Month: September 2020

It all started with a firing–a very foolish one. In 1978, Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank were executives at Handy Dan, a home improvement chain based in Southern California. Despite the business being very profitable, the pair had begun to tinker with a new idea. By lowering prices, they found, the stores’ volume shot up,…

Key Insight: Price becomes a bigger factor in the decision-making process during an economic recession. CPG favorites from Campbell’s soup to Charmin toilet paper have seen a sales surge during the pandemic as Americans spend more time in their kitchens and bathrooms. Despite all the talk of shoppers seeking comfort and stability in major household…

Like many young people, Oli Marlow Thomas initially dreamed of being a police officer, not a founder. The difference is that Marlow Thomas, while short on regrets, held onto his dream longer than many. In 2009, when Marlow Thomas left university, he remained desperate to join the police and soon enrolled in a fast-track scheme…

Key Insight Unwanted hair around the house is a major obstacle to pet adoption. Everything is going to the dogs these days–in a lighthearted, literal sense. An increasing number of Americans consider the furry creatures members of the family and adoption rates have spiked across the country during the pandemic. With that, brands are catering…

The Walt Disney Company has sold video ad-tech firm TrueX, which it acquired as part of its $71.3 billion purchase of 21st Century Fox, to mobile and location ad-tech company Gimbal. Gimbal is buying TrueX to cash in on the connected TV boon, which has accelerated during the coronavirus pandemic as people stream more content…

After Prime Day didn’t take place this past July due to Covid-19 issues, no one really thought Amazon would cancel its biggest shopping event of the year. Last week, rumors of a new date began to circulate, and now the brand has finally confirmed that Prime Day will take place on Oct. 13… and Oct….

Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN) is undergoing a rebrand, intending to simplify its offering. The new name is Dentsu International. DAN was a result of Dentsu’s 2012 acquisition of Aegis Media for a reported $5 billion and comprises nine major agency brands: Carat, Dentsu X, iProspect, Isobar, DentsuMcgarryBowen, Merkle, MKTG, Vizeum and Posterscope. The network is…

Burger King’s rivalry with its largest rival, McDonald’s, stretches back decades, with the smaller chain often using its challenger role as a reason to skewer the Golden Arches with snarky marketing tactics. Remember when Burger King’s “Whopper Detour” campaign lured fans all the way to McDonald’s just to unlock a 1-cent Whopper coupon and then…

Selling a phone on Craigslist, I found strangers who curse at you and think nothing of it — and then, something better.