Tag: retail

Weekly Industry Brief: 3.27.2017

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I know you’re really busy and probably don’t have time to read all of the articles that come across your inbox in a week. Same. So I’ve collected the retail industry headlines from around the web over the last week for easy scanning purposes.  Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline. Cheers.

Brands and Retailers

  • Google going deeper into retail with shopper extension. WWD
  • Walmart expands its ecommerce ambitions with a new investment arm. New York Times
  • Target CEO says stores are driving digital growth. Retail Dive
  • Target unveils store prototype with two types of shoppers in mind. Associated Press
  • Avon freshens up in a bid to reconquer Middle America. The Wall Street Journal
  • Sears Holdings acknowledges the end may be near. Retail Dive
  • Nike starts to feel the competition. The Wall Street Journal
  • Kiddie activity hubs seen as way to make malls Amazon-proof. Bloomberg
  • Lord & Taylor hopes to lure customers to the store with the largest dress floor in America. Fashionista
  • Bebe plans to shut its stores and focus on web. Bloomberg
  • Urban Outfitters and Hot Topic are among popular retailers for millennials. Fashionista
  • Get a first look at Topshop’s new bridal line. Fashionista
  • Target diversifies the look of its lingerie product. Glossy
  • Macy’s signs exclusive deal with DKNY. WWD
  • Amazon’s ambitions unboxed: stores for furniture, appliances and more. New York Times
  • Why Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein are thriving while other US brands are tanking. Quartz
  • Nike CEO says the retail landscape is unsteady. Fortune
  • Walmart plans to ramp up ecommerce with two major initiatives. Business Insider
  • Amazon has a new weapon in its war on brick-and-mortar retail. Business Insider
  • Coach said to be readying Kate Spade buy. Business of Fashion
  • H&M rethinks fast fashion. Glossy

Marketing and Social Media

  • Luxury brands are beginning to embrace WeChat’s new multimedia moments ads. Jing Daily
  • Instagram opens shoppable organic posts to more businesses in the US. Marketing Land
  • Facebook introduces a new ad format – product-focused ‘collection.’ Techcrunch
  • More big brands suspend Google ads over offensive videos. AdAge

Startup and Emerging Tech

  • Google Glasses didn’t disappear; you can find them on the factory floor. NPR
  • Wells Fargo will let you use Apple Pay and Android Pay to withdraw money. Techcrunch
  • Tesla’s new solar roof tiles will be available to order starting in April. Techcrunch
  • The AI class that Facebookers are sprinting to get in. Wired
  • Apple patent points to a possible iPhone-powered laptop. CNet

International

  • Brooks Brothers reboots China business with new Beijing flagship. WWD
  • John Lewis debuts its own premium denim brand. Creativity Online
  • Ikea working on lowering pricing for India. LiveMint
  • Amazon to buy Middle Eastern online marketplace, Souq.com. Reuters
  • As Amazon floods with Chinese sellers, Western brands move into China’s booming e-Commerce market. Forbes
  • Here’s what happens in the athletic wear industry when China starts going to the gym. Quartz
  • As AirBnB just learned, it’s really hard to localize your brand name for China. AdAge
  • Lazada brings Alibaba’s biggest bazaar to Singaporean shoppers. Bloomberg
  • Walmart steps up Chilean business. WWD
  • Amazon is globalizing its retail empire. L2
  • How Brazil’s H&M defied the recession. Business of Fashion
  • Myntra launches first retail store for online brand ‘Roadster.’ The Economic Times
  • South Korea’s Lotte makes room for online retail brands. The Korea Herald
  • How United Arros became huge in Japan (and ready for global expansion.) GQ

Weekly Industry Brief: 3.20.2017

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Hi! Here is a recap of the news I’ve been reading in the industry this week.  Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline. Have a great week and Happy Spring!

