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retailzposblog · 6 months

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Explore Latest Trends in Retail Point-of-Sale (POS) Software

Explore Latest Trends in Retail Point-of-Sale (POS) Software

Retail POS systems have shifted from just processing transactions to becoming the actual pillar of modern operations in fast-paced retail operations. The retail Point of Sale (POS) software market is evolving alongside technological advancements. Retailers, nowadays, are looking for ways to run their businesses more efficiently by leveraging data intelligence. This blog will discuss seven current trends shaping the fast-paced retail POS software industry. This blog will help discover how business owners can track transactions, inventory, and customer data from Cloud computing-based systems to mobile integrations and advanced analytics. These trends are the essence of POS software that has turned the retail experience into something unique. This report provides a blueprint of the changing retail landscape, which businesses can use to make sound decisions when continuing to dominate this competitive market.

Cloud-Based POS Systems

The revolution in the retail industry is thanks to cloud-based POS systems providing unmatched skillfulness, scalability, and accessibility that permit businesses to operate from any place. With several advantages, cloud computing POS systems offer convenience and assist in updating software, increasing data security, and giving instant analytics. These systems are helpful for small and medium-sized businesses that use POS systems equipped with more advanced functionality for expensive on-site systems. Similarly, they set the stage for a smooth application interoperability that eventually leads to a complete solution for retail.

Mobile POS (mPOS) Integration

The perfect combination of mobile devices with mPOS (Mobile POS) systems has opened up an era beyond the traditional checkout limitations. The workforce can conveniently handle transactions, track inventory levels, and uninterruptedly communicate with customers with the latest tablets and smartphones. Improving purchase speed and employee assistance on the shop floor increases customer satisfaction. The retail POS software market is fast to integrate with mPOS integration, resulting in increasing demand for simple and intuitive in-store operations. Besides, mobile-based POS systems help CRM by capturing crucial data on purchase behavior and requirements of customers.

Contactless Payments and Digital Wallets

The demand for contactless payments and digital wallets has emerged because of their embedded safety and security features. Retail point of service (POS) systems are revolutionizing to embrace a variety of payments, with NFC and scannable QR codes being some examples. Retailers have to integrate their POS system with digital wallets to cope with the demands and requirements of consumers. Adopting contactless payments helps the transaction process smoother, and retail outlets stand out in the modern payment arena. The fact that contactless payment instruments remove the necessity of personal interaction and contribute to safety in the stores.

Data Analytics For Informed Decision-Making

Data-driven decision-making is the key to achievement of success in modern retail business. It is the POS systems that provide decision-makers with these findings. Innovative retail POS software combines complex analytical tools that unveil new aspects of customer behavior, inventory, and sales trends. With access to such information, retailers can enhance their pricing strategies, improve inventory planning, and provide customized customer experiences. With access to such information, retailers can enhance their pricing strategies, improve inventory planning, and provide customized customer experiences. It is worth noting that data analytics has become an essential aspect of POS systems. It indicates that the industry is now emphasizing critical thinking and decision-making skills. By leveraging accurate forecasting tools, businesses can determine the optimal time to sell their goods and services, resulting in greater profitability.

Omnichannel Integration

The boundaries between online and offline retail need to be clarified, requiring POS software to support seamless omnichannel experiences. Retailers enjoy POS — Point of Sale System in their retail stores that integrate faster with e-commerce platforms, enabling common inventory control, order fulfillment, and data management from any channel. This integration supports the omnichannel strategy, which develops customer loyalty and assists retailers to optimize their operations. Furthermore, integrated omnichannel strengthens marketing activities by providing the opportunity for targeted promotions and recommendations of offerings tailored to customer interests and previous purchases.

Enhanced Security Features

Securing Point of Sale (POS) systems has become crucial for retail businesses due to the increasing prevalence of cyber threats. The introduction of advanced security features such as end-to-end encryption, tokenization, and biometric authentication in POS software provides reliable protection for sensitive customer and transaction data. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance is part of the security controls put in place. Addressing concerns about data theft is key to maintaining customer trust during this global phenomenon. Also, the additional security arrangements inspire their confidence in consumers, and they remain loyal to the brand for a long time.

Subscription-Based Pricing Models

The retail industry’s point-of-sale software management is transforming subscription-based pricing. The subscription model provides retailers with high flexibility, scalability, and cost predictability. The shift in this trend allows the SaaS community to install new software updates, elements, and support capabilities without down payments. Subscription-based pricing enables businesses to scale POS systems according to their growth. Additionally, subscription programs establish customer loyalty by providing continuous technical support and product upgrades that guarantee a hassle-free and enjoyable experience.

Conclusion:

The retail industry is undergoing significant transformations, all thanks to the advancement of technology. This technological revolution is changing buyers’ expectations, and retailers are ready to adapt to these changes in various ways. One of the emerging trends in the retail point-of-sale software industry is the adoption of cloud-based POS solutions, which offer improved security features and subscription-based pricing models. These trends signify a new way of managing businesses for retailers and a change in how they interact with their customers. By embracing these trends, businesses provide better customer service, attract new customers, and develop innovative solutions that cater to the requirements of consumers. Since the retail industry is evolving, companies must keep up with the latest trends and technologies, such as retail POS software, to improve sales and foster innovation. By embracing innovation and staying ahead of the curve, retailers can successfully navigate the digital era and a constantly changing world.

#retail pos software #retail pos system #mobile pos system #cloud-pos-solution #point of sale system #pos-software-solution #pos-system-solution #cloud-based-pos-solution #smoke-shop-pos #liquor-store-pos #cbd-store-pos #smok-shop-pos

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unlockingthefuture · 9 months

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Retail Become a game-changer in Retail

The Internet of Things is a very important phenomenon for Industry 4.0. The Internet of Things makes life easier for people. Today we see the effect of the Internet of Things in many systems. The world industry has started to move within the framework of the 4.0 revolution. Especially under retail IoT and Smart Equipments are being used extensively to improve customer experience. The DataTech Labs Inc leverages IoT in a way that you can benefit from digital connectivity, data collection, smart stores in order to retain business and increase revenues.

#iot #Market Products #Artificial Intelligence #Perform Retail #Developing Mobile Applications #Customer Chatbots #Robotic Store #Product Recommendation Engines

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rapidpricer · 1 year

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Changing Landscape of European Retail

Written By: Jagriti Shahi

Figure: Growth of retail in Europe

The retail industry in Europe has undergone significant transformations in recent years, driven by changing consumer preferences, technological advancements, and global economic shifts. From traditional brick-and-mortar stores to e-commerce giants, European retail has seen a remarkable evolution. In this article, we will explore the key trends shaping the changing landscape of European retail and how businesses are adapting to stay competitive in this dynamic environment. The retail sector in Europe is the largest in the world, with a turnover of over €2 trillion in 2021. The sector employs over 20 million people and accounts for about 10% of the EU's GDP. The retail sector in Europe is highly fragmented, with a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, there are also a number of large multinational retailers operating in the market, such as Carrefour, Tesco, and IKEA.

Figure: Growth of retail in Europe

The retail sector in Europe is facing a number of challenges, including the rise of e-commerce, the changing demographics of consumers, and the increasing adoption of new technologies. The rise of e-commerce is one of the most significant challenges facing the retail sector in Europe. In 2021, online retail sales in Europe reached €768 billion, accounting for 16.1% of total retail sales. This growth is being driven by a number of factors, including the increasing availability of high-speed internet, the growing popularity of mobile shopping, and the convenience of online shopping.

Traditional brick-and-mortar retailers are struggling to compete with the convenience and lower prices of online retailers. In order to survive, traditional retailers are investing in their online presence and offering omnichannel experiences that allow customers to shop online and in-store. The demographics of European consumers are also changing, which is having an impact on the retail landscape. The population is aging, with more people over the age of 65. This group is increasingly active and affluent, and they are looking for different products and services than younger consumers. They are also more likely to shop online.

