Below is a recap of industry news from the last week.  Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brand/Retailer:

• Amazon challenges Etsy with handmade marketplace. Link
• com eliminates $50 membership fee to broaden appeal. Link
• Why big-name chefs are opening restaurants with Urban Outfitters. Link
• More retailers offering free shipping on returns. Link
• Uniqlo plans to curb US store openings, citing ‘limited’ brand awareness. Link
• Amazon wants to know how its employees feel every day. Link
• Gap slump deepens on disappointing September sales report. Link
• Banana Republic’s creative directors steps down as brand flails. Link
• Urban Outfitters to end on-call shifts in New York City. Link
• Amazon building a tech business for the long haul. Link
• Holiday sales expected to total $630B this year. Link
• Dell buys EMC for $67B, the largest deal in tech history. Link
• When it comes to delivery, one size doesn’t fit all. Link
• City Sports files for bankruptcy, will sell or close down. Link

Marketing/Social:

• Mobile search surpasses desktop at Google. Link
• With reactions, Facebook supercharges the like button. Link
• How advertising will work in Google’s accelerated mobile pages. Link
• Vimeo is producing its first slate of originals. Link
• Twitter’s Moments geared to reduce newcomer intimidation. Link
• Marketers look to diversify their online spending. Link
• Facebook to start soring ads’ results across its mobile app network. Link
• Pinterest adds retailers with expanded buy button. Link
• Snapchat on pace to overtake Facebook for video supremacy. Link

Startups:

• Glamsquad raises another $15M to launch in more cities. Link
• Start-ups picked by Disney hint at future tech for children. Link
• Meet Sounds, a music app that lets you share songs on Instagram. Link

International:

• Need Supply to open stores in Japan. Link
• European fashion sense dominates online too. Link
• Russia proves a bright spot for China’s online retailers. Link
• SIngPost grows ecommerce with U.S., European services. Link
• Apple is blocking its news app from everyone in China. Link
• WalMart Canada to join forces with 7-Eleven for ecommerce pickup points. Link

Mobile/Emerging Tech:

• How Urban Outfitters may boost mobile sales with visual search. Link
• Microsoft builds its first laptop, the Surface Book. Link
• Facebook Messenger for Apple Watch officially launches. Link
• Abercrombie looks to revive sales with mobile-led model. Link
• China helps offset lowest US iPhone share in the past four years. Link