TECHNOLOGY

Online giant to open machine learning hub in Barcelona
Amazon is stepping up its commitment to machine learning. The online giant plans to open a new research and development (R&D) hub in Barcelona, dedicated to machine learning. Amazon expects to open the lab in early 2018, according to The Verge. Amazon plans to hire more than 100 engineers and scientists for the lab.
Target in aggressive marketing effort for exclusive brands
Target Corp. is launching an array of private brands and the discounter is giving them a big kickoff. The discounter will launch an aggressive marketing campaign for the new labels, AdAge reported, including everything from print and television spots to in-store events and visual merchandising.

Postmates launches new subscriber perk — no more delivery fees

Postmates just made a strategic move in the online delivery war. Knowing that delivery fees can exceed the cost of a food order, the on-demand app-based delivery provider has killed delivery fees for orders over $20. This decision entitles Postmates Unlimited subscribers to free delivery for orders placed with any of its 250,000-plus merchant partners. Postmates members pay a $9.99 monthly subscription fee.
Discount giant adds another massive ‘Pickup Tower’

Walmart’s self-service kiosks that cater to online order in-store pickups have hit Nevada. The discount giant has added a 16-ft. “Pickup Tower” at its Las Vegas Walmart Supercenter. The tower is the first machine to be installed on the West Coast, according to Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Forecast: Holiday sales to be impacted by ‘lackluster’ wage growth

One of the first holiday quarter sales forecasts is out of the gate. Global retail consulting firm Kantar Retail predicts that U.S. retail sales will grow 3.7% in the fourth quarter of this year. The forecast represents an improvement relative to weak growth of only 2.9% in the year ago period. But it is underwhelming compared to average growth prior to the recession of 5.0%, according to Kantar.
Women’s apparel retailer accepts mobile payments from Chinese shoppers

Rebecca Minkoff is making it easier for Chinese customers to purchase from the brand. Through a partnership with Chinese online payment provider Alipay, upscale apparel retailer now enables Chinese shoppers to use their Alipay Mobile Wallet to make purchases at any United States-based Rebecca Minkoff store, or while shopping online. The mobile wallet is accepted in all Rebecca Minkoff stores located in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
One Kings Lane puts down physical roots

Online home furnishings and decor retailer One Kings Lane is making its temporary foray into brick-and-mortar retail more permanent. The retailer opened its first-ever physical location, a seasonal pop-up in the posh resort town of Southampton, New York, at the beginning of summer. But the company said the response to the temporary store was so positive that it has decided to make it a permanent space.
Largest U.S. hockey retailer launches store rebranding

Pure Hockey is converting its various store banners to its namesake brand. The company, which owns the Pure Hockey, Total Hockey, and HockeyGiant brands, will begin rebranding all of its retail stores as Pure Hockey. Pure Hockey acquired HockeyGiant in September 2015 and acquired Total Hockey in August 2016, giving the company a total of 53 retail locations across the United States, along with four e-commerce sites specializing in hockey, goalie, and lacrosse equipment.
Amazon on hunt for location to build a second North American headquarters

The search is on for Amazon. The e-commerce giant is currently evaluating where it will open its second company headquarters in North America. The new office, referred to as "HQ2," will be a complete headquarters — not a satellite office. It also could have a similar layout to Amazon's Seattle campus, which employs 40,000 people, and encompasses 8.1 million sq. ft. with 33 buildings, including 24 restaurants.
Report: The cities that line up with Amazon's headquarters criteria are...

It didn't take long for cities across North America to throw their hat in the ring when Amazon announced it had initiated a search for a city in which to build a second headquarters. In seeking proposals, Amazon laid out some very definite criteria, including population requirements (one million or more). CNBC examined the criteria and suggested that five cities are worthy of a close look by Amazon: New York, Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco and Boston.