Tag: snapchat

Weekly Industry Brief: 6.20.2016

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I’ve recapped industry news found around the web from the last week.  Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands and Retailers:

  • Inside the Macy’s store of the future. Link
  • Bed, Bath & Beyond buys One Kings Lane. Link
  • Amazon cuts shipping fees for small items in threat to Alibaba’s U.S. business. Link
  • Staples joins the same day delivery fray with Staples Rush. Link
  • Why Neiman Marcus struggles and will not go public. Link
  • Nordstrom makes big ecommerce decision to postpone opening a West Coast fulfillment center. Link
  • Amazon’s 3rd physical bookstore to open in Oregon. Link
  • H&M throws down with new sports line. Link
  • Revlon is buying Elizabeth Arden. Link
  • Ikea’s quest to think like a software company. Link
  • Macy’s reaches tentative deal with workers to avert strike. Link
  • Inditex profit beats estimates outpacing main fashion rival. Link
  • In the graveyard of American malls, Bandier is re-imagining the brick-and-mortar store. Link
  • Ted Baker pushes on with overseas expansion as online sales surge. Link
  • Tesla plans to sell its electric cars in Nordstrom. Link
  • Gucci expands customization to unisex jackets, shoes, men’s clothing. Link

Marketing and Social Media:

  • How ‘the new Gucci’ does video with help from Conde Nast. Link
  • Five trends that are radically reshaping shopper marketing. Link
  • Why big brands are suddenly getting cozy with Reddit. Link
  • Facebook’s new ads will track which stores you visit. Link
  • Wayfair debuts new ads and augmented reality. Link
  • Pinterest adds site, app retargeting options. Link
  • Inside Facebook’s plan to boost ad revenue by turning users into buyers. Link
  • Carolina Herrera debuts resort collection on Snapchat. Link
  • Adidas to pay 50M euros a year for Germany sponsorship. Link
  • Dollar Shave Club puts real customer service reps in ads. Link
  • How Chubbies uses social media to build its brand. Link
  • Retailers subdued in support of gay pride following Orlando massacre. Link

Start Ups:

  • Birchbox retrenches amid rapid rise in competition, cash squeeze. Link
  • Twittery buys Magic Pony, a London startup that could make it easier to live stream. Link
  • How this legging brand made it big by selling solely through Facebook. Link

International:

  • eCommerce in India to see nearly 10M sellers online by 2020. Link
  • European luxury brands could seize on Brexit turmoil. Link
  • Europe’s biometric visas are suddenly hurting its luxury goods industry. Link
  • Ikea celebrates four decades in Canada with expansion plans. Link
  • Uniqlo takes slow and smart approach to Canadian expansion. Link
  • Wal-Mart in talks to sell Chinese ecommerce business to JD.com. Link
  • Jack Ma promises huge sales boom from Alibaba, projecting over $900B by 2020. Link
  • Messy Brexit could lead to big hit for UK economy. Link
  • Apple can finally set up shop in India, thanks to the government. Link

Mobile and Emerging Tech:

  • Taco Bell tests messaging app orders via TacoBot. Link
  • UberRUSH opens its API to online merchants. Link
  • How stores will use augmented reality to make you buy more stuff. Link
  • How Taco Bell, Starbucks and other food chains are using mobile to boost order values. Link
  • A deep look inside Apple Pay’s matchmaker economics. Link

Weekly Industry Brief: 6.13.2016

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I’ve recapped industry news found around the web from the last week.  Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

If you’re wondering why I do this every week, the simplest answer is that it helps me be better at my job.  It keeps me on top of trends so I can make better decisions, identify opportunities and be competitive.  Plus, I’m pretty passionate about the whole thing.  And there is never enough to satisfy me. So I always seek more.

Hopefully it helps you too.

