Tag: alibaba

Weekly Industry Brief: 11.20.2017

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Happy Black Friday Week! And Happy Thanksgiving. Hope everyone has a very successful two weeks ahead.

Here is a recap of industry from the last week. Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands and Retailers

  • American Eagle opened a store of the future complete with free laundry and an iPad in every dressing room. Business Insider
  • Forever 21 reports payment card security breach. Reuters
  • Reformation launches very cute, very planet-friendly baby clothes. Fashionista
  • Farfetch’s revenue up 74% to last year. Fashionista 
  • Google Express lets you shop at Costco without a membership. Fast Company
  • Abercrombie & Fitch revenue up in Q3; rebranding is catching on with consumers. Fashionista
  • Gain in U.S. retail sales last month signals steady demand. Bloomberg
  • Black Friday will be the biggest mobile shopping day ever in the U.S., claims forecast. TechCrunch
  • Amazon and Whole Foods unveil new price cuts for Prime members. The Verge
  • For the first time, Calvin Klein to sell new underwear exclusively on Amazon this holiday. L2
  • Wal-Mart joins retailers planning to try out Tesla truck. Bloomberg
  • As athleisure cools, denim heats up. The Business of Fashion
  • Uber agrees to buy tens of thousands of Volvo cars for its autonomous fleet. Fast Company
  • Why this Christmas is make-or-break for Macy’s. Fortune
  • Lululemon enters footwear market with branded sneaker line. SmartBrief

Marketing and Social Media

  • Dollar Shave Club CMO thinks online estate sales are the next big thing. Ad Age
  • The real reason the incredibly boring Ikea ads are so engaging. Forbes
  • Snapchat admits it made the wrong decision on its spectacles. Tech Radar
  • YouTube partners with Ticketmaster to promote tickets for live shows below artists’ videos. Venture Beat
    Seventeen Magazine launches ‘Here,’ a community by and for LGBTQ teens.  Fashionista
  • Jay-Z’s debut album turned into an Urban Outfitters capsule collection. Mashable
  • Pinterest adds custom QR-like codes for businesses, more shoppable pins. MarketingLand
  • Instagram now lets you post Stories from the mobile web. The Verge
  • Updated Adidas shopping app is personalized to what you like. PSFK
  • Facebook’s dynamic creative can generate up to 6,250 versions of an ad. MarketingLand

Startup and Emerging Tech

  • Williams-Sonoma acquires augmented reality 3D imaging startup. Total Retail
  • AirBnB acquires ad tech startup AdBasis. TechCrunch
  • The Real Real: High-end disruptor or gateway drug to luxury? Robin Report
  • Goop for men? This new site targets the $3.8B wellness industry. Fast Company
  • MAC installs augmented reality mirrors to boost conversion s and collect data. Glossy
  • Buzzfeed bets on the future of television. Fast Company
  • StitchFix up just 1% on first day of trading, after reducing size of IPO. TechCrunch
  • Outdoor sportswear finally gets the direct to consumer treatment. Fast Company
  • Apple pushes HomePod release to early 2018. TechCrunch

International

  • Ikea counts cost of Brexit as furniture import prices soar. Bloomberg
  • China faces waste hangover after Singles Day buying binge. The Business of Fashion
  • Postmates launches in first international city: Mexico City. TechCrunch
  • Alibaba bets $2.9B that it can take on Wal-Mart in China. Bloomberg
  • Amazon brings Echo and Alexa to Canada. TechCrunch
  • Retailing in the Middle East: How to recapture profitable growth. McKinsey
  • Tencent’s profit surges 69% thanks to its thriving games business. TechCrunch
  • Forrester predicts 80% of companies will fail to comply with HDPR in 2018. Martech
  • Alibaba and Alipay: A mobile future. Seeking Alpha

 

Weekly Industry Brief: 11.13.2017

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Happy Monday! This week I have a special section of headlines about Alibaba’s Double 11/Singles Day event from the weekend.  Next week is Black Friday here in the US, which means we have one more Monday before Cyber Monday.  Cheers to a successful holiday!

