Weekly Industry Round-Up: 11.17.2014

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My recap of top industry news from last week.  All sources can be found in the hyperlink after the headline:

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Alibaba goes global, Singles Day sales top $9 Billion. Link
  • Quirky and GE unveil their vision for the connected home. Link
  • Why New Balance makes shoes for Kate Spade and JCrew. Link
  • Macy’s launches same-day delivery in eight cities. Link
  • Radio Shack backtracks on Thanksgiving hours after worker outcry. Link
  • Amazon is hiring drone test pilots. Link
  • Old Navy criticized for higher cost of plus-size jeans. Link
  • Kendall Jenner signs on as the new face of Estee Lauder. Link
  • BCBG boosts Wi-Fi to drive store visits. Link
  • Target buys Pittsburgh technology firm promising ‘Amazon-like’ shopping experiences in stores. Link
  • Levi Strauss to eliminate 500 jobs. Link
  • Alibaba’s boutique shop 11 Main opens doors on mobile. Link
  • WalMart spreads Black Friday over five days. Link
  • Rebecca Minkoff’s new stores have touch-screens for online shopping. Link
  • Alibaba is now bigger than P&G, GE and Wells Fargo. Link
  • Farfetch rolls out click-and-collect. Link
  • J.Crew’s beauty guru launches line of his own. Link
  • H&M will begin Black Friday deals in stores and online on 11/20. Link
  • Early holiday promotions eat away Black Friday sales. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Google seeks to help fight Ebola with donation-matching campaign. Link
  • Inside Refinery29’s video strategy. Link
  • Six new features to expect from Twitter. Link
  • Google’s DoubleClick goes dark, makes internet ad-free for an hour. Link
  • Uber partners with Spotify. Link
  • Twitter speaks up with growth strategy intended to soothe Wall Street. Link
  • Conde Nast hires YouTube stars for original video series. Link
  • Publishers sell sponsored content made for Instagram, Snapchat. Link
  • LuLuLemon slammed for Dalai Lama partnership. Link
  • Macy’s and Marriott approach SnapChat very differently as platform’s influence grows. Link
  • Michael Kors adds “buy” to Instagram. Link
  • Interactive YouTube film from Asos lets uses change color scheme. Link
  • Target sponsors NBC web video series. Link
  • Who’s going to drive advertising spending this holiday season? Link

Start-ups:

  • One Piece is a social pop-up that offers discounts for social media influence. Link
  • Craftsy, an e-learning site for makers raises $50M. Link
  • DSTLD is Everlane for jeans. Link
  • VIDA raises $1.3M for socially responsible ecommerce. Link
  • Rocket Internet plots ten start-ups. Link
  • Glossier raises $8.4M to take on beauty and cosmetics with verticalized approach. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • Japan slips into recession. Link
  • Ikea debuts in Korea. Link
  • After Singles Day, Alibaba delivered 40 Million packages in three days. Link
  • com doubles its shoppers in the past year, shifts towards Alibaba-style marketplace model. Link
  • Rakuten acquires Japanese beauty portal to expand its own salon booking service. Link

[EU]

  • American Eagle expands in Europe; will open three stores in London over next week. Link

[CA]

  • Can Aritzia become as well-known in the U.S. as Canada? Link

[AU]

  • Etsy partners with David Jones for Christmas. Link
  • Surfstich buys UK rival Surfdome.com. Link
  • Google grabs first carrier partner for Project Loon tests in Australia. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Macy’s set to unveil visual search app. Link
  • Urban Outfitters drives mobile engagement with app newsfeed strategy. Link
  • Lord & Taylor expands iBeacon program to all US stores. Link
  • ‘Build it and they will come’ no longer works for mobile apps. Link
  • Cyber Monday is now Mobile Monday. Get ready. Link
  • Peach is a flash sales app with an auction-based twist. Link
  • Early Apple Pay stats point to a modest but promising start. Link

Other:

  • Key takeaways from PSFK’s Future of Retail 2015. Link
  • Nordstrom is leading retailing the right way. Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY ROUND UP: 11.10.2014

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My recap of top industry news from last week.  All sources can be found in the hyperlink after the headline:

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Target partners with Story for the holidays. Link
  • USPS adding Sunday deliveries in some areas for holidays. Link
  • H&M’s Alexander Wang collection selling out and crashing the website. Link and Link
  • Magazines turning to ecommerce. Link
  • ShopRunner beefs up retail partnerships. Link
  • Home Depot hackers also snagged 53 million customer email addresses. Link
  • Amazon introduces Echo, a voice controlled speaker. Link
  • Marc Jacobs x Urban Ears headphones can be thrown in the wash like a t-shirt. Link
  • The head of Google Same-Day delivery joins Uber. Link
  • Living Social lays off 20% of staff. Link
  • 8Tracks launches DJ analytics and better music recommendations. Link
  • Amazon is testing taxis for deliveries. Link
  • American Eagle wants to be outfitter for your dog this holiday season. Link
  • Amazon Prime’s new perk: unlimited cloud photo storage. Link
  • TopShop unveils 5th Ave flagship. Link
  • Two dozen retailers that will not open on Thanksgiving. Link
  • Ellen Degeneres launching ecommerce site and interior design book. Link
  • Bringing online retail products into a real life apartment. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Facebook hands over more control of the newsfeed to users. Link
  • Tumbler expands merchandise offering. Link
  • Verizon Wireless under fire for ad targeting program. Link
  • Marc Jacobs beauty makes Instagram shoppable. Link
  • New app attempts to better organize tweets around events. Link
  • How StyleHaul built a YouTube network on branded entertainment, not Google Ads. Link
  • What’s next for Instagram: Discovery, Accessibility, and “Time Spent.” Link
  • Facebook bans brands from trading “likes” for incentives. Link
  • Adidas leverages athletic star power in winter sports campaign. Link
  • Facebook launches a donate button for Ebola. Link
  • Kohl’s ups TV spend for holiday campaign. Link
  • Dollar Shave Club takes to TV in a big way with new campaign. Link
  • The next frontier in digital media will be physical products. Link
  • Lowe’s new vines offer up helpful DIY tips in six seconds. Link

Start-ups:

  • Powa raises $80M to launch its mobile, ecommerce payments in U.S. Link
  • Spark Capital’s new growth fund aims to catch the ones that got away. Link
  • Blurb launches Dream Team talent network to help authors improve and complete their books. Link
  • Ten exciting early stage startups to look out for. Link
  • Kidizen, mobile marketplace for secondhand kids’ stuff raises $500K. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • Ecommerce is so huge in China, some brands skip opening an actual store. Link
  • Gap speeds up China expansion. Link
  • China gears up for world’s biggest shopping day. Link
  • Why Twitter is opening an office in Hong Kong despite being blocked in China. Link
  • Small boutique ecommerce startup is undaunted by fashion giants like Zalora. Link

[EU]

  • Crew expanding presence in Europe. Link
  • Online retail growth speeds up in Russia. Link

[CA]

  • Amazon’s same-day delivery comes to Canada. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Free People launches a redesigned mobile site. Link
  • Android Lollipop hit by battery life problem. Link
  • Marketers embracing beacons will have competitive advantage this holiday season. Link
  • Android Lollipop is grown-up and accessible. Link
  • Macy’s takes letters from Santa mobile. Link
  • WalMart beefs up mobile app features for the holidays. Link
  • Apple now lets you deregister phone numbers from iMessage. Link
  • The Economist launches Espresso, a daily news roundup for mobile readers. Link
  • Momofuku’s David Chang launching food delivery app in NYC. Link
  • Groupon launches new app, Getaways, for travel and hotel offers. Link

Other:

  • Trends that will revolutionize the retail industry. Link
  • Macs hit market share milestone in the US. Link
  • Square passes 1 Billion payments. Link
  • Tom’s influences another humanitarian brand. Link
  • Can teen retailers turn things around? Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY ROUND UP: 11.4.2014

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My recap of top industry news from last week.  All sources can be found in the hyperlink after the headline:

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Starbucks to start delivering in 2015. Link
  • Neiman Marcus launches MyNM to personalize ecommerce. Link
  • Aeropostale launches collection with social media stars. Link
  • Coach exceeds estimates as it grows overseas, curbs discounting. Link
  • Vente-Privee to shut U.S. venture. Link
  • Alibaba eyes payments tie-up with Apple. Link
  • Lululemon founder’s family bets on casual luxury with new retail venture. Link
  • Why online retailers continue to open brick-and-mortar stores. Link
  • Retailers and shippers retool for the holiday season. Link
  • Amazon opens pop-up store to push its Fire smartphones. Link
  • Burger King to accept PayPal. Link
  • Amazon launches crowdsourced publishing program. Link
  • Beyonce and Topshop team for Ath-Leisure brand. Link
  • Timberland’s newest partnership: Tires. Link
  • Target quietly testing mobile payment app to rival Apple Pay. Link
  • Sophia Coppola directs Gap’s holiday ads. Link
  • American Express and Etsy partner to support small businesses. Link
  • CNET launches a print magazine. Link
  • Ralph Lauren uses interactive windows to launch line at Harrods. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Gap’s interactive holiday campaign: Play your Stripes. Link
  • Youtube weighing new subscription service. Link
  • Bing now lets you search by emoji. Link
  • Publicis snaps up Sapient for $3.7B to build a digital media powerhouse. Link
  • Instagram video ads are finally live. Link
  • Luxury brands are still casting a leery eye toward social media. Link
  • Digital to overtake TV ad spending in two years, says Forrester. Link
  • Snapchat discussing new ad type that’s similar to live TV. Link
  • Nobody beats Amazon when it comes to subscription services. Link
  • Michelle Phan is building a beauty empire. Link
  • SheKnows acquires BlogHer. Link
  • Alex from Target rises to internet fame. Link
  • Heineken partners with brands to create exclusive luxury goods. Link
  • Reddit opens a crowdfunding site. Link