Another demographic trend is the increasing diversity of the European population. This is leading to a demand for more ethnic food and clothing stores. Retailers are also adapting their marketing and advertising to reach these new customer groups.

New technologies are also having a major impact on the retail landscape. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) is growing, and these technologies are being used to improve the customer experience in a number of ways. For example, AI can be used to personalize recommendations, AR can be used to try on clothes virtually, and VR can be used to create immersive shopping experiences. The adoption of new technologies is also creating new opportunities for retailers. For example, retailers can use data analytics to track customer behavior and improve their marketing and product offerings. They can also use social media to connect with customers and build relationships.

The future of European retail is uncertain, but it is clear that the industry is undergoing a major transformation. The rise of e-commerce, the changing demographics of consumers, and the increasing adoption of new technologies are all having a major impact on the way people shop. Retailers that are able to adapt to these changes will be the ones that are successful in the future.

Figure: Brick-and-Mortar stores

Figure: Number of brick-and-mortar in Europe over time

Figure: Department stores

Department stores: Department stores are large stores that sell a variety of products, such as clothing, home goods, and electronics. Some of the most famous department stores in Europe include Galeries Lafayette in Paris, Selfridges in London, and El Corte Inglés in Madrid.

Figure: Independent retailers

Independent retailers: Independent retailers are small, privately owned businesses that sell a variety of products. These retailers often have a strong local presence and offer a unique shopping experience.

Figure: Markets

Markets: Markets are a great place to find fresh produce, meats, cheeses, and other local products. Many European cities have traditional markets that have been operating for centuries.

Figure: Outlet

Outlet malls: Outlet malls are a great place to find discounted name-brand clothing, shoes, and accessories. These malls are often located in tourist destinations.

Figure: Warehouse clubs

Warehouse clubs: Warehouse clubs are membership-only stores that sell a variety of products in bulk. These clubs are a great place to find discounts on groceries, household goods, and other items.

Traditional retail is still a major part of the retail landscape in Europe, and it is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. These stores offer a unique shopping experience that cannot be replicated online. In addition, many traditional retailers are adapting to the changing retail landscape by investing in their online presence and offering omnichannel shopping experiences.

The European Retail Landscape

Europe boasts a diverse and rich retail heritage, with traditional shops, boutiques, and markets dating back centuries. These establishments have played a significant role in local economies, offering consumers a wide range of goods and personalized shopping experiences.

Challenges in the Digital Age: Traditional retail in Europe has felt the impact of the digital age. The rapid growth of e-commerce giants like Amazon, along with the convenience of online shopping, has led to a decline in foot traffic at brick-and-mortar stores. Consumers now have access to a vast array of products with the click of a button, making it essential for traditional retailers to adapt.

The Omnichannel Approach: Many traditional European retailers are responding to the digital challenge by adopting an omnichannel approach. This strategy combines physical stores with an online presence, offering consumers a seamless shopping experience. Retailers are investing in e-commerce websites, mobile apps, and in-store technology to bridge the gap between offline and online shopping.

Customer Experience and Personalization: One advantage traditional retailers have over e-commerce is the ability to provide a unique and personalized customer experience. Many European consumers still value the tactile, sensory experience of shopping in a physical store. Traditional retailers are focusing on creating welcoming and interactive environments, offering personalized service, and curating their product selections to cater to local tastes.

Sustainability and Localism: In response to consumer demand for sustainability and ethical shopping, traditional European retailers are emphasizing their commitment to local sourcing and environmentally friendly practices. Some are rediscovering the benefits of locally-produced goods, promoting them as eco-friendly alternatives to mass-produced items. This aligns with the rising trend of supporting local businesses and reducing the carbon footprint associated with global supply chains.

Cultural and Historical Significance: Traditional retail establishments often hold cultural and historical significance in European communities. Many have been in operation for generations, serving as cornerstones of local culture. These stores are cherished by residents and tourists alike, and efforts are made to preserve their historical authenticity while integrating modern retail practices.

Government Support: Some European governments recognize the importance of preserving traditional retail and are offering support through grants, subsidies, and regulatory measures. These initiatives aim to bolster traditional retail against the encroachment of e-commerce and maintain the vibrancy of city centers.

Conclusion

Traditional retail in Europe is at a crossroads. While it faces challenges from the digital age and changing consumer preferences, it also has unique advantages rooted in history, culture, and personalized shopping experiences. To thrive in today's retail landscape, traditional retailers must embrace technology, adopt an omnichannel approach, focus on customer experience, and align with sustainability and localism trends. In doing so, traditional European retail can not only survive but also continue to offer consumers a distinctive and cherished shopping experience that reflects the rich tapestry of Europe's retail heritage. By adapting to the evolving market while preserving their unique qualities, traditional retailers can continue to play a vital role in the continent's commercial landscape.

The changing demographics of consumers

The demographics of European consumers are also changing, which is having an impact on the retail landscape. The population is aging, with more people over the age of 65. This group is increasingly active and affluent, and they are looking for different products and services than younger consumers. They are also more likely to shop online.

Here are some specific examples of how the changing demographics of consumers are impacting the retail industry in Europe:

The aging population is leading to a demand for more accessible and convenient shopping options. This is driving the growth of online grocery delivery and click-and-collect services.

The increasing diversity of the population is leading to a demand for more ethnic food and clothing stores. This is also leading to a demand for products and services that cater to the needs of diverse cultures, such as halal food and bilingual customer service.

The rise of the digital native is leading to a demand for more personalized and engaging shopping experiences. This is driving the growth of mobile commerce and augmented reality (AR) shopping.

The changing role of women is leading to a demand for more flexible shopping hours and options for online shopping. This is also leading to a demand for more products and services that are designed for women, such as maternity clothing and baby products.

The growing importance of sustainability is leading to a demand for more sustainable products and services. This is driving the growth of organic food, fair trade clothing, and recycled packaging.

The increasing adoption of new technologies

Figure: The increasing adoption of new technologies

As you can see, the percentage of people in Europe using the internet has been increasing steadily over the past two decades. This is due to a number of factors, including the increasing availability of high-speed internet, the falling cost of computers and smartphones, and the growing popularity of online services.

The increasing adoption of new technologies is having a major impact on the retail industry in Europe. Here are some of the key technologies that are being adopted by retailers in Europe:

Artificial intelligence (AI): AI is being used to improve a variety of tasks in the retail industry, such as customer service, inventory management, and fraud detection. For example, AI can be used to analyze customer data to personalize recommendations, or to predict which products are likely to be in high demand.

Augmented reality (AR): AR is being used to create immersive shopping experiences that allow customers to try on clothes virtually or see how furniture would look in their home. For example, IKEA has an AR app that allows customers to see how its furniture would look in their living room.

Virtual reality (VR): VR is being used to create even more immersive shopping experiences that allow customers to virtually visit stores and try on products. For example, Amazon has a VR store that allows customers to browse its products and make purchases.

Internet of Things (IoT): IoT is being used to connect devices and collect data about customer behavior. This data can be used to improve a variety of tasks, such as inventory management and customer service. For example, retailers can use IoT sensors to track the movement of products in stores and to identify when products are running low.

Blockchain: Blockchain is being used to create secure and transparent supply chains. This can help retailers to ensure the authenticity of their products and to track their products from the source to the customer. For example, Walmart is using blockchain to track the supply chain of its food products.

These are just some of the key technologies that are being adopted by retailers in Europe. The adoption of these technologies is helping retailers to improve their efficiency, personalize the customer experience, and create a more sustainable supply chain.

E-Commerce Dominance

One of the most profound shifts in European retail has been the rise of e-commerce. Consumers now have the convenience of shopping online from the comfort of their homes, and this trend has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Major players like Amazon, Alibaba, and local champions such as Zalando and ASOS have expanded their reach across Europe, reshaping consumer behavior and expectations. Retailers have had to invest heavily in their online presence, enhancing websites, mobile apps, and supply chain logistics to meet the demand for digital shopping. Additionally, omnichannel strategies have become essential, allowing consumers to seamlessly switch between online and offline shopping experiences.

