Hi! I’m back. Happy new season!Here is a recap of news from the last two weeks. Seriously considering an Amazon-only news recap day…thoughts? Meantime, sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands and Retailers

• Amazon Prime Day: what the real lessons are.  McKinsey
• Michael Kors is close to buying Versace for $2B.  Bloomberg
• Amazon may open 3,000 cashier-less stores by 2021.  AdAge
• A look inside Target’s store of the future.  AdWeek
• Walmart is borrowing luxury’s playbook to gain an edge on Amazon in fashion.  Quartz
• Amazon will sell and deliver live Christmas trees this year.  CNN Money
• Gap’s new menswear line is a direct challenge to Lululemon.  Fortune
• Ikea quickly shifting to a zero-emissions delivery fleet.  Fast Company
• Halloween spending to hit $9B.  Retail Dive
• How Nike became the biggest fashion brand in the world.  GQ
• Walmart wants to bring its everyday low prices to healthcare.  CNN Money
• J.Crew quietly launched a new platform that takes a page out of Amazon’s playbook.  Business Insider
• Amazon introduces an Alexa-powered microwave and other home products.  The New York Times 
• Crate & Barrel CEO says tariffs won’t send production to U.S. Bloomberg
• Farfetch tops price range in IPO boon to luxury market.  Reuters
• Why L Brands is shuttering all its Henri Bendel stores.  Forbes
• Amazon investigates employees leaking data for bribes.  The Wall Street Journal 
• Zara’s upbeat outlook eases concerns about online competition.  The Wall Street Journal
• Coke may be planning cannabis drinks.  Fast Company 
• Walmart’s Jet.com to offer Nike products in bid for urban consumers.  Reuters
• Starbucks to build 10,000 “greener” stores by 2025.  CNBC
• Target launches kitchen line with Chrissy Teigen.  Biz Journals

Marketing and Social Media

• Why Weight Watchers is shedding the baggage of an old name.  AdWeek
• Google following Instagram and Facebook with push into Stories format.  Recode
• Amazon launches “storefronts” to promote small businesses.  Fast Company 
• Amazon forecast to be No. 3 digital advertising player in 2018.  The Wall Street Journal
• Here’s everything Google announced today at its “Future of Search” event.  TechCrunch
• How Nordstrom reinvented its loyalty program.  Glossy
• FabFitFun expands its video reach with new experiment in live programming.  TechCrunch
• Pinterest launches API that lets brans find and track influencers.  VentureBeat
• Snapchat lets you take a photo of object to buy it on Amazon.  TechCrunch
• Eva Chen explains Instagram’s new shopping features.  Vogue
• What the rise of men’s makeup means for masculinity.  Vox
• Pinterest introduces a few product tagging tool for organic pins.  Marketing Land
• L’oreal doing background checks as part of new influencer vetting process.  The Drum
• TripAdvisor wants to become your Facebook for travel.  Fast Company 
• Time Magazine sold to Salesforce founder for $190M.  The Wall Street Journal

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

• Here’s why SeriusXM is purchasing Pandora for $3.5B.  AdAge
• Meet the nine companies in Snapchat’s new startup accelerator.  TechCrunch
• Six AI innovations that could change skincare and beauty.  Dazed
• For major beauty companies, brand incubation is the way of the future.  Fashionista
• Slack acquires Astro to conquer email.  TechCrunch
• Here’s why Adobe dished out $4.75B for Marketo.  AdAge
• Google might release a Home Hub to take on the Echo Show.  The Verge 
• How AI can help stop cyberattacks.  The Wall Street Journal 

International

• Everything Alibaba does differently and better.  Harvard Business Review 
• Amazon investment in India ties into retail chain with Aditya Birla.  The Wall Street Journal
• UK retailer Oral Kiely ceases trading on cash crunch.  BBC
• Taxify rides motorbikes to lead over Uber in Africa.  The Wall Street Journal
• Walmart’s purchase of Mexico food delivery app set to spur ecommerce.  Reuters