Business
Coverage from the Business desk.
Retail Tech Speeds Delivery but Rivals Catch Up Fast, Squeezing Margins
Retail technology can drive rapid growth while simultaneously eroding margins once competitors copy the same capabilities, Flying Fish Lab founder Mário Braz de Matos told the Retail Asia Summit 2026 in Singapore.
Neko Health Brings Its Full-Body Scan Model to the U.S. After $700 Million Raise
Neko Health, the preventative-health startup founded by Spotify's Daniel Ek, has raised $700 million and expanded into the American market. It is not the only company betting on consumer body scanning as a new front in healthcare.
Notes Dubai to Launch as the Gulf's First Niche Perfumery Fair
Messe Frankfurt Middle East will debut Notes Dubai, a trade fair for niche, independent and artistic fragrance, from Jan. 21 to 23 at the Dubai Mall Exhibition Center, with “Genesis” as the theme of its first edition.
Stride Consumer Partners Closes Oversubscribed $550M Second Fund
Stride Consumer Partners has closed its second fund at $550 million, an oversubscribed raise that landed at its hard cap and came in 30% larger than the firm's 2022 debut vehicle.
Caraway turns big cookware lawsuit over PFAS claims into a marketing message
Groupe SEB and Meyer sued cookware startup Caraway in February, accusing it of false and misleading advertising. Caraway has since leaned into the litigation, telling shoppers it was "sued by big cookware."
Factory CEO accuses board adviser of leaking secrets to Cognition rival
Factory co-founder Matan Grinberg says he removed board adviser Chris Degnan over claims of sharing confidential information with competitor Cognition, hours before Degnan announced he had joined Cognition as chief revenue officer.
Estée Lauder Discloses Fiscal 2026 Executive Pay, With CEO Package at $20.58 Million
The Estée Lauder Cos. detailed fiscal 2026 compensation for its top executives in its annual report, with president and chief executive Stéphane de La Faverie receiving a total package of $20.58 million, up from $9.6 million a year earlier.
So… Who Was Able to Concentrate on Work These Past Three Days?
As China gears up for the National Day Golden Week, youth on the internet was spiraling over the grueling reality of getting through the pre-holiday hump. As China gears up for the National Day Golden Week, youth on the internet was spiraling over the grueling reality of getting through the pre-holiday hump.
Amazon Ads Renames Unified Platform to Amazon Ads Agent, Unveils Full-Funnel and DVA+ Tools
At its Unboxed conference in San Francisco, Amazon Ads rebranded its unified buying platform as Amazon Ads Agent and launched Full-Funnel Campaigns and DVA+, products that merge previously separate ad buying channels under AI-driven execution.
Flow Engineering raises $50M Series B at $750M valuation for AI hardware design tools
San Francisco-based Flow Engineering has raised a $50 million Series B at a $750 million valuation, co-led by Valor Equity Partners and Atreides Management, with Sequoia Capital participating.
Beauty Shoppers Want In-Store Trial and Brief Guidance, Adviser Survey Finds
A Beauty Barrage survey of 400 field advisers shows that the inability to try products in-store is the top frustration for beauty shoppers, while TikTok dominates brand discovery. Most shoppers prefer short, helpful guidance over high-touch consultations.
Portuguese footwear makers take on global fashion weeks through designer tie-ups
Shoes made in Portugal appeared in roughly 20 runway shows across New York, Paris, Milan and London, as manufacturers paired with international designers for the 2026 season.
Singapore Shoppers Lean on AI Assistants, but 58% Balk at Letting Them Pay
Almost three-quarters of Singapore consumers now shop with AI assistants, yet fewer than a third are comfortable letting those assistants complete a purchase, according to Adyen's 2026 Singapore Retail Report.
Sephora to Enter 100 Marks & Spencer Stores From Spring 2027 as UK Comeback Builds
Sephora plans to open shop-in-shops inside 100 Marks & Spencer stores from spring 2027, part of the beauty retailer's UK comeback after an 18-year absence, according to Europe and Middle East president Catherine Spindler.
Jacquemus Opens Miami Design District Store, Eyes Mexico City and Madrid Next
The French fashion house has unveiled a two-floor boutique in Miami Design District, with new stores planned for Mexico City and a six-month tie-up in Madrid.