As always, sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Alibaba’s Singles Day Event

  • Alibaba’s Singles Day racks up $8.6B in first hour. Bloomberg
  • Alibaba’s Singles Day sales smash record with $25B haul. Fortune
  • Alibaba lets AI, robots and drones do heavy lifting for Singles Day. South China Morning Post
  • Alibaba’s Singles Day sales hit record. New York Times
  • Alibaba tests 60 futuristic pop-up stores across China for Singles Day. Digiday
  • Lessons from Alibaba’s $25B shopping event. AdAge
  • Singles Day 2017 highlights Alibaba’s intent to become a global leader. Forbes
  • Alibaba and JD.com squabble over Singles Day sales calculations. Women’s Wear Daily
  • Singles Day faces fatigue in China. The Wall Street Journal
  • JD.com generated $19B in sales at its rival event. Fortune
  • Black Friday, Prime Day and Singles Day: When do people spend the most? Fortune

Brands and Retailers

  • CVS will offer next day delivery of prescriptions. New York Times
  • Amazon Cash, the service that lets you use cash to shop Amazon online, arrives at 7-Eleven. TechCrunch
  • Burberry shares are plunging as investors flee new CEO’s expensive plans. Fortune
  • Online retailers are desperate to stem a surging tide of returns. Bloomberg
  • Amazon developing a free, ad-supported version of Prime. AdAge
  • Nordstrom is launching 24/7 curbside pickup for the holidays. Fashionista
  • Victoria Beckham to collaborate with Reebok in 2018. Fashionista

Marketing and Social Media

  • How Vimeo is preparing for the future of video storytelling. Fast Company
  • Snapchat’s programmatic ads fetch $3-$8 CPMs. Digiday
  • Tencent could play a role redesigning Snapchat following $2B investment. Techcrunch
  • Instagram might let you follow hashtags. Fast Company
  • How Kith built its brand in niche streetwear. New York Times
  • Facebook relaunches Events app as Facebook Local, adds bars and food. Techcrunch
  • Spotify expands merch to beauty products, sells out tickets for Who We Be. Techcrunch
  • Women-only social club The Wing launches a bi-annual print magazine. AdWeek
  • At Tiffany, the Fifth Avenue face-lift starts at home. New York Times
  • Crew cast seven ‘real people’ in its 2017 holiday gift guide. Fashionista
  • Amazon expands its influencer program to include Twitter and Instagram, in addition to YouTube. Techcrunch

Startup and Emerging Tech

  • Music.ly, a Chinese app big in the U.S. sells for $1B. New York Times
  • Tinder wants to spice up your love life with AI and location services. Android Authority
  • Stitch Fix gets a close look from consumer VC firm ahead of IPO. Techcrunch
  • Heyday raises $3M for personalized skincare and facials. Techcrunch
  • Apple has acquired imaging sensor startup InVisage Technologies. Techcrunch
  • Voice-enabled smart speakers to reach 55% of U.S. households by 2022. Techcrunch

International

  • Costco to expand internationally; will launch in France. Bloomberg
  • Birchbox opens first UK standalone store. Vogue
  • Amazon says Australia launch imminent. Business of Fashion
  • PayPal launches domestic payments in India. Business Line

 

Weekly Industry Brief: 11.6.2017

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Happy Monday! Here is a recap of industry news over the last week.  Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands and Retailers

  • Old Navy launches kids’ ‘Super Boxes’ subscription service. WWD
  • Amazon discounts other sellers’ products as retail competition stiffens. CNBC
  • Ann Taylor launches subscription rental program. Glossy
  • Burberry’s Christopher Bailey to leave before 2019. Bloomberg
  • Century 21 launches boutique minded shop-in-shop. The New York Times
  • Target store staff can now create online orders for customers when local merchandise is unavailable. TechCrunch
  • Ralph Lauren’s retreat from discounting helps bolster profit. Bloomberg
  • Starbucks sells Tazo tea brand to Unilever. The Wall Street Journal
  • Amazon to end fresh grocery delivery service in some areas. Reuters
  • Glossier, Stitch Fix among the most disruptive companies. Retail Dive
  • Macy’s opens ‘digital playground’ at Herald Square. Retail Dive
  • Clique Media Group becomes bona fide fashion brand. Fast Company
  • Uniqlo founder thinks US needs fewer malls and more of his stores. The Wall Street Journal
  • Sears, Kmart to close more stores in 2018. USA Today

