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Weekly Industry Brief: 9.30.2019

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One last post for September! Here is a recap of industry news from the last week.  As always, sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands + Retailers

  • Forever 21 files for bankruptcy.  Fast Company
  • Barney’s receives interest from potential buyers.  The Wall Street Journal
  • WeWork still needs cash after pulling IPO.  The Wall Street Journal
  • Apple plans to bring feature-length films to theaters.  The Wall Street Journal
  • Lease of faith: Why churches are going into malls.  Retail Dive
  • Healthcare may eventually become a bigger business for Best Buy than selling electronics.  Forbes
  • McKinsey to open a store at Mall of America.  Fortune
  • Rent the Runway pauses taking new customers as inventory and supply chain issues mount.  CNBC
  • Tod’s appoints former Google exec to amp up digital efforts.  The Business of Fashion
  • Old Navy is set to split from Gap.  Fortune
  • Uber is testing letting users record audio if they feel unsafe on their ride.  Fast Company
  • Mattel’s Barbie bets big on gender-neutral dolls.  Fortune
  • Diesel and Coke team up on fashion collection made from recycled packaging.  AdAge
  • Amazon focuses on Alexa privacy as it unveils new gadgets.  AdAge
  • Sneakers are set to outsell fashion footwear in the US for the first time.  Quartz

Marketing + Social Media

  • Instagram launches reminders to support product drops.  Vogue
  • Snapchat extends video ad limit to three minutes.  AdAge
  • How to create an online community that people will pay for.  Harvard Business Review
  • The age of anxiety is making wellness a generational obsession.  Glossy
  • Why brands no longer need CMOs.  Vogue Business
  • Ipsy’s $500M in revenue is driven by influencers.  The Business of Fashion
  • The Food Network’s Peloton-style streaming service will bring Guy Fieri into your kitchen.  The Verge
  • Retailers look to spend more on Amazon advertising.  Modern Retail
  • How Chevy is winning with Gen-Z and millennials.  Forbes
  • Pinterest users are more likely to try new CPG products.  AdWeek
  • Instagram launches a ‘creators’ account to encourage more creation.  TechCrunch
  • Cracking the code on podcast advertising for customer acquisition. TechCrunch
  • Twitch tweaks its visual identity.  AdWeek
  • YouTube TV is now available on Fire TV devices.  TechCrunch

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

  • Facebook to buy startup for controlling computers with your mind.  AdAge
  • The new ways retailers are watching you shop.  The Business of Fashion
  • DoorDash suffers data breach affecting 4.9M people.  TechCrunch
  • Hyundai is getting into the flying car business. TechCrunch 
  • Sephora’s Accelerate startups stress sustainability.  Glossy
  • Unilever sees promise in blockchain ad-buying pilot.  Campaign US
  • Google brings wearable tech to Levi’s trucker jacket.  TechCrunch

International

  • The biggest trend in Chinese social media is fading and another is already taking its place.  CNBC
  • India’s holiday commerce sales to test severity of shopping slump.  The Wall Street Journal
  • Facebook tests hiding like counts, like Instagram, in Australia.  The Next Web
  • PayPal to enter China through GoPay acquisition.  TechCrunch

Weekly Industry Brief: 8.5.2019

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And just like that, it’s August! Here is a recap of industry news from the last week.  As always, sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brand + Retailer