Coal Drops Yard signs RunLimited and Martha's for King's Cross mix
London's Coal Drops Yard has added two tenants to its line-up: running lifestyle brand RunLimited, which has already opened, and beauty concept Martha's, due in November, as operator The King's Cross Group continues to develop its 500,000 sq ft retail and leisure offer.
Anthropologist Giulia Mensitieri Exposes Fashion's Precarious Labour in New Graphic Novel
After 15 years of fieldwork, anthropologist Giulia Mensitieri documents exploitation and precarious working conditions in fashion in 'Fashion: The Most Beautiful Job in the World', published October 1 as a graphic novel.
Chocodate Unveils Destination-Led Travel Retail-Exclusive Packs at TFWA Cannes
Dubai-based Chocodate is presenting a new travel retail-exclusive range with destination-specific packaging across six regional editions at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes, led by a UAE pack featuring the Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab.
Travel Retail Fine Wine Alliance Returns to Cannes with Expanded Line-Up
The Travel Retail Fine Wine Alliance is making its fifth appearance at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes, showcasing wines from its members’ portfolios and welcoming Herita Marzotto Wine Estates as a new member focused on sustainable winemaking.
Retailers Chase 'Phantom Inventory' Losses With AI Stock Rebalancing
Stock that exists in a retailer's system but cannot be bought is quietly costing sales, and Kearney estimates that closing the availability gap could lift revenue by as much as 1%. AI-assisted inventory rebalancing is being deployed to shrink that gap, cutting transfer-planning time by as much as 90%.
AI Data Center Boom Dominates New York Climate Week, Dividing Climate Tech Founders
This year's New York Climate Week was shaped by the AI buildout, with climate tech founders and investors split over the data centers driving demand for new natural gas plants. Many energy-focused startups have repitched themselves around AI to land fresh funding.
L Catterton Amasses a $40 Billion Bet on Travel and Experiences
L Catterton, the consumer-focused investment firm tied to LVMH, has quietly built a broad travel portfolio spanning private aviation, river cruising, online travel, spas and live events. The firm manages about $40 billion and ranks among the world's largest investors dedicated to consumer businesses.
Unilever Wellbeing chief says beauty and wellness lines are blurring
Jostein Solheim, CEO of Unilever Wellbeing, told Groceryshop attendees in Las Vegas this week that shoppers are moving away from appearance-led beauty routines toward a science-backed blend of beauty, health and everyday wellbeing.
Luxury Hotels Said to Trail Fashion in Innovation and Branding
Luxury hospitality has long been viewed as lagging other luxury categories — notably fashion, watches and jewellery — in innovation, branding and consumer research, as fashion houses push deeper into immersive customer experiences.
Tesla Pushes Roadster 2 Reveal to Oct. 15, Citing Severe Weather
Tesla has again postponed the debut of its redesigned second-generation Roadster, moving the Waco, Texas, event from October 1 to October 15 because of forecast severe weather.
Uber to Add Vacation Rentals via Expedia as Airbnb Sets 2027 AI Agent Debut
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi confirmed the company will add vacation rental content through its Expedia Group integration, while Airbnb's Brian Chesky pledged on stage to launch an AI agent in 2027.
Canadian Denim Brand Duer Launches Quarterly Print Magazine Interval
Duer, a Canadian performance jeans brand, is launching a quarterly print magazine called Interval. The first issue arrives in October and will be distributed in the U.S., Canada and the U.K.
AMD to Buy World Labs in $8.2 Billion AI Deal, Fei-Fei Li to Join as Chief Scientist
AMD has agreed to acquire World Labs, the deep learning startup founded by AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li, for $8.2 billion. Li will join AMD as executive vice president and chief scientist once the deal closes.
Hotel CEOs Converge on AI's Role: Better Staff, Not Fewer of Them
Leaders from Hilton, Hyatt, Accor, Wyndham and Banyan Group told a New York travel industry forum in September 2026 that AI should sharpen hotel employees' performance. They parted ways on how quickly and how broadly to adopt it.
Charles & Keith Now Sells in More Than 30 Countries as Singapore Labels Chase Premium Status
Charles & Keith, founded in a local shopping centre, now reaches shoppers in more than 30 countries, offering a template for how Singapore's homegrown brands scale beyond their home market.
Knix's Seamless Invisible Cotton Underwear Took 18 Months and 31 Prototypes
Knix has launched Invisible Cotton, a seamless cotton underwear line that required 18 months of development, 31 prototypes and 1,700 hours of wear testing before it reached the market.
