Here is a recap of news in the retail and ecommerce industry from the last two weeks week.  Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline. (P.S. Sorry I missed you last week.  I’m back after a reallyyyyyyy awesome week of vacation in Italy.  Work/life balance, work hard/play hard, etc.!)

Brands and Retailers

• Holiday sales forecasts are rosy, but not for all retailers. The Wall Street Journal
• Amazon said to be testing its own delivery service. TechCrunch
• Nordstrom no longer exploring going private. Fashionista
• Ikea to test selling products via third-party websites. The Wall Street Journal
• Ikea plans full-range town center showrooms. Reuters
• S. retail sales rose 1.6% in September. The Wall Street Journal
• Amazon welcomes teens with new parent-controlled shopping allowance. The Wall Street Journal
• Wal-Mart plans further cost cuts as competition with Amazon intensifies. The Wall Street Journal
• How Macy’s is turning beauty store BlueMercury into its secret weapon. Fortune
• Amazon’s luxury retail problem. Fox Business
• Reformation is launching a jeans line with over 40 different pieces. Bustle
• Gucci bans fur, joining others in seeking alternatives. Reuters
• Amazon getting into private label sportswear. Bloomberg
• Coach changes its name to Tapestry. The Wall Street Journal
• Frambridge teamed up for Target to bring custom framing to more people. Fast Company
• Rent the Runway chases the fast-fashion shopper. The Wall Street Journal
• Third Love spent a year designing a bra you can sleep in. Fast Company
• What goes into making Everlane’s earth-friendly $68 pair of jeans. Bloomberg
• AIM, AOL’s iconic instant messenger service is shutting down after 20 years. Recode

Marketing and Social Media

• Instagram adds polling stickers to stories. The Verge
• Snap blows lid on its own surprise AR announcement. Gizmodo
• Gap is selling subscription boxes for baby clothes. CNBC
• Snap unveils brand partnerships and context cards. Reuters

Startup and Emerging Tech

• Net-a-porter poised to launch AI picking service. Retail Gazette
• Alibaba to spend $15B on innovation projects with new research lab. Bloomberg
• Apple quietly acquires computer vision startup regaind. TechCrunch
• Amazon’s Alexa can now recognize different voices and give personalized response. The Verge
• Manufacturers are making devices increasingly difficult for consumers to fix. The Economist

International

• Instacart is expanding to Canada in Amazon battle. The Wall Street Journal
• American jewelry chain Alex and Ani to open first store in the UK. Retail Gazette
• Ikea puts Latin America, Southeast Asia markets in its sights. Bloomberg
• Near-record crowds push Uniqlo Canada sales above expectations. Bloomberg
• JD.com launches luxury platform. Business of Fashion
• How China’s shopping malls survive and thrive in the ecommerce age. Forbes
• Mango opens first store in partnership with Myntra in India. Live Mint
• Amazon gears up for greater presence in Brazil. Bloomberg
• Amazon to open pop-up bar in Tokyo. Retail Dive
• Sears Canada approves plan to liquidate most of retail chain’s assets. The Wall Street Journal
• Flipkart launches private label large appliances category. Live Mint