Start-ups:

  • Cloth is where Instagram and your closet collide. Link
  • Deliv widens same-day delivery, following Google. Link
  • Changing the rules of ecommerce. Link
  • Slack is now worth over $1B. Link
  • Crowdsourced design marketplace Minted raises $38M more, adds fabrics and home décor. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • China’s JD.com starts operations in $1B warehouse. Link
  • Investment in Tokopedia may be the boost Indonesian ecommerce needs. Link
  • China’s economic growth falls to lowest in 5 years. Link
  • Amazon’s strategy for India: stick to the concept of sister site. Link

[EU]

  • London pop-up mall blends digital and physical retail. Link
  • UK arm of Ikea to embark on price cutting program. Link

[CA]

  • Ikea Canada boss aims for a revamp as competition heats up. Link

[A/ME]

  • Macy’s to open in Abu Dhabi. Link

[LATAM]

  • Mexico enters the fashion limelight. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Neiman Marcus makes it easier for mobile shoppers to buy items they spot on the street. Link
  • Marriott woos millennials with mobile apps and wireless charging. Link
  • Microsoft unveils fitness smart band that understands voice commands. Link
  • PopSugar plays fave with data in new shopping app. Link
  • In 72 hours, ApplePay is already the wireless payment leader in the US. Link
  • Google launches Android 5.0 Lollipop. Link
  • Amazon voice search leads the way in mcommerce. Link
  • Neiman Marcus simplifies purchase process with mobile photo feature. Link  
  • How Aeropostale and Asos are getting mobile right with millennials. Link
  • Google’s redesigned calendar app combines brains and beauty. Link
  • Starbucks to offer delivery service via new app. Link
  • Hotels try smartphone apps as room keys. Link

Apple Pay Coverage:

  • Apple Pay isn’t ready to replace your wallet. Link
  • What are anti-Apple Pay merchants afraid of? Link
  • More US banks switch on Apple Pay support. Link
  • Apple Pay rival, Current C, says it’s misunderstood. Link
  • The worm in Apple Pay. Link

Other:

  • Four brands that built empires without traditional advertising. Link
  • Isabel Murant says build strong base and stay focused. Link
  • Sour Patch Kids opens Brooklyn house for touring bands. Link
  • Taylor Swift pulls all her albums from Spotify. Link
  • The Arrivals: A line of coats from a venture capitalist and an architect. Link

Weekly Industry Round Up: 10.27.2014

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My recap of top industry news from last week.  All sources can be found in the hyperlink after the headline:

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Target eyes holiday turnaround on free shipping and faux fur. Link
  • Retail’s new battleground: The I want what I want when I want it generation. Link
  • Trunk Club to open first brick-and-mortar store on Madison Avenue. Link
  • Under Armour’s rising sneaker sales have yet to tread on Nike. Link
  • Gilt names former Starwood Hotels exec as chief marketing officer. Link
  • Etsy launches card reader for in-person payments. Link
  • Amazon posts largest quarterly loss in 14 years. Link
  • Macy’s links with Google to show mobile users what’s in stock nearby. Link
  • Rakuten, Japan’s Amazon, launches fashion site in the U.S. Link
  • Staples is the latest retailer to be hit by hackers. Link
  • Apple shutting down Beats Music app and rolling it into iTunes. Link
  • J.Crew says it will sit out athletic trend. Link
  • Sears said to be closing 77 stores. Link
  • Groupon’s site now has dedicated pages for 7 million businesses across the US. Link
  • Bloomingdale’s equips fitting rooms with iPads for smart shopping. Link
  • Anthropologie may open in AT&T’s former NYC headquarters. Link
  • Asos sees future payoff from 2014 investments. Link
  • FedEx, UPS make plans for better holiday season. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Ello bans advertising and raises $5.5M in new funding. Link
  • Facebook launches new Rooms app that harkens back to early days of Internet chatrooms. Link
  • Groupon channels Yelp with new listings service. Link
  • Behind Twitter’s move to become a mobile-services shop. Link
  • Tumblr to make over $100M in revenue next year. Link
  • How Facebook is changing the way its users consumer journalism. Link
  • New Target CEO makes mark on holiday efforts. Link
  • Pandora gives musicians a data dashboard to see where their fans are. Link
  • North America holds tight to world’s largest ad spending share. Link
  • Haul videos influence holiday shopping. Link
  • Snapchat rolls out first advertiser. Link

Start-ups:

  • Glamsquad raises $7M for on-demand styling and beauty services. Link
  • Tindr to take a swipe at monetization with new premium dating upgrade. Link
  • Digital lockers will take parcels and clean laundry. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • Zalora opens first offline shop. Link
  • India’s Snapdeal forays into premium designer segment. Link
  • China’s Alipay offers ePass payment service for U.S. retail websites. Link
  • Apple set to open 25 new stores in China by end of 2016. Link
  • Zara stumbes in India. Link
  • Taobao Marketplace launches click-and-collect in Singapore. Link