  • Uber cut a third of its marketing staff.  The Wall Street Journal
  • Summary of recent earnings from Facebook to Netflix to Amazon. eMarketer
  • Barney’s nears bankruptcy filing with plans to close most stores.  The Wall Street Journal
  • Why Airbnb, Target and Walmart are betting on the experience economy.  Fast Company
  • Apple and Goldman Sachs are planning to launch their credit card in August.  AdAge
  • Shake Shack launches delivery. Fast Company
  • CVS targets millennials with Prime-like membership.  CNBC
  • Whole Foods wants to help decorate your next party. Fast Company
  • Inside Nuuly, Urban Outfitters’ attempt to take on the rental market.  Modern Retail
  • Amazon adds a styling service to Prime Wardrobe.  RetailDive
  • Levi’s is moving away from off-price retailers.  Fortune
  • Amazon quietly launches private-label CPG products for commercial clients.  AdAge
  • 3M invents an ingenious way to ship packages without cardboard boxes.  Fast Company
  • Amazon wants to rule the grocery aisle, not just at Whole Foods.  The New York Times
  • CapitalOne reports data breach affecting 100M customers and applicants.  The Wall Street Journal
  • Brandless’ new CEO is dumping it’s $3 price point, hitting the stores and going big on CBD.  Forbes
  • L’Oreal says sluggish US makeup market has hit sales.  CNBC
  • How multi-billion dollar brand Carters became a staple while competitors shutter.  Washington Post
  • Textile waste has increased 811% since 1960.  Supply Chain Dive
  • Kroger is upping its advertising game.  Fortune

Social Media + Marketing

  • Victoria’s Secret hires transgender model.  Fast Company
  • Beauty brands are setting their sights on TikTok.  Glossy
  • Pinterest rolls out new shopping features.  VentureBeat
  • A rebrand will soon remind people that WhatsApp and Instagram are from Facebook. AdWeek
  • Streetwear subscription company ThreadBeat now spending half of its media budget on Instagram.  Digiday
  • General Mills’ Boxtops for Education goes digital.  Biz Journals
  • Pinterest reports strong demand for advertising on its platform.  AdAge
  • Twitter adds 5 million users, tops sales estimates.  AdAge
  • Amazon tests audio ads for Alexa Music.  AdAge

Start-ups + Emerging Tech

  • London is exploring facial recognition in security cameras.  Financial Times
  • Doubling down on business travel, Airbnb acquires Urbandoor.  TechCrunch
  • New Media buys Gannett for $1.4B to form local news giant.  AdAge
  • This startup wants to democratize custom sneaker ownership.  TechCrunch
  • Amazon to kill the Dash button.  CNN
  • How Walmart, Kroger are investing in AI and robots.  Forbes
  • Ikea creates six homes of the future.  Fast Company

International

  • Google will allow EU users to choose their default search engine when setting up Android devices.  Fast Company
  • India proposes user safeguard rules fro ecommerce platforms.  Bloomberg
  • AI as the way to win Chinese millennials and GenZ.  Jing Daily
  • The shadowy internet industry of click farms are booming in China.  Yahoo

Weekly Industry Brief: 6.10.2019

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Happy Monday! Time for your weekly homework – a quick skim of industry news from the last week.  Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands + Retailers

  • Retailer Revolve rides influencer wave to IPO, snags a $1.5B market cap.  Forbes
  • States prepare to launch investigations into tech giants.  The Wall Street Journal
  • A glimpse into the many subscription start-ups focusing on renting everything from clothes to furniture. The New York Times
  • Walmart will launch direct to fridge delivered in three cities.  AdAge
  • Barnes and Noble is sold to hedge fund.  The New York Times
  • Amazon reveals its latest delivery drone design.  Fortune
  • Low-income shoppers boost Target, Costco, others, report finds.  CNBC
  • Everlane says new tariffs will drive up apparel prices.  The New York Times 
  • PayPal announces new payments solution for online retailers.  RetailDive
  • Amazon’s new rewards card targets those with bad credit.  TechCrunch

Marketing + Social Media

  • How Amazon’s in-house brand business measures up against rivals.  AdAge
  • Instagram users can now add song lyrics to their stories.  Billboard
  • Facebook plans cryptocurrency debut.  TechCrunch
  • Sign in with Apple coming to iPhone apps.  CNet
  • American Eagle’s council of Gen Z teens helping shaping the future of the company.  Fast Company
  • Your Instagram feed is about to have more ads from influencers.  The New York Times 
  • Fortnite emerges as social media platform for Gen Z.  AdAge
  • DTC brands add $1.4B to TV marketplace.  AdAge
  • Pinterest, Instagram and the future of furniture retail.  Forbes
  • Levi’s creates shoppable Pride Lens with Snapchat.  AdWeek
  • Snapchat launches in-app stores for Snap influencers.  Digiday
  • How Yeti’s $300 coolers evolved into the hottest outdoor lifestyle accessory.  Fortune