Brands and Retailers

  • What’s next for malls – a look at two successful companies in America? Fashionista
  • Nike, H&M named world’s most valuable apparel brands. Fashionista
  • Gymboree chief tapped to lead Banana Republic. Reuters
  • Victoria Beckham to launch Spring collection at Target. Refinery29
  • Macy’s CEO wants to make these five big changes at the store. CNBC
  • Zara’s new focus: bigger bricks, more clicks. Wall Street Journal
  • Honest Co taps Clorox veteran as new CEO. Fortune
  • Acne reboots denim strategy. Business of Fashion
  • L’oreal Beauty’s secret weapon is buying other companies. Fortune
  • C. Penney closing 138 stores, liquidations begin next month. Retail Dive
  • Canada Goose raises $256M in IPO. Bloomberg
  • Walmar to acquire Modcloth. Recode
  • Neiman Marcus mulls sale, with Hudson’s Bay seen as suitor. Bloomberg

Marketing and Social Media

  • Adidas hires social-media stars to double women’s market share. Bloomberg
  • Adidas steps away from TV advertising as it targets $4B growth. CNBC
  • Inside Hearst’s turbulent quest to build a Snapchat brand. Glossy
  • Hollister targets teens with mobile video game. AdAge
  • Coachella sues Urban Outfitters for Free People capitalizing on festival brand. WWD
  • Who is the millennial femal e micro influencer? Adweek
  • Google removes audio ads from Google Home hours after introducing them. BGR

Startup and Emerging Tech

  • Swatch takes on Google, Apple with watch operating system. Bloomberg
  • Alibaba bets on big on augmented reality. Jing Daily
  • Foursquare is launching an analytics platform to help retailers understand foot traffic. TechCrunch
  • Why former Wall Streeters find new careers as fashion founders. Glossy
  • Chic, direct-to-consumer vitamin companies are the latest wellness trend. Fashionista
  • Shopify’s ecommerce revolution. Fortune
  • Intel wants to be a tech ‘enabler’ for the fashion industry. Engadget
  • DeepMind finds way to overcome AI’s forgetfulness problem. Bloomberg
  • Drones may one day buzz inside a Walmart near you. Fortune

International

  • Zara will enter India’s online shopping scene this year. Quartz
  • Ikea plans to open five stores in Serbia. Economic Times
  • Paris Gallery Group aims to open 30 new stores in Middle East. The National
  • Amazon plans air cargo service for Chinese customers. Wall Street Journal
  • Apple plans two more Chinese research hubs as iPhone sales slow. Bloomberg
  • Amazon aims to breathe new life into Tokyo Fashion Week. WWD

Weekly Industry Brief: 3.13.2017

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

Brands and Retailers

  • Outdoor Voices to open four stores in 2017. Link
  • Patagonia to launch website for Worn Wear recycling program. Link
  • C Penney to focus on beauty, appliances amidst store closures. Link
  • HHGregg files for bankruptcy. Link
  • LVMH to launch multi-brand ecommerce site. Link
  • Adidas raises forecasts as new CEO plans fast-fashion focus. Link
  • Millennials buy more clothes on Amazon than any other website. Link
  • Staples to close 70 stores in North America. Link
  • MAC Cosmetics to enter Ulta Beauty in bid for new audience. Link
  • Why Dick’s Sporting Goods is ditching 20% of its suppliers. Link
  • Anthropologie continues to struggle with fashion misses. Link
  • The cool kids behind Opening Ceremony. Link
  • Women’s retailer J.Jill gets lukewarm IPO response. Link
  • Urban Outfitters CEO says retail bubble has burst. Link
  • Amazon will now offer Spanish on the US website. Link

