Tag: amazon

Weekly Industry Brief: 7.27.2015

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Hello! Industry news from the last week.  Sources in the hyperlinked text after the headline. Have a great week!

Brand/Retailer:

  • Amazon Prime credit card will give you 5% cash back. Link
  • AirBnB launches new product to attract business travelers. Link
  • Apple profit up 38% but iPhone sales disappoint Wall Street. Link
  • Amazon spikes 14% after it reports surprise Q2 profit and better-than-expected revenue. Link
  • Etsy attracting more short sellers. Link
  • Moda Operandi’s co-founder is shutting down Tinker Tailor. Link
  • Rocket Internet says portfolio value is up 47% from IPO. Link
  • Everlane appoints former Gap creative director Rebekka Bay as head of product and design. Link
  • Comcast in talks with multiple new media firms. Link
  • Inside the fight for survival at Gap, J.Crew and Abercrombie. Link
  • Neiman Marcus partners with The RealReal to expand in-store consignment. Link
  • Macy’s to expand same-day delivery to new markets. Link
  • Stores like Bass Pro Shops and Restoration Hardware adding bars and restaurants to encourage lingering. Link
  • Dolce & Gabbana launches capsule collection on Net-a-porter. Link
  • Limited Too is back for millennial moms and their tweens. Link
  • Nordstrom launches personal shopping service for women under Trunk Club brand. Link
  • Amazon showrooming forces stores to go digital on price displays. Link
  • Converse wants chucks to feel like Nikes. Link
  • Inside Mercantile, J.Crew’s bet on cheaper clothes. Link
  • Tory Burch to launch Tory Sport. Link

Marketing/Social:

  • The Gap forms partnerships with companies from Birch Box to Virgin Hotels to boost business. Link
  • YouTube offers a solution to the vertical video problem. Link
  • Meerkat will now let you live-stream video from GoPro. Link
  • Print Renaissance: independent fashion magazines in an increasingly digital world. Link
  • Forever 21 turns your Instagram photos into real-time, real life portraits. Link
  • Victoria’s Secret ranks first in social popularity. Link
  • Nordstrom goes big with rooftop Instagram installation to promote sale. Link
  • YouTube chief pushes ahead with subscriptions despite questions. Link
  • Twitter introduces event-based ad targeting. Link

Startups:

  • eBay acquires San Francisco-based consignment, Twice. Link
  • Jet.com uses clever tactic to save money. Link

International:

  • Starbucks to launch mobile ordering in UK. Link
  • Taylor Swift to sell clothing on JD.com for Chinese shoppers. Link
  • How Burberry is building its Japan business. Link
  • F21 Red is coming to Canada. Link
  • eBay-backed Asian ecommerce company Giosis lands $82M in funding. Link
  • Facebook and other tech giants expand internet access in Africa. Link
  • From jewelry to hotels, Hong Kong business feel China’s pain. Link

Mobile/Emerging Tech:

  • New York Times will offer free articles on the Starbucks app starting next year. Link
  • Number of mobile retail websites using responsive design more than doubles since 2014. Link
  • Starbucks joins with Lyft on loyalty program in app. Link
  • Apple Watch to be sold at Best Buy. Link
  • Apple Music, iTunes and App Store suffer outages. Link

Weekly Industry Brief: 7.13.2015

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Check out the week’s industry news in fashion, retail, and technology. Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brand/Retailer:

  • Amazon Prime Day will usher a new era of manufactured shopping days. Link
  • J.Crew debuts value-focused ‘Mercantile’ brand to spark growth. Link
  • Inside Target’s tech funhouse and search for its next billion-dollar business. Link
  • American Apparel to close stores and lay off workers. Link
  • Yahoo will enter daily fantasy sports market. Link
  • Time Inc. launching next big vertical, ‘The Drive,’ about cars for the under-35 crowd. Link
  • Levi’s responds to challengers with revamped women’s jeans. Link
  • Uniqlo had a strong Spring in the U.S. Link
  • Skechers sues Steve Madden over athleisure knockoffs. Link
  • Coty agrees to purchase P&G beauty brands for $12.5B. Link
  • Toys R Us to shift ecommerce from eBay to in-house. Link
  • American Express launches express online payment tool. Link
  • Back-to-school shopping starts early as U.S. parents seek deals. Link
  • LVMH to cut 70 jobs as it suspends Donna Karan label. Link
  • Saks and Lord & Taylor personalize websites, emails to lure high-spending shoppers. Link
  • With Flyease Nike reinvents the zipper. Link

