Skechers PR Problem Has Lagging Sales
There was a time when Skechers were all the rage. The brand hit the American consumer scene in a big way, back when Airwalk “skate” shoes were the fashion choice of anyone not wearing Air Jordans.
Read MoreNearly 1/5th of Wendy’s Locations in North America Have Been Hacked
Wendy’s issued a statement last week that 1,025 of their approximately 5,700 stores in their North American locations had financial information of their customers hacked, stealing credit and debit card numbers, names, expiration dates, and codes on the cards. The hack originated late in the fall of 2015. So far some of the customers’ cards have been used to make purchases at stores other than Wendy’s, such as gift cards and purchases of less than $100 at a time.
Read MoreWhy Justin Timberlake Offered a Public Apology
These days it seems like every celebrity with a Twitter account learns the hard way just what “mob mentality” means. One errant or even presumed errant 140 character missive and it feels like the collective world has lost its mind in their hurry to grab their digital pitchforks and torches. The latest victim singed by this groupthink gone haywire—Justin Timberlake.
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How Rio Should Prepare If the Olympics Flop
With the Summer Olympics only about a month away on August 5th, Rio de Janeiro faces some almost insurmountable issues that need to be resolved in that short period of time. And that may not be possible. So, what should the Brazilian government and the 2016 Olympic Committee do to keep the games as smooth as they can be even if many problems go unresolved?
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Dunkin Donuts App Launches Mobile Ordering
There was a point not that long ago when having an app was a luxury or an oddity. Now, pretty much anyone and everyone seems to have one. Some, like the incredible Girl Scout cookie locator, are very useful. Others seem to major on aggravation and minor in taking up space on your phone. But the Girl Scouts are not the only brand trying to help you get your sugar fix. Enter Dunkin’ Donuts.
Read MoreFDA Criticized Over Recall Timeline
The inspector general’s office of the Department of Health and Human Services reports that the FDA has been taking its sweet time using its power to force recalls on tainted food items showing pathogens that can kill people or make people very sick.
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Frozen Food Recall Creates Consumer PR Problems
Listeria. Ask most folks what it is and what it does, and they would have a hard time explaining it. But ask them if they want it in their food, and they know full well it’s very bad. Just the mention of the word leads consumers to stop buying, much less consuming certain products. Now the outbreak scare extends to frozen food, some bought as far back as 2014.
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Zimmerman Back in Press for Gun Auction
Not since the Zimmerman note has a general public hated a Zimmerman more than they do George Zimmerman. The guy’s always in the news for the wrong reasons and just can’t seem to get a clue. When you, as a private citizen, have managed to engender the type of bone-deep revulsion that Zimmerman has, it’s a good idea to try to make your life as private as possible. Instead, Zimmerman has managed to be in the news for many, many bad days even since he was cleared in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
Read MorePriceline CEO ousted amid affair rumors
Priceline CEO Darren Huston resigned last week after an investigation concluded he had, in fact, had an “improper relationship” with an employee. According to media reports, the findings concluded Huston “acted contrary to (Priceline’s) code of conduct and engaged in activities inconsistent with those expected of executives. No other information about the nature of the relationships was released, but it’s clear Priceline will have some PR ground to make up in the coming weeks. While this is far from the worst thing that could happen to the company, anytime you mix illicit affairs with a change of leadership you can just about guarantee headlines.
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Ringling pulls elephants years ahead of schedule
In a move just about every side is taking credit for, Ringling Brothers Circus announced it would “retire” its performing elephants in early May, two years before the planned date. By May 11, teams of elephants who have been performing together for decades will be off-loaded from trains and trucks for the final time to finish their days in Central Florida on a 200-acre farm for retired circus animals. The retirement has been planned for some time, mostly in response to public outcry fueled by negative PR and activist activity. The company said initially the plan was to have all the elephants off the road by 2018, but sped up the timetable because they realized they could. The situation was…
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