• Under Armour Takes On Nike In Slumping Cross-Trainer Market
    The first major clash between two skilled brand marketers -- Nike and Under Armour -- may favor the upstart in the early going, even though the battle is on Nike's traditional turf. The footwear industry had hoped that dueling performance trainers from the two marketers would rejuvenate the long-declining cross-trainer segment, but Nike's performance-trainer sales actually declined in March, the first month Sparq shoes were on the market. A Citigroup survey of retailers finds that, while preorders of Under Armour shoes were "limited," more than a third of the retailers questioned expected the shoes to sell out in their …
  • Pringles Launches Campaign For New Stix Crackers
    A new TV spot starring a pair of animated stick figures -- Mr. Pringles and a female partner -- promotes Pringles Stix cracker sticks, the line's first baked product. It comes in four flavors -- crunchy wheat, vanilla, honey butter and pizza -- and is now available nationwide. The figures dance in a disco to Earth Wind and Fire music. "Oh yeah, now those moves are really delicious," says a deep voiceover. "They'll have you snacking to a whole new beat." Rob Baiocco, deputy chief creative director at Grey, says the challenge for the creative team was creating …
  • Kerkorian Likely To Be Activist Shareholder At Ford
  • FDA Denies Approval for Merck's Cordaptive Cholesterol Drug
  • GM Scaling Back On SUVs And Big Pickups
  • Mars, Buffett Deal For Wrigley Will Reshape Candy Industry
    In a deal that will unite two icons of the U.S. candy business, Mars is acquiring Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. for $80 a share-or about $23 billion--with financial backing from Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway. Mars says Wrigley will become a separate, stand-alone subsidiary, with Berkshire holding a minority stake. Goldman Sachs Group and J.P. Morgan Chase are also providing funding. The deal will expand Mars's already considerable global reach. Wrigley generates the majority of its sales outside of the U.S. In recent years, it has expanded its offerings well beyond chewing gum. Mars is the world's largest maker of chocolate …
  • Hot Fashion Accessory: Eye Glasses
    In a Botox era obsessed with youth and physical perfection, Lasik surgery wasn't seen as just corrective, but also cosmetic: Ditching the four-eyes look was part of the payoff. But amid a push by glasses makers--as well as fashion designers with their own eyewear lines--nonprescription glasses have become a hot accessory. Michael Kors and Carmen Marc Valvo have featured models wearing bold rectangular glasses in their runway shows. Designers have never been shy about outfitting models with scarves, shoes and bags. But "they never made passes at models with glasses," says David Wolfe, a fashion-industry consultant. The Lens Crafters …
  • Julie Stewart Has A Recipe For Change At Applebee's
    Julia Stewart, who was snubbed for the CEO slot at Applebee's several years ago and went on to rebuild IHOP, vows to fix Applebee's in much the same way she rebuilt the pancake house after arriving six years ago: better food, better ads, better atmosphere and conversion to a near-100% franchise business model from the current about 75%. Nine months ago - in a minnow-swallows-the-whale merger - relatively tiny IHOP had the gumption to buy struggling Applebee's, the nation's largest casual dining chain, for about $2.1 billion. Key in Stewart's plan to turn Applebee's around within one year: Food …
  • Marketers Hiding Their Customer Support Numbers
    There was a time when businesses welcomed phone calls from customers. Now, many go to extraordinary lengths to avoid calls--preferring that orders and support issues be handled online--and some companies have cut out telephone customer support altogether. The reason, of course, is that a person picking up the phone will want to get paid. In a sampling of eight prominent Web sites--Amazon, Apple, EBay, Equifax, JetBlue, Microsoft, Target and Yahoo--only one had a toll-free customer service phone number on its home page: Apple. But it's for ordering products and is fairly low on the page, in small type. Finding …
  • D.C. Bike-Sharing Program To Be Subsidized By Advertising
    A public-private venture called SmartBike DC will make 120 bicycles available at 10 spots in central locations in Washington D.C. starting next month. The automated program, which district officials say is the first of its kind in the nation, is teaming up with Clear Channel Outdoor to put the bikes on the streets. In the deal, Clear Channel will have exclusive advertising rights in the city's bus shelters. The company has reached a similar deal with San Francisco. Chicago and Portland, Ore., are also considering proposals from advertisers. For a $40 annual membership fee, SmartBike users can check …
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