Footwear News
Tom Brady is launching a clothing line, called simply “Brady,” that will be available at Nordstrom starting in December. It will include men’s training and activewear. The football legend partnered on the clothing line with co-founder and CEO Jens Grede, who works with Kim Kardashian on her Skims brand, and designer Dao-Yi Chow, Public School New York co-founder. Brady has worked with apparel through endorsements in the past including brands like Ugg, Foot Locker and Under Armour.
Supermarket News
Whole Foods Market online shoppers will soon lose a perk of their $119-per-year Amazon Prime membership: free two-hour delivery of groceries on orders of $35 or more. “Starting Oct. 25, parent company Amazon plans to charge a $9.95 fee for Whole Foods delivery orders chainwide, with additional rush fees for one-hour delivery orders,” per Supermarket News. “The change will come less than two months after Amazon announced a test of a $9.95 fee for two-hour deliveries — including Prime members — in six metropolitan markets.”
Progressive Grocer
Remember a few years ago when Amazon promised widespread drone delivery? That has yet to happen, but another retailer, ShopRite, is testing a pilot program in Pennsylvania offering battery-powered delivery robots providing same-day delivery to shoppers. ShopRite is the first East Coast supermarket chain to adopt the technology supplied by Tortoise, which provides affordable and sustainable last-mile delivery options.
USA Today
Many national chains offered deals on Wednesday in conjunction with National Coffee Day, which is followed by the lesser-celebrated International Coffee Day on Oct. 1. The pandemic has prompted more at-home coffee assumption, so the "holiday" is a chance to lure consumers back. Starbucks is also celebrating its 50th anniversary and is inviting customers to bring in a clean, empty, reusable cup, up to 20 ounces, to participating locations Wednesday to receive a free cup of Pike Place Roast brewed coffee.
The Verge
Sonos and Ikea’s second-generation Symfonisk table lamp speaker features a more customizable design and comes in different styles. It will be available in Ikea’s U.S. stores and website and in select markets in Europe starting Oct. 12, expanding to all Ikea markets in 2022. “Ikea is changing up how it’s selling the new model; this time around, the lamp base (available in black or white) is sold separately from two different styles of lampshades,” per The Verge. “The idea behind the lineup is to blend tech with a design that more naturally fits into home decor.”
Hollywood Reporter
When the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures opens Sept. 30, the gift shop might be as much of a draw as the exhibits themselves. It will be stocked with an array of film-themed items, including pieces designed by Hollywood costume designers. One example of the wearable art: Costume designer Ruth E. Carter, with "Black Panther" jewelry designer Douriean Fletcher, created a jewelry line made from original glass-gold mosaic tiles from the Saban Building’s iconic gold cylinder facade.
USA Today
Several dozen U.S. breweries are making a special beer to benefit those in the music industry who have been hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. A Woodburn, Oregon hops grower also is donating profits from hops sold to make the "Rock On" lager to Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, a charity founded in 1993 to help musicians in need. "After COVID's onset, most live music events were halted for more than a year and many concerts and festivals continue to get canceled or downsized," per USA Today. "In 2020 alone, Pollstar estimated the economic impact of the live music shutdown at more than $30 billion."
New York Times
Award-winning copywriter and creative director Cliff Freeman has died at age 80 of pneumonia. Inarguably, the award-winning copywriter's most memorable spot was the one for Wendy’s in which a gravelly voiced old woman shouts
"Where’s the beef?" at the sight of a puny hamburger patty in an oversized bun, per
The New York Times. He founded Cliff Freeman & Partners in 1987. “Almost all our clients are Davids up against Goliaths,” Freeman told
New York magazine in 1993. “We have to win with wit.”
Axios
Brands are throwing billions of dollars at online content creators, so the number of people looking to become influencers has exploded during the pandemic. “Takumi, a premier influencer marketing agency, received twice as many applications from people looking for representation in 2020 then it did in 2019,” per Axios. “And year-to-date, it's grown another 150-200%, Takumi group CEO Mary Keane-Dawson said.” Brands are expected to spend more than $3 billion on influencer campaigns in 2021, and over $4 billion in 2022, per eMarketer.
NYSportsJournalism.com
The WNBA has signed a multiyear deal naming Dick’s Sporting Goods as the “official sporting goods retail partner” of the league. The WNBA said the alliance is “built upon the promotion of women's sports, youth participation and player development.” With over 850 locations, Dick’s is now the largest national retailer for WNBA merchandise .