[AU/NZ]

  • Sydney’s Big Commerce takes on Amazon with Alibaba deal. Link

[EU]

  • American Eagle lands in UK. Link
  • Amazon web services to open German center. Link
  • Primark prepares to make entrance in U.S. Link

[CA]

  • Target Canada to experiment with overstocking in turnaround effort. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Urban Outfitters tackles in-app product search challenge. Link
  • Google wants to organize your life with new email app. Link
  • TestFlight Beta testing goes live for all iOS developers. Link
  • Amazon takes retail approach to push flagging Fire phone. Link
  • Google wants Inbox to be your email system for the next decade. Link
  • Amazon quietly launches app store within its main Android app. Link
  • Square launches app marketplace to make third-party integration painless for businesses. Link
  • Twitter unveils Fabric, a welcome gift to mobile developers. Link
  • Fitbit announces new fitness trackers, including its first smartwatch. Link
  • Microsoft makes progress with phone and tablet sales. Link
  • Nike sees brighter wearables future with Apple. Link

[Apple Pay coverage]:

  • Square encircled as Apple, Paypal aim for mobile payments. Link
  • Apple Pay threatens a competing approach to simplifying payments. Link
  • CVS and RiteAid disable Apple Pay. Link
  • CurrentC is the big retailers’ clunky attempt to kill Apple Pay and credit card fees. Link
  • Bank of America customers double-charged in Apple Pay snafu. Link
  • Jumio launches card-scanning mobile checkout for retailers’ iOS and Android apps. Link

Other:

  • How to turn your company into a movement. Link
  • The psychology of web design. Link
  • Roku could file for IPO soon, raises as much as $150M. Link

 

Weekly Industry Round Up: 10.20.2014

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

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Google adopts a model for its delivery service that targets Amazon. Link
    • Google introduces $95 Amazon Prime competitor. Link
    • Google unveils subscription plan for same-day Express delivery services, adds 3 more cities. Link
  • Target teams up with mcommerce app to test curbside shopping. Link
  • Macy’s to open at 6pm on Thanksgiving Day. Link
  • Apple Pay launches Monday, October 20th. Link
    • Apple Pay draws hundreds of banks. Link
    • On Monday you’ll be able to do your shopping with Apple Pay. Link
    • 34 places where you can start using your iPhone to buy stuff. Link
  • Modcloth hit by second round of layoffs. Link
  • Conde Nast pushes on ecommerce. Link
  • Burberry first half sales rise amid digital growth. Link
  • With fashion strategy, can eBay boost emerging designers and itself? Link
  • Urban Outfitters shares down on weak Q3 comps. Link
  • A bid for Reebok kicks off. Link
  • Nordstrom plans more rack store openings for Fall 2015. Link
  • H&M’s & Other Stories launches online in US. Link
  • Bloomingdale’s new Palo Alto store has high-tech touches for digitally savvy shoppers. Link
  • Abercrombie names Ann Inc executive to be president of its Hollister brand. Link  
  • Nordstrom seeking space or second Manhattan store. Link
  • TopShop and Kate Spade Saturday opening in DC. Link
  • Walmart building two new online fulfillment centers in Georgia and Pennsylvania. Link
  • Gap teams up with art magazine in exhibit with apparel as canvas. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Google misses analyst expectations on slower click growth and higher expenses. Link
  • Twitter introduces Audio Cards so you can listen to music directly from your timeline. Link
  • Whisper’s selling point is anonymity but that may be at odds with its evolving business model. Link
  • Snapchat launches ads. Link
  • Spotify announces family plan for up to five users. Link
  • Inside Pinterest, the coming ad colossus that could dwarf Twitter and Facebook. Link
  • Chanel got 1.8M Instagram followers virtually out of nowhere. Link
  • Tumblr debuts first desktop app on the Mac App store. Link
  • Twitter’s music strategy: no app, just better listening. Link
  • Gap Factory to launch star-studded holiday push. Link
  • Twitter to roll out buy button to general public in early 2015. Link
  • Five trends your marketing team should budget for. Link

Start-ups:

  • MakeSpace, “cloud” storage for your stuff, goes national. Link
  • Smartzer zips up $400K to make fashion videos shoppable. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • Costco makes first foray into China via Alibaba. Link
  • China’s 382M millennials demand corporate social responsibility. Link
  • Alipay Wallet has 190M annual active users, processing over 50% of Alipay’s daily transactions. Link
  • Acne Studios lands in Hong Kong. Link
  • Amazon seals major Indian deal with Future Group. Link

[AU/NZ]

  • Forever 21’s Aussie debut in Brisbane. Link

[EU]

  • Ikea targets French expansion. Link
  • Toys ‘R Us launches localized site in Poland. Link
  • French bank to allow sending money with tweets. Link

[A/ME]

