Weekly Industry News: 8.21.2017

August 21, 2017Leave a comment

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

In China, Facebook tests the waters with a stealth app. The New York Times
China’s JD.com says it is combining brick-and-mortar better than Amazon. CNBC
The world’s biggest tech companies are no longer just American. The New York Times
Pepe Jeans to open 20 new stores in India. Economic Times
PayPal expands Apple integration; will become payment option in 11 new markets. TechCrunch
McDonald’s plans to nearly double restaurants in China. US News
Why you should look to China for the future of retail. The Wall Street Journal
Paris fashion destination, Collette, to close in December. The New York Times
Ikea set to expand in China. China Daily
JD.com to launch luxury online retail website. The Wall Street Journal
Retail giants are flocking to Iceland. Bloomberg

Weekly Industry Brief: 6.6.2017

June 6, 2017Leave a comment

Hi! Here are the highlights of industry news from the last week. Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline. Enjoy!

Brands and Retailers

Michael Kors to shut 100-125 stores. Wall Street Journal
Mickey Drexler to leave J.Crew. Business of Fashion
Lululemon to close 40 Ivivva Girls stores. Business of Fashion
How Soho became an experiential retail playground. Glossy
12 key takeaways from Mary Meeker’s 2017 Internet Trends Report. AdAge
Alexa Chung launches her own fashion line. Wall Street Journal
Radio Shack closing 1,000 stores. USA Today
Amazon fights Wal-Mart for low-income shoppers. Wall Street Journal
Wal-Mart tries using store workers to deliver online orders. Wall Street Journal
Canada Goose defies brick-and-mortar gloom. Business of Fashion
Inside Hasbro’s digital transformation into a modern toymaker and advertiser. AdWeek
Some of Amazon’s own brands are becoming super popular online. Recode
Yoox Net-a-Porter group bans fur. Vogue
Iconic Parisian department store Le Bon Marche and LVMH go digital with 24 Sevres. Forbes
Amazon’s New York City bookstore is about your favorite things not book discovery. Forbes
What’s driving the billion-dollar natural beauty movement? Fast Company
Tommy Hilfiger is taking his see-now, buy-now spectacle to London. Fashionista
Lululemon gains the most in six months as sales begin to recover. Bloomberg

Marketing and Social Media

This Gen Z-focused publisher only uses social platforms (10 of them) and doesn’t even have a website. AdWeek
Pinterest raises $150M at a $12.3B valuation as it makes a full press into visual search. Techcrunch
Publishers are starting to see money from Facebook’s mid-roll ads. Digiday
Snapchat acquires location-based data company to ramp up mobile measurement. AdWeek
Meeker trends report points to mobile add opportunity. SeekingAlpha
7 Internet trends from Mary Meeker’s 2017 report that marketers should know about. AdWeek
Twitter adds new features as it experiments with sponsored live video. AdWeek
Instagram ads can now link to brands’ messenger accounts, bots. Marketing Land

Startup and Emerging Tech

Siri, speakers and software: highlights from Apple’s show. New York Times
HomePod speaker and new iMacs: what we saw at Apple’s WWDC. New York Times
Apple business chat will bring customer service to the iMessage platform. Techcrunch
The way forward with Facebook messenger bots. Venture Beat
The RealReal ropes in $50M in new funding. TechCrunch
Sakes Fifth Avenue is turning to iMessage to bolster sales. Glossy
Toyota is aiming to debut a flying car by 2020. Fortune

International

Luxury fashion brands start to sell on China’s WeChat messaging app. Wall Street Journal
Aditya Birla fashion plans to trim Forever 21 to turn the label profitable. Economic Times
Amazon to take on Australian market. Bloomberg
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE have severed ties with Qatar. Fortune
Alibaba: what you should know about new retail. Seeking Alpha
Mary Meeker’s focus on China: the key highlights. Recode

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 5.30.2017

May 30, 2017May 30, 2017Leave a comment

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

Weekly Industry Brief: 5.15.2017

May 15, 2017Leave a comment

Here is a recap of retail and ecommerce industry news from the last week that I put together for you. Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline. Cheers and have a fab week.