Marketing/Social:

  • eBay and Amazon are the most visible Google Search advertisers. Link
  • Brands try to redefine emojis in Twitter’s latest hashtag game. Link
  • Twitter is now letting apps advertise with video. Link
  • Facebook changes how it charges brands for clicks on their ads. Link
  • Facebook said to seek music video licensing deals. Link
  • Facebook wants your attention so it’s charging separately for ad clicks that send you away. Link

Startups:

  • Jet.com officially launches on Monday, offering lowest prices on the Internet. Link
  • Disney’s startup accelerator enters its sophomore year with a new batch of companies. Link
  • Italy’s Quattrocento joins the race to become the Warby Parker of Europe. Link

International:

  • DHL Express to widen delivery options for internet shoppers in Australia. Link
  • Moscow malls open half-empty as retailers struggle. Link
  • Alibaba boosts Singapore Post stake, invests in ecommerce unit. Link
  • Alibaba invests $100M in luxury-focused Mei.com. Link
  • Rakuten buys virtual fitting room startup Fits.me in fashion commerce play. Link
  • Apple building a new store in Hong Kong. Link
  • Barnes & Noble closes international Nook store. Link
  • Twitter eyes Latin American market from new Miami office. Link

Mobile/Emerging Tech:

  • Six futuristic retail displays that will change your idea of ‘ecommerce.’ Link
  • Jawbone sues Fitbit for third time in two months. Link
  • Google starts testing driverless cars in Austin. Link
  • Tablet sales have plateaued but there’s a future in business. Link
  • Virgin Hotels turns mobile into shoppable Gap closet for guests. Link
  • Android Wear reportedly getting watch-to-watch sharing features. Link
  • Comcast launches its own cable-free TV with Stream. Link

Weekly Industry Brief: 7.6.2015

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Happy Monday! Light week of news (unless you are Amazon…) coming out of a long weekend in the U.S. All sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brand/Retailer:

  • New Balance to challenge Nike with its biggest ad campaign ever. Link
  • Amazon partners with Michelle Phan on Amazon Fire TV app. Link
  • Sony uses new crowdfunding site to pitch advanced remote control. Link
  • Louis Vuitton opens private museum near Paris. Link
  • GoPro introduces smaller, simple action camera. Link
  • Amazon to mark 20th Anniversary with “Prime Day,” its answer to Black Friday. Link
  • Experiential commerce is the next billion-dollar opportunity for developers. Link
  • Bloomingdale’s to open first Hawaii store. Link
  • Amazon takes Prime Now outside U.S., opens one-hour delivery in London. Link
  • Pressure on margins is potentially weighing on H&M. Link
  • Tory Burch sets Paris flagship. Link
  • Apple Music offers a peak into the future of Apple Inc, and its stark contrast to Google and Microsoft. Link
  • Donna Karen steps down from Donna Karen International. Link
  • Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, and Coach are making the same mistake. Link
  • Macy’s to phase out Trump’s menswear. Link 

Marketing/Social:

  • Google highlights low prices, mimicking Amazon. Link
  • Facebook changes up its video ad pricing after complaints from marketers. Link
  • Farfetch customers ‘unfollow’ the global fashion crowd. Link
  • How Facebook and Campbell Soup are trying to read your mind. Link
  • Fake accounts still plague Instagram despite purge. Link
  • Twitter now has ads on your mobile profile. Link
  • Twitter’s Project Lightening could be called ‘Moments.’ Link
  • Instagram photos are now bigger – if you know where to look. Link

Start-ups:

  • Sole Society raises $8M from Nordstrom and Insight Venture Partners. Link
  • RewardStyle raises $15M at $290M valuation. Link
  • On-demand cleaning startup Hassle mergers with Rocket Internet’s Helpling. Link
  • Splacer is Airbnb for event spaces. Link

International:

  • Harrod’s teams up with Borderfree for international ecommerce. Link
  • These four foreign brands are successful in China. Link
  • Amazon launches in Mexico. Link
  • John Lewis to charge for Click-and-Collect. Link
  • Xiaomi makes a huge splash in Brazil. Link

Mobile/Emerging Tech:

  • Pinterest launches buyable pins on iOS, taps Braintree and Stripe for processing. Link
  • In wake of Apple Music, SoundCloud update focuses on music discovery, better user experience. Link
  • MasterCard testing online purchases via facial recognition. Link
  • How virtual reality could change shopper marketing. Link
  • Messaging and the Apple Watch. Link
  • PayPal to buy online money-transfer company Xoom. Link
  • Can Shazam become music to retailers’ ears? Link 

Weekly Industry Brief: 6.8.2015

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Happy Monday! Below is a recap of industry news over the last week.  Sources can be found in the hyper-linked text after the headline.

