Weekly Industry Brief: 6.11.2018

June 11, 2018Leave a comment

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

Brands and Retailers

Lord & Taylor is closing 10 stores including its Fifth Avenue flagship. Fortune
Gucci aims to rival Louis Vuitton with $12B target. Fortune
The world’s largest apparel companies 2018. Forbes
Amazon introduces the Fire TV cube. Quartz
Ikea no longer just a furniture company. Fast Company
Why 2018 is the year of modernization for Target. Retail Dive
Five surprising findings about how people buy shoes and clothes. Harvard Business Review
Kayla Itsines’ Sweat app will rake in $77M this year. TechCrunch
Amazon taps into the indie beauty craze with new online store. Glossy
Target, Sycamore tried to acquire Toys ‘R’ Us assets. Bloomberg
Rue La La is buying GIlt. Bloomberg
How FitBit is trying to transform healthcare and itself. Fast Company
Yahoo Messenger to shut down. Fortune
How pop-up shops are evolving as commerce brands expand their footprints. AdWeek
Starbucks increases price of coffee. AdAge
J.C. Penny to open 650 Fanatics shops in stores. Women’s Wear Daily

Marketing and Social Media

Facebook allows video with copyrighted music, tests Lip Sync Live. TechCrunch
SeatGeek brings ticket selling into Snapchat. TechCrunch
Is H&M’s influencer-drive line the future of fashion? Fast Company
Behind the messy, expensive split between Facebook and WhatsApp founders. The Wall Street Journal
Facebook shared data with Chinese telecom Huawei, raising US government security concerns. TechCrunch
Facebook monetizes Marketplace with ads from users and brands. TechCrunch
Facebook takes on Twitch with launch of new game streaming. Tech Radar
Snapchat ad prices go from ungodly to cheap. AdAge
Instagram plans to launch a Snapchat Discover-style video hub. TechCrunch
Direct-to-consumer brands sour on Facebook ads. Digiday
Publishers are seeing traffic from more than just Facebook. AdWeek
How Generation Z’s social media savvy entrepreneurs are giving millennials a run for their money. CNBC
US podcast ad revenues hit record $314M in 2017. TechCrunch

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

The Honest Company accelerates growth strategy with investment from L Catterton. BusinessWire
Casper launches a $35 nap pillow for sleeping on-the-go. TechCrunch
Apple drew up a patent for a new kind of blood pressure monitor. The Verge
H&M tests voice-activated mirrors at NYC flagship. Retail Dive
Why Microsoft is willing to pay so much for Github. Harvard Business Review
How shopping app Wish is building a retail empire. CNet
Microsoft acquires a bunch of game studios. TechCrunch

International

Amazon extends UK hiring spree as Brexit uncertainty lingers. Bloomberg
Chinese buyers crave a new sales pitch: “experiential luxury”. Jing Daily
Luxury sales are rebounding in China. Just not in stores. The New York Times
India’s online sales to grow 31% in 2018. LiveMint

Weekly Industry Brief: 6.4.2018

June 4, 2018June 4, 2018Leave a comment

And just like that, it’s JUNE! Here is a recap of industry news over the last week. Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands and Retailers

WalMart’s personal shopper service launches in New York. Fortune
Microsoft is now more valuable than Google. The Verge
Improvement seen across the board for Urban Outfitters in the first quarter. Forbes
Howard Shultz to exit Starbucks. The New York Times
Sears Holdings closing 72 more stores after another terrible quarter. Fortune
Madewell continues to help J.Crew, with sales up 39%. Fashionista
How today’s newest underwear brands are changing the game by focusing on inclusivity. Fashionista
American Eagle beats earnings, Aerie sales on fire. Reuters
Coca Cola just started selling its first alcoholic drink ever. Fortune
Valentino and L’Oreal are joining forces to create a new beauty collection. Harper’s Bazaar
Etsy to close wholesale market to focus on main website. Bloomberg
20 Takeaways from Mary Meeker’s 294-page Internet Trends report. TechCrunch
WalMart CEO highlights innovation, performance. CNBC
Lululemon climbs as sales pick up pace. Bloomberg
Ikea rethinks US expansion, invests in online. USA Today

