Some brands are showing their age. Proudly, Theresa Howard reports. In fact, she writes, "old is the new young in advertising." An ad for Shredded Wheat, created in 1892, says the product put the "no" in innovation. Allstate spokesman Dennis Haysbert says that "1931 was not a great year" to start a business, but that's when Allstate was founded. Lowe's Home Improvement touts the fact that it was established "more than 60 years ago." "In these times, you want to put your best face forward as people look at companies that are going out of business," says Walter …

Amazon.com is developing a Kindle electronic-book reader featuring a larger screen that could debut before the 2009 holiday shopping season, sources say. Among other things, a larger screen is better for advertising, which doesn't exist on the current Kindle, says Guy Vidra, head of business development and emerging media for WashingtonPost.com.

In partnership with Cirque du Soleil, Reebok is bringing a new exercise program to gyms called "Jukari Fit to Fly," Jenn Abelson reports. Jukari, which comes from "giocare," the Italian word meaning "to play," is an hour-long workout that includes a mix of cardio, strength training, balancing and core training. It's all done on a contraption known as the FlySet -- a three-stranded rope with a 360-degree swivel point attached to a steel bar that hangs from the ceiling. It strengthens and lengthens the body and creates the sensation of flying during the workout. Reebok has launched the classes …

Dan Neil reviews the looks and performance of the Infiniti G37 Convertible this morning, but of arguably more interest is what he says about the nameplate's positioning over the years -- and the state of our favorite business endeavor in general. To wit: "Recently, I began writing a column about advertising and marketing for this paper, a process that has awakened my sense of the ludicrous, chicken-salad-flavored fertilizer that passes for brand marketing in this country. And no automotive company has agonized more over the meaning of its brand than Infiniti, Nissan's luxury division, whose image advertising …

For its part, Ford is "hoping to harness that unbridled passion that young girls have for all things horsey," reports Becky Ebenkamp. It is launching "Pony Girl for Mustang," a lifestyle-driven licensing program aimed at tween and teenage girls that includes apparel, accessories, home decor, stationery, jewelry and cosmetics. A colorful style guide pairs Mustang's galloping pony silhouette with other girly icons, such as butterflies, flowers and stars. And aspirational taglines such as "Untamed Heart," "Run Free," and "A Pony is Forever" are inscribed in playful fonts on T-shirts and such in playful, vintage-inspired fonts. "[Licensing is] a way …

The recession and intense competition are hitting higher-priced imported beers, particularly the once high-flying Corona, which faces more challenges than just the economy, Mike Hughlett reports. Carlos Laboy, an analyst at Credit Suisse, opines in a recent report that Corona "really has life cycle issues." Not only are craft beers stealing business from major imports, Corona also is under pressure from Anheuser-Busch's new Bud Light Lime. Industry analysts say that part of the problem for Corona Extra was a price increase in 2007. Domestic brewers didn't raise prices until months later, leaving a larger-than-usual price gap just as the …

Businesses increasingly are asking their front-line workers to "upsell" consumers -- to try to persuade them to take an extra or two that adds to their transaction, Theresa Howard reports. The classic example, of course is McDonald's workers asking, "Would you like fries with that?" but Southwest has gained $100 million in annual revenue by upselling to its Business Select-class. "If you are putting customer needs first and being sensitive to what people need in this environment, it can help you," says Steve McKee, author of When Growth Stalls: How It Happens, Why You're Stuck & What To Do …