Marketing and Social Media

  • Kylie cosmetics will host pop-up shops at Topshops this holiday season. Fashionista
  • Inside the influencer prom that was the Revolve Awards. Fashionista
  • Conde Nast to shutter print edition of Teen Vogue. Fashionista
  • Ben & Jerry’s created a Facebook AR filter. AdWeek
  • Instagram is expanding shoppable photos to thousands of merchants. The Verge
  • The best rewards programs give you more than points. Racked
  • REI thinks you have better things to do than shop on Black Friday. Washington Post
  • Dolce & Gabbana is now in the pasta business. Bloomberg
  • Instagram Stories and WhatsApp Status hit 300M users, nearly 2X Snapchat. TechCrunch
  • Target offers free shipping on holiday orders. Business of Fashion

Startup and Emerging Tech

  • Microsoft thinks they can make holograms the future of retail. Wired
  • Square launches a point-of-sale payment system aimed at larger businesses. AdWeek
  • Amazon adds AR shopping feature to its iOS app. TechCrunch
  • Quip raises $10M for electric toothbrushes. TechCrunch
  • Here’s how much consumers will use voice technology in the near future. AdWeek
  • Snap acquires Metamarkets to step up its ad tech play. TechCrunch
  • Blue Apron shares trade down after disappointing earnings. TechCrunch

International

  • Alibaba profit rises on targeted use of consumer data. The Wall Street Journal
  • Google has a new plan for China – and it’s not about search. Bloomberg
  • Ikea to hire hundreds of local women for first India store. Economic Times
  • How Alibaba makes Singles’ Day appealing to luxury brands. Glossy
  • Canada’s Indigo Books plans first US store. The Star
  • Estee Lauder gains after Chinese expansions helps lift forecast. Bloomberg
  • Apple’s revenues are growing again in China. TechCrunch

Weekly Industry Brief: 10.23.2017

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Here is a recap of news in the retail and ecommerce industry from the last week.  Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands and Retailers

  • Venmo users can now shop online anywhere PayPal is accepted in the US. TechCrunch
  • Amazon and big apartment landlords strike deals on package delivery. The Wall Street Journal
  • Wal-Mart courts Lord & Taylor for online challenge to Amazon. The Wall Street Journal
  • Where internet orders mean real jobs, and a new life for communities. The New York Times
  • ASOS proves fast fashion isn’t cheap, sees huge growth ahead. Retail Dive
  • Target unveils climate change program. Retail Dive
  • Amazon adds apparel, shoes to ‘handcrafted’ shop. Women’s Wear Daily
  • Proenza Schouler debuts new site, powered by Farfetch. Glossy
  • ASOS’s product strategy: 5,000 new styles a week, more in-house designs. Glossy
  • How retailers use personalized prices to test what you’re willing to pay. Harvard Business Review
  • Amazon gets 238 proposals across North American for HQ2. AdAge
  • Under Armour debuts subscription service. AdAge
  • Jet.com launches its own private brand to woo millennials. Fortune
  • Target is keeping it simple for holiday season sales. Fortune
  • Tommy Hilfiger has designed a fashion line for people with disabilities. Fortune

Marketing and Social Media

  • Arianna Huffington’s new app lets you humblebrag about turning your phone off. The Verge
  • Revolve is hosting its own awards show next month. Fashionista
  • Nike is using its new digital studio to build a community of sneakerheads. TechCrunch
  • Facebook is taking aim at LinkedIn again by testing a resume feature. AdWeek
  • Vogue, Vice will team up in bid to win ad dollars. Variety
  • How BFF marketing became the MO for women’s direct to consumer brands. The Business of Fashion
  • This year’s Neiman Marcus Christmas Book gifts are on a different level. Fortune
  • Abercrombie and Fitch draws on legacy for new look. Business of Fashion
  • Facebook is now testing paywalls and subscriptions for instant articles. TechCrunch
  • Rent the Runway’s national campaign wants you to convert your closet into anything you want. AdWeek
  • Snap hit with more layoffs, plans to slow hiring in 2018. Business Insider

Startup and Emerging Tech

  • Stitch Fix files for IPO. Business of Fashion
  • Walmart sees a shopping future filled with AR, AI and chatbots. CNet
  • L’oreal to partner with Paris-based beauty start-ups. Business of Fashion
  • Intel and Amazon partner on voice recognition technology. Engadget
  • Amazon to open visually focused AI research hub in Germany. TechCrunch
  • ‘Pay with Google’ goes live. Techcrunch
  • Walmart’s Store No. 8 showcases the future of VR. Retail Dive

International

Weekly Industry Brief: 10.16.2017

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Here is a recap of news in the retail and ecommerce industry from the last two weeks week.  Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline. (P.S. Sorry I missed you last week.  I’m back after a reallyyyyyyy awesome week of vacation in Italy.  Work/life balance, work hard/play hard, etc.!)

