Category: weekly recap

WEEKLY INDUSTRY ROUND UP: 8.4.2014

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Top industry news from last week.  All sources can be found in the hyperlink after the headline:

Retailer News:

  • Zappos tests personal shopping assistant image recognition app. Link
  • PayPal’s “Bill Me Later” service becomes “PayPal Credit” as company expands credit products globally. Link
  • Lord & Taylor to test beacons in store. Link
  • Spanx stretches into new territory with jeans. Link
  • Online retailer Blue Nile to experiment with brick and mortar retail presence. Link
  • Diane Von Furstenburg to launch fashion jewelry line. Link
  • A guide to 11 Fashion Tech Labs, from Nordstrom, to Target, to Macy’s. Link
  • Gilt partners with HP on fashionable smartwatch. Link
  • Hollister’s first celebrity collaboration with Lucy Hale of Pretty Little Liars. Link
  • Patagonia releases new eco-friendly wetsuits. Link
  • Rue La La attracts Gilt Groupe for potential sale. Link
  • Converse x Missoni Chuck Taylor launching at Nordstrom. Link
  • Target names new CEO from outside the organization. Link
  • How Sephora plans to survive retail in a digital age. Link
  • Adidas virtual storefront concept uses interactive digital signage controlled with smartphones. Link
  • Uniqlo expands to MidWest. Link
  • Calvin Klein designs collection for Net-a-Porter. Link
  • WalMart continues small format expansion. Link
  • Ikea creates omnichannel shopping experience from favorite items in app. Link
  • Etsy set to launch wholesale business this week. Link
  • eBay to venture into online services. Link
  • Apple closes acquisition of Beats music. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Coca Cola launches Tweet a Coke campaign. Link
  • Under Armour makes headlines with Misty Copeland ballerina ad. Link
  • Twitter buys image-search startup Madbits. Link
  • Instagram launches one-touch photo and video messaging app Bolt outside the US. Link
  • Google Shopping now features product ratings in ads. Link
  • Big brands are driving Twitter and Facebook’s mobile ad expansion. Link
  • Marc Jacobs’ fragrance installation asks shoppers to upload their dreams. Link
  • Facebook gives up on gifts. Link
  • Meet the first viral SnapChat stars. Link
  • Twitter testing easier-to-use hashtags. Link

Start-ups:

  • WalMart Labs acquires Luvocracy, a Pinterest-like marketplace for product recommendations. Link
  • BaubleBar raises $10M in new funding lead by Chris Burch’s Burch Creative Capital. Link
  • HelloWorld, an easier way to share your location with friends. Link
  • Hukkster online shopping tool shuts down. Link
  • Saffron Fix delivers Indian food ingredients and recipes. Link
  • Goodshop, the website that donates to your chosen nonprofit when you shop online launches iOS app. Link
  • Square said to be in talks to buy food delivery start up Caviar. Link
  • Groupon founder working on walking tour app. Link
  • AirBnB expands to business travel. Link

International:

  • Canada and Australia are top choice for cross-border ecommerce, followed by Japan and New Zealand. Link

[APAC]

  • Amazon to invest $2B in India. Link
  • Why China is “10 Years Ahead” of the world with social commerce. Link
  • Alibaba mulls investment in SnapChat. Link
  • US Retailers target Chinese shoppers with stores, products. Link
  • China’s malls add parks, playgrounds to attract big-spending parents. Link
  • Rakuten believes chat app Viber can completely cange its ecommerce business. Link

[AU/NZ]

  • Surfstitch in IPO talks. Link
  • The Iconic’s heavy mobile investment paying off. Link
  • New Zealand online shoppers spent $1.3B offshore. Link

[EU]

  • 3D printer company MakerBot opens EU office in Germany. Link
  • Zalando’s deal with TopShop. Link

[A/ME]

  • Rocket Internet’s Jumia goes deeper into Africa. Link
  • Facebook launches mobile app in Zambia with free Internet access. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Android market share hits new record. Link
  • Hilton hotel rooms will soon unlock via iPhones. Link
  • Swatch to add personal fitness data to touch watch. Link
  • Starwood’s app-driven vision for the hotel of the future. Link
  • Buzzfeed to launch mobile app to be dedicated to serious news. Link
  • Best Buy CEO says tablets are crashing, has hope for PCs. Link
  • Square plans new chip-friendly credit card reader. Link
  • Mobile internet revenue to hit $700B in 4 years. Link
  • Polyvore launches new, simpler version of iPhone app. Link

Other:

  • New York Times runs a full-page medical marijuana ad for the first time ever. Link
  • Hotel gives guests virtual seeds to plant trees in fire-ravaged Chilean Patagonia. Link
  • At lunch with Michael Kors and Danny Meyer. Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY ROUND UP: 7.28.2014

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Industry brief  for the week of July 20th – July 26th 2014. All sources can be found in the hyperlink after the headline:

Retailer News:

  • Target launches In a Snap app, an image recognition/visual search app just in time for back to school. Link
  • Urban Outfitters, Nordstrom and The Gap among retail’s digital winners. Link
  • Lord & Taylor set to launch two concept shops to support emerging designers. Link
  • J.Crew’s first Williamsburg location teases with graffiti artist’s mural. Link
  • New stores feature food options to fuel shoppers. Link
  • JCPenny showcases real people-inspired mannequins in New York City. Link
  • Aeropostale teases AeroNow re-branding with social, text campaigns. Link
  • TargetExpress tests takes aim at Generation Y. Link
  • Will selling nostalgia work for Calvin Klein? Link
  • Under Armour to target women during football season. Link
  • BirchBox is using its retail space to track customers offline. Link
  • Spotlight on niche retail experience Wildfang, founded by three former Nike employees. Link
  • Essie vending machines are coming to an airport near you. Link
  • Wal-Mart’s Asia CEO takes charge of U.S. business. Link
  • Macy’s reveals 2015 sustainability initiatives. Link
  • Amazon’s Fire phone hits stores. Link
  • Amazon opens web store for customizable 3D printed products. Link
  • Dollar Tree to buy Family Dollar for $8.5B. Link
  • Cara Delevingne is new face of TopShop for Autumn/Winter 2014. Link
  • H&M opens its largest store on Fifth Avenue. Link
  • Uniqlo’s Boston pop-up is open for business. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Forever21, Urban Outfitters among most popular retailers on Pinterest. Link
  • Facebook launches save, read-it-later for links, places and media pages. Link
  • Adidas, Champs Sports want you to watch their new web shows on Instagram. Link
  • Nike’s secret New York vending machine trades free swag for FuelBand points. Link
  • Line adds ‘hidden chat’ feature. Link
  • SnapChat may be working on secret peer-to-peer payment feature. Link
  • Facebook and Twitter aim to tap $300B eCommerce market. Link
  • Instagram’s “Bolt” leak could be a new Facebook app or an app install ad test. Link
  • Instagram seeks user feedback on its advertisers. Link
  • Facebook earnings: Instagram, mobile shift and other areas to watch. Link
  • Retailers outspend luxury brands on luxury keywords in paid search. Link
  • Veuve Clicquot travels to consumers with branded mail truck. Link

Start-ups:

  • Keep, a universal shopping cart for the web. Link
  • Apple confirms purchase of book recommendation maker BookLamp. Link
  • Paris Picnic is a service that delivers a French picnic anywhere within an hour. Link
  • Weave is a Tinder for LinkedIn. Link
  • Google buys game-livestreaming firm Twitch for $1B. Link
  • Application enables Etsy shop integration on Wix sites. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • More people in China go online using mobile devices than PCs. Link
  • Mulberry steps up digital game in China with new WeChat account. Link
  • McKinsey’s 2025 Luxury Forecast: China’s cities hold key to growth. Link
  • Yoox partners with WeChat to socialize mobile commerce. Link
  • Gartner says mobile connections in India will rise to 815M in 2014. Link
  • Amazon to open five new warehouses in India. Link

[AU/NZ]

  • Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn and West Elm to open in Sydney on August 28th. Link
  • Missoni to collaborate with Target Australia. Link

[EU]

  • Gap opening stores in Austria and Slovenia. Link
  • Boohoo.com launches in Germany. Link
  • TopShop to launch on Zalando in September. Link
  • Nobody seems quite sure how Spain’s new Google tax will work. Link
  • Harrods builds footwear destination. Link

[A/ME]

  • SuitSupply opens in South Africa. Link
  • PayPal finds eager online shopping base in Nigeria. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Amazon quietly launches consumer-facing mobile wallet app. Link
  • Retailers look to beacon to improve in-store experience and gather consumer data. Link
  • Big brands acquire mobile talent; smaller brands seek alternatives. Link
  • Foursquare re-brands, unveils new app and logo. Link
  • Apple granted patent for smartwatch device. Link
  • Yahoo buys mobile analytics firm Flurry. Link
  • For its first Google Glass effort, eBay adapts its RedLaser product finder app. Link
  • Michelob Ultra turns up volume on mobile music with dedicated player. Link
  • Unilever searches for Internet of Things partners. Link
  • iPads feeling pressure but ‘others’ are doing fine. Link
  • New Explore button on Google Maps instantly localizes user experience. Link

