Good morning readers. It looks like the sober movement just found a trendy new home at Target. Teaming up with online non-alcoholic retailer Sèchey, Target's bringing a 'dry' twist to its aisles, just in time for the holiday cheer. With a market value nearing half a billion bucks, non-alcoholic beverages are the new black. The star-studded lineup? Think Bella Hadid's Kin Euphorics and Katy Perry’s De Soi, plus brands like NOPE, Ghia, and Surely. So, my friends, next time you're at Target planning a party, remember: sobriety's not just a trend, it's a lifestyle choice with style and, apparently, celebrity endorsements.

We can cheers to that. 🥂 

Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

• In-person retail shopping is getting a makeover

• Headline Hustle: Tourist fatally stabbed near the Eiffel Tower, Walmart joins advertising exit on X, Apple and Paramount to bundle streaming services

• Bitcoin’s price target for 2024: $100K

• The Week Ahead: What to Expect

• Pulse Points: What’s Trending

RETAIL

Reinventing retail: How fashion giants are turning stores into experience hubs

Gone are the days when fashion retail was just about racks of clothing in a store. In a bold move echoing Apple's retail revolution, giants like H&M and Zara are reimagining their physical stores, creating a new wave in the fashion world. As they adapt to the rising tide of e-commerce, these brands are not just shutting doors; they're opening gateways to immersive experiences.

With online carts becoming the norm, these brands are shutting numerous outlets, a strategic pivot to streamline costs and align with the digital consumer. But the real magic is happening in the stores that remain. Think bigger, bolder, and brimming with experiences — from beauty salons to coffee shops, each store is being transformed into a realm of discovery and pleasure, far surpassing the scene of traditional retail.

Retail is getting a remodel

H&M’s redesigned Regent Street store is a testament to this change, where customers now linger around for longer, drawn by an engaging environment. This strategic shift is turning stores into experience hubs, a blend of leisure and shopping that extends beyond the traditional. It's not merely about the purchase anymore; it's about the experience. And the goal? To increase foot traffic and customer stay, thereby fostering a deeper brand connection.

Contrasting approaches are evident too. While some, like Macy's, lean towards smaller, convenience-focused stores, others are investing in destination stores with unique architectural designs and exclusive services — like Uniqlo, which adds its flair with tea shops and personalized printing. Brands are also upping their technology game by implementing automatic return points, self-checkout areas, and inventory-check apps, making the experience more efficient and enjoyable.

Big picture: This transformation signals a new era in retail, one that balances the ease of online shopping with the unique allure of physical experiences. It's a strategy hinged on creating memorable, engaging in-store moments that foster brand loyalty. The big question remains: can this new model sustain itself in the fast-evolving world of retail, or is it just a fashionable moment in time?

Headline Hustle

🇫🇷 Tourist fatally stabbed near Eiffel Tower in suspected terrorist attack. Paris witnessed a chilling episode of extremism as Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab, a known Islamist radical, lethally attacked a young German-Filipino tourist near the Eiffel Tower. Rajabpour-Miyandoab, a French citizen, had previously pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and was under surveillance for his extremist tendencies. This brutal incident, set against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas conflict, underscores the escalating concerns over homegrown terrorism in Europe. It also casts a spotlight on the challenges faced by authorities in countering the spread of extremist ideologies, particularly in the digital realm, where platforms like X (formerly Twitter) play a pivotal role.

🛑 Walmart stops ads on X, joining the advertising exit. Walmart has halted advertising on Elon Musk's social media platform, X, joining a wave of major brands retreating during the crucial holiday season. This decision, attributed to underwhelming ad performance rather than Musk's controversial actions, follows similar moves by Disney, Apple, and IBM, who have expressed concerns over content moderation and the platform's association with problematic content. Musk's assertive response to these pullbacks, coupled with his management approach since acquiring Twitter, has heightened the platform's challenges in retaining advertisers, reflecting broader tensions between corporate responsibility and the dynamics of social media advertising.