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

  • Salesforce is buying data visualization company Tableau for $15.7B in all-stock deal.  TechCrunch
  • Depop just raised $62M to triple its US users.  Business Insider 
  • Peloton files to go public.  The Verge
  • Can technology keep fake handbags out of the marketplace?  Fashionista
  • Amazon launches AI-powered ‘Shazam for clothes’ fashion search.  The Verge
  • Kering uses AI to keep up with growth.  AdAge

International

  • WeChat’s new social commerce feature.  Jing Daily
  • Amazon invetes $404M Indian operations. TechCrunch
  • Digital retailers want a piece of India’s cashless commerce.  Bloomberg 
  • Luxury brands book bigger sales in mainland China.  Bloomberg

Weekly Industry Brief: 5.13.2019

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Happy Monday! Here is a recap of industry news from the last week. As always, sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline. Have a great week!

Brands + Retailers

  • Uber shares sink below $40 on second day of trading.  Bloomberg
  • Rihanna teams up with LVMH on luxury fashion label.  AdAge
  • Victoria’s Secret is ‘re-thinking’ its annual fashion show.  CNBC
  • Inside the world of liquidated Amazon merchandise.  Forbes
  • Louis Vuitton’s CEO talks about how to sustain global growth.  The Wall Street Journal
  • Luxury beauty brands makeover airport shopping.  Skift
  • Amazon offers employees $10K and 3 months’ pay to start their own delivery business.  TechCrunch
  • Walmart is opening dozens of veterinary clinics in its stores and launching an online pet pharmacy.  CNBC
  • The demand for gender-less kids apparel is on the rise.  Glossy
  • Harry’s is selling to Schick razors for $1.37B.  Forbes
  • Bitcoin comes to Whole Foods and other retailers.  Fortune
  • A wellness kitchen for dogs: Petco’s answer to Amazon and Chewy.  Fortune
  • Adobe brings new Amazon and Google integrations to Magento.  TechCrunch
  • L’Oreal debuts a personalized direct-to-consumer hair color brand.  AdWeek
  • Procter & Gamble is looking to add more direct-to-consumer brands to its roster.  Digiday
  • Inside Adidas’ sustainability ambitions.  Glossy

Marketing + Social Media

  • The app store’s #1 app, YOLO Q&A, is the Snapchat platform’s first hit.  TechCrunch
  • Google is testing shopping links under YouTube videos.  Engadget
  • This new tool helps brands make advertising more inclusive.  Fast Company
  • Instagram launches @shop account to boost interest in stoppable posts.  MarketingLand
  • Why marketers should capitalize on Pinterest influencers.  The Drum
  • Spotify tests interactive voice ads.  Mediapost
  • Facebook’s cryptocurrency project could change the commerce landscape.  Social Media Today
  • NBC leans into shoppable TV.  AdAge
  • Now you can book appointments directly through Instagram and Facebook.  Mashable
  • What Google’s bet on visual search means for advertisers.  AdAge
  • Why rewards for loyalty spenders are a hot spot for hackers.  The New York Times 

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

  • Google launches CallJoy, a virtual customer service phone agent for small businesses.  TechCrunch
  • Apple is now deploying the first Apple Cards to employees.  Fast Company 
  • Nike is introducing a new technology all around getting the right fitting shoe.  Quartz
  • Meat replacement company Impossible Foods raises $300M.  TechCrunch

International

  • StitchFix launches in the UK.  Glossy
  • Digital-native brands for China’s Gen Z.  SCMP
  • The effect of Meghan Markle’s child on the British economy.  Forbes

Weekly Industry Brief: 4.1.2019

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Rabbit, rabbit! A new month, a new quarter for some of us and hopefully the start of actual Spring weather soon. Here is a recap of industry news from the last week.  As always, sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline. Have a great week!