Brand and Retailers

  • Amazon launching a music streaming service. Link
  • Etsy’s new ultra-sustainable headquarters is filled with local, handmade furniture. Link
  • Urban Outfitters warns of falling retail sales in current quarter. Link
  • Skechers’ has quietly been making billions. Link
  • Coach unveils Disney collection. Link
  • Amazon opens tech office in downtown Minneapolis. Link
  • Fashion brands invest in express payment options. Link
  • H&M opens first store in Puerto Rico. Link

Marketing and Social Media

  • Snapchat launches a colossal expansion of its advertising, ushering a new era for the app. Link
  • Microsoft to buy Linkedin for $26.2B. Link
  • Pinterest partners with Oracle to test tracking offline sales. Link
  • Vogue introduces $200 members-only subscription. Link
  • Cultivating brand loyalty in even the toughest customer. Link
  • Apple bets on messaging emojis, Siri to keep customers loyal. Link
  • iHeartMedia and WeWork will target entrepreneurs with branded podcasts. Link
  • Sephora makes Snapchat shoppable. Link

Start Ups

  • These companies dream of becoming the Lululemon of the pajama industry. Link
  • China’s Tencent, Lenovo buy into US augmented reality startup. Link
  • How Stitch Fix uses data to pick clothes for you. Link

International

  • Amazon plans to invest $3B in India. Link
  • Skechers CEO talks international expansion. Link
  • Amazon to debut same-day grocery delivery service in London. Link
  • Rakuten to exit the UK, Austria and Span as global retrenchment continues. Link
  • H&M may reduce size of stores in India. Link
  • Ikea to finally test online shopping in Australia. Link
  • Jones New York to close entire Canadian business. Link
  • Kazakhstan could be a bright spot for retailers. Link
  • Line backs a beauty and fashion portal rolled out in Iran. Link
  • The rise of China’s shopping villages. Link

Mobile and Emerging Tech

  • Google, Baidu and the race for an edge in the global speech recognition market. Link
  • Why the maker movement matters. Link
  • Will gestures make smartwatches useful? Link
  • Next generation health. Link
  • JD.com launches drone delivery in rural China. Link
  • Everything Apple announced at WWDC in one handy list. Link

Weekly Industry Brief: 6.6.2016

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Happy Monday! Here is a recap of industry news from the last two weeks. Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Mary Meeker:

  • Mary Meeker’s 2016 internet trends report. Link
  • Mobile advertising a $22B opportunity in the US. Link
  • Internet boom times are over, says Mary Meeker. Link
  • Mary Meeker: People don’t just tolerate Snapchat ads, they play with them. Link

Brand and Retailers

  • WalMart to test last mile delivery with Uber, Lyft and Deliv. Link
  • Need Supply launches its own clothing line. Link
  • Under Armour is expanding into fashion sportswear. Link
  • Kenzo joins forces with H&M. Link
  • US and UK apparel retailers fight changing demographics. Link
  • Michael Kors shrinking its department stores business on purpose. Link
  • Salesforce to buy Demandware for $2.8B. Link
  • How AirBnB designs for every person on the planet. Link
  • Gucci partners with Conde Nast’s 23 Stories on a sponsored 4-part film directed by Gia Coppola. Link
  • Can Canada Goose come in from the cold? Link
  • High end brands are all about beauty these days. Link
  • Australian retail giant Cotton On gears up for big California expansion. Link

Marketing and Social Media

  • Outdoor “dad” brands tapping urban youth. Link
  • Retailers find success with storytelling. Link
  • With 92% of luxury retailers on WeChat, here’s how they can step up their game. Link
  • Twitter disbands commerce team, ceases product development on “buy” button. Link
  • Snapchat redesigning Discover to make it more like a newsstand. Link
  • CVS has Jimmy Kimmel to thank for move to digital receipts. Link
  • Snapchat said to have 150M daily users, surpassing Twitter. Link
  • Refinery29 launches in Germany, its first foreign language. Link
  • Twitter is inviting users to become ‘Twitter Insiders’ to help brands. Link