E-commerce dominance refers to the growing market share of online retailers over traditional brick-and-mortar stores. This trend is being driven by a number of factors, including the increasing availability of high-speed internet, the growing popularity of mobile shopping, and the convenience of online shopping. In Europe, e-commerce sales are expected to reach €768 billion in 2022, accounting for 16.1% of total retail sales. This growth is being driven by the increasing adoption of online shopping by consumers across all demographics.

There are a number of reasons why e-commerce is becoming so dominant. First, the availability of high-speed internet has made it possible for consumers to shop online quickly and easily. Second, the popularity of mobile shopping has made it possible for consumers to shop online from anywhere. Third, the convenience of online shopping is unmatched by traditional brick-and-mortar stores. Consumers can shop online 24/7, compare prices from different retailers, and have products delivered to their door. The rise of e-commerce is having a major impact on the retail industry. Traditional brick-and-mortar stores are facing increasing competition from online retailers, and many are struggling to compete. In order to survive, traditional retailers need to adapt to the changing retail landscape by investing in their online presence and offering omnichannel shopping experiences.

Figure: Share of online retail sales in Europe over time

As you can see, the share of online retail sales in Europe has been increasing steadily in recent years. This is due to the increasing popularity of online shopping, which is more convenient and offers a wider selection of products. The share of online retail sales is expected to continue to increase in the coming years. However, it is important to note that not all countries are affected equally. For example, the share of online retail sales is higher in Northern Europe than in Southern Europe. The future of online retail in Europe is bright. The growth of online shopping is being driven by a number of factors, including the increasing availability of high-speed internet, the growing popularity of smartphones and tablets, and the increasing convenience of online shopping.

Sustainability and Ethical Consumption

The European retail landscape is witnessing a significant shift towards sustainability and ethical consumption. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental and social impact of their purchases. Retailers are responding by adopting eco-friendly practices, sourcing sustainable products, and promoting transparency in their supply chains.

Fashion brands, in particular, have made strides in sustainable fashion, with initiatives like "slow fashion" and clothing rental services gaining popularity. European consumers are favoring products that are produced responsibly and have a lower environmental footprint, and retailers are aligning their strategies with these values.

Personalization and Data Analytics

Data analytics and artificial intelligence are playing a crucial role in the transformation of European retail. Retailers are harnessing the power of big data to gain insights into consumer behavior, preferences, and shopping habits. This data-driven approach allows them to personalize marketing efforts, optimize inventory management, and enhance the overall shopping experience.

Personalized recommendations, targeted advertising, and tailored promotions are becoming the norm in the industry. Retailers are using predictive analytics to forecast trends and adjust their product offerings accordingly, ensuring they stay ahead of consumer demands.

Pop-Up Stores and Experiential Retail

While online shopping continues to grow, physical stores are not becoming obsolete. Instead, retailers are reimagining the in-store experience to attract and engage customers. Pop-up stores and experiential retail spaces are gaining popularity, offering unique and immersive experiences that cannot be replicated online.

These temporary stores allow retailers to test new products and connect with customers on a more personal level. They often incorporate interactive elements, such as virtual reality experiences or live demonstrations, to create memorable moments for shoppers.

Cross-Border Expansion

European retailers are increasingly looking beyond their home markets for growth opportunities. Cross-border expansion has become a viable strategy for many companies seeking to tap into new customer bases and diversify revenue streams. The European Union's single market has facilitated this expansion by reducing trade barriers and harmonizing regulations.

Furthermore, technology has made it easier for retailers to reach international customers through e-commerce platforms and digital marketing. As a result, many European brands are expanding their presence into neighboring countries and even outside of Europe, creating a more competitive and globalized retail landscape.

Post COVID European Retail

The retail industry in Europe is undergoing a period of change after COVID. The pandemic has accelerated the shift to online shopping, and brick-and-mortar stores are struggling to compete. Retailers are responding by adopting new technologies, such as AR and VR, and by offering more convenient shopping experiences, such as BOPIS. The industry is also focusing on sustainability, as consumers are increasingly demanding sustainable products and services.

Conclusion

The changing landscape of European retail is characterized by the rapid growth of e-commerce, a focus on sustainability and ethical consumption, data-driven personalization, experiential in-store experiences, and cross-border expansion. Retailers that adapt to these trends and embrace digital transformation are likely to thrive in this dynamic environment.

The future of European retail will continue to be shaped by evolving consumer preferences and technological innovations. To stay relevant, retailers must remain agile, customer-centric, and committed to ethical and sustainable practices. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be exciting to see how retailers innovate and compete in this ever-changing landscape.

About RapidPricer

RapidPricer helps automate pricing, promotions and assortment for retailers. The company has capabilities in retail pricing, artificial intelligence and deep learning to compute merchandising actions for real-time execution in a retail environment.

Contact info:

Website: https://www.rapidpricer.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rapidpricer/

Email: [email protected]

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pazotaskmanagement · 2 years

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#task management solution #b2b saas #retail operation software #retail task management tool #task management system #mobile app #software #productivity #operations management #management checklist #retail store operation #retail software #retail management checlist #Pazo - best task management software

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reportwire · 2 years

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Entrepreneur | 3 Ecommerce Myths to Know Before Starting An Online Business

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. I co-founded an ecommerce site for women-owned businesses in the spring of 2020. Like most people, I saw daily news about how the pandemic disproportionately affected women. Women were leaving or losing their jobs as schools and businesses closed, and the world moved to online shopping. I knew that I had to be proactive, and there…

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#Building Your Online Presence #Business models #ecommerce #Ecommerce Strategies #Entrepreneurs #Growing a Business #Marketing #Mobile Ecommerce #Online Retail #Online shopping #Online Stores

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loveinstore0 · 2 years

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Are you a retailer? Do you often think about improving your retail business and attracting more customers? Heard about mobile apps for retail but need to figure out what business benefits they bring?

#mobile app for retail store #retail sales app

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fuck-customers · 4 days

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Wtf is with my stupid ass manager's aversion to pricing?

We work in a RETAIL STORE that sells products for MONEY. If customers aren't able to find a price, they will not buy things. And/or they will take stuff halfway through the store and then decide it's not worth the effort to ask the cashier for a price check and leave the product(s) in some random wrong place.

And printing out price tags is just about the easiest thing to do. You go into the handheld, go to the "price tags" app, scan the product and the tag automatically prints from the mobile printer. And as a bonus, it's a sticker, so you just fucking stick it on the product. A baby could do it. It could not possibly be easier.

ALSO when we are shipped new products from the warehouse, inside the box is a page of sticker price tags that go with the products in said box. Just fucking tag as you stock. It could not possibly be easier.

But no, management separates the new stock from the tags and does who knows what with the tags (probably throw them away) and stock products with no prices.

Posted by admin Rodney

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mostlysignssomeportents · 2 years

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Tiktok's enshittification

Here is how platforms die: first, they are good to their users; then they abuse their users to make things better for their business customers; finally, they abuse those business customers to claw back all the value for themselves. Then, they die.

If you’d like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here’s a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/21/potemkin-ai/#hey-guys

I call this enshittification, and it is a seemingly inevitable consequence arising from the combination of the ease of changing how a platform allocates value, combined with the nature of a “two sided market,” where a platform sits between buyers and sellers, hold each hostage to the other, raking off an ever-larger share of the value that passes between them.

When a platform starts, it needs users, so it makes itself valuable to users. Think of Amazon: for many years, it operated at a loss, using its access to the capital markets to subsidize everything you bought. It sold goods below cost and shipped them below cost. It operated a clean and useful search. If you searched for a product, Amazon tried its damndest to put it at the top of the search results.

