The Retail Times is a weekly newsletter covering retail tech news from Canada and around the globe.
Subscribe to R|T using the form at the bottom of this page to ensure you don’t miss out on the most important retail tech news every week!
ChickAdvisor launches Dispatch (BETAKIT)
ChickAdvisor, a product review community targeted to women, has launched a Dispatch plugin that allows brands to use push notifications on desktop and offer real-time messaging to get in front of customers.
As Toronto’s Eglinton Corridor faces massive change, entrepreneurs look to tech (BETAKIT)
As the Eglinton Corridor undergoes subway construction, local businesses have to change their methods to tap into the long-term potential afforded through a better connected Toronto.
eBay acquires Qoo10 Japan e-commerce platform (ZDNET)
“Building on the strength of the Qoo10.jp platform, we will be able to offer Japanese consumers more inventory from around the world,” said eBay president and CEO David Wenig.
Walmart’s Sam’s Club partners with Instacart for same-day grocery delivery (TECHCRUNCH)
Through the new URL samsclub.com/instacart or from Instacart’s mobile app, shoppers can now order groceries, household items, Member’s Mark products, and small appliances, then have them delivered in an hour or so.
eBay follows Amazon with its own ‘Under $10’ section (THEVERGE)
eBay’s “Under $10” section will list millions of products that cost $10 or less, following the footsteps of Amazon, which added a similar section to its app and website last month.
Indochino announces strategic investment from Mitsui, new showroom locations (BETAKIT)
The company wants to use the funding to accelerate its North American expansion plans and invest in its global operations and supply chain.
Menswear startup InStitchu raises $2.5M from Chinese manufacturer Dayang (TECHCRUNCH)
Co-CEO James Wakefield said the funding means InStitchu can hand over even more of its production to Dayang, allowing the InStitchu team to focus on the consumer-facing side of the business.
Tencent, JD.com buy stakes in Chinese retailer Better Life (RETAILTOUCHPOINTS)
The clash of titans is forcing retailers to pick sides as both Alibaba and JD.com go after shares of Chinese consumers’ digital wallets.
Shoptalk launches VC program for retail tech startups (RETAILDIVE)
“Our goal with Shoptalk Ventures is to further support the early stage startup ecosystem that’s enabling retail and e-commerce as it continues to transform for a digital age,” said Anil Aggarwal, founder and CEO of Shoptalk.
DoorDash raises $535M, now valued at $1.4B (TECHCRUNCH)
DoorDash, a food delivery startup, raised the funding from SoftBank Group, with participation from Sequoia Capital, GIC, and Wellcome Trust.