Happy TUESDAY! Start your day with some industry news. Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands and Retailers

• Spotify’s Wall Street debut is a success.  The New York Times
• Why the QVC model still works for beauty brands.  Glossy
• ASOS has ambitions for big expansion.  The Guardian
• Designer brands are joining the direct-to-consumer fray.  Glossy
• Nine West may be heading for bankruptcy.  Fast Company
• Cult men’s brief brand Tommy John just launched a line of women’s undies.  Fast Company
• Warehouses are now worth more than offices, thanks to Amazon.  Bloomberg
• Resale is expected to be bigger than fast fashion within 10 years.  Fashionista
• How InStyle is cashing in on beauty ecommerce.  Glossy
• Some Amazon Key features including keyless entry, go nationwide.  CNet
• Amazon now sells more than 70 of its own private-label brands.  Recode
• Anthropologie CEO leaving this month.  WWD
• Nine West files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.  USA Today
• Nordstrom opening a New York store as other retailers close theirs.  New York Times 
• Amazon spent nearly $23B on R&D last year – more than any other U.S. company.  Recode
• Paypal rolling out banking products.  TechCrunch

Marketing and Social Media

• Google and Target issue first voice-activated coupon.  AdWeek
• Bricks and clicks: How Instagram is changing physical retail.  Forbes
• Amazon could lead in search ad business by 2020.  Mediapost
• How Tumi is using AI in marketing campaigns, online and in stores.  Glossy
• Polyvore acquired by global fashion platform SSENSE.  Fashionista
• Snapchat cashes Houseparty group video chat app.  Adage
• Adobe releases State of Digital Advertising 2018 research. Forbes
• More targeted ads are coming to your TV.  AdWeek
• Facebook really wants people to use Stories.  AdWeek

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

• Tradesy acquired a closet service to compete with The RealReal.  Glossy
• Virtual reality, now with the sense of touch.  The Wall Street Journal
• Walmart in takeover talks with pharmacy startup.  Bloomberg
• Postdates launching pickup feature.  TechCrunch
• 2.1B consumers will use mobile payments by 2019.  RetailDive
• How Mobike’s founder turned a crazy idea into a $3B startup.  Bloomberg
• Instacart raises another $150M.  TechCrunch
• Alibaba is becoming a major investor in facial recognition technology.  Quartz

International

• ShopShops aims at Chinese consumers via live streaming.  The Wall Street Journal
• In China, the sharing economy stretches to fashion for millennials.  SCMP
• These seven international retailers want to make a splash in the US.  CNBC
• Tencent shows off their vision for the future of unmanned retail.  Jing Daily
• Southeast Asia fashion startup Zilingo continues meteoric rise with $54M Series C  TechCrunch
• Hong Kong money to help online fashion disrupter Moda Operandi break into the Asian market.  SCMP
• Taco Bell plans explosive Australian growth as sales jump.  AdAge