  • TopShop opening in Cairo. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • American Eagle lures customers into fitting rooms with help of beacons. Link
  • Apple’s iPad Air 2 is thinner, faster and has TouchID. Link
  • GoldieBlox, the toymaker trying to get girls hooked on engineering, goes digital with new iOS app. Link
  • Is Google changing its mobile search results? Link
  • Travel, retail and media are the top three industries taking over the app store. Link
  • MasterCard will borrow a Touch ID trick for fingerprint scanning credit card. Link
  • Reddit debuts official mobile app. Link
  • LVMH: It may be time for a smartwatch. Link
  • Starbucks ramps up in-store mobile strategy for the holidays. Link
  • Microsoft plans to launch a wearable device within weeks. Link

Other:

  • HBO to launch standalone service in 2015. Link
  • Apple introduces a new mac mini, drops the base price to $499. Link
  • Nordstrom employee handbook has only one rule. Link
  • Ikea to invest in solar, wind power next year. Link
  • This Tumblr has discovered the dark secrets of the J.Crew catalog. Link
  • IBM paying $1.5B to shed its chip division. Link

Weekly Industry Round up: 10.13.2014

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

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Gap shares plunge after company announces a new CEO. Link
  • H&M’s & Other Stories opens in New York. Link
  • Why Urban Outfitters and REI chose checkout to spearhead responsive design push. Link
  • Amazon to open first brick-and-mortar store in New York City. Link
  • The booming market for second-hand luxury online. Link
  • eBay brand itself as place to ‘shop the world.’ Link
  • Bloomingdales tries smart fitting rooms. Link
  • Kmart data breach confirmed. Link
  • Kate Spade transformed a construction barricade into an interactive shopping experience. Link
  • Spring taps Beyonce as first celebrity shop. Link
  • Forever 21 opening in Philadelphia. Link
  • Nicole Miller finds growth with digital approach. Link
  • One Kings Lane closing LA office. Link
  • NastyGal is exclusive stylist for Lena Dunham’s book tour. Link
  • Target is going big with its innovative Boston store, CityTarget. Link
  • TopShop’s collab is a 90’s club kid’s dream. Link
  • Under Armour holds a game show to find its future. Link
  • JC Penney plucks Home Depot exec as new CEO. Link
  • Louis Vuitton pop-up is an upscale apartment in Hong Kong. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Google launches custom affinity audiences for display ad targeting. Link
  • How Glossier crafted launch on Instagram. Link
  • Why Dove is trying Snapchat for Self-esteem effort. Link
  • Marketing firms mining your selfies. Link
  • How Avon is retooling its digital game. Link
  • Twitter sues US government over data disclosure rules. Link
  • Facebook developing app that allows anonymity. Link
  • Facebook’s ad network opens to everyone. Link
  • Snapchat blames third party clients for devastating photo leak. Link
  • Fashion brands push social media ads. Link
  • Google’s mobile campaign is New York’s own scavenger hunt. Link

Start-ups:

  • Beepi raises $60M to sell used cars to the smartphone generation. Link
  • Children’s clothing marketplace Totspot raises $1.8M. Link
  • Bark & Co. debuts its first ecommerce site with doggie destination BarkShop. Link
  • Rocket Internet gets into the speedy grocery deliveries game with ShopWings. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • Zara launches online in South Korea. Link
  • Chinese internet giant Baidu buys Brazilian discounter. Link
  • Xiaomi hires former Google executive to lead India product team. Link
  • Alibaba invests $50M in TV remote app Peel. Link

[AU/NZ]

  • H&M’s first Sydney store to open this month. Link
  • Zara opens second Perth store. Link

[EU]

  • Google denies half of all Europeans’ right to be forgotten requests. Link
  • One in three UK children now owns a tablet. Link
  • Britain loves wearables: One in ten set to use hardware as wearable tech explodes. Link

[LATAM]

  • Ann Inc. sets Loft entry in Mexico. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • AppleWatch lands Vogue China cover. Link
  • Bloomingdales: Beacons need value-driven campaigns, consistent experiences. Link
  • Wearable technology that feels like skin. Link
  • iPhones, iPads and the search query gap. Link
  • Low price, high hopes for OnePlus phone. Link
  • Fashion and functionality meet in smart jewelry. Link
  • Google hopes to make a splash in the phablet market. Link
  • Apple confirms October 16th event, iPads and iMacs expected. Link
  • Gimbal says beacons and smartphones will alter the consumer landscape. Link
  • What to expect from the new iPad. Link

Other:

  • Delta to ‘elite’ flyers, you’ll need to spend more money. Link
  • Marriott fined by FCC for blocking guests’ wi-fi. Link
  • What’s all that data worth? Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY ROUND UP: 10.7.2014

