Weekly intelligence across AI, ecommerce, luxury, and jewellery.
Issue W03 · January 2026
articles analysed this week
Richemont's record sales and Saks Global's bankruptcy highlight contrasting fortunes in the luxury sector amid evolving consumer demand.
Weekly Luxury Intelligence · ~12 minutes
Digital commerce, retail innovation, DTC trends
Market moves, brand strategy, trade insights
AI news, strategy, and business transformation
Luxury brands, consumer trends, fashion
Richemont's record sales and Saks Global's bankruptcy highlight contrasting fortunes in the luxury sector amid evolving consumer demand.
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This Week
Tech Mahindra achieved its strongest December quarter in three years, with a 14% increase in net profit and 8% rise in revenue. Margins improved for the ninth consecutive quarter, driven by operational efficiencies and AI-led initiatives, while headcount decreased due to slowed hiring.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is finalizing guidelines for the second phase of the Fund of Funds scheme for startups in advanced stages, with a focus on deep tech and high-tech sectors. The initiative, with a Rs 10,000 crore allocation, aims to boost India's startup ecosystem and promote youth entrepreneurship.
Union minister Piyush Goyal admits his previous comments on deeptech were off the mark, urging founders to focus on consumer apps. This update is featured in today's ETtech Top 5.
Shaun Johnson, cofounder of AIX Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in AI startups, departed from the company last month. AIX Ventures has backed startups like Perplexity, Windsurf, and Ideogram.
Indian startups raised $190.7 million in mid-January, a 51% decrease from the previous year, with fewer deals completed. Healthcare, education, and consumer brands were the top sectors for funding.
Spacetech startup EtherealX secured $20 million in funding from TDK Ventures, BIG Capital, and other investors. The company aims to launch its technology demonstrator vehicle in 2027 and its commercial launcher, Razor Crest Mk-1, by the end of 2028.
India's top IT companies have ended their recruitment freeze by adding 2,505 employees in 2025, focusing on niche skills for selective and skill-based hiring.
This Week
Sales at independent jewellery stores in Australia saw a rise during the festive season in December, reflecting positive trends in the industry for the year.
Folium, founded by Master Goldsmith Myles Ryan, has launched a new website showcasing four signature collections inspired by natural architecture and hand-engraved craft.
The article discusses the application of artificial intelligence in the jewelry retail industry, focusing on inventory demand forecasting, AI-assisted marketing content, automated customer communication, and product photo enhancement.
Two members of the 'Pink Panthers' gang were arrested for a luxury goods heist in Greece, as reported by Jeweller - Business News on January 12, 2026.
Pandora experienced lower holiday sales due to weakened consumer demand, impacting its financial performance for the year.
Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Paul Chan announced that Hong Kong will sign an MOU with the Shanghai Gold Exchange at the Asian Financial Forum, enhancing cooperation in the jewellery industry.
This Week
Conversational AI in e-commerce is crucial for boosting conversions and average order value as customers now expect instant answers and personalized interactions throughout their browsing journey, leading to the conversion moment occurring before checkout.
AI-driven transformation at Walmart is expected to significantly change the shopping experience, according to Daniel Danker.
AI is highly valued by retail executives for strategic business priorities, with a focus on operations rather than virtual assistants. A significant percentage of respondents are already using AI for autonomous decision-making, but there is still room for further deployments in the industry.
Etsy will enable logged-in Google users in the U.S. to buy items from its marketplace through AI Mode in Google search and the Gemini app, following other retailers utilizing Google's AI technology.
AI in Retail: Deloitte US presents a blueprint for retailers to implement digital workers at scale, enhancing agility and intelligence in operations. Digital workers offer a transformative solution for managing supply chains and merchandising in the retail sector.
REI CEO Mary Beth Laughton discussed the Peak 28 strategy, focusing on sustainability and values, and incorporating a human touch into technology at NRF 2026.
Tech giants like Google and Amazon are pushing for widespread AI adoption in retail operations to improve efficiency and customer experience, with businesses across various sectors embracing AI solutions.
This Week
Google partners with retail platforms like Shopify to introduce an open-source tool set for agentic commerce, aiming to enhance AI-native purchases, as announced at the National Retail Federation's 2026 Expo.
Frasers Group partners with Commercetools to enable shoppers to access its retail ecosystem through AI shopping channels like ChatGPT, diving into agentic commerce.
Alibaba aims to connect its main online shopping and travel services to its AI app, creating a comprehensive AI platform for consumers.
Richemont exceeded analyst expectations in the holiday quarter with strong sales from Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, along with improved performance from its watch brands.
Fendi has opened a Lunar New Year pop-up in Shanghai showcasing its spring/summer 2026 collection.
Geoffroy van Raemdonck, known for leading Neiman Marcus Group out of bankruptcy, has been named the new CEO of Saks following the retailer's Chapter 11 filing. His expertise in luxury retail and bankruptcy restructurings will likely shape Saks' future direction.
Apparel brands like J.Crew, Nike, and Ralph Lauren are focusing on fashionable designs and technical fabrics to stand out at the Winter Olympics, as reported by Modern Retail on January 12, 2026.
