Sales & Marketing news

• Apple is reportedly considering a subscription bundle for Apple Music and its streaming service Apple TV Plus, but the music industry is worried it will lose money on the deal (AAPL)

  07-10-2019 23:45 via feedproxy.google.com
  Apple is considering packaging Apple Music and the upcoming Apple TV Plus as a combined subscription, according to a new report from the Financial Times.
  Apple Music is currently available for $10 a month, and Apple TV Plus will launch on November 1 for $5 per month. Apple also offers Apple News Plus for $10 per month, and Apple Arcade, a subscription video game service, for $5 per month.
  While combining the services could provide savings for Apple customers, music industry executives are report
  
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• Trump signs trade deal with Japan as tensions escalate with China and the EU

  07-10-2019 22:44 via feedproxy.google.com
  President Donald Trump signed a final trade agreement with Japan on Monday.The deal would reopen some of the markets farmers had lost access to after the US withdrew from a multilateral Asia-Pacific pact in early 2017. 
  But critics have said it only recovered a portion of the benefits from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a now 11-country trade agreement Trump withdrew the US from within his first week in office. 
  Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
  President Donald Trump
  
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• Bank of America projects a slowdown in holiday spending this year — and singles out 3 retailers that could outperform the trend (AAN, BURL, TGT)

  07-10-2019 21:50 via feedproxy.google.com
  Holiday season spending is set to slow this year due to warmer weather, a shorter holiday, increased inventory, and trade-war tariffs, Bank of America Merrill Lynch analysts wrote Monday.
  The US consumer "remains strong" despite economic warning signs, they added.
  Aaron's, Burlington, and Target should outperform the retail industry should spending slow through the fourth quarter, the analysts projected.
  Visit the Markets Insider homepage for more stories.
  Holiday season spending is poised to sl
  
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• The transportation sector was a breakout star in the latest jobs report thanks to historic shortages and the upcoming holiday season

  07-10-2019 21:19 via feedproxy.google.com
  The United States added 136,000 jobs in September, a lower-than-expected number, but still enough to keep unemployment at a 50-year-low. 
  Manufacturing continued to suffer as a casualty of President Donald Trump's trade war, but there was one surprise star of the economy: transportation. 
  Public transit is slowly recovering from years of shedding riders, new data shows, and agencies are hiring like crazy in order to catch up. 
  Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.The
  
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• Climate-change protesters pour fake blood on Wall Street bull statue as part of 'die-in' demonstration

  07-10-2019 20:18 via feedproxy.google.com
  A group of protesters mounted Wall Street's famous "Charging Bull" statue and poured fake blood on it as part of a Monday "die-in" demonstration.
  The protest was organized by climate activism organization Extinction Rebellion, according to CNBC. Protesters lay around the bull with red paint on their bodies while one member waved a green flag from atop the statue.
  The group was blocking tourists before NYPD officers moved in and began arresting protesters.
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• Wall Street is overwhelmingly bullish on SmileDirectClub even after it had the worst US IPO in 12 years. Here’s what analysts are saying. (SDC)

  07-10-2019 19:55 via feedproxy.google.com
  On Monday, a slew of Wall Street analysts initiated coverage of SmileDirectClub with bullish "buy" ratings and high price targets. 
  Shares gained on the news in early trading Monday, then lost as much as 5.71%. 
  The coverage comes after a rough start to the company's public trading in September and a report that came out Friday from short-seller Hindenburg Research. 
  Here's what Wall Street analysts are saying about the company. 
  Watch SmileDirectClub trade live on Markets In
  
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• Wendy's breakfast rollout will be a brutal billion-dollar battle 'not for the faint of heart'

  07-10-2019 19:19 via feedproxy.google.com
  Wendy's is rolling out breakfast in 2020, reigniting a brutal war between fast-food rivals. 
  Wendy's will need to capture at least $1 billion in breakfast sales from fast-food competitors to break even, according to BTIG.
  The last time Wendy's attempted to launch breakfast, McDonald's countered with aggressive advertising and deals in test markets, strangling the launch before it went national. 
  Analysts are split on Wendy's chances of beating breakfast rivals in 2020.
  Visit BusinessIn
  
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• Nvidia surges on RBC upgrade that projects gaming strength and triple-digit data center growth (NVDA)

  07-10-2019 19:11 via feedproxy.google.com
  Nvidia shot up as much as 3.5% in early Monday trading after RBC Capital Markets upgraded its price target to reflect a 20% upside forecast.
  The company should see improved growth driven by its video game chips and data center business, analyst Mitch Steves wrote in a Monday note.
  The US-China trade war, worse-than-expected data center growth, and competition with rival chipmaker AMD are Nvidia's biggest risks, the analyst said.
  Watch Nvidia trade live here.
  Nvidia stock jumped as much as 3.5% i
  
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• A stock-market meltdown stemming from Elizabeth Warren's victory in the 2020 election will likely be short-lived, RBC says

  07-10-2019 18:44 via feedproxy.google.com
  Some investors and analysts are growing increasingly concerned about the prospect of democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren taking the White House in 2020. 
  Any hit to the stock market from a Warren presidency will likely be temporary, RBC Capital Markets said in a note to clients on Monday. 
  Most of the concerns about a Warren presidency stem from the Senator's policy positions on regulating industries such as health care, banking, and energy. 
  Visit the Markets Insid
  
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• China has bought more than 100 tons of gold as a buffer against Trump's trade war

  07-10-2019 18:13 via feedproxy.google.com
  China's central bank has plowed funds into gold over the last 10 months, adding over 100 tons of the precious metal to its reserves. 
  China's gold reserves rose by 5.9 tons in September, bringing the total added since December 2018 to over 100 tons, Bloomberg reported, citing the People's Bank of China.
  Traders drove the price of gold to its highest level since 2013 last month as they sought out havens in the face of geopolitical uncertainty. 
  View Markets Insider's homepage for more s
  
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• 'Joker' had the biggest October opening weekend ever, taking in $96 million

  07-10-2019 17:51 via feedproxy.google.com
  "Joker" wins the box office with a $96 million take (more than Warner Bros. Sunday estimate of $93.5 million).
  That's the biggest opening weekend ever for an October release.
  It beat out previous record-holder "Venom," which earned $80 million its opening weekend last year.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
  Monday Update: The official weekend gross for "Joke" is $96 million, higher than the weekend estimate of $93.5 million.
  Warner Bros. is king of the mountaintop this week
  
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• SmileDirectClub whiplashes after a slew of Wall Street analysts unanimously rate its shares a "buy" (SDC)

  07-10-2019 17:42 via feedproxy.google.com
  SmileDirectClub recently received unanimous "buy" ratings from 10 Wall Street firms. JPMorgan has the highest price target for the shares, at $31. 
  Shares gained as much as 2.92% on the news early Monday before falling as much as 4.28%.
  The ratings came after a shaky public debut in September and a Friday report from Hindenburg Research that slammed the firm.
  Watch SmileDirectClub trade live on Markets Insider. 
  SmileDirectClub now has a few things to smile about. 
  Shares of the r
  
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• How Tesla could rescue the US motorcycle market (TSLA)

  07-10-2019 17:01 via feedproxy.google.com
  Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said that the company isn't interested in making a motorcycle.
  But the incipient electric motorcycle industry in the US could use some help — and Tesla would be a welcome addition to the team.
  Motorcycle sales in the US have been stagnant, and newer, younger riders aren't taking up the passion, so the market needs something to spur it.
  Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said that the all-electric car maker is totally, complete
  
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• WeWork is hitting the brakes after its IPO went up in smoke — and landlords could pay the price

  07-10-2019 16:56 via feedproxy.google.com
  WeWork is hitting the brakes on growth after its IPO went up in smoke last month, and landlords are worried they could pay the price.
  Two landlords of WeWork locations in London are holding off on signing new leases with the shared-workspace group, and preparing backup plans for their existing WeWork offices in case the company restructures, according to the Financial Times.
  WeWork could slash its costs by shutting down the companies holding its leases, stiffing its landlords and leaving them wi
  
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• Lyft is finally giving some drivers one of their most requested features (LYFT)

  07-10-2019 16:44 via feedproxy.google.com
  Lyft last week launched a new driver rewards system that's now live in select US cities. 
  Among the privileges unlocked at each tier is the ability to see a potential trip's details before accepting. 
  That could ease one of drivers' biggest headaches when it comes to planning their workflow and estimating their earnings. 
  Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.Lyft has unveiled a new points-based rewards system for drivers.
  And while many of the perks, like credits for
  
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• Business economists warn Trump’s trade policies could drag growth below 2% next year

  07-10-2019 16:43 via feedproxy.google.com
  Business economists have grown increasingly worried about the potential for a sharp slowdown in the US over the next year, according to a new survey.
  Many pointed to President Donald Trump's trade disputes as the largest risks to growth. 
  They predicted growth would fall to 1.8% by next year, which would mark the first year of growth below 2% during the Trump presidency. 
  Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
  Business economists have grown increasingly worried about the p
  
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• Broadcasters team up for government’s mental health campaign

  07-10-2019 16:27
  Nadiya Hussain is part of Every Mind Matters’ three-minute film on mental health.
  Broadcasters have come together to promote Public Health England’s (PHE) new digital hub, which aims to tackle the UK’s mental health crisis.
  Every Mind Matters launches tonight (7 October) at 8.45pm with a roadblock ad across ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky channels.
  PHE is promoting its new digital hub of the same name, which provides NHS-approved advice on issues such as anxiety, stress and
  
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• Broadcasters come together for government’s mental health campaign

  07-10-2019 16:27
  Broadcasters have come together to promote Public Health England’s (PHE) new digital hub, which aims to tackle the UK’s mental health crisis.
  Every Mind Matters launches tonight (7 October) at 8.45pm with a roadblock ad across ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky channels.
  PHE is promoting its new digital hub of the same name, which provides NHS-approved advice on issues such as anxiety, stress and depression.
  The aim of the campaign is to drive awareness of the hub as well as encourage
  
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• Stocks are dropping after China reportedly signals it will take a tougher stance in trade-war talks this week

  07-10-2019 16:09 via feedproxy.google.com
  US stocks dropped on Monday following reports China will adopt a tougher negotiating stance in trade talks with the US this week.
  Chinese officials don't plan to offer concessions such as reforms to industrial policy or government subsidies, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
  "Beijing is about to make another epic miscalculation," one analyst said. "Trump ALWAYS escalates when put under pressure."
  Visit Markets Insider's homepage for more stories.US stocks dropped on Mon
  
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• GE freezes pension benefits for 20,000 employees in an effort to reduce its massive debt pile (GE)

  07-10-2019 14:52 via feedproxy.google.com
  General Electric announced on Monday it plans to freeze pension benefits for about 20,000 employees in an attempt to shrink its pension deficit and shore up its balance sheet. 
  The industrial conglomerate said the move would reduce its pension deficit by $5 billion to $8 billion, and shrink its net debt by $4-$6 billion.The effort comes as GE CEO Larry Culp works to bring the company back from a decline in its power-equipment business, address cash flow concerns, and control mounting debt.&
  
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• M&S relaunches Per Una brand to take it from ‘frilly to feminine’

  07-10-2019 14:41
  Marks & Spencer has launched its first major campaign in more than five years for its Per Una womenswear brand, aiming to shift customer perceptions of the brand from ‘too frilly’ to ‘stylishly feminine’.
  The campaign, which will introduce customers to an ‘all new Per Una’ and remind them of its exclusive availability at M&S, follows months of work from a dedicated Per Una team and includes a new logo.
  “Per Una is our biggest and best-known sub-b
  
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• Bitcoin tumbles below $8,000 for the first time since June

  07-10-2019 14:33 via feedproxy.google.com
  Bitcoin sank below $8,000 per token early Monday, hitting its lowest level since early June.
  The world's most traded cryptocurrency has fallen roughly 31% from its yearly high of $12,921, though global recession fears and asset selloffs have played to bitcoin's favor in recent months.
  Investors have used the digital token as a hedge against common assets, as it's less tied to geopolitical tensions than stocks and bonds.
  Watch Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies trade live here.
  Bitcoin fell below
  
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• As nervous investors flood into trades designed to minimize volatility, Goldman says they're confusing steady prices with real stability — and could be courting disaster

  07-10-2019 14:11 via feedproxy.google.com
  Goldman Sachs strategist Ben Snider says investors who are trying to avoid market volatility through "min vol" strategies might be taking on a lot more risk than they realize. 
  The tactic involves investing in the stocks with the least volatile prices, since they're less likely to suffer big losses in a down market. But Snider said that kind of price stability can evaporate without warning.
  Snider names 10 stocks that investors expect to remain stable, but which could catch them off guard b
  
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• Marketing budgets, email marketing, GDPR training: 5 killer stats to start your week

  07-10-2019 13:56
  1. Marketers see budgets growing despite economic concerns
  Marketers are expecting to get more money to spend next year despite economic concerns and a greater focus in businesses on cutting costs.
  Some 61% of marketing leaders expect their marketing budgets to grow in 2020, with 86% suggesting that the political and economic environment will have a positive impact on their business results over the next two years.
  This, despite the fact that marketing spend as a percentage of revenue has slipp
  
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• How Addison Lee’s tech overhaul put customers in the driving seat

  07-10-2019 10:30
  The post How Addison Lee’s tech overhaul put customers in the driving seat appeared first on Marketing Week.
  
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• Unilever, ITV, M&S: Everything that matters this morning

  07-10-2019 08:45
  Unilever to halve new plastic use
  Unilever has pledged to halve the amount of new plastic it uses over the next five years.
  The FMCG giant, which produces 700,000 tonnes of new plastic every year, will seek to use more recycled plastic, create more reusable bottles and find alternative materials.
  Marketing boss Alan Jope tells the BBC is part of Unilever’s efforts to stay relevant to younger consumers who care about purpose and sustainability and the conduct of the companies and the brand
  
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• Twitter, L’Oréal, Vodafone: Everything that matters this morning

  07-10-2019 08:45
  Twitter apologies as email addresses are used to target ads
  Twitter has apologised for “unintentionally” using email addresses and phone numbers, given by users for account security, for targeted advertising.
  The social media giant confirmed that third-party marketers may have been able to target specific users based on their contact details, which in many cases were given as part of the authentication process, despite the fact the user may not have wanted their data used in this wa
  
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• HMV, Dyson, Apple: Everything that matters this morning

  07-10-2019 08:45
  HMV to open supermarket-sized vault in Birmingham
  The new owner of HMV is set to open Europe’s biggest entertainment store in Birmingham in a bid to revive the struggling brand and support the high street.
  HMV Vault will stock 80,000 CDs and 25,000 vinyl albums and have a stage for artists and DJs to perform. The supermarket-sized store will also have a screening room with space for 50 people and a cafe, as well as a range of t-shirts, mugs, posters and technology on sale.
  “The mark
  
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• British Airways, Marmite, John Lewis: Everything that matters this morning

  07-10-2019 08:45
  British Airways pledges to offset domestic flights
  British Airways will offset all domestic flight emissions from next year, after its owner IAG became the first airline group to commit to net-zero carbon flying by 2050.
  IAG’s chief executive, Willie Walsh, says that the company would reach the net-zero target largely through offsetting but promised its airlines, including Aer Lingus and Iberia, would also substantially reduce emissions through sustainable fuels and replacing older aircra
  
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• Adidas, Pizza Express, retail sales: Everything that matters this morning

  07-10-2019 08:45
  Adidas promotes first post-mastectomy sports bra in new campaign
  Adidas is promoting the launch of its first post-mastectomy sports bra with a campaign that puts the spotlight on British professional boxer Michele Aboro, who survived breast cancer.
  The sports bra, from Adidas’s range with Stella McCartney, has been released to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It includes a front fastening closure tailored to women with restricted movement post-mastectomy, inner front pockets w
  
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• Meet Marketing Week’s Marketer of the Year: Tesco’s Alessandra Bellini

  07-10-2019 08:00
  Alessandra Bellini is obsessed with marketing. When she’s not doing what she’s paid to do as Tesco’s chief customer officer, she’s thinking about it: she’s looking at what people put in their trollies and cupboards, what they eat and checking out restaurant kitchens.
  “I just like to observe what people do, how they shop, what choices they make and what brands they have,” she says. “I look at that and think about it all the time.”
  Bellini desc
  
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• Meet Marketing Week’s Marketer of the Year: Alessandra Bellini

  07-10-2019 08:00
  Alessandra Bellini is obsessed with marketing. When she’s not doing what she’s paid to do as Tesco’s chief customer officer, she’s thinking about it: she’s looking at what people put in their trollies and cupboards, what they eat and checking out restaurant kitchens.
  “I just like to observe what people do, how they shop, what choices they make and what brands they have,” she says. “I look at that and think about it all the time.”
  Bellini desc
  
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• P&G's marketers learn from Silicon Valley

  07-10-2019 02:00 via warc.com
  Procter & Gamble, the consumer packaged goods manufacturer, is drawing on lean innovation and agile principles as it seeks to develop its advertising capabilities.
  
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• SE Asia’s internet economy grows to $100bn

  07-10-2019 01:28 via warc.com
  Southeast Asia’s internet economy is on course to reach US$100bn this year, representing a 39% increase from $72bn in 2018, and is then expected to triple in size to $300bn by 2025.
  
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• Mobile device addiction strikes Mexico

  07-10-2019 01:28 via warc.com
  More teens in Mexico feel distracted and “addicted” to their mobile devices than their counterparts in the US, Japan and the UK, according to a new academic study.
  
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• Global push for cross-media measurement

  07-10-2019 01:28 via warc.com
  Some of the world’s biggest brands, including Mastercard, Proctor & Gamble and Unilever, have joined forces to launch a global initiative to build consensus on key principles for cross-media measurement.
  
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• From hero to near-o: why understanding brand experience matters

  07-10-2019 01:28 via warc.com
  Those brands primed to thrive are those who evolve for a long-term future rather than simply reacting to the present; at the heart of this is brand experience, according to the CEO of Rufus Leonard.
  
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• Baidu views smart speakers as the future of search

  07-10-2019 01:28 via warc.com
  Baidu, the Chinese tech giant, overtook Google this summer to become the second-largest vendor of smart speakers in the world, but a senior executive believes the company can go further by turning the devices into the next smartphone.
  
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• Cadbury hopes to avoid ‘wallpaper’ marketing with digital-first campaign

  07-10-2019 01:01
  Cadbury is launching a campaign for its Heroes miniatures range that will focus on digital content in a move it hopes will engage consumers more than a traditional media plan.
  Its first advertising campaign since 2013 features parents trying to reconnect with their teenager children by getting involved in their hobbies. Created by VCCP, the ‘Families Reunited’ activity features a series of digital content shorts, including one showing a father learning to ride a BMX bike.
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