Brand/Retailer:

  • eBay Valet launches a clothing resale service focused on high-end brands. Link
  • Google launches My Account, a hub for your privacy settings. Link
  • Macy’s testing new at-home tailoring service from Men’s Warehouse founder. Link
  • College kids turn thumbs down on Michael Kors, Uggs, and Timberland. Link
  • Birchbox kicks off TV campaign, opens in Gap stores. Link
  • Hot Topic loses out to Gamestop on Geeknet acquisition. Link
  • How ASOS Magazine gets cover stars like Taylor Swift and Jennifer Lawrence. Link
  • Sweaters account for slumping sales at Vince and J.Crew. Link
  • Fabletics debuts men’s line. Link
  • Macy’s, Dormify debut back-to-school bedding collection. Link
  • Gap partners with Spring app to revive image with millennials. Link
  • Amazon is building an elite tema to enter a new market: computer games. Link
  • Google is about to make the internet way better. Link
  • Honda pumps the brakes on trying to become a media company. Link

Marketing/Social:

  • Coke’s new Twitter ads call out viewers by name. Link
  • Seven brands making genius moves in content and commerce. Link
  • Buzzfeed planning IPO. Link
  • Pinterest officially unveils buyable pins. Link
  • Coming soon: More ads on Instagram and a ‘buy’ feature on Pinterest. Link
  • Twitter taps IBM to launch a new consulting program for advertisers. Link
  • How much of a boost to celebrities give fashion campaigns? Link
  • eBay to roll out cost-per-sale ads for web merchants. Link
  • Ikea outlines major environmental investments. Link
  • CNN unveils new studio to produce content for advertisers. Link

Start-ups:

  • Latest London VC fund to focus on fashion, luxury tech. Link
  • Softbank invests $1B in Coupang, a Korean ecommerce start-up. Link
  • Pharmacy startup gets $50M in quest to build a better drugstore. Link
  • Mik Mak for iOS is a video shopping app for the Vine generation. Link

International:

  • H&M to open first store in India this fall. Link
  • New meaning for made in China. Link
  • Alibaba invests $194M into China Business News to build a financial data platform. Link
  • Yandex launches Yandex.Radio, a curated free music service for Russian users. Link
  • Saks to expand Off 5th in Canada. Link

Mobile/Emerging Tech:

  • Apple is bringing Apple Watch to stores, more countries. Link
  • Bustle looks for growth in app launch. Link
  • Facebook aims to propel video success to mobile. Link
  • Mobile ads boost physical store visits by 90 percent in first day of viewing. Link
  • Facebook launches lightweight app for emerging markets. Link
  • Microsoft purchases Wunderlist to add to its collection of productivity apps. Link
  • Apple revamps the app store’s games section with increased focus on editorial content. Link
  • Wells Fargo plans to scan your face and voice for mobile security. Link
  • European shopping app Mallzee makes US debut. Link
  • Mobile video ad spending is growing, lags desktop video. Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 6.1.2015

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Happy Monday and Happy June! Below is a recap of industry highlights over the last week.  Sources can be found in the hyper-linked text after the headline.

Brand/Retailer:

  • Amazon expands same-day delivery to new markets, drops price to free for orders over $35. Link
  • Leaked site reveals more info on “Shipping Pass,” Walmart’s answer to Amazon Prime. Link
  • Kors and Tiffany hit by strong dollar. Link
  • Yelp and Shoptiques link for ecommerce. Link
  • Crew is alienating its most important customers. Link
  • Gap teams up with Spring on digital pop-up shop. Link
  • Apple is working with Postmates to offer same-day delivery. Link
  • At Amazon, a rush to make speedy delivery free. Link
  • Levi’s and Google partner on “smart fabric.” Link
  • Abercrombie posts wider loss as currency hampers turnaround. Link
  • Hot Topic bid to purchase Geeknet. Link
  • Amazon is planning to add its own line of food. Link