Other:

  • McDonald’s is re-branding to take on Chipotle. Link
  • Amazon will spend $100M on new, original shows in Q3. Link
  • Zillow to acquire Trulia for $3.5B. Link
  • Britney Spears launching her own lingerie line. Link
  • Virgin America files for IPO. Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY ROUND UP: 7.21.2014

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Industry brief  for the week of July 13th – July 19th 2014. All sources can be found in the hyperlink after the headline:

Retailer News:

  • Nordstrom integrates Instagram to create shopping experience. Link
  • Tory Burch launches FitBit jewelry collection. Link
  • eBay partners with Sotheby’s for online auctions. Link
  • Nordstrom in talks to buy Trunk Club. Link
  • H&M’s NYC flagship will sell all product categories. Link
  • Zara’s parent company to implement RFID technology in all stores. Link
  • Puma teams up with We Go Hard for autumn/winter 2014. Link
  • Warby Parker teams with Into the Gloss for new aviators. Link
  • West Elm’s collaboration with Etsy could be the start of a new wave of partnerships. Link
  • Under Armour to join forces with Samsung for wearables. Link
  • Amazon reveals subscription ebook service. Link
  • Rent the Runway goes ‘Unlimited’ with monthly subscription service. Link
  • Ulta takes a chance on new brands. Link
  • Design Within Reach is bought by Herman Miller. Link
  • Dell now accepts Bitcoin for all online U.S. purchases. Link
  • Online version of Ikea catalog adds shopping lists, favorites. Link
  • This package could help Amazon use 200 times fewer boxes. Link
  • Fendi opens Soho pop-up shop. Link
  • Kate Spade launches first swimwear collection. Link
  • Modcloth cuts almost 15% of its staff. Link
  • Macy’s rethinking Brooklyn unit’s future. Link
  • Neiman Marcus enables Visa checkout to boost ecommerce conversion. Link
  • Uniqlo designed MoMa security staff’s new uniforms. Link
  • How Ikea wins business through co-creation and collaboration. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Snapchat adds filters that unlock art based on your location. Link
  • Twitter inches closer to ecommerce with CardSpring deal. Link
  • Google Plus rescinded its real-name mandate. Link
  • Turning likes into a career: social media stars. Link
  • Brands go digital in extended sponsorships with music festivals. Link
  • Agencies increase focus on cause marketing. Link
  • Imgur roles out powerful new viral image search tool. Link
  • Pinterest launches new category pages you can follow on mobile & web. Link
  • Facebook tests new ‘buy’ button for online purchases in U.S. Link
  • YouTube’s new content push: investing in its own stars. Link
  • Beauty bloggers changing the face of the make-up industry. Link
  • Buzzfeed cracks the Pinterest code. Link
  • Facebook explains why it wants to be a retail store. Link

Start-ups:

  • Kate Bosworth to launch new fashion app called Style Thief. Link
  • An app that is like Tinder for shopping. Link
  • Higgle lets like-minded shoppers name their price when they buy together. Link
  • Threadflip raises $13M to grow workforce by 40%. Link
  • App tracks product price drops with a simple screenshot. Link
  • Why entrepreneurs are jumping on the drinkable meal bandwagon. Link
  • Meet the Uber of the retail world. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • Alibaba strikes deal with Nielsen to shed more light on Chinese shopping habits. Link
  • Line’s new ecommerce app for Thailand is the scruffy cousin to its shopping app in Japan. Link
  • Chinese ecommerce firm JD.com relaunches eBay-like Paipai to take on Alibaba. Link
  • Five takeaways from Japan’s report on internet usage. Link
  • WalMart increases Indian wholesale business. Link
  • The world’s largest duty-free mall set to open in September in China. Link
  • Amazon India introduces shopping via Twitter hashtag. Link

[AU/NZ]

  • Apple brings trade-in program to Australia. Link
  • TopShop close to Perth opening. Link

[CA]

  • Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters coming to Winnipeg. Link

[EU]

  • Primark plans US expansion. Link
  • In EU, Google to stop labeling apps with in-app purchases as “free.” Link
  • eBay doubling down on Click-and-Collect service in Britain. Link

[A/ME]

  • Neiman Marcus debuts duty-free deals in the Middle East. Link

[LATAM]

  • Alibaba teams up with Brazil postal service firm. Link
  • Baidu search engine enters Brazil. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Starbucks testing mobile ordering system. Link
  • Music messaging app lets users chat with song snippets. Link
  • Visa tries to unseat Google Wallet and PayPal. Link
  • Google Wallet iOS app adds gift cards, invoicing and the ability to send money from debit cards for free. Link
  • Google inks deal to make smart contact lenses. Link
  • Kim Kardashian’s iOS game couple make $200M this year—here’s how. Link
  • Mobile marketing trends dominating the first half of 2014. Link

