Hey! I’m back after a hectic Monday prevented me from posting last week.  Here is a recap of industry news from the last two weeks.  Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline. Have a great week!

Brands + Retailers

• Levi’s to return to stock exchange after strong comeback.  Fortune
• Luxury retailer Barney’s jumps on the cannabis train with fancy head shop in Beverly Hills.  The New York Times 
• PayLess is closing all its 2,100 US stores.  CNN
• Walgreens to add mobile payment app Alipay.  AdWeek
• Amazon pulls out of planned New York City headquarters.  The New York Times 
• Amazon launches a home shopping channel.  Forbes 
• Subscription ecommerce startups show resilience.  The Wall Street Journal
• Google to invest $13B in US data centers and offices this year.  CNN
• Crate & Barrel partners with home services site Handy for furniture assembly deal.  Reuters
• AirBnB just hired Virgin America’s former CEO as chief transportation officer.  Fast Company 
• Most U.S. companies say they are planning to transition to a circular economy.  Fast Company 
• Hermes’ refusal to change is its most radical gesture yet.  The New York Times 
• Victoria Beckham launches own-brand beauty.  Vogue
• Amazon aims to make half of its shipments carbon neutral by 2030. TechCrunch
• Angela Ahrendts is leaving Apple.  Fortune
• Apple’s executive shake-up readies company for life after iPhone.  The Wall Street Journal
• CVS’s new HealthHub concept aims to reinvent the corner drugstore.  The Motley Fool

Marketing + Social Media

• Instagram purges fake followers.  Fast Company
• Facebook tests empowering publishers to deliver ads to Watch.  AdAge
• What brands are doing to be more inclusive for people with disabilities. Marketing Week
• Lego partners with Snapchap to sell clothing.  Forbes
• US digital ad revenues up 22% to reach $26.2B reports IAB.  The Drum
• Pinterest is bringing skin tone ranges to its iOS app.  AdWeek
• Target is taking its new loyalty program to more cities.  CNBC
• Amazon debuts rewards programme on Washington Post and TikTok apps.  The Drum
• Amazon has a big advertising business and Walmart wants one too.  Bloomberg

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

• Apple buys UK-based digital marketing startup, DataTiger.  AdAge
• JP Morgan is launching its own cryptocurrency.  The Verge
• Amazon opens up Alexa store for anyone to create and publish custom skills.  The Verge
• Facebook acquires visual search business GrokStyle.  Essential Retail
• Apple hires ex-Microsoft exec to revamp its smart home business.  CNBC
• Walmart is putting VR-equipped trailers in its parking lots with plans to bring it to stores.  CNBC
• Joor raises $16M to expand its online fashion marketplace for wholesalers.  VentureBeat
• Foot Locker pours $100M into sneaker resale startup GOAT.  Fast Company 

International

• Estee Lauder sales rise as Chinese consumer spend big on beauty.  The Wall Street Journal
• UK retail sales jump the most in six months on clothing discounts.  Bloomberg