Month: April 2015

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 4.20.2015

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Happy Monday! Below is a recap of industry news from the last week. Sources are in the hyperlinked text after each headline.

Retailer + Brand News:

  • How teens are spending money, what they like and where they shop. Link
  • Etsy completes its IPO, valuing the craft marketplace at over $3.5Billion. Link
  • Kit and Ace maps westward US expansion. Link
  • Shopify files for IPO. Link
  • Dick’s Sporting Goods forecasts $9B in sales by 2017. Link
  • Music services overtake CDs for the first time. Link
  • Yahoo in talks to buy Foursquare. Link
  • Michael Kors winning with teens. Link
  • The North Face looks to training gear to boost sales beyond winter. Link
  • Glossier CEO on building a skincare, cosmetic empire online. Link
  • Toys “R” Us playing customer experience to win against WalMart, Amazon. Link
  • Inside Moleskin’s plans to sell you more than just notebooks. Link
  • Urban Outfitters launches new sport menswear line, Halo. Link
  • Target has more web woes during debut of Lilly Pulitzer line. Link
  • Uniqlo to collaborate with Carine Roitfeld. Link
  • Men’s Wearhouse has a plan to make Joseph Abboud a $1B brand. Link
  • Khol’s flexing its New York fashion muscle to bolster comeback. Link
  • Lilly Pulitzer sells out at Target. Link
  • Outdoor Voices takes on Lululemon with $1.1M in funding. Link
  • Net-a-porter brings Chanel “digital pop-up” ecommerce. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Jay-Z to personally call select Tidal users. Link
  • Instagram takes another step toward ecommerce. Link
  • Why Facebook might emerge as the biggest Internet of Things company. Link
  • Twitter unveils new homepage for people who aren’t signed in. Link
  • How Old Navy is winning at YouTube. Link
  • Forrester analyst: Emotional campaigns will bypass ad-blocker in brains. Link
  • The rising power of social media influencers. Link
  • Burberry live streams on Periscope. Link
  • Snapchat signs a deal for second season of ‘Literally Can’t Even.’ Link
  • Is Facebook trying to edge out YouTube? Link
  • Chevy runs digital video ads in print. Link

Start-ups:

  • Vessel raises more cash to battle YouTube. Link
  • How a U.S.-made athleticwear brand raised $100K on Kickstarter. Link
  • The investors behind the next billion dollar startups. Link
  • Pharmacy startup PillPack could change the way America takes its medicine. Link
  • Snaps raises $6.5M to help brands take over emojis. Link
  • EyeEm raises $18M to expand its photo marketplace. Link
  • Spring closes $25M in funding. Link
  • Andreessen Horowitz hires former Facebook lawyer to help its startups. Link
  • Coin, the one credit card to rule them all, is finally shipping. Link

International:

  • [APAC]
    • China steps up economy. Link
    • New Hong Kong tourism restrictions to boost Japan, Korea. Link
    • Foreign companies at risk from proposed Chinese law. Link
  • [EU]
    • Ikea to invest up to 3Billion Euros in new shopping centers. Link  
  • [CA]
    • Major retail gains helping Canada economy turn around. Link
    • Loonie gains almost 2 cents as oil rises. Link
    • Apple planning Apple Pay launch in Canada for November. Link
  • [LATAM]
    • Ralph Lauren looks to Brazil as global growth accelerant. Link
    • How Macy’s found its fit in the Hispanic market. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Whatsapp hits 800 Million users. Link
  • Instagram develops app for the Apple Watch. Link
  • Taco Bell to launch loyalty program via app. Link
  • For the fashion set, the jury is still out on the Apple Watch. Link
  • This new app wants to be the iTunes of smells. Link
  • New York Times makes Now App free, scrapping monthly fee to attract readers. Link
  • Epicurious brings cooking instructions to the Apple Watch with new smart timer app. Link

Other:

  • How your t-shirt can make you rich. Link
  • Netflix is now bigger than CBS. Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 4.13.2015

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Happy Monday! Below is a recap of industry news from the last week. Sources are in the hyperlinked text after each headline.