Brands + Retailers

    • Office Depot has to pay the FTC $35M for fake malware scans.  Fast Company
    • Ecommerce and men’s spurred growth for Lululemon.  The Wall Street Journal
    • Amazon looks to payments to connect shopping channels.  Digiday
    • NBCU wades into ecommerce with new golf shop.  The Wall Street Journal
    • Whole Foods opens a bodega-like shop in Chelsea.  Eater
    • Walgreens to clear shelf space for CBD products in 1500 stores.  Fortune
    • JCPenney to close 27 stores.  Today
    • Amazon and Whole Foods slash prices.  CNN
    • Luxury brands turn to airports for store growth.  The Wall Street Journal
    • Ecommerce fuels Williams-Sonoma’s strong Q4. Seeking Alpha
    • Wayfair to open a brick-and-mortar store.  The Boston Globe
    • Tommy Hilfiger closes New York flagship.  WWD
    • WOW airlines ceases operations.  AdAge
    • Drew Barrymore and Walmart unveil home goods line.  WWD
    • H&M turnaround gains traction.  Retail Dive
    • Burger King to launch meat-less Impossible burger. Fortune
    • Restoration Hardware’s radical approach is paying off.  Forbes

Social Media + Marketing

    • TikTok: How we hang out at work together online now.  The New York Times
    • Generation Z: Who they are, in their own words.  The New York Times
    • Sephora picks 24 influencers for its coveted #SephoraSquad program.  Fast Company
    • Instagram tests fast forward feature for videos.  Engadget
      Instagram and the $1.7B influencer economy.  Vogue
    • Facebook launches searchable transparency library of all active ads.  TechCrunch
    • Ralph Lauren looks to establish more diverse image.  Glossy
    • Why beauty brands are investing in Pinterest.  Glossy
    • Unilever launches ‘trusted publisher’ list to vet digital players.  AdAge
    • U.S. Government charges Facebook with discrimination based on ad targeting practices.  AdWeek
    • How brands can build successful relationships with influencers.  Harvard Business Review

Start-ups + Acquisitions + Emerging Tech

    • 7 things to know about Lyft’s IPO.  Fast Company
    • New wellness startup Feals brings the DTC treatment to CBD.  Fashionista
    • 1stDibs nabs $76B Series D funding.  TechCrunch
    • You can soon order Domino’s Pizza via your car’s touchscreen. Engadget
    • LVMH turns to blockchain for authentication.  Glossy
    • Pandora to test interactive voice ads later this year.  TechCrunch
    • Why Apple had to cancel its airpower charging pad.  Fortune

International

    • Alibaba has acquired Teambiton, a China-based Trello and Asana rival in its enterprise push.  TechCrunch
    • Amazon to roll out 100 kiosks in malls across India.  The Economic Times

Weekly Industry Brief: 1.14.2019

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I’m back! I hope your 2019 is off to a great start. Here is a recap of news from the last couple of weeks.  As always, sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline. Cheers!

Brands and Retailers

  • Amazon claims a record-breaking holiday season by items sold.  CNBC
  • Winning in an era of unprecedented disruption: a perspective on US retail.  McKinsey
  • How Shopify built an $800M partner ecosystem. Digiday
  • Walmart to add 2,000 tech hires.  Fortune 
  • ASOS CEO on the next ecommerce frontier.  Business of Fashion
  • Refillable packaging is the trend quietly taking over luxury beauty.  Fashionista
  • Nail and waxing salons are among the few that will survive the retail apocolypse.  Axios
  • Will 2019 be the year that clothing subscriptions take over? Forbes
  • Seven social issues that CEO’s will prioritize in 2019.  Fast Company
  • Kroger and Microsoft build a futuristic grocery store.  Bloomberg
  • Amazon Go could generation $4.5B with plan for 3,000 stores.  Retail Dive
  • Target hints at larger wellness ambitions.  Glossy 
  • Target is on track to have its best full year of sales growth in 13 years.  The Wall Street Journal
  • Amazon offers product sampling program to brands.  Forbes 
  • Despite setbacks, Nike is soaring with direct-to-consumer offense. Business of Fashion
  • Ulta has cracked beauty’s secret in the Amazon era.  The Wall Street Journal
  • Amazon, Lego and Wayfair join the pop-up store boom.  Bloomberg
  • Walgreens to shed $1B in annual costs.  The Wall Street Journal
  • Gap plans to shutter one of it’s major New York retail stores.  Bloomberg
  • Gymboree shops for bankruptcy financing as it prepares filing. The Wall Street Journal 

