Today in Retail: Amazon Says Sellers Still Successful; P&G Sees Digital Sales Growth

In today’s top retail news, new data released by Amazon shows that third-party sellers on the eCommerce company’s marketplace are doing well, while Procter & Gamble is still seeing elevated demand for paper towels and toilet paper. Also, eBay and Etsy have thrown their support behind legislation designed to cut down on the sale of counterfeit goods, while malls try to bring more experiences in as traffic continues to fall.

Amazon Sellers Find Success Amid Regulatory Scrutiny

Sellers on Amazon’s third-party marketplace are achieving success, according to new data released by the eCommerce giant, even as lawmakers increase their focus on the retailer’s private-label business practices. Amazon first opened its marketplace in 2000 and ir now accounts for about 60% of the company’s annual sales, though there have been accusations that Amazon unfairly favors its own products over those sold by third parties.

P&G: Homebound, Health-Conscious Consumers Still Driving Increased Consumption

With the delta variant slowing workers’ return to the office, consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble Co. said demand for many of its products remains heightened and continues to drive eCommerce growth for the company. Digital sales of P&G products were up 16% year over year between July and September and 66% compared to 2019. In the U.S. specifically, eCommerce has grown by 11% versus 2020.

Marketplaces Mull How to Combat $464B of Counterfeit Goods

Amazon, eBay and Etsy, which months ago united in opposition to legislation in the U.S. Senate designed to protect online shoppers from counterfeit products, now stand on opposite sides of the issue after a new bill in the House of Representatives toned down some of Etsy’s and eBay’s concerns. PYMNTS research has found that 94% of consumers have made a purchase on an online marketplace and 52% have made a retail purchase using an aggregator in the last year, making the safety and security of these platforms a vital issue as eCommerce adoption accelerates.

Malls Try to Fill Vacancies With Experiences as Traffic Remains Down

Mall of America is planning to open a new eSports broadcast studio and gaming venue in early 2022, as shopping centers across the country try to add more experiences to their properties in an attempt to draw consumers. Visits to indoor shopping malls were down 6.5% in September and 2.5% in August compared to 2019, according to location analytics company Placer.ai.