The Commerce Brief: Fri 18th July

Welcome to another exciting week in the world of eCommerce and retail 🛍️

🗓️ This week’s industry updates

🔮 OpenAI Enters eCommerce
OpenAI plans to take a commission on product sales made directly through ChatGPT. After a Shopify partnership earlier this year, the company is now building a native checkout experience, letting users browse and complete purchases within the platform. (source)

👜 Louis Vuitton Cyber Breach
Louis Vuitton has confirmed that customer data in the UK was stolen in a recent cyber-attack, making it the latest high-end retailer targeted. (source)

💻 M&S Sparks Loyalty Reboot
Marks & Spencer’s Sparks loyalty programme is fully back online post-cyberattack - and it’s celebrating with “treats” for customers and employees. (source)

🏡 Pottery Barn Launching Online in the UK
The upscale US homeware retailer will go live in the UK this autumn with a curated eCommerce selection of furniture, bedding, and lighting. (source)

📈 Mango Sees 12% Growth
The Spanish fashion brand grew turnover by 12% in H1 2025, driven by store expansion, omnichannel investment, and popular collections. (source)

🏋️‍♂️ Frasers Group Grows Despite Revenue Dip
Frasers Group posted a 2.8% rise in profit to £560.2m, aided by warehouse automation and synergy savings. Revenue fell, but platform growth continues. (source)

👗 DressX Launches Roblox Game with Puma
Digital wearables company DressX debuts DressGo, its first Roblox experience - featuring Puma-branded digital fashion. (source)

🤖 Nike’s AI Chief Exits
Nike’s VP of AI, Jason Loveland, is leaving after four years in the role, marking a notable leadership change as AI becomes central to retail innovation. (source)

🧠 H&M’s AI Lead Departs Too
Linda Leopold, H&M’s Head of AI Strategy, has announced her departure to focus on independent work in strategic advisory, writing, and public speaking. (source)

📦 Amazon Prime Day UAE Set for July 25
Prime Day will span seven days in the UAE, offering deals from Amazon’s US, UK, and German stores with international shipping via Amazon.ae. (source)

📊 Ocado’s Tech Pays Off
Ocado posted a 76% increase in adjusted EBITDA to £91.8M, crediting its tech division for powering the performance. (source)

🥤 PepsiCo Beats Forecasts
PepsiCo outpaced expectations, reaching nearly $23B in quarterly sales. EMEA was the fastest-growing region (+8%), despite sluggish US growth. (source)

📺 MediaMarkt Parent Ceconomy Up 5%
Ceconomy saw 5.5% YTD revenue growth and reduced losses, with adjusted EBIT up €56M year-over-year. (source)

🤖 Zara’s Parent Bets on AI Robotics
Inditex has invested in a Spanish startup developing AI-powered robots for complex environments, further embedding AI in its operations. (source)

💎 Cartier Sales Shine at Richemont
Luxury remains resilient: Richemont’s jewellery brands Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels posted double-digit growth despite global uncertainty. (source)

👚 Rent the Runway Hikes Prices
Due to tariffs and inflation, Rent the Runway is raising subscription prices by roughly $2 per item - joining a wave of pricing adjustments in retail. (source)

🧬 Desigual Goes All-In on Generative AI
Desigual is integrating AI across design, marketing, IT, and more via its “Awesome Lab.” A new campaign created entirely using tools like Flux and OpenAI is already live. (source)

The Commerce Brief