• Kering SA’s Gucci has apologized and pulled a $890 sweater that resembles blackface — a turtleneck that covers the nose and includes a red cut-out for the mouth — after facing public criticism. In a statement, the company said it is “fully committed to increasing diversity” throughout the organization” and will turn this incident into a “learning moment.” (NBC News)

• Twitter Inc. reported fourth-quarter revenues of $909 million, up 24 percent from a year prior, with advertising revenues jumping 23 percent to $791 million even as monthly active users fell from 326 million to 321 million. The company said it will stop providing monthly active user numbers after the next quarter. (TechCrunch)

• Publicis Groupe SA reported lower-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings, with sales dropping 0.3 percent on an organic basis compared to expectations that figures would grow 2.5 percent, due to U.S. consumer goods brands limiting their spending. Publicis Chief Executive Arthur Sadoun told reporters that consumer goods clients make up around 25 percent of the company’s revenue. (The Wall Street Journal)

Microsoft roasts its own software in new ads promoting Office 365 over Office 2019
Chaim Gartenberg, The Verge

Microsoft launched Office 2019 late last year, but if the company’s new ad campaign is anything to go by, the company would really prefer if you didn’t buy it.

Founder and Global CEO of WPP’s Mirum Steps Down Following Wunderman Thompson Merger
Patrick Coffee, Adweek

Mirum, a WPP-owned digital agency network, recently said goodbye to its founder and global CEO Dan Khabie, who resigned in late January to pursue other ventures outside the holding company.

Amid bad news, Business Insider parent says it crossed $100m revenue mark and is profitable
Sahil Patel, Digiday

Times may be tough in digital publishing right now, but Business Insider parent company Insider says it just had its best revenue year ever.

The New York Times Co. Reports $709 Million in Digital Revenue for 2018
Jaclyn Peiser, The New York Times

The New York Times Company generated more than $709 million in digital revenue last year, growing at a pace that suggests it will meet its stated goal of $800 million in digital sales by the end of 2020.

Hulu’s CMO Says Its Viral Egg PSA Became Its Second Most-Watched Episode on the Service
Sara Jerde, Adweek

Hulu’s video revealing a highly anticipated message from a cracked egg ended up being the service’s second most-watched episode within 12 hours, the company’s CMO, Kelly Campbell said in her keynote at Brandweek Challenger Brands today.

On Amazon, Some Book Summaries Get Mistaken for the Real Thing
Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg, The Wall Street Journal

Summaries of popular books have long been a staple in the publishing business. Now they are often hard to tell apart from the real thing.

Bill Owens Named Executive Producer at ’60 Minutes’
Itay Hod, The Wrap

Bill Owens has been named the new executive producer of “60 Minutes,” CBS said Wednesday.

Disney’s Not Hopping on the Sports-gambling Gravy Train
Anthony Crupi, Ad Age

Despite a groundswell of interest in legalizing wagering, Bob Iger is no fan of sportsbook.

Facebook’s top PR exec is leaving
Kara Swisher and Kurt Wagner, Recode

After a bruising year for the social media giant, longtime communications head Caryn Marooney is helping search for her replacement.

‘Fortnite’ Worries Continue to Blow Away Game Makers
Dan Gallagher, The Wall Street Journal

Making a great videogame is hard enough. Making a great one that will print money for years to come is harder still—especially now.

Facebook Wants You to Have Privacy, Just Not From Facebook
Sarah Frier, Bloomberg Businessweek

The company has increased limits on outside use of its data but has ratcheted up its own data collection practices.

When Amazon Went From Big to Unbelievably Big
Alexis C. Madrigal, The Atlantic

The data on the company’s real-estate holdings reveal a remarkable inflection point.

Amazon is using two accelerator programs to get brands to sell on its platform
Hilary Milnes, Digiday

These programs are meant to get in on the ground with startup brands, and also strike up partnerships with established companies to get them to sell with Amazon.

Child Stars Don’t Need Hollywood. They Have YouTube
Emma Grey Ellis, Wired

“Do you like Instagram?” Bee Fisher asks her son, Tegan Fisher, a 3-year-old Instagram sensation who specializes in posing next to his family’s enormous Newfoundlands. He doesn’t seem to understand the question.

Why a Plus-Size Online Retailer is Kicking Off Fashion Week
Cathaleen Chen, The Business of Fashion

Despite the presence of curve models on the runway and an undeniable market opportunity among consumers, fashion has remained stubbornly inaccessible to plus-size women. Now, 11 Honoré is challenging the norm.

How the Apple store lost its ‘wow factor’
Hamza Shaban, The Washington Post

Apple is not just a giant of technology; it has also grown into one of the biggest American retailers, with more than 500 stores across five continents.

Fisher-Price recalls Power Wheels Barbie Campers
Associated Press

Fisher-Price is voluntarily recalling about 44,000 Children’s Power Wheels Barbie Dream Campers because they can keep running after the foot pedal is released.

United courts the well-heeled with more premium seats
David Koenig, Associated Press

United, Delta and American Airlines are engaged in an airlines arms race to grab the most affluent customers.

Harley-Davidson is betting big on an electric future, but the company could be making a big mistake
Matthew DeBord, Business Insider

There’s a strong sense that Harley-Davidson, the 116-year-old American icon, is in trouble.

J.C. Penney to drop major appliances after a three-year run
Anne D’Innocenzio, Associated Press

The Plano, Texas-based department store chain also says on its company blog that furniture will only be available on its website and store locations in Puerto Rico.

These are the hottest fashion brands in the world right now
Mary Hanbury, Business Insider

Global fashion-search platform Lyst released its latest ranking of the world’s top fashion brands online for the fourth quarter of 2018, and it shows that luxury brands are dominating.

Before planning international expansion, DTC brands use Canada as a testing ground
Ilyse Liffreing, Digiday

DTC company SmileDirectClub is taking its first steps to sell internationally, and it’s starting close to home, with Canada.

How Howard Schultz Created a Personality Cult at Starbucks
Derek Robertson, Politico

As a CEO, he projected an image of a charismatic leader with a personal touch and a mission to bring people together. But not all of his employees got on board.

Digital Media’s Crash: Will Hollywood Buy In or Cash Out?
Jeremy Barr, The Hollywood Reporter

As BuzzFeed and Vice cut hundreds of jobs, Comcast or Disney could look at takeover bids, but “why would they want to double down on failing businesses that aren’t even strategic to them?”

Chipotle Is Starting to Return to Form
Sarah Halzack, Bloomberg

An increase in customer visits is the latest sign that CEO Brian Niccol’s turnaround is on the right track.