Marketing and Social Media

  • Instagram’s ecommerce success is building with Stories.  MarketingLand
  • Facebook has a new Stories feature for event sharing.  The Verge
  • Amazon will win advertising dollars away from Facebook admid privacy concerns. ReCode
  • WeWork rebranding as The We Company.  Business Insider
  • YouTube makes it easier to navigate through videos in its app.  TechCrunch
  • Brands dish out $200M on fake influencers a year.  Retail Gazette
  • Skittles’ big play on Super Bowl Sunday will be…an actual play.  AdWeek
  • Facebook, cryptocurrency and the future of mobile commerce.  Forbes
  • Is 2019 the year of paid loyalty? Lululemon, CVS and Loblaw are game to find out.  Forbes
  • NBCUniversal announces streaming service that will be free to paid TV subscribers.  TechCrunch
  • An egg has dethroned Kylie Jenner for the most Instagram likes ever.  Fast Company 
  • Instagram’s digital ad share to double despite Facebook issues.  AdAge
  • Tiffany’s gets serious about diamond sourcing.  AdAge

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

  • Adidas can now make specialized shoes for runners in different cities thanks to robots.  Quartz
  • How retail changes when algorithms curate everything we buy.  Harvard Business Review
  • The future of beauty was on display at CES. CNN
  • American Eagle Outfitters launches interactive fitting rooms at flagships nationwide.  MarketWatch
  • These companies want to fix the trillion dollar returns problem.  CNBC
  • WeWork is investing in super foods.  Fast Company
  • Report says that Slack is planing an IPO in 2019.  Fast Company
  • Banking startup N26 raises $300M in $2.7B valuation.  TechCrunch

International

  • As Walmart takes on China’s booming delivery market, it’s going for a smaller store.  CNBC
  • Germany outlaws Amazon’s one-click Dash buttons.  Engadget
  • How Europe’s Zalando is fighting off Amazon and building the Spotify of fashion.  Business of Fashion 
  • Chinese tech giant Baidu will help Walmart deliver groceries in America.  Motley Fool

Weekly Industry Brief: 9.4.2018

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It’s that time: back to school, back to work, back to reality. And for my retail friends, this basically means the holidays are here, so….Happy Holidays!

Here is a recap of industry news from the last week.  Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.  Next week I’ll be back to Monday posting!

Brands and Retailers

  • Ulta shares hit 52-week high after announcing Kylie Cosmetics will be in stores by the holidays.  CNBC
  • Hard lessons breathe new life into retail stores.  The New York Times
  • Amazon strikes $1T market cap, four weeks after Apple did the same.  TechCrunch
  • Urban Outfitters gains as it launches a new vision for Anthropologie.  Forbes 
  • How haircare and skincare brands won Amazon Prime Day.  Glossy
  • Sales soar 27% at American Eagle’s Aerie.  The Wall Street Journal
  • Campbell Soup to sell international business and fresh unit.  The Wall Street Journal
  • Kroger expands Instacart home delivery to half its stores nationwide.  USA Today
  • The revamped Tiffany flagship will have more sales and VIP space.  Bloomberg
  • Inside J.Crew’s new CEO’s plans to revive struggling chain.  Fashionista
  • FAO Schwartz to return with store based on experience.  The Wall Street Journal
  • Walmart will have 30% more toys in stores this holiday.  CNBC
  • Target is already thinking of expanding Heyday, it’s first-ever consumer electronics brand.  Forbes

