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 2nd 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]
- [CA]
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