Brands and Retailers

LVMH’s and the next big digital shopping experience. New York Times
Toys R Us gets serious about ecommerce. USA Today
Target gets into next-day delivery with new service. SmartBrief
22 companies defying the retail meltdown by opening hundreds of new stores. Business Insider
Macy’s may shut down even more stores. Business Insider
As department stores close, Stitchfix expands online. New York Times
Here’s how Under Armour is helping Kohl’s become an ‘active and wellness’ retailer. CNBC
LL Bean to try smaller format store. Boston Globe
Europe’s fashion brands expand in the US, even as American stores close doors. Wall Street Journal
J.C. Penney CEO is pessimistic that its core business will grow any time soon. Bloomberg
Target’s new online strategy: less is more. Wall Street Journal
Is Michael Kors moving on to Jimmy Choo? WWD
Dean & Deluca reels in former Ralph Lauren President. WWD
eCommerce is paying off for middle-market retailers. WWD
Jet.com brings grocery concept to New York. CNBC
Reformation’s fight against toxic denim. Apparel News
Amazon places a bigger bet on furniture. Fortune
Target quietly raised its free shipping minimum from $25 to $35. Fortune
Gillette is taking aim back at the Shave Club model. PSFK
Anna Sui is teaming up with Macy’s for a capsule collection. Fashionista

Marketing and Social Media

With MikMak’s latest move, brands can expedite path to purchase on Instagram and Snapchat. Forbes
Gap found real people, not models, for its Summer ads celebrating American diversity. Ad Week
Diageo and Amazon partner to ‘close the circle; between content and sales. Marketing Week
Google Search will now help you find nearby events. TechCrunch
Talking to the mad genius behind TopShop’s WTF jeans. Elle
Why there’s no yoga in Lululemon’s global campaign. AdAge
Snapchat rolls out a trio of new ad products using its lenses and geo-filters. TechCrunch
Comcast is getting close to offering internet TV service. Fortune
American shoppers are really, really looking for brand honesty right now. Fashionista

Startup and Emerging Tech

This start-up is the Airbnb of warehouses and has its sights on Amazon. Bloomberg
Outdoor Voices and Glossier are cleaning up by making fashion inclusive. TechCrunch
Draper James breaks into the wholesale market with Nordstrom partnership. Glossy
Why Apple Pay is poised to beat PayPal in the luxury fashion space. Glossy
Amazon to control 70% of the voice-controlled speaker market this year. TechCrunch
Apple invests $200M in gorilla glass-maker Corning. Bloomberg

International

Flipkart makes $1B informal offer for Snapdeal. LiveMint
Amazon, Flipkart not alone. Even offline retailers in India are offering huge discounts. Economic Times
A new retail era is unfolding in the Middle East. WWD
Xiaomi puts the focus on India with plans to open 100 retail stores. TechCrunch
Cuba to open first luxury mall. Houston Chronical

Weekly Industry Brief: 5.8.2017

May 8, 2017Leave a comment

Hi! Here is a recap of retail and ecommerce industry news from the last week that I put together just for you. Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands and Retailers

Coach to buy Kate Spade for $2.4B. Business of Fashion
Amazon lowers free shipping minimum back to $25. The Verge
UPS is hampered by ecommerce conundrum as U.S. profit drops. Bloomberg
The president of Amazon’s fashion division is leaving the ecommerce giant. Recode
Etsy tanks after announcing a new CEO, flat earnings, and job cuts. Business Insider
The RealReal is opening a real store in New York. TechCrunch
Target begins testing next-day delivery with ‘Target Restock’ service. TechCrunch
Rag & Bone’s CEO on challenging the status quo. Fast Company
H&M group sales climb 7% in April. WWD
Apple is the first company worth over $800B. Fortune
The newness imperative: innovate or fade. Business of Fashion
Revlon reports first quarter loss. Business of Fashion
‘Not dying, just changing,’ what the future holds for the American mall. Retail Dive
Amazon Prime reportedly doubled US membership in last two years. Retail Dive

