Micro Deliver Fulfillment, Olipop Raises $10M, Seedlip's Media Push, Barstool Exit, DTC Cookware Heats Up, Away Alum Launches Crown Affair, Stockx Kobe Conundrum, Revolve Future of Retail, Billie Wins
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Grocery Delivery Goes Small With Micro-Fulfillment Centers
Grocers are evaluating whether heavily automated micro-fulfillment centers can help tamp down the cost of online orders while speeding up deliveries.
The shifts echo broader logistics trends tied to e-commerce, as retailers looking to speed delivery move inventory closer to big population centers and use automation to build more compact distribution operations.
In recent years, established U.S. online grocers such as Ahold Delhaize’s Peapod unit and New York-based FreshDirect LLC have invested heavily in big, highly automated facilities with miles of conveyor belts.

iPhone 11's newest trick: A new app for multicam video recording
Filmic's DoubleTake is free, and simultaneously shoots video on two cameras at once. We tested it.
It's not always easy to nail the angles: the iPhone 11 Pro's camera placement means I've got to make sure my head is framed correctly, while I also have to get close enough to my subject on the other side.
The capabilities of an app like this started making me wish for all sorts of things: a good stand to set up an instant interview-recording studio, and a way for digital zoom to somehow intelligently frame subjects better for easier multicam use in the future.

Let's Say 'Yes In My Backyard' To Fix Housing Woes
What if the root of the solution to this systemic problem is just a change in mindset?
Furthermore, YIMBYism will lead to greater economic inclusion by allowing a broader array of Americans to participate in real estate ownership and development, reflecting the modern demographic makeup of the country.
Under a scenario in which Columbus keeps building the way it has been, mostly sprawling onto new land with single-family lots, the costs for new local roads, sewer, water, wastewater infrastructure and select services will average $408 million annually.

Olipop Raises $10M in Series A Round - BevNET.com
California-based prebiotic beverage maker Olipop has raised $10 million in a Series A funding round, the company announced today. The round’s participants include current investors Monogram Capital Partners, Rocana Capital, Finn Capital Partners, Boulder Food Group and Collaborative Fund, as well as first time investor Döhler Ventures.
Founded in 2018 by president David Lester and CEO and head of formulation Ben Goodwin, Olipop produces a line of low sugar, prebiotic tonics which aims to provide a better-for-you alternative to CSDs in flavors like Strawberry Vanilla, Cinnamon Cola, Ginger Lemon and Classic Root Beer, the latter of which launched last month.
The company intends to launch two new flavors later this year, which will “draw upon the same nostalgic taste inspirations” as the root beer variety, according to the spokesperson.

Seedlip Launches Australia's Biggest Non-Alcoholic Spirit Campaign - B&T
Non-alcoholic drinks need not be boring says new campaign. Same can't be said of consumers of said drinks, however.
With the latest results from Roy Morgan showing there has been a steady consumption decline in the last five years across all major alcohol categories, Seedlip is solving boring by championing the mindful drinker and celebrating JOMO (the Joy of Missing Out).
Carat ANZ CEO, Sue Squillace said, “Our strategy team headed by Danni Wright have put together a scaled launch campaign in collaboration with our media partners to really introduce Seedlip to the Australian market.

A casino company is buying Barstool Sports in a $450 million deal
Penn National Gaming is buying the online publisher — which can thank sports betting, and the Supreme Court for the deal.
Three years later, the casino company will pay another $62 million to bring its stake to 50 percent, with the ability to buy controlling ownership for an amount to be determined at the time.
Right now, the primary winners seem to be DraftKings and FanDuel — two companies that had spent huge sums of marketing money a few years ago, when they were operating as “daily fantasy” sports games.

As competition heats up, DTC cookware companies get creative | Modern Retail
A few years ago there were only a few DTC cookware brands. Now there are dozens, and they all are trying to tell a similar but unique story. As a result, more of these companies are honing their brand…
Today, a bunch of new entrants have launched — Great Jones, Maiden, Potluck, Brigade, Equal Parts, Sardel — all touting well-designed products made from various materials.
“As we have launched and gotten feedback from our community, we have been able to expand certain categories where our customers fall in love with our products and request additional items,” wrote cofounder Eunice Byun in an email to Modern Retail.

Away, Into The Gloss Alum Raises $1.7 Million To Launch Clean Hair Care Basics Company Crown Affair
Dianna Cohen, who made the Forbes Under 30 list in 2019, wants to reinvent your-shower ritual. Today, she launches Crown Affair, a line of haircare basics with the backing of retail's most coveted startup founders.
With luscious locks, the most coveted startup founders as mentors (including ThirdLove’s CEO/cofounder Heidi Zak and Bonobos and TrunkClub’s Brian Spaly, who both invested) and the idea that good hair should be easy, she’s launching Crown Affair today: a line of haircare basics—sold relatively affordably DTC—for use before your mirror even defogs.
As the founder of brand marketing consultancy Levitate, Cohen worked with clients like Harry’s, Flamingo, Outdoor Voices, The Wing and other hot startups during their high-growth phases.

It’s a digital world, but bricks-and-mortar stores survive
There’s instant gratification in online beauty shopping, but physical stores aren’t dead just yet – skincare brands like Aesop are making art out of shopping in person.
There’s instant gratification in online shopping, but bricks-and-mortar beauty stores, like the Aesop store on Gough Street in Hong Kong, aren’t dead just yet.
Ling Low writes about culture, travel and urban development.

Kobe Bryant's Unexpected Death Poses Dilemma for Sneaker Resale Sites
The tragedy has left millions of fans in mourning — and some in search of his signature sneakers. As prices for rare pairs climb into the thousands of dollars, resale sites are weighing what separates homage from profiteering.
NEW YORK, United States — The death of basketball icon Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash Sunday has touched off a global outpouring of mourning, from tributes at NBA games to the Grammys to tens of thousands of anguished posts by Chinese fans on Weibo.
However, at Stadium Goods , Chief Executive John McPheters told employees in an internal Slack message viewed by BoF that the site would stop accepting new Bryant products on consignment “for the time being,” adding that the company was “not trying to contribute to the after-market profiteering taking place with his passing.”

Amazon, Already The Nation’s Top Fashion Retailer, Is Positioned To Grab Even More Market Share
Amazon is already the nation's top apparel retailer, but it has plans up its sleeve to get even more market share.
With its fingers in many fashion pies, Amazon quietly became the nation’s leading apparel retailer, topping $30 billion in sales, according to estimates by Wells Fargo and seconded by Morgan Stanley .
While no one I spoke to has heard which brands are coming, it is likely that Capri Holding’s three (Michael Kors, Versace, Jimmy Choo), Tapestry’s three (Coach, Kate Spade, Stuart Weitzman) along with Ralph Lauren are likely suspects.

Revolve: The Future Of Fashion Retail
Revolve has built a profitable fashion technology business by partnering with a network of influencers and celebrities to sell apparel. The company has excellen
Styles that Revolve's internal systems show as popular or trendy are then purchased in larger quantities from the manufacturer, which solves two key problems that apparel retailers have historically grappled with:
However, we think these concerns are largely invalid (with respect to Revolve's potential as an investment) since 1) social media is here to stay and 2) we believe that using celebrities and influencers to sell one's products is a viable business strategy that will only continue increasing in effectiveness.