Hi! Here is your weekly recap of industry news. Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands + Retailers

• Handbag sales reveal a major shift in where consumers are shopping.  CNBC
• Toys ‘R’ Us taps Target to fulfill online orders.  AdAge
• How Glossier grew from millennial catnip to billion-dollar juggernaut.  Vanity Fair 
• LVMH bets on a mental health-focused streetwear label.  Fast Company
• Sears, Kmart to shutter more stores by year’s end.  The Wall Street Journal
• Amazon changes “add-on” policy to allow small-item fast delivery.  Vox
• With new sampling program, Uniqlo takes page from DTC brands.  Modern Retail
• Walmart subsidizing some vendors in price wars with Amazon.  AdAge
• Target expands Goodfellow & co into razors.  Glossy
• Why eBay, Stripe and MasterCard are bailing on Facebook’s Libra. Fast Company
• Victoria’s Secret exec resigns as retailer trims HQ staff.  CNN
• Best Buy promises loyalty members Black Friday price matching.  Star Tribune
• Wegman’s fan count the days to Brooklyn store opening.  The Wall Street Journal
• How Unilever plans to dramatically slash its use of plastic.  Fast Company 
• Google is funding climate-change deniers.  Fast Company
• Kith’s co-founder in final talks to buy Barneys New York.  GQ

Marketing + Social Media

• Facebook agrees to pay advertisers $44M over inflated video stats.  AdAge
• Google introduces price-tracking and enhanced visual search in latest ecommerce bid.  RetailDive
• Abercrombie & Fitch focuses on mental health.  MediaPost
• Apps hit $21.9M in global Q3 revenue.  TechCrunch
• Instagram introduces Threads, taking on Snapchat messaging. Business of Fashion
• Reddit strikes sharing deal with Snap.  AdAge
• Gen Z spends more time on YouTube than Netflix.  AdWeek
• “Aspirational realness,” the Instagram cool-girl look disguises advertising as authenticity.  Quartzy
• Disney+ tweets full lineup of movies and shows coming to its platform.  TechCrunch
• Are ‘closet accounts’ the future of fashion journalism?  The New York Times
• Brands build buzz with TikTok initiatives.  Glossy
• Amazon Music arrives on Apple TV.  TechCrunch
• Facebook upgrades business capabilities ahead of holidays.  Social Media Today
• Pinterest unveils mental health resources.  AdWeek
• Amazon nibbles away at Google’s search advertising dollars.  AdAge

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

• Comcast and SK Telecom form joint eSports company.  ZDNet
• Uber to acquire majority stake in grocery-delivery service CornerShop.  The Wall Street Journal
• Amazon develops drones that won’t crash into other things.  Fortune
• Whole Foods welcomes robotic barista.  Supermarket News
• Dyson scraps plan for electric car.  BBC

International

• Why luxury goods are so expensive in China.  CNBC
• TMall is becoming luxury fashion’s online gateway to China.  Quartz
• How China is fueling the growth of beauty brands.  CNBC
• Nestle’s personalized vitamin-pack subscription service set to expand globally.  Forbes
• Flipkart confirms its entering the the food retail business in India.  TechCrunch

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

Brands + Retailers

• Sephora to close all US stores on Wednesday for Inclusion Training. Fast Company 
• Gap stock falls the most since 2016 after weakness extends to Old Navy.  AdAge
• Abercrombie & Fitch closing 3 flagship stores.  Forbes
• Neiman Marcus, H&M dip their toes in fashion resale.  CNN
• Nestle’s new plant-based burger wants in on the fake-meat market.  Fast Company
• Amazon launches free one-day shipping on 10M items.  The Wall Street Journal
• Walmart’s next CTO is a veteran of Amazon and Google.  AdAge
• Ben & Jerry’s has a CBD ice cream ready to roll out when the FDA makes it legal.  Fast Company
• Virgil Abloh’s new Nike store is a peek at the future of retail.  Fast Company
• Bed Bath & Beyond could put some businesses up for sale. CNBC
• What Target’s expansion of private label Goodfellow and Co means for competitors. Glossy
• Sports Illustrated brand is bought by Authentic Brands Group.  The New York Times

