This week is a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, Amazon is slashing 16,000 jobs to "hunt down bureaucracy"; on the other, billions are pouring into generative AI. We’re all searching for that magic formula between machine efficiency and the human touch. What’s your trade-off this week: more tech or more talent? Let me know in your reply!
Week from January 23 to January 29, 2026.
📢 E-commerce & Shopping
💰 Daniel Kretinsky launches a takeover bid for Fnac Darty
The businessman is offering €36 per share to cross the 50% capital threshold. The offer values the group at over one billion euros and has received a unanimous favorable response from the Board of Directors. (www.ecommercemag.fr)
❄️ Winter Sales 2026: a cold start
The first week shows a 6.2% decrease in in-store sales. Footfall has plummeted by 8.8%, while online sales are holding their own with a 4.5% increase. (www.lemonde.fr)
⚠️ Vinted and Leboncoin: tax data reporting closes January 31
Platforms are now transmitting files for sellers exceeding 30 sales or €2,000. Vigilance remains necessary regarding the sale of personal second-hand goods. (www.modesettravaux.fr)
🤖 AI scam alert on the second-hand market
Sellers on Vinted are using AI-generated images to hide low-end Chinese products. Prices are being marked up by 100x compared to the original purchase price. (www.tf1info.fr)
🏢 Hybridization at the heart of 2026 retail strategies
A SOTI study reveals that 90% of customers navigate between web and physical stores. While 54% prefer the web for pricing, 69% still want to touch products in-store. (www.ecommercemag.fr)
📉 Retail growth slowdown in Europe and the USA
Bain predicts growth limited to 2.5% in the USA and only 1.5% in France for 2026. Consumers are now prioritizing "safe haven" value in the face of financial pressure. (www.prnewswire.com)
🚫 Texas bans Shein and Temu from state devices
Governor Abbott cited cybersecurity concerns as the reason for banning these Chinese applications. They join TikTok on the blacklist of government infrastructures. (www.fox7austin.com)
🇹🇷 Temu and Shein withdraw from the Turkish market
Under pressure from new local taxes, Shein has suspended its sales and Temu has closed international deliveries in Turkey to focus solely on local operations. (www.hurriyetdailynews.com)
🇩🇪 German e-commerce exceeds expectations in 2025
With €83.1 billion (+3.2%), Germany is being driven by the pharmacy and food sectors. The 2026 outlook is optimistic with expected growth of 3.8%. (www.ecommercenews.eu)
🏆 Barcelona and Silandro named European Capitals of Small Retail
These cities won the 2026 Small Retail Awards. They were recognized for their dynamism and the preservation of local shops in the face of major platforms. (www.eismea.ec.europa.eu)
📣 Marketing & Ads
📺 Live Shopping to account for 20% of global sales
Whatnot is exploding in France with 1.3 million hours viewed. The top French sellers now exceed €100,000 in annual revenue through this channel. (www.ecommercemag.fr)
📉 Brutal drop in CPMs in January for DTC brands
We are seeing a 40% to 60% decrease in advertising costs compared to December. This is a missed opportunity for the 40% of brands that paused their campaigns. (www.askneedle.com)
📈 Social Trends: Gemini gains popularity over ChatGPT
While ChatGPT dominates in total mentions, Google’s Gemini garnered 43% positive sentiment compared to only 18% for its competitor. Grok is also benefiting from its integration into X. (www.larevuedudigital.com)
🤖 AI & Tech
💶 Mistral AI targets one billion euros in revenue
From Davos, Arthur Mensch confirmed a skyrocketing trajectory with an ARR of €300M already achieved. The startup plans to invest heavily to remain independent. (www.maddyness.com)
🎯 Gemini dominates the January 2026 AI rankings
According to LMArena, Google takes the lead across several categories. Claude and Gemini are distancing themselves from OpenAI, though the latter still holds the lead in image generation. (www.blogdumoderateur.com)
💊 OpenAI launches ChatGPT Health in France
The tool helps translate medical jargon and prepare for consultations. OpenAI notes, however, that the AI does not replace professional medical diagnosis. (www.siecledigital.fr)
🔞 AI age verification for ChatGPT users
OpenAI is deploying a predictive system to adapt the experience for minors without intrusive blocking. The rollout follows strict GDPR guidelines. (www.siecledigital.fr)
📊 France Travail saves €120M thanks to Mistral's AI
Automation and orientation support have yielded real operational results. The Court of Auditors remains vigilant regarding the protection of user data. (www.siecledigital.fr)
🔴 Amazon sacrifices 16,000 jobs in its AI race
Bringing the total to 30,000 departures in three months, this plan aims to fund $125 billion in capex. Amazon is also closing its Go and Fresh concepts to refocus. (www.aboutamazon.com)
💳 OpenAI charges 4% on sales via ChatGPT
Shopify merchants using Instant Checkout will now have to pay a commission to OpenAI. This marks the beginning of direct monetization of purchase intent. (www.help.openai.com)
📚 Resources
DPD E-commerce Barometer 2025: French consumers receive 4 packages per month. Free returns remain the number one purchasing criterion for 43% of them. (www.cibleweb.com)
E-commerce Returns Report: The global return rate reached 15.8% in 2025, costing global retailers $850 billion. (www.capitaloneshopping.com)
ACSI Retail Study 2026: Trader Joe’s is the consumers' favorite brand, while Nordstrom jumped 5% in customer satisfaction this year. (www.theacsi.org)
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