Start Ups

  • Meet Eponym, the eyewear startup taking on Luxottica. Link
  • Birchbox finds that cute boxes filled with makeup are not enough. Link
  • StitchFix the $250M start-up playing fashionista moneyball. Link
  • WeWork quietly opens hotel rooms in New York City. Link

International

  • Dior makes Asian ecommerce debut in South Korea. Link
  • Kors Shares Leap as Firm Buys China License for $500M. Link
  • Indian ministries divide on Apple’s retail vision. Link
  • Coach’s strong presence in China to help the company in the future. Link
  • Google is coming back to China soon. Link
  • Europe’s decision on geo-blocking and what you need to know. Link
  • Manolo Blahnik steps up in-store presence in Asia. Link
  • How New Balance ran into a wall in China. Link
  • Myntra aims to increase sales by 90% this fiscal year. Link

Mobile and Emerging Tech

  • Target to expand in-store IoT experiences. Link
  • Why China’s biggest social app has sputtered overseas. Link
  • How PayPal plans to get back on top in digital payments. Link

Weekly Industry Brief: 5.23.2016

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Happy Monday!  Check out the week’s industry news.  Sources can be find in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brand and Retailers

  • Sports Authority bankruptcy auction won by trio of liquidators. Link
  • Anthropologie’s new stores are absolutely gigantic. Link
  • Starbucks copies fast food chains with new deal. Link
  • L Group taps former Spanx CEO to lead Victoria’s Secret. Link
  • Amazon adds free restaurant delivery in Manhattan. Link
  • Nike and Olivier Rousteing collaborate on football collection. Link
  • Abercrombie appoints new brand presidents. Link
  • Uniqlo, Theory team up on shirts. Link
  • Apple shows off new retail look in San Francisco. Link
  • Gap mulls selling on Amazon. Link
  • American Eagle wins market share while others fail. Link
  • How Urban Outfitters was a Q1 sleeper success story. Link
  • TJX companies map aggressive store expansion plan. Link
  • Barnes and Noble brings beauty to colleges. Link

Marketing and Social Media

  • This mobile app pays you for your selfies while giving custom data to brands. Link
  • H&M and Bloglovin’ are offering a mentorship with Man Repeller’s Leandra Medine. Link
  • Women are loving Aerie’s ban on retouching. Link
  • How Coca Cola adapted its Olympics campaign for China. Link
  • How custom Snapchat filers have grown into a huge market. Link
  • The top spending retailers on Snapchat. Link

Start Ups

  • This start-up is helping businesses get their products made in the USA. Link

International

  • Old Navy exits Japan as it copes with sales decline. Link
  • Meet Modanisa, the Net-a-porter of Muslim fashion. Link
  • Australia’s Cotton On wants to conquer the US. Link
  • India’s Jabong sheds brands with low margins to focus on premium, lifestyle products. Link
  • Mobile payments heat up in China. Link
  • Amazon, Flipkart or Snapdeal: who will win India’s ecommerce wars? Link
  • Canada is a growth market for WalMart. Link

Mobile and Emerging Tech

  • Google and Levi’s team up on a connected jacket. Link
  • Uber confirms its testing self-driving cars in Pittsburgh. Link
  • Google rolls out messaging apps, Google Assistant and Google Home at I/O. Link
  • Affirm is partnering with Expedia and Eventbrite so you can pay for experiences over time. Link

 

Weekly Industry Brief 5.16.2016

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Thought: One day maybe I should change the title to Weekly Amazon Brief…

Below is your weekly industry brief of headlines I’ve compiled from around the web. Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brand/Retailer

  • Retail sales rise most in a year, marking US consumer comeback. Link
  • WalMart steps up attack on Amazon with two-day delivery service. Link
  • How online shopping is cannibalizing mall stores. Link
  • Gap plummets after comeback plan fails to revive sales growth. Link
  • Online marketplaces boost customer loyalty and increased AOV. Link
  • Amazon expands its handmade goods marketplace to compete with Etsy. Link
  • FedEx and eBay team up to make it easier to sell used goods online. Link
  • Plus sized fashion and the potential to increase sales. Link
  • Amazon to launch a meal kit service this fall. Link
  • Target’s Marimekko was no Lilly Pulitzer but still shows signs of success. Link
  • Ugg’s new store format reflects bigger brand. Link

