A few years back, Marvin Ellison was a candidate for the top spot at Home Depot. While he did very well running U.S. operations for Home Depot, Ellison didn’t get that gig, but he was tapped to lead struggling department store JCPenney. Now, four years later, Ellison will get another shot to build a legacy in the home improvement retail industry as he takes over at CEO of Lowe’s. Taking over his former employer’s chief rival is a bit of a bittersweet move for Ellison, who spent about 12 years working at various executive positions at Home Depot. But he’s certainly pleased not to be tied to JC Penney at this juncture.
The NCAA may not be punishing the University of North Carolina over the academic fraud scandal, but that doesn’t mean the school is completely out off the hook. Since the FBI investigation, the NCAA has created the “Commission on College Basketball,” a committee to investigate what happened at UNC and to take steps to keep it from happening ever again.
If the media consumer marketplace, blogosphere, and social media can be believed, the viewers of Fox and readers of the New York Times practically live in different universes. While millions consume content from both media sources, and many others, diehard fans of either source will insist theirs is the “real” news, and the other source is a major purveyor of “fake” news. Given those cultural assumptions, it was a bit of a surprise for many, recently, when it was announced that The New York Times and 21st Century Fox will be working together to air a weekly news program. The show, aptly called, “The Weekly,” will be produced by The Times and aired by FX and Hulu. According to promotional…
Anytime a company or brand wants to open a new market somewhere they have not previously been, there will some cultural hurdles to get over. This is especially true when that new market is in a foreign country or a developing economy … or both. The nature of these markets creates a challenging communications scenario for all involved.
The Girl Scouts of the USA has a big problem on their hands. Sure, everyone still loves their cookies, and many, many girls still appreciate the program… But these are still troubling times for the GSA.
The idea of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is not new, though it has seen a bit of a resurgence in recent years, thanks, in large part, to the direct connection between brands and consumers on social media. CSR is undoubtedly a powerful opportunity to promote one’s brand while also making a difference in the local community and the world. It’s a chance for a corporation to draw a line in the sand and take on a difficult issue that really matters. In some cases, CSR can even be a vehicle to increase brand value, strengthen market share and solve nagging business challenges. But, of course, there’s another side to this powerful sword. The birth of CSR in the United States…
For ten years, Disney has been producing and promoting superhero movies, a massive, interlaced project that connected multiple brands and storylines across an ever-expanding universe. Now, that decade-long project is coming to fruition as “Avengers: Infinity War” has been released. For the first time ever, Marvel fans will get to see all their movie favorites on screen, in the same movie, at the same time. And the anticipation for this film could not be higher.
There was a time when Lance Armstrong was sports royalty, as much of a sponsorship “sure-thing” as there was in sports. Many businesses, including the US Postal Service, bet big on Armstrong and his Livestrong brand based on that certified return.
It’s been a rough few years for major American retail stores. From Sears and Kmart, to JC Penney, Toys R Us, and many others, the changing consumer marketplace has led to downsizing, store closings and bankruptcy. The latest retailer that seems to be floundering is Bed, Bath & Beyond. The home goods retailer saw a drop in same-store sales that led to shares dropping 20 percent recently. This amounts to a ten-year low for the company, and a failure to live up to Wall Street forecasts.
If anyone is having a good year, it’s recording sensation Cardi B. The rapper’s debut album was so sought after that the anticipation alone propelled Cardi B to stardom. She seems packaged perfectly for the modern pop scene. Cardi understands what fans are looking for on an album, on social media, and in the press.