Mike Ashley’s Frasers Says It’s Taken Control of Hugo Boss
The British retail group has pushed its stake in the German apparel brand above 50 percent in a move that will turn Hugo Boss into a subsidiary of Frasers.
bits-and-bytes
Technology
Bits & Bytes | Inside Amazon’s Private Labels, The Supreme Court E-Commerce Tax
This week, a Supreme Court decision challenges the status of e-commerce retailers, while Amazon quietly promotes its in-house products to consumers.
Technology
Bits & Bytes | Google to Invest in JD.com, Too Many Ads Discourage Shoppers
This week, Google places a $550 million bet on China's second-largest e-commerce player , while too many ads turn away online shoppers.
Technology
Bits & Bytes | H&M Tests Interactive Mirrors, Luxury Brands Use Apps for Event Spaces
This week, H&M tries facial recognition mirrors in its New York flagship store, while location finding apps become a growing phenomena for luxury brands.
Technology
Bits & Bytes | L'Oréal Invests in Start-Ups, Slowing Internet Growth
This week, L'Oréal acquires its first beauty tech start-up ModiFace, while a new tech industry report suggests a slowing growth in Internet users.
Technology
Bits & Bytes | The Retailer Amazon Can't Destroy, Facial Recognition in Stores
This week, Ulta is one Amazon's main competitors in the beauty space, while stores could be tracking customers with facial recognition technology.
Technology
Bits & Bytes | Zara's High-Tech Flagship, Amazon Sales to Match Walmart's
This week, Zara opens a London flagship with automated order collection points and self-checkout, while Amazon's US sales are set to match Walmart's in three years.
Technology
Bits & Bytes | LVMH Reportedly Backs Lyst, Google's Style Match Feature
This week, LVMH allegedly leads a new round of investment in Lyst, while Google launches a new image recognition technology.
Technology
Bits & Bytes | Instagram Launches Commerce Payments, US Online Spending Passes $100 Billion
This week, Instagram offers a native payments feature for some users, while US online spending grows 14.4 percent year-on-year.
Technology
Bits & Bytes | Apple Moves Into Media, Faces Are the New Currency
This week, Apple aims to become a luxury fashion lifestyle and content brand, while faces could turn into digital calling cards.
Technology
Bits & Bytes | Apple's Next Frontier Are Glasses, How Brands Used Tech at Coachella
This week, Apple will use AR to reinvent glasses, while some fashion brands used technology to bring their activations to life at the festival.
Technology
Bits & Bytes | The RealReal Hunts for Funding, Robots to Replace Humans in Retail
This week, the luxury resale company wants to raise $100 million in funding, while JD.com's Richard Liu says AI will take over retail.
Technology
Bits & Bytes | Condé Nast's Pivot to Video, Alibaba Invests in Facial-Recognition Tech
This week, Condé Nast bets on video to drive its publications forward, while Alibaba invests in major player in China's artificial intelligence industry.
The News in Brief
Shein Agrees to Pay $100 Million to Settle US FTC Probe
The settlement, equivalent to 44 percent of the ultra fast-fashion company’s second-quarter profit, is the latest blow amid regulatory and tax crackdowns in Europe and the US that have hampered Shein’s growth.
Kering Drops 12% as Luxury Braces for Tough Winter
The recovery long promised by luxury brands seems nowhere in sight, as the expansion of war in the Middle East, along with China’s tax crackdown on the wealthy, piled further pressure on the world’s biggest luxury conglomerates in the third quarter, and executives buckled in for a tough winter.
UK Retail Sales Fall 0.4% in September, More Than Forecast
Sales fell in September as above-average temperatures hit demand for autumn clothing.
Elle Launches Moroccan Edition
Hitting newsstands in October, the magazine marks Elle’s 51st international edition, published under licence by the Geomedia group.
David’s Bridal Plans Spinoff and IPO of AI Wedding Planning Platform Pearl
Pearl, a subsidiary of David’s Bridal, will own David’s Bridal and license its intellectual property back to the bridalwear brand. David’s Bridal CEO Kelly Cook will serve as Pearl’s CEO.
L’Oréal Sales Beat Expectations as Premium Products Surge
The French giant handily beat expectations on strong demand for hair products at salons and premium skincare from its dermatological division.
P&G Beats Revenue Estimates, Flags Bigger Hit to Annual Profit
The maker of Pantene shampoo was helped by strong personal care demand, but expects higher commodity costs to reduce profit by about $1.4 billion this year.