Marketing/Social Media

  • Amazon takes on YouTube with launch of Amazon video direct. Link
  • Everlane opens pop-up shop in Soho to showcase shoe collection. Link
  • Here’s how generation Z girls prefer to shop and socialize online. Link
  • StyleHaul creators bet big on Milennial moms. Link
  • Why WalMart launched its own digital newsroom. Link
  • Under Armour made history with Steph Curry, now what? Link
  • PepsiCo bets big on in-house content creation. Link
  • Lowe’s uses interactive Snapchat stories to make DIY home projects a tap away. Link
  • Facebook now lets brands use video ads in Audience Network to raise awareness. Link

Start Ups

  • Bloomup raises $4M for its beauty marketplace. Link
  • Jack Threads introduces try outs hoping to reengage customers. Link
  • Jet.com enters grocery delivery foray. Link
  • Waze pilots carpooling service in Bay Area. Link

International

  • China’s VIPShop’s active customers close to 20M at the end of 2015. Link
  • Is Alibaba the real winner of this multi-million online celebrity ad auction? Link
  • Anti-counterfeiting group in China suspends Alibaba’s membership. Link
  • Mall landlords go for novelty in China. Link
  • Flipkart building mapping platform to help mark customer addresses more accurately. Link
  • Abercrombie to expand brand in Middle East. Link
  • Apple invests $1BB in Chinese ride-hailing app. Link
  • China cosmetics maker branches out into baby gear as two-child policy takes effect. Link
  • Tesco to sell British favorites through El Corte Ingles. Link
  • UK Economy set for slow growth. Link

Emerging Tech/Mobile

  • WeChat payment reached over 300K retail stores. Link
  • WayFair devotes a tech team to virtual reality. Link
  • Google working on Amazon Echo rival, Chirp. Link
  • Touchscreen mirror can hail a cab while you get ready. Link
  • McDonald’s uses virtual reality to give customers a behind-the-scenes look at food production. Link

Weekly Industry Brief: 5.9.2016

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I’m back! I’ve been traveling (China and Hong Kong! So, lots of headlines about China…) and super busy but I’m so glad to be back and catching up on industry news. I’ve been gone for a bit so here is a recap of news over the last few weeks.  Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brand/Retailer

  • Net-a-porter and Tiffany’s ecommerce exclusive. Link
  • Gilt Groupe’s founder launches new shopping app. Link
  • Why the future of ecommerce depends on better roads. Link
  • What Nordstrom’s festival tour means for retail. Link
  • Amazon challenges Netflix by opening Prime to monthly subscribers. Link
  • Amazon updates wedding registry, adds new features. Link
  • Target’s Marimekko collection opens to muted response. Link
  • Nordstrom’s new bottom-line focus results in job cuts. Link
  • Amazon shuttering Myhabit.com. Link
  • Amazon teams up with luxury merchants to sell $7,000 ball gowns. Link
  • Gap to open design studio in Brooklyn industrial complex. Link
  • Amazon reports better than expected profits in first quarter. Link
  • Amazon pledges same-day delivery to all urban areas. Link
  • Coach announces that its cutting 300 jobs. Link
  • Gap bets on basics for growth. Link
  • Aeropostale seeks bankruptcy protection, closing all Canadian stores. Link
  • Walmart is looking for new retail tech from startups. Link
  • Macy’s woos millennials with ramped-up wedding business. Link
  • The greening of Adidas. Link
  • ASOS and Wayra launch fashion tech accelerator. Link

Marketing/Social Media

  • How Snapchat killed the homepage. Link
  • Starbucks launches controversial rewards program. Link
  • Promoted tweets with hashtags have higher CPAs, lower CTRs. Link
  • Amazon has begun labeling some of its products as Prime-exclusive. Link
  • Why Land’s End is introducing an Amazon Prime-like subscription. Link
  • A commitment to unretouched images landed model Iskra Lawrence the career of her dreams. Link