Marketing/Social:

  • Snapchat invests in Spring to capitalize on social commerce growth. Link
  • Vox Media acquires ReCode. Link
  • New hotel concept promises socially-focused customizable spaces for global nomads. Link
  • Google says ‘buy’ button coming to online advertising service. Link
  • Bethany Mota redefines being a celebrity. Link
  • Millenials follow Uber with new fashion trading model. Link
  • Twitter opens up more user data to marketers. Link
  • Target links up with Shazam for ad scans that link to shopping. Link
  • Facebook’s instant articles speed up mobile content. Link
  • Why Instagram works better for fashion brands. Link

Start-ups:

  • Amazon puts the call out to NYC startups. Link
  • For London’s fashion start-ups, it’s being social that counts. Link
  • Snapchat CEO: we have a plan for an IPO. Link
  • George Simmer starts an Uber for Tailors. Link

International:

  • How Target’s demise in Canada could be a gain for Lowe’s. Link
  • Michael Kors to open state of the art distribution center in Europe. Link
  • Alibaba expands logistics network to power next-day grocery deliveries in more Chinese cities. Link
  • JD.com sets its sights on connected devices. Link
  • Yahoo Japan shares climb on ecommerce alliance with Alibaba. Link
  • Walmart app adds shopping options in China. Link

Mobile/Emerging Tech:

  • New Nordstrom app lets customers text with sales reps. Link
  • Barney’s launches iphone app. Link
  • What marketers should know about Google’s mobile upgrades. Link
  • Android Pay now lets you buy things with your fingerprint. Link
  • Google Play store now lets developers A/B test their app listing pages, customize their catalog. Link
  • Swatch reaffirms plans to build smartwatch with payments features. Link
  • Target wants to offer Apple Pay but focus is on chip and pin. Link
  • Piper Jaffray names virtual reality the next mega tech theme. Link
  • Google’s other mobile payments service: hands-free at McDonald’s. Link
  • Apple buys German augmented reality company Metaio. Link
  • Facebook’s Oculus snaps up advanced virtual reality startup. Link

Misc.:

  • Mary Meeker’s internet report: user growth slowing but disruption full speed ahead. Link
  • Retailers turn to innovation labs for evolution. Link
  • Apple’s Jony Ive named chief designer, gives up day-to-day role. Link
  • Jawbone sues Fitbit citing theft of trade secrets. Link

Weekly Industry Brief: 5.26.2015

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Hope everyone in the US enjoyed a long weekend! Below is a recap of industry highlights over the last week.  Sources can be found in the hyper-linked text after the headline.

Brand/Retailer:

  • FAO Schwarz’s Manhattan store to close in July as rents rise. Link
  • Target to focus on fresh, healthy foods. Link
  • Etsy plunges 13% after reporting its first-quarter financial performance. Link
  • WordPress sets its sights on ecommerce. Link
  • Net-a-porter is still in the red but losing a lot less money. Link
  • eBay preps Amazon Prime competitor. Link
  • Kate Spade partners with startup Everpurse to sell iPhone-charging bags. Link
  • Amazon Prime Now adds local stores in Manhattan. Link
  • Gap’s brand revival may take a few more seasons. Link
  • Fast fashion has completely disrupted apparel retail. Link
  • Retailers digitize the fitting room experience. Link
  • Kohl’s to open off-price outlet. Link
  • Target goes upscale. Link
  • American Eagle launching new clothing brand to lure back teens. Link
  • Anthropologie’s dresses miss tests loyalty. Link
  • H&M to open biggest store yet in Herald Square. Link
  • Marissa Webb’s first designs for Banana Republic aren’t hitting the mark with shoppers. Link
  • Gap meets estimates as Old Navy helps prop up retailer. Link
  • Ann Inc. tops 1Q profit forecasts. Link

Marketing/Social:

  • Google adds tweets to mobile search results. Link
  • Pinterest unveils its first video-like ad and new ad pricing models. Link
  • Spotify launches video streaming. Link
  • Mondelez bets big on ecommerce with shoppable ads and ‘buy now’ buttons. Link
  • Bitly launches audience intel to give marketers more data on how content is shared. Link
  • Google’s mobile buy button is an Instant Articles for retailers. Link
  • Google wants YouTube viewers to shop while they watch. Link
  • Pinterest bolsters ads with cinematic pins. Link
  • Instagram’s cool questioned as it starts emailing users with ‘highlights.’ Link