Marketing and Social Media

  • Home brands like West Elm turn to hotels to connect with new customers. Link
  • LikeToKnowIt now lets you shop from your screenshots. Link
  • Spotify and The North Face collaborate to make a song only available in the rain. Link
  • Mary Kay goes social to attract millennials. Link
  • Casper, the Standard Hotel and Tesla turned this retro motel into a crash pad at SXSW. Link
  • Why brick-and-mortar retailers need to go digital with analytics. Link
  • Nike reveals the Pro Hijab for Muslin athletes. Link
  • Yext files for IPO. Link
  • Verizon Ventures and R/GA partner to launch a digital media ‘venture studio,’ Link

Startup and Emerging Tech

  • Virginia passes first US law outlining rules for delivery by robot. Link
  • Global M&A activity up 30% in 2016. Link
  • Levi’s smart jacket about to hit stores. Link
  • Hubble raises $16.5M to deliver affordable daily contact lenses. Link
  • Under Armour joins the innovation rush. Link
  • Bolt Threads debuts its first product, a $314 tie made from spiderwebs. Link
  • Brands stand to benefit from the Leandra Medine investment. Link
  • Macy’s testing more self-service shoe sections. Link
  • Stitch Fix using artificial intelligence and data to design clothes. Link

International

  • Yoox Net-a-Porter to launch ecommerce on WhatsApp. Link
  • Wal-Mart doubles down on Brazil, despite sluggish sales. Link
  • The $7B Japanese retailer that’s targeting the US. Link
  • Bloomgindale’s grows Middle East footprint with Kuwait store opening. Link
  • Amazon Prime ships off to Mexico. Link
  • International Women’s Day is a day in China to reward your inner goddess through online shopping. Link
  • Amazon said to resume talks of Souq.com takeover. Link
  • Amazon India launches Under Armour. Link

 

Weekly Industry Brief: 3.6.2017

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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.

Brand/Retailer

  • Gap Inc. plans to trim workforce with 216 layoffs. Link
  • Wal-Mart to take technical aim at Amazon and Target with app update for pharmacy and money-transferring services. Link
  • Canal Street Market offers blueprint for revitalizing retail. Link
  • Target to reduce prices, remodel stores and launch new private label brands. Link
  • In retail’s slump, Saks looks to woo guys with DJs, putt-putt golf. Link
  • Alexander Wang and Adidas set to release second collaboration pack. Link
  • Puma and Under Armour trade places. Link
  • Best Buy CEO declares turnaround phase over, but there are still challenges. Link
  • Amazon wants to send packages to the moon by 2020. Link
  • How one teen retailer is thriving while its competitors flounder. Link
  • Hermes taps into customizing trend with handbags. Link
  • McDonald’s is finally getting mobile ordering and delivery. Link
  • If Yoox-Net-a-Porter group is actually trying to take over the world, it’s working. Link
  • Sarah Jessica Parker launches made-in-the-US handbag collection. Link
  • Abercrombie & Fitch to close another 60 U.S. stores as sales crater. Link
  • Costco to increase membership fee. Link
  • H&M hops on the ‘see now, buy now’ train with diverse runway show. Link
  • La Perla seeks to expand into fashion. Link
  • Amazon’s private label Elements expands for first time in years with invite-only vitamins and supplements. Link

Marketing/Social

  • Who is behind the flurry of influencer-backed beauty brands? Link
  • Facebook adds a travel-planning feature called ‘City Guides.’ Link
  • Virtual reality leads marketers down a tricky path. Link
  • S. consumers now spend 5 hours per day on mobile devices. Link
  • Amazon and Pinterest threaten to shake up the search ad market. Link
  • How Urban Outfitters leveraged location marketing for a 75% conversion gain. Link
  • Comcast is integrating YouTube into its set-top box. Link
  • One of Facebook Messenger’s first retail partners has ditched it as a notification tool. Link
  • Can YouTube TV get you to cut the cord for $35 a month. Link
  • Bloggers are panicking over changes to Amazon’s affiliate system. Link
  • Meet the Muslim women inspiring a modest revolution in the fashion industry. Link
  • NBC Universal invests $500M in Snapchat at IPO. Link