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Modcloth test drives offline retail, starting with an LA pop-up. Link
  • Millennials say Amazon provides the best customer service. Link
  • American Apparel hires new menswear designer. Link
  • Apple stores (and workers) get makeover ahead of Apple Watch launch. Link
  • Oyster launches e-bookstore with a la carte service. Link
  • Farfetch’s global platform play. Link
  • Chanel finally admits that its future includes ecommerce. Link
  • Fast Retailing lifts profit forecast 20% on strong Uniqlo sales. Link
  • Amazon gets green light from US regulators for new drone test. Link
  • Woolworths hires Pharrell to ‘make sustainability cool.’ Link
  • Amazon seeks to shut down paid reviewed sites. Link
  • Walmart and Target being crowded out online by Amazon Prime. Link
  • Even Etsy’s IPO process is artisanal. Link
  • eBay, PayPal offer new details about split. Link
  • Missguided unveils plans to sell through Nordstrom. Link
  • Lululemon’s kids store may be a sign we have reached ‘peak yoga pants.’ Link
  • Walgreens closing 200 stores. Link
  • Nordstrom tests in-store partnership with online shoe seller. Link
  • Victoria’s Secret is getting into fast fashion. Link
  • Coach enters exclusive fragrance agreement with Interparfums. Link
  • Crate and Barrel takes comprehensive approach to ecommerce. Link
  • Craigslist faces demise as vertical marketplaces rise. Link
  • Instacart is quietly working with third parties to outsource some of its deliveries. Link
  • Uniqlo, H&M, Zara, Forever 21 take over malls as retail’s old guard fades. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Study says consumers join more loyalty programs but activity is down. Link
  • Did Lord & Taylor’s Instagram influence campaign not follow FTC guidelines? Link
  • U.S. teens’ social media activity is diversifying. Link
  • Youtube confirms plans for ad-free, subscription based service. Link
  • Facebook launches dedicated web interface for Messenger. Link
  • Twitter is testing the ability to pin apps to brand profiles. Link
  • Twitter replaces ‘Discover’ tool with detailed trending topics. Link
  • LinkedIn raises its game in social media with Elevate, an app to suggest and share stories. Link
  • Facebook is testing a new trending section with five news categories. Link
  • Twitter’s evolving plans to make money from its data stream. Link
  • See the first brands to use Instagram’s carousel ads. Link
  • Growth of ad blocking adds to publishers’ worries. Link

Start-ups:

  • Lobster wants to be Google of user generated content. Link
  • Online consignment firm The RealReal secures $40M in funding. Link
  • Amazon acquired Shoefitr to improve how it sells footwear online. Link
  • Bedrock Venture is betting big on tech-enabled early stage startups. Link
  • The ‘Netflix of books’ hopes to open up the e-book market. Link

International:

  • [APAC]
    • JD.com sees growth in warehouse services after Uniqlo agreement. Link
    • Uber launches auto rickshaw service in India, allows cash payments for first time. Link
    • HotelQuickly beats HotelTonight to Asian market. Link
    • US overtakes China as world’s best place for ecommerce. Link
    • Indian ecommerce sites altering returns policies. Link
    • China’s export numbers miss expectations. Link
  • [CA]
    • Michael Kors launches Canadian ecommerce website. Link
    • Saks’ ecommerce, outlets, and Canada roll-out set to lift Hudson’s Bay. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Apple’s iOS 8.3 rolls out with a new world of emoji and bug fixes. Link
  • Google Wallet adds new integrations with Shopify, Seamless, Dunkin Donuts and more. Link
  • Macy’s app boosts omni-channel prowess with nearby pickup push. Link
  • Apple Watch and Selfridges: a timely partnership. Link
  • American Express lab is testing facial recognition technology. Link
  • Flipkart’s move to dump mobile site could hit Google. Link
  • Apple Watch pre-orders hit almost 1 Million on first day. Link