Start Ups

  • Zalora, Rocket Internet’s unprofitable Asian fashion portal is selling off business units. Link
  • Amazon eyed up Everland, Le Tote and more for acquisition in a wider fashion push. Link
  • Pepsi launches emoji pop up store at Story. Link
  • This new tool wants to make the off-price clothing business easier. Link
  • Farfetch raises $110M towards global omni-channel domination. Link

International

  • China’s cult of the ordinary commands big influence. Link
  • Alibaba to buy controlling stake in Lazada for about $1B. Link
  • Abercrombie & Fitch expands Middle East presence. Link
  • Chinese economic growth last quarter will be slowest in years. Link
  • Foreign products get more expensive for Chinese shoppers. Link
  • China regulator to launch campaign to clean up ecommerce online ads. Link
  • Levi’s applies to add retail operations in India. Link
  • Flipkart eyes on becoming India’s largest furniture retailer by year end. Link
  • Myntra launches Mizuno in India. Link
  • Apple asks India to waive local sourcing requirement. Link
  • Alibaba sales surge as Chinese consumers defy economic gloom. Link
  • Gucci departs IACC following Alibaba membership. Link

Emerging Tech/Mobile

  • Shoppers flock to apps shaking up retail. Link
  • Shopping app Spring launches one of the first bots on Facebook Messenger. Link
  • Inside the making of Taco Bell’s artificially intelligent, drunk-tolerant TacoBot. Link
  • Dunkin’ Donuts to launch delivery in Boston via app. Link
  • TopShop looking for the next big thing in wearable tech. Link
  • Bots, Messenger and the future of customer service. Link
  • Toms drives home the impact of its donations through VR. Link

Weekly Industry Brief: 1.3.2016

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Hi! Happy New Year! I haven’t published in awhile because I started a new job in a new city. I’m still figuring out my routine but hope to keep publishing on a regular schedule.  Capturing news about the retail/technology industries keeps me in the loop about my own industry and hopefully some of you find it helpful as well. If you do have any feedback or suggestions for me, leave it in the comments!

Cheers,

Carolann

Below is a recap of industry news from December 2015. All sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brand/Retailer:

  • Cyber Monday Sales Top $3 Billion as Discounts Spur Buyers. Link
  • Ikea CEO Sees Online Accounting for 10% of Revenue by 2020. Link
  • Amazon is capturing bigger slice of US online holiday spending. Link
  • Yoox Net-a-Porter appoints executives from Instagram, La Rinascente to board. Link
  • H&M blames warm weather across US and Europe for sales miss. Link
  • How Primark is pushing into a cutthroat retail landscape. Link
  • How Boohoo.com releases up to 300 new products a day. Link
  • Apple doubles down on luxury image. Link
  • Alibaba hires ex-Apple investigator for global anti-piracy fight. Link
  • Holiday sales who online shift. Link
  • Hudson’s Bay is said to consider buying Gilt. Link
  • This big retailer could kill your subscription startup. Link
  • Holiday shipping delays claim retailer Jet.com. Link
  • Retailers face challenges as click and collect gains popularity. Link
  • Abercrombie & Fitch President steps down, Hollister president promoted to dual role. Link
  • More businesses are varying prices by the day, the hour, even the minute. Link
  • Retailers that dominated in 2015. Link
  • Why men are going to brick-and-mortar stores in the digital age. Link

Social/Marketing:

  • Pinterest Acquires Two Image Indexing Startups In Mobile Shopping Push. Link
  • Burberry campaign gets raw, goes 3D with DreamWorks. Link
  • Facebook plans to shape up social software for work in 2016. Link
  • Menswear site Four Pins shutting down. Link
  • Carine Roitfeld’s second collaboration with Uniqlo will hit stores in February. Link
  • A Nasty Gal and Courtney Love collaboration is happening. Link
  • Facebook tests interest-specific newsfeeds on mobile. Link
  • Snapchat is making its own original content for Discover again. Link

