Around the Ecommerce world in 5 mins!

Ecommerce is changing everyday, and sometimes by the minute. So many new ideas and developments everyday, becomes hard to keep track.

We bring to you a curated digest of ecommerce developments/happenings around the world, compiled from various publications across the Internet.

Container shipping lines sign up with Alibaba to offer online booking

Two container shipping lines, France’s CMA CGM and Israel’s Zim, have signed up with Alibaba to allow customers to book space on their vessels through the Chinese e-commerce giant, in a bid to boost sales as the sector battles a severe downturn. Container lines, facing their worst ever downturn due to a glut of ships and weaker demand, are pursuing several measures such as vessel-sharing arrangements or mergers and acquisitions to ride out the current slump.

Would Private-Label Fashion Fly for Amazon UK?

Amazon is reported to be prepping its own fashion labels for the UK market. Details about its plans are sketchy, but if rumors of the effort are true, the ecommerce giant will find itself chasing an audience that’s generally receptive to buying apparel and accessories online.

Experts Weigh In On Walmart’s Purchase of E-Commerce Retailer Moosejaw

Walmart has acquired online outdoor retailer Moosejaw for approximately $51 million, adding the retailer to the Walmart U.S. eCommerce organization. Moosejaw is a online active outdoor retailer with a large web presence as well as 10 physical stores. Founded in 1992 in Michigan, Moosejaw carries more than 400 brands, including Patagonia, The North Face, Marmot, Arc’teryx and more.

Mattel and Alibaba Join Forces For China E-Commerce Push

Mattel has inked a strategic partnership with e-commerce giant Alibaba to help the toy maker more aggressively sell core brands like Fisher-Price and Barbie to mobile-savvy Chinese parents. On Tuesday, the companies announced a pact that would combine Mattel’s (MAT, -1.27%) toy brands with Alibaba’s (BABA, -0.72%) data and insights into the Chinese consumer. The goal is for Mattel to tackle the $7 billion Chinese toy category, which has posted strong growth though average per-child spending on toys is low compared to Japan and Western markets.

Canada’s Shopify reports bigger loss as expenses soar

Canadian e-commerce software maker Shopify Inc reported a bigger quarterly loss on Wednesday as operating expenses jumped 80 percent. The company’s net loss widened to US$8.9 million, or 10 cents per share, in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, from US$6.3 million, or 8 cents per share, a year earlier.