Weekly Insights Dec 25, 2015

Executive Summary

• The Star Wars franchise is a multibillion-dollar business and revenue generator, with nearly three times as much spent on Star Wars themed toys as on movie tickets.
• Free shipping is the new normal — a whopping 88% of US online retail purchases qualified for free shipping on Cyber Monday, according to Demandware.
• Amazon is seeking alternative delivery routes and easing its ties with UPS, citing rising package volumes and costs.
• Google is reportedly in talks with Ford regarding the development of Google’s autonomous car. An announcement is expected the first week of January 2016.
• China’s production of mobile phones is up year over year, to 1.6 billion. By the end of 2015, China will have produce about as many mobile phones as the total number sold across the globe in 2014.
• Apple Pay will be available in Mainland China in early 2016, according to a statement released by Apple. Apple has partnered with China Union Pay, the main card company used by Chinese banks.