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Bits & Bytes | The Luxury Smartwatch Boom, Over a Quarter of US Apparel Is Sold Online

This week, the Apple Watch's success has created a successful luxury smartwatch niche, while a new report sees apparel sales increase online.
Apple Watch | Source: Shutterstock
By
  • Kristina Ezhova

The Apple Watch's Success Has Created a Luxury Smartwatch Boom (Wired)
"According to research firm Asymco, the world's most successful watchmaker is Apple, with 2017 revenues eclipsing Rolex. It should have come as no surprise that traditional watchmakers were eager to join the gold rush to horology's newest frontier."

27 Percent of Apparel Sales Are Now Online (Retail Dive)
"Amazon is contributing to the rise of apparel e-commerce thanks to its expanding private label lines and services like its now widely available Prime Wardrobe try-before-you-buy service."

The Future of Luxury: First Comes the App, Then Comes the Store (Jing Daily)
"Despite China's love of online shopping, e-commerce platforms have discovered that having an online presence is no longer enough. By investing in brick-and-mortar stores, Alibaba is pushing forward the integration of online and offline retail to create a seamless omnichannel consumer experience."

China's Highest Earners Don't Use WeChat for Luxury (Jing Daily)
"According to a new report, marketing on WeChat for luxury brands could be a bust for the country's highest earners. When asked where they would usually read about luxury brands and their offerings, magazines surprisingly topped the list of options for respondents."

Amazon, Alibaba Drive Retail's Brand Growth (Retail Dive)
"Having been battered and thoroughly transformed by e-commerce, retail led category value growth for the second consecutive year, with a rise of 35 percent, the authors say. Two Chinese e-commerce giants, JD and Alibaba, drove the retail surge."

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