Happy Monday! Here is a quick recap of industry news from the last week.  Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline. Have a great week!!

Brands + Retailers

• Unilever names new CEO as big brands regroup.  The Wall Street Journal
• Marriott reports 500 million customer accounts were hacked.  The Wall Street Journal
• Microsoft worth as much as Apple.  The New York Times
• Abercrombie & Fitch stores after earnings smasher.  Seeking Alpha
• J.Crew to close two of its brands even as it returns to positive sales growth.  Fashionista
• Patagonia donates $10M tax break to non-profit environmental groups.  CNBC 
• The Amazon warehouse comes to Soho.  The New York Times 
• Netflix, Prime and Blue Apron: How subscription businesses are taking over.  Fast Company

Marketing + Social Media

• Marketing through smart speakers? Brands don’t need to be asked twice.  The New York Times 
• Retailers test Facebook-style shopper profiles to battle Amazon.  AdAge
• Samsung overtakes P&G as world’s largest advertiser.  AdAge
• Intel guts its high-profile internal agency.  AdAge
• Amazon emerges as an advertising giant.  The Wall Street Journal
• Amazon Teen targets kids on Snapchat.  Fast Company
• For Birchbox and Glamsquad, it’s all about clicks and mortar.  Fortune
• Apple launches online store with 10% discount for active military and veterans.  TechCrunch
• DTC brand Parachute plans to have 20 retail stores by 2020.  Digiday
• How this 7-year-old made $22M playing with toys.  Forbes
• YouTube rolls out Stories to creators with over 10K subscribers.  TechCrunch
• Amazon is letting Apple Musica onto its Alexa speakers.  AdAge
• Facebook adds free TV shows to redefine Watch.  TechCrunch

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

• L’oreal’s Modifiche brings AR to nail care.  Glossy
• Startup incubator Betaworks signs exclusive partnership with WPP’s Grey.  AdWeek
• Payless opened a fake luxury store to see how much people would pay for $20 shoes.  AdWeek
• YouTube lets European creators add a march store to their channels.  Engadget
• This is the ultimate no-frills shopping site.  Fast Company
• Bustle buys Mic.  Forbes

International

• Amazon under fire in Europe as Germany adds antitrust probe.  AdAge
• El Corte Ingles ties up with Alibaba.  Alizila
• Toys ‘R’ Us Asia maps regional growth plan.  The Wall Street Journal