This was a hell of a good deal for Amazon’s customers. Lots of us piled in, and lots of brick-and-mortar retailers withered and died, making it hard to go elsewhere. Amazon sold us ebooks and audiobooks that were permanently locked to its platform with DRM, so that every dollar we spent on media was a dollar we’d have to give up if we deleted Amazon and its apps. And Amazon sold us Prime, getting us to pre-pay for a year’s worth of shipping. Prime customers start their shopping on Amazon, and 90% of the time, they don’t search anywhere else.

That tempted in lots of business customers — Marketplace sellers who turned Amazon into the “everything store” it had promised from the beginning. As these sellers piled in, Amazon shifted to subsidizing suppliers. Kindle and Audible creators got generous packages. Marketplace sellers reached huge audiences and Amazon took low commissions from them.

This strategy meant that it became progressively harder for shoppers to find things anywhere except Amazon, which meant that they only searched on Amazon, which meant that sellers had to sell on Amazon.

That’s when Amazon started to harvest the surplus from its business customers and send it to Amazon’s shareholders. Today, Marketplace sellers are handing 45%+ of the sale price to Amazon in junk fees. The company’s $31b “advertising” program is really a payola scheme that pits sellers against each other, forcing them to bid on the chance to be at the top of your search.

Searching Amazon doesn’t produce a list of the products that most closely match your search, it brings up a list of products whose sellers have paid the most to be at the top of that search. Those fees are built into the cost you pay for the product, and Amazon’s “Most Favored Nation” requirement sellers means that they can’t sell more cheaply elsewhere, so Amazon has driven prices at every retailer.

Search Amazon for “cat beds” and the entire first screen is ads, including ads for products Amazon cloned from its own sellers, putting them out of business (third parties have to pay 45% in junk fees to Amazon, but Amazon doesn’t charge itself these fees). All told, the first five screens of results for “cat bed” are 50% ads.

https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/28/enshittification/#relentless-payola

This is enshittification: surpluses are first directed to users; then, once they’re locked in, surpluses go to suppliers; then once they’re locked in, the surplus is handed to shareholders and the platform becomes a useless pile of shit. From mobile app stores to Steam, from Facebook to Twitter, this is the enshittification lifecycle.

This is why — as Cat Valente wrote in her magesterial pre-Christmas essay — platforms like Prodigy transformed themselves overnight, from a place where you went for social connection to a place where you were expected to “stop talking to each other and start buying things”:

https://catvalente.substack.com/p/stop-talking-to-each-other-and-start

This shell-game with surpluses is what happened to Facebook. First, Facebook was good to you: it showed you the things the people you loved and cared about had to say. This created a kind of mutual hostage-taking: once a critical mass of people you cared about were on Facebook, it became effectively impossible to leave, because you’d have to convince all of them to leave too, and agree on where to go. You may love your friends, but half the time you can’t agree on what movie to see and where to go for dinner. Forget it.

Then, it started to cram your feed full of posts from accounts you didn’t follow. At first, it was media companies, who Facebook preferentially crammed down its users’ throats so that they would click on articles and send traffic to newspapers, magazines and blogs.

Then, once those publications were dependent on Facebook for their traffic, it dialed down their traffic. First, it choked off traffic to publications that used Facebook to run excerpts with links to their own sites, as a way of driving publications into supplying fulltext feeds inside Facebook’s walled garden.

This made publications truly dependent on Facebook — their readers no longer visited the publications’ websites, they just tuned into them on Facebook. The publications were hostage to those readers, who were hostage to each other. Facebook stopped showing readers the articles publications ran, tuning The Algorithm to suppress posts from publications unless they paid to “boost” their articles to the readers who had explicitly subscribed to them and asked Facebook to put them in their feeds.

Now, Facebook started to cram more ads into the feed, mixing payola from people you wanted to hear from with payola from strangers who wanted to commandeer your eyeballs. It gave those advertisers a great deal, charging a pittance to target their ads based on the dossiers of nonconsensually harvested personal data they’d stolen from you.

Sellers became dependent on Facebook, too, unable to carry on business without access to those targeted pitches. That was Facebook’s cue to jack up ad prices, stop worrying so much about ad fraud, and to collude with Google to rig the ad market through an illegal program called Jedi Blue:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jedi_Blue

Today, Facebook is terminally enshittified, a terrible place to be whether you’re a user, a media company, or an advertiser. It’s a company that deliberately demolished a huge fraction of the publishers it relied on, defrauding them into a “pivot to video” based on false claims of the popularity of video among Facebook users. Companies threw billions into the pivot, but the viewers never materialized, and media outlets folded in droves:

https://slate.com/technology/2018/10/facebook-online-video-pivot-metrics-false.html

But Facebook has a new pitch. It claims to be called Meta, and it has demanded that we live out the rest of our days as legless, sexless, heavily surveilled low-poly cartoon characters.

It has promised companies that make apps for this metaverse that it won’t rug them the way it did the publishers on the old Facebook. It remains to be seen whether they’ll get any takers. As Mark Zuckerberg once candidly confessed to a peer, marvelling at all of his fellow Harvard students who sent their personal information to his new website “TheFacebook”:

> I don’t know why.

> They “trust me”

> Dumb fucks.

https://doctorow.medium.com/metaverse-means-pivot-to-video-adbe09319038

Once you understand the enshittification pattern, a lot of the platform mysteries solve themselves. Think of the SEO market, or the whole energetic world of online creators who spend endless hours engaged in useless platform Kremlinology, hoping to locate the algorithmic tripwires, which, if crossed, doom the creative works they pour their money, time and energy into:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/04/11/coercion-v-cooperation/#the-machine-is-listening

Working for the platform can be like working for a boss who takes money out of every paycheck for all the rules you broke, but who won’t tell you what those rules are because if he told you that, then you’d figure out how to break those rules without him noticing and docking your pay. Content moderation is the only domain where security through obscurity is considered a best practice:

https://doctorow.medium.com/como-is-infosec-307f87004563

The situation is so dire that organizations like Tracking Exposed have enlisted an human army of volunteers and a robot army of headless browsers to try to unwind the logic behind the arbitrary machine judgments of The Algorithm, both to give users the option to tune the recommendations they receive, and to help creators avoid the wage theft that comes from being shadow banned:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/05/tracking-exposed-demanding-gods-explain-themselves

But what if there is no underlying logic? Or, more to the point, what if the logic shifts based on the platform’s priorities? If you go down to the midway at your county fair, you’ll spot some poor sucker walking around all day with a giant teddy bear that they won by throwing three balls in a peach basket.

The peach-basket is a rigged game. The carny can use a hidden switch to force the balls to bounce out of the basket. No one wins a giant teddy bear unless the carny wants them to win it. Why did the carny let the sucker win the giant teddy bear? So that he’d carry it around all day, convincing other suckers to put down five bucks for their chance to win one:

https://boingboing.net/2006/08/27/rigged-carny-game.html

The carny allocated a giant teddy bear to that poor sucker the way that platforms allocate surpluses to key performers — as a convincer in a “Big Store” con, a way to rope in other suckers who’ll make content for the platform, anchoring themselves and their audiences to it.

Which brings me to Tiktok. Tiktok is many different things, including “a free Adobe Premiere for teenagers that live on their phones.”

https://www.garbageday.email/p/the-fragments-of-media-you-consume

But what made it such a success early on was the power of its recommendation system. From the start, Tiktok was really, really good at recommending things to its users. Eerily good:

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1093882880

By making good-faith recommendations of things it thought its users would like, Tiktok built a mass audience, larger than many thought possible, given the death grip of its competitors, like Youtube and Instagram. Now that Tiktok has the audience, it is consolidating its gains and seeking to lure away the media companies and creators who are still stubbornly attached to Youtube and Insta.

