Weekly Insights Jun 10, 2016

Executive Summary

• This week, we introduced our new concept regarding opportunities in the retail industry: the Four-Quadrant Disruptors Framework, which identifies four areas of opportunity for innovative retailers and startups. The framework was formulated as a response to the “retail destruction” seen in the US very recently, when a number of major retail names reported disappointing results.
• As the athleisure market approaches saturation, “streetnic” apparel—made with engineered fabrics that apply the stretch and performance of athleticwear to everyday clothing—may be the next big trend. Consumers have come to expect the comfort of athleisure, and now retailers are working to create fashionable clothing that has the functionalities of athletic apparel.
• Spanish retail chain El Corte Inglés has opened a store dedicated entirely to women’s products in Madrid’s Calle de Serrano, the preferred location for some of Europe’s best-known brands in the city. This move follows the success of its Serrano 52 MAN store, which opened on the same street last year, catering exclusively to men.
• According to eMarketer, 195 million people in China will be using their phone as a wallet by the end of 2016. That represents 38% of all smartphone users in the country, and is double the rate of smartphone store payments in the US. There are three main mobile wallet options in China, WeChat, Alipay and newcomer Apple Pay. While WeChat and Alipay generate a QR code for scanning, Apple Pay ties up with China’s biggest card network, UnionPay.