Marketing and Social Media

Pinterest 2017 sales rise 58%. Bloomberg
Facebook nears deals on new shows for video platform. The Wall Street Journal
Kanye skips Tidal exclusivity, drops new album on Spotify and Apple Music. TechCrunch
TV ads on AMC networks will be able to deliver offers directly to viewers’ smartphones. AdWeek
Facebook pulling plug on Trending feature. AdWeek
Abercrombie’s comeback traced to marketing. AdAge
Teens dump Facebook for YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat. TechCrunch
Why wellness brands are betting on podcast ads. Glossy
Snapchat preps Snapkit platform to bring camera, login to other apps. TechCrunch
Pinterest unveils new video ad format. Mediapost

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

Hello Alfred, the in-home assistant service snags $40M. Fast Company
Warren Buffet offered Uber a $3B investment but the talks fell apart. The Wall Street Journal
WalMart’s future may include in-store drones and smart shopping carts. CNBC
Alibaba’s new autonomous robot delivers packages at a modest pace. Engadget
HelloFresh takes meal kits to Giant, Stop & Shop. The Wall Street Journal
The number of smartphone driven retailers is growing. Bloomberg
L’Oreal says AR beauty is just the beginning. Forbes
Softbank to invest $2.25B in GM’s self-driving car division. Fortune

International

Amazon India rebrands, expands online groceries service. LiveMint
Canada goose to expand in China. Financial Post
Amazon geo-blocks Australia from US website as tax change kicks in. Reuters
Apple’s HomePod launches in Canada, France and Germany. The Verge
Alibaba to invest $15.5B in logistics network. ZDNet

Weekly Industry Brief: 5.29.2018

May 29, 2018Leave a comment

Welcome back to work! Here is a recap of industry news from the last two weeks (yes, two weeks…you can stalk my Insta to know why I didn’t post last week!). Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands and Retailers

BJ’s Wholesale files for IPO. The Wall Street Journal
Urban Outfitters launches third-party marketplace and tests self-checkout in stores. Marketing Dive
Target’s first quarter store traffic highest in a decade. AdAge
Netflix tops Disney market value as top media stock. AdAge
Facebook, Google face first GDPR complaints over “forced consent.” TechCrunch
Amazon made the top 10 of the Fortune 500 for the first time ever. Quartz
Best Buy expands Geek Squad services with roll out of Total Tech Support. Star Tribune
Ralph Lauren shares surge on designer’s vote of confidence in CEO. Bloomberg
Amazon’s map-tracking package locator now offered to all US shoppers. CNet
Gap leans on heavy discounts to clear store inventory. The Wall Street Journal
Nordstrom wants brands to embrace the size spectrum. Glossy
Matches Fashion saw sales climb a whopping 44% last year. Fashionista
Urban Outfitters sees profits triple in first quarter. Seeking Alpha
Poshmark has officially distributed $1B to its sellers. Fashionista
Walmart quietly launches JetBlack, a personal shopping service for affluent city moms. Recode
With three new brands, Target takes aim at Generation Z. Business of Fashion
Target cuts delivery fees by almost half, putting pressure on Walmart and Amazon. USA Today
The Real Real’s radical vision of secondhand luxury. New Yorker
How Ulta is winning in the age of Amazon. Quartz
Next time you buy a TV at Best Buy, you may also be offered health care. CNBC
How OPI is hacking Amazon and data algorithms to improve its online site. Glossy

Marketing and Social Media

Why it’s primetime for Instagram Stories. AdWeek
Paypal starts deeper integration with Google; users can now pay directly in Gmail, Youtube. TechCrunch
Snapchat launches first lens that responds to sound. Engadget
A leaked look at Facebook’s influencer marketing search engine. TechCrunch
Ikea’s witty social posts about the Royal Wedding. AdAge
Instagram adds options to mute posts in your feed. VentureBeat
How Lego infuses social media marketing with play. CMO
L’Oreal films Chinese influencer marketing videos at Cannes. SCMP
Ulta partners with Like to Know It. Glossy
Publicis Groupe reveals much anticipated AI platform. The Drum
New Balance launches shoppable AR in Snapchat. MediaPost
How Vans became the brand that can do no wrong. High Snobiety
Victoria’s Secret has a plan to upgrade its image for younger women. CNBC
Facebook Stories sees 150M users per day and will soon launch ads. TechCrunch
YouTube Music subscription service to relaunch this week. Seeking Alpha
Amazon Prime members now get 10% off at Whole Foods. Fast Company
Twitter looking to expand its programatic offerings with Timeline Ad Network pilot program. MarketingLand

