Happy Monday! Here is a rundown of news from the last week. Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands + Retailers

• H&M and Zara are closing stores to stay ahead.  Fortune
• Nike’s first shoe subscription, two years in the making, is here.  Fast Company
• Prime Day and the broad reach of Amazon’s ecosystem.  McKinsey
• Uber stock falls after $5.2B loss.  AdAge
• Nike, Foot Locker plan 50 large-format, high-tech stores.  CNBC
• Steve Madden buys DTC brand Greats.  AdAge
• The North Face focuses on experience with new store format.  Glossy
• Arizona is moving away from tea to THC with vape pens and gummies.  Fast Company
• FedEx-Amazon split will provide a shipment windfall for rivals.  The Wall Street Journal
• Levi’s Red Tab merchandise now sold at Target.  MarketWatch
• New Sears parent to shutter 21 namesake and 5 Kmart stores.  USA Today
• Walgreens adds 200 stores to growing global closure list.  Forbes
• Amazon tries new pricing model for 3rd party sellers.  CNBC
• Bloomingdales launching a rental subscription service this fall.  PureWow
• Amazon’s next foray into fashion is a personalized shopping service.  Engadget
• Apple suspends listening to Alexa queries amid privacy concerns.  AdAge

Marketing + Social Media

• Acknowledge, apologize, investigate: how big brands combat online outrage.  The Wall Street Journal
• Snapchat launches ‘instant’ tool for creating vertical ads.  TechCrunch
• Pinterest rolls out improved product recommendations.  VentureBeat
• Facebook goes after Amazon, Hulu with ad-free video subscription channels.  AdAge
• Nike’s app powers Foot Locker’s new NYC store.  Engadget
• Quaker Oats gains consumer insights from Messenger chatbot.  The Drum
• How Facebook is attempting to target ads without personal data.  AdAge
• Twitter drops third party data providers.  AdAge
• Instagram users may soon be able to communicate with those using Facebook Messenger.  AdAge
• Current YouTube shopping-related trends marketers should know.  AdWeek

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

• Amazon requests FAA approval of delivery-drone plans.  CNN
• Five apps that you’ve never heard of that teens are using to shop.  CNBC
• Target incubator takes aim at Gen Z innovators.  Chain Store Age
• Postmates to drop IPO filling next month.  TechCrunch
• Verizon is selling Tumblr to WordPress parent company.  TechCrunch

International

• Adidas boss warns currency war will hurt more than tariffs.  Fortune
• Canadian Tire buys Party City’s Canada business for $174.4M.  Financial Post
• Luxury brands use video games to speak to Chinese millennials.  Jing Daily
• Germany’s online retailers look to reduce costly returns.  Bloomberg