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- Warby Parker Launches AI Tool, Partners With Google 👓
Warby Parker Launches AI Tool, Partners With Google 👓
Plus: Nike returns to Amazon and raises prices on footwear 👟, while Google brings video ads to Search and Shopping Tabs 🎬!
At this rate, AI might soon help people see again. But for now, it’s picking out your next pair of glasses 👓.
Happy New Month, Ecom Fam 🥳, and welcome to another issue of The Ecom Press 🗞️!
This week, Warby Parker rolls out a personalized AI assistant and joins forces with Google to challenge Meta’s Ray-Ban play. Nike makes a comeback on Amazon after a six-year hiatus 👀, and Google brings video ads right into Search and Shopping results.
And in our Insider section, we’re breaking down what shoppers actually care about before they click “buy.”
It’s a packed week—so buckle up, and let’s dive in 💪!
In a rush? Here's the juice🤭:
👓 Warby Parker launches AI tool, partners with Google.
👟 Nike returns to Amazon and raises prices on footwear.
🎬 Google brings video ads to Search and Shopping Tabs.
🚀 Ecom Strategies: What Shoppers Really Want Before They Click Buy
⚡️Worthy Mentions
Source: ReviewOB
Warby Parker is doubling down on tech in a major way, not just with a bold partnership with Google, but with a new AI shopping assistant that brings the in-store experience to mobile.
While the Google collaboration signals long-term ambitions in smart eyewear, it's the newly launched Advisor tool that offers an immediate impact in how customers shop for frames online.
Here’s the lowdown ⬇️:
📱 AI-Powered Frame Recommendations: The newly launched Advisor is available through Warby Parker’s iOS app. Customers scan their face, and the AI tool delivers tailored frame recommendations based on face shape, width, nose bridge, and style preferences. It’s designed to replicate the experience of being guided by an in-store associate, minus the commute.
🔍 Built with Precision and Personality: Developed with digital agency Kettle, Advisor is part of Warby Parker’s growing digital toolkit, joining existing offerings like virtual try-on and at-home trials. What sets Advisor apart is its ability to combine biometric data with personal style.
🤝 Google x Warby Parker: Smart Glasses in the Works: Warby Parker has also teamed up with Google to develop AI-powered glasses, expected to launch after 2025. The first models will include multimodal AI and come in both prescription and non-prescription options. Google is backing the project with up to $150 million, including $75M for product development and another $75M in optional equity investment.
Why it matters 🤷♂️
Beyond adopting AI, Warby Parker is building customer-facing tools that actively reduce friction in decision-making, and that’s critical for ecommerce. Instead of asking shoppers to browse aimlessly, it’s offering guidance based on their features and preferences. And that kind of contextual commerce is where we’re all heading in this space.
Source: Uzalendo News
After six years of sitting out on Amazon, the sportswear giant, Nike, is stepping back onto the platform, and adjusting its pricing strategy along the way. These changes reflect a broader change under new leadership, aimed at regaining reach while keeping margins in check.
Here’s the scoop 🍨:
🛒 Nike Rejoins Amazon After 6 Years: Nike officially confirmed it will begin selling directly on Amazon’s U.S. site again. The brand originally left the marketplace in 2019, after a short-lived pilot designed to fight counterfeits.
Now, it's back, with third-party sellers given until July 19 to offload their current Nike inventory. Nike hasn’t stated whether improvements around counterfeits played a role in the decision.
🧠 Broader Reset Under New Leadership: Under new CEO Elliott Hill, Nike is strengthening partnerships and retail presence. In addition to Amazon, the company is expanding retail partnerships and doubling down on its digital capabilities, including an AI-powered conversational search feature aimed at improving its online experience. Physical stores are also getting an upgrade.
💸 Prices Are Going Up, Selectively: Nike is increasing prices on several product categories. Footwear priced between $100–$150 will see a $5 increase, while those above $150 will go up $10. Products under $100, Air Force 1s, Jordans, and kids’ items are currently exempt. The company says the changes are part of seasonal planning, though they arrive at a time when tariff-related cost pressures are looming across the industry.