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

Dog-sitting start-up, Rover, raises $155M. TechCrunch
PayPal acquires European payments start-up iZettle for $2.2B. The New York Times
Kroger buys meal-kit start up Home Chef. The Wall Street Journal
Why Nike’s AR experiment with Facebook Messenger was a hit. MarTech Today
Your favorite stores could be tracking you with facial recognition. Racked
Why Nordstrom is betting on high-touch tech in stores. Fortune
Adobe buys Magento for $1.7B. Bloomberg
Target rolling out AR tools in stores to stay competitive in beauty. Glossy
You’ll soon be able to use augmented reality to try on sneakers. Quartz
Cult ‘fast-beauty’ brand Winky Lux raises $6M in Series A to fund experience-first retail plans. Forbes

International

Ikea pushes into South America. Reuters
Starbucks to open 3,000 more stores in China. CNN Money
Amazon leads $12M investment in India-based digital insurance start-up. TechCrunch
Amazon plans China event for global growth strategy. SmartBrief
Meet the start-up building a market from scratch to become Africa’s Alibaba. The Wall Street Journal
China may be about to cut import tariff on consumer goods from lipstick to food. Fortune
Retailers’ global expansion cools as businesses get smart about opening new stores. CNBC

Weekly Industry Brief: 5.14.2018

May 14, 2018May 14, 2018Leave a comment

TGIM (“Thank God It’s Monday”)! Here is your recap of industry news from the last week. Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline. Have an awesome week.

Brands and Retailers

Target testing a retail ‘flow center’ for faster, nimbler distribution. The Wall Street Journal
Five more Nike executives out amid inquiry into harassment allegations. The New York Times
WalMart to start selling Harry’s razors. Bloomberg
Anastasia Beverly Hills could be valued at $3B after minority stake acquisition. CNBC
Why Nestle is paying $7.2B to sell Starbucks Coffee. Fortune
Sears extends partnership with Amazon as transformation continues. Retail Dive
Stadium Goods positioned itself as the Tiffany’s of the high-end sneaker resale market. The New York Times
Amazon launches private label pet brand. Retail Dive
Apple is reportedly working on a credit card. Quartz
Handy wants to take care of the heavy lifting for furniture retailers. Forbes
Canadian Tie to buy sportswear brand Helly Hansen in $770M deal. Reuters
Shopify launching a brick-and-mortar store. Forbes
Urban Outfitters experiments with pop-ups and artist collaborations. Glossy
Marriott to compete with Airbnb in home-sharing game. Fast Company
Mondelez buying Tate’s Bake Shop for $500M. Fortune
How product customization is driving a new business strategy at Tapestry. Glossy

Marketing and Social Media

Instagram adds video chat to its host of features. The Drum
Brands can turn social video views into conversions. PYMNTS
How social media issuing used to sell real estate. AdWeek
Amazon stops buying shopping ads on Google. AdAge
Why beauty brands are shifting their focus from the feed to Instagram Stories. Glossy
Why Revlon brought its digital marketing and sales organizations in-house. Glossy
Snapchat’s redesigned redesign starts rolling out. The Verge
Amazon, Snapchat could bring competition to Facebook and Google. Digiday
Businesses on Instagram are getting calls to action, direct messaging improvements. AdWeek
Instagram’s emoji slider sticker added a new element to polling friends and followers. AdWeek
Facebook suspends 200 apps for potential misuse of data. AdAge
Bonobos looks to cash in on fashion’s inclusivity movement. Glossy

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

Google’s Style Match feature applies image recognition to finding products. Racked
What blockchain could mean for marketing. Harvard Business Review
LVMH to invest in Lyst upon new round of funding. Fashionista
Uber unveils the flying taxi it wants to rule the skies. Wired
Amazon is setting up model ‘smart’ homes to sell Alexa gadgets. New York Post
Blockchain used to track gems to counter blood diamonds and fakes. Forbes
Google and Levi’s connected jacket will let you know when your Uber is here. TechCrunch

International

Alibaba’s brick-and-mortar malls herald new growth strategy. Nikkei
How Chinese consumer engage with luxury livestreamers. Jing Daily

