WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 1.26.2015

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Happy Monday! Below is a recap of fashion, retail, and tech news from the last week. Each article is accessible via the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Gap shutting down Piperlime. Link
  • J.C. Penney resurrects its catalog after killing it five years ago. Link
  • SpaceX raises $1B in new funding from Google and Fidelity. Link
  • Overstock.com plans streaming-video service. Link
  • Amazon says Sunday deliveries have quadrupled. Link
  • Coming to Whole Foods: bars and restaurants. Link
  • WalMart to offer service to give U.S. tax refunds in cash. Link
  • Target launches plus-size clothing line. Link
  • Michael Kors may see halo effect from Michelle Obama’s suit. Link
  • Sportswear giants Nike and Adidas embracing fashion. Link
  • Amazon pulls its own brand of diapers after short test. Link
  • Ford opens a lab in Silicon Valley. Link
  • The aging of Abercrombie and Fitch. Link
  • eBay cuts 7% of workforce. Link
  • J.Crew’s CEO to retire from Apple’s board. Link
  • Expedia acquires Travelocity for $280M. Link
  • Yahoo turns to retail to bring journalists’ voices to life. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Victoria’s Secret unveils Super Bowl spot and social push. Link
  • Complex buys fanboys site Collider for growing media network. Link
  • Refinery29 hires video chief from Scripps network, looks to traditional TV. Link
  • Tumblr starts its own internal creative studio. Link
  • Pinterest plans ad offensive. Link
  • Tumblr rolls out network to match top creators with brands. Link
  • NBC started a Tumblr for Super Bowl ads. Link
  • Snapchat loses revenue chief amid moneymaking effort. Link
  • Facebook plans voice-to-text Messenger. Link
  • WhatsApp is now available in web browsers. Link
  • Pinterest: We have male users too. Link
  • Twitter now shows you tweets from when you were away. Link
  • How Kik plans to steal Snapchat’s teen hearts. Link

Start-ups:

  • Apple acquires Semetric, a data analysis company. Link
  • Button raises $12M to the app world as interconnected as the web. Link
  • This tech jewelry startup has Andreessen Horowitz down on a bended knee. Link
  • Pinterest buys small startup Kosei for smarter recommendations. Link
  • A gift card startup just raised $56M, at a nearly $1B valuation. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • Twitter buys ZipDial, an Indian startup. Link
  • LVMH invests in China outlet malls. Link
  • China opens the door for foreign companies to operate online portals. Link
  • As China becomes the iPhone’s largest market, look for Apple’s tax charge to rise. Link

[CA]

  • Nordstrom better positioned than Target to take on Canada. Link
  • Why Target’s Canada expansion failed. Link

[LATAM]

  • Macy’s launches collection to woo Latina shoppers. Link

[AU/NZ]

  • Zara Home will open next month in Australia. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Amazon to fold its mobile wallet beta. Link
  • Victoria’s Secret’s catalog gets a mobile boost for Valentine’s Day. Link
  • As Google looks to expand Wallet use, WePay integrates instant buy API. Link
  • Wawa challenges Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks with in-app mobile payments and loyalty. Link
  • How the number one app, Trivia Crack, cracked Apple’s app store. Link
  • Apple’s iOS 8 crisis continues with controversial new bug. Link
  • Blackberry announces BBM support for wearable technology. Link 

Other:

  • How Starwood Hotels plans to redesign the check-in process. Link
  • Mattel CEO resigns as Barbie parent company struggles for relevance. Link
  • SkyMall files for bankruptcy protection. Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 1.19.2015

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Happy Monday! Below is a recap of industry news in fashion, retail, and technology. All sources can be found in the hyper-linked text after the headline.

Retailer + Brand News:

  • NastyGal CEO steps down. Link
  • Under Armour overtakes Adidas in U.S. sportswear market. Link
  • Why teens have abandoned stores like Wet Seal, Delia’s and Deb Shops. Link
  • Traditional stores still trounce ecommerce when it comes to returns, new survey says. Link
  • Demandware snags point-of-sale provider Tomax to extend reach from web to store. Link
  • Holiday spending reached a three-year peak in 2014. Link
  • Etsy crafts IPO putting NY tech companies back on the map. Link
  • Banana Republic to show at New York Fashion Week for the first time. Link
  • DVF fuels IPO speculations. Link
  • Urban Outfitters’ holiday sales jump; namesake brand returns to positive growth. Link
  • Indiegogo signals a blending of crowdfunding and commerce. Link
  • Wet Seal stock dives after filing for bankruptcy. Link
  • Kate Spade Saturday x West Elm collection is here. Link
  • Why Lilly Pulitzer for Target is going where no capsule collection has gone before. Link
  • eBay smart mirrors at Nordstrom and Rebecca Minkoff stores. Link
  • Ralph Lauren is pushing higher into luxury with new stores, accessories. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Facebook rolls out a platform for professionals called Facebook at Work. Link
  • Marc Jacobs unveils new campaign with social media models. Link
  • Xpire brings “disappearing” posts to Twitter. Link
  • Facebook offers artificial intelligence tech to open source group. Link
  • ‘Pinfluencers’ are getting paid, Pinterest itself not so much. Link
  • MySpace still reaches 50 Million people each month. Link
  • Facebook aquihires top members of influential design firm Teehan+Lax. Link
  • Tinder captures brand dollars with Gillette deal. Link
  • Five ways brands can use Snapchat to take back control of the retail experience. Link
  • YouTube plans Super Bowl halftime show with online stars (and fake Super Bowl ads). Link

