Weekly Industry Round Up: 10.20.2014

Top industry news from last week. All sources can be found in the hyperlink after the headline:

Retailer + Brand News:

Google adopts a model for its delivery service that targets Amazon. Link
- Google introduces $95 Amazon Prime competitor. Link
- Google unveils subscription plan for same-day Express delivery services, adds 3 more cities. Link
Target teams up with mcommerce app to test curbside shopping. Link
Macy’s to open at 6pm on Thanksgiving Day. Link
Apple Pay launches Monday, October 20^th. Link
- Apple Pay draws hundreds of banks. Link
- On Monday you’ll be able to do your shopping with Apple Pay. Link
- 34 places where you can start using your iPhone to buy stuff. Link
Modcloth hit by second round of layoffs. Link
Conde Nast pushes on ecommerce. Link
Burberry first half sales rise amid digital growth. Link
With fashion strategy, can eBay boost emerging designers and itself? Link
Urban Outfitters shares down on weak Q3 comps. Link
A bid for Reebok kicks off. Link
Nordstrom plans more rack store openings for Fall 2015. Link
H&M’s & Other Stories launches online in US. Link
Bloomingdale’s new Palo Alto store has high-tech touches for digitally savvy shoppers. Link
Abercrombie names Ann Inc executive to be president of its Hollister brand. Link
Nordstrom seeking space or second Manhattan store. Link
TopShop and Kate Spade Saturday opening in DC. Link
Walmart building two new online fulfillment centers in Georgia and Pennsylvania. Link
Gap teams up with art magazine in exhibit with apparel as canvas. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

Google misses analyst expectations on slower click growth and higher expenses. Link
Twitter introduces Audio Cards so you can listen to music directly from your timeline. Link
Whisper’s selling point is anonymity but that may be at odds with its evolving business model. Link
Snapchat launches ads. Link
Spotify announces family plan for up to five users. Link
Inside Pinterest, the coming ad colossus that could dwarf Twitter and Facebook. Link
Chanel got 1.8M Instagram followers virtually out of nowhere. Link
Tumblr debuts first desktop app on the Mac App store. Link
Twitter’s music strategy: no app, just better listening. Link
Gap Factory to launch star-studded holiday push. Link
Twitter to roll out buy button to general public in early 2015. Link
Five trends your marketing team should budget for. Link

Start-ups:

International:

[APAC]

Costco makes first foray into China via Alibaba. Link
China’s 382M millennials demand corporate social responsibility. Link
Alipay Wallet has 190M annual active users, processing over 50% of Alipay’s daily transactions. Link
Acne Studios lands in Hong Kong. Link
Amazon seals major Indian deal with Future Group. Link

[AU/NZ]

[EU]

[A/ME]

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

American Eagle lures customers into fitting rooms with help of beacons. Link
Apple’s iPad Air 2 is thinner, faster and has TouchID. Link
GoldieBlox, the toymaker trying to get girls hooked on engineering, goes digital with new iOS app. Link
Is Google changing its mobile search results? Link
Travel, retail and media are the top three industries taking over the app store. Link
MasterCard will borrow a Touch ID trick for fingerprint scanning credit card. Link
Reddit debuts official mobile app. Link
LVMH: It may be time for a smartwatch. Link
Starbucks ramps up in-store mobile strategy for the holidays. Link
Microsoft plans to launch a wearable device within weeks. Link

Other:

Fashion. Retail. Tech. News.