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

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Asos rises on Amazon bid talk. Link
  • Walmart opens Click-and-Collect facility. Link
  • Fab launches Hem, a new online furniture shop. Link
  • eBay opens fine art live-auction sites for second time. Link
  • HP is splitting into two publicly-traded companies. Link
  • Selfridges’ new £40m site reviewed. Link  
  • Smaller Bloomingdale’s sets tone for expansion. Link
  • How Kate Spade Saturday is carving out its own identity online. Link
  • Uniqlo opens first L. and Philly stores. Link and Link
  • Zalando makes lackluster debut in Germany IPO. Link
  • Into the Gloss launches its own line of beauty products.Link
  • With new app, Groupon goes after grocery deals.Link
  • Retailers predict holiday sales to grow 4% this year.Link
  • Amazon lets you add items to your wish list by tweeting.Link
  • Curbside powers same-day pickup at Target, raises $8M. Link
  • Gap Inc’s social media: selling feminism and equality, not t-shirts. Link
  • Alexander Wang unveils sport H&M ad campaign for his new collection.Link
  • Delias puts itself up for sale.Link
  • REI to embark on ambitious website makeover.Link
  • Saks Fifth Avenue to open in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Facebook agrees to ease policies on using real names for accounts. Link
  • Yahoo reportedly looking into Snapchat investment. Link
  • Facebook looks to the healthcare field as it eyes increasing engagement. Link
  • Buzzfeed introduces Buy It button on sponsored posts. Link
  • Facebook receives EU approval for $19B WhatsApp deal. Link
  • Twitter teams up with MIT to create new research lab to analyze every tweet. Link
  • Pinterest curates its own content with new weekly collections called “Pin Picks.” Link
  • Facebook updates research strategy. Link

Start-ups:

  • Houzz raises $165M for ecommerce push. Link
  • MiniLuxe brings high-tech beauty salons nationwide with $23M in new funding. Link
  • New e-delivery service sends groceries right to the trunk of your car. Link
  • com is a new marketplace that gives customers cash back. Link
  • AppBoy raises $15M. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • Zara partly cedes China web control to Alibaba to aid growth. Link
  • Chinese online shoppers favor U.S. e-retailers. Link
  • South Korean mobile powerhouse buys Shopkick. Link
  • India will top China in device sales growth next year, report finds. Link
  • TopShop invests in mobile-social for China push. Link
  • China’s fragrance market can reach its potential. Link

[AU/NZ]

  • Lorna Jane dumps plan to sell. Link
  • Williams Sonoma confirms November 18th opening date in Melbourne. Link

[CA]

  • Staples closes 15 stores in Canada. Link
  • Spotify expands to Canada. Link
  • Sears to sell down Canada stake. Link

[EU]

  • Forever 21 cuts losses as it tries to crack UK. Link
  • Launching marketplace, eBay aims to drive consolidation in Russia. Link

[LATAM]

  • Williams Sonoma takes e-commerce operation to Mexico. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • eBay to split off PayPal as mobile payments gain ground. Link
  • Visa says Apple Pay will pave the way for more mobile wallets that people can actually use. Link
  • Square raises $150M. Link
  • What Rue La La is doing with iOS8. Link
  • Burberry has a special group dedicate to wearable tech and innovation. Link
  • Apple Pay promises big changes at the cash register. Link
  • Apple confirms slower adoption rate of iOS8. Link
  • Target ramps up mobile for personalized holiday experiences. Link
  • Groupon launches standalone app for receipts-based offers. Link

Other:

  • Consumers now expect everything to work on all devices. Link
  • Google announces new Spain campus for entrepreneurs. Link
  • Froont wants to make sharing responsive web design as easy as sharing code. Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY ROUND UP: 9.29.2014

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

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Uniqlo plans major expansion of kids’ line. Link
  • Opening Ceremony: a store in every big city? Link
  • You can now add items to your Amazon wish list with a tweet. Link
  • Urban Outfitters to supersize Anthropologie stores. Link
  • Farfetch launches a shoppable tour guide of the world’s most fashionable cities. Link
  • Little Market online seeks to have a big effect for women worldwide. Link
  • Urban Outfitters: the world’s number one seller of vinyl. Link
  • Macy’s aims to become retail tech powerhouse. Link
  • Urban Outfitters outlines plans to double sales by 2020. Link
  • Louis Vuitton launching biannual magazine. Link
  • Jimmy Choo plans London IPO. Link
  • PayPal to allow more merchants to accept bitcoin. Link
  • Tory Burch hires former Ralph Lauren exec to serve as Co-CEO. Link
  • Retail goes high end in downtown Manhattan. Link
  • H&M Q3 profitability declines on garment costs. Link
  • Amazon grocery delivery coming to NYC. Link
  • Hermes launches online store devoted to iconic scarves. Link
  • Nordstrom pop-up promotes sustainable, responsible goods. Link
  • Microsoft opening a flagship New York store on Fifth Avenue. Link
  • Tod’s may spin off Hogan luxury sneaker brand. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Facebook taps Stripe to power buy button. Link
  • Brand publishers are ditching Facebook in favor of microsites. Link
  • Five things to know about Ello, the social network with a manifesto. Link
  • Invite-only social network Ello: Exclusivity draws demand. Link
  • Facebook prioritizes user IDs over cookies to boost mobile budgets. Link
  • How to make social commerce more appealing. Link
  • Facebook plans drones to provide free wifi to the two-thirds of the world that lack internet access. Link
  • Four creative swap lives for Timberland’s #inmyelement campaign. Link
  • Starbucks launches first brand campaign. Link
  • Facebook reboots ad platform with cross-devices targeting and offline sales tracking. Link
  • Instagram reportedly blocked in China amid Hong Kong protests. Link
  • Is Snapchat a business tool? Yes. Link