Startups:

  • Custom Suit Startup Indochino Wants More Physical Stores. Link
  • Four Nest Alums are opening a retail store to sell trendy tech gadgets. Link
  • A Tinder-like shopping app looks to keep shopping simple. Link
  • Lyft doubles funding with new $1B round. Link
  • Ayr to branch off from Bonobos to form as its own standalone company. Link

International:

  • Net-a-porter China’s GM talks mobile sales and Yoox merger. Link
  • Rakuten to set up shop on JD.com. Link
  • Europe’s privacy revolution sends shivers through Silicon Valley. Link
  • China 2015 retail sales to rise almost 11%, slower than 2014. Link
  • Currency fluctuations drive Chinese consumers to Japan. Link
  • Alibaba warned by US to combat sales of counterfeit products. Link
  • Abercrombie and Fitch opens first store in Dubai. Link
  • Starbucks launches ecommerce site on Alibaba’s TMall. Link
  • Walmart considers closing 5% of its Brazil stores. Link
  • Woolworths follows Macy’s, Costco with plans for TMall shopfront. Link
  • Apple Pay seeks growth in Asia, Europe after slow US adoption. Link
  • Amazon UK to expand grocery range in 2016. Link

Mobile/Emerging Tech:

  • Walmart Prepares to Enter Mobile Payments Business. Link
  • Target thinks it has enough customer trust to get into the mobile wallet game. Link
  • You can now hail an Uber via Facebook Messenger. Link
  • Who’s winning the 3D printed shoe race? Link
  • Mobile shopping up but US lags other parts of the globe. Link
  • How retailers are using mobile messaging to change the way we shop. Link

 

Weekly Industry Brief: 10.12.2015

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Below is a recap of industry news from the last week.  Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brand/Retailer:

  • Amazon challenges Etsy with handmade marketplace. Link
  • com eliminates $50 membership fee to broaden appeal. Link
  • Why big-name chefs are opening restaurants with Urban Outfitters. Link
  • More retailers offering free shipping on returns. Link
  • Uniqlo plans to curb US store openings, citing ‘limited’ brand awareness. Link
  • Amazon wants to know how its employees feel every day. Link
  • Gap slump deepens on disappointing September sales report. Link
  • Banana Republic’s creative directors steps down as brand flails. Link
  • Urban Outfitters to end on-call shifts in New York City. Link
  • Amazon building a tech business for the long haul. Link
  • Holiday sales expected to total $630B this year. Link
  • Dell buys EMC for $67B, the largest deal in tech history. Link
  • When it comes to delivery, one size doesn’t fit all. Link
  • City Sports files for bankruptcy, will sell or close down. Link

Marketing/Social:

  • Mobile search surpasses desktop at Google. Link
  • With reactions, Facebook supercharges the like button. Link
  • How advertising will work in Google’s accelerated mobile pages. Link
  • Vimeo is producing its first slate of originals. Link
  • Twitter’s Moments geared to reduce newcomer intimidation. Link
  • Marketers look to diversify their online spending. Link
  • Facebook to start soring ads’ results across its mobile app network. Link
  • Pinterest adds retailers with expanded buy button. Link
  • Snapchat on pace to overtake Facebook for video supremacy. Link

Startups:

  • Glamsquad raises another $15M to launch in more cities. Link
  • Start-ups picked by Disney hint at future tech for children. Link
  • Meet Sounds, a music app that lets you share songs on Instagram. Link

International:

  • Need Supply to open stores in Japan. Link
  • European fashion sense dominates online too. Link
  • Russia proves a bright spot for China’s online retailers. Link
  • SIngPost grows ecommerce with U.S., European services. Link
  • Apple is blocking its news app from everyone in China. Link
  • WalMart Canada to join forces with 7-Eleven for ecommerce pickup points. Link

Mobile/Emerging Tech:

  • How Urban Outfitters may boost mobile sales with visual search. Link
  • Microsoft builds its first laptop, the Surface Book. Link
  • Facebook Messenger for Apple Watch officially launches. Link
  • Abercrombie looks to revive sales with mobile-led model. Link
  • China helps offset lowest US iPhone share in the past four years. Link

Weekly Industry Brief: 6.29.2015

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Happy Monday! Check out industry news from the last week.  Sources can be found in the hyperlinked text after each headline.