Other:

  • Isabel Murant talks high-waisted jeans and why she doesn’t have a muse. Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 4.6.2015

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Retailer + Brand News:

  • Yoox to buy Net-a-porter for $775 Million. Link
  • Chanel to launch ecommerce. Link
  • Amazon launches ‘Dash’ home ordering kit. Link
  • Google announces budget-priced Chromebits and Chromebooks. Link
  • American Apparel to lay off 180 employees. Link
  • GoDaddy pops 31% as it opens for trading, raising $460M in its IPO. Link
  • Everything to know about Primark, the EU fast fashion brand about to crush its US competition. Link
  • Amazon’s one-hour delivery lands in Atlanta. Link
  • Membership-based delivery services are beginning to disrupt the $600 Billion-a-year grocery industry. Link
  • Groupon quietly launches Groupon Stores, a marketplace for its $2B goods business. Link
  • JayZ relaunches Tidal with music’s biggest artists as his co-owners. Link
  • Birkenstocks SVP says Birks aren’t normcore. Link
  • Sophia Amuroso opens up about what’s next for Nasty Gal. Link
  • Nordstrom Rack’s digital secrets to in-store success. Link
  • Online consignment store sees strong fast-fashion demand. Link
  • Men are now the biggest online shoppers. Link
  • Saks President steps down, Hudson’s Bay names new president. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Tinder launches its first in-app ad: a video spot for Bud Light. Link
  • Calvin Klein to sponsor exhibit in Central Park. Link
  • Pinterest’s new browser extension makes pinning way more efficient. Link
  • Mobile ads will smash $100B mark worldwide in 2016. Link
  • Pinterest shaking up social, search and shopping as it celebrates fifth birthday. Link
  • Twitter publicly launches Curator, its real-time search and filtering tool for media outlets. Link
  • New system tracks which ads coaxed your feet to walk into that store. Link
  • New York Times launches Men’s Style. Link
  • Tom Brady makes Periscope debut while shooting an ad for Ugg Australia. Link
  • Pinterest says more guys are joining the site than ever. Here’s what they are doing. Link

Start-ups:

  • Square rolls out open tickets to you can keep your tab open at bars. Link
  • Watch out Uber and Lyft, Ford’s working on its own ridesharing service. Link
  • Kickstarter’s ‘Campus’ offers project creators community guidance. Link
  • Instabrand raises $2.5M in venture funding. Link
  • LimeRoad, a fashion scrapbooking site based in India scoops up $30M Series C. Link
  • Reformation raises $12M. Link

International:

  • [APAC]
    • Snapdeal turns to local languages for better sales. Link
    • Japan app store prices to increase within 24 hours due to exchange rates. Link
    • Hilton expands digital check-in and rooms selection technology to more hotels. Link
    • China targets the dollar. Link
    • Korea’s online retailers see global sales growth. Link
  • [CA]
    • WalMart scaling back on free shipping to shoppers in Canada. Link
  • [EU]
    • Westfield and Inition use Oculus Rift virtual reality to showcase future of retail. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Target merges art, apps and sales for unique product integrations. Link
  • Venmo finally getting an important security feature. Link
  • Woolworth’s Apple Watch app brings shopping lists to your wrist. Link
  • Smartphone-dependents often have no backup plan for web access. Link
  • IBM gets serious about Internet of Things with $3B investment. Link
  • Apple Pay’s biggest hurdle to overcome is at checkout. Link
  • New York Times to bring one-sentence stories to Apple Watch. Link
  • Whatsapp for Android allows users to make calls. Link
  • Verizon Wireless customers can now opt out of ‘supercookies.’ Link
  • Alibaba, Xiaomi partner for wearable payments. Link

Other:

  • AirBnB adds Cuba to destination list for US travelers. Link
  • The micro-living trend checks into hotels. Link