Marketing and Social Media

  • Can Instagram save offline shopping?  The Economist
  • Instagram is driving jewelry sales.  Retail Dive
  • Celine unveils a new logo.  Vogue
  • Tricky ads from a vitamin company that talks up openness.  The New York Times
  • Assessing the fallout – good and bad – from Nike’s Kaepernick ad.  AdAge
  • What happens when Facebook mistakenly blocks local news stories.  Wired
  • Inside Twitter’s long, slow struggle to police bad actors.  The Wall Street Journal
  • Sources say Instagram is building a standalone app for shopping.  The Verge
  • Kylie Jenner joins Adidas as latest brand ambassador.  Forbes
  • Can a festival help Zalando build a memorial brand? The Business of Fashion
  • New video ad gives brands a way to promote deals on Amazon.  AdAge 
  • Snapchat’s latest ecommerce play sells out again, this time with Adidas.  AdWeek

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

  • Apple buys Denver startup building waveguide lenses for AR glasses.  TechCrunch
  • Dyson moves ahead on $2.6B electric car plan.  Bloomberg
  • Kroger to open innovation center at  University of Cincinnati.  Market Watch
  • The rise of giant consumer startups that said no to investor money.  Recode
  • Narvar raises $30M in new funding.  The Wall Street Journal
  • New Balance turns to AI.  Fast Company
  • How apparel store are innovating.  AdWeek

International

  • Inside Alibaba’s new kind of superstar: robots, apps and overhead conveyor belts.  CNBC
  • Tommy Hilfiger’s pivot to Asia.  The Business of Fashion
  • The booming male KOL market on Little Red Book.  Jing Daily
  • Alipay: Alibaba’s $150B moat.  Seeking Alpha
  • Amazon launches a Hindi language version of its site and app.  Fast Company

Weekly Industry Brief: 07.16.2018

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Happy Monday!  Here is a quick list of industry news from the last week. Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands and Retailers

  • Amazon suffers glitches at the start of Prime Day, its biggest shopping day of the year.  CNBC
  • Amazon’s share of the US commerce market is now 49% or 5% of all retail spend.  TechCrunch
  • Nordstrom Local expands its innovative, inventory-free retail hubs.  Fast Company
  • Fabletics plans to open 75 new stores in global push.  CNBC
  • Home Depot getting into the home decor space.  Forbes
  • US mobile data use, cell sites set new records in 2017.  Wireless Week
  • Study finds that Amazon Prime Day suppresses foot traffic at other retailers.  Fortune
  • Nike’s digital reboot is working.  CNN Money
  • New Nike concept store goes live in LA.  Retail Dive
  • How Kylie Jenner built a $900M fortune in less than 3 years.  Forbes
  • Why brands like Madewell and Reformation are driving growth for Nordstrom.  Fashionista
  • How Huda Kattan built a multi-million dollar beauty brand from a blog.  Fast Company
  • This retailer is betting big on made-to-order brands and is opening 15 stores dedicated to it.  AdWeek
  • Strong retail sales in June boosted growth.  The Wall Street Journal
  • CPG giants seek out tie-ups and push M&A to 15-year high.  Forbes
  • Apple launches clean energy fund in China.  NBC
  • Netflix stock plummets after missed subscriber targets by 1M.  Fast Company

Marketing and Social Media

  • Target has a secret app for superfine and it looks like Instagram.  Fast Company
  • Google works with Shopify to spur commerce, retail ad spending.  Bloomberg
  • Aerie’s latest campaign features women in wheelchairs, with illnesses and more.  Fashionista
  • Pinterest’s rudimentary consultancy gives retailers advice on in-store marketing.  The Drum
  • On Instagram TV, brands go longer, weirder.  AdAge
  • Facebook testing AR ads in the news feed and new tool to help brands create video ads.  MarketingLand
  • Google expanding store visitation and local conversion reporting.  Search Engine Land
  • How H&M’s millennial brand Nyden is crowdsourcing design on Instagram.  Glossy