Weekly Industry Brief: 5.6.2018

May 7, 2018Leave a comment

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

Brands and Retailers

Online retailer Sense opens brick-and-mortar. Glossy
Amazon studies body sizes to get that perfect clothing fit. Wall Street Journal
Blue Apron turns to Costco as customer growth slows. The Wall Street Journal
Apple has already built its next big business. Fortune
Sale spikes continue for Estee Lauder. WWD
Vitamins are trendy. Vitamin stores are not. Racked
Birchbox has sold majority ownership to one of its hedge fund investors after sale talks with QVC fell through. Recode
Pandora and Spotify surprise investors. Bloomberg
Amazon launches Prime Book Box, a $23 kids’ book selection. TechCrunch
Nestle bets $7B on Starbucks to revive coffee sales. Bloomberg
Amazon’s share of all retail sales could reach nearly 10% in two years. CNBC
Online spending passes $100B for the first time. RetailDive

Marketing and Social Media

Under Armour launches real-time Steph Curry trivia game. Fast Company
Instagram is starting to take payments – but not for products just yet. Fortune
Hulu surpasses 20M subscribers, grows engagement by over 60%. The Drum
Snap stock plunges 15% on disappointing earnings that it partly blamed on redesign. Fortune
Cambridge Analytica shuts all operations after Facebook scandal. Fortune
Facebook is considering a paid, ad-free version of its social network. Fast Company
Twitter advising all users to change passwords after bug exposed them in plain text. The Verge
Facebook announces dating feature for meeting non-friends. TechCrunch
Twitter shares spike after Disney announces it will make shows specifically for the platform. CNBC
Instagram code reveals up-coming music feature. TechCrunch
WhatsApp new lets you play Facebook and Instagram videos within the app. The Verge
Microsoft and Amazon show off their Alexa-Cortana collaboration. AdAge
Bonobos showcases 172 kinds of diversity in priciest campaign to date. AdAge

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

J.P. Morgan files patent for blockchain powered payments. Fortune
The $1B company that’s building wearable AI for blind people. Fast Company
Macy’s acquires New York concept shop, Story. CNBC
For all the hype about VR, advertisers are more excited by AR (for now). Digiday
Oculus aims for the masses with a new $200 VR headset. Fast Company
How beauty brands like Coty and Shiseido are using voice assistants. Glossy
Goldman Sachs to open a bitcoin trading operation. The New York Times

International

Walmart buys 75% share of Flipkart, India’s largest commerce platform. AdWeek
Why Walmart and Amazon are battling so fiercely over India. Fortune
Alibaba beats forecasts with 61% growth and predicts more of the same for the next year. TechCrunch
Impulsive, addictive social commerce is China’s latest craze. Business of Fashion

Weekly Industry Brief: 4.30.2018

April 30, 2018Leave a comment

And just like that, it’s the last day of April. Here is your brief of industry news from the last week. Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands and Retailers

T-Mobile and Sprint to merge. Fast Company
Old Navy to open 60 stores this year, driving Gap’s growth. CNBC
Amazon’s fiscal discipline pays off as it more than doubles profit. The Wall Street Journal
Apple poised to move further into media. The Guardian
Amazon will now deliver packages to the trunk of your car. The Verge
Ford cuts sedans and marketing spend. AdAge
Amazon breaks $50B in revenues in Q1. WWD
Coach, Fenty and Nike cut the middle man and sell straight to consumer. USA Today
How private equity is boosting some brands and crushing others. Fortune
Adidas is testing how to mass-produce custom shoes like those it makes for elite athletes. Quartz
12 retailers on the brink of bankruptcy in 2018. Retail Dive
Can online retail solve its packaging problem? Fast Company
Gen Z is about to kill cash. Retail Dive
WalMart sells its UK supermarket business in $10B deal. CNN
Retailers benefiting the most from the tax cut. Forbes
GNC is closing 200 stores. Bloomberg
Abercrombie CEO details the brand’s global growth plans. Business Insider
American Apparel relaunches online globally. Fashionista

Marketing and Social Media

Is video the future of online shopping? Business of Fashion
Amazon now has a multi-billion dollar advertising business. CNBC
Twitter sold Cambridge Analytica researcher public data access. AdAge
Facebook is conquering commerce in the developing world. Bloomberg
Why retailers are trading points for experiences when it comes to loyalty programs. AdWeek
The mad dash to buy vintage clothes on Instagram. Bloomberg
Pepsi eyes investors for Creators League Studio. AdAge
Four ways sneaker brands successfully build hype. High Snobiety
In fashion’s hype-driven era, Hermes is doing its own thing. Dazed
Why Instagram managed to remain unscathed amid Facebook scandals. Digiday