Yesterday, Forbes’s Emily Baker-White broke a fantastic story about how that actually works inside of Bytedance, Tiktok’s parent company, citing multiple internal sources, revealing the existence of a “heating tool” that Tiktok employees use push videos from select accounts into millions of viewers’ feeds:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilybaker-white/2023/01/20/tiktoks-secret-heating-button-can-make-anyone-go-viral/

These videos go into Tiktok users’ ForYou feeds, which Tiktok misleadingly describes as being populated by videos “ranked by an algorithm that predicts your interests based on your behavior in the app.” In reality, For You is only sometimes composed of videos that Tiktok thinks will add value to your experience — the rest of the time, it’s full of videos that Tiktok has inserted in order to make creators think that Tiktok is a great place to reach an audience.

“Sources told Forbes that TikTok has often used heating to court influencers and brands, enticing them into partnerships by inflating their videos’ view count. This suggests that heating has potentially benefitted some influencers and brands — those with whom TikTok has sought business relationships — at the expense of others with whom it has not.”

In other words, Tiktok is handing out giant teddy bears.

But Tiktok is not in the business of giving away giant teddy bears. Tiktok, for all that its origins are in the quasi-capitalist Chinese economy, is just another paperclip-maximizing artificial colony organism that treats human beings as inconvenient gut flora. Tiktok is only going to funnel free attention to the people it wants to entrap until they are entrapped, then it will withdraw that attention and begin to monetize it.

“Monetize” is a terrible word that tacitly admits that there is no such thing as an “Attention Economy.” You can’t use attention as a medium of exchange. You can’t use it as a store of value. You can’t use it as a unit of account. Attention is like cryptocurrency: a worthless token that is only valuable to the extent that you can trick or coerce someone into parting with “fiat” currency in exchange for it. You have to “monetize” it — that is, you have to exchange the fake money for real money.

In the case of cryptos, the main monetization strategy was deception-based. Exchanges and “projects” handed out a bunch of giant teddy-bears, creating an army of true-believer Judas goats who convinced their peers to hand the carny their money and try to get some balls into the peach-basket themselves.

But deception only produces so much “liquidity provision.” Eventually, you run out of suckers. To get lots of people to try the ball-toss, you need coercion, not persuasion. Think of how US companies ended the defined benefits pension that guaranteed you a dignified retirement, replacing it with market-based 401(k) pensions that forced you to gamble your savings in a rigged casino, making you the sucker at the table, ripe for the picking:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/07/25/derechos-humanos/#are-there-no-poorhouses

Early crypto liquidity came from ransomware. The existence of a pool of desperate, panicked companies and individuals whose data had been stolen by criminals created a baseline of crypto liquidity because they could only get their data back by trading real money for fake crypto money.

The next phase of crypto coercion was Web3: converting the web into a series of tollbooths that you could only pass through by trading real money for fake crypto money. The internet is a must-have, not a nice-to-have, a prerequisite for full participation in employment, education, family life, health, politics, civics, even romance. By holding all those things to ransom behind crypto tollbooths, the hodlers hoped to convert their tokens to real money:

https://locusmag.com/2022/09/cory-doctorow-moneylike/

For Tiktok, handing out free teddy-bears by “heating” the videos posted by skeptical performers and media companies is a way to convert them to true believers, getting them to push all their chips into the middle of the table, abandoning their efforts to build audiences on other platforms (it helps that Tiktok’s format is distinctive, making it hard to repurpose videos for Tiktok to circulate on rival platforms).

Once those performers and media companies are hooked, the next phase will begin: Tiktok will withdraw the “heating” that sticks their videos in front of people who never heard of them and haven’t asked to see their videos. Tiktok is performing a delicate dance here: there’s only so much enshittification they can visit upon their users’ feeds, and Tiktok has lots of other performers they want to give giant teddy-bears to.

Tiktok won’t just starve performers of the “free” attention by depreferencing them in the algorithm, it will actively punish them by failing to deliver their videos to the users who subscribed to them. After all, every time Tiktok shows you a video you asked to see, it loses a chance to show you a video it wants you to see, because your attention is a giant teddy-bear it can give away to a performer it is wooing.

This is just what Twitter has done as part of its march to enshittification: thanks to its “monetization” changes, the majority of people who follow you will never see the things you post. I have ~500k followers on Twitter and my threads used to routinely get hundreds of thousands or even millions of reads. Today, it’s hundreds, perhaps thousands.

I just handed Twitter $8 for Twitter Blue, because the company has strongly implied that it will only show the things I post to the people who asked to see them if I pay ransom money. This is the latest battle in one of the internet’s longest-simmering wars: the fight over end-to-end:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/12/10/e2e/#the-censors-pen

In the beginning, there were Bellheads and Netheads. The Bellheads worked for big telcos, and they believed that all the value of the network rightly belonged to the carrier. If someone invented a new feature — say, Caller ID — it should only be rolled out in a way that allows the carrier to charge you every month for its use. This is Software-As-a-Service, Ma Bell style.

The Netheads, by contrast, believed that value should move to the edges of the network — spread out, pluralized. In theory, Compuserve could have “monetized” its own version of Caller ID by making you pay $2.99 extra to see the “From:” line on email before you opened the message — charging you to know who was speaking before you started listening — but they didn’t.

The Netheads wanted to build diverse networks with lots of offers, lots of competition, and easy, low-cost switching between competitors (thanks to interoperability). Some wanted this because they believed that the net would someday be woven into the world, and they didn’t want to live in a world of rent-seeking landlords. Others were true believers in market competition as a source of innovation. Some believed both things. Either way, they saw the risk of network capture, the drive to monetization through trickery and coercion, and they wanted to head it off.

They conceived of the end-to-end principle: the idea that networks should be designed so that willing speakers’ messages would be delivered to willing listeners’ end-points as quickly and reliably as they could be. That is, irrespective of whether a network operator could make money by sending you the data it wanted to receive, its duty would be to provide you with the data you wanted to see.

The end-to-end principle is dead at the service level today. Useful idiots on the right were tricked into thinking that the risk of Twitter mismanagement was “woke shadowbanning,” whereby the things you said wouldn’t reach the people who asked to hear them because Twitter’s deep state didn’t like your opinions. The real risk, of course, is that the things you say won’t reach the people who asked to hear them because Twitter can make more money by enshittifying their feeds and charging you ransom for the privilege to be included in them.

As I said at the start of this essay, enshittification exerts a nearly irresistible gravity on platform capitalism. It’s just too easy to turn the enshittification dial up to eleven. Twitter was able to fire the majority of its skilled staff and still crank the dial all the way over, even with a skeleton crew of desperate, demoralized H1B workers who are shackled to Twitter’s sinking ship by the threat of deportation.

The temptation to enshittify is magnified by the blocks on interoperability: when Twitter bans interoperable clients, nerfs its APIs, and periodically terrorizes its users by suspending them for including their Mastodon handles in their bios, it makes it harder to leave Twitter, and thus increases the amount of enshittification users can be force-fed without risking their departure.

Twitter is not going to be a “protocol.” I’ll bet you a testicle¹ that projects like Bluesky will find no meaningful purchase on the platform, because if Bluesky were implemented and Twitter users could order their feeds for minimal enshittification and leave the service without sacrificing their social networks, it would kill the majority of Twitter’s “monetization” strategies.

¹Not one of mine.

An enshittification strategy only succeeds if it is pursued in measured amounts. Even the most locked-in user eventually reaches a breaking-point and walks away, or gets pushed. The villagers of Anatevka in Fiddler on the Roof tolerated the cossacks' violent raids and pogroms for years, until they were finally forced to flee to Krakow, New York and Chicago:

https://doctorow.medium.com/how-to-leave-dying-social-media-platforms-9fc550fe5abf

For enshittification-addled companies, that balance is hard to strike. Individual product managers, executives, and activist shareholders all give preference to quick returns at the cost of sustainability, and are in a race to see who can eat their seed-corn first. Enshittification has only lasted for as long as it has because the internet has devolved into “five giant websites, each filled with screenshots of the other four”:

https://twitter.com/tveastman/status/1069674780826071040

With the market sewn up by a group of cozy monopolists, better alternatives don’t pop up and lure us away, and if they do, the monopolists just buy them out and integrate them into your enshittification strategies, like when Mark Zuckerberg noticed a mass exodus of Facebook users who were switching to Instagram, and so he bought Instagram. As Zuck says, “It is better to buy than to compete.”