Modal Labs Nears $750M Round at $15.75B Valuation, Led by Accel
The AI inference provider is close to a $750 million funding round led by Accel that would value it at $15.75 billion, more than tripling its valuation from four months ago.
UK tribunal lets part of Apple-Amazon consumer claim proceed
Britain's Competition Appeal Tribunal has allowed a portion of a consumer lawsuit against Apple and Amazon to move ahead over claims the two companies curbed competition in Apple product sales on Amazon's UK marketplace.
Ayna Debuts Beta Women's Wellness Marketplace With 180 Products From 10 Brands
Ayna, a personalized women's wellness marketplace founded by three Cornell classmates, has launched in beta with roughly 180 products aimed at collapsing product research and shopping into a single experience.
Airbnb's Chesky Says He's 'Less Religious' About Hotels, Cars and Flights
Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky said he has softened his long-held resistance to mainstream travel offerings, telling a New York conference he could see the platform listing Hilton and Marriott properties "at some point."
Ruohan to Open Its First Monobrand Store in Shanghai
The Chinese designer label Ruohan is moving beyond wholesale with a standalone Shanghai boutique, its first dedicated retail space, timed to Shanghai Art Week.
Milan Fashion Week Stages Four Global Collective Showcases
Four internationally focused projects brought Chinese, North African–Middle Eastern, Brazilian and Sino-Korean fashion to the Milan runway, including a Keqiao collective show built around an Italy-China textile dialogue.
Morphotonics raises €40M to scale nanoimprint optics beyond AR glasses
Dutch deep tech company Morphotonics has raised €40 million to scale production of its nanoimprint lithography technology and move into optical components for data centers.
Medicube Tops TikTok Shop Beauty Livestreamers as Top 10 Pass $83 Million
The ten biggest beauty livestream sellers on TikTok Shop generated more than $83 million combined in the first half of the year, led by K-Beauty brand Medicube with nearly $19.4 million.
Food Experiences Are a Core Reason People Travel, Executive Tells Global Forum
A travel industry executive told the Skift Global Forum that food tourism ranks among the most essential motivators for travel, arguing that place-specific culinary moments are what guests remember and return for.
Netflix's 'America's Sweethearts' Drives Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Brand Boom
The Netflix docuseries has widened the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' global following, drawing fresh fashion and beauty tie-ups. The women who built that audience do not directly share in the resulting sponsorship money.
Carnival Reworks Dining as Cruise Guests Shift to Earlier, Faster Meals
Cruise passengers are changing how they spend their time on board, moving away from late seating and long formal dinners, and Carnival has adjusted its dining formats in response.
Hong Kong retailers tipped for Mainland spending lift as Mid-Autumn and Golden Week holidays run together
Hong Kong retailers could capture stronger spending from Mainland Chinese visitors during an extended Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday stretch, with Sa Sa singled out as the biggest expected beneficiary in one brokerage's coverage.
Levoit launches Vital Pet Pro air purifier aimed at pet odors for $189.99
Levoit has launched the Vital Pet Pro Air Purifier, a $189.99 device designed for pet-friendly homes that removes up to 70% of pet odors in one hour.
Sarelly Projects $15M in Sales as Mexican Beauty Brand Pushes Into the US
Mexico City-based beauty label Sarelly is forecasting $15 million in sales this year as it expands from its home market into the United States with a product line built for Latina consumers.
Airline Executive Calls Premium Demand 'Insatiable' as Fleet Shifts Toward Premium Seating
An airline is reconfiguring its fleet so that premium seats come close to matching economy capacity, a change its executive, Koster, describes as a decade-long investment rather than a gamble. He says premium demand is "insatiable" and that the carrier was "underweight" in premium cabin capacity for years.
Blue Bottle Coffee to Open First Beijing Store at China World Mall
The California-based premium coffee brand is taking a spacious unit in the capital's central business district as it targets China's still-expanding freshly brewed coffee market.
Meta and YouTube Will Run Ads for Alex Gibney's 'Musk' Documentary
Meta and YouTube now say they will accept paid advertising for Alex Gibney's upcoming documentary about Elon Musk, after earlier reports that TikTok, Meta, YouTube and X had refused to promote the trailer. Meta called its rejection an error, and YouTube said the ad was temporarily restricted but has been cleared.