Start-ups:

  • Kevin Rose leaves Google Ventures to work full-time on his mobile app development startup. Link
  • ClosetSpace brings fashion inspiration and recommendations to your smartphone. Link
  • Video chat app Rounds raises $12M in new funding led by Sequoia. Link
  • Italist is like shopping the streets of Italy but online. Link
  • True Fit raises $15M to give apparel shoppers confidence online. Link
  • Grocery delivery start-up Instacart raises $220M. Link
  • Big Data startup MongoDB is now valued at $1.6B. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • How Dominos reinvented itself in India. Link
  • Uniqlo owner promises to improve working conditions in China. Link
  • Alibaba launching effort to woo US retailers. Link
  • Alibaba buys controlling stake in Chinese internet marketing firm AdChina. Link

[EU]

  • Amazon’s tax deal with Luxembourg may break rules, EU regulator says. Link
  • ASOS shares jump on strong Christmas sales. Link

[CA]

  • Target closing Canadian operations. Link

[LATAM]

  • Nintendo pulls the plug on Brazil. Link

[AU/NZ]

  • eBay launches click-and-collect in Australia. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Turn old clothes into cash with these mobile apps. Link
  • Mobile commerce in 2015. Link
  • Google to launch Project Ara market pilot in Puerto Rico later this year. Link
  • Mobile app use isn’t replacing mobile web usage but driving it. Link
  • Google Play’s app store and developer community grew faster than Apple’s in 2014. Link
  • Microsoft announces a Skype for iOS testing program. Link
  • Google launches classroom mobile apps for Android and iOS. Link
  • Apple Watch companion app features said to include activity reminders, phone unlock. Link
  • Apple and Ericsson sue each other over mobile patents. Link
  • Google translate app gets an upgrade. Link
  • Booking.com tries to personalize hotel choices with new app. Link
  • Google is in talks to acquire mobile payments service, Softcard. Link

Other:

  • Apple patent shakes GoPro’s stock. Link
  • IBM wins most patents but Google and Apple climb in rankings. Link
  • Google Domains launches to all in U.S. with support for blogger integration, templates and more domain endings. Link
  • Google Glass sales halted but firm says kit is not dead. Link
  • Google is bidding for a Pentagon contract worth more than $2B. Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 1.12.2015

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Hi there!

Below is a recap of news in fashion, retail, and technology over the last week. All sources can be found in the hyper-linked text after each headline:

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Free delivery creates holiday boon for U.S. consumers at high cost. Link
  • Coach to acquire Stuart Weitzman in $574M deal. Link
  • U.S. Postal Services says package deliveries rose 18% in December. Link
  • C.Wonder shutters operations. Link
  • First look at the new furniture Ikea is bringing to the U.S. Link
  • J.C. Penney closing 39 stores in April. Link
  • Target’s next partnership: Lilly Pulitzer. Link
  • Forever 21 embarking on biggest expansion to date; will open 50 new stores in next three years. Link
  • Google wants to sell you auto insurance. Link
  • Holiday web sales grow almost 14%. Link
  • Payments business will bypass banks. Link
  • Fab.com founder to start Bezar.com, an online pop-up marketplace for modern design. Link
  • Modcloth co-founder exists; Urban Outfitters’ Matt Kaness joins as CEO. Link
  • H&M links with Coachella for festival fare. Link
  • Macy’s revamps to reflect shifting shopper. Link
  • Zara to open more than a dozen new stores in U.S. this year. Link
  • J.C. Penny and Macy’s to shut stores and lay off employees. Link
  • Apple touts U.S. job creation, says app stores sales rose 50%. Link
  • Macy’s mulls taking on T.J. Maxx, Nordstrom Rack in “off-price” wars. Link
  • Kate Spade, Michael Kors shares decline as discount concerns spread. Link
  • Wet Seal closing two-thirds of its stores. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Twitter planning to sell ads on apps and other sites. Link 
  • Zuckerberg’s endorsement sends book flying up the charts. Link
  • Rival social networks gain users but Facebook captures more attention. Link 
  • Americans use more online social networks. Link
  • After conquering Asia, the Selfie Stick does Las Vegas. Link
  • Office Depot and Office Max unveil first combined brand push. Link
  • McDonald’s launches next step in brand refresh with ‘Signs’ campaign with a Tumblr component. Link
  • CES gadgets and gizmos offer marketers a new bag of tricks. Link
  • Nike and AKQA turn people’s running data into 100,000 unique videos. Link 