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

Pinterest is using AI to filter beauty searches by skin tone. Glossy
The makers of AI influencer Lil Miquela receive $6M in funding. Hypebeast
Alexa will soon gain a memory, converse more naturally and automatically launch skills. TechCrunch
Tile and Comcast now let you find lost items through voice search on your TV. Venture Beat
Adobe acquires Uru, an AI startup that embeds ads in videos. Venture Beat
Domino’s adds AI to phoned-in orders. MediaPost
BigCommerce raises $64M to power commerce sites. TechCrunch

International

Amazon plays catch-up in Brazil as local rivals thrive. Reuters
How China leapfrogged ahead of the United States in the finch race. PIIE
Muslim fashion is a $254B market – but big brands can’t crack it. Fast Company
Alibaba launches blockchain technology to improve supply chain integrity and enhance trust in platform. The Drum

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 4.23.2018

April 23, 2018Leave a comment

Happy Monday! Here is a recap of articles I’ve been reading over the last week. Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headlines.

Brands and Retailers

AT&T is launching a $15 TV streaming subscription. The Verge
Glossier is officially opening up shop in Los Angeles. Fashionista
Former Nike designer launches Wone, a minimalist luxury activewear label to watch. Fashionista
Amazon’s next conquest will be apparel. TechCrunch
The retail industry is focusing on customer experience and convenience to win in ecommerce. AdWeek
The dawn of micro-merch. The New York Times
Best Buy to sell Amazon’s new Fire TV Edition smart TVs in stores. Retail Dive
Starbucks to close nationwide for facia-bias training. The New York Times
WalMart to launch redesigned website in May. The Wall Street Journal
Net-a-Porter founder launches venture capital investment fund. The New York Times
Packaged foods boost Amazon’s grocery sales. Bloomberg
Facebook is forming a team to design its own chips. Bloomberg
Amazon eyes a move into home shopping TV with possible Evine buy. TechCrunch
As customers turn cold, Victoria’s Secret faces a reckoning. Glossy
Hasbro bets on Walmart, Target and Alibaba as sales implode in wake of Toys R Us closure. Fortune

Marketing and Social Media

Google beats expectations again with $31.15B in revenue. TechCrunch
Snapchat introduces three new capabilities of its augmented reality lenses with ‘Shoppable AR.’ AdWeek
Amazon now has 100M paid Prime subscriptions. AdAge
How three brands brought tech to life at Coachella. AdWeek
P&G ends its year-long YouTube ban. AdAge
Facebook to show pre-roll video ads in more places. AdAge
Revolve’s co-founder on why Coachella and influencers are central to the firm’s $1B revenue. Forbes
Social media use is increasing despite privacy fears. The Next Web
How Teen Vogue is reinventing traditional magazine covers in a digital-only landscape. Glossy
Twitter’s rise from the ashes. Seeking Alpha
How Juicy Couture and sister brands are automating their in-house influencer campaigns. Glossy

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

Meet 9 startups investors have lit up to take the cannabis industry higher. TechCrunch
Amazon is reportedly working on its first home robot. The Verge
How Apple will use AR to reinvent the human-computer interface. Fast Company
The beginner’s guide to how blockchain could change the ethical fashion game. Fashionista
McKinsey’s latest AI research predicts it could create trillions worth of value someday. Recode
You can now buy drinks, snacks and even hangover cures in the back of your Uber. CNBC

International

Online retailers go offline in China. The Economist
The journey to an agile organization at Zalando. McKinsey
Alibaba’s TMall woos luxury brands to sell to its invite-only loyalty club for big spenders. Glossy
Mantra acquires wearables maker Witworks. LiveMint
Casper plans brick-and-mortar push into Canada. Retail Dive
WalMart in advanced talks to acquire Amazon’s India rival, Flipkart. Recode

