Executive Summary

• This week’s note “From the Desk of Deborah Weinswig” discusses three ways China will lead digital retail trends in 2019 and why these trends are likely to drive consolidation among major e-commerce platforms.
• Luxury jeweler Tiffany and Co. tempered its yearly profit forecast on Jan. 18 following an unexpected drop in holiday sales. The company attributed the decline to lower global spending by Chinese tourists due to a stronger dollar and to softer demand in Europe and the U.S.
• British retailer Marks & Spencer Group PLC has launched an online search feature called Style Finder that enables customers to search for a product on their mobile device with an image of the product rather than by typing in text.
• E-commerce giant Mercado Libre Inc. announced it will introduce QR code payments in Chile this year. The service will be available in partner stores beginning in the first quarter of the year.