This is the hidden dynamic behind the rise and fall of Amazon Smile, the program whereby Amazon gave a small amount of money to charities of your choice when you shopped there, but only if you used Amazon’s own search tool to locate the products you purchased. This provided an incentive for Amazon customers to use its own increasingly enshittified search, which it could cram full of products from sellers who coughed up payola, as well as its own lookalike products. The alternative was to use Google, whose search tool would send you directly to the product you were looking for, and then charge Amazon a commission for sending you to it:

https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/10ft5iv/comment/j4znb8y/

The demise of Amazon Smile coincides with the increasing enshittification of Google Search, the only successful product the company managed to build in-house. All its other successes were bought from other companies: video, docs, cloud, ads, mobile; while its own products are either flops like Google Video, clones (Gmail is a Hotmail clone), or adapted from other companies’ products, like Chrome.

Google Search was based on principles set out in founder Larry Page and Sergey Brin’s landmark 1998 paper, “Anatomy of a Large-Scale Hypertextual Web Search Engine,” in which they wrote, “Advertising funded search engines will be inherently biased towards the advertisers and away from the needs of consumers.”

http://ilpubs.stanford.edu:8090/361/

Even with that foundational understanding of enshittification, Google has been unable to resist its siren song. Today’s Google results are an increasingly useless morass of self-preferencing links to its own products, ads for products that aren’t good enough to float to the top of the list on its own, and parasitic SEO junk piggybacking on the former.

Enshittification kills. Google just laid off 12,000 employees, and the company is in a full-blown “panic” over the rise of “AI” chatbots, and is making a full-court press for an AI-driven search tool — that is, a tool that won’t show you what you ask for, but rather, what it thinks you should see:

https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/20/23563851/google-search-ai-chatbot-demo-chatgpt

Now, it’s possible to imagine that such a tool will produce good recommendations, like Tiktok’s pre-enshittified algorithm did. But it’s hard to see how Google will be able to design a non-enshittified chatbot front-end to search, given the strong incentives for product managers, executives, and shareholders to enshittify results to the precise threshold at which users are nearly pissed off enough to leave, but not quite.

Even if it manages the trick, this-almost-but-not-quite-unusuable equilibrium is fragile. Any exogenous shock — a new competitor like Tiktok that penetrates the anticompetitive “moats and walls” of Big Tech, a privacy scandal, a worker uprising — can send it into wild oscillations:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/08/watch-the-surpluses/#exogenous-shocks

Enshittification truly is how platforms die. That’s fine, actually. We don’t need eternal rulers of the internet. It’s okay for new ideas and new ways of working to emerge. The emphasis of lawmakers and policymakers shouldn’t be preserving the crepuscular senescence of dying platforms. Rather, our policy focus should be on minimizing the cost to users when these firms reach their expiry date: enshrining rights like end-to-end would mean that no matter how autocannibalistic a zombie platform became, willing speakers and willing listeners would still connect with each other:

https://doctorow.medium.com/end-to-end-d6046dca366f

And policymakers should focus on freedom of exit — the right to leave a sinking platform while continuing to stay connected to the communities that you left behind, enjoying the media and apps you bought, and preserving the data you created:

https://www.eff.org/interoperablefacebook

The Netheads were right: technological self-determination is at odds with the natural imperatives of tech businesses. They make more money when they take away our freedom — our freedom to speak, to leave, to connect.

For many years, even Tiktok’s critics grudgingly admitted that no matter how surveillant and creepy it was, it was really good at guessing what you wanted to see. But Tiktok couldn’t resist the temptation to show you the things it wants you to see, rather than what you want to see. The enshittification has begun, and now it is unlikely to stop.

It's too late to save Tiktok. Now that it has been infected by enshittifcation, the only thing left is to kill it with fire.

[Image ID: Hansel and Gretel in front of the witch's candy house. Hansel and Gretel have been replaced with line-drawings of influencers, taking selfies of themselves with the candy house. In front of the candy house stands a portly man in a business suit; his head is a sack of money with a dollar-sign on it. He wears a crooked witch's hat. The cottage has the Tiktok logo on it.]

#pluralistic #Lauren Leffer #tiktok #surplus allocation #fauximation #potemkin ai #the algorithm #creative labor #algorithms exposed #enshittification #bytedance #giant teddy bears #convincers #big store con #pivot to video #scissor bucket #Emily Baker-White

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namastenetindia · 22 days

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lonely-north-star · 2 months

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jewelry maker mammon x retail worker mc pt 2

hi guys, two people asked for part two and now I'm here. Did not expect people to find enjoyment in this.

Part one above, not sure how to shorten it on mobile. Once again, this is me projecting onto my MC because I'm not suffering alone. Anyway, more craft store silliness !!

-Mammon attends the hiring event, dressed in a button down shirt and his hair combed. It's his Lucky Interview Outfit™

-He's kinda nervous because he really would like to work here and doesn't want to blow his chance

-The store manager recognizes him, and Mammon can't tell if this is good or bad

-Good because he's already got him laughing, and it helps brush over the fact that there's a few gaps in his resume

-The manager admits he had hoped to see Mammon there and it's good to put a name to a face

-Asks Mammon what he wants to work as, which Mammon kinda shrugs at, saying he's pretty flexible, but reminds him he's already good with the beads

-Says they'll label him as a floor person and put him anywhere as needed

-His first day is filled with training which he finds extremely boring until MC comes in to the break room

-She stops in her tracks and is stunned to see him there, before she recovers and smiles at him

"You're gonna work here now?"

"Nah, they just gave me a vest and name badge for nothing."

-She huffs and side eyes him as she grabs her equipment, rolling her eyes when she puts her bag away. Turns around, handing him a yellow star sticker

"For your badge."

-Suddenly he's even more eager to finish training and get to work

-His first days, he works short shifts during her hours and trains on the register (because everyone needs to know they claim)

-MC falls short of shaking him, sternly telling him to ask questions, no, she will not get mad. Yes, she may look irritated but she always looks like that. She'd rather you ask.

-They let him take over on his third day and he has great interactions with every customer

-He gets two credit card applications immediately. Had to walkie for help because he knew the script, but not the process (because no one ever gets them)

-The manager group chat receives a single photo of his tally sheet from the store manager because "Five sign ups! Three protection plans! Where has this cashier been my whole career? 🔥"

-He quickly becomes a favorite because of how good his numbers are

-No one knows how he does it but as long as higher ups aren't breathing down their neck everyone is happy

-It's because he's extremely motivated by the sticker rewards MC gives out. They're scented

-He might be good at the register but he hates staying up there when it's slow because he feels trapped. He can only recover the queue line so much guys

-Will beg to go on the floor if he's met the goal for the week and there's another person scheduled. Or will work to make the goal first and then beg to switch places

-On Fridays he works mornings in order to do jewelry repacks (Repacks are boxes of mixed products that get sent to us that we have to sort into other boxes by department. These things are like 12 x 10 x 20 inches maybe?)

-They are PACKED with products. The strung beads specifically come wrapped in bubble wrap or sealed bags by the SKU. Same goes for other products like findings, wire, and string. You spend a lot of time ripping open the package, pulling it out, scanning it, and then putting it on the shelf

-But see, Mammon knows these aisles better than the back of his hand. He doesn't need the scanner

-He'll unwrap handfuls at a time of strung beads and immediately start putting them out. Anything that goes in the next aisle he doesn't touch because he will not be walking back and forth, he's going to gather it all up and do it at once

-He spends barely an hour on each box, and once he's done, he admires any of the new items that came in. As a treat.

