Hi there! Below is a recap I compiled of industry news over the last week.  All sources can be found in the hyper-linked text after the headline.

Retailer + Brand News:

• Kate Spade Saturday and Jack Spade to shut down all stores. Link
• Crew loses 2^nd major exec in three weeks. Link
• H&M profit rises 12% in Q4. Link
• Yahoo spins off $40B stake in Alibaba. Link
• H&M is opening 400 stores this year and launching a new beauty range. Link
• Why Target’s new plus-sized line could redefine $17.5B underserved market. Link
• Amazon rewards sellers who offer free shipping. Link
• Google’s BrandLab wants to save businesses (and Google). Link
• Gap’s creative director Rebekka Bay exits. Link
• Forever 21 coming to Fifth Avenue. Link
• Rachel Zoe to launch maternity line. Link
• Apple reigns supreme when it comes to making money, but now faces even greater expectations. Link
• Coach shuffles execs, sales fall again. Link
• Under Armour taps former Nike exec to head footwear business. Link
• Adobe is suing Forever 21 for pirating Photoshop. Link
• Amazon’s latest foray: back end email systems. Link
• AOL lays off 150 staffers. Link
• Conde Nast unveils branded content shop powered by editors. Link
• com co-founder to launch artsy online marketplace. Link
• Jones New York to close stores, end wholesale business. Link
• Ikea looks to catch up with online retail. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

• Lyft rolls out national marketing campaign. Link
• Snapchat’s new Discover feature puts news and entertainment a swipe away from your stories. Link
• Starbucks, Match want you to have your first date at Starbucks. Link
• Twitter adds group messaging and video recording. Link
• Pinterest pushes ads further toward users’ personal spaces. Link
• TMobile, Macy’s among first advertisers on Snapchat Discover. Link
• McDonald’s gives away every product advertised during Super Bowl. Link
• The average Super Bowl commercial could generate as much as $10M in ad value. Link
• Why Nordstrom’s digital strategy works. Link
• Twitter displays its value with instant timeline for new users. Link
• P&G’s #LikeAGirl ad scored the most social buzz during the Super Bowl. Link
• Vine introduces Vine Kids. Link

Start-ups:

• Fresh Monk secures new funding round for crowdfunded tshirts. Link
• ClosetSpace digitizes your closet, builds outfits and offers fashion tips. Link
• With $40M in recent funding, Classpass hires execs. Link
• Mobile loyalty startup Lootsie raises $3.5M. Link
• Minibar offers on-demand booze delivery in 13 cities. Link

International:

• [APAC]
  • Apple China sales top $16B in Q1. Link
  • H&M to launch in three new Asian markets. Link
  • Free Shipping is the default for Korea. Link
  • Alibaba to launch fund for Hong Kong startups. Link
  • Apple ranks as China’s most desirable luxury brand. Link
  • com follows its own path. Link
•  [CA]
  • Uniqlo to open Canadian stores. Link
  • Sears Canada names acting president – CEO to top management job. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

• Facebook tests beacons to feed users local content. Link
• Apple Watch to ship in April. Link
• The next step for the mobile wallet? Loyalty programs. Link
• FTC says internet-connected devices pose big risks. Link
• Google Now will suck in outside app data. Link
• Loyalty programs see boost as they go mobile. Link
• Apple stores to act more like jewelry stores for upcoming gold Apple Watch. Link
• iPad experiences 18% drop in sales, 22% fall in revenue. Link
• Android breaks 1B mark for 2014, 81% of all 1.3B smartphones shipped. Link