📺 Apple and Paramount + to join streaming forces. In a strategic move, Apple and Paramount Global are in talks to bundle their streaming services, Apple TV+ and Paramount+, offering a cost-effective package for consumers. This discussion arises as streaming giants face intense competition and rising subscription churn rates. By bundling, they aim to make their offerings more attractive and retain viewers, a tactic becoming increasingly popular in the industry. This trend reflects the evolving landscape of streaming services, where companies are adapting their strategies to balance profitability with customer retention, amidst a backdrop of rising prices and a shift towards more bundled, diverse content offerings.

CRYPTO

The crypto bull run has already started

In the high-stakes world of cryptocurrency, whispers of a Bitcoin bull run are growing louder, with industry executives betting big on the digital currency. The prediction? Bitcoin could soar past the $100,000 mark by 2024, a forecast fueled by a staggering 120% surge in its price this year. This upbeat outlook comes as a ray of hope amidst a storm of challenges that have rocked the crypto world.

The crypto world hasn't had an easy ride, though.

• The founder of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, faces over 100 years in prison after being found guilty on several counts of criminal fraud.

• Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao also pleaded guilty to criminal charges, stepping down from his role as part of a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Fueling this bullish forecast are two critical milestones. First, the possible green light for a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), poised to lure traditional investors into the crypto fold and signal Bitcoin's embrace by the financial mainstream. Then there's the much-anticipated Bitcoin halving in May 2024, a game-changer that historically sets off price rallies by halving miner rewards and capping Bitcoin's supply.

Looking ahead…while the drumbeat for a Bitcoin bull run in 2024 grows louder, it's a melody played against a backdrop of regulatory moves and global economic shifts. This blend of excitement and uncertainty paints a picture of a crypto market at a crossroads, where the road ahead is as promising as it is unpredictable.

WEEK AHEAD

What to expect

• Nonfarm Payrolls Report:

  • Focus on November's report this Friday to gauge U.S. economic resilience amidst high interest rates.

  • Strong job growth could suggest delayed easing of Fed's monetary policy, affecting stock and bond markets.

  • Weak job numbers may raise concerns about economic cooling after significant rate increases.

• U.S. Stock Market ("Santa Rally"):

  • S&P 500 hit year's highest level on Friday, boosted by optimism about the Fed halting rate hikes.

  • Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized careful rate adjustments, balancing risks of inflation and over-tightening.

  • Speculation about a possible Fed rate cut in March 2024, but historical misinterpretations caution against assumptions.

• Global events happening this week:

  • Javier Milei takes office as president, after defeating centre-left finance minister Sergio Massa in last month’s election run-off.

  • Two-day EU-China summit starting Thursday in Beijing, hosted by President Xi Jinping.

  • UK dealing with the aftermath of a dispute with Greece's prime minister over the Elgin Marbles. The Meidias hydria vase, taken to the British Museum over 200 years ago, displayed in Athens.

  • UK's Covid inquiry begins Wednesday, focusing on former PM Boris Johnson's handling of the pandemic.

• What else is happening:

  • Origin Energy shareholders vote on Brookfield-led consortium's $10.6bn bid.

SNIPPETS

Pulse Points

• Amazon has contracted Elon Musk's SpaceX for three rocket launches to support its upcoming satellite-internet division.

• Judge James Donato, presiding over Epic v. Google, pledged to investigate Google for deliberately suppressing evidence, which he termed as an attack on justice.

• IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva emphasized the need for carbon pricing at the COP28 climate summit to incentivize rapid decarbonization.

• North Korea declared that any interference with its satellite operations would be viewed as a war declaration and would trigger mobilization of its war deterrence.

• Uber Technologies will join the S&P 500 on December 18, alongside Jabil Inc and Builders FirstSource Inc, as announced by S&P Dow Jones Indices.

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