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 4.16.2018

April 16, 2018Leave a comment

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

Brands and Retailers

Nordstrom opening a New York store as other retailers close theirs. The New York Times
H&M announces Moschino collaboration. Vogue
Amazon expands Prime Wardrobe. RetailDive
What beauty players can teach the consumer sector about digital disruption. McKinsey
Toys ‘R’ Us gets 11th hour bid from Little Tikes’ Larian. Bloomberg
Levi’s CFO turns to robots to help keep the books. The Wall Street Journal
Gap follows J.Crew in giving up on the bridal-wear industry. Bloomberg
At Lands’ End, gone are the stilettos and trendy clothes that didn’t fit the brand’s customers. The Wall Street Journal
Apple’s business is now being powered with clean energy. Bloomberg
Domino’s will now delivery to 150,000 parks, pools and other non-traditional locations. TechCrunch
Why Sephora merged its digital and physical retail teams into one department. Glossy
Estee Lauder adds two women CEOs to its board as it nears gender parity. Fortune
Walmart recruits Postdates to help grocery delivery push. Fortune
The retail industry is focusing on customer experience and convenience to win in ecommerce. AdWeek
Netflix stock skyrockets on yet another subscriber growth spurt. Fast Company
Target brings same-day delivery of in-store purchases to five cities. Engadget
T-Mobile fined $40M by FTC for inserting fake ring tones. Fast Company
Sears to close more stores. Business Insider

Marketing and Social Media

Netflix may spend $300M to buy a billboard company. AdWeek
Hermes plays a hipster tune. The New York Times
Go young, go digital: Gucci and Louis Vuitton have similarly successful playbooks. Glossy
HighSnobiety experiments with a multimedia vertical stories format. Digiday
Bumble ditches Facebook login requirement. Fortune
Women use their phones for way more than just communicating. AdWeek
Pandora vs. Spotify: ad tech streams into audio. AdAge
Snap is testing commerce with Snapchat Discover publishers. Digiday
Abercrombie & Fitch is digging into its archives to gain ground with Gen Z. Glossy
How a teen and Wendy’s proved that social superfine work. Digiday

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

LVMH backs luxury startups. Reuters
Colgate unveils smart toothbrush. The Wall Street Journal
General Assembly sells to Adecco for $413M. TechCrunch
The RealReal hunts for more funding amid IPO buzz. RetailDive
Startup subscription service Billie raises $6M. RetailDive
Adobe acquires voice interface platform Sayspring. TechCrunch
US early-stage investment share shrinks as China surges. TechCrunch
Google’s new VR tours let you experience imperiled cultural sites around the world. Fast Company
How JetBlue is defining the future of travel and hospitality through JetBlue Technology Ventures. Fast Company

International

Saudi Arabia just had its first Fashion Week. The New York Times
Gap to open 3-4 new stores in India this year. Economic Times
Alibaba is the latest Chinese internet giant to test self-driving cars. Engadget

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 4.10.2018

April 10, 2018Leave a comment

Happy TUESDAY! Start your day with some industry news. Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands and Retailers

Spotify’s Wall Street debut is a success. The New York Times
Why the QVC model still works for beauty brands. Glossy
ASOS has ambitions for big expansion. The Guardian
Designer brands are joining the direct-to-consumer fray. Glossy
Nine West may be heading for bankruptcy. Fast Company
Cult men’s brief brand Tommy John just launched a line of women’s undies. Fast Company
Warehouses are now worth more than offices, thanks to Amazon. Bloomberg
Resale is expected to be bigger than fast fashion within 10 years. Fashionista
How InStyle is cashing in on beauty ecommerce. Glossy
Some Amazon Key features including keyless entry, go nationwide. CNet
Amazon now sells more than 70 of its own private-label brands. Recode
Anthropologie CEO leaving this month. WWD
Nine West files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. USA Today
Nordstrom opening a New York store as other retailers close theirs. New York Times
Amazon spent nearly $23B on R&D last year – more than any other U.S. company. Recode
Paypal rolling out banking products. TechCrunch

Marketing and Social Media

Google and Target issue first voice-activated coupon. AdWeek
Bricks and clicks: How Instagram is changing physical retail. Forbes
Amazon could lead in search ad business by 2020. Mediapost
How Tumi is using AI in marketing campaigns, online and in stores. Glossy
Polyvore acquired by global fashion platform SSENSE. Fashionista
Snapchat cashes Houseparty group video chat app. Adage
Adobe releases State of Digital Advertising 2018 research. Forbes
More targeted ads are coming to your TV. AdWeek
Facebook really wants people to use Stories. AdWeek

