Amazon asked some advertisers to increase spend on Prime Day by at least 100%
Lucy Handley, CNBC
Amazon doesn’t just make money from product sales on Prime Day: advertising will earn it a ton of cash too.
Ad buyers see gaps in Facebook’s new ad-transparency tool
Kerry Flynn, Digiday
Facebook’s latest transparency effort lets Facebook users see more information about how advertisers are reaching them.
Democratic presidential hopefuls spend heavily on digital ads, staff
Ginger Gibson and Grant Smith, Reuters
The crowded field of Democratic presidential hopefuls spent heavily on digital advertising, investing early in ads that can bring more name recognition and help raise money, according to disclosures filed late on Monday.
Rxbar CMOVictor Lee On The Brand’s Move Into Oats And Why He Likes Healthy Competition
Jessica Wohl, Ad Age
Lee is working on a follow up to last year’s “No B.S.” campaign.
HBO Communications Chief Quentin Schaffer to Exit After 39 Years
Cynthia Littleton, Variety
Longtime HBO communications head Quentin Schaffer is stepping down from his post next month after 39 years as a key architect of HBO’s premium TV brand.
Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach to Tackle Margot Robbie-Produced ‘Barbie’ Movie
Borys Kit and Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter
The duo will pen the Warner Bros. project, which Robbie is also starring in, with Gerwig eyeing the director’s chair.
Dish’s AirTV launches an $80 streaming stick for accessing Sling TV, Netflix & broadcast channels
Sarah Perez, TechCrunch
Dish is expanding its hardware lineup today with the launch of a new 4K streaming stick, the AirTV Mini, designed to make it easier for cord cutters to access from one user interface its live TV service Sling TV, plus Netflix and over-the-air channels.
Streaming Startup Quibi to Create Daily News Show With NBC
Benjamin Mullin, The Wall Street Journal
Short-form video company founded by Jeffrey Katzenberg plans to launch slate of daily shows including news, sports and weather.
Snap hires Laura Nichols to lead comms for policy and content
Sara Fischer, Axios
Snap Inc. has hired Laura Nichols, formerly head of communications of National Geographic Partners, as vice president of communications, Axios has learned.
Fishbowl Rolls Out to Brand Marketers
Lindsay Rittenhouse, Ad Age
The anonymous networking app has had thousands of employees from Pepsi and Nike on the waiting list.
T-Mobile, Taco Bell Set To Debut ‘T-Mobell’ Stores
George P. Slefo, Ad Age
The self-described un-carrier doubles down on its rewards program.
Why Diet Coke Is Considering Stripping Its Name From Some Cans
E.J. Shultz, Ad Age
The move would be aimed at sparking a conversation about labels as part of new diversity campaign.
The One Amazon Prime Day Deal That Walmart and Target Can’t Match
Sebastian Herrera and Sarah Nassauer, The Wall Street Journal
Amazon uses annual July sales event to sign up Prime members, adding a revenue stream that others don’t have.
Porch Pirates Spot Opening in Prime Day Bonanza
Olivia Rockeman, Bloomberg
A record July shopping event means more front-stoop packages—and an incentive to add a camera to your cart for next year.
Amazon rivals ride on Prime Day marketing as protests unfold
Melissa Fares, Reuters
Amazon.com Inc’s Prime Day is now a major marketing opportunity and shopping event in the annual calendar for other U.S. retail companies, rivaling the Thanksgiving holiday’s Black Friday as a driver of sales.
Influencer marketing spend grows 83%
Imogen Watson, The Drum
There has been an 83% year-over-year growth in influencer marketing spend in the US and Canada, according to research from the influencer marketing measurement company, Instascreener.
The first keto-diet-approved pizza from a national chain is rolling out across America
Kate Taylor, Business Insider
The fast-casual pizza chain is also rolling out new “Life Mode” pizzas: the keto pizza, the protein pizza, the vegan pizza, and the vegetarian pizza.
IBM Watson’s Newly Sold Marketing Tech Division Rebrands as Acoustic
Marty Swant, Adweek
The company formerly known as IBM’s Watson Marketing has rebranded as a standalone company called Acoustic.
Nestle Creates New Chocolate—With No Added Sugar
Corinne Gretler, Bloomberg
Nestle SA has found a way to create chocolate without adding any sugar, relying on leftover material from cocoa plants for sweetening as consumers look for natural and healthier fare.
Wall Street’s Great Ice Cream Buyout
Prashant Gopal, Bloomberg Businessweek
Private equity is snapping up refrigerated warehouses. That could make it harder for small food makers to sell their wares.
Stella McCartney Teams Up With LVMH, in Plot Twist in Luxury Wars
Elizabeth Paton and Vanessa Friedman, The New York Times
The British designer finds a new partner after leaving her former French fashion group, Kering, last year.
Colgate introduces children’s line with YouTube star Ryan of Ryan’s World
Kyle O’Brien, The Drum
Colgate has announced a new partnership with top YouTube star Ryan of Ryan’s World and entertainment studio pocket.watch, to release a new kids oral care regimen.
Ugly is in: How Crocs have taken over teen footwear, and sent the stock soaring
Jasmine Wu, CNBC
This year, Crocs is the 13th most popular footwear brand among average-income female teenagers, according to Piper Jaffray, up from 30th in 2017.
IKEA to Close Its Only U.S. Factory
Charlie McGee, The Wall Street Journal
Furniture company to move plant’s operations to Europe, where it says production is less costly.
The psychology of sales, explained
Hilary George-Parkin, Vox
Discounts make us think we’re getting a good deal. But are we really?
Don’t Scoff at Influencers. They’re Taking Over the World.
Kevin Roose, The New York Times
As social media expands its cultural dominance, the people who can steer the online conversation will have an upper hand.
Amazon Advertising Is Just a Toll in Disguise
Shira Ovide, Bloomberg
Like other tech superpowers, Amazon is able to extract more from the partners that rely on it because they don’t really have a choice.
