Weekly Insights Dec 2, 2016

Executive Summary

• This week’s note “From the Desk of Deborah Weinswig” discusses the startup companies focused on supply chain solutions that gave pitches at Fung Global Retail & Technology’s Breakfast with The Disruptors event in New York this week.
• This year, Black Friday broke records. The kickoff to the holiday shopping season saw both the highest total Black Friday sales ever and the highest mobile sales on a single day to date. Total sales increased by 21.6% year over year to $3.34 billion, representing the first time Black Friday sales surpassed the $3 billion mark.
• British online luxury fashion retailer Matchesfashion.com is set to launch a 90-minute delivery service across London. Beginning December 5, customers will be able to place orders as early as 6:30 a.m. for the first delivery at 8 a.m. The last delivery will be at 10 p.m. each day. The service will be available in areas that lie within the M25 freeway that surrounds Greater London.
• Retailers in South America have caught on to the Black Friday shopping frenzy, and many offered in-store and online discounts all week, which they referred to as “Black Friday Week” specials. In Brazil, Black Friday sales are expected to have increased by 30% this year, according to ecommerce monitoring company Ebit. Google saw a 65% increase in searches related to Black Friday in Brazil.