Month: March 2015

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 3.30.2015

Leave a comment

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

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Instacart to charge more during peak delivery times. Link
  • Target teams up with Of a Kind for new home collection. Link
  • H&M profits surge 36% in Q1. Link
  • Zulily nips business model in the bud. Link
  • Can data save the mall? Link
  • Rue La La founder’s next venture: luxe Italian shoes at bargain prices. Link
  • Amazon’s on demand services marketplace launches Monday. Link
  • Indiegogo success story Canary hits Best Buy for $249. Link
  • Converse unboxes plan to convert chatter into brand experiences. Link
  • Apple announces grand openings for dedicated Apple Watch shops in London, Paris, and Tokyo. Link
  • Gucci to appoint Consumer Officer amid management shakeup. Link
  • Lululemon’s new offering: anatomy friendly pants for men. Link
  • Amazon rumored to be in talks to acquire Net-a-Porter. Link
  • Five companies making fair trade fashion cooler than what you have in your wardrobe. Link
  • Kanye West to purchase online retailer Karmaloop. Link
  • Saks and Nordstrom prepare to land in Puerto Rico. Link
  • Walmart looks to draw click-and-collect shoppers. Link
  • Banana Republic’s flagship store opens in Manhattan with new look. Link
  • Slow cargo, weather take toll on LuLuLemon. Link
  • Also to design Joe Fresh line of footwear. Link
  • Fashion entrepreneur takes her retail background on the road. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Shopstyle driving revenues for fashion brands. Link
  • Facebook may host news sites’ content. Link
  • Facebook’s F8 announcements. Link
  • Soon Facebook Messenger will let you reach out to businesses. Link
  • Me moves into Google territory with AppWords, a deep link mobile search and ad platform. Link
  • Twitter’s new venture-capital arm quietly opens for business. Link
  • Buzzfeed joins the podcast frenzy. Link
  • Google brings ad targeting from the web to TV. Link
  • Why big brands and top web publishers love this stealth digital ad startup. Link
  • Facebook pushes into the internet of things, hoping to power your smart devices. Link
  • 6 reasons why marketers should bet on podcasting. Link
  • Twitter debuts Periscope to rival Meerkat. Link
  • Twitter soups up mobile ads with location data from Foursquare. Link
  • Marriott uses authentic stories to woo millennials. Link
  • Bloglovin targets participation with ‘collections’ of visual inspiration boards. Link

Start-ups:

  • Gone, the app for selling your old stuff, taps UPS to go nationwide instantly. Link
  • Rocket Internet’s Helpling mops up another $45M for its on-demand home cleaning service. Link
  • August raises $38M to expand smart lock retail availability. Link
  • Alcohol startups are brewing up VC cash. Link
  • Teabox raises $6M to grow its global tea-commerce business. Link
  • Magic just showed its first product to investors—now it may be worth $40M. Link
  • Lyft adds profiles to make ride sharing more personalized. Link
  • Stripe makes a bet on marketplaces with new product. Link

International:

  • [APAC]
    • Honest Brand eyes China. Link
    • Apple plans China iPhone trade-in program. Link
    • Xiaomi expands its offline presences in India with the mobile store tie-up. Link
    • India’s online fashion sales set to soar. Link
  • [CA]
    • Sephora shoes fresh face in Canadian makeup retail. Link
  • [EU]
    • Burberry to open café in London. Link
    • Google takes starred product ratings to Europe to boost shopping searches. Link
    • Facebook completes first drone flight above UK. Link
    • EU to investigate barriers to cross-border ecommerce. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • App reveals what your exact location looked like in the past. Link
  • Cities take lead on app development. Link
  • Secret is working on new apps, won’t shut down original product. Link
  • Apple Watch could make you a walking weather station. Link
  • New app Chosen is American Idol meets YouTube meets mobile devices. Link
  • Nine brands to watch out for on the Apple Watch. Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 3.23.2015

Leave a comment

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

Retailer + Brand News:

  • American Express to launch loyalty program with Macy’s, Exxon, AT&T. Link
  • eCommerce delivers Korean beauty to US consumers. Link
  • Apple is building a Watch shop in Tokyo’s Isetan. Link
  • Facebook Messenger launches friend-to-friend payments. Link
  • Sur la Table is using its website to help shoppers better visualize a new kitchen table. Link
  • Marc by Marc Jacobs to be discontinued. Link
  • Tiffany expects a weak 2015. Link
  • Amazon wins approval to test delivery drones outdoors. Link
  • How Sorel won winter by making rugged boots girly. Link
  • J.Crew says it failed at women’s fashion last year. Link
  • Starbucks to launch delivery in Seattle. Link
  • eBay to open new section on its site for Sotheby’s auction. Link
  • Amazon expands one-hour delivery to Baltimore and Miami. Link
  • Sports Authority adds plus-size women’s activewear. Link
  • The Etsy guide to building a brand. Link
  • Sephora’s digital boss joins StichFix as COO. Link
  • Target to pay $10M to settle lawsuit from data breach. Link
  • Retailers are launching a new generation of ecommerce membership programs modeled on Amazon Prime. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Pinterest crosses $10B mark. Link
  • Nylon Guys to go all digital. Link
  • 10 trends shaping the future of branded content. Link
  • Big advertisers shift towards digital. Link
  • Facebook launches innovation lab in Brazilian slums. Link
  • How Facebook’s custom audiences won over Adland. Link
  • Pinterest, Snapchat, Buzzfeed – hear come tech’s multibillion-dollar babies. Link

Start-ups:

  • Video-streaming app Meerkat raises another $12M. Link
  • This start-up founder wants you to be able to go on a vacation without packing a suitcase. Link
  • Start-up raises $40M to keep small businesses’ cash flowing. Link
  • Fashion rental start-up Le Tote tries a new tactic to lure subscribers. Link

International:

  • [APAC]
    • Snapdeal of India in talks to buy mobile-payments company FreeCharge. Link
    • Twitter is opening an office in Dubai. Link
    • Xiaomi dips its toe into financial services. Link
    • Yahoo cutting 300 jobs as part of China office closing. Link
    • Lines form at Chanel’s China stores after euro-driven price cuts. Link
  • [CA]
    • Amazon expands in Canada with move to new Toronto skyscraper. Link
  • [EU]
    • Online retail spurs investment in EU warehouses. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Google and Intel team up with TAG Heuer on a luxury smartwatch. Link
  • Multi-brand apps gain ground in fashion. Link
  • SmartFocus announces ‘virtual beacons’ so retailers can draw in-store targeting. Link
  • Google isn’t giving up on Glass. Link
  • Apple is tinkering with augmented reality. Link
  • Facebook testing a new app called Phone. Link
  • Gucci collaborates with Will.i.am to create wearable tech device. Link
  • Fitbit adds bike workout tracking to its Surge fitness watch. Link
  • Amazon working on a service called Unlocked that’s Prime for Android apps. Link
  • What’s coming in Apple’s next iPhone update. Link
  • Wearable drones invade SXSW as fashion meets technology. Link

Other

  • At Kodak, clinging to a future beyond film. Link
  • Will personalized pricing take ecommerce back to the bazaar? Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 3.16.2015

Leave a comment

Happy Monday! Below find a recap of industry news from the week.  All sources can be found in the hyper-linked text after the headline.

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Sephora bets big on digital growth with disruptive experiences. Link
  • Urban Outfitters earnings beat estimates. Link
  • Ikea takes global expansion one market at a time. Link
  • Target culls special offering for Men. Link
  • Amazon launches Exclusives to surface “up-and-coming” brands. Link
  • More details emerge on Amazon rival Jet.com. Link
  • Google opens its first Google-branded store-in-a-store in London. Link
  • Google says Millennial influence on the rise in B2B buying. Link
  • LL Bean putting boots on the ground, expanding to at least 100 stores. Link
  • Reed Krakoff halts production. Link
  • Sorel to enter outerwear. Link
  • Diesel reinventing its stores. Link
  • Rent-the-Runway CEO says the future of ecommerce depends on delivery start-ups. Link
  • Target lays off 13% of its corporate HQ staff to cut costs. Link
  • ASOS adding budget-friendly bridesmaid dresses to the mix. Link
  • TopShop opens first Atlanta store. Link
  • Glamour Magazine eyeing ecommerce. Link 

Social Media + Marketing:

  • H&M Home unveils its first-ever AirBnB for SXSW. Link
  • Alibaba said to be investing $200M in SnapChat. Link
  • Facebook acquires social shopping app The Find. Link
  • Buzzfeed’s videos reach 1 Billion monthly views. Link
  • HBO Now will stream on Apple devices. Link
  • BeautyCon launches its own media site to connect social media stars with fans and brands. Link
  • Brands now posting more to Instagram than Facebook. Link
  • L’Oreal moves to make all types of ads “shoppable.” Link
  • Why Neiman Marcus is a fan of SXSW. Link
  • Old Navy tries Tumblr for Gen Y’s Spring push. Link
  • Facebook, Occulus and the future of virtual reality. Link