Start-ups:

  • Flipkart is valued at $15B after latest funding. Link
  • Booze on-demand service Drizly lands $13M to expand. Link
  • Izberg marketplace turns any website into an ecommerce marketplace. Link
  • Mode Media (formerly Glam Media) raises $30M for lifestyle media publishing platform. Link
  • 6Tribes is a social networking app that wants to make tribes of ‘foodies’ and ‘coffee geeks.’ Link

International:

  • Singapore’s postal service reinvents itself for the digital age. Link
  • Expedia sells majority stake in Chinese partner eLong for $671M. Link
  • eBay plots European growth with click-and-collect expansion. Link
  • China cuts import tax on clothes and other goods. Link
  • Alibaba’s latest gambit in fighting fakes: foster local brands. Link

Mobile/Emerging Tech:

  • Messaging app Line is testing a music streaming service. Link
  • PayPal’s instant checkout now works with bigcommerce, no longer requires app. Link
  • Target will roll out RFID price tags to improve inventory management. Link
  • Fetch offers AI-powered Apple Watch app. Link
  • Apple’s new streaming service might cause delay in Apple TV launch. Link
  • Montblanc to Apple: Our Swiss smartwatch will outlast yours. Link

Misc.:

  • Conde Nast launches fellowship program in the wake of internships. Link
  • Disney’s research lab figures out how to put words in your mouth. Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 5.11.2015

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Happy Monday! Below is a recap of industry news over the last week. Sources can be found in the hyper-linked text after the headline.

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Net-a-porter creates social network for mobile luxury shopping. Link
  • Zulily shares tumble 17% after lowering sales outlook for the year. Link
  • Kohl’s adds store pick up service for online orders. Link
  • Target, Wal-Mart race to construct fulfillment centers for ecommerce business. Link
  • Joe Fresh to be pulled from JC Penny stores in 2016. Link
  • H&M to open its largest store ever in NYC. Link
  • Luxe meets ‘athleisure’ in techie cashmere. Link
  • WalMart focuses on creating pickup points for goods ordered online. Link
  • Bonobos founder steps down as CEO. Link
  • Converse and Comme Des Garcons release latest sneaker collaboration. Link
  • Amazon delivery drones could find you wherever you are. Link
  • Urban Outfitters set for good times as company moves forward with right strategies. Link
  • Forever 21 coming back to downtown Brooklyn. Link
  • Why athletic brands may be the greenest fashion sector. Link
  • Apple expands renewable energy goal. Link
  • Pitney-Bowes to acquire Borderfree. Link
  • In the race to digitize, Nordstrom and Macy’s are neck-and-neck. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • This simple Instagram hack landed Z Gallerie a lot more print catalog subscribers. Link
  • Twitter gives control of its marketing department to CFO. Link
  • Google rolls out new ads as mobile searches top PCs in 10 countries. Link
  • IBM partners with Facebook to launch personalized ads for brands. Link
  • Facebook opens Internet.org to all developers in response to net neutrality concerns. Link
  • Google integrates food ordering into search results for restaurants. Link
  • Google pushes advertisers to smaller screens. Link
  • Google steps up local search competition. Link
  • Only half of online video ads are viewable, Google says. Link
  • Bloomingdale’s explores influencer closets to inspire envy. Link
  • Pinterest opens door to app developers, expects new recipe, wedding, travel tools. Link

Start-ups:

  • Former Apple Retail boss unwraps new web startup ‘Enjoy.’ Link
  • Mattress startup Casper plans to open pop-up stores in San Francisco, Austin and DC. Link
  • FitBit files for $100M IPO. Link
  • Lending startup Affirm raises $275M. Link
  • Amazon’s prices are often undercut by upstart Jet.com. Link
  • Fashion startups bypass department stores to reach consumers. Link
  • Former Kiva.org CEO brings new ‘Branchless Bank’ app to Kenya. Link
  • Baby registry site Cricket’s Circle selects $2.25M seed round. Link
  • How Uber’s valuation went from $60M in 2011 to a rumored $50B this month. Link

International:

  • [APAC]
    • Alibaba boosts its stake in online retailer Zulily. Link
    • China’s middle class: the savior for Coach’s flagging sales. Link
    • JD.com grows to 105M active shoppers. Link
    • Yahoo Hong Kong strengthens ecommerce push. Link
  • [EU]
    • Tom’s debuts London outpost, second European store. Link
    • Ralph Lauren launching luxe concept in Milan. Link
  • [CA]
    • First three Saks off Fifth stores opening in Ontario next spring. Link
    • WalMart to buy 13 Target stores in Canada. Link
  • [A/ME]
    • Ace to add two home improvement stores in Dubai. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • On-demand beauty apps expand their offerings as competition heats up. Link
  • What retail apps are trying to achieve on the Apple Watch. Link
  • 15 wild new ideas in virtual reality. Link
  • Merchants leverage beacons to pay for parking and drive store traffic. Link
  • Secret to shut down. Link
  • App Annie acquires Mobidia to expand to 60 countries by year’s end. Link
  • Walgreens uses mobile apps to solve in-store headaches. Link

Other:

  • Whole Foods plans stores geared toward millennials. Link
  • How we’ll shop in 2020. Link
  • How 3D printing is saving the Italian artisan. Link
  • Comcast to pay customers $20 if technicians are late as part of customer service revamp. Link

Weekly Industry Brief: 5.4.2015

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Happy Monday! I was running a race in Big Sur last week, so apologies for the silence. Below is a recap of industry news over the last couple of weeks.  Sources can be found in the hyper-linked text after the headline.

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Nordstrom tests curbside pickups for online orders. Link
  • Amazon tests package delivery to cars. Link
  • PayPal tops eBay’s marketplace in sales for the first time. Link
  • Adidas to use marine plastic waste in products from 2016. Link
  • LVMH launches new visually dynamic site design. Link
  • Kenzo revamps website. Link
  • Goodbye 50% off: deep discounts are ending. Link
  • Uber is quietly testing a massive merchant delivery program. Link
    • Uber reportedly planning merchant-delivery service with Tiffany, Louis Vuitton and other brands. Link
  • 8 ways buying luxury will change. Link
  • Amazon web services is a $5B business and it’s growing 50% a year. Link
  • Warby Parker valued at $1.2B. Link
  • Amazon expands business-sales marketplace after three years. Link
  • Amazon shares soar to all-time high on cloud surprise. Link
  • Google’s revenue hurt by rising dollar. Link
  • Lowe’s lets consumers run wild with 3D printing. Link
  • Retail’s new reality: invisible shopping centers and virtual assistants. Link
  • Yoox and Net-a-porter merger may move more luxury online. Link
  • Porter launches men’s athletic wear. Link
  • Concept shop Story to tell Dress Barn’s tale. Link
  • Why Nike and Under Armour are spending wildly to watch your every step. Link
  • Nordstrom invests in turning flagships into destinations. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Facebook’s newsfeed tweak could add another ding to mobile site traffic. Link
  • Facebook Messenger accounts for 10% of global mobile VoIP. Link
  • Eva Chen exits Lucky. Link
  • Buzzfeed doesn’t care where you watch its videos. Link
  • Pinterest opens up to brands with new ways to plan posts and buy ads. Link
  • Facebook is courting small businesses again. Link
  • Refinery 29 raises $50M. Link
  • Facebook adds video calling to Messenger mobile app. Link
  • The rise of emoji on Instagram is causing language repercussions. Link
  • The new boys’ club: Retailer Instagram accounts targeting men. Link
  • Hulu wants brands to make commercials with Hulu to run on Hulu. Link
  • The latest fashion, trending on Google. Link
  • Linkedin follows Twitter, shocks social media investors. Link
  • Meerkat for iOS now lets you publish livestreams to Facebook and links to your phone contacts. Link

Start-ups:

  • First look at Uber’s co-founder’s shopping concierge “Operator”. Link
  • Beacon marketer Swirl raises $18M in funding. Link
  • Online fashion mall Lyst raises a fashionable $40M. Link
  • Loop commerce raises $16M to make gifts more personal. Link
  • Chipotle signs deal with food delivery start-up Postmates. Link
  • Rocket Internet cuts stakes in lending sites. Link

International:

  • [APAC]
    • WalMart to expand China store network by nearly a third after growth stalls. Link
    • China’s middle class propels Apple’s iPhone sales. Link
    • Japanese clothing store sports robot greeter. Link
    • Rakuten takes stake in Chinese online discount provider Fanli. Link
  • [EU]
    • Amazon hikes free delivery minimum spend to £20. Link
  • [CA]
    • Target returns, auctions off leases on most Canadian properties. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Apple Pay to hit Best Buy stores in 2015. Link
  • Anonymous sharing app Secret shuts down. Link
  • An example of how shopping could work on the Apple Watch. Link
  • The Apple Watch can now tell you all about your local Apple Store. Link
  • Apple is testing analytics for the app store. Link
  • Android phones can now launch some apps on voice command. Link
  • Luxottica working on new version of Google Glass. Link
  • McDonald’s beacon strategy pushes in-store conversion rate to 20%. Link
  • Adidas-Spotify mobile app partnership helps music listen to runners. Link
  • Pinterest now wants developers to build apps based on all its data. Link

Other:

  • Amazon launches travel service in three major cities. Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 4.13.2015

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Happy Monday! Below is a recap of industry news from the last week. Sources are in the hyperlinked text after each headline.

Retailer + Brand News:

  • Modcloth test drives offline retail, starting with an LA pop-up. Link
  • Millennials say Amazon provides the best customer service. Link
  • American Apparel hires new menswear designer. Link
  • Apple stores (and workers) get makeover ahead of Apple Watch launch. Link
  • Oyster launches e-bookstore with a la carte service. Link
  • Farfetch’s global platform play. Link
  • Chanel finally admits that its future includes ecommerce. Link
  • Fast Retailing lifts profit forecast 20% on strong Uniqlo sales. Link
  • Amazon gets green light from US regulators for new drone test. Link
  • Woolworths hires Pharrell to ‘make sustainability cool.’ Link
  • Amazon seeks to shut down paid reviewed sites. Link
  • Walmart and Target being crowded out online by Amazon Prime. Link
  • Even Etsy’s IPO process is artisanal. Link
  • eBay, PayPal offer new details about split. Link
  • Missguided unveils plans to sell through Nordstrom. Link
  • Lululemon’s kids store may be a sign we have reached ‘peak yoga pants.’ Link
  • Walgreens closing 200 stores. Link
  • Nordstrom tests in-store partnership with online shoe seller. Link
  • Victoria’s Secret is getting into fast fashion. Link
  • Coach enters exclusive fragrance agreement with Interparfums. Link
  • Crate and Barrel takes comprehensive approach to ecommerce. Link
  • Craigslist faces demise as vertical marketplaces rise. Link
  • Instacart is quietly working with third parties to outsource some of its deliveries. Link
  • Uniqlo, H&M, Zara, Forever 21 take over malls as retail’s old guard fades. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Study says consumers join more loyalty programs but activity is down. Link
  • Did Lord & Taylor’s Instagram influence campaign not follow FTC guidelines? Link
  • U.S. teens’ social media activity is diversifying. Link
  • Youtube confirms plans for ad-free, subscription based service. Link
  • Facebook launches dedicated web interface for Messenger. Link
  • Twitter is testing the ability to pin apps to brand profiles. Link
  • Twitter replaces ‘Discover’ tool with detailed trending topics. Link
  • LinkedIn raises its game in social media with Elevate, an app to suggest and share stories. Link
  • Facebook is testing a new trending section with five news categories. Link
  • Twitter’s evolving plans to make money from its data stream. Link
  • See the first brands to use Instagram’s carousel ads. Link
  • Growth of ad blocking adds to publishers’ worries. Link

Start-ups:

  • Lobster wants to be Google of user generated content. Link
  • Online consignment firm The RealReal secures $40M in funding. Link
  • Amazon acquired Shoefitr to improve how it sells footwear online. Link
  • Bedrock Venture is betting big on tech-enabled early stage startups. Link
  • The ‘Netflix of books’ hopes to open up the e-book market. Link

International:

  • [APAC]
    • JD.com sees growth in warehouse services after Uniqlo agreement. Link
    • Uber launches auto rickshaw service in India, allows cash payments for first time. Link
    • HotelQuickly beats HotelTonight to Asian market. Link
    • US overtakes China as world’s best place for ecommerce. Link
    • Indian ecommerce sites altering returns policies. Link
    • China’s export numbers miss expectations. Link
  • [CA]
    • Michael Kors launches Canadian ecommerce website. Link
    • Saks’ ecommerce, outlets, and Canada roll-out set to lift Hudson’s Bay. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Apple’s iOS 8.3 rolls out with a new world of emoji and bug fixes. Link
  • Google Wallet adds new integrations with Shopify, Seamless, Dunkin Donuts and more. Link
  • Macy’s app boosts omni-channel prowess with nearby pickup push. Link
  • Apple Watch and Selfridges: a timely partnership. Link
  • American Express lab is testing facial recognition technology. Link
  • Flipkart’s move to dump mobile site could hit Google. Link
  • Apple Watch pre-orders hit almost 1 Million on first day. Link