Sephora Europe Enlists John Legend for Original Holiday Song
Sephora Europe has commissioned EGOT winner John Legend to write an original track, "Here It Is," celebrating the holiday gifting season at the beauty retailer.
Expedia Cuts 58 Seattle Roles in Finance-Led Restructuring
Expedia is eliminating 58 positions in Seattle under a Washington WARN notice filed this week, with the cuts scheduled to take effect between November 21 and December 1. The company says the reductions are tied mainly to a reorganization of its global finance team.
Shanghai Gold Exchange tells banks to wind down retail leveraged metals trading
At least a dozen Chinese lenders are preparing to exit retail leveraged precious-metals trading after the Shanghai Gold Exchange directed them to pull back, with China Everbright Bank the latest to set an exit date.
TikTok to Pay Alabama at Least $100 Million in Child Safety Settlement
TikTok has agreed to pay Alabama a minimum of $100 million, with the total potentially reaching $300 million, to settle allegations that it misled users about safety and designed its app to addict children.
Shinsegae Opens Hyper Ground K-Beauty Pop-Up in New York
Shinsegae has launched a three-month K-beauty pop-up called Hyper Ground at The Shops at Hudson Yards in New York, featuring more than 30 brands, most of which have yet to reach U.S. retail.
VMH Swiss to Debut Mettler 1929 and Victoria 1905 in Travel Retail at TFWA Cannes
Brand representative VMH Swiss is bringing Swiss premium skincare label Mettler 1929 and Swedish heritage skincare name Victoria 1905 into the travel retail channel, using next week's TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes as the launch platform.
Kerzner Signs SIRO Brickell in Miami, Marking the Brand's First US Hotel and Residences
Kerzner International Holdings has signed SIRO Brickell, Miami, the first SIRO hotel and branded residences in the United States, with an opening targeted for 2030. The property will anchor Miami's Brickell district and becomes the fourth project in the wellness-focused brand's global pipeline.
WEGO pulls My Hero Academia collection ahead of Shanghai store opening
Japanese apparel brand WEGO has scrapped a My Hero Academia collaboration after a consumer backlash in China, days before it was due to open a new physical store in Shanghai on 29 September.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Ties Hospital AI Claim Tools to $942M in Added Spending
An analysis by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association attributes $942 million in additional healthcare spending over two years to hospitals' use of AI tools in insurance claims. The insurer group says complex-condition coding rose sharply without a matching change in care delivered.
Nocturnal's Daniel Kiyoi Wants Brands to Rethink Inspiration, Not Cancel Yise Beauty
Nocturnal founder Daniel Kiyoi has gone public with his experience involving Yise Beauty, using the dispute over his knot bag to press the industry for a harder look at how copying and inspiration are handled.
Food Accademia Founder Fabrizio Canal Says Italy Is the Hero Product in Travel Retail
Source signal: On the record with travel retail’s roving buongustai, Food Accademia Founder Fabrizio Canal
Capri Holdings Shares Jump Nearly 10% on Reported Buyer Interest
Capri Holdings shares climbed almost 10% earlier this week after reports that the owner of Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo has been in contact with potential acquirers. The company has not confirmed any buyer interest, and the identity and seriousness of the parties remain unclear.
AI Product Recommendations Reshape Retail Shelves as Brands Chase the 'AI Shelf'
Consumers increasingly ask ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini for product suggestions, creating a new 'AI shelf' that is changing how brands position themselves online.
China Pitches 'Patient Capital' to Win Back Wall Street After Buffett's Exit
Chinese regulators are steering the country's US$4.5 trillion mutual fund industry toward long-term holdings, betting that patient capital will define the next phase of growth as foreign investors weigh risks against a thin IPO pipeline.
Alibaba Unveils "China's Most Powerful" AI Chip and Teases 10-Trillion-Parameter Model
Alibaba introduced a new AI chip it calls China's most powerful and previewed an AI model with 10 trillion parameters at its annual Apsara Conference in Hangzhou, alongside plans to expand Alibaba Cloud data-center capacity to 20 gigawatts by 2032.
Sephora Opens TikTok Shop With Livestream and Monthly Drops
Sephora has begun selling on TikTok Shop, kicking off with a livestreamed shopping session hosted by influencer Mikayla Nogueira and a limited assortment of POV Beauty and Sephora Collection items.