Start-ups:

  • Bento wants to be your app matchmaker. Link
  • Online only start-up targets women who do their makeup on the go. Link
  • Rocket Internet invests in Indonesia’s Bridestory. Link
  • Xiaomi becomes the world’s most valuable tech start-up. Link

International:

  • [APAC]
    • China’s upper middle class women are driving ecommerce and social media in China. Link
    • Taiwan-based Foxconn launches ecommerce platform in China. Link
    • Tapping into the growth of India’s emerging mobile markets. Link 
  • [AU]
    • Thousands flock to New Zealand’s TopShop opening. Link
    • ASOS gets its mojo back in Australia after cutting prices. Link
  • [EU]
    • Alibaba to boost UK trade on its platform. Link
    • Selfridges launches ‘genderless’ shopping in Manchester. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Look to Whole Foods to see how the Apple Watch could change retail. Link
  • Meerkat tests our desire to share live video. Link
  • Apple’s ResearchKit a big hit at SXSW. Link
  • Beacons are moving out of the pilot phase and helping retailers and marketers revolutionize in-store shopping. Link
  • Google accidentally reveals its own mobile events app. Link
  • Apple’s iTunes suffers unusually long outage. Link
  • Mizuno bets on smart eyewear despite Google’s troubles Link
  • For SXSW marketers, smartphone apps are yesterday’s news, wearables are what matter. Link
  • Starbucks to expand mobile ordering to three more states. Link
  • Beacons, live-streaming and indie radio apps guide SXSW experience this year. Link

Other

  • Generation Z’s data obsession: bits and bytes are the new commodity. Link
  • Disney’s $1B bet on a magical wristband. Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 3.9.2015

Leave a comment

Happy Monday! Check out the industry news from the last week.  All sources can be found in the hyper-linked text after the headline.

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Etsy files for IPO. Link
  • Barneys New York raises ecommerce ante with site relaunch. Link
  • Will Target’s new CEO energize the retailer? Link
  • Rachel Zoe launching a subscription box service. Link
  • Kate Spade wants to sell furniture. Link
  • Fab officially finds a new owner. Link
  • Google introduces insurance shopping site. Link
  • Abercrombie’s style turnaround will take time. Link
  • Nike is opening a clearance store in NYC. Link
  • Bloomingdale’s to open outlet store in Upper West side this fall. Link
  • Farfetch raises $86M at $1B valuation. Link
  • Activewear firms on the run to catch up online. Link
  • Best Buy announces first buyback since 2012 as profit jumps. Link
  • Google confirms plans for wireless service. Link
  • Apple’s addition to the Dow is a win for tech stocks. Link
  • Online denim and basics brand Ayr launches $1 home try-ones to help win customers. Link
  • Nordstrom’s multi-billion dollar plan for ecommerce domination. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • WalMart parts ways with Google local shopping ads. Link
  • Instagram rolls out new carousel ads. Link
  • Instagram lets ads be clickable. Link
  • Nextdoor social network digs deep into neighborhoods. Link
  • Apple may pull its ads from Google Search. Link
  • Publishers love Whatsapp’s potential but struggle with execution. Link
  • How one company convinced Anthony Bourdain to shill as it rebrands scotch. Link
  • Pinterest narrows ad targeting, tests animated pins. Link
  • Google expanding the use of mobile as web search signal. Link
  • Twitter’s new plan to placate Wall Street. Link
  • Why marketers are embracing Oculus and virtual reality. Link

Start-ups:

  • App search engine Quixey confirms $60M round. Link
  • Dash Hudson raises $1M to beat the Instagram shopping conundrum. Link
  • Delivery startup Shyp wants to make returns painless. Link
  • Meet Vive, the ClassPass for blowouts. Link
  • Square, the payment start-up, bolsters its services for small businesses. Link

International:

  • [APAC]
    • Amazon opens store on Alibaba’s TMall in China. Link
    • Alibaba expands in Silicon Valley with first U.S. data center. Link
  • [AU]
    • Abercrombie & Fitch to close Australian stores. Link
    • Myer’s new British CEO gets a tough welcome from investors. Link
  • [CA]
    • Nordstrom treads carefully with launch of second Canadian store. Link
  • [EU]
    • J. Crew’s international expansion push lands in Paris. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Apple Watch and new MacBook announcement from Apple’s Spring Forward event. Link
  • WalMart expects customers to adopt mobile payments. Link
  • Sephora’s commitment to digital beauty leadership includes beacons and augmented reality. Link
  • Domino’s makes ordering on-the-go even easier with smartwatch integration. Link
  • Joe Fresh launches app. Link
  • SXSW to have a thousand beacons to help attendees connect. Link
  • MasterCard CMO on new mobile “priceless surprises” and Apple Pay. Link
  • Wearable tech is the next big opportunity in pro sports. Link
  • Apple Pay on the Apple Watch is smarter than you think. Link
  • Five takeaways for marketers from mobile world congress. Link

Other

  • Why so many people are suddenly wearing $600 Canada Goose coats. Link
  • How four women in an RV plan to change young girls’ lives. Link
  • G Adventures founder on how travel can make you a better leader. Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF 3.2.2015

Leave a comment

Hi there! Below is a recap of industry news over the last week that I’ve compiled.  You can find a source or read the full article by clicking the hyper-linked text after the headline. Have a great week!

Retailer + Brand News:

  • American Apparel names marketing, digital executives. Link
  • Macy’s shares drop on cautious outlook. Link
  • How Nordstrom plans to stay dominant in ecommerce. Link
  • Online convenience is the new face of retail disruption. Link
  • Target sales grow at fastest rate in three years. Link
  • Gap chooses PINK creator to revive its namesake stores, lead design team. Link
  • Urban Outfitters announces $20M share buyback. Link
  • NastyGal raises $16M. Link
  • Nordstrom launching collaboration with Piece & Co. Link
  • Analysts say Americans love sweatpants too much for athleisure to go away. Link
  • Best Buy opens a Seattle-based technology development center focused on mobile and ecommerce. Link
  • Ikea introduces furniture you can charge your smartphone on. Link
  • HTC and Under Armour are doing a fitness wearable. Link
  • Burberry takes digital innovation in stride at London Fashion Week. Link
  • Rebecca Minkoff’s store of the future. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Facebook, with over 2 million active advertisers, launches ads manager app for iOS. Link
  • Why the print catalog is back in style. Link
  • Snapchat’s Our Stories are generating tens of millions of views. Link
  • Conde Nast closes blog network NowManifest. Link
  • Apple Watch gets 12-page ad spread in Vogue. Link
  • Google puts ads in its app store to court mobile app marketers. Link
  • Pinterest scores highly in new eMarketer report. Link
  • Mobile ad spending not equal around the world. Link
  • Converse breaks ‘Made By You’ campaign for Chuck Taylors. Link
  • Victoria’s Secret runs ads on People Magazine’s Snapchat. Link

Start-ups:

  • Waffle House partners with “sharing economy” delivery service Roadie. Link
  • Magic is a start-up that will bring you anything if you’re willing to pay for it. Link
  • The Black Tux seeks to disrupt the tuxedo rental business. Link
  • Outfittery raises $20M for its curated shopping service for men’s clothing. Link
  • Rocket Internet’s latest company is a career listing sit called Everjobs. Link

International:

  • [APAC]
    • Amazon could be landing in South Korea soon. Link
    • China’s economy to grow about 7% this year. Link
    • Should luxury retailers give up on Hong Kong? Link
    • Japanese ecommerce giant Rakuten may accept bitcoin. Link
    • Chinese rivals snap at Alibaba’s heels in cross-border ecommerce race. Link
  • [EU]
    • Wedding Wire acquires Spain-based Wedding Planner with plans to go global. Link
    • Turkey’s online retail market enjoys investment boom. Link
    • London designers pin hopes on next generation of online shoppers. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Target tests mobile loyalty app to drive in store purchases. Link
  • On the cusp of a mobile shopping revolution. Link
  • The Apple Watch is nearly ready but is the public? Link
  • HTC unveils new phone and wearable device. Link
  • Venmo was ordered in July to address security issues. Link
  • LG’s watch adds another player for the wearable platform wars. Link
  • Google strikes a deal with carriers for payments. Link
  • Samsung launches two new smartphones, mobile wallet. Link
  • Transactional flexibility is the future of payments. Link
  • Tinder launches Tinder Plus. Link
  • Samsung launches its own mobile money service called Pay. Link

Other

  • The opportunity in online luxury fashion. Link
  • Google unveils plans for new corporate campus. Link
  • Why physical stores and brands still matter. Link