Marketing + Social Media

• What if Instagram got rid of likes?  The New York Times
• NBCU debuts shoppable ads during the French Open.  AdWeek
• Can J.Crew find itself – and its customers – again? Vanity Fair
• Facebook introduces Avatars, its Bitmoji competitor.  TechCrunch
• Inside ShopBop’s largest influencer campaign to date.  Glossy
• How to use catalogues in a digital age.  The Business of Fashion
• Millennials and Gen-Z are transforming the luxury market.  Forbes
• Ikea recreated the sets from The Simpsons and Friends.  Fast Company
• How music starts became fashion’s most bankable collaborators.  Vogue
• YouTube is targeting direct-to-consumer brands with a ‘DTC council.’ Digiday
• How Walmart is going after brands like Kellogg’s for retail ad dollars.  AdAge

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

• The RealReal files for IPO.  CNBC
• Amazon buys part of ad tech company Sizmek.  CNBC
• Fitness startup Mirror nears $300M valuation with fresh funding.  TechCrunch
• Cookware startup Great Jones launches Potline, a text service for recipes and advise.  TechCrunch
• Amazon reportedly in talks to buy Boost Mobile.  Wired

International

• Ulta plans launch in Canada, its first international market entry.  Women’s Wear Daily
• How Shiseido reaches Chinese consumers.  McKinsey
• Payment provider Klarna to open a fashion pop-up in London.  Fashion Network
• GDPR one year later.  Forbes

I hope everyone enjoyed a nice long weekend.  Here is a quick rundown of headlines from the last couple of weeks. Sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands + Retailers:

• Urban Outfitters to launch clothing rental concept.  The Wall Street Journal
• Whole Foods is testing convenience store model in New York City.  Business Insider
• Amazon bets on Kohl’s as its own brick-and-mortar efforts falter.  Bloomberg
• Dress Barn to close all stores.  Reuters
• Target’s profitable same-day delivery strategy is driving digital sales.  Digiday
• TopShop files for bankruptcy in the US.  The Wall Street Journal
• The Body Shop parent company to buy Avon. Bloomberg
• Home Depot to bring next day delivery to half of US.  Business Insider
• L Brands real secret is Bath & Body Works.  Retail Dive
• Nike says its changing contracts to protect pay during pregnancy.  CNBC
• What the Harry’s acquisition means for retailers.  Retail Dive
• SteinMart to put Amazon lockers in 200 stores.  TechCrunch
• Nordstrom sets October for first New York City flagship opening.  Bloomberg
• Digital innovation drove Walmart’s Q1 sales.  USA Today
• Macy’s books better results as digital sales grow.  The Wall Street Journal
• Walmart, Target quietly exploring CBD product lines.  NY Post
• Amazon to pay employees to start their own delivery service.  VentureBeat

Marketing + Social Media

• Walmart boasts the most app downloads.  Forbes
• Sephora whittles down 15K influencers to 24.  AdWeek
• Nike’s latest Jordans are only available on Fortnite.  AdAge
• Target was the first chain to master high-end fashion collabs. Here’s how. Vox
• Men are a multi-billion dollar opportunity for beauty industry. CNBC
• Why online retailers are experimenting with invite-only access. Forbes
• How Google is pitching retailers as it looks to grow its commercial business.  Digiday
• TikTok parent company working on its own smartphone.  TechCrunch
• How Pinterest plans to support more self-serve advertisers.  AdAge
• Etsy taps Google Cloud to improve search, juicing sales.  The Wall Street Journal
• Trader Joe’s unveils YouTube channel. Delish
• Instagram adds Stories to explore tab.  TechCrunch

Start Up + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

• Target eyes acquisition of ad tech provider.  The Wall Street Journal
• Amazon is working on a device that can detect human emotions.  AdAge
• Amazon leads investment in UK-based food delivery start-up Deliveroo.  VentureBeat
• Adidas invents a shoe meant to be repeatedly recycled.  Glossy

International

• In India, users can now book flights on Amazon.  LiveMint
• Ikea to open its first Mexico store in 2020.  Reuters
• Meet the 27-year-old set to be the first woman to co-found a $1B start up in India.  CNBC
• Marks & Spencer to speed up store closure plan.  Retail Gazette
• Alibaba revenue up 51%.  TechCrunch
• Amazon expands in-store pick up options in Europe.  Bloomberg

 

 

Here is a quick rundown of industry news from the last week!  As always, sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.