Brands and Retailers

  • Holiday sales forecasts are rosy, but not for all retailers. The Wall Street Journal
  • Amazon said to be testing its own delivery service. TechCrunch
  • Nordstrom no longer exploring going private. Fashionista
  • Ikea to test selling products via third-party websites. The Wall Street Journal
  • Ikea plans full-range town center showrooms. Reuters
  • S. retail sales rose 1.6% in September. The Wall Street Journal
  • Amazon welcomes teens with new parent-controlled shopping allowance. The Wall Street Journal
  • Wal-Mart plans further cost cuts as competition with Amazon intensifies. The Wall Street Journal
  • How Macy’s is turning beauty store BlueMercury into its secret weapon. Fortune
  • Amazon’s luxury retail problem. Fox Business
  • Reformation is launching a jeans line with over 40 different pieces. Bustle
  • Gucci bans fur, joining others in seeking alternatives. Reuters
  • Amazon getting into private label sportswear. Bloomberg
  • Coach changes its name to Tapestry. The Wall Street Journal
  • Frambridge teamed up for Target to bring custom framing to more people. Fast Company
  • Rent the Runway chases the fast-fashion shopper. The Wall Street Journal
  • Third Love spent a year designing a bra you can sleep in. Fast Company
  • What goes into making Everlane’s earth-friendly $68 pair of jeans. Bloomberg
  • AIM, AOL’s iconic instant messenger service is shutting down after 20 years. Recode

Marketing and Social Media

  • Instagram adds polling stickers to stories. The Verge
  • Snap blows lid on its own surprise AR announcement. Gizmodo
  • Gap is selling subscription boxes for baby clothes. CNBC
  • Snap unveils brand partnerships and context cards. Reuters

Startup and Emerging Tech

  • Net-a-porter poised to launch AI picking service. Retail Gazette
  • Alibaba to spend $15B on innovation projects with new research lab. Bloomberg
  • Apple quietly acquires computer vision startup regaind. TechCrunch
  • Amazon’s Alexa can now recognize different voices and give personalized response. The Verge
  • Manufacturers are making devices increasingly difficult for consumers to fix. The Economist

International

  • Instacart is expanding to Canada in Amazon battle. The Wall Street Journal
  • American jewelry chain Alex and Ani to open first store in the UK. Retail Gazette
  • Ikea puts Latin America, Southeast Asia markets in its sights. Bloomberg
  • Near-record crowds push Uniqlo Canada sales above expectations. Bloomberg
  • JD.com launches luxury platform. Business of Fashion
  • How China’s shopping malls survive and thrive in the ecommerce age. Forbes
  • Mango opens first store in partnership with Myntra in India. Live Mint
  • Amazon gears up for greater presence in Brazil. Bloomberg
  • Amazon to open pop-up bar in Tokyo. Retail Dive
  • Sears Canada approves plan to liquidate most of retail chain’s assets. The Wall Street Journal
  • Flipkart launches private label large appliances category. Live Mint

Weekly Industry News: 8.21.2017

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Hello!  Here are some industry headlines from the past two weeks.  As always, sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands and Retailers

  • ASOS to open up second US distribution center. Reuters
  • Wal-Mart applies for patent for blimp-style floating warehouse. Bloomberg
  • Amazon adds “instant pick up” in US brick-and-mortar push. Reuters
  • Big spending expected for Back to School. AdAge
  • Jump in US retail sales largely due to ecommerce spending. The Wall Street Journal
  • Wal-Mart sales rise as retailer dodges industry malaise. The Wall Street Journal
  • Gap shares rise as Old Navy boosts results. Reuters
  • Target boosts forecast as back-to-school season aids turnaround. Bloomberg
  • TJ Maxx maps plans for continued brick-and-mortar expansion. Bloomberg
  • Macy’s and Levi’s team up on limited edition denim shop. WWD
  • North Face parent company to buy Dickie’s for $820M. The Wall Street Journal
  • Toys ‘R’ Us will return to Times Square. Bloomberg
  • TopShop creative chief steps down. Fashionista
  • Amazon’s private label business is booming thanks to device sales and expanded fashion lines. TechCrunch
  • Inside the L.A. mall that’s defying the retail apocalypse. Fast Company
  • Canada Goose debuts its first sweater collection. AdWeek

