Happy Monday! Hope some of you were able to enjoy a day off today.  Here is a recap of industry news to get you caught up.  Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline. Have a great week!

Brands + Retailers

• Walgreens takes a minority stake in Birchbox, which will now come to its stores.  TechCrunch
• Walmart partners with MGM on original programming for Vudu.  TechCrunch
• Kraft-Heinz starts food technology VC fund with $100M.  AdAge
• Stitch Fix shares slide 20% amid growing concerns about Amazon competition.  Fortune
• Nike’s shop for female sneaker heads will be curated by a fashion retail superstar.  Quartzy
• Express is the latest retailer to launch a clothing rental service.  CNBC
• Toys ‘R’ Us lenders plan brand revival.  Bloomberg
• Target is back to its ‘cheap chic’ roots but the retailer has to keep the momentum going.  CNBC
• How Eloquii fits into Walmart’s quest for upscale growth.  RetailDive
• Target’s answer to discounters is an even cheaper store brand.  The Wall Street Journal
• What competitors are missing about Amazon’s new 4-start retail concept.  Forbes
• Barnes and Noble evaluates possible sale.  The Wall Street Journal
• Time magazine names its 50 most genius companies of 2018.  Time
• Netflix is buying a studio.  Bloomberg
• Why future success on the high street could mean collaborating with ‘frenemies.’ Marketing Week

Marketing + Social Media

• Why J&J enlists teens with modest Instagram followings as influencers.  AdAge
• How Lowe’s is using Pinterest to build customer intent.  Digiday
• Foursquare closes a $33 million funding round aiming to ‘refine’ its products.  AdWeek
• Highlights from Snapchat CEO’s 6,000-word leaked memo on survival.  TechCrunch
• Why you’re buying products from companies you’ve never heard of.  The Wall Street Journal
• Facebook to allow first-party cookies by the end of the month.  Inc
• Facebook adds personas to Messenger chatbots.  Mobile Marketer
• Twitter allows publishers to monetize their organic videos worldwide via in-stream video ads.  AdWeek
• How L’oreal is balancing data and consumer trust.  Glossy
• Facebook pushes into smart speakers with new portal video calling device.  Fortune
• Google is shutting down Google+ in wake of privacy glitch.  USA Today

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

• Klarna raises $20M from H&M, will build financing and payment services for the fashion retailer.  TechCrunch
• Facebook messenger internally tests voice command for chat, calls.  TechCrunch
• Google acquires CRM automation startup.  Seeking Alpha 
• LinkedIn acquires employee engagement platform Glint.  TechCrunch
• How AI is helping Amazon become a trillion-dollar company.  Fast Company
• Forerunner Ventures raises a new $360 million fund.  Fast Company
• New cannabis tech boosting industry and providing a better user experience.  Forbes

International

• China’s most famous actress faces huge fines in tax evasion.  The New York Times 
• WeChat has more users than China’s entire internet – but what’s next? JingDaily
• Bumble to head to India with help from Priyanka Chopra.  The New York Times