Facebook Ads Could Be Reaching Saturation Point
Laura Forman, The Wall Street Journal
Spending big money to make big money in the ad business may no longer be on the table inside Facebook’s network.
Ad Council’s Challenge: Persuade Skeptics to Believe in Covid Vaccines
Tiffany Hsu, The New York Times
The nonprofit marketing group led a polio vaccine campaign in the 1950s. Now it is working on a $50 million ad blitz to counter concerns about coming treatments.
‘Consumer-Obsessed’ Kraft Heinz Puts Bigger Bets On Marketing As Path To Growth
Jessica Wohl, Ad Age
The company has tapped Johannes Leonardo to lead creative for Oscar Mayer, Kraft macaroni and cheese and Kraft Singles starting in January, adding major pieces of business to the roster of Kraft Heinz brands the agency began working on nearly a year ago.
‘A more hopeful future’: As the coronavirus surges, advertisers aren’t pressing pause
Kristina Monllos, Digiday
Instead, their spending has remained consistent, according to media buyers and agency execs, who say that advertisers are more prepared this time around as they have built in more flexibility into their ad deals.
In a concession to WarnerMedia, Amazon will remove HBO from Amazon Channels next year
Alex Sherman, CNBC
Amazon has agreed to pull HBO from Amazon Channels in the Amazon Fire TV interface when that agreement lapses next year, sources say. It was part of the negotiations that got HBO Max on to Fire TV.
‘Shrinkage Seems Inevitable’ in BuzzFeed and HuffPost Deal
Lucinda Southern, Adweek
BuzzFeed’s acquisition of The Huffington Post is a well-timed, shrewd move by CEO Jonah Peretti, but it’s unlikely to lead to top-line growth, according to analysts and media onlookers. But in such tough prevailing advertising conditions, that’s actually OK.
Can Trump take on Fox News with a rival media outlet?
Anna Nicolaou et al., Financial Times
President has several options, from setting up a new TV network to becoming a star host.
How Marketers Differentiate Ad-Supported Streaming Platforms, From Roku to Tubi
Kelsey Sutton, Adweek
Some AVODS are ideal for broad audience plays, while others work better for targeted efforts.
Cineworld Weighs Rival Rescue Plans From Lenders, Centerbridge
Antonio Vanuzzo and Katherine Doherty, Bloomberg
Cineworld Group Plc is weighing two competing offers from creditors to keep the world’s second-largest cinema chain in business through the pandemic.
98 Million TikTok Followers Can’t Be Wrong
Rachel Monroe, The Atlantic
How a 16-year-old from suburban Connecticut became the most famous teen in America.
TikTok Mansions Are Publicly Traded Now
Taylor Lorenz et al., The New York Times
A business trying to make money off mansions full of TikTok influencers has gone public on the stock market through an unusual deal.
Facebook’s Bug Bounty Program Nears Its 10th Birthday
David Cohen, Adweek
Over 130,000 reports have been submitted to date, including roughly 17,000 in 2020.
Retailers Cut Back on Choices; ‘We Don’t Need Three Types of Red’
Suzanne Kapner, The Wall Street Journal
Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl’s and others cull styles to combat decision paralysis, unclog supply chains and reduce end-of-season markdowns.
Americans prepare for a holiday shopping season like no other
Alistair Gray, Financial Times
Pandemic has left some ready to spend more even as many face a financial crunch.
The surprisingly strong U.S. consumer
Felix Salmon, Axios
Most Americans are doing surprisingly well, financially, in the face of a major pandemic raging across the country.
Shopify is rushing to prepare big retailers, restaurants and grocers for the post-Thanksgiving boom
Ari Levy, CNBC
Large brands are a small percentage of Shopify’s overall customer base, but they account for the fastest growth in terms of volume.
Guitar Center is filing for bankruptcy
Alexis Benveniste, CNN
Guitar Center is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the latest company to go bankrupt during the pandemic that has decimated America’s retail sector.
U.S. Air Travelers Surge Over 1 Million in Holiday-Season Uptick
Alan Levin, Bloomberg
More than 1 million people flew through U.S. domestic airports on Friday, the second-highest daily total since the coronavirus pandemic hit last spring, even as officials warn against travel around the Thanksgiving holiday.
So long doorbusters! Retailers put deepest discounts online after weeks of deals
Melissa Repko, CNBC
Instead of one-day doorbusters, retailers like Walmart and Lowe’s are rolling out a drumbeat of holiday deals, making it easier for shoppers to get the best sales from their couch.
How Lowe’s and Home Depot plan to keep growing even after the COVID home improvement boom
Phil Wahba, Fortune
Black Friday will provide some insight into how much customers will respond to newer products from these retailers.
‘The Queen’s Gambit’ Sends Chess Set Sales Soaring
Marie Fazio, The New York TImes
The Netflix show about a chess prodigy has reignited interest in the game and fueled demand for sets, accessories and timers.
How restaurants are reclaiming their businesses in the era of food delivery
Michelle Cheng, Quartz
When Lizeth Morales took over her mother’s restaurant eight years ago, she didn’t worry much about its pick-up and delivery business. But when the pandemic hit, her restaurants went from serving customers indoors 70% of the time to zero.
Grocery store rationing is back, but relax: The supply chain is doing fine
Sam Dean, Los Angeles Times
This time, the grocery companies say, they’re putting limits in place specifically to avoid the empty shelves many consumers faced in the spring — and industry experts say the grocers and suppliers are prepared for the winter wave.
Amazon’s drugs unlikely to prove fatal to pharmacies, say experts
Dave Lee and Alistair Gray, Financial Times
Online retailer delivers jolt to the healthcare sector but wholesale disruption deemed unlikely.
Avery Baker Returns to Tommy Hilfiger as President and Chief Brand Officer
Tamison O’Connor, Business of Fashion
The executive, who stepped down from her chief brand officer role last June, rejoined the PVH-owned company on Thursday. She will oversee Tommy Hilfiger’s products, marketing and experiences globally.
Dealer Lots Have Fewer Cars—and the Industry Likes It That Way
Nora Naughton and Mike Colias, The Wall Street Journal
As they scramble to rebuild inventories, makers and retailers discover unforeseen benefit of having less supply on hand.
Twitter/CNN
Scott Galloway, No Mercy/No Malice
TV news organizations including NBC, Fox, and CNN are television stations that also have web sites. But the linear television business model is eroding, and they, like the Times a decade ago, need to double down on digital and make a move to subscription.
