| | Depop uses genAI to let sellers generate product descriptions from one photo upload
Depop is using generative AI to take the legwork out of listing an item for sale: sellers can now populate every aspect of a product listing, from item attributes to a listing description, simply by uploading one photo.
According to Depop, the feature uses image recognition and genAI to fill in attributes like category, colour, subcategory and brand, while the description is "designed to be authentic to the unique, colloquial tone of the Depop community" and will incorporate relevant hashtags.
To use the new feature, sellers simply upload an image of their item and use the "Generate Description" button. The listing generation tool is currently available only to users in English-speaking countries, such as the US, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and Canada.
Depop is far from the only retail platform putting generative AI to work in this way. M&S recently revealed that it was using generative AI to create 80% of its product descriptions as part of a suite of online improvements. Nescafé has also reportedly improved its online visibility by correcting and enhancing its product catalogue with the help of multiple LLMs.
The huge benefit to applying generative AI in this way - other than saving time and effort - is that brands and retailers can anticipate and cater to a much wider range of ways that customers may search for products, intuiting the intent behind a search even when the keywords or terms are not an exact match.
Related: More reads on AI
Greggs never misses with its product tie-ins and social strategy
If you were on the ball, you might have bagged some sausage roll stud earrings or a Greggs signet ring this morning. The bakery’s first jewellery line, Baked in Gold, handcrafted by British artist Dion Kitson, sold out an hour after being promoted on socials.
Greggs’ position at the heart of Britishcore is not in doubt.
Asos reportedly rejected an offer from Shein for its Topshop brands
It has been revealed that Asos rejected an offer for its Topshop and Topman brands from Chinese fast fashion powerhouse Shein and brand management company Authentic Brands Group (ABG), the parent behind brands such as Reebok and Forever 21. The parties were reportedly on the brink of agreeing to a deal before Asos decided not to go forward, announcing the sale of a 75% stake to Heartland instead.
In 2023, Shein acquired a third of Forever 21's operating group, Sparc Group, and launched a joint line of apparel; later that same year, it acquired the Missguided brand from Britain's Frasers Group.
However, despite the size of the offer from Shein and ABG, Asos may have felt that Heartland was more compatible with its long-term vision for Topshop, along with the fact that Shein is an online rival seeking to gain a foothold in the UK.
Ocado joins the retail media race with self-serve platform
The online retailer has launched Ocado Ads, with self-serve functionality, offsite targeting, including social media and connected TV, and a new product development (NPD) service billed as “the fastest NPD in the UK”. This marks out Ocado’s new retail media offering as potentially one of the more sophisticated in the UK.
Its new Ads Manager platform has been developed in partnership with Zitcha, with measurement powered by Beet, the retailer’s self-serve insights platform, alongside a commitment to follow IAB standards on its metrics roadmap.
Ocado says it is “aiming to be the home of test and learn for grocery advertising”.
Jack Johnson, Head of Ocado Ads at Ocado Retail said: “We encourage all our suppliers to grow with us and so we’ve created Ocado Ads with a view to providing another growth engine for brands. Ocado has been an innovative and disruptive force in the industry since its creation and we believe this will boost our approach to retail media.”
Related: More reads on retail media.
John Lewis Partnership H1 results highlights retail experience focus
John Lewis Partnership is reporting a "marked improvement" in its first half results for 2024, released yesterday, and has announced that it is "on track to deliver significantly higher profits for the full year".
The 'Never Knowingly Undersold' price promise has been "reimagined" for the online era, with John Lewis comparing products across 25 major UK retailers both in-store and online "with the help of AI technology".
The retailer has also doubled down on customer experience in its department stores with investment in more customer service training, more staff to serve on the shop floor, with new equipment in the form of digital headsets.
In its results statement, John Lewis noted that while sales in the first half of 2024 were down by 3%, customer numbers had grown by 2% and its customer experience ratings and NPS had both improved on the back of "an investment in our Partners and technology to enhance customer service." |
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