I’ve recapped industry news found around the web from the last week.  Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

If you’re wondering why I do this every week, the simplest answer is that it helps me be better at my job.  It keeps me on top of trends so I can make better decisions, identify opportunities and be competitive.  Plus, I’m pretty passionate about the whole thing.  And there is never enough to satisfy me. So I always seek more.

Hopefully it helps you too.

Brand and Retailers

• Amazon launching a music streaming service. Link
• Etsy’s new ultra-sustainable headquarters is filled with local, handmade furniture. Link
• Urban Outfitters warns of falling retail sales in current quarter. Link
• Skechers’ has quietly been making billions. Link
• Coach unveils Disney collection. Link
• Amazon opens tech office in downtown Minneapolis. Link
• Fashion brands invest in express payment options. Link
• H&M opens first store in Puerto Rico. Link

Marketing and Social Media

• Snapchat launches a colossal expansion of its advertising, ushering a new era for the app. Link
• Microsoft to buy Linkedin for $26.2B. Link
• Pinterest partners with Oracle to test tracking offline sales. Link
• Vogue introduces $200 members-only subscription. Link
• Cultivating brand loyalty in even the toughest customer. Link
• Apple bets on messaging emojis, Siri to keep customers loyal. Link
• iHeartMedia and WeWork will target entrepreneurs with branded podcasts. Link
• Sephora makes Snapchat shoppable. Link

Start Ups

• These companies dream of becoming the Lululemon of the pajama industry. Link
• China’s Tencent, Lenovo buy into US augmented reality startup. Link
• How Stitch Fix uses data to pick clothes for you. Link

International

• Amazon plans to invest $3B in India. Link
• Skechers CEO talks international expansion. Link
• Amazon to debut same-day grocery delivery service in London. Link
• Rakuten to exit the UK, Austria and Span as global retrenchment continues. Link
• H&M may reduce size of stores in India. Link
• Ikea to finally test online shopping in Australia. Link
• Jones New York to close entire Canadian business. Link
• Kazakhstan could be a bright spot for retailers. Link
• Line backs a beauty and fashion portal rolled out in Iran. Link
• The rise of China’s shopping villages. Link

Mobile and Emerging Tech

• Google, Baidu and the race for an edge in the global speech recognition market. Link
• Why the maker movement matters. Link
• Will gestures make smartwatches useful? Link
• Next generation health. Link
• JD.com launches drone delivery in rural China. Link
• Everything Apple announced at WWDC in one handy list. Link