Brandeo is an online marketing resource that cuts through the clutter to update you on the need-to-know marketing ideas and insights that help build brands and increase sales.
Mattel (MAT) has released a Barbie doll with tattoos on her neck and shoulders, and wearing leopard print leggings, pink pleather mini skirt, sparkly silver shoes and a black top with heart and crossbones logo. Some parents have protested the doll could encourage children to disfigure themselves. Christian Science Monitor 10/20/11
McDonald’s Corp. (MCD) delivered appetizing third quarter overall sales growth of 5%, while spin off Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) served up a tasty third-quarter profit jump of 25% versus a year ago. MarketWatch 10/21/11
Brand name references to alcohol in rap, R&B and hip hop music may constitute a form of advertising, and could contribute to early use and substance abuse among adolescents, say University of Pittsburgh researchers. Addiction Journal 10/20/11 via Name Wire 10/21/11
Urban Outfitters (URBN) has removed the word "Navajo" from product names on its website in the wake of criticism from the Navajo Nation government, bloggers and others, who viewed the usage as disrespectful and a trademark violation. Critics found the use of the Navajo name on products including a flask and ‘hipster panty’ to be particularly offensive but the company initially defended the product names stating, in part, “…like many other fashion brands, we interpret trends and will continue to do so for years to come…” The Associated Press10/20/11
Shares of Crocs Inc.(CROX) lost almost 40% of their value after the shoe maker lowered its third-quarter profit and sales forecast – even though they still project a sales gain of 27%. MarketWatch 10/18/11
Coca-Cola (KO) is still the world’s most valuable brand, according to Interbrand. Download report here.
The Liz Claiborne brand has been sold to JCPenney (JCP).Liz Claiborne Inc. (LIZ), the owner of remaining brands Kate Spade, Lucky Brands, and Juicy Couture, has 12 months to find a new name. Name Wire 10/13/11
Chicago-based beer maker Pabst, plans to relocate its headquarters to Los Angeles this summer. The company has not commented on reasons for the move, but Eric Schmidt, an analyst with Beverage Information, says the Metroupolos family, which purchased the company last summer, will likely “move aggressively to rebuild Pabst brands.” Two family members live in LA. Latimes.com 5/14/11
Skechers Shape-ups, toning sneakers promoted to adults, are now being pitched to young girls. The Parents Television Council say’s Skechers advertising emphasizes popularity, thinness and attractiveness, and encourages young girls to look like older girls. Skechers says Shape-ups for Girls promote exercise and fitness. CBS News 5/13/11
Yum Brands, owners of KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, wants to increase its 27.2% stake in “Little Sheep” a chain of hot pot restaurants in China. NYTimes.com 5/13/11.
Walmart (WMT) plans to acquire a minority stake in the holding company of Yihaodian, a fast-growing e-commerce company in China with significant sales of groceries, baby, consumer electronics and other items. Forbes 5/13/11
Burberry plans to boost sales in far eastern markets by using its “Britishness” to differentiate itself in a luxury market dominated by European brands such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Guardian.co.uk 5/13/11
Facebook is being accused of hypocrisy for promoting transparency while anonymously trying to persuade reporters to write stories critical of the privacy implications of Google’s search feature Social Circle. NYTimes 5/13/11
Procter & Gamble (PG) says consumers are increasingly choosing its brands over store brands, a sign of an improved economy. The company plans to raise prices on products including Pampers diapers, Iams pet food and Head & Shoulders shampoo but is keeping prices down on lower tier products such as Luvs diapers. Businessweek 5/12/11
Prestige Brands (PBH) nearly doubled its fourth-quarter profit on strong over-the-counter product sales, helped by acquisitions and growth of its five core brands. The company makes products including Clear Eyes, NightGuard, Dermoplast, Sleep-Eze, Comet and Spic and Span. Foxbusiness.com 5/12/11.
Maidenform is extending its brand with the launch of Maidenform Swimwear, in partnership with Malibu Dream Girl. PRNewswire 5/12/11
Apple is the world’s most valuable brand according to Brandz top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2011. Download report here.