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

  • Alibaba, Amazon and Nike all point to the next innovation in retail: personalized physical spaces.  Forbes
  • AdQuick raises over $2M to make billboard advertising more programmatic.  TechCrunch
  • Lady Gaga is quietly working on a new beauty startup.  Recode
  • Retailers use AI for more personalized approach.  AdAge
  • Facebook taught bots how to navigate New York City using natural language.  Fast Company
  • Adobe is bringing real Photoshop to the iPad, possibly in 2019.  Fast Company

International

  • Burberry to cut prices in China.  Jing Daily
  • Louis Vuitton expands ecommerce to cover all of China.  Jing Daily
  • Instagram is changing the way fashion sells in India.  Quartz
  • WeWork’s biggest rival in China is on an acquisition spree.  TechCrunch

Weekly Industry Brief: 7.9.2018

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And just like that – we are more than halfway through 2018 – WOW!  Might be time for a quick pulse check on the year.

In the meantime, here is a recap of industry headlines from the last two weeks. Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands and Retailers

  • Sonos files for IPO with plans to raise $100M.  Fast Company
  • How Wharton launched Warby Parker and dozens of tore companies just like it.  Inc
  • Groupon stock surged this morning on news that it wants a buyer.  Fast Company
  • Luxury retail is making a comeback thanks to China, Millennials and men.  Forbes
  • Colgate takes minority stake in Hubble.  The Wall Street Journal
  • A bigger Amazon Prime Day 2018 arrives July 16 with more deals, devices and longer hours.  TechCrunch
  • Amazon makes big push with in-house brands ahead of Prime Day.  CNBC
  • Amazon Prime Day and a Half expected to set record at $3.4B.  WWD
  • Walmart hires CMO from outside the organization.  AdAge
  • Macy’s plans 60 new BlueMercury stores.  Business of Fashion
  • Amazon reveals a new plan to deliver more packages: recruit people to run small-scale delivery services.  CNBC
  • Xiaomi’s IPO raises $4.7B after pricing on low end.  Bloomberg
  • Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie launch new installment payment program online.  Business Insider
  • How specialty food retailers are fighting back against Amazon.  FoodDive
  • 27% of apparel sales are now online.  Retail Dive
  • The American beauty industry is thriving – thanks to these 6 visionary brands.  Fashionista
  • Starbucks will stop distributing plastic straws by 2020.  AdWeek
  • Kroger is launching its own fashion brand.  Fortune
  • How Michael Mente took Revolve from an ecommerce startup to a global powerhouse.  Fashionista
  • Net-a-porter launches kids’ wear with Gucci.  WWD
  • How Netflix became a billion-dollar titan.  The Economist

Marketing and Social Media

  • Snap and Amazon are reportedly working on a visual search feature for Snapchat.  Fortune
  • Facebook is shuttering three of its apps, including Moves.  Fast Company
  • Dedicated Amazon teams are helping brands develop platform-specific marketing tactics.  AdWeek
  • How live events can boost digital marketing.  AdWeek
  • How Benefit Cosmetics is home-growing its own influencers on Instagram.  Glossy
  • Amazon may send holiday toy catalogs in the mail.  Engadget
  • How Frank and Oak is building a data driven subscription service. Glossy
  • Instagram Stories is twice as popular as Snapchat.  CNN Money
  • Adidas Originals surprised influencers with personalized billboards for the drop of a new shoe. AdWeek
  • Tiffany is giving cool a try and it’s working.  CNN Money
  • How packaging is helping launch indie brands on social media.  Glossy
  • WhatsApp copies Telegram to add one-way ‘broadcast’ mode to group chats.  TechCrunch
  • From Muji to Ikea: why the best retailers think like UX designers.  Fast Company
  • Inside Instagram’s social shopping master class.  Business of Fashion
  • Timehop suffered a data breach that affected 21M users.  The Verge
  • Jaden Smith’s latest album is only available on Instagram.  Engadget