Other:

  • Isabel Murant talks high-waisted jeans and why she doesn’t have a muse. Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 4.6.2015

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Retailer + Brand News:

  • Yoox to buy Net-a-porter for $775 Million. Link
  • Chanel to launch ecommerce. Link
  • Amazon launches ‘Dash’ home ordering kit. Link
  • Google announces budget-priced Chromebits and Chromebooks. Link
  • American Apparel to lay off 180 employees. Link
  • GoDaddy pops 31% as it opens for trading, raising $460M in its IPO. Link
  • Everything to know about Primark, the EU fast fashion brand about to crush its US competition. Link
  • Amazon’s one-hour delivery lands in Atlanta. Link
  • Membership-based delivery services are beginning to disrupt the $600 Billion-a-year grocery industry. Link
  • Groupon quietly launches Groupon Stores, a marketplace for its $2B goods business. Link
  • JayZ relaunches Tidal with music’s biggest artists as his co-owners. Link
  • Birkenstocks SVP says Birks aren’t normcore. Link
  • Sophia Amuroso opens up about what’s next for Nasty Gal. Link
  • Nordstrom Rack’s digital secrets to in-store success. Link
  • Online consignment store sees strong fast-fashion demand. Link
  • Men are now the biggest online shoppers. Link
  • Saks President steps down, Hudson’s Bay names new president. Link

Social Media + Marketing:

  • Tinder launches its first in-app ad: a video spot for Bud Light. Link
  • Calvin Klein to sponsor exhibit in Central Park. Link
  • Pinterest’s new browser extension makes pinning way more efficient. Link
  • Mobile ads will smash $100B mark worldwide in 2016. Link
  • Pinterest shaking up social, search and shopping as it celebrates fifth birthday. Link
  • Twitter publicly launches Curator, its real-time search and filtering tool for media outlets. Link
  • New system tracks which ads coaxed your feet to walk into that store. Link
  • New York Times launches Men’s Style. Link
  • Tom Brady makes Periscope debut while shooting an ad for Ugg Australia. Link
  • Pinterest says more guys are joining the site than ever. Here’s what they are doing. Link

Start-ups:

  • Square rolls out open tickets to you can keep your tab open at bars. Link
  • Watch out Uber and Lyft, Ford’s working on its own ridesharing service. Link
  • Kickstarter’s ‘Campus’ offers project creators community guidance. Link
  • Instabrand raises $2.5M in venture funding. Link
  • LimeRoad, a fashion scrapbooking site based in India scoops up $30M Series C. Link
  • Reformation raises $12M. Link

International:

  • [APAC]
    • Snapdeal turns to local languages for better sales. Link
    • Japan app store prices to increase within 24 hours due to exchange rates. Link
    • Hilton expands digital check-in and rooms selection technology to more hotels. Link
    • China targets the dollar. Link
    • Korea’s online retailers see global sales growth. Link
  • [CA]
    • WalMart scaling back on free shipping to shoppers in Canada. Link
  • [EU]
    • Westfield and Inition use Oculus Rift virtual reality to showcase future of retail. Link

Mobile, Tablet, + Wearables:

  • Target merges art, apps and sales for unique product integrations. Link
  • Venmo finally getting an important security feature. Link
  • Woolworth’s Apple Watch app brings shopping lists to your wrist. Link
  • Smartphone-dependents often have no backup plan for web access. Link
  • IBM gets serious about Internet of Things with $3B investment. Link
  • Apple Pay’s biggest hurdle to overcome is at checkout. Link
  • New York Times to bring one-sentence stories to Apple Watch. Link
  • Whatsapp for Android allows users to make calls. Link
  • Verizon Wireless customers can now opt out of ‘supercookies.’ Link
  • Alibaba, Xiaomi partner for wearable payments. Link

Other:

  • AirBnB adds Cuba to destination list for US travelers. Link
  • The micro-living trend checks into hotels. Link