Brand/Retailer:

  • Tom Ford partners with Net-a-Porter on ecommerce exclusive. Link
  • Warby Park to continue to invest in brick-and-mortar. Link
  • Verizon completes AOL acquisition for $4.4B. Link
  • Abercrombie puts shoppers front and center in turnaround effort. Link
  • Target’s Lilly Pulitzer hit underlines power shift in retail to consumers. Link
  • How Shinola went from shoe polish to the coolest brand in America. Link
  • H&M second quarter profits rise but fall short of expectations. Link
  • Warby Parker to give NYC community school students free glasses and eye exams. Link
  • American Eagle amps up digital investments. Link
  • Why your next package will be delivered by an Uber. Link
  • Lululemon issues another recall. Link
  • Converse looks to deepen music relationships with new recording studio. Link
  • H&M working on mysterious new brand. Link
  • Nike exceeds profit estimates on new products and athleisure trend. Link
  • Barnes & Noble files plan for spinning off campus bookstores. Link
  • H&M banks on a fashion-conscious fashion conscience with sustainability strategy. Link
  • Inside Marriott’s attempt to win over millennials. Link
  • Online fashion retailers tap offline opportunities. Link
  • Zulily tests online returns program. Link

Marketing/Social:

  • ShopStyle brings ecommerce to Snapchat, with assist from influencers. Link
  • Facebook’s new signup ads that auto-fill your email or phone number. Link
  • Instagram’s new search update makes it easier to explore the world. Link
  • Unilever gets in touch with Vice’s feminine side. Link
  • Now you can use Messenger without Facebook. Link
  • Google gives Gmail users the ability to undo send. Link
  • Now Instagram wants to be a source for real-time news. Link
  • Facebook claims a photo-recognition breakthrough. Link
  • Tumblr launches Tumblr TV, a gif search engine with full-screen viewing mode. Link
  • Instagram to take on Twitter with updated photo feed. Link
  • Apple wins Cannes Lions top prize for its ‘Shot on iPhone 6’ ad campaign. Link
  • Snapchat is teaming up with The Daily Mail and the world’s largest ad agency to launch a native advertising firm. Link

Start-ups:

  • Tinder is going public. Link
  • Postmates raises $80M in push toward $1 deliveries. Link
  • Olapic raises $15M. Link
  • Online jewelry startup BaubleBar to open retail stores. Link
  • OneFineStay, a high-end AirBnB rival confirms $40M funding round. Link
  • Same-day shopping app Curbside picks up $25M more in funding. Link

International:

  • JD.com partners with ZestFinance to offer credit services to Chinese customers. Link
  • How online retail is erasing borders. Link
  • Missguided launches first UK physical presence with Selfridges concession. Link
  • Forever 21 is set to launch flagship Sydney shop. Link

Mobile/Emerging Tech:

  • Android Wear gets new watch faces from Hello Kitty, Angry Birds and 15 other mega brands. Link
  • Apple Watch launches in seven new countries, coming to three more in July. Link
  • Apple researching geo-fencing technology that could make errands easier. Link
  • Uber hires former Google Maps chief to work on advanced research. Link
  • Amazon wants to turn its personal assistant, Alexa, into a leading platform. Link
  • Apple Music will let you stream 100,000 of your own tracks when iOS9 launches. Link

WEEKLY INDUSTRY BRIEF: 6.1.2015

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

Brand/Retailer:

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

Marketing/Social:

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

Start-ups:

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

International:

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

Mobile/Emerging Tech:

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

Misc.:

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