Startup/Emerging Tech

  • Robots will be in stores sooner than you think. Link
  • it’s app helps you buy the products in your screenshots. Link
  • Garmentory wants to bring small boutiques online. Link
  • IBM and Salesforce partner to sell Watson and Einstein. Link
  • Jay Z launches Arrive to fund startups, offer branding support and more. Link
  • Skin-care startup Drunk Elephant gets new round of investing. Link
  • Shopping app targeting Chinese-American consumers pursues discerning spenders in the US. Link

International

  • Starbucks opening high-end roastery in Italy. Link
  • Middle East ecommerce takes flight. Link
  • German discounter Aldi to start online sales in China. Link
  • Eurozone retail sales continue to fall. Link

Weekly Industry Brief: 2.27.2017

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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.

Brand/Retailer

  • Jet’s hipster shoppers get a taste of Wal-Mart in-house brands. Link
  • Sources say Sycamore Partners wins bankruptcy auction for The Limited. Link
  • Macy’s plans to stay afloat by making major changes to stores. Link
  • Wall Street worries over Victoria’s Secret weakness. Link
  • Celine to finally offer ecommerce. Link
  • Amazon nabs the top spot for online cosmetic sales. Link
  • Wal-Mart outperforms Amazon as the competition heats up. Link
  • C. Penney is closing up to 140 stores as turnaround stalls. Link
  • TJX is planning a new chain that could deliver another blow to department stores. Link
  • How operators are giving new life to aging malls. Link
  • The one brand rushing into the mall while others flee. Link
  • Airbnb buys Tilt, signaling its growing interest in group travel. Link
  • Reformation boutique brings ecommerce ease to SF shop. Link
  • Is Airbnb on an acquisition spree? Link
  • How Neiman Marcus is turning technology innovation into a ‘core value.’ Link
  • BCBG prepares for bankruptcy. Link
  • Gap CEO insists the company is neither sick nor dying. Link

Marketing/Social

  • After 51 years, Vans is finally explaining what ‘Off the Wall’ means. Link
  • Glossier uses Oscars as launchpad. Link
  • Facebook’s virtual reality ambitions could be threatened by court order. Link
  • Twitter debuts custom profiles for businesses’ agents, so people don’t think they’re talking to bots. Link
  • How the subscription economy will change the price we pay. Link
  • In four years, YouTube has gone from 100M hours of video viewed a day to 1B. Link

Startup/Emerging Tech

  • UPS tests drone delivery. Link
  • JackThreads lays off employees and puts self for sale. Link
  • Wendy’s to install self-ordering machines in 1,000 stores. Link
  • For IBM’s CTO for Watson, not a lot of value in replicating the human mind in a computer. Link
  • AI can make us all dress better. SO why isn’t the fashion industry using it more? Link
  • How Nordstrom’s new incubator will support young designers. Link
  • Consumers don’t want robots to help them shop. Link
  • How a former Vogue assistant created the first fashion search engine. Link
  • Why payment companies are flocking to messaging apps. Link

International

  • Australia’s General Pants Co. to open second US store. Link
  • Flipkart-owned Myntra wins rights to be sole distributor for Mango in India. Link
  • Xiaomi courts US interest while flirting with expansion. Link
  • Inside India’s booming sportswear market. Link
  • Why online retail growth in the UAE is different than the rest of the world. Link

Weekly Industry Brief: 2.20.2017

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Hi! Long time, no post.  Over the last two weeks I’ve been on-the-go with lots of travel which means my “weekly” brief hasn’t quite been weekly!  Here is a recap of the industry news with sources in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brand/Retailer

