USA Today
Confusion reigned at Gander Mountain stores earlier this week as to whether certain stores will close or stay open. Signs are posted on all 162 stores that read "store closing" and "fixtures for sale," but new owner Marcus Lemonis, a celebrity businessman with a show on CNBC, says that some will get a reprieve.
NYSportsJournalism.com
Calling it "one of the biggest sporting sponsorships in the world and the largest in the history of the company," Qatar Airways has signed a multi-year deal naming it an official partner and the official airline for FIFA. The alliance runs through 2022 and includes the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017, the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, the FIFA Club World Cup, the FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar.
Mashable
After the high fashion brand Balenciaga debuted a $2,000 tote that looked like a copycat of Ikea's humble 99-cent Frakta shopping bag, people have started cutting up their Fraktas to turn them into entirely different creations, including a thong and a baseball cap. The Swedish furniture giant has posted a collection of its own Frakta hacks, including an apron and a purse.
USA Today
Remember Pop Rocks, the crystal candy that seemed to cause mini-explosions on your tongue? Oreo is incorporating similar crystals into its newest flavor, called the Firework Oreo. The popping candy creme is sandwiched between two chocolate wafers. The treat is rolling out in grocery stores nationwide this week. Oreo is soliciting ideas for other new flavors via its #MyOreoCreation contest.
Boston Globe
Target is testing a program with employees that would let customers order household essentials like laundry detergent, paper towels, and peanut butter and have them delivered to their homes the next day. The service is similar to Amazon Pantry and comes as Target is trying to enhance its online services to better compete with Walmart and online leader Amazon.
Marketing Land
Amazon and Walmart's battle over who has the lowest minimum order amount for free shipping hit another milestone this week when Amazon undercut Walmart by $10. Amazon previously dropped its free shipping minimum to $35 to match Walmart, but now, the online retailer is going even lower, offering free shipping for non-Prime members on all orders of $25 or more (on eligible items).
NYSportsJournalism.com
Serena Williams may be taking a year off of the tennis circuit to have her first baby, but she is not taking any time off from signing marketing deals. In her first pact since sharing the news that she soon would be a first-time mom, Williams has signed with Tempur Sealy to appear in its Tempur-Pedic "Sleep Is Power" multi-media marketing campaign.
Los Angeles Times
G.I. Joe hit the shelves as American men were flying off to Vietnam and it quickly became a best-seller. But its inventor, Stanley Weston, didn't make it rich off the toy. He sold the concept to the Rhode Island company that would become Hasbro, which made its name on G.I. Joe and the Monopoly board. Weston died May 1 at the age of 84.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Warner Bros. has spent $400,000 more in TV ads on "Wonder Woman" than they did on "Suicide Squad." So why do some fans think that DC Comics' most iconic female superhero isn't getting the same commercial treatment as other movies? Is it a lack of action figures? No dueling cereal boxes like the Batman/Superman ones that came out last year?
The Drive
Ford's design manager, Melvin Betancourt, opened up about the inspiration behind the 2018 Mustang facelift. The design's inspiration came from a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. The angled nostrils and contours of Darth Vader's mask became the inspiration for the Mustang's new fog lamp scoops and front-end shape, according to Ford.