-Replen manager comes to check on him and she's stunned to find him done. She buys him a pastry from across the street as a reward

-He does help out with other repacks, but it takes him longer since he's not as familiar with the aisles

-Despises craft paint with a burning passion. Do NOT put him in that aisle or he will throw a fit. Threatens to quit (wouldn't actually)

-Gets frustrated easily with that aisle because the paint tubes fall over too often. And his hands are too big to reach for the one that fell over, and he'll end up knocking more over because the shelves are too close together

-Has trouble folding T-shirts. MC has shown him multiple times but he can't stay consistent with it

-One time she found him kneeling on the floor trying to fold a shirt. Has not let him fold since

-Now if they're working together, she folds them and he puts them away. It's efficient.

-After three weeks, he's gotten pretty good with memorizing the store and product locations. He has come to this conclusion.

Hell: Craft paint, T-Shirts, Open Stock Paintbrushes

Heaven: Jewelry <3, Kids Beads, Seasonal, Yarn

Neutral: Fine Arts, Ribbon (Thin Ice), Stickers, Fabric, Floral, Baking (Hates the baking pans specifically though), Wood, Frames, the rest of the store basically

-He likes making things look neat (actually likes the way MC looks pleased when he drags her over to show it off)

-If they're working together, he might get slightly distracted and trail after her to chat. She only allows it if it's slow.

-If someone needs help she'll shoo him away/send him off. He'll come right back after he's done though

-Otherwise she's walking through the aisles recovering with him and doing returns, handing him stuff and pointing to where it goes as he rambles about a new commission he made. Or the newest beads they got in stock.

"Says B 23."

"And they said they we're gettin' it for their partner-"

"There. Next to the red gift bags."

"-but how do ya not know their favorite color?! C'mon! That's like the first thing ya learn!"

"What's yours?"

"Blue. Or gold. And yellow, when gold ain't an option, because yellow is a lot more common. But none of that neon crap! Nah, like.. like.. I'll show ya when we reach the bead aisle! Anyway, they came back all-"

-'Yellow.' She thinks. Fitting, for someone who brightens her day so much. She shakes the thought away.

-She won't admit it but she does enjoy it. It makes the time pass faster.

"Did you know the beads go on sale Sunday? And we get paid this Friday. Are you gonna buy any?"

"...Are ya messin' with me?"

"Why would I be?"

"I'm going to buy so many things."

-MC starts to dread Sunday, and knows she's gonna have to reign him in. Oh boy.

hahaha pt 3 is in the works, i think. Because I had more ideas, but this got long again. Rest of this is me rambling.

Anyway, today I worked on repacks for Research™. And because I didn't wanna hear people asking if things are in the back. NO. I DID IT ALL TODAY !! EVERY LAST BIT !! (for t shirts and jewelry at least)

Took me four hours to do three jewelry boxes, though I did stop multiple times to help customers and go fulfill online orders. And unlike Mammon, I did need a scanner for some of it.

T shirts I did five boxes and took ten minutes a box since I didn't need the scanner except a handful of times. So it definitely varies on what department you're doing how long you'll take and how familiar you are with the aisle. For reference, it took my coworker 3.5 hours to do two boxes of jewelry.

Edit:

HERE'S PT 3 LOLOL

#obey me #obey me mammon #mammon #my mc #obey me shitpost #my writing #ermmm did not mean to post this but it's too late now #i don't know how to link part one #i was trying to save it as a draft while i figured it out 😭#edit: did not figure it out and just slapped the link on there #jewelry maker mammon #<- also added this tag to hopefully make it easier to find

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andsour · 8 months

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from left to right : "strawbaby" by joori , "linlin" by meilin , "betty" by anna , "cinnam" by ryuhyun , "geumryeongi" by ej , and "jr. mint" by kenzie !!

honeyshoppe is a brand project of sanrio , in collaboration with honeylemon. it was announced in april of 2023 with the release of a twelve–part series on the girl group's youtube channel , documenting the process in which the brand was created , starting out as sketches by the members and then being further developed by a professional team of artists , marketing specialists , and toy manufacturers. to celebrate the official launch , a pop–up shop was held in seoul on april 30 , where the honeylemon members appeared and held a no–contact meet & greet.

since being launched , honeyshoppe have released various contents , from plushies and apparel to an animated web–series and recreations of honeylemon's music videos. they've also collaborated with numerous other trending brands , releasing honeyshoppe–themed makeup and skincare products , school and office supplies , and even ramen. most recently , the mobile game hello kitty island adventure was updated to include the honeyshoppe characters.

merchandise of the honeyshoppe characters is available for purchase on both the seventh heaven shop and sanrio websites , but are quick to sell out online. they’re also available in retail stores across asia and the united states , but are a bit more scarce elsewhere. to meet the demands of all fans , pop–up shops are also held around the globe.

#* ⠀ ── ⠀ honeylemon ⠀ 、 ⠀ dev ⠀ !#fictional idol community #idol oc #kpop oc #fake kpop group #rahhh capitalism!!!

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hantengus-fuckass-clones · 5 months

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Hello! May I request any of the clones (or all of them) that get reverse isekaid, fem reader please, she's just a girl surviving her 9 to 5 and then BAM! Who are these people dressed as the clones in her house? What do you mean is not cosplay?

This will only be with Aizetsu and Urogi so apologies

(Y/N) POV

Working in retail sucks absolute ass but the only thing that keeps me going is going home at the end of the day and cuddling with my Hantengu clone plushies. You may say that i’m addicted to the clones and you’d be absolutely right but I don’t care, all I care about is seeing my pookies at the end of each day. Anyway, after locking up the 7/11 looking ass store I begin to make my way home and after one hell of a bus ride, I was home. Slamming open the door and locking it right after I proclaim “I’m home!!!” Even though I live alone which put me on edge as I hear soft but panicked footsteps in my bedroom, my heart leapt into my throat as the door swung open and out shot the best Urogi cosplayer i’ve ever seen. Had this not been a home invasion scenario, I might have started complimenting him on looking exactly like one of my favourite characters. However, I did not get that chance as I was suddenly encased in thick arms and soft wings as the cosplayer(?) lifts me up and swings me around. “Little fangirl, you’re home!” God his voice sounds just like him too, this man must be blessed by the kny gods. From between the wings, which were suspiciously mobile and fluid, I see an Aizetsu slowly creep out my bedroom with my Aizetsu plushy in his hands.

I feel my feet touch the ground once more as these two behemoths size me up, it is now that I notice how the Urogis wings move and begin to think to myself that maybe these aren’t cosplayers. I shake slightly as I look up at them asking “How did you get into my house?” Luckily it seems that they had no problem in understanding the English language as they respond. “We don’t exactly know, one minute we were fighting some slayers and the next we were dropped into your room.” The Aizetsu speaks as the Urogi pokes me with suspiciously sharp talons which I eye cautiously. “The better question is why do you have all these things that look like us and the other clones?” The Urogi chuckles as he squishes my cheeks gently.

“Oh umm…. Well how do I explain this?” I am genuinely struggling to explain that these characters weren’t real in my world and for the next 20 or so minutes I explain it, showing them the manga and bits of the anime along with fanart (the safe ones). All in all I think they took it pretty well, they both seem surprised that people like them, Aizetsu more then Urogi. But soon enough night fell on us and I found myself getting tired, them being demons means that they didn’t need to sleep and I don’t know how I feel with sleeping around wide awake demons in my house but soon enough I found myself on the couch drifting off. In my sleepy haze I didn’t quite clock the arms wrapping around me and the two faces nuzzling either side of my neck as sleep took its hold on me.

I’m quite proud of this one ngl.