Start-ups:

  • Jet is the new trendy ecommerce site. Link
  • Cuff raises $5M and partners with Richline to bring smart jewelry to the mainstream. Link
  • This company lets you try on fitness trackers, Warby Parker style. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • Abercrombie & Fitch launches 10 new ecommerce sites in Asia. Link
  • Uber tests cargo delivery service in Hong Kong. Link
  • Uniqlo global sales soar. Link

[EU]

  • Click and Collect overtakes home delivery at John Lewis. Link
  • Five ways technology could shape UK retail in 2015. Link
  • U.K. Black Friday online sales surge 135%. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Taco Bell to give away 1M Doritos Tacos with mobile orders in January. Link
  • Macy’s is 2014 Mobile Retailer of the year. Link
  • Yahoo Mail iOS app now lets you track packages, customize Today view. Link
  • Context-focused WiFi Alliance competitor to iBeacons due to arrive in devices this year. Link
  • App usage grew 76% in 2014, with shopping apps leading the way. Link
  • Target reaps rewards of mobile push as holiday traffic hits 60%. Link
  • Wearables may be headed mainstream but many still aren’t ready for primetime. Link
  • Apple’s cut from app sales reached $4.5B in 2014. Link
  • Spotify makes shift to mobile with 52% of listening now on phones and tablets. Link
  • Target hits mobile milestone. Link
  • Google’s real-time voice translation service for mobile devices is on the way. Link

Other:

  • Blackstone’s Byron Wien offers predictions for 2015. Link
  • Kevin McKenzie on reinventing the shopping mall.Link
  • Google-backed fund donates to Charlie Hebdo’s biggest issue ever. Link
  • Amazon and Netflix win big at the Golden Globes.Link
  • The five most disruptive innovations at CES 2015. Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 1.5.2015

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Happy New Year, everyone!

Below is a recap of news in fashion, retail, and technology over the last week. All sources can be found in the hyper-linked text after each headline:

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Retailers save discounts for bargain hunters. Link
  • Amazon draws 10 million new Prime members over holidays. Link
  • Small U.S. firms may struggle with new UPS, FedEx dimensional prices. Link
  • How Canada Goose went from small outerwear company to international luxury brand. Link
  • In-store pickup does not save U.S. shoppers much time. Link
  • Plus-size fashion moves beyond the muumuu. Link
  • FedEx acquires Bongo to appeal to global retailers. Link
  • Amazon’s third party merchants are a growing piece of the sales pie. Link
  • Amazon posts worst year since 2008, lost $7.4B. Link
  • Is Nike working to re-establish itself in the world of wearable tech? Link
  • How Nordstrom became the most successful retailer. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Snapchat cracks top 10 largest U.S. venture-capital deals. Link
  • Twitter to launch a YouTube-like video platform. Link
  • Selfie stick rules holiday season as must-have accessory. Link
  • Why brands tweet “bae.” Link
  • Top branded Instagram videos of 2014. Link
  • Net-a-porter promotes skiwear with branded ski lift. Link
  • Apple sued for false advertising of iPhones. Link
  • Lucky Magazine puts three bloggers on its cover. Link
  • Forbes taking native ads to new level with AT&T-sponsored cover. Link
  • Mark Zuckerberg starts a book club. Link
  • McDonald’s lays out new brand vision, reaffirms commitment to “I’m Lovin It.” Link
  • New AOL takes form with ad-tech in charge. Link
  • Three seismic threats to marketers in 2015. Link

Start-ups:

  • Grocery-delivery startup Instacart rings up $230M in funding. Link
  • Qwant wants to be alternative to Google. Link
  • Yummly teams up with Instacart to delivery recipe ingredients in an hour. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • Self-checkout takes hold in Japan. Link
  • Key stories to watch in China’s tech in 2015. Link
  • Tencent launches China’s first private bank. Link
  • Alibaba competitor Wanda eCommerce raises $161M at $3B valuation. Link

[AU]

  • Costco to launch more Australian stores. Link

[EU]

  • German online retailer Zalando sells old items offline. Link

[LATAM]