Marketing and Social Media

  • Instagram is testing a way to invite friends to join a live video. AdWeek
  • How Glossier hacked social media to build a cult-like following. Entrepreneur
  • Sephora creates a digital community for loyal customers. WWD
  • Patagonia steps up its public lands activism with first ever TV commercial. Fast Company
  • Amazon Prime will be in more than half of US households by year’s end. CNBC
  • Apple is entering the content streaming war against Netflix. Fast Company
  • Fashion’s hottest brands and top selling products. Business of Fashion
  • Cutting out the middleman has shortened the lifespan of fads. The New York Times
  • Facebook adds eBay’s Daily Deals to its marketplace on mobile. TechCrunch
  • Facebook tests targeting ads to people who visited brands’ brick-and-mortar stores. MarketingLand
  • Macy’s pins hopes on new marketing. AdAge
  • Marketers step up as tech leaders take AR mainstream. AdWeek
  • Baidu and JD.com partner to send search users straight to the checkout. Bloomberg
  • Facebook introduces “Watch” video product for short series. Bloomberg

Startup and Emerging Tech

  • Look for Apple to release an AR-ready iPhone soon. Fast Company
  • Amazon partners with ASU to offer Echo Dot to 1,600 engineering students. ZDNet
  • Target buys software startup aimed at same-day delivery. Bloomberg
  • Alexa brings hands-free TV to more devices. TechCrunch
  • Shake Shack’s new chatbot can answer 300 customer questions. Digiday
  • NastyGal founder raises $1.2M for new venture, GirlBoss Media. Forbes

International

Weekly Industry News: 8.7.2017

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Hello!  Here are some industry headlines from the past week.  As always, sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands and Retailers

  • Uniqlo tries new approach: shirts in vending machines. The Wall Street Journal
  • Now at Saks: salt rooms, a bootcamp and a peek at retail’s future. The New York Times
  • Retail’s not dead and physical stores still matter, Goldman says. CNBC
  • Aldo to buy Vince Camuto in a merger of shoe brands. The New York Times
  • The luxury arms race: Michael Kors and Coach target takeovers. The New York Times
  • Amazon is rolling out secure delivery hubs for multi-dwelling buildings. Retail Dive
  • Under Armour shares reach record low as retailer cuts 2% of its workforce. CNBC
  • American Apparel is relaunching very soon. Racked
  • Under Armour’s game plan to revive sales may hit snags. Reuters
  • Yoox Net-a-porter open to partnerships in different markets. Reuters
  • Apple’s services generated more than $27.8B in revenue in 12-month period. The Wall Street Journal
  • Adidas powers ahead against Nike with second quarter growth. Business of Fashion
  • Amazon owns a whole collection of secret brands. Quartz
  • These retailers make the most money per square foot on their real estate. CNBC
  • Netflix makes first acquisition with comic-book publisher. AdAge

Marketing and Social Media

  • Amazon is launching a home makeover show featuring YouTube stars that’s designed to sell products. Business Insider
  • Etsy suspends brand campaign, shifts marketing strategy. AdAge
  • Airbnb and Nat Geo found the perfect place to watch the eclipse. Fast Company
  • How consumer brands can connect with customers in a changing retail landscape. Harvard Business Review
  • Babies R Us wants to give millennial parents a more honest message about parenthood. AdWeek
  • Google is developing technology for Snapchat-like media content. The Wall Street Journal
  • How H&M is using Instagram to drive interest in its newest brand. Glossy

Startup and Emerging Tech

  • For Outdoor Voices, opening stores is all about building community. Fashionista
  • Apple’s AR glasses are no longer an “if” but a “when.” Fast Company
  • Chatbots bring new income stream to ecommerce. VentureBeat
  • Amazon Alex just made it even easier to find the right music on Echo. Fortune

International

  • Europe’s luxury brands may be returning to form. The New York Times
  • Alibaba launches new membership program. WWD
  • Alibaba, Marriott team up to serve Chinese tourists abroad. The Wall Street Journal
  • How Alibaba plans to win over luxury brands. Glossy
  • Brits will soon gain the right to have their online history deleted. Fast Company

Weekly Industry Brief: 7.31.2017

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I’m back! I was in Asia for work the past two weeks, so here are a bunch of industry headlines since then.  As always, sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.  P.S. I can’t believe how quickly this summer is going by!  Happy August.

