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Bits & Bytes | Walmart Buys Jet.com, African E-Commerce Startups

This week, in the biggest ever e-commerce acquisition, Walmart bought $3.3 billion Jet.com, while African web startups are trying to tap the continent's one billion consumers.
Jet.com fulfilment centre | Source: Jet.com
By
  • Helena Pike

"Meet Walmart's $3.3 Billion Employee" (Bloomberg)
"The world's biggest retailer announced on Monday it was buying upstart online retailer Jet.com for $3 billion in cash, plus $300 million in stock over five years — topping QVC's $2.4 billion purchase of Zulilly.com last year as the largest-ever acquisition of an e-commerce company."

"The Web Startups Looking to Cash in on 1 Billion African Consumers" (The Guardian)
"The continent's potential customer base of more than 1 billion, combined with an emerging middle class, has attracted investors to African retail."

"While Some Retailers Ignore Snapchat, Others Are Killing It With Lens and Geofilter Ads" (Ad Week)
"Many retailers are eager to engage their audience on Snapchat but are weary of not being able to attribute foot traffic and sales to Snapchat impressions."

"Dior in First with Luxury WeChat Handbags" (China Daily)
France's Christian Dior has become the first luxury brand to sell top-end bags on WeChat, the most popular messaging and social network in China, offering its iconic Lady Dior bag on the platform.

"What Jabong Sale Means for Online Fashion Minnows" (The Times of India)
"Does that mean this is the end of the road of the small companies? Online fashion retail in India is vast and diverse at that with 839 startups vying for a slice of a growing market."

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