  • Target cuts innovation initiatives including secretive Goldfish start-up. Link
  • Neiman Marcus to trial plus-size departments at Last Call. Link
  • H&M’s new conscious exclusive collection turns plastic into evening gowns. Link
  • Todd Snyder opens a menswear paradise for the modern man. Link
  • Nordstrom drops Ivanka Trump products based on brand’s performance. Link
  • Ralph Lauren CEO is leaving after clash with founder. Link
  • Ralph Lauren hires newly created Chief Marketing Officer role. Link
  • Kate Spade to explore strategic options amid investor pressure. Link
  • Etsy Studio is ready to turn your side hustle into a real business. Link
  • Crew continues to lean on athleisure as it rebuilds its brand. Link
  • BCBG is filing for possible Chapter 11. Link
  • As Tiffany’s comes off a sluggish decade, it turns to “self-purchasing” women to save it. Link
  • Wal-Mart to make buying operations omni-channel. Link
  • Macy’s takeover rumors include HBC, owner of Saks and Lord and Taylor. Link
  • Michael Kors to expand buy online, pick up in store. Link
  • Levi’s is radically redefining sustainability. Link
  • Amazon’s living lab: re-imagining retail on Seattle streets. Link
  • American Eagle is luring teens with fancy drinks. Link
  • How Nike became a fashion powerhouse. Link
  • Nastygal to lay off employees, close stores. Link
  • Reports: Digital, especially mobile, driving trillions in offline retail spending. Link
  • Walmart snaps up another online retailer with focus on outdoor adventure. Link
  • Canada Goose said to have filed for dual-listed IPO. Link
  • Amazon takes aim at the lingerie industry with own line. Link
  • Amazon lowers free shipping threshold for non-Prime members. Link

Marketing/Social

  • Snap starts selling Spectacles online. Link
  • WhatsApp launches Status, an encrypted Snapchat Stories clone. Link
  • Pinterest adds visual search for elements in images through your camera. Link
  • How brands used Snapchat in 2016. Link
  • These five fashionable brands have mastered content that sells. Link
  • Influencers turn out for Rebecca Minkoff’s see-now-buy-now runway show in LA. Link
  • Gap debuts 90s-inspired ads starring the children of its former campaign stars. Link
  • Proenza Schouler chooses digital over print for spring campaign. Link
  • Pinterest rolls out search ads. Link
  • What is the real cost of Instagram’s influence? Link

Startup/Emerging Tech

  • Reformation’s high-tech store re-imagines clothes shopping from the ground up. Link
  • Amazon takes on Microsoft, Cisco in videoconferencing. Link
  • Ford invests $1B in Pittsburgh-based AI company to build self-driving cars by 2021. Link
  • Why Home Depot is one of the most innovative companies of 2017. Link
  • Target adds mini-accelerator for health-related start-ups. Link
  • Amazon just patented a package-packer bot to add to its fleet of 45,000 robots. Link
  • Visa and IBM Watson commit to putting payments inside cars and wearables. Link

International

  • Digital shifts can help India’s retailers boost sales. Link
  • Apple quickly losing market share in China. Link
  • Saks appoints Aditya Birla to open first Indian outlet. Link
  • Retailers object to EU plan for stricter online security. Link
  • Alibaba teams up with traditional retailer. Link
  • Alibaba expands presence in Australia and New Zealand. Link

Weekly Industry Brief: 1.31.2017

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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

 

 

Quick Hits: The Year of the Rooster

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On Saturday January 28th, the Year of the Rooster officially began.  The fashion and (mostly luxury) retail set took to Instagram and 5th Avenue this weekend to celebrate the Chinese New Year in beautiful campaigns featuring, what else? Roosters and lots of red. It was hard to miss this year and I have a hunch that next year we’ll see even more, with similar campaigns popping up in the mainstream (and on Main Street).

David Yurman and Coach delivered holistic campaigns by putting the Chinese New Year features on the homepage of their websites as well as in dedicated emails and in the case of Coach, a mini animated film made just for the festival.  Michael Kors nailed its Instagram posts by enlisting Leaf Greener, a Chinese fashion influencer.  And the best window displays on 5th Avenue? I’d say a tie between Saks and Cartier. And by the way, Saks took this as an opportunity to co-market to the new movie The Great Wall. Smart.