Anheuser-Busch, the makers of Budweiser says the MLB is demanding higher fees for a multi-year extension of its exclusive sponsorship but the MLB disagrees. Anheuser-Busch has asked a federal judge to make the April agreement binding and to block the MLB from negotiating with any other brewer.NESN.com 11/12/10
J.C. Penney Co. earnings rose 63% in its fiscal third quarter as the department store chain due to strong reception to new exclusive brands such as Liz Claiborne and MNG by Mango. Los Angeles Times 11/12/10
Wendy Thomas, the Wendy’s brand namesake and daughter of founder Dave Thomas is being featured in a promotion for a test cheeseburger called Dave's Hot 'N Juicy Cheeseburger, named after Mr. Thomas. Advertising Age 11/12/10
As part of a comeback, Crocs is rolling out higher-priced shoes that include flip-flops and high heels. To emphasize the comfort of its brand, its traditional clog is an advertising character that gives foot massages. Forbes 11/11/10
Its new styles are what the company wants to emphasize as it navigates a turnaround. The company just reported solid third quarter revenue that was up 30% from the year-ago period to $216 million with strong gains across multiple retail channels. This year, in fact, may be its first profitable one since 2007McKee Foods’ Little Debbie brand has launched an eight month 20-city tour by Airstream to increase sales and also double the ranks of Facebook followers to more than one million. New York Times 11/10/10
Mr. Goodwrench, the mechanic who served as the symbol of GM's dealer service brand for 37 years will be dropped Feb. 1, replaced by "certified service" brands for each of GM's remaining four remaining nameplates that will link buying a car with service. Associated Press 11/9/10
Amazon has beat out Walmart to acquire Quidsi Inc., the parent company of Diapers.com for $540 million. Bloomberg.com 11/7/10
Bolstered by the success of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Canada has been named by FutureBrand as the most respected country brand in the world. VancouverSun.com 11/6/10
Fashion's current retro trend is at least partly due to the economic downturn, which has made consumers hanker for authenticity and heritage, so they can be sure that what they buy has lasting value.
ConAgra Foods’ frozen meals brand Marie Callender’s is presenting mealtime as a respite from the day's worries in a campaign themed "Time to Savor" that portrays the brand's products as comfort food. Adweek 8/29/10
Asian models have been added to represent the brands of Estee Lauder and Maybelline to appeal to the fastest-growing market in the world. SifyNews 8/28/10
A study of YouTube videos for tobacco brands including Marlboro, Benson and Hedges and Winston, says most had pro-tobacco content, using themes like celebrities and movies, sports, music or archival footage (such as an ad using the Flintstones smoking Winston cigarettes), and noted that some videos seemed to be professionally made. A World Health Organization treaty requires participating countries to ban all forms of tobacco advertisements and sponsorships but YouTube is a user-generated site that is not regulated for content control. Pagingdrgupta.com 8/27/10
Federal regulators are looking at Google Inc.'s plans to buy travel technology company ITA Software Inc., which could position Google to compete with travel brands Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz. Huffingtonpost.com 8/27/10
Two teenagers are suing Facebook, claiming their names and images were sold to advertisers without parental permission as part of a Facebook feature that allows members to ‘like’ a service or product. Facebook broadcasts likes to the user's friends. Huffingtonpost.com 8/27/10
Apple has set the date of its next "big announcement" for Sept. 1. Speculation is that the company will unveil a cloud-based music service. Brandweek 8/27/10
Nissan's Infiniti luxury brand plans to launch its first performance sub-brand in December, a version of its G coupe, to compete with BMW's M-series, Cadillac's V-series and Mercedes-Benz's AMG. Detroit Free Press 8/26/10
Japanese fast-fashion brand Uniqlo has named Charlize Theron and Orlando Bloom global brand ambassadors for its new “Made For All” philosophy. The company’s new tagline, emphasizes its commitment to provide clothing for everyone, regardless of nationality, age, occupation or gender People 8/26/10
Google has rolled out the “Call Phone” feature to all US Gmail users enabling them to call people directly on their phones. The service is free for calls in the US and Canada for the remainder of 2010. Gmailblog 8/26/10
RIM falls to 17-month low as India plans to ban BlackBerry messaging services Aug. 31 unless RIM resolves concerns the smart phones could be used for terrorist attacks or other illegal activities. Bloomberg 8/26/10
Toyota Motor Corp. and General Motors Co. are recalling 1.3 million 2005-2008 model vehicles because of engine stalling complaints. Autonews.com 8/26/10
Tiffany & Co. is launching a collection of handbags in a dozen U.S. stores on Sept. 1.The move will help Tiffany to drive sales through accessibly priced goods while maintaining the brand’s luxury image. WSJ.com 8/26/10
