One last post for September! Here is a recap of industry news from the last week. As always, sources are in the hyperlinked text after the headline.
Brands + Retailers
- Forever 21 files for bankruptcy. Fast Company
- Barney’s receives interest from potential buyers. The Wall Street Journal
- WeWork still needs cash after pulling IPO. The Wall Street Journal
- Apple plans to bring feature-length films to theaters. The Wall Street Journal
- Lease of faith: Why churches are going into malls. Retail Dive
- Healthcare may eventually become a bigger business for Best Buy than selling electronics. Forbes
- McKinsey to open a store at Mall of America. Fortune
- Rent the Runway pauses taking new customers as inventory and supply chain issues mount. CNBC
- Tod’s appoints former Google exec to amp up digital efforts. The Business of Fashion
- Old Navy is set to split from Gap. Fortune
- Uber is testing letting users record audio if they feel unsafe on their ride. Fast Company
- Mattel’s Barbie bets big on gender-neutral dolls. Fortune
- Diesel and Coke team up on fashion collection made from recycled packaging. AdAge
- Amazon focuses on Alexa privacy as it unveils new gadgets. AdAge
- Sneakers are set to outsell fashion footwear in the US for the first time. Quartz
Marketing + Social Media
- Instagram launches reminders to support product drops. Vogue
- Snapchat extends video ad limit to three minutes. AdAge
- How to create an online community that people will pay for. Harvard Business Review
- The age of anxiety is making wellness a generational obsession. Glossy
- Why brands no longer need CMOs. Vogue Business
- Ipsy’s $500M in revenue is driven by influencers. The Business of Fashion
- The Food Network’s Peloton-style streaming service will bring Guy Fieri into your kitchen. The Verge
- Retailers look to spend more on Amazon advertising. Modern Retail
- How Chevy is winning with Gen-Z and millennials. Forbes
- Pinterest users are more likely to try new CPG products. AdWeek
- Instagram launches a ‘creators’ account to encourage more creation. TechCrunch
- Cracking the code on podcast advertising for customer acquisition. TechCrunch
- Twitch tweaks its visual identity. AdWeek
- YouTube TV is now available on Fire TV devices. TechCrunch
Startup + Emerging Tech + Acquisitions
- Facebook to buy startup for controlling computers with your mind. AdAge
- The new ways retailers are watching you shop. The Business of Fashion
- DoorDash suffers data breach affecting 4.9M people. TechCrunch
- Hyundai is getting into the flying car business. TechCrunch
- Sephora’s Accelerate startups stress sustainability. Glossy
- Unilever sees promise in blockchain ad-buying pilot. Campaign US
- Google brings wearable tech to Levi’s trucker jacket. TechCrunch
International
- The biggest trend in Chinese social media is fading and another is already taking its place. CNBC
- India’s holiday commerce sales to test severity of shopping slump. The Wall Street Journal
- Facebook tests hiding like counts, like Instagram, in Australia. The Next Web
- PayPal to enter China through GoPay acquisition. TechCrunch