Top Articles to Read This Week: Revamp & Refocus

This week we saw a theme of revamping and refocusing branding efforts in the tech, fashion, and data industries. While none of the brands are reinventing themselves, they all are making tiny adjustments to disrupt their respective industries.Here are the top reads from this week:The 4 Most Important Things Facebook Just AnnouncedBy Lisa Eadicicco from TimeWith the F8 conference in full swing, Facebook has announced some new features to recalibrate its platform ecosystem.

Social augmented and virtual reality are Facebooks biggest targets, but chatbots and developer services are on their mind, too.The Weather Company opens its data trove to marketers on outside platformsBy Ross Benes from DigidayThe Weather Company has decided to make use of (i.e.

monetize) the data it collects to enter the social advertising space. They are refocusing their platform to help advertisers target consumers in context based on weather conditions.Snapchats new world lenses are its biggest push into augmented realityBy Kerry Flynn from MashableSnapchat has introduced its most advanced form of augmented reality yet.

It lets you interact with digital 3D objects and do activities like plant flowers and run under a rainbow. By doing this, it reminds everyone that Snap is a camera company, and not only a disappearing pictures platform like its competitors are trying to be.This Company Wants to Fill the Void in Plus-Size FashionBy Caitlin Cruz from RackedDia & Co.

is trying to help brands find new customers via subscription boxes, which is a growing direct-to-consumer model. They are trying to revamp the plus-sized industry, which has long been ignored by high fashion brands.How Retailers Are Thriving Despite the Supposed Death of Their IndustryBy Lydia Belanger from EntrepreneurIts not a secret that retail is having a difficult period.

But that doesnt mean all brick-and-mortar stores are failing, and the ones who are succeeding are reinforcing ideas of personalization, knowing your customer, and providing experiences in the store. Curated by Hadley Stork. RELATED QUESTION Which custom lighting design manufacturers would you choose to work with (as in, your preferred list of custom lighting design manufacturers for new projects, renovations, and/or construction of a new home and/or commercial property) and why?

Residential and commercial lighting are different products. You do not give a reason for wanting custom vs. off the shelf products.

A unique custom lighting product is backlit onyx and hinoki wood walls, desks, columns, and stairs by GPI Design of Cleveland. The onyx and hinoki veneer are sandwiched between glass. Boyd Lighting is a San Francisco Bay Area maker of high end lighting.

Phoenix Day is another Bay Area custom manufacturer. Holly Hunt is a collection of custom lighting manufacturers. Working with a lighting designer will save you time and money while guaranteeing your project will meet codes, function, and look good.