Why it matters 🤨
Nike’s return to Amazon signals quite a strategy to boost reach and flexibility, even if that means loosening its once firm grip on direct-to-consumer. For ecommerce sellers and DTC brands, the question is whether distribution control is still worth the trade-off if the customer isn’t where you are.
Source: Search Engine Land
In a notable update to its advertising channels, Google is now testing video ads across Search, Image, and Shopping results in the U.S. and Canada. These placements are designed to catch users earlier in the funnel, turning passive scrolls into high-impact moments for profit.
The rollout is part of Performance Max campaigns, giving advertisers the ability to combine visual storytelling with product information across more than just YouTube or Display.
Here are the deets ⬇️:
📹 Video Ads Are Coming to Core Google Surfaces: Brands running Performance Max campaigns can now add video assets that will appear across Google Search results, Image Search, Google Shopping, and the Discover feed. These placements are designed to reach users in low-intent, discovery-driven moments.
🛍️ Positioned for Early-Funnel Engagement: Unlike Shopping ads that typically target ready-to-buy users, these video placements are meant to capture attention earlier — during casual searches or browsing sessions — to build awareness and nudge consideration.
🧰 Fully Integrated into Performance Max: The ads include clickable product listings and link directly to brand websites. There’s no new ad type to build from scratch, just an expansion of where video assets can now appear.
🧪 Currently in Testing Phase: Google is still gathering performance data and has not announced when this will roll out globally. For now, it’s limited to advertisers in the U.S. and Canada.
Why it matters 🤔
Search has always been a bottom-funnel battleground. But now, Google is making room for brand-building at the top of the funnel too, right on the results page. For ecommerce teams, it’s an opportunity to rethink search not just as a text-based intent engine, but as a stage for video-first discovery.
🛎️ The Ecom Press Insider
Source: ChatGPT Image Generator
Ecom Fact: Did you know that product videos can increase purchases by up to 144% . Shoppers who view product videos are significantly more likely to convert, especially when the video is paired with shoppable links or appears early in their search journey (Business Dasher).
🚀 Ecom Strategies: What Shoppers Really Want Before They Click Buy
It’s easy to focus on branding, product specs, or promo banners. But none of that lands if it’s not aligned with how shoppers actually make decisions online. Your ecommerce customers are scrolling fast, comparing faster, and only stopping for what feels right.
If you want to earn their trust and their purchase, here are 5 things you need to help them do:
1. 📦 Make It Easy to Choose
Too many choices = no decision. Make sure your product descriptions, reviews, and visuals answer the one thing every shopper is asking: “Is this the right one for me?” Show it in action. Simplify options, and help them say yes.
2. 🚚 Make It Fast and Hassle-Free
Customers don’t just want the product; they want it on time, in one piece, and without a headache. Transparent shipping, simple returns, and clear timelines = trust earned.
3. 🧾 Show That It’s Worth It
Price tags don’t exist in a vacuum. Shoppers are comparing value. Stack up with social proof, explain what justifies the price, and offer bundles or perks when it counts. Discounts help, but clarity closes the sale.
4. 🤝 Make Them Feel Safe
Nobody wants post-purchase regret. Show them they’re in good hands with credible reviews, clear return policies, and responsive support. Risk-reduction builds confidence, and confidence drives conversion.
5. 🏆 Help Them Feel Good About the Purchase
Whether it’s style, convenience, sustainability, or simply buying from a brand that “gets them,” customers want to feel like they made the smart choice. Speak to that outcome. Reinforce it in your messaging, your packaging, your follow-up.
In ecommerce, the product matters, but the experience around it is what drives trust and repeat sales. Make it smooth, make it clear, and make it about them; you’ll win more than just the first sale.
⚡️Worthy Mentions
Wrapping up…
AI-driven recommendations are not just about convenience but turning online shopping into something personal, fast, and surprisingly intuitive 🤖.
The pace of change is wild, but staying ahead doesn’t have to be. You just need the right updates, delivered consistently, clearly, and without the noise.
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