Brands and Retailers

  • Michael Kores to buy Jimmy Choo in $1.2B deal. The New York Times
  • Sephora is experimenting with a boutique format. Fast Company
  • Fashion industry pays attention to plus-size women. The Economist
  • Underwear is driving Amazon’s takeover of the American fashion industry. Business Insider
  • Gymboree to close about 350 stores in restructuring. Wall Street Journal
  • Five takeaways from Amazon Prime Day. Retail Dive
  • Amazon sold three times as many Echo devices on Prime Day this year vs. last year. AdWeek
  • Amazon to host job fair for 50,000 positions amid hiring squeeze. The Wall Street Journal
  • The secrets to luxury eyewear brand Gentle Monster’s rapid rise. Jing Daily
  • Wal-Mart said to be eliminating a few dozen jobs at headquarters. Business of Fashion
  • Here’s how the Amazon effect is hitting the apparel industry. CNBC
  • Birkenstock accuses Amazon of modern day piracy. Washington Post
  • Amazon’s revenue rises 25% on retail dominance. The Wall Street Journal
  • Stitch Fix has filed confidentially for an IPO. Recode
  • How Reebok, Adidas and Y-3 will dress future space explorers. Fast Company
  • Amazon’s next act: a trendy new in-house shoe collection. Footwear News
  • How Rent the Runway is pulling off deliveries at the speed of Amazon. Glossy

Marketing and Social Media

  • Amazon launches Spark, a shoppable feed of stores and photos aimed at Prime members. TechCrunch
  • Facebook to show ads on Messenger to boost revenue growth. Wall Street Journal
  • New Zara documentary takes viewers behind the scenes. Refinery29
  • Coveteur is making their brand work official with a content studio. Glossy
  • Instagram encroaches on Snapchat’s turf of social media influencers, winning their hearts, minds and posts. CNBC
  • Old Navy succeeds by saying bye to celebrities. AdAge
  • Twitter is developing a subscription plan that promotes your tweets automatically. Fortune
  • P&G slashes digital ads by $140M over brand safety. AdAge
  • What marketers should note from Facebook’s second quarter earnings. The Wall Street Journal
  • Target is ending Cartwheel Perks rewards program, promises something better. CNBC
  • Lyft and Taco Bell collaborate on a new service offering. The New York Times

Startup and Emerging Tech

  • Online CPG start-up to test the power of brands. The Wall Street Journal
  • How bots bested the $1B sneaker resale industry. Forbes
  • China’s store of the future has no checkout, no cash, and no staff. Business of Fashion
  • You will soon be able to search eBay by using a mobile snap or social media link. CNBC
  • Farfetch founder talks about how he built a $1.5B fashion platform. Wired
  • Intel eliminates its wearables division. CNBC
  • AI and the retail store of the future. Venture Beat

International

  • Starbucks rallies as Chinese sales growth fuels optimism. Bloomberg
  • India will have more than 850M internet users by 2025. Economic Times
  • Saint Laurent to launch online sales in China. The Wall Street Journal
  • In China, designer goods delivered to your doorstep. The New York Times
  • Chinese tourists spending less on shopping. Bloomberg
  • JD.com’s growth outpaces China’s ecommerce marketing. The Wall Street Journal
  • Amazon prepares to enter Southeast Asia via Singapore launch. TechCrunch
  • Silicon Valley giants confront new walls in China. The New York Times
  • Flikart said to make new offer for Snapdeal. Business of Fashion
  • Where North Korea’s elite go for banned luxury goods. CNN
  • WalMart to invest in expansion in India. Economic Times
  • Amazon expands U.K. headquarters as Brexit leads bankers to exit. Bloomberg
  • Why Abercrombie finally decided to start selling on Alibaba. AdAge

Weekly Industry Brief: 7.10.2017

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Hi! Here is a recap of headlines from the last two weeks. Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text. Happy Prime Day Eve!

