP of Worldwide Workplace Health and Safety at Amazon.

via The Verge

Amazon is in Negotiations to Acquire MGM

It’s a big week for Amazon! The tech mega-giant is apparently in talks to acquire MGM – the film studio. According to Variety, the US conglomerate is planning to buy the film studio for $9 billion. The studio was already up for sale, too – it has been looking for a buyer for several months and is estimated to sell anywhere from $7 billion to $10 billion.

Will Bezos have the lion’s share of the film industry?

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