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

Tradesy acquired a closet service to compete with The RealReal. Glossy
Virtual reality, now with the sense of touch. The Wall Street Journal
Walmart in takeover talks with pharmacy startup. Bloomberg
Postdates launching pickup feature. TechCrunch
2.1B consumers will use mobile payments by 2019. RetailDive
How Mobike’s founder turned a crazy idea into a $3B startup. Bloomberg
Instacart raises another $150M. TechCrunch
Alibaba is becoming a major investor in facial recognition technology. Quartz

International

ShopShops aims at Chinese consumers via live streaming. The Wall Street Journal
In China, the sharing economy stretches to fashion for millennials. SCMP
These seven international retailers want to make a splash in the US. CNBC
Tencent shows off their vision for the future of unmanned retail. Jing Daily
Southeast Asia fashion startup Zilingo continues meteoric rise with $54M Series C TechCrunch
Hong Kong money to help online fashion disrupter Moda Operandi break into the Asian market. SCMP
Taco Bell plans explosive Australian growth as sales jump. AdAge

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 4.2.2018

April 2, 2018Leave a comment

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

Brands and Retailers

AdoreMe to expand brick-and-mortar presence in challenge to Victoria’s Secret. The Wall Street Journal
Bobbi Brown is ready to slay the wellness industry. The New York Times
eBay Fashion aims to reposition in the face of competition. Glossy
Here is who is winning the retail race, and it’s not inside the mall. CNBC
H&M has a problem: $4.3B in unsold clothes. The New York Times
Kohl’s bets on smaller stores to fuel its growth. CNBC
Walmart may be acquiring health insurer Humana. TechCrunch
Amazon may launch a bank account aimed at teens. TechCrunch
Bumble is suing Match Group for $400M for fraudulently obtaining trade secrets. TechCrunch
Rite Aid bid for Albertsons wins U.S. approval. Bloomberg
The Sephora effect: How the retailer wields its power to boost new beauty brands. Glossy
Ikea’s plan to leave the big blue box store behind. Fast Company
Apple insists the iPhone is built in the U.S. Recode
Lululemon stretches its digital marketing wings. AdAge
Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren betting on denim revival. Business of Fashion
Saks, Lord & Taylor report data breach affecting 5 million cards. CNN Money
Toys ‘R’ Us shuts down web operations. Fortune

Marketing and Social Media

Snapchat tests ‘Connected Apps’ as people choose to delete Facebook. Mashable
As fallout from Cambridge Analytica hits Facebook, marketers shrug. AdAge
Warby Parker and Arby’s team up to create WArby’s this April Fools’ Day. AdWeek
IoT devices could be the next customer data frontier. TechCrunch
LinkedIn is introducing auto-playing video ads. TechCrunch
Facebook will cut off access to third party data for ad targeting. TechCrunch
The number of OTT-only U.S. homes has tripled over the last five years. AdWeek
Waze officially launches its ad program for small businesses. TechCrunch
Instagram GIFs are back to Stories with stricter moderation. The Verge
Facebook is investing $1B in small-business initiatives this year. Inc
Amazon Spark is not taking off with brands, agencies. Digiday
Influencers are getting long-term contracts that treat them more like traditional talent. Digiday
The six new companies in the Twitter official partner program. AdWeek
Social commerce is here, but is it ready for the mainstream consumer? AdWeek
Publicis Media launches global commerce practice. AdWeek
TV’s share of ad spend expected to continue its decline this year. AdWeek
Adobe announces it’s helping companies track people across devices to result in better ad quality. Time
Shorter, skip-able ads coming to YouTube. TechCrunch

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

Google Home drops prices. Forbes
Nike acquires customer data analytics company Zodiac. MarketWatch
A new wave of beauty apps is coming for your skin-care routine. Fashionista
Why Walmart is testing robots in its stores. Fortune
How Shyp sunk: the rise and fall of an on-demand startup. Fast Company
Goop raises $50M in series C round. TechCrunch
New Apple Watch is coming this fall with larger displays, analyst says. Fast Company

International

Farfetched CEO on the Chinese partners catapulting them ahead. Jing Daily
Alibaba bets big on local delivery in a $9.5B deal. Fortune
Alipay tempts Europe’s retailers with Chinese tourists’ massive spending power. Quartz
Alibaba’s auto vending machine. L2 Inc

Fashion. Retail. Tech. News.

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

Tag: retail

Weekly Industry Brief: 6.11.2018

Weekly Industry Brief: 6.4.2018

Weekly Industry Brief: 5.29.2018

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