Marketing and Social Media

Snapchat leaves it to rivals to connect the developing world. Wall Street Journal
Why are Goop and Airbnb teaming up with Conde Nast and Hearst? Business of Fashion
Aldi’s stunt to attract online shoppers in China. AdAge
The Top 10 venture-backed fashion startups. Business of Fashion
YouTube trots out Kevin Hart, James Corden to win back big brands. AdAge
Hulu introduces shoppable ads and 360-degree spots. AdAge
Nike’s race for world record – and runners. Business of Fashion
Staples’ rebranding campaign focuses on delivery services. Bloomberg

Startup and Emerging Tech

The online marketplace that’s a portal to the future of capitalism. New York Times
Whirlpool acquires Yummly, the recipe search engine last valued at $100M. TechCrunch
Third parties have always been the key to Amazon’s smart home domination plans. TechCrunch
Food delivery startup Maple to shut down operations. VentureBeat
Amazon plans to unveil new Echo. Wall Street Journal
Staples to launch AI-powered office assistant. Wall Street Journal
Apple Pay transactions rise by 450%. Forbes

International

Zara opens largest store in Mumbai, to launch online portal by year-end. Live Mint
com posts surprise profit as Chinese spending strengthens. Business of Fashion
Express to close its 17 Canadian stores. Globe and Mail
Cutting through Chinese tech giants’ profit distortion. Wall Street Journal
Amazon launches fresh grocery service in German cities. Reuters
China tops the United States as Swarovski’s largest market. Jing Daily
Toys “R” Us top open 40 stores in China. China Daily

Weekly Industry Brief: 5.1.2017

May 1, 2017Leave a comment

Here is a recap of retail and ecommerce industry news from the last week. Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline. P.S. If you ever have any feedback, comments, (constructive) criticism…please reach out! Have a great week.

Brands and Retailers

LVMH to take control of Christian Dior in $13.1B deal. New York Times
Vince says it has ‘substantial doubt’ that it’ll stay in business. Fashionista
Wal-Mart’s tech incubator hires Rent-the-Runway co-founder. Bloomberg
Sources say Coach is the likely buyer of Jimmy Choo. Telegraph
Kit and Ace is closing all of its US, UK and Australia stores. Racked
Gucci sales jump a record 50% in part due to China, digital. Fashionista and Bloomberg
Amid brick-and-mortar travails, a tipping point for Amazon in Apparel. New York Times
Zappos launches line for special needs consumers. Mediapost
A look inside Reformation’s sustainable Los Angeles factory. Fashionista
Goop to open first beauty pop-up. WWD
Crew shakes up management, cuts jobs in bid for profitability. Bloomberg
Adidas tells us how it plans to catch Nike. GQ
How BooHoo is beating the rocky American retail market. Digiday
Next week, Adidas releases a new running shoe made from ocean plastic. Forbes
As retailers race to close stores, a web startup is opening them. Wall Street Journal
Gap to source 100% sustainable cotton by 2021. Triple Pundit
Apple’s stock races ahead as investors bet on new iPhone. New York Times
L’oreal rounds up bidders for The Body Shop. Business of Fashion

Marketing and Social Media

Lead by Louis Vuitton, fashion brands storm digital. Adage
Bloomberg and Twitter announce live broadcasting partnership. Bloomberg
A new Goop magazine is coming to Conde Nast. Fashionista
Snapchat’s Discover partners are seeing more views on TV, desktop and mobile. Mashable
How Under Armour lost its swagger. Business of Fashion
What marketers can learn about chatbots from pros that have seen early success. Adweek
How brands are finally cashing in on social with shoppable Instagram stories and snapchat ads. AdWeek

Startup and Emerging Tech

The robots are coming for your wardrobe. Fast Company
Dominos delivers its pizza tracker to your IoT devices. Forbes
This startup’s expansion could pave the way for more innovative retail. Adage
How Echo Look could feed Amazon’s big data fueled fashion ambitions. Techcrunch
Amazon’s new Echo aims to answer age-old question: does this look good on me? Wall Street Journal
Apple is in talks to launch its own Venmo. Recode
Instagram’s growth speeds up as it hits 700 million users. Techcrunch
Amazon rival, Boxed, sees narrow inventory as edge. Bloomberg