Other:

  • UPS announces expansion of early morning delivery service. Link
  • AirBnB gets a rebrand. Link
  • Pinterest’s unique approach to building new features users love. Link
  • Ex-Amazon manager gets funding to help retailers battle Amazon. Link
  • Fashion labs: how tech is changing the way we dress and shop. Link

Weekly Round Up: 7.14.2014

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Industry brief  for the week of July 6th – July 12th 2014. All sources can be found in the hyperlink after the headline:

Retailer News:

  • The future of Apple retail: China, mobile payments and a revamped experience. Link
  • SuitSupply will open its largest US store in Dallas this Fall. Link
  • Lingerie startups targeting the space dominated by Victoria’s Secret. Link
  • J.Crew introduces size 000 in a business move made for Asia. Link
  • Gap and Target register their own top-level domains. Link
  • Burberry revenue exceeds estimates as digital push drives sales. Link
  • Wayfair.com boosts web traffic via an alliance with home improvement TV channel HGTV. Link
  • Amazon asks FAA for permission to test its delivery drones. Link
  • Online clothing resale store Twice rolls out same-day pickup with Twice Local. Link
  • How Zappos uses one-week work sprints to launch big projects fast, like the 12-week build and launch of Ask Zappos. Link
  • See inside BirchBox’s first physical retail space. Link
  • Weary retailers battle weak demand, traffic. Link  Article
  • With travel retail growth, the sector is increasingly targeting travelers beyond traditional ways. Link
  • More beauty brands and retailers are investing in toxin-free cosmetics. Link
  • Gap shares fall after same-store sales drop unexpectedly in June. Link
  • Rethinking retail: why brands are embracing the rise of the concept store. Link
  • Macy’s list of priorities a win-win for customers and profits. Link
  • Michael Kors to increase focus on Men’s clothing. Link
  • BirchBox to bring artificial intelligence to offline retail in new store. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Alexander Wang x H&M collection debuts first item on Twitter. Link
  • Pinterest makes it easier to follow ecommerce brands. Link
  • Target turns to cause marketing for back-to-school season. Link
  • Loverly launches new content hub. Link
  • Nordstrom adds diversity to its summer sale catalog. Link
  • Facebook mobile log-in to drive ads in Q2. Link
  • Facebook and Twitter set usage records for World Cup final. Link
  • How blogger Food Babe makes money. Link
  • Online video advertising is growing many times faster than TV, search, and most other digital ad markets. Link
  • Heineken helps you find where’s hot in your city with social tools. Link

Start-ups:

  • Looklist is an inspiration engine for street style. Link
  • This start-up is reinventing the wedding registry. Link
  • Marriott CEO concedes that AirBnB does local better. Link
  • HotelQuickly raises $4.5M to double-down on last minute hotel booking in APAC. Link
  • Curated food delivery start-up Caviar in talks to be acquired by Square for $100M. Link
  • Men’s style startup Dash Hudson raises $400K led by former Groupon CTO. Link
  • Borrowing Magnolia is a new ecommerce business for pre-worn wedding gowns. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • Japan’s Urban Research experiments with virtual changing booths. Link
  • ASOS gets an education on selling online in China. Link
  • Local brands gain ground on foreign rivals in China. Link
  • Instagram mysteriously disappears from China’s Android app stores. Link
  • Juicy Couture is seeking a comeback in Asia. Link
  • Indian government is setting aside $1.6B to help startups. Link
  • Southeast Asia ecommerce set to boom. Link
  • China incorporates rail networks into ecommerce fulfilment. Link

[AU/NZ]

  • UK-based Sports Direct to launch outlets in Australia and New Zealand. Link
  • David Jones shareholder back Woolworths bid. Link

[CA]

  • DSW to open first two Canadian stores next month. Link

[EU]

  • Click and Collect connects with UK commuters. Link
  • Amazon fights France’s law against free shipping on books with 1 cent shipping. Link

[A/ME]

  • Africa emerging as next frontier for apparel sourcing. Link

[LATAM]

  • Sephora to end 2014 with 24 Latin America stores. Link
  • Linio, Rocket Internet’s Amazon play in Latin America rakes in another $79M. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Startup aims to build a shopping mall on your phone. Link
  • Adidas joins wearable stampede with fitness tracker. Link
  • Marriott to locate guests via mobile and offer deals using iBeacon technology. Link
  • Driving commerce with mobile: increasing savings and shortening in-store visits. Link
  • With Vayable’s new travel app, everyone’s a local. Link
  • Uber-style restaurant payments app raised $5.5M. Link
  • Apple is building a new iBeacon-powered device. Link
  • Amazon hires the man behind Google Glass. Link

Other:

  • The ‘on-demand economy’ is revolutionizing consumer behavior. Link
  • Millennials think globally and other lessons from the World Cup. Link

Weekly Round Up: 7.7.2014

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Industry brief  for the week of June 29, 2014 – July 5th, 2014. All sources can be found in the hyperlink after the headline:

Retailer news:

  • Net-a-porter is first to sell Google Glass. Link
  • Bonobos a good fit in stores and online. Link
  • Online clothing resale no longer just the privilege of luxury goods owners. Link
  • Brands on both ends of the price spectrum are cashing in on the appeal of “soft dressing.” Link
  • Inside Google’s race to beat Amazon to your door. Link
  • Fab.com buying Finland’s One Nordic Furniture to score original products. Link
  • Nordstrom unveils Poketo pop-in Store. Link  Article
  • Stuart Weitzman boosting global ecommerce and making push into Asia. Link
  • How Warby Parker supercharges its data science tools. Link
  • Apple poaches Tag Huer executive as iWatch nears. Link
  • Ousted American Apparel CEO hands over stake to hedge fund. Link
  • Ross Stores to open 75 new stores this year. Link
  • SuitSupply will open largest US store this year in Dallas this fall. Link
  • Sneak Peek at Adidas by Stella McCartney’s Fall 2014 collection. Link
  • Etsy attacked by scammers on July 4th holiday weekend. Link
  • Nike and Adidas battle for world cup dominance. Link
  • Prabal Gurung to release MAC holiday collection. Link
  • Ikea’s website inside the Instagram app. Link
  • Alibaba launches aggressive U.S. push. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Analytics arrive on Vine. Link
  • Twitter debuts “Buy Now” button. Link
  • The opening of the third Costa Rican Forever 21 store includes campaign for delivery of mini store on wheels in “fashion emergency.” Link
  • Facebook becomes a local party discovery tool with “Events for You” redesign. Link
  • Facebook starts using app links to get you back into apps. Link
  • Google buys music streaming service Songza. Link
  • What went wrong after Daily Candy’s $125M Comcast sale. Link
  • Can content pay its way through social shares and tailored email newsletters? Link
  • Facebook acquires LiveRail for $400M-$500M to serve videos ads everywhere and improve its own. Link
  • YouTUbe, following Netflix, is now publicly shaming internet providers for slow video. Link
  • Lexus runs user generated commercials. Link
  • New face of ASOS, plucked from Instagram. Link
  • Hellman’s delivers cooking lessons on demand via WhatsApp. Link

Start-ups:

  • Same-day delivery start up, Deliv, snatches Amazon logistics manager. Link
  • 72Lux launches Shoppable, giving users a universal wish list with multiple retailers. Link
  • An ecommerce site where you can haggle down the price. Link
  • How AirBnB could finally disrupt the business travel market. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • Burberry and Estee Lauder encounter initial obstacles on China’s TMall. Link
  • WalMart starts online sales in India. Link
  • Jakarta’s new mall: the art of retail? LinkArticle
  • Luxury firms starting to go it alone in China and Middle East. Link
  • Forever21 debuts in Macau. Link
  • China’s JD launches Kickstarter-like crowdfunding site. Link
  • Flipkart launches budget smartphones in India. Link

[AU/NZ]

  • Sass & Bide founders leave the company. Link
  • Expedia to buy Australia’s Wotif.com for $700M. Link

[EU]

  • Amazon becomes latest target in EU’s “sweetheart” tax probe. Link
  • eBay to bring order-pickup service to 650 Argos stores in the UK. Link

[A/ME]

  • DKNY launches Middle East-Focused capsule collection. Link

[LATAM]

  • WalMart doubles down on ecommerce in Brazil. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Android to power 48% of all computing devices sold in 2014. Link
  • Top 10 in-store mobile activations from the first half of 2014. Link
  • Google Play store now has a dedicated section for you to download Android Wear apps. Link
  • Keep’s universal shopping cart attempts to address mobile shipping quagmire. Link
  • Top 10 mobile-social initiatives from the first half of 2014. Link
  •  Advertisers target wearable gadgets as next frontier. Link
  • Twitter acquires mobile marketing startup TapCommerce. Link

Other:

  • Verizon takes aim at Akamai with ecommerce CDN offering. Link
  • Music streaming eats downloads with on-demand up 42% over 2013 and digital sales down 12%. Link