Welcome back to work! Here is a recap of industry news from the last two weeks (yes, two weeks…you can stalk my Insta to know why I didn’t post last week!).  Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands and Retailers

• BJ’s Wholesale files for IPO. The Wall Street Journal
• Urban Outfitters launches third-party marketplace and tests self-checkout in stores.  Marketing Dive 
• Target’s first quarter store traffic highest in a decade.  AdAge
• Netflix tops Disney market value as top media stock.  AdAge
• Facebook, Google face first GDPR complaints over “forced consent.”  TechCrunch
• Amazon made the top 10 of the Fortune 500 for the first time ever.  Quartz
• Best Buy expands Geek Squad services with roll out of Total Tech Support.  Star Tribune
• Ralph Lauren shares surge on designer’s vote of confidence in CEO.  Bloomberg
• Amazon’s map-tracking package locator now offered to all US shoppers.  CNet
• Gap leans on heavy discounts to clear store inventory.  The Wall Street Journal
• Nordstrom wants brands to embrace the size spectrum.  Glossy
• Matches Fashion saw sales climb a whopping 44% last year.  Fashionista
• Urban Outfitters sees profits triple in first quarter. Seeking Alpha
• Poshmark has officially distributed $1B to its sellers.  Fashionista
• Walmart quietly launches JetBlack, a personal shopping service for affluent city moms.  Recode
• With three new brands, Target takes aim at Generation Z.  Business of Fashion
• Target cuts delivery fees by almost half, putting pressure on Walmart and Amazon.  USA Today  
• The Real Real’s radical vision of secondhand luxury.  New Yorker 
• How Ulta is winning in the age of Amazon.  Quartz
• Next time you buy a TV at Best Buy, you may also be offered health care.  CNBC
• How OPI is hacking Amazon and data algorithms to improve its online site.  Glossy

Marketing and Social Media

• Why it’s primetime for Instagram Stories.  AdWeek
• Paypal starts deeper integration with Google; users can now pay directly in Gmail, Youtube.  TechCrunch
• Snapchat launches first lens that responds to sound.  Engadget
• A leaked look at Facebook’s influencer marketing search engine.  TechCrunch
• Ikea’s witty social posts about the Royal Wedding.  AdAge
• Instagram adds options to mute posts in your feed.  VentureBeat
• How Lego infuses social media marketing with play.  CMO
• L’Oreal films Chinese influencer marketing videos at Cannes.  SCMP
• Ulta partners with Like to Know It.  Glossy
• Publicis Groupe reveals much anticipated AI platform.  The Drum 
• New Balance launches shoppable AR in Snapchat. MediaPost 
• How Vans became the brand that can do no wrong.  High Snobiety
• Victoria’s Secret has a plan to upgrade its image for younger women.  CNBC
• Facebook Stories sees 150M users per day and will soon launch ads.  TechCrunch
• YouTube Music subscription service to relaunch this week.  Seeking Alpha
• Amazon Prime members now get 10% off at Whole Foods.  Fast Company 
• Twitter looking to expand its programatic offerings with Timeline Ad Network pilot program.  MarketingLand

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

• Dog-sitting start-up, Rover, raises $155M.  TechCrunch
• PayPal acquires European payments start-up iZettle for $2.2B.  The New York Times 
• Kroger buys meal-kit start up Home Chef.  The Wall Street Journal
• Why Nike’s AR experiment with Facebook Messenger was a hit.  MarTech Today
• Your favorite stores could be tracking you with facial recognition. Racked
• Why Nordstrom is betting on high-touch tech in stores.  Fortune
• Adobe buys Magento for $1.7B.  Bloomberg
• Target rolling out AR tools in stores to stay competitive in beauty.  Glossy
• You’ll soon be able to use augmented reality to try on sneakers.  Quartz
• Cult ‘fast-beauty’ brand Winky Lux raises $6M in Series A to fund experience-first retail plans.  Forbes

International 

• Ikea pushes into South America.  Reuters
• Starbucks to open 3,000 more stores in China.  CNN Money 
• Amazon leads $12M investment in India-based digital insurance start-up.  TechCrunch
• Amazon plans China event for global growth strategy.  SmartBrief
• Meet the start-up building a market from scratch to become Africa’s Alibaba.  The Wall Street Journal
• China may be about to cut import tariff on consumer goods from lipstick to food.  Fortune
• Retailers’ global expansion cools as businesses get smart about opening new stores.  CNBC