International

Online retail growth reflects changing consumption in China. China Daily
Amazon’s Italian subsidiary under investigation for tax evasion. WWD
When the name game gets serious in China. Business of Fashion
Zalando considers brick-and-mortar stores. Business of Fashion
China’s $1.5B social commerce startup, Pinduoduo, could transform online retail. Business of Fashion
More Chinese tourists seen traveling to the Middle East. BBC
Gogoboi teams up with western ecommerce retailers to sell luxury on WeChat. Jing Daily

Weekly Industry Brief: 1.31.2017

January 31, 2017Leave a comment

Here is your industry brief of news I’ve collected from around the web over the last week. Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline. Busy week – lots of highlights as many retailers wrapped up another fiscal year. Cheers!

Brand/Retailer

ASOS introduces Big and Tall lines for men. Link
Drop shipping looks set to go mainstream as more retailers get on board. Link
Retailers haven’t perfected buy online, pick up in store yet. Link
Coach plans on expanding its footwear business. Link
Ikea’s open source sofa invites customization. Link
Why Nordstrom is experimenting with in-store pop-ups. Link
Why the online marketplace revolution keeps gaining momentum. Link
Coach and Rodarte team up for collaboration. Link
How Skin Inc. became one of the most innovative beauty brands. Link
How retailers should think about online versus in-store pricing. Link
DKNY taps Farfetch to revitalize ecommerce strategy. Link
Footwear company Birkenstock jumps into bed business. Link
com shutters operations. Link
Amazon to build air hub for Prime Air cargo planes. Link
iPhone and Apple Watch set sales records. Link
Abercrombie & Fitch continues to rebuild with revival of Gilly Hicks. Link
WalMart takes on Amazon Prime with new, cheaper, two-day shipping option. Link
Target sets sights on higher jewelry sales with SugarFix by BaubleBar. Link
How Warby Parker collaborations drive the brand’s social impact. Link
Plus size retailers are shifting focus to in-store experience. Link
Opening Ceremony swaps the runway for the ballet stage. Link
Banana Republic’s president is out as the Gap brand struggles to find footing. Link
The demise of the department store experience. Link
Under Armour debuts ‘made in the U.S.’ gear. Link
H&M rolls back on new store openings. Link

Marketing/Social

Facebook, Snapchat deals produce meager results for news outlets. Link
How millennials are changing retail patterns. Link
Facebook launches a marketing mix modeling portal for comparing Facebook ads to TV, print & more. Link
Snapchat is in talks for big ad deals ahead of IPO. Link
Lady Gaga is the face of Tiffany & Co’s latest campaign. Link
The 14-year-olds spending thousands on streetwear. Link
Inside Instagram’s reinvention. Link
Step inside the YouTube-fueled, teenaged extravaganza that is Beautycon. Link
Superstar influencers: China’s Internet celebrities at heart of Alibaba’s growth. Link
Facebook is changing its trending topics section again, removing personalization. Link
Facebook is copying yet another popular Snapchat feature: Stories. Link

Startup/Emerging Tech

Starbucks can now take your order via voice or message through its iOS app and Amazon Alexa. Link
How your customer service strategy will change beginning in 2017. Link
Gap envisions a future with augmented-reality ‘dressing rooms.’ Link

International

Facebook is trying everything to re-enter China – and it’s not working. Link
How high-end denim brand Evisu finds a fit with web shoppers outside Asia. Link
Xiaomi sold 250,000 smartphones in 10 minutes in India. Link
This man is covertly bringing streetwear to China. Link
UK consumer confidence remains high. Link
Lagging behind Zara and H&M in India, Gap finally looks to cut prices by 10-15%. Link
Uniqlo to go solo in India, first store likely by 2018. Link
Amazon has an India problem. Link
Alibaba’s million-job boast reflects slower China outlook. Link
Chinese New Year shoppers expand their horizons. Link
Is this the Chinese luxury mall of the future? Link