GM is launching the Chevrolet Cruze in September. As part of GM’s effort to achieve long term profitability the Cruze will be priced higher than previous compacts. WSJ 8/26/10
Four Points by Sheraton has reached a milestone of 150 properties in 24 countries.The Four Points’ brand positioning of “uncomplicated comfort” and value has helped the brand become one of the fastest growing brands within the Starwood portfolio. MarketWatch 8/25/10
American Eagle Outfitters Inc. plans store closings and layoffs in the wake of weaker margins, higher overhead and losses related to its failed Martin + Osa chain. The company points to inconsistent business trends and unpredictable consumer behavior as contributors to losses. WSJ 8/25/10
McDonald’s has named Steve Easterbrook evp, global chief brand officer, a new position at the fast-food giant. Reuters 8/24/10
Sweet ‘N Low is introducing a new campaign to relaunch the brand to consumers and differentiate it in an increasingly crowded category. NYTimes 8/23/10
Ford says it may expand its upscale Lincoln brand outside North America, for the first time, to markets around the world. wsj.com 8/21/10
AT&T is rebranding its homepage as YP.com with the tagline "Click Less. Live More." YP.com is focused on helping users "eat, play, and live" locally. webpronews 8/20/10
Some institutional shareholders have protested Target’s and Best Buy’s donations to a conservative Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidate who opposes gay marriages saying the donations are inconsistent with corporate values and could harm the companies' brands. Huffingtonpost.com 8/20/10
Cadillac is launching a CTS Coupe that will compete against vehicles like the BMW 335i Coupe, Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe, and Audi A5. Media Post 8/20/10
Whole Foods Market is launching an iPad/iPhone/iPod touch app designed to help people live healthier lifestyles. "Mission App," offers 70 challenges/missions that involve users engaging in a series of steps to earn "badges and bragging rights." MediaPost 8/20/10
Anheuser-Busch Budweiser share of the U.S. market in 1988 was 26 percent, but was 9.3 percent last year. Some observers say the Budweiser brand risks being forgotten by an entire generation; four out of 10 people in their mid-20s have never tried Budweiser. stltoday 8/20/10
Levi Strauss & Co has launched dENIZEN, a new global brand aimed at young consumers in emerging markets starting in China, Singapore and South Korea. Associated Press 8/19/10
Facebook has announced new location-based capabilities that will allow its 150 million mobile users to check in when they arrive at bars, restaurants, and clothing shops through its new Places platform. Facebook advertising partners Foursquare, Gowalla, Yelp, and Booyah could get a boost in campaign distribution to Facebook's 500 million users. Clickz.com 8/19/10
Fashion espionage is allegedly to blame for the new Gucci bag seen on the shoulder of Jersey Shore star Snooki in recent photos. Sources claim that a Gucci rival gave Snooki the bag in a counter-branding move to damage the brand’s image. Seriously. GraziaDaily.com 8/19/10
Hearst Magazines has established The App Lab to address the explosion of consumer usage of mobile devices and related platforms and applications. The App Lab will offer educational sessions and previews of emerging mobile content, applications and platforms, including iPad and other tablets; advertiser and agency roundtables on new ad formats and models; and consumer insight panels, among other programming. webwire.com 8/19/10
The Old Spice advertising campaign featuring Isaiah Mustafa as a towel-draped ladies man has boosted sales for Old Spice body wash by 55% says Wieden + Kennedy. AgencySpy 8/19/10
Starbucks Corp's (SBUX.O) announcement of $100 million in global sales of Via brand instant coffee is being questioned by reports that numbers are inflated by free drinks and crediting non Via sales to Via. The company says the instances were limited and had no impact sales. Reuters 8/18/10
Volvo says no longer being tied to a major manufacturer will enable it to react quickly to market demands and enter "the top league of premium brands.” autospies.com 8/18/10
Haim Saban has purchased Paul Frank Industries, the company that owns brands including Julius the Monkey, Lip Smackers lip balm, and about 150 characters, which are licensed for use in toys, apparel, and accessories. Thewrap.com 8/17/10
BMW has branded its new concept car the Megacity Vehicle or MCV, an all-electric car--similar to the Nissan Leaf or the Chevy Volt. Fastcodesign.com 8/16/10
MAC has cancelled the MAC Rodarte limited edition makeup collection, which was inspired by the impoverished Mexican town of Juarez, which has one of the highest murder rates in the world with many victims young women and children. Elle 8/17/10
Controversial urban hipster brand American Apparel is close to bankruptcy after numerous woes including a 66% share drop in 12 months, the exit of auditor Deloitte and a federal subpoenainvestigating the change from Deloitte to Marcum. NYTimes.com 8/17/10
McDonald’s is the current winner of the quick-service breakfast wars, attracting 37 percent of adult consumers who have eaten breakfast at a quick-service chain in the past month. McDonald’s and other quick service chains have attracted breakfast customers with wireless Internet access at their stores, coupons and online offers says Scarborough Research. nrn.com 8/16/10