Brands and Retailers

  • Amazon Prime day is July 11 and more than a day. Retail Dive
  • Amazon pushes Alexa for Prime deals but some shoppers resist. Bloomberg
  • Amazon Prime Day deal will launch in 13 countries. CNBC
  • Target’s next-day essentials delivery service opens to customers in pilot test. TechCrunch
  • Nike unveils stunning new headquarters in New York City. Architectural Digest
  • Yoox Net-a-Porter open tech hub in London. The Guardian
  • QVC to acquire rival HSN for more than $2B. The Wall Street Journal
  • Amazon and Dish Network: a match in the making? The Wall Street Journal
  • Walmart is building giant in-store kiosks for online order pickup. Business Insider
  • Walgreens, Rite Aid ends $9.4B merger. The Wall Street Journal
  • H&M to open fewer stores, focus on building online sales. Bloomberg
  • Equity firm to pay $6.9B for Staples. Bloomberg
  • Microsoft to cut up to 4,000 sales and marketing jobs. New York Times
  • Package delivery jobs rise as more consumers shop online. The Wall Street Journal
  • Talks between Abercrombie & Fitch and potential buyers stall. The Wall Street Journal
  • Target prepares to roll out four new home and clothing brands. CNBC
  • Lululemon’s youth brand launches capsule collection of furniture. Fast Company
  • Try, then buy? Amazon’s move is part of a shopping trend. New York Times
  • Shopping malls pay to stay relevant in an Amazon era. AdAge
  • Ten major retailers that could go bankrupt in 2017. Retail Dive

Marketing and Social Media

  • West Elm’s new AI tool scans Pinterest to recommend furnishings. Fast Company
  • L’Oreal, Google team to build 6-second YouTube ads. Business Insider
  • Oreo is sending experimental flavors to individual fans. AdWeek
  • Digital privacy to come under Supreme Court’s scrutiny. The New York Times
  • Facebook has new ad products for retailers. Glossy
  • EU slams Google with 2.4B fine. Seeking Alpha
  • For brands, Twitter is a marathon not a sprint. AdWeek
  • How Instagram learns from your likes to keep you hooked. Fast Company
  • Tiffany’s hunts for path to regain “cool.” Wall Street Journal
  • Meet the Plurals: your next marketing challenge. AdAge

Startup and Emerging Tech

  • Amazon-backed media startup has raised $15M to make a big bet on ecommerce. Recode
  • How Maisonette is changing the way children’s’ clothes are bought online. Glossy
  • Alibaba launches low-cost voice assistant amid AI drive. Business of Fashion
  • This is how Google wants to humanize artificial intelligence. Fortune
  • Amazon is launching a series of Alexa training workshops worldwide. Techcrunch
  • Emoji search is spreading. Digiday
  • ThredUp is opening its first brick-and-mortar store. Racked
  • Visa takes a strategic stake in Klarna, the finance startup out of Sweden. Techcrunch

International

  • Apple continues Asia expansion with its first retail store in Taiwan. Techcrunch
  • H&M to add stores and go online in India by 2018. Economic Times
  • UK retail has biggest June sales rise for 6 years. Business of Fashion
  • Muji will be opening hotels in China and Japan. PSFK
  • TopShop closes underperforming stores in bid to save Australian operation. The Age
  • Starbucks gives new Kyoto shop a distinctly Japanese feel. Advertising Age
  • Walmart Canada to grown online with 3rd Financial Post
  • Alibaba to invest $1B more in Lazada. Bloomberg
  • The accelerating disruption of China’s economy. Fortune

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 5.30.2017

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Hi there! Here is a Tuesday edition of your weekly industry news recap.  I was traveling for work last week and enjoying my day off yesterday (aka sitting in traffic), so here is a bunch of news I’ve been reading over the past two weeks.  Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

And I feel obliged to call attention to the fact that there are just SO. MANY. headlines about the “retail apocalypse.”  Think we all get it and are ready for more interesting industry news, right? Here’s hoping.

