Daily LInks
1. Under Armour’s D2C Business Sees Shift From Web to Stores: Under Armour said Friday (Feb 11) that its direct-to-consumer (D2C) revenues rose 10% in the fourth quarter, as consumers went back to shopping in-stores again compared to widespread closures a year ago. – Read More on PYMNTS
2. Is the Metaverse Just Marketing? The metaverse is currently stalled by a lack of infrastructure (the hardware/software isn’t ready yet), a monopolistic approach to platform development (the metaverse is likely to require more openness and collaboration) and a lack of clear governance standards. – Read More on the New York Times
3. OOOOO wants to create a $400 billion live e-commerce market in the U.S.: Live e-commerce in the U.S. is expected to reach $35 billion in sales by 2024—not bad until that number is stacked against China, which is on track to hit $423 billion by this year alone. – Read More on Fast Co.
4. The death of the department store: The closure of John Lewis’s store in Sheffield after almost 60 years was a bitter blow. As debate rages over what to do with the huge empty site, the city is becoming a test case for where Britain’s urban centers may be heading. – Read More on the Guardian
5. Eileen Gu Is Dominating the Beijing Olympics—in Skiing and Sponsorships: China has long limited the commercial activities of national team athletes. Until early 2020, China’s General Administration of Sports required athletes to seek approval before taking on any brand endorsements, even offering templates for contracts. – Read More on the WSJ
6. Indian supplier to UK fashion brands agrees to pay £3m in unpaid wages: India’s largest garment company has paid out an estimated £3m in unpaid wages to tens of thousands of workers, after two years of refusing to pay the legal minimum wage. – Read More on the Guardian