#kny #kny x reader #aizetsu #aizetsu x reader #urogi #urogi x reader #kny fic #hantengu #hantengu clones

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makethatelevenrings · 1 year

Text

Angel by the Wing - TWENTY-THREE

Chapter Warnings: pregnancy, anxiety, brief mention of throwing up

Series Masterlist (Mobile)

“Well this is pathetic,” you announced, your tone drier than a desert and laced with laughter. Jake looked up from where he was lying on the bathroom floor and glared at you. Bradley merely raised his middle finger, too scared to turn away from the toilet bowl.

“I’m pretty sure I’m the one who is supposed to be having morning sickness,” you added. A mug of peppermint tea sat in your hands and you sipped it, one eyebrow raised as you stared at them over the rim of the mug.

“You said so yourself,” Jake groaned. “We got shit-faced drunk last night.”

“I’m well aware considering I was the one that hauled your asses into the Bronco and got you out of your clothes and into bed.”

“Take a man out to dinner first,” Bradley said. You narrowed your eyes at him and made a pointed motion towards your stomach.

“Little late for that, Bradshaw. Once you two feel human again, I got some breakfast burritos from that food truck down the road.”

After breakfast, Bradley left to visit Maverick and have that talk they had been planning about. That left you and Jake puttering around the house. As you did the dishes, he folded laundry in the bedroom.

“Hey darlin’?” he called. You shuffled over and stuck your head around the doorframe, seeing him hold up a stack of your clothes neatly folded with every tag and hem tucked in like it was a retail store display. God, he was so cute.

“Hmm?”

“I didn’t…do you want me to put this in your overnight bag? Or I can move stuff around in my dresser.” Jake Seresin was normally so cocksure and arrogant that the bumbling, blushing man in front of you seemed like an entirely different person. You stepped further into the bedroom and gently took the pile from him.

“Do you want me to use one of your drawers?”

His blue eyes darted towards the closet where you knew he had everything neatly folded or hung in some kind of order he devised. Military habits die hard, you mused.

“Your apartment isn’t healthy for you or for the baby. It makes sense to have you here long term unless you would prefer to have your own space or maybe Penny has a spare room or-”

“Jake.” You set the clothes down on the bed and settled your hands on his shoulders. “What do you want?”

A slow smile curled up at the corner of his lips and he shrugged. “I’d like to finally have a chance to go through my clothes and get rid of some. Make some space for other items.”

You twined your arms around his neck and grinned. “Then let’s do that. We’ve got nothing better to do until I go to work tonight.”

Somehow cleaning out one drawer turned into two and then the two of you were hauling trash bags full of clothes into the cab of his truck. Well, actually, he was hauling them into the truck because Jake refused to let you strain yourself even a little bit. You initially wanted to protest but this gave you the chance to watch his biceps flex as he tossed three trash bags into the back.

“Hop in, darlin’!” he shouted. The San Diego sun beat down on him, highlighting the golden shine of his hair and the tan he always seemed to have. Dark aviators rested on the bridge of his nose and he was wearing some shorts and a cut off tank top with NAVY emblazoned across the front. All in all, he looked like the epitome of a California guy.

“Can we get lunch while we’re out?” you called back.

“If you say In N Out, I’m leaving your ass here.”

You cackled as you dashed back into his place to grab sandals and your purse before skipping out, locking the door behind you. You hauled yourself up into the passenger seat of his truck and leaned over the console to press a kiss to his cheek.

“Hey,” you said, catching his attention. He glanced over at you as the truck slowly rolled back into the street. “Thank you. For staying.”

His gaze softened and he reached over to place a hand on your thigh as the other hand spun the wheel with ease. “Of course, darlin’. Roo and I aren’t going anywhere.”

Sometimes when he couldn’t sleep on the carrier, he could hear your phantom sobs echoing in his ears as you begged him to stay. Everyone leaves me, you said. Who? Who would leave behind such a brilliant woman? His grip tightened minutely on your thigh. As long as his dresser held your clothes and that baby grew inside of you, he would never let you feel that way again.

“Hey, can we stop in at Barnes & Noble while we’re here?” you asked as Jake parked in the far corner of the parking lot next to the clothes drop off bin. He nodded without a second thought and got out to toss the bags in before he climbed back in so he could park closer to the store. He dashed around to your side of the car and helped you down onto solid ground.

“What’re we looking for, angel?”

You interlaced your fingers with his and pulled him towards the nonfiction section. “I figured we could look at some books about what to expect and shit. I know it’s early but…”

He noticed the way you nervously chewed at your bottom lip and Jake leaned over to bump your shoulder with his. “By all means, sugar, lead the way.”

A snort escaped you at his endearment and he grinned. Jake dutifully followed as you weaved through the stacks until you stopped in front of the parenting section. A whole wall of books stared back at you and you swallowed past the sudden dryness in your throat.

“Well…shit,” Jake commented once he took in the sheer amount of options there were.

“That’s a lot,” you murmured. You fingered the spines of some books and inspected the titles. Granola, wellness, breastfeeding, fetus development, Christ on a bike your head was spinning.

“I’m gonna throw up,” you blurted out. Jake immediately grabbed your shoulders and spun you so that you were looking away from the books.

“Okay, okay. Deep breaths. Let’s just get this book for now and then we can research at home if we need anything else. They made a movie about this, right?” He held up What to Expect When You’re Expecting and you nodded. Your eyes caught onto another title and you snatched it up and thrust it into his chest. Jake read the name and grimaced before dropping a kiss to your head and ushering you towards the cash registers with the promise of McDonald’s Sprite after this.

When Bradley returned home a few hours later, he found his two lovers on the couch. Jake was sitting up, his feet resting on the coffee table to give you leverage. Your head rested in his lap as you held a book above your head. Jake had a book in one hand, the other rubbing small circles into the small sliver of skin of your stomach that was exposed when your shirt rolled up.

“Hey,” Bradley greeted once he kicked off his shoes at the door and made his way into the living room.

“Hi bubs,” you replied. You lowered the book down to rest on your chest. “How was your talk with Maverick?”

“It was good. He wants to meet you. He also told me that he needs to give Jake the shovel talk.”

The blond snorted in response and flipped to the next page in What to Expect. You, on the other hand, were reading Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents. Bradley settled down on the floor next to you and you reached out to run your fingers through his curls, nails scratching lightly at his scalp. He practically melted under your hand and pushed up against the touch as though he was a cat.

“What’d you get up to while I was gone?” he asked.

“Well,” Jake announced. “Baby is as big as an orange seed now that we’re at five weeks.”

You gently poked your stomach, wondering what it must be like in there. There was still no noticeable bump or anything. How big would you get?

“Angel’s soon going to start craving gross shit,” Jake continued. “Add in heartburn and sore breasts.”

“Don’t say breasts,” you grunted. “Ugh, that’s so clinical. Let the doctor say breasts.”

“Well, what do you want me to say? Tits? Tatas? Boobies?”

“Stop stop,” you gagged. “I don’t know. Tits, I guess.”

“Are they sore already?” Bradley asked.

“Nope, so get your groping in now, fellas.”

“You might-” Jake raised his voice to be heard over you two. “-start being constipated.”

“Oh, orange seed, you better be so worth it.”

Bradley rested his head next to your stomach and ran a hand along your skin. “She will.”

Ever since you left the bookstore, your mind had been churning with anxiety. How the fuck could you do this? Would the three of you be able to do this? But now you were stretched out on the couch with both men holding you in a reverence kept for sacred objects and goddamnit, there goes those hormones again.

You blinked back tears and nestled your cheek against Jake’s thigh. “She’s gonna be so fucking worth it.”

Still that familiar insecurity nibbled at your mind. What happens when the paternity test comes back? Would the other person leave? Or would he stay?

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#jake seresin x reader #hangman x reader #bradley bradshaw x reader x jake seresin #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw imagine #rooster x reader #rooster x hangman x reader #abtw

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