  • Wal-mart to offer smaller store formats in Mexico. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • App download volumes hit record high in November. Link
  • Capital One kicks off Apple Pay promotion. Link
  • Payments tipping point will be in 2015. Link
  • 5 mobile developments that mattered in 2014. Link
  • The year’s 10 biggest shifts, shake-ups and surprises in mobile marketing. Link
  • A day with Apple Pay. Link
  • Withings releases a $150 smartwatch for the masses. Link
  • Mistfit debuts a new “Sqarovski Shine” wearables collection featuring crystal jewelry, solar charging. Link

Other:

  • Nest adds 15 more companies to its “Works With Nest” program, integrating with other Internet of Things. Link
  • Roku announces two new TV partnerships for Roku TV. Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 12.29.2014

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Hi there! This is my last weekly recap of 2014– crazy!  I hope everyone has a very happy and healthy 2015.

Below is a recap of news in fashion, retail, and technology over the last week. All sources can be found in the hyper-linked text after each headline:

Holiday:

  • Five retailers who nailed it this holiday season. Link
  • Amazon reveals holiday gift list, Elsa dolls number one. Link
  • Holiday selling spikes late in the game. Link
  • Amazon sorts itself out for holiday. Link
  • UPS and FedEx cap holiday deliveries amid late surge. Link
  • The best holiday sales growth in three years. Link
  • Retailers playing nice with after-Christmas returns. Link
  • It was a very mobile Christmas. Link

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Demand for L.L. Bean boots soar. Link
  • Urban Outfitters moving to super-size store in Chicago. Link
  • Inside eBay’s secret retail lab. Link
  • How Starbucks makes every store feel unique. Link
  • American Apparel investor says board withheld key information. Link
  • Wal-Mart and Macy’s strive for inventory optimization. Link
  • Wal-Mart tests gift card exchange program. Link
  • Delia’s store closings are happening and gift cards only valid through January. Link  
  • Google fights Marriott’s plan to block wi-fi hotspots. Link
  • Shoe customization gains traction. Link
  • ASOS ordering system crashes as shoppers seek bargains. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Facebook’s popularity among teens dips again. Link
  • Pinterest will open promoted pins to all advertisers following success of beta program. Link
  • Ten most innovative digital ad products of 2014. Link
  • Brands that scored big in social media this year. Link
  • Beauty marketers spent 23% more on digital in 2014. Link
  • New sales channel – Shop Spot – will let you purchase a product directly from any media source. Link
  • Facebook must face lawsuit over scanning of users messages. Link
  • Twitter users experience log in problems due to authentication issue. Link
  • Netflix primes Tumblr service. Link

Start-ups:

  • eCommerce platform adds social good outcome to every purchase. Link
  • Crowd-funding startups are looking to refashion the business of fashion. Link
  • Xiaomi raises $1.1B at $45B valuation. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • China finally closes the ‘third party’ Gmail loophole. Link
  • India’s online retailers truly arrived in 2014. How much will they grow? Link
  • Japanese retailers gearing up for New Year’s sales. Link

[EU]

  • Russian shoppers want imports even after the Ruble’s fall. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • $30 smartphones are here and they’re getting better every day. Link
  • Dr. Pepper, Wal-Mart engage mobile shoppers ahead of college football playoffs. Link
  • Amazon sees nearly 60% of consumers shop for holidays on mobile. Link
  • The strategy behind Airbnb’s mobile web redesign. Link
  • Will 2015 be the experimentation year for mobile payments? Link
  • Why 2015 may be the year of multiple mobile apps on one screen. Link

Other:

  • LG partners with Mercedes-Benz to develop a system to power self-driving cars. Link
  • The Interview nets $15M in online sales during opening four days. Link
  • Understanding the Christmas attacks on xBox and PlayStation networks. Link
  • Amazon details new features for its collaboration tool. Link

Weekly Industry Brief: 12.22.2014

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Hi there! Below is a recap of news in fashion, retail, and technology over the last week. All sources can be found in the hyper-linked text after each headline:

Holiday:

  • Banana Republic offering same-day delivery for holiday. Link
  • Beacons pop up in stores ahead of holidays. Link
  • Why post-Christmas shopping may be up this year. Link
  • Holiday shipments seen at risk in U.S. port labor strife. Link
  • Christmas shopping becomes a big deal in Asia, Middle East. Link
  • Merchants work to draw in last-minute shoppers. Link
  • Online holiday shopping up 15% from last year. Link