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

  • How L’Occitane uses AI to improve customer experience online.  Glossy
  • The luggage upstart Away is taking on industry giants.  Fast Company
  • Kroger plans to introduce driverless grocery deliveries.  The Wall Street Journal
  • Walmart-led blockchain effort seeks farm-to-grocery-aisle view of food supply chain.  The Wall Street Journal
  • Walmart offers a 3D tour to get shoppers to look, click and buy.  USA Today
  • Amazon buys PillPack, an online pharmacy for just under $1B.  TechCrunch
  • Uber and Lyft eyeing crowdsourced bus startup Skedaddle.  The Drive

International

  • Instagram Lite quietly launches to find a billion more users abroad.  TechCrunch
  • Inside JD.com, the giant Chinese firm that could eat Amazon alive.  Wired
  • Tencent seeks to list online music unit in US.  Reuters
  • The factors behind China’s growing strength in innovation.  Harvard Business Review
  • 37% of luxury brands with active WeChat accounts introduced a mini program.  L2 Think Tank
  • Siemens inks deal with Alibaba to launch digital products in China.  Reuters

Weekly Industry Brief: 6.26.2018

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Happy Tuesday! Here is a recap of industry news over the last week.  Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands and Retailers

  • Chanel publishes annual results for the first time in 108 years.  Business of Fashion
  • States can collect sales taxes from online retailers.  Business of Fashion
  • Kroger’s new approach to stocking shelves is boosting earnings.  The Wall Street Journal
  • AT&T launches a new streaming service for $15 a month.  Fortune
  • A Kmart store opens inside a Sears store in Brooklyn. CNBC
  • CVS adds home delivery with help from Post Office.  The Wall Street Journal
  • AT&T launches a new streaming service for $15 a month.  Fortune
  • Molson-Coors may be getting into the marijuana business.  Fortune
  • Ex Amazon executive tapped to run luxury store Bergdorf Goodman.  Business of Fashion 
  • Subscription box market fights fatigue.  AdAge

Marketing and Social Media

  • YouTube introduces channel memberships, merchandise and premieres.  TechCrunch
  • Aerie rapidly gaining market share off social media and ‘more authentic’ women.  CNBC
  • Facebook launches brand collabs search engine for sponsoring creators.  TechCrunch
  • Google launches podcasts app for Android.  Forbes
  • FabFitFun partners with Pinterest on trending box.  AdAge
  • Whole Foods scrubbed Instagram to raise awareness.  Fast Company
  • Soul Cycle just launched a new media division.  Fast Company
  • Instagram launches IGTV app for creators, 1-hour video uploads.  TechCrunch
  • Avon is launching a podcast to recruit sellers and build credibility.  Glossy
  • LL Bean campaign takes office outdoors.  AdAge
  • Google announces new features for retail advertisers.  MarketingLand
  • Reebok is boosting its women business with celebrities, music videos and podcasts.  Glossy
  • Facebook launches gameshows platform with interactive video.  TechCrunch
  • Google rolls out messages on the web for Android users.  TechCrunch

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

  • Amazon launches an Alexa system for hotels.  TechCrunch
  • Twitter acquires anti-abuse technology provider Smyte.  TechCrunch
  • PayPal to acquire machine learning-powered fraud detection startup Similarity for $120M.  VentureBeat
  • Oculus TV brings high-quality shows, movies to VR.  Fast Company
  • Voice shopping gains traction, will disrupt retail.  The Business Times
  • Google Assistant debuts continued conversation feature.  Retail Dive
  • Andreessen Horowitz just punched an aggressive $300M crypto-currency fund.  Fast Company

International

  • China’s tech giants’ costly wars to go cashless.  The Wall Street Journal
  • Social media still growing in emerging markets but stalled elsewhere.  TechCrunch
  • Alibaba’s European expansion plans.  Forbes