(Family Features) Thanks to the explosion of ecommerce over the past couple decades, consumers can find virtually any product or service they can think of online. In fact, the consumer ecommerce market is expected to approach $6 trillion by 2027, according to the International Trade Administration, up from roughly $4 trillion in 2024.

A diverse collection of product segments is driving this growth, including everything from fashion and furniture to food and beverage. While major marketplace retailers still lead the category, ecommerce has become commonplace among small businesses, too. In fact, by the end of 2023, an estimated 80% of small businesses had at least basic ecommerce capabilities, according to a report by Digital Commerce 360.

However, small businesses are grappling with challenges such as inflation, supply chain issues and keeping pace with major retailers, among others, that are driving a variety of ecommerce trends in 2025 and beyond, including:

Video Content
Spurred by social media, video content is in high demand on ecommerce sites, too. Videos that explain how to use products, offer tips for using them and demonstrate projects that were completed using a product all earn favor with shoppers. In addition, videos that highlight product features, video reviews on social media and “live shopping events” on the social channels of ecommerce retailers can provide a more appealing interactive experience for shoppers.

Inclusive of the “live shopping events” trends, livestreaming is often popular among consumers as it can create a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out), leading to enhanced brand loyalty and engagement. Short-form videos sweeping social media also drive engagements and offer a quick, appealing way to demonstrate new or popular products.

Personalized Products
Ecommerce provides opportunities for shoppers who appreciate buying products that are uniquely their own. Online buying platforms that allow for customization of products such as shoes, clothing and drinkware can create buyer engagement and earn loyal shoppers who know they can purchase the items they want exactly to their own specifications. In fact, a survey by McKinsey Insights found 80% of loyal customers prefer shopping with brands that offer tailored choices and personalized experiences. From color selection and accessories to performance variations, custom options can help create a highly personalized shopping experience that allow buyers to interact more directly than they would for a standardized transaction.

Beyond the initial purchase, customized reports and shipping notifications are also becoming the norm. Shippers can alert customers to their products’ delivery status – including any delays or changes – via email, text, video message or, in some cases, a customizable dashboard where consumers can view incoming shipments tied to their account or address, request a different delivery time or location, pre-sign for packages and more.

Micro Purchasing Moments
You may think phenomena like impulse buys or convenience purchases are reserved for brick-and-mortar stores, but micro-purchasing trends suggest otherwise. These purchases are typically made by someone looking for a quick solution or information in a hurry from a mobile device, such as comparing two or more similar products and clicking a “buy now” link, ordering and paying for food ahead of time to skip the line, making a hotel or excursion reservation while traveling or looking up movie showtimes and purchasing tickets from the same page. Ecommerce sites that can establish themselves as a resource, make information easy to digest and simplify the purchasing process are earning customers (and revenue).

Flexible Payment Options
Online purchases were once limited almost exclusively to credit card purchases, but over time, businesses have granted greater flexibility to shoppers when it comes to collecting payment. While this trend has been growing for several years, many contemporary ecommerce sites now accept credit or debit cards, online checks, digital wallet and mobile payment services, cryptocurrency and even installment payments via third-party providers. By 2029, the third-party payment market is expected to almost double from $62.5 billion in 2024, according to findings from Mordor Intelligence.

Simplified Shipping Options
Evolving technology isn’t just improving the browsing and purchasing side of ecommerce; shipping operations are also seeing enhancements. For example, ShipAccel, a digital platform designed by Pitney Bowes, simplifies and enhances shipping operations with advanced ecommerce technology. The platform empowers early ecommerce brands to ship like larger companies with access to discounted carrier rates; more than 80 integrations including leading marketplaces, data and insights to help make smarter shipping decisions; branded tracking; and return capabilities. It features a collection of apps, widgets and application programming interfaces to easily configure new workflows and seamlessly meet the demands of business growth.

“As ecommerce becomes a mainstay, shippers must take a technology-first approach, utilizing platforms that can grow along with the business and partnering with providers who offer deep expertise in the segment,” said Shemin Nurmohamed, president of Sending Technology Solutions at Pitney Bowes. “As a result of using technology like ShipAccel, ecommerce shippers can save money, enhance operational efficiencies and delight customers – all of which support the business’ bottom line.”

Find more shipping support for your ecommerce business in the coming year at shipaccel.com.

Easy ECommerce Shipping Tips

Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, getting smart about shipping can help improve your ecommerce experience.

Be cost-conscious. Buyers obviously benefit from lower costs, but as a seller, managing shipping costs means more revenue. Volume discounts and options for lower prices with longer shipping times can make a bigger impact than you might expect. A shipping partner that has pre-negotiated discounted rates with carriers can deliver significant savings to your business, too.

Reduce package sizes. Using boxes or padded envelopes that closely fit the product being shipped can reduce weight and therefore the cost to send it to the customer. Also avoid excess packaging that adds bulk, which adds cost and waste.

Utilize advanced tracking tools. Keep tracking information for everything you ship or buy so you can monitor its safe delivery or, if problems arise, promptly identify and correct the issue. An option like ShipAccel uniquely provides branded tracking updates so your business stays front and center with your customer from click to porch.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock (woman using laptop)

SOURCE:
Pitney Bowes

(Family Features) While diabetes gets a lot of attention, people with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) are frequently overlooked when drug companies develop new medications.

“People with T1D and chronic kidney disease, or CKD, face significantly higher risks of morbidity and mortality if they are unable to control their blood sugar levels,” said Steve Edelman, MD, an endocrinologist and the founder and director of Taking Control Of Your Diabetes, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating and motivating people living with diabetes. “They are challenged to do this relying solely on insulin, which is extremely difficult and is the principal therapy for people with T1D.”