Weekly Industry Brief: 1.23.2017

January 23, 2017January 23, 2017Leave a comment

Hi! Happy Monday. Here is your recap of news I’ve collected over the last week. Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brand/Retailer

To win back customers, Fendi thinks small. Link
Mall owners are finding relief from an unlikely source: online retailers. Link
Microsoft making late entry in ebooks to take on Amazon. Link
BCBG to close stores, restructure as online shift takes toll. Link
Five trends that will change the way your customers will shop in 2017. Link
Why Amazon has launched a new credit card for Prime users. Link
Kate Spade attracts interest from Coach, Michael Kors. Link
Victoria’s Secret looks to uncover supply chain issues. Link
Amazon to add three more fulfillment centers. Link
Sprint buys 33% of Jay Z’s music streaming service Tidal. Link
Cassette tape sales rise 74% in 2016. Link
Yahoo sale to Verizon pushed back. Link
Louis Vuitton unveiled collaboration with Supreme at Men’s Fall Show. Link
Apple sues Qualcomm. Link
Retail malaise puts pressure on chains to shut more stores. Link
Nike and Ford caught in crossfire of Trump’s free trade overhaul. Link

Marketing/Social

How fashion brands are using Whatsapp. Link
The rise of chatbots and their implication on social media. Link
Alibaba to sponsor Olympics and provide official ecommerce platform. Link
WeChat’s hot new feature will take time for marketers to figure out. Link
Snapchat advertisers can now target users based on offline sales data. Link
A+E to build Lifetime as digital women’s brand under ex-Refinery29 editor. Link

Startup/Emerging Tech

L’oreal to invest in these five beauty tech startups. Link
More photos emerge of Under Armor’s smartwatch with HTC. Link
Rocket Internet closes $1B fund, the largest out of Europe to date. Link
Rebecca Minkoff announces fashion tech venture capital fund. Link
Packaging deals bring Internet of Things to crackers, hairspray and tomato paste. Link
Sears turns to AI to help sell tires. Link
Robot cards to descend on 10 sites U.S. names as proving grounds. Link

International

Amazon reportedly ends talks to acquire stake in Middle East ecommerce marketplace Souq.com. Link
Newegg plans to launch online marketplace in China. Link
Chinese are celebrating Lunar New Year by escaping China. Link

Weekly Industry Brief: 9.13.2016

September 13, 2016September 13, 2016Leave a comment

As always, sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brand/Retailer

Aeropostale wins approval of $243M sale to mall group. Link
Ralph Lauren adopts “see now, buy now.” Link
Macy’s store closures haven’t sent retailers running. Link
Moda Operandi opens a shopping salon to an invite-only client list. Link
Crew enlisted its staffers, family and friends to model its Spring collection. Link
Ecommerce is a boon for rural America but it comes with a price. Link
Jessica Alba’s Honest Company has been in talks to sell to a big consumer product giant. Link
Macy’s signs deal to open an Apple store at its Herald Square flagship. Link
Amazon Prime now delivers to this football stadium. Link
Ousted American Apparel founder secures $10M loan for new venture. Link
Gwyneth Paltrow and Goop get into the fashion business. Link
What the founder of Tom’s Shoes is doing now. Link
In the studio with the creative director of Coach. Link
7 questions with HP’s CEO after $1B acquisition. Link
Kate Spade upgrade as Wells Fargo predicts comeback for brand. Link

Marketing/Social

American Eagle launches new marketing campaign. Link
Facebook steps in to prove the value of chatbots with Tommy Hilfiger. Link
How Under Armour mastered crisis communications after the 2014 Olympics. Link
Struggling Banana Republic appoints Olivia Palermo style ambassador. Link