Corrigans take Havadrink Enterprises into travel retail with DeGroff spirits portfolio
Drinks industry veteran Steve Corrigan and his wife Joanne are re-establishing their New York business Havadrink Enterprises as a travel retail venture, backed by a partnership with cocktail figure Dale DeGroff and Oregon-based Hood River Distillers.
Target widens K-beauty push with Beauty Studio rollout
Target has deepened its Korean beauty offering, quadrupling its K-beauty assortment earlier this year and folding six K-beauty cosmetics labels into its new Beauty Studio, which replaces the Ulta Beauty shops previously housed inside its stores.
Feather Robotics Pitches $30,000 Developer Platform as the 'Android of Robotics'
Source signal: Meet Feather, the startup building the ‘Android of robotics’ for developers
Al Waha Duty Free Debuts Masra Flagship Brand at TFWA Cannes
The Riyadh-based travel retailer, owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, is introducing its flagship retail brand Masra at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes next week. The launch blends international and Saudi-origin fragrances, beauty, gifts and travel essentials.
Spot & Tango Commits $3.5M to Brand Marketing After a Year of Zero Top-of-Funnel Spend
The subscription pet food brand is putting $3.5 million into top-of-funnel marketing this year across out-of-home, connected TV and events, a sharp change from last year when it spent effectively nothing in that area.
PrismML shrinks its 1-bit Bonsai LLM for Qualcomm smart glasses
PrismML, an AI lab founded by Caltech researchers, has built a version of its tiny language models for smart glasses running on Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips. Qualcomm showcased the 1-bit Bonsai LLM at its Snapdragon Summit on Wednesday.
Estée Lauder Cos. Pledges $15 Million for Breast Cancer Research in Younger Women
The Estée Lauder Cos. has committed a $15 million, five-year grant to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to launch the Global Research Initiative on Breast Cancer in Younger Women, billed as the largest coordinated global research program on early-onset disease.
Premium Travel's Next Big Spender Is 29, American Express Travel Chief Says
Millennial and Gen Z spending on American Express rose 40% in Q2 2026, and the two groups now make up 65% of its new customers globally, according to the president of American Express Travel.
Instacart CEO Chris Rogers Targets Lower Markups to Grow Online Grocery
Instacart CEO Chris Rogers says reducing online markups, adding loyalty perks and offering cheaper delivery options are central to driving more online grocery growth. Speaking at the Groceryshop conference in Las Vegas this week, Rogers outlined a strategy to remove cost barriers for weekly grocery hauls.
Formafantasma Named Creative Director of Santa Maria Novella
Design studio Formafantasma, founded by Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, has been appointed creative director of the Italian beauty house Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, the world's oldest apothecary.
Hyatt CEO Credits Owner Mindset as Hotel Owners Press Groups on Costs
Hyatt Chairman, President and CEO Mark Hoplamazian said the company's long history as a hotel owner still shapes how it deals with owners pushing back on costs and fees, speaking at the Skift Global Forum in New York City.
Rubber Straps Emerge as the Repeat Purchase for Rolex, Omega and Cartier Owners
Owners of five-figure watches are turning to rubber and composite straps as the one component they can change themselves, and watchmakers have spent a decade building tool-free systems to make the swap easy.
Nexterity builds remote-controlled robot to take on pipefitting's toughest bolt work
A startup founded by a former ExxonMobil engineer has developed a battery-powered, remote-controlled robot that loosens and tightens the bolts joining sections of pipe, four at a time. Nexterity says the device is aimed at a task that injures pipefitters and slows work across oil, gas and petrochemical sites.
Nykaa and L'Oréal's BOLD Fund to Take Minority Stakes in Indian Beauty Brands
Nykaa, India's largest beauty retailer, and L'Oréal's corporate venture fund BOLD will jointly invest in high-growth Indian beauty and personal care brands, taking minority positions. The investments are purely financial, leaving founders with full ownership and day-to-day control of their businesses.
Expedia to Join Meta's Muse AI Agent, Executive Says
Expedia will make its travel offerings available on Meta's Muse, the AI agent the Wall Street Journal labelled an instant hit within two weeks of its debut, according to remarks by Gorin at an industry conference.
Costco digital sales pass $33bn as DoorDash and Uber Eats tie-ups widen reach
Source signal: Costco’s digital sales hit $33 billion in 2026, growing more than 20%