Happy Monday! Here is a quick recap of news from around the industry in the last week.  Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline. Hope your holidays have been successful so far 🙂

Brands + Retailers

• Marlboro maker buys $1.8B stake in cannabis company.  Adage
• Amazon tests its cashier-less technology for bigger stores.  The Wall Street Journal
• Amazon’s cashier-free Go stores may be coming to airports.  TechCrunch
• What big consumer brands can do to compete in a digital economy.  Harvard Business Review
• Walgreens launches next-day drug delivery with FedEx.  Forbes
• Chanel is showing the first signs of evolving into a more flexible, millennial-oriented company.  Glossy
• Walmart to acquire home decor site Art.com. CNBC
• Stella McCartney, Burberry among brands uniting against climate change.  CNN
• How digitally native brands are changing the American mall.  Glossy
• Verizon trims 7% of staff in preparation for a 5G future.  TechCrunch

Marketing + Social Media

• Google’s search data shows YouTube’s influence over this season’s hottest toys.  TechCrunch
• Why the New York Times is going all in on march.  Fashionista
• Lyft drops ‘L’ in solidarity with screwed Brooklyn commuters.  AdAge
• Lululemon expands test loyalty program with annual fee.  CNBC
• How Adidas is evolving dark social to stay ahead of the game.  Marketing Week
• TV can now complete the attribution puzzle.  AdAge
• Will ad dollars continue shifting from Facebook to Instagram in 2019?  AdWeek
• Pringles returns to the Super Bowl.  AdAge
• Social media tops newspapers as a top source for adults.  TechCrunch
• Instagram adds voice messaging feature to Instagram Direct.  Fast Company

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

• Wearables are pivoting from fitness to wellness.  Glossy
• Target’s Christmas tree sales aided by augmented-reality feature.  Bloomberg
• Google has acquired one of India’s most popular train-tracking apps.  TechCrunch
• Amazon Music customers can now talk to Alexa more naturally.  TechCrunch
• Target replaces startup accelerator program, partners with German retailer.  Biz Journals
• VR headset market grew 8.3% in Q3.  VentureBeat
• American Airlines is offering biometric boarding at LAX terminal.  Fast Company

International

• China’s Alibaba takes on Amazon in European cloud.  The Wall Street Journal
• Macy’s fully exits China after closing its last online shop.  ZDNet
• Amazon is planning to open a flagship Go store in London.  Fast Company