MARKETING/SOCIAL MEDIA

A social media giant and an online retail giant are the most loved brands in the world.    Facebook took the top spot, followed by Amazon, in NetBase's third annual "Top 100 Global Brand Love List." Rounding out the top five were eBay, Apple, and Snap.   

Saks Fifth Avenue is debuting a new salon concept with a futuristic edge.   

ASOS is streamlining how its mobile shoppers search for merchandise.   The largest online fashion retailer in the U.K. is adding a visual search feature to its iOS-based mobile app, reported TechCrunch. It will be rolled out to their Android app “soon."   

The delivery wars continue to heat up.  

The CEO of the nation's largest private employer has criticized the administration’s response to the violent protests in Charlottesville, Virginia.    In a note to Walmart employees posted on the company's website, CEO Doug McMillon said that President Trump "missed a critical opportunity" in his initial reaction to the "tragic events" that occurred in Charlottesville, Va. But he called Trump's follow-up remarks on Monday "a step in the right direction."  

Back to school is the retail year’s second most critical season. It’s thought of as that make-or-break stretch that provides momentum into the holiday season. For several years, retailers have seen changes in the way the back-to-school season behaves. This year will be no exception as e-commerce and convenience plays continue to devour consumer attention and wallet share.   

Sephora’s new service strives to connect customers while they shop.   The specialty retailer launched a digital platform that invites customers enrolled in its Beauty Insider loyalty program to connect and chat about all things beauty. The mobile and online platform serves as a destination for members to find inspiration, ask questions and get recommendations in an unsponsored, real-time social setting.  

With 20% of emails being filtered into spam folders, retail marketers are missing out on the opportunity to drive an ROI from email.   This was according to “2017 Deliverability Benchmark Report,” a study from data solutions provider Return Path. The report analyzed 2 billion brand emails.