Start-ups:

  • App replaces ads on New York subways with art. Link
  • Quibit gets $26M funding round to grow its ecommerce personalization platform. Link
  • Visual recognition app acts like Shazam for furniture. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • Singaporeans shift from stores to online shopping. Link
  • India’s online retailers fuel growth at coupon sites. Link

[AU/NZ]

  • Stylerunner offers 3-hour delivery. Link

[CA]

  • Target Canada prices drop lower than Walmart’s. Link
  • Nordstrom opens first store in Canada. Link

[EU]

  • DHL to be the first to do drone delivery in Germany. Link
  • Ireland to introduce postal codes. Link
  • Net-a-Porter, Facebook, Vice among launch brands for the new “LinkedIn for Creatives” platform, The Dots. Link

[LATAM]

  • Sears to mimic Zara in Mexico. Link
  • Online retail picks up speed in parts of Latin America. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • One push notification too many will make consumers delete your iBeacon app. Link
  • Amazon’s secret lab is developing wearables and household devices. Link
  • Apple responds to complaints of bent iPhones. Link
  • Apple pulls iOS8 software update after iPhone problems. Link
  • Guggenheim museum balances beauty with beacons. Link
  • Secret launches Ping, an app that’s all about a black dot, simplicity, and content. Link
  • For Staples, mobile is the center of it all. Link
  • BlackBerry’s square-screened Passport launched. Link
  • American Eagle takes new approach to mCommerce. Link
  • Citibank launches mobile-only bank accounts. Link

Other:

  • UPS now offers 3D printing nationwide. Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY ROUND UP: 9.22.2014

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

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Zara builds its business around RFID, learns from others’ mistakes. Link
  • Nordstrom employs New York Instagrammers to personalize fall accessories. Link
  • Amazon touts reduced shopping cart abandonment with newly expanded “login and pay” service. Link
  • Amazon purchases buy.com domain for $4.6M. Link
  • Lululemon inks two corner deals in Soho, will open first Men’s store. Link
  • Uniqlo expects profits at U.S. stores in couple of years. Link
  • Yahoo’s core business value cut in half after Alibaba IPO. Link
  • Prada profit down 21% due to weak demand in Asia and Europe. Link
  • Packaged goods marketers wade warily in ecommerce. Link
  • Apple and Amazon take baby steps toward digital sharing. Link
  • Asos facing backlash from leading fashion brands over discounting. Link
  • Rue La La debuts its first exclusive collection on its ecommerce site. Link
  • Versace embeds instant ecommerce in runway show livestream. Link
  • Zulily keeps it simple and masters ecommerce fundamentals over gimmicky marketing tactics. Link
  • Macy’s, Bloomingdales adding same-day delivery. Link
  • Stronger U.S. demand and ecommerce sales boost H&M. Link
  • Target selects 16 brand partners for sustainability push. Link
  • Rebecca Minkoff launches maternity capsule. Link
  • Home Depot’s data breach bigger than Target’s at 56 Million cards compromised. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Ralph Lauren launches creative initiative and campaign ‘Project Warehouse.’ Link
  • How Ikea brings design ideas to life in social. Link
  • Twitter redesigns profiles for iPhone app. Link
  • Facebook is convincing advertisers to spend. Link
  • Puma returns to roots in new campaign. Link
  • A look at Lilly Pulitzer’s social media marketing. Link
  • Pinterest plans to help advertisers track performance; serve ads based on pinned brands. Link
  • YouTube adds real-time analytics with minute-by-minute view counts for videos. Link
  • Facebook now shows real-time events higher in your feed. Link

Start-ups:

  • com founder raises new funds for Amazon rival. Link
  • Shippo gets $2M funding for its shipping API for small businesses. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • H&M begins selling online in China. Link
  • Alibaba’s IPO world record. Link
  • WeChat launches mobile payment service. Link

[AU/NZ]

  • Brooks Brothers continues Australian rollout. Link

[CA]

  • Hudson’s Bay to open first Saks in Canada in Spring 2016. Link
  • Nordstrom joins rush to Canada. Link

[EU]

  • Click and Collect shoppers predicted to pick up £6.5B of goods by 2019. Link
  • Sweden’s Klarna: With U.S. launch, it’s all about online payment friction. Link

[LATAM]