Startup/Emerging Tech

Facebook adds payments to Messenger chatbots. Link
Alphabet and Chipotle bring burrito delivery by drone to campus. Link
WalMart wants shoppers to be able to hail a cart. Link
Eye-tracking technology for cars promises to keep drivers alert. Link
Apple’s new app store for iMessage could help brands break free on mobile. Link
Google’s new app lets you take, share VR photos with your phone. Link
Amazon brings push notifications to Echo. Link

International

Japanese app takes off in the US. Link
Online sales in France grew 13% in the first half. Link
Starbucks to open 500 new stores in China in 2016 in chase for $9.5B tea market. Link
Ikea to integrate its stores in India with online trade. Link
How to attract China’s connected traveling shoppers before, during and after their trips. Link

Weekly Industry Brief: 8.1.2016

August 1, 2016Leave a comment

Wowsa. It’s already August. Here is your weekly brief of industry news I’ve collected from around the web. Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Weekly Industry Brief 8.1.2016

Brand/Retailer:

L’oreal to acquire IT cosmetics in $1.2B deal. Link
Amazon delivers huge profits in second quarter blowout. Link
Macy’s, Nordstrom fight for identity in an off-price retail world. Link
Walgreens to shutdown ecommerce site Drugstore.com. Link
Dollar General buys Walmart Express stores, to sell fresh produce. Link
How Adidas wiped out a chunk of its own management to drive growth. Link
How Lululemon equipped Canadian Olympians for Rio. Link
Peek inside Apple’s first Brooklyn store. Link
What the changing tenant list in Times Square says about retail. Link
Luxottica cuts 2016 outlook as U.S. weakness hits profits. Link
Giant shopping mall company Westfield is turning to 10 startups to breathe new life into retail. Link
Under Armour founder Kevin Plank’s $5.5B plan for Baltimore. Link
Google follows Facebook with an amazing quarter of results. Link
Starbucks’ Schultz to step back, focus on high-end strategy. Link
Jennifer Lopez and Guiseppe Zanotti launching footwear and handbags together. Link
How Lovely Bride founder built a wedding chain for cool girls. Link

Marketing/Social:

Inside the Revolve house, the buzziest brand activation of the summer. Link
What to expect from Abercrombie’s new and improved look. Link
Amy Schumer is joining Old Navy’s roster of funny girls. Link
Vice Media makes another fashion acquisition. Link
Reddit, the anti-corporate corner of the internet will soon allow brands to sponsor regular posts. Link
Madewell’s 24-day denim campaign includes a Goop jumpsuit. Link
Ralph Lauren comes back to TV after 8 years for Olympic spot. Link
Instagram, the $50B grand slam driving Facebook’s future. Link

Start Up:

Good Eggs raises $15M to expand across the US. Link
This New York based start-up accelerator is supporting the next generation of retail disrupters. Link

International:

Flipkart buys Jabong for $70M. Link
China’s Didi Chuxing buys Uber China. Link
India will finally get affordable, homegrown versions of Zara and H&M. Link
Longchamp plans to open six stores in India. Link
Burberry buys up remaining stake of retail operation in China. Link
Amazon takes on Alibaba with Japan portal for Chinese shoppers. Link
China’s shopping craze fills wallets. Link
Hong Kong’s swank generation of fashion bloggers turning hobbies into careers. Link
Alibaba and insurer AXA join to calm global customers worried about fakes. Link

Mobile/Emerging Tech:

Beauty shopping augmented with new mobile apps. Link
Alibaba launches Buy+, using VR to make shopping more interactive. Link
Facebook has really big plans for virtual reality. Link
Apple drops a new iOS 10 beta with a hundred new emojis. Link

Fashion. Retail. Tech. News.

Headlines from around the web covering fashion, retail, ecommerce and technology.

Tag: apple

Weekly Industry News: 8.21.2017

Weekly Industry Brief: 6.6.2017

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 5.30.2017

Weekly Industry Brief: 5.15.2017

Weekly Industry Brief: 5.8.2017

Weekly Industry Brief: 5.1.2017

Weekly Industry Brief: 1.31.2017

Weekly Industry Brief: 1.23.2017

Weekly Industry Brief: 9.13.2016

Weekly Industry Brief: 8.1.2016