A groundbreaking product placement was born when Pan Am teamed up with Hilton in the epic sci-fi opera 2001. Now, Pan Am is dead, but Hilton is alive and well, and this time the brand is co-starring in George Clooney's film, Up in the Air, with another high-flying brand, American