  • Zara sells online in Mexico. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Macy’s to roll out beacon technology to all stores this fall. Link
  • Subway to use Softcard NFC for mobile payments. Link
  • Photos shot with Goolge Glass will now sync with your iPhone immediately. Link
  • Sqaure’s Cash App lets you text or email money for free. Link
  • Apple’s iBeacons are going to transform much more than advertising. Link
  • Three reasons Apple Pay is going to work. Link
  • The big picture on digital receipts. Link
  • Fartfetch launches discover app. Link
  • iPhone’s NFC tech will only work with Apple Pay. Link
  • Oculus announces mobile SDK and platform for developers. Link
  • The best iOS8 features you may not know about. Link
  • Apple sells 10M iPhone 6 and 6 Plus units in launch weekend. Link
  • Why the U.S. lags the world in mobile payments. Link
  • Amazon, Lowe’s and E*Trade embrace iOS8’s Touch ID to reduce mobile commerce friction. Link
  • Beacons land on retailers’ holiday wish lists. Link

Other:

  • Whole Foods to test rewards program as competition grows. Link
  • Digital innovation is in the spotlight at London Fashion Week. Link
  • Apple TV is now armed and ready to be the centerpiece for Apple’s smart home takeover plans. Link
  • The slow death of the no-logo movement. Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY ROUND UP: 9.15.2014

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

Retailer News:

  • Home Depot confirms data breach and says investigation goes back to April. Link
  • Opening Ceremony takes wraps off Intel-powered smart bracelet. Link
  • PayPal gambles on Bitcoin and One-touch payments. Link
  • DVF focuses on retail growth. Link
  • Ikea to resume online rollout after yearlong pause. Link
  • Rent the Runway to open DC store in Georgetown. Link
  • Anthropologie launches home catalogue and registry. Link
  • Rebecca Minkoff’s smart bracelets place emphasis on style and luxury. Link
  • Apple hires Gap’s number two marketer. Link
  • Target links with Toms. Link
  • Burberry’s scrolling website for its new fragrance is a thing of beauty. Link
  • Retailers give themselves makeover as millennials follow own beat. Link
  • Urban Outfitters to open first Asian store in Hong Kong. Link
  • London Fashion Week: Why technology is in fashion. Link
  • Behind the Vans boom. Link
  • Rocket Internet kicks off $970M IPO. Link
  • LVMH’s TAG Heuer has plans for smartwatch. Link
  • LuLuLemon stock spikes on Q2 gain. Link
  • Foot Locker partners with Deliv for same-day sneaker delivery. Link
  • H&M third quarter sales exceed estimates after strong August. Link
  • Uniqlo to reissue its greatest hits from Jil Sander collaboration. Link
  • Target hopes for a hit with Altuzarra collection. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • There is now an agency dedicated to your favorite Instagram models. Link
  • You can now buy things directly on Twitter. Link
  • How one fashion blogger is on track to earn almost $8M this year. Link
  • Twitter announces Flight, an annual mobile developer conference. Link
  • eBay prepping new mobile ad network. Link
  • Converse aims to turn ‘boring parts of the internet fun’ with Sneakers Would campaign. Link
  • Turning celebrities into branded cultural currency. Link
  • Yahoo sees mobile ads following search business. Link
  • Canon partners with Stella McCartney for camera bag collection. Link
  • Facebook is cracking down on ads users hate. Link
  • Five brands using data to generate blog content. Link
  • Facebook autoplay ads cause surge in mobile data use. Link

Start-ups:

  • Uber pilots on-demand product delivery in Sweden. Link
  • Everlane to deliver clothes to your door in less than 60 minutes. Link
  • Festival travel site Festicket raises $2.7M. Link
  • Kanzee makes sharing clothes with friends a breeze. Link
  • Google buys popular polling service Polar for Google+. Link

International:

[APAC]

  • Uniqlo launches Malaysian online store. Link
  • Alibaba brings luxury to China’s middle class. Link
  • This is the $100 Android phone that Google is hoping will dominate India. Link
  • China is Ikea’s fastest growing market. Link

[AU/NZ]

  • Forever 21 heads to Sydney. Link

[CA]

  • How Nordstrom plans to conquer Canada. Link

[EU]

  • Neiman Marcus acquires MyTheresa.com. Link
  • Crew opens fourth London unit. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Tech and fashion designers put the wear in wearables. Link
  • Apple coverage:
    • A smartwatch, iPhone 6 and more: Highlights and analysis from Apple’s keynote. Link
    • Apple launches mobile payment platform Apple Pay. Link
    • Apple smartwatch launch boost to wearables. Link
    • Apple Pay poses dilemma for Telco’s mobile wallets. Link
    • Will stores warm up to Apple Pay? Link
    • Six core beliefs behind the new Apple Watch. Link
    • Larger iPhone 6 Plus sells out. Link
    • Three cool things the iPhone 6 camera can do. Link
    • How Apple pushes entire industries forward. Link
  • BBC goes local – and mobile – with experimental ‘popup’ bureaus. Link

Other:

  • New York Fashion Week explores technology’s role in fashion. Link