Weekly News Update // Week of January 6, 2020

Here's TRAUB's roundup of recent retail news. Bergdorf Goodman's new bistro, Goodman's Bar, opens in the men's store, Amazon readies for leap into luxury fashion, Bud Light kicks up live soccer experience with VR activation, and more. 

 M&A and INVESTMENTS

• P&G Acquires Women’s Shaving Products DTC Startup Billie for undisclosed sum Crunchbase News
• Off-White backer, New Guards Group, adds Ambush brand to its portfolio BoF
• ClassPass, finally a unicorn, raises $285M in new funding TechCrunch
• Plant-based beverage maker OWYN raises $7.5M to expand, innovate FoodDive
  
  

INDUSTRY NEWS

Bergdorf Goodman’s New Bistro, Goodman’s Bar

Bergdorf Goodman shoppers are in for a treat—literally. The iconic shopping store has officially opened its new luxury bar and restaurant Goodman’s Bar inside its Men’s Store with some all-star assistance: Michelin starred chef Austin Johnson of Paris’ Frenchie, as well as former Eleven Madison Park wine director Dustin Wilson. Haute Living 

Amazon Readies for Leap Into Luxury Fashion

After nearly a decade of strategizing, iterating — and false starts — 2020 looks to be the year Amazon steps onto the runway, and into the luxury fashion limelight. According to industry sources, the retail giant is preparing to launch a luxury proposition in the first half, a digital shopping platform with big-name brands operating concessions similar to those in high-end specialty stores. A spokeswoman for Amazon said she couldn’t “comment on rumors or speculation.”Sources said the platform will be available in the U.S. only, for now, with plans to roll out internationally. WWD

L’Oréal’s New At-Home Device Makes Personalized Beauty Products, Signaling the Democratization of Cosmetics

L’Oréal’s next big tech bet is on a tiny device that’s only 6.5 inches tall and weighs just over one pound, but will let beauty enthusiasts create their own personalized cosmetics at home. At CES in Las Vegas this week, the French cosmetics and beauty giant will debut a new hardware device called Perso, which whips up compressed beauty formulas from physical cartridges to create on-the-spot skincare, lipstick, and foundations. Think of it like a mini makeup Keurig, but instead of getting a specialized espresso drink, you’ll be creating a unique pink lipstick or skin cream. Fortune

Bud Light Kicks Up Live Soccer Experience with VR Activation

Bud Light is giving soccer fans in Las Vegas a chance to virtually experience a game 1,500 miles away with immersive technology. The beer brand procured four seats from Mexico City's famed Estadio Azteca, the only stadium in the world to host two FIFA World Cup finals, for fans to sit in while they wear a VR headset to watch a live game. By letting multiple fans try out the VR headsets in a social setting like a bar, the experience will be less isolating than viewing from home while also exposing consumers to immersive content and the technology that powers it. Mobile Marketer

Allbirds Plans to Be Even More Sustainable With Its Latest Funding Round 

The San Francisco-based company today announced it is raising a Series D funding round led by Baillie Gifford and Fidelity Management & Research Company. As it seeks to become carbon-positive — to remove more carbon dioxide from the planet than it produces — Allbirds plans to use the new funds to support overall growth as well as to invest in sustainable solutions. In particular, the wool sneaker brand plans to use Series D funds to invest in regenerative agriculture, renewable energy across its supply chain and the elimination of unrecycled plastics. Footwear News

Goop Expands Wholesale Footprint With Sephora

On Tuesday, Goop’s private-label beauty brand, Goop Beauty, will begin rolling out a new partnership with Sephora. First, Goop will launch its nine wellness products through Sephora.com, before debuting its GoopGlow collection of skin-care and ingestibles products in-store in 39 Sephora U.S. locations, followed by 14 doors in Canada on Feb. 28. Goop’s beauty products will be in 100 Sephora stores by the end of the year, and its detox collection called G.Tox and GoopGenes product collections will be added to the assortment this summer. Though Goop has standalone (as well as temporary) stores in places like Brentwood, California, and New York City and sells a select number of beauty products in clean retailers such as The Detox Market and Credo, Sephora will be its largest partner. Glossy

Grubhub Considers Strategic Options Including Possible Sale

Grubhub Inc. is considering strategic options including a possible sale amid increased competition and a recent decline in its shares, according to people familiar with the matter. The Chicago food-delivery provider has tapped financial advisers for help with a review of potential moves that could include a sale of the company or an acquisition, the people said. Also on the menu is what to do in case an activist shows up in the stock, they said. WSJ

Why Gucci Is Investing Big in These Five Cities

At first glance, the cities of Dalian, Kunming, Wuhan, Shenyang and Wuxi have little in common. One thing now uniting these five cities is their identification by Gucci's parent company as areas ripe for brick-and-mortar expansion. Kering has signed a multi-faceted co-operation agreement with Hang Lung Properties, one of China’s largest real estate developers, to open 14 new boutiques for five brands in six cities throughout the country. BoF

COMINGS & GOINGS

• Kylie Cosmetics names Christoph Honnefelder CEO BoF
• Vince Holdings appoints Steven Cateron as Senior Creative Director for Rebecca Taylor and Parker WWD
• John Lewis Boss to exit after weak Christmas sales BoF
• Lululemon appoints Nikki Neuburger first Chief Brand Officer BoF
• LVMH names Hélène Valade environmental lead BoF

GOOD READS

• Is Resale Actually Good for the Planet? BoF
• How Instagram is Using its @shop Account to Get Up-And-Coming Brands to Sell on the Platform Glossy
• Real Men Don't Rent New York Times