An estimated 1.7 million adult Americans have T1D, with approximately 21%, or 360,000, also affected by CKD, according to the CDC National Diabetes Statistics Report 2024. Without effective glycemic control (managing blood sugar) and other important preventative measures, patients with T1D are at a 10 times higher risk of cardiovascular disease, a six-fold greater risk of progression to end-stage kidney disease, a four times greater risk of heart failure and a 2-5 times greater risk of all-cause mortality.

Consider this information to better understand the challenges and risks of complications these patients face.

Challenges with Current Treatments Impact Patients’ Ability to Reach Glycemic Goals
Diabetes management aims to reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, retinopathy, neuropathy and other complications, in part by improving glycemic control while minimizing the risk of hypoglycemia.

Currently, Americans with T1D have limited therapeutic options, relying almost exclusively on insulin. There are no oral agents to improve glycemia in adults with T1D. Despite advances in insulin therapy and glucose monitoring, most people with T1D do not meet glycemic control target levels with insulin alone. One measure of glycemic control is a number known as A1C, which is a measure of glucose control over the past 2-3 months.

The goal is to help patients achieve the guideline-recommended target of an A1C below 7% and improve their time-in-range, which represents an established metric that translates into clinically meaningful benefits for patients.

Reaching Glycemic Goals Are Key to Reducing Risk of Further Complications
By achieving glycemic control, kidney function can be stabilized, long-term disease progression mitigated and the morbidity and mortality that the cardiorenal burden puts on patients with T1D and CKD reduced.

Today, it is estimated only 23% of people with T1D achieve an A1C of less than 7%, according to research from the American Diabetes Association, and about 50% have an A1C greater than 8%. Patients who do not achieve A1C targets remain at significantly greater risk of complications associated with their condition.

“Relying solely on insulin can negatively affect a patient’s glucose control and quality of life,” said Dr. Edelman. “Doctors and patients need an oral agent to improve glycemic control in people with T1D and CKD. Therefore, we need therapeutic options that improve glycemic control and reduce their risk of kidney disease progression and cardiovascular comorbidities.”

Visit TCOYD.org to learn more about living with T1D and advocating for additional therapeutic options.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images

SOURCE:
Taking Care of Your Diabetes

(Family Features) Gift-giving during the holiday season shouldn’t be stressful. In fact, finding gifts for your loved ones should be as much fun as giving (and receiving) them.

No matter if you’re shopping for the fashionista, the foodie, the workout warrior, the tech expert, the beauty-focused or nearly anyone else on your list, this helpful guide of gift ideas to match a variety of personalities and interests can make the holiday season extra special for both the giver and recipient.

Find more holiday gift-giving inspiration at eLivingtoday.com.

Give the Gift of Skin Nourishment

This holiday season, give your loved ones the gift of brighter, healthier-looking skin. Clinically formulated by experts and health care professionals for every skin care need, Medline Remedy products combine advanced skin care science with gentle, therapeutic ingredients. The proprietary Remedy Nutrient Complex nourishes, soothes and supports moisture balance while caring for even the most sensitive skin. Find the full product line from the No. 1 skin care brand in health care (according to Clarivate health care market data through December 2023) at Amazon.com and Walmart.com.

Power Productivity and Connection

Perfect for that special someone who’s always connected, fuel his or her productivity with Galaxy AI on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 powered globally by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Enjoy multitasking on up to three windows using multi-active Window, speak with someone in another language with live translations you both can see and experience desktop-level gaming with ray tracing. Plus, your loved one can enjoy ultra-fast connectivity for all that chatting, social networking, gaming and more with Qualcomm FastConnect 7800. Find more information at Bestbuy.com.

Share Memories with Loved Ones

With sleek designs to fit nearly any decor, a digital picture frame is a thoughtful way to share and display a continuous slideshow of photos on a mantel, bookshelf or desk. Simply upload pictures via USB, SD card, Wi-Fi or a frame-specific app, and your loved one can relive special moments every day. Some models also offer video playback, calendar implementation and automatic cropping, brightness and power-saving functions, making them a multifunctional addition to any home or office space.

Provide Relief and Relaxation

Ideal for athletes, fitness enthusiasts or anyone with a physically demanding lifestyle, a handheld massage gun can help alleviate muscle tension, improve circulation and speed up recovery after workouts, making one an optimal gift for anyone on your list who could use a well-being boost. Easy to use, these compact devices use percussive therapy to target sore muscles and provide deep tissue massage by using various attachments and adjustable speed settings to target different muscle groups and customize the massage experience.

Take Tunes Anywhere You Go

Whether your loved ones enjoy outdoor adventures or relaxing at home, Bluetooth speakers are a perfect gift idea to enhance the listening experience no matter where they are. With a variety of sizes and styles available, you can find something that fits every music lover’s taste, from compact and portable options to larger, high-fidelity models for home use. Many speakers also include additional features like waterproofing, floatability, long battery life, power banks for external device charging and voice assistant integration.

Upgrade Beauty Essentials

Whether you’re shopping for a beauty novice or a seasoned pro, makeup can make for a quick and easy stocking stuffer. Consider a curated set that includes items like mascara, lipstick, brushes, eyeshadow palettes and other tools to complete their beauty routine. Opting for a limited-edition holiday collection can add a festive touch to your gift. For a more personalized approach, create a custom kit tailored to the recipient’s preferences to provide joy and confidence well beyond the holiday season.

Photos courtesy of Shutterstock (family opening gifts, picture frame, massage gun, speaker, makeup)

SOURCE:
Medline Remedy



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