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Google plans to enhance its shopping site with features that challenge Amazon. Link
  • Apple stops online sales in Russia over Ruble fluctuations. Link
  • Puma owner Kering said to have explored sports firm sale. Link
  • Apple stores are recruiting fashion/luxury experts ahead of Apple Watch debut. Link
  • Zara launches home store format. Link
  • Etsy links online marketplace to social commerce. Link
  • Staples says 1.16M credit cards compromised by hackers. Link
  • Net-a-porter buys My Wardrobe domain. Link
  • Rent-the-Runway raises $60M to open more stores. Link
  • Amazon launches ‘superfast’ deliver in NYC, with one and two-hour delivery options. Link
  • ASOS raises its free shipping minimum again. Link
  • Estee Lauder purchases Glamglow. Link
  • Amazon and the art of distribution. Link
  • Rihanna is the new creative director of Puma. Link
  • Fedex to buy product-return firm Genco in ecommerce push. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Brandy Melville, Instagram’s first retail success. Link
  • Bethany Mota is 2014’s most Googled fashion designer, ahead of Kate Spade and Valentino. Link
  • Here are the brands whose follower counts were hit hardest in Instagram’s spam purge. Link
  • Google’s making it easier to figure out if online ads actually drive in-store traffic. Link
  • Instagram is now worth $35B. Link
  • Facebook caves to Russian censorship, blocks page supporting Putin critic. Link
  • The lesson of the Sony hack: we should all jump to the ‘erasable internet.’ Link
  • Paypal Global Strategy Chief jumps to Facebook. Link
  • Video ads are performing well on Facebook, but YouTube still accounts for more views. Link
  • Why does lifestyle branding sell more than luxury. Link
  • Top brand tweets of 2014. Link
  • Snapchat reportedly buys Google Glass-like startup, Vergence Labs. Link

Start-ups:

  • Food startup Hampton Creek raises $90M. Link
  • Clever raises $30M for ‘single login’ education-tech app. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • Inside Taiwanese retailers’ amped-up race to delivery your packages. Link
  • Who needs Amazon or Wal-Mart? China cuts out the middleman, buy direct from factory. Link
  • Advertising on smartphones embraced in China. Link
  • Alibaba was the most-searched IPO of 2014. Link
  • Burberry beauty box heads to Asia. Link
  • Wal-Mart bullish over Sam’s Club in China. Link

[CA]

  • Ikea to open string of smaller stores across Canada, primarily for ecommerce pick-ups. Link

[EU]

  • Europe’s internet use surges. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Airbnb updates its mobile site with responsive design and larger images in search results. Link
  • Apple Pay claimed 1% of November’s digital payment dollars. Link
  • Messaging app Line’s first acquisition: music streaming service MixRadio. Link
  • Why retailers must succeed in introducing mobile payment systems. Link
  • Dozens more companies sign up for Apple Pay. Link
  • Samsung boots up its smart home division. Link
  • Facebook launches major speed improvements in Messenger app. Link
  • Blackberry turns back clock with classic QWERTY keyboard. Link
  • Samsung hopes to secure top spot on Internet of Things revolution. Link
  • T-Mobile allows subscribers to hold on to unused mobile data. Link
  • Samsung may be planning Apple Pay-like service. Link
  • How mobile is shifting shopping patterns. Link

Other:

  • Millennials choose to buy differently. Link
  • The most important web design trends for 2015. Link

Weekly Industry Brief 12.15.2014

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Hi there! Below is a recap of news in fashion, retail, and technology over the last week. All sources can be found in the hyper-linked text after each headline:

Holiday:

  • Behind the holiday trend of self-gifting. Link
  • Best Buy offers free two-day shipping to lure holiday shoppers. Link
  • Retailers grapple with shifting holiday patterns. Link
  • Meet the secret army of meteorologists who keep your holiday deliveries on time. Link
  • Amazon drives more holiday web retail traffic than biggest TV ad spender. Link

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Amazon introduces “Make an Offer” option. Link
  • Gucci, Coach tie for top spot in L2 digital study. Link
  • Amazon launches Surprise!, a Facebook-powered app for sending personalized e-cards. Link
  • The buzziest beauty brands of 2014. Link
  • ASOS sales soar in the UK, not so much everywhere else. Link
  • In the next few weeks, U.S. retailers can add the Shop Now button to their pages. Link
  • Online retailer Frank & Oak opens Canadian flagship. Link
  • Digital kiosks fuse in-store and online shopping. Link
  • Gucci CEO and Creative Director step down. Link
  • H&M taps Olivia Wilde as conscious ambassador. Link
  • Nordstrom partnering with eBay for smart fitting rooms. Link
  • Marriott debuts hotel brand for millennials in New Orleans. Link
  • How Tommy Hilfiger had its biggest year ever. Link
  • Bloomingdale’s social shopping experiment, Zoomingdales. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Instagram hits 300 Million users. Link
  • JC Penny has store shoppers surprise complete strangers with gifts. Link
  • The new co-op isn’t retail ad budgets, it’s audience data. Link
  • LinkedIn rolls out a simplified homepage with analytics and news feed front and center. Link
  • Polyvore reveals the most searched fashion brands. Link
  • The worst corporate tweets of 2014. Link
  • Lowe’s explores native tools on Vine and Instagram. Link
  • YouTube’s most popular ads of 2014. Link
  • The most discussed topics on Facebook in 2014. Link
  • Snapchat poaches start tech banker from Credit Suisse. Link
  • Facebook search can now find specific posts. Link
  • The most viral tweets of 2014. Link
  • Brands can now turn positive reviews into native ads and only pay when people share them. Link
  • How Hendrick’s gin has found creative ways to fluently speak to hard-to-reach hipsters. Link
  • Facebook dumps Bing, will introduce its own search tool. Link
  • Apple store online now accepts PayPal in US and UK. Link
  • Google Plus lets you define your own gender. Link
  • Under Armour is Ad Age’s marketer of the year. Link