Brands and Retailers

  • Apple thinks its stores can succeed at retail while others are dying. Quartz
  • Uniqlo bets on speed to take on Zara for global sales. Business of Fashion
  • Crew’s Mickey Drexler admits to big miss on how technology would transform retail. Wall Street Journal
  • TaskRabbit’s CEO joins Nordstrom’s board. Fortune
  • How Urban Outfitters plans to weather the current US retail draught. Fashionista
  • Forever 21 is bringing its new beauty boutique to malls. CNBC
  • Burberry cleans up its wardrobe to make way for a new chief. Bloomberg
  • Apple’s big event in June could have some hardware surprises. Fortune
  • $8M worth of stock destroyed in ASOS warehouse fires. Fashionista
  • Farfetch’s North America President on the future of retail. Glossy
  • From Pantene to Polo: the new chief executive at Ralph Lauren. New York Times
  • Walmart online sales jump 63% on the heels of Amazon. New York Times
  • Scott Galloway is bearish on US retailing, sees global opportunities. Forbes
  • Nokia and Apple move from courtroom foes to business partners. Wall Street Journal
  • Pottery Barn’s big problem: your tiny apartment. Washington Post
  • Alice + Olivia goes heavy on experimentation in quest for digital optimization. Glossy
  • Amazon’s physical stores may be causing hype byt the digital payoff could be the real story. AdWeek
  • Payless to close as many as 408 stores. Wall Street Journal
  • Staples rebuffs Cerberus offer, Sycamore still in the running. Bloomberg
  • Abercrombie & Fitch posts first quarter loss of $62M. Business of Fashion
  • Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger owner PVH beats first-quarter forecasts. Business of Fashion
  • This is how Best Buy gets customers into its stores. MarketWatch
  • The place where old-fashioned malls are beating Amazon: Small-town America. Washington Post
  • Why Nordstrom is opening a New York men’s store before opening a women’s one. Fashionista
  • In new era of retail, shuttering all stores isn’t the answer. Retail Dive
  • Coach thinks outside the bag. Fortune
  • Amazon stock breaks $1,000 for the first time.  CNBC

Marketing and Social Media

  • Google adds YouTube to suite of ad tools tracking retail sales. Bloomberg
  • Twitter giving brands a new way to promote their chatbots. TechCrunch
  • Instagram tests direct response ads in Stories. AdAge
  • Instagram rolls out location Stories feature, just like Snapchat’s location Stories feature. Recode
  • 50% of Gen Z can’t live without YouTube. AdWeek
  • Polaroid eyewear launches global Instagram push. The Drum
  • Twitter partners with BBC for live video. Techcrunch
  • How Google plans to kill ‘last click attribution.’ AdAge
  • Social network, Nextdoor, says it will make tens of millions in revenue this year. Fortune

Startup and Emerging Tech

  • The bootmakers who rule the obsessive world of streetwear. Wired
  • Everything Google announced at its Google IO event.  Techcrunch
  • Web retail startups turn to growth from bricks-and-mortar. Wall Street Journal
  • Target is said to invest $75M in bedding startup Casper. Bloomberg
  • Away packs capital for retail store expansion. Wall Street Journal
  • Google has launched a new AI-focused venture capital program. Seeking Alpha
  • Alibaba to lead $1B funding for Chinese food startup. Bloomberg

International

  • China’s millennial consumers: what Victoria’s Secret got wrong and Nike got right. Forbes
  • Google and the internet in rural India.  New York Times
  • UPS forges China joint venture to tap country’s ecommerce boom. Bloomberg
  • TopShop Australia enters into administration. NZ Herald
  • China’s bicycle renaissance is no boon to biggest producers. Bloomberg
  • Google cozies up to China with AI expertise and a game of go. Bloomberg
  • Chinese online retailer JD.com is developing heavy-duty delivery drones. Wall Street Journal
  • Tencent’s online ad revenues soar as WeChat claims nearly 1 billion user. Jing Daily
  • How Coach’s $2.4B Kate Spade deal could boost its market in China. Jing Daily
  • China drives Burberry’s sales for fiscal year 2017 ended in March. Jing Daily
  • Most Dubai shoppers turn to online retailers for frequent purchases. The National
  • Ikea aims to have 30% of products made in India. LiveMint
  • Grana, the Everlane of China, gears up for a US launch. Glossy
  • Ikea makes 1,300 new jobs in the UK. Retail Gazette
  • China’s strength and its shopping lift Alibaba’s results. New York Times