These days it feels like there’s an app for everything. You have Instagram and TikTok for mindless scrolling and a potential career in influencing, Tinder and Hinge for an occasional reminder that dating sucks, and Seamless and Uber Eats to deliver your often overpriced (but totally worth it) restaurant meal…and pretty soon also your favorite pair of shoes. Let us explain.

Uber Eats has partnered with San Francisco-based Allbirds for on-demand delivery of a range of its curated shoes.

First announced at Uber’s annual climate event, Go-Get Zero, Allbirds comes on board as an “inaugural partner” of the company’s Climate Collection—“a curated selection of climate-conscious consumer brands available in-app,” Uber said in a press release.

Although the first batch of deliveries will be from Allbirds’s four “key stores” across San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, there is potential for expansion across the nation.

“We’re always looking to come alongside companies who are on a similar journey to us, to deliver better things in better ways—whether that’s shoes, or rideshares,” Allbirds CEO Joe Vernachio told Retail Brew via email.

Keep reading here.—JS

A new study from Deloitte predicts consumers will up their holiday spending 8% YoY in 2024, though spending on experiences such as holiday events and socializing will see the biggest gains.

The research firm’s survey data shows that spending on experiences is expected to increase 16% YoY, while non-gift purchases are expected to rise 9% and gift purchases are expected to fall 3%.

Keep reading here.—AV

After reporting a dulled Q2 performance in August, Ulta Beauty this week held its first Investor Day since 2021, highlighting its future growth strategy, which included the announcement of a new data partnership and updated store expansion plans.

Its marketing strategy is centered around growing its Ulta Beauty Rewards loyalty program, currently made up of 44 million members, to 50 million by 2028. A “critical pillar” of this is personalization, including product recommendations and replenishment reminders, with help from a new partnership with Adobe, CMO Michelle Crossan-Matos shared. This partnership will establish “a fully automated, real-time personalization engine,” utilizing data, AI, and machine learning, without the need for manual intervention, she said.

Keep reading here.—EC