Start-ups:

  • Tinder competitor Hinge raises $12M to bring its friends-of-friends dating app abroad. Link
  • Chef’d uses crowdfunding to roll out recipe-and-ingredient delivery service for gourmet meals. Link
  • Facebook’s Oculus buys two startups for virtual reality gestures, 3D. Link
  • Change.org raises $25 M from big names to go global and mobile. Link
  • Guy-oriented web content startup Woven Digital raises $18M in funding. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • India’s SnapDeal acquires Wishpicker to deliver better product recommendations. Link
  • Southeast Asia gets own online shopping festival. Link
  • Apple to open research site in Japan. Link
  • China’s Baidu set to partner with Uber and reportedly invest up to $600M. Link
  • Is Asia setting the trend on selfies? Link

[EU]

  • Google News shut down in Spain. Link
  • Amazon UK glitch sells thousands of products for a penny. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Android Wear adds customizable faces to its smartwatches. Link
  • eBay draws inspiration from Pinterest for iPad commerce app. Link
  • Iowa is building the nation’s first smartphone driver’s license. Link
  • Shazam launches new version of mobile app. Link
  • Chicago and New York officials look to build Uber-like apps for taxis. Link
  • Invasion of wearable in the workforce. Link
  • Snap Fashion extends its visual search engine app into men’s clothing. Link
  • App detects when your friends are nearby and immediately silences your phone. Link
  • Hulu offers free streaming on Android over the holidays. Link
  • Whatsapp may be working on a web version of its popular messaging app. Link
  • Venmo lets users sign in using bank account log in. Link

Other:

  • 2015 technology trends to watch. Link
  • McDonald’s seeks help wooing millennials. Link
  • TV disruption on display as Netflix and Amazon go head-to-head at Golden Globes. Link
  • Analysts claim teens still prefer print books. Link

Weekly Industry Brief: 12.8.2014

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Holiday:

  • Cyber Monday online sales rose 17% to $2B. Link
  • Targeting customers on mobile during holiday shopping season. Link
  • Walmart reports 70% of Thanksgiving traffic from mobile. Link
  • Walmart has record Cyber Monday as shoppers seek deals. Link
  • Target turns its stores into one big mobile game this holiday season. Link
  • Black Friday: Whose advertising made you spend? Link
  • Cyber Monday shoppers may want to check out these YouTube channels. Link
  • Cyber Monday, Green Monday and the impact worldwide. Link
  • Brands get creative with holiday pop-up stores. Link

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Amazon gets $5M from New York to being 500 jobs to Manhattan. Link
  • Starbucks, facing saturated market, looks to the high end. Link
  • Aeropostale to close 75 stores. Link
  • Amazon unveils its own line of diapers. Link
  • Khol’s online profitability less than half of that in stores. Link
  • Simon Malls and eBay partner for “connected” mall experience. Link
  • Smal retailers jump on the subscription bandwagon. Link
  • Bebe confirms payment card data breach. Link
  • Poshmark hits $100M in annual revenue for its fashion resell business, begins luxury goods authentication. Link
  • Amazon goes after Honest.com with Elements, a prime-only lineup of ethical home essentials. Link
  • eBay debuts “Innovators Collective,” a tech-focused section featuring new lifestyle products, electronics and more. Link
  • Intel teams with Luxottica to build the future of smart eyewear. Link
  • Gap’s sales go into a 3-month slide following ‘dress normal’ ad campaign failure. Link
  • Deb stores files for bankruptcy. Link
  • Retailers adjust as lines between in store and digital shopping blurs. Link
  • Unraveling Anthropologie’s intoxicating store experience. Link
  • American Eagle profits fell 63% this quarter. Link
  • You can now rent ugly holiday sweaters on Rent the Runway. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Say Media buys out investors as it exits the media business and focuses on its publishing platform. Link
  • Facebook relaunches Slingshot as a Snapchat stories-style lifecasting app. Link
  • Connexity (formerly Shopzille) buys Become.com to grow its price comparison business. Link
  • Saavn partners with Twitter to bring tweet-powered radio to its streaming service. Link
  • Gangnam style has been viewed so many times it broke YouTube’s code. Link
  • Twitter improves tools for users to report harassment. Link
  • Google’s new target audience: kids. Link
  • Tumblr now has ‘buy,’ ‘pledge,’ and ‘get involved’ buttons. Link
  • Twitter copies Instagram with new adjustable photo filters. Link
  • Liberty London turns Instagram likes into loyalty perks. Link
  • REI’s great customer service hits the big screen. Link

