Month: April 2016

Weekly Industry Brief: 4.11.2016

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I’m back! Sorry for the pause last week.  Here are the last two weeks of industry news from around the web. Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headlines.

Brand/Retailer

  • H&M steps up ecommerce, unveils new sustainability line. Link
  • How West Elm became an unlikely incubator of independent design. Link
  • Victoria’s Secret unveils restructuring. Link
  • Lululemon is banking on menswear for long term growth. Link
  • Kit & Ace builds buzz with hotel pop-ups. Link
  • Amazon plans big push to expand Prime Now fast delivery. Link
  • Valentino offers $569M to buy Balmain. Link
  • Local delivery service Postmates launches Amazon Prime-like subscription. Link
  • Whole Foods set opening date for new ‘365’ store chain. Link
  • Uniqlo: again facing Japan’s deflating economy. Link
  • Luxury market growth will hit a low point in 2016 forecasts Bain. Link
  • Gap shares decline. Link
  • Etsy had a rough year as a public company, but it has a plan. Link
  • Clothes are now the top selling category online in the US. Link
  • Prada CEO under pressure as profit falls to five-year low. Link
  • Lululemon expands its line of exclusive, peculiar shops. Link

Marketing/Social Media

  • Instagram updates overlay for action-driving ads. Link
  • Will Restoration Hardware customers warm to loyalty program? Link
  • Instagram rolls out 60-second videos. Link
  • Facebook’s live video effort entices media companies. Link
  • WeChat advertising lessons from L’oreal Paris. Link
  • Saint Laurent deletes Instagram history to welcome new creative director. Link
  • Hypebeast files for IPO. Link
  • Victoria’s Secret turns its back on the catalog. Link
  • New Facebook rules allow publishers and celebrities to share sponsored content. Link
  • StyleHaul’s digital land grab. Link

Start Ups

  • Somewhere between granny panties and thongs, new underwear brands find fans online. Link
  • SoulCylce founders resign. Link
  • Fashion data firm, Claire, to accelerate at Rebecca Minkoff. Link

International

  • ASOS closes China business. Link
  • Banana Republic to enter India. Link
  • India sets rules for foreign ecommerce ownership. Link
  • Myntra in talks to take over Forever 21’s retail chain in India. Link
  • Amazon plans two-hour delivery in Berlin. Link
  • Amazon may violate India’s new rules on foreign ecommerce. Link
  • FedEx rebrands Bongo International as FedEx crossborder. Link

Emerging Tech/Mobile

  • Ikea tests virtual reality with new kitchen experience app. Link
  • Here’s how Nike became a platform business. Link
  • Domino’s cooks up its latest tech move: zero click ordering. Link
  • New Balance only made 44 pairs of these $400 3D-printed sneakers. Link