Here is a recap:

david-yurman-website

David Yurman started featuring content on its global website a few weeks before the festival began.

david-yurman-email

coach-website

Coach.com mixed product and animations in its campaign.

coach-site-video

armani

david-yurman

hypebeast

kenzo

 

tory-burchphilip-lim

michael-kors

Michael Kors smartly enlisted a Chinese influencer to help celebrate.

jimmy-choo

cartier

furla

guess

lord-and-taylor

Lord & Taylor featured the festival campaign in windows and in the main entrance.

nba

Even the NBA Store wanted in on the Chinese New Year celebrations.

saks

Saks Fifth Avenue delivered this chic campaign window.

saks-the-great-wall

Other windows at Saks showcased co-op ads for the upcoming Matt Damon movie, The Great Wall.

Weekly Industry Brief: 1.23.2017

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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: 1.17.2017

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Hi! Here is some industry news I’ve collected over the last week. Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brand/Retailer

  • Top 7 retailers to watch in 2017. Link
  • L’oreal to acquire three U.S. skin-care brands for $1.3B. Link
  • Cult backpack brand Herschel gets into apparel. Link
  • Gildan buys American Apparel at bankruptcy auction. Link
  • Amazon is planning to hire 100,000 full-time employees. Link
  • Cole Haan collaborates with Mountain Hardware, prAna and more for a women’s lifestyle collection. Link
  • Apple takes first step to expanding its US manufacturing footprint. Link
  • American Apparel to close L.A. headquarters and close all 110 U.S. stores. Link
  • Nordstrom names Innovation Chief to bring digital tech to full-line stores. Link
  • How Yoox and Net-a-porter is supporting fashion tech education. Link
  • Holiday season sales grew eight times faster online than in stores. Link
  • Cadillac unveils ultimate upscale car sharing program. Link
  • Pandora is laying off 7% of its US workforce. Link
  • J.C. Penney to open Nike outlets in more than 600 stores. Link
  • Apple said to be seriously pursuing Netflix-style scripted TV and movies. Link
  • Tiffany’s feels the Trump effect on 5th Link
  • Online consignment shops clean up after the holidays. Link
  • Michael Kors, Prada skimp on new handbag designs. Link

Marketing/Social

  • Soulcycle, Casper and Drybar reveal the secrets to their cult brands’ success. Link
  • Instagram accounts for 92% of brand social interactions. Link
  • Snapchat will make London its new international HQ. Link
  • DVF rebrands with new logo, monogram and brand colors and relaunches website in time for Spring. Link
  • YouTube launches “Super Chat,” a way for creators to make money from their live streams. Link
  • Adidas voted the most relevant brand of 2016. Link
  • Here’s how the new vertical video ads will look inside Instagram Stories. Link
  • Why Snapchat’s new search bar is a welcome sign for brands. Link
  • Twitter is phasing out the “buy” button, will continue to offer donations. Link
  • Vine shuts off sharing, launches Vine Camera. Link

Startup/Emerging Tech

  • LetGo raises $175M to finance its used goods marketplace. Link
  • Intel launches new IoT retail platform, plans $100M retail tech investment. Link
  • Stadium Goods raises $4.6M to sell sought-after sneakers and streetwear. Link
  • Richard Branson’s next big idea: sports festivals. Link
  • Fabletics launches a free Daily Burn-like workout and other perks for members. Link
  • Baidu opens augmented reality lab, begins integrating AR into search. Link

International

  • Lululemon expands its European presences with a London flagship. Link
  • Alibaba takes big step offline with $2.6B Intime deal. Link
  • Alibaba launches ‘big data anti-counterfeiting alliance’ with Louis Vuitton, Swarovski and more. Link
  • App downloads up 15% in 2016, revenue up 40% thanks to China. Link
  • Apple is increasing the price of apps in the UK by 25% because of Brexit. Link