Levi’s has launched a new lined called Levi's Curve ID that offers women jeans that complement their body type. Freep.com 8/14/2010
Kellogg Co.has debuted Pop-Tart World, a pop up store in Times Square, where customers can eat Pop-Tart “sushi,” order a customized pastry, create a custom box filled with a mix of their favorite flavors, suggest new types of Pop-Tarts, select a Pop-Tart T-shirt made by specialty artists or get “frosted” and “wrapped in foil” by a light show. The State.com 8/14/2010
Jaguar Cars has created the XJ75 Platinum Concept a demonstration of the design customization potential of the XJ luxury sedan, as part of their year long celebration of the Jaguar brand’s 75th anniversary. PRNewswire 8/14/2010
Kroger Co. has doubled its number of store-brand beauty products this summer and plans to continue to launch more products this fall and next year. Their Mirra brand beauty line contains natural ingredients and is priced below brands such as L’Oreal, Aveeno and Olay. Associated Press 8/13/10
Walgreens (WAG) is rolling out its DR Delish private brand line of snacks and beverages nationally; they acquired the line as part of their purchase of Duane Reade Drugstores. Marketwatch.com 8/13/10
The East India Company, world’s first multinational trading company, known for bringing exotic foods from the east to the west, beginning in 1600, has been relaunched as a luxury brand. The company ceased operating in 1874; intellectual property rights to the company were purchased by an Indian-born importer and entrepreneur in 2005. CNN.com 8/13/10
An advocacy group claims that Ben & Jerry's All Natural ice cream and frozen yogurt contains ingredients that either don’t exist in nature or have been chemically modified such as alkalized cocoa and corn syrup. The company says it abides by federal guidelines in using the term natural. Boston.com 8/13/10
Hyundai has replaced Nissan to become one of the top five most considered automotive brands among new-car shoppers, according to the Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligence Brand Watch Study. NYTimes.com 8/12/10
David Lauren, son of fashion brand founder Ralph Lauren, tells Blogher conference attendees that his father was born in the Bronx as Ralph Lifshitz and was a salesman, not a trained fashion designer. But his idea was to dress for the life you wanted, and who you wanted to be: "It's not about fabric. It's about dreams." The Recessionista 8/12/10
In July sales versus a year ago GM's four core brands were up 25%, Ford (F) was up 3%, Toyota (TM) was down 3%. Washington Post 8/8/10
A former executive with the company that owns the Thomas' English Muffins brand has been barred from working for rival Hostess Brands. His former employer says the executive is one of seven people in the world who know the step-by-step process of putting the "nooks and crannies" or air pockets in Thomas' English muffins. UPI.com 8/7/10
Sambazon, a San Clemente, Calif., firm that makes products based on acai, has launched a brand positioning featuring “Sambazon Warriors,” “ ‘everyday warriors’ in which consumers can join and feel they are part of a movement. A Facebook app that lets consumers add a headdress to their photo is part of the campaign. Brandweek 8/6/10
Is an Apple (AAPL) iBike in the works? PatentlyApple.com says a patent application from Apple was published by the US Patent & Trademark Office on August 5, 2010 that reveals various concepts behind a newly advanced Smart Bicycle System for individuals as well as teams of cyclists. The Bicycle system monitors speed, distance, time, altitude, elevation, incline, decline, heart rate, power, derailleur setting, cadence, wind speed, path completed, expected future path, heart rate, power, and pace. The system could utilize various sensors built-into the iPhone in addition to working with sensors already built-into the bike itself.” PatentlyApple.com 8/5/2010.
Liz Claiborne Inc (LIZ.N) which has not seen a profit in about three years has posted a much smaller-than-expected loss and says it will turn profitable on an adjusted basis in the fourth quarter. It has closed underperforming stores, worked on underperforming brands and signed an exclusive deal with J.C. Penney Co Inc (JCP.N) to sell its namesake line. Reuters 8/5/10
GM will return to the Super Bowl in 2011; an ad campaign will break next month for the Chevy Camaro; and there's a new tagline coming for Cadillac, "The new standard for the world.” AdAge 8/5/2010
The Coca-Cola Company (KO) and the WNBA are partnering to promote Coca-Cola’s "Live Positively" initiative and WNBA Cares.
Clinics will teach fitness skills and nutrition to kids and holding camps in local parks will encourage people to visit neighborhood parks and be more active. BrandWeek 8/3/2010
Zappos eschews the industry approach of treating vendors as adversaries, and instead treats them as partners.The $1 billion company says their vendor relationships are “one of the most valuable parts of our business,” and “Without those friendships and their belief in us, there might not be a Zappos today.” HBR – The Conversation 6/4/10