Brands + Retailers

• NBC leans into shoppable TV. AdAge
• Target wants to build a media business to rival Amazon.  Digiday
• Apple cracks down on apps that fight iPhone addiction.  The New York Times 
• Hudson’s Bay says selling Lord & Taylor is on the table.  Forbes
• Gucci debuts its beauty collection.  Vogue
• Why the expansion of Nordstrom Local is important.  Forbes
• Sephora sees growing demand for CBD beauty brands.  Glossy
• Walmart rolls out new system to reward, support store staff.  Bloomberg
• Nordstrom to add two mini stores in its New York expansion.  The New York Times 

Marketing + Social Media

• Instagram makes it easy to shop from celebrity’s posts.  AdAge
• Google tests shoppable recommendations in YouTube videos.  MobileMarketer
• Search-based ads bring in bulk of Amazon’s revenue.  eMarketer
• Now Shopify users can easily advertise on Snapchat.  Forbes
• H&M quits print catalog after almost 40 years  Bloomberg
• Google now lets you auto-delete your app activity, location and web history.  TechCrunch
• The rise of live-streamer style.  The New York Times 
• YouTube gets exclusive streaming rights to 13 MLB games this year.  Fortune
• Google may be about to kill affiliate marketing links.  Fast Company 

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

• VC firms polish their own brands to chase the next consumer hit.  The Wall Street Journal
• Retail has big hopes for A.I but shoppers may have other ideas.  Fortune
• L’Oreal USA brings back its accelerator program.  Glossy
• Lowe’s will put FedEx delivery bot to the test.  RetailDive
• How exactly Stichfix’s “Tinder-for-clothes” learns your style.  Quartz
• Why there haven’t been more billion-dollar acquisitions for direct-to-consumer commerce startups.  The New Consumer 

International

• China’s $670B “sheconomy” is growing like crazy.  CNBC
• India’s two-week ban cost TikTok 15 million users.  CNN
• Amazon rebrands souq.com in the UAE.  CNBC

Happy Monday! Somehow it’s the last Monday of April. Here is a recap of industry news from the last week – as always, sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline!

Brands + Retailers

• Alphabet sees stock fall 7% after reporting slowing growth.  Fast Company 
• Google drone delivery gets FAA approval.  Bloomberg
• Walmart, Target shares tumble as Amazon announces one-day shipping for Prime members. CNBC
• Packaging is killing the planet – these start-ups offer luxe, sustainable solutions.  Vogue
• Small cosmetics brands make over the beauty market by targeting millennials.  The Wall Street Journal
• Uber reveals a billion-dollar Q1 loss ahead of its IPO roadshow.  Fast Company
• Lululemon is going to start making shoes.  CNBC
• WeWork parent company The We Company files confidential paperwork for IPO.  Fast Company 
• Amazon will spend $800M to bring free one-day shipping to Prime.  Fast Company
• Amazon beats optimistic profit expectations for Q1.  TechCrunch
• H&M will disclose supplier info to online shoppers.  MarketWatch
• Big-box retailers set their sights on digital newsfronts.  AdAge
• T-shirt recycling is here and it could transform fashion.  Fast Company
• How Rent the Runway is capitalizing on the growth of luxury childrenswear.  Forbes
• Marriott expands home-sharing to US as hotels react to AirBnB. AdAge
• 60-year-old brand Barbie leads Mattel’s turnaround.  Forbes
• CVS to add in-store SmileDirectClub shops.  USA Today
• Sweetgreen is reversing its cashless policy.  Forbes
• P&G veteran tapped as president of Ulta Beauty.  Biz Journals

Marketing + Social Media

• Inside Amazon’s charm offensive to win over Madison Avenue budgets.  Business Insider
• Shopify introduces new Snapchat ad capabilities to help merchants reach more customers.  AdWeek
• Facebook says messaging and WhatsApp can save privacy.  USA Today
• Amazon Alexa reviewers can access customers’ home addresses. AdAge
• Amazon rolls out direct marketing for PillPack.  Retail Dive
• The rise of live-streamer style.  The New York Times
• P&G’s docs-style videos exclusive to Hulu.  AdAge
• Snapchat goes after elite brands with exclusive ad platform.  AdAge
• Teens are getting rich off of this social shopping app.  Business Insider
• NFL picks stoppable Instagram posts for draft hat sales.  Mobile Marketer
• Pew report: US Twitter users skew younger, Democratic.  TechCrunch

Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions

• Walmart rolls out AI-powered concept store.  Inc
• Zillow launches AI-powered 3D home tours in the US and Canada. VentureBeat 
• Packaging is killing the planet – these start-ups offer luxe, sustainable solutions.  Vogue
• Slack files to go public.  TechCrunch

International

• How online giants lose ground in Japan to physical retail stores.  South China Morning Post
• H&M debuts home concept in London.  Retail Gazette
• Why Walmart’s China strategy focuses on grocery.  Digiday
• AmazonPay launches peer-to-peer payments in India.  TechCrunch