Start-ups:

  • Uber confirms new $1.2B funding round at $40B valuation. Link
  • Shoes of Prey raises $5.5M for custom footwear. Link
  • Fit.me buys Clothes horse, consolidating the clothing-fit technology sector. Link
  • Stripe raises $70M. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • L’Occitane launches online shop on Alibaba’s Tmall site. Link
  • Tujia.com aims to be more than online vacation rental portal. Link

[AU]

  • Sephora launches in Sydney. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • How Starbucks will build on mobile order to launch delivery service in 2015. Link
  • Yahoo will pass Twitter in mobile ad revenue next year. Link
  • Six drivers of the $7B mobile internet. Link
  • App Annie now tracks user demographics, sentiment and more. Link
  • Line Pay, the new messaging app’s mobile payment service will make its global debut soon. Link
  • Square launches iOS app for food delivery service Caviar. Link
  • Uber hires a mobile team in Amsterdam to staff a new mobile dev shop in the city. Link
  • Starbucks brews iBeacon strategy to support premium coffee play. Link
  • Skype founder launches new messaging app, Wire. Link
  • The softer and more wearable future of wearables. Link

Other:

  • Comcast makes it more and more difficult to opt out of internet sharing. Link
  • Amazon has launched a GrubHub rival for food takeout and delivery. Link
  • Eye scanner may replace password logins. Link

Weekly Industry Brief: 12.1.2014

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Happy Cyber Monday! Below is a recap of news in fashion, retail, and technology over the last week. All sources can be found in the hyper-linked text after each headline:

Holiday:

  • Black Friday ecommerce spending up 26%. Link
  • On Twitter, twice as many people talking about Black Friday this year. Link
  • Best Buy’s website down for about 90 minutes on Black Friday. Link
  • WalMart, Target report strong Thanksgiving Day traffic. Link
  • Kohl’s, Walmart, Apple see Black Friday social buzz. Link
  • Black Friday online sales up 8.5% over last year, 20% of sales from iOS. Link
  • Online sales set Black Friday record. Link
  • Yoox group posts record sales on Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Link
  • Macy’s previews Cyber Monday on Sunday. Link
  • Mobile role in holiday shopping expected to grow. Link
  • Net-a-porter sale crashes part of site. Link

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Ebay Now pulled from App Store as company rethinks same-day delivery plans. Link
  • Gap sets deal with Germany’s Zalando. Link
  • NY Subway riders can now shop on Amazon while underground. Link
  • How Target identifies the hottest retail tech 18 months before it’s cool. Link
  • Nordstrom partners with eBay for smarter fitting rooms. Link
  • Zady to open three airport pop-up shops for the holidays. Link
  • These robots are processing Amazon orders. Link
  • Milennials to fuel growth of sporty brands. Link
  • Urban Outfitters, Nicole Miller in Wanelo “buy” button launch. Link
  • Nasty Gal’s first brick-and-mortar store encourages selfies. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Twitter now lets brands tweet deals to users with a new offer button. Link
  • American Girl pledges to give up to 1,000 dolls a day. Link
  • Facebook is intensifying its efforts to filter out status updates posted by businesses. Link
  • Twitter is tracking users’ installed apps for ad targeting. Link
  • Buzzfeed crosses $100M in revenue. Link
  • Twitter adds coupons to its commerce plans. Link
  • Vloggers paid for promotions urged to include clear labeling. Link
  • Twitter experiments with engagement stats directly in tweets. Link

Start-ups:

  • Anonymous messaging app Yik Yak said to raise $62M. Link
  • Parcel aims to end missed packages after hours. Link
  • Pop-up shop startup, Appear Here, raises $7.5M. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • Fitbit gears up for Asia expansion. Link
  • Lazada, Rocket Internet’s Amazon clone in Southeast Asia, raises $250M. Link

[EU]

  • Macy’s Black Friday arrives in the UK as American retailer unveils online shopping deals. Link
  • Wired and Buzzfeed give Germany a try. Link
  • Black Friday takes hold in UK. Link

[AU]

  • Amazon tipped to open Aussie warehouse. Link
  • H&M sister brand COS opens first Australian store. Link

[A/ME]

  • Jumia raises $150M for its African ecommerce business. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Smartphones spur growth of Thanksgiving couch commerce. Link
  • Top 10 best Android fashion apps. Link
  • Xiaomi’s cheap smartphones make a splash in Indonesia. Link
  • Ralph Lauren introduces leather bag with internal LED and built-in USB charger. Link
  • Luxury watchmakers crack down on copycat Android Wear watch faces. Link
  • Neiman Marcus now in Apple Passbook. Link
  • Hammacher Schlemmer tests augmented reality catalog for holiday. Link

Other:

  • Girl Scouts to sell cookies online. Link

Weekly Industry Brief: 11.24.2014

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Happy week of Black Friday! Below is a round up of industry news from the last week. All sources can be found in the hyper-linked text after each headline.

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Nordstrom unveils customization studio. Link
  • Century 21 ups ante with C21 edition. Link
  • H&M to launch eight new online markets in 2015. Link
  • Neiman Marcus links with St. Regis Hotel in Washington, D.C. Link
  • Gap names new presidents for Banana Republic and Gap brands. Link
  • WalMart tightens online price-match policy. Link
  • Fashion boutiques team up with Farfetch.com for click-and-collect service. Link
  • Zappos tests brick-and-mortar pop up shop this holiday season. Link
  • Net-a-porter said to consider 2015 IPO. Link
  • What FEED can teach companies about making meaningful connections. Link
  • Ikea to reissue original midcentury furniture. Link
  • Amazon to launch travel booking website. Link
  • Cavernous stores wear on Forever 21. Link
  • Apple’s plans for Beats Music start to take shape. Link
  • AT&T and Starbucks to bring wireless phone chargers to some coffee shops. Link
  • Amazon leases Manhattan building, hinting at ambitions. Link
  • Wonder to close most of its stores. Link Burch Creative refutes these reports. Link
  • Amazon plans fashion photography studio in London. Link
  • Coach rolls out new retail concept. Link
  • Black Friday: Top US shopping day fades to gray. Link
  • Nordstrom reshuffles its traditional half-yearly sales. Link
  • Fab is close to a fire sale but CEO gets another chance. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Wanelo launches buy now technology. Link
  • How Michael Kors forces Instagram to do retail. Link
  • Google to help publishers make money by blocking ads. Link
  • Facebook testing collaboration tools for businesses. Link
  • Why fashion marketers should be paying attention to Ello. Link
  • TV looks to offer web-like ad targeting. Link
  • Forrester says brands are wasting money on Facebook and Twitter. Link
  • New York Magazine creates ‘pop-up blogs.’ Link
  • Ikea recreates iconic mealtime master paintings. Link
  • Google adds detailed info to shopping search results on mobile devices. Link
  • Amazon announcing Black Friday specials on Snapchat. Link

Start-ups:

  • Glossier raises over $10M to reinvent the beauty industry. Link
  • How crowdfunding is changing the fashion business. Link
  • Memoir raises $5.5M to stitch together your digital photos. Link
  • Kik raises $38M to battle Snapchat for teens. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • Lazada battles global ecommerce players and Indonesian rivals. Link
  • Macy’s, Saks, Bloomingdale’s and more accept Alipay to woo rich Chinese shoppers. Link

[EU]

  • Zara to open new Irish stores as retail recovers. Link
  • Royal Mail warns competition from Amazon will hamper growth. Link
  • UK looks to keep records on internet users. Link
  • UK shoppers plan holiday spending spree, Deloitte says. Link

[AU]

  • Sephora store opens in Sydney on December 5th. Link

[A/ME]

  • Dubai’s Souq.com plans “Black Friday” equivalent to help boost sales growth. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Sephora rolls out Apple Pay in all Bay Area and Manhattan locations. Link
  • Target’s new app steers you to the right aisle for Black Friday. Link
  • Victoria’s Secret adds messaging to app. Link
  • For Opening Ceremony x Intel MICA smart bracelet, beauty beats brains. Link
  • Google Play store opens to Chinese developers. Link
  • US mobile payments market to boom by 2019. Link
  • This clever app scans wine and beer bottles to help you find drinks you’ll love. Link
  • Moleskine Smart Notebooks turns your sketches into adobe-friendly vector files. Link
  • Square reveals plans to support Apple Pay in 2015. Link
  • App, magazine and IRL community for collaborating creators. Link
  • Adobe shaping the future of creative mobile apps. Link

Other:

  • The $100 custom shirt is here. Does it have room for profit? Link
  • Experts predict retailers will face holiday hacking surge. Link
  • The post-PC CEO: no desk, no desktop. Link
  • A look at seven game-changing tech advances for retailers. Link