TikTok’s ad load has increased, but the quality remains low
Kerry Flynn, Digiday
TikTok, the short-form video app, has been opening itself up to more advertising in the U.S.
Calvin Klein apologizes for ad featuring Bella Hadid and Lil Miquela making out
Emily Kirkpatrick, Page Six
Calvin Klein is in hot water over its latest ad campaign. Last week, the fashion brand released a video starring Bella Hadid making out with CGI Instagram influencer Lil Miquela.
Aeromexico Put Billboards Above Walls
Tanya Gazdik, MediaPost
Aeroméxico is taking a stand on the controversial topic of the construction of a wall that stops Mexicans from entering the United States by foot.
‘Game of Thrones’ Finale Draws Record 19.3 Million Viewers
Gerry Smith, Bloomberg
The final episode of “Game of Thrones” drew 19.3 million viewers, a record for HBO and the fantasy drama that became one of TV’s rare collective viewing experiences.
Spotify Testing In-Car, Voice-Controlled Music
Chuck Martin, MediaPost
Streaming music company Spotify has begun testing music controlled by voice in cars.
Bloomberg’s TicToc plans to launch on OTT streaming services this year
Lucinda Southern, Digiday
Bloomberg’s goal to turn TicToc, its 24/7 news brand, into a fully fledged media network is taking shape.
Snap’s Evan Spiegel Finishes Overhaul of Leadership Team
Georgia Wells, The Wall Street Journal
Snap Inc. promoted two executives internally to run its finance and personnel units, completing Chief Executive Officer Evan Spiegel’s remaking of the leadership team after a series of departures over the past year.
Millions of Instagram influencers had their private contact data scraped and exposed
Zack Whittaker, TechCrunch
A massive database containing contact information of millions of Instagram influencers, celebrities and brand accounts has been found online.
Soon You May Not Even Have to Click on a Website Contract to Be Bound by Its Terms
Ian MacDougall, ProPublica
A private and influential legal group you’ve never heard of is about to vote on what critics call a fundamental rollback of consumer rights.
Your Kid Wants to Be a YouTuber? There’s a Camp for That!
Julie Jargon, The Wall Street Journal
Parents concerned about YouTube debate whether to let their children have their own channels; some forbid it, others send them to summer camp.
How Google is pitching retailers as it looks to grow its commerce business
Anna Hensel, Digiday
As Google’s advertising growth is slowing, it’s getting more aggressive in courting retailers. And it’s bulking up its capabilities as a commerce platform to do so.
Dressbarn is going out of business, plans to shut all 650 stores
Lauren Thomas, CNBC
Ascena Retail Group said Monday it’s winding down its Dressbarn business and plans to shut all 650 or so of the women’s clothing stores in order to focus on its more profitable brands.
‘This is unfathomable’: American shoe brands unite against Trump
Reggie Wad, Yahoo
More than 170 footwear companies signed a letter sent to President Trump urging him to not go ahead with extra tariffs on $300 billion of Chinese goods. The letter was signed by footwear industry heavyweights such as Nike, Adidas, Crocs, and Under Armour among others.
Ford to Cut 7,000 Jobs in Bid to Catch Up to Rivals
Mike Colias, The Wall Street Journal
Ford Motor Co. said it is cutting 7,000 salaried employees, or about 10% of its white-collar workforce, part of Chief Executive Jim Hackett’s broader plan to reverse declining profits and catch up to competitors in the fast-changing car business.
Justin Bieber To Launch Deodorant With Schmidt’s Naturals
Jack Neff, Ad Age
Launch follows Jane Goodall, hemp and CBD products as Unilever natural brand goes for mainstream appeal.
Home Depot beats 1Q earnings expectations, misses on same-store sales
Emily McCormick, Yahoo!
Home Depot exceeded Wall Street’s estimates on the bottom-line in fiscal first-quarter results, but missed expectations for comparable same-store sales as unfavorable weather earlier this year dented demand for the retailer’s products.
New Clean Skincare Line Comes to Target in an Attempt to Reinvent the ‘Drugstore Brand’
Ann-Marie Alcántara, Adweek
Unlike the raft of direct-to-consumer brands that, well, you know, go direct to the consumer, Versed, a new skincare line from Clique Brands—the same company behind Who What Wear (both the site and fashion line)—took the opposite approach and instead debuted at 1,400 Target stores and Target.com on May 19.
Kohl’s shares sink 11% on earnings miss, retailer trims outlook
Lauren Thomas, CNBC
Kohl’s on Tuesday missed earnings expectations for the first quarter and slashed its outlook for the full year, sending its shares tumbling more than 10%.
Good food is bringing people to the mall. And they’re spending more money when they get there
Lauren Thomas, CNBC
Hungry shoppers want good food. And it’s likely they’ll stick around and shop once they eat, benefiting both retailers and real estate owners that are taking note of this.
J.C. Penney posts steeper-than-expected drop in same-store sales
Aishwarya Venugopal, Reuters
J.C. Penney Co Inc reported a steeper-than-expected drop in quarterly comparable-store sales on Tuesday, hit by the exit from selling major appliances and in-store furniture categories, sending its shares down 10% in early trading.
Blue Apron latest to suffer in tough meal kit market
Dee-ann Durbin, The Associated Press
The business is still in its infancy, with the biggest players — Blue Apron and HelloFresh — less than a decade old. But they’re facing serious challenges from restaurant and grocery delivery services, smaller niche players and even home chefs.
Nordstrom Sets October Opening for New York Flagship Store
Kim Bhasin and Jordyn Holman, Bloomberg
Nordstrom Inc. has set a date for the opening of its Manhattan flagship location as construction continues on the department-store chain’s biggest-ever bet.
Yes, African-Americans Drink Bourbon. You’d Never Know It From the Marketing.
Clay Risen, The New York Times
Groups like the Black Bourbon Society have formed to share an appreciation of the whiskey, and distillers are finally starting to pay attention.
Streetwear Is Still Hot. Influencers, a Survey Says, Are Not.
Jonah Engel Bromwich, The New York Times
A new report highlights the way that a fashion subculture has been overtaken by big business.
In Plastic-Bag Wars, the Industry Fights Back
Saabira Chaudhuri, The Wall Street Journal
The backlash against single-use plastic has engulfed straws, bags and takeout containers, but the plastics industry is fighting back, arguing alternatives can be worse for the environment and disruptive for businesses.
A Brand’s Cultural Relevance Is Almost as Important as a Strong Image, Study Finds
Josh Sternberg, Adweek
One of the most prevalent conversations happening inside of marketing departments right now is figuring out how to align their brand with a cause or an issue.
‘Game of Thrones’ finale’s ratings seem like a one-off. They may be a trendsetter.
Steven Zeitchik, The Washington Post
A full 19.3 million people tuned in to watch the finale of “Game of Thrones” across all HBO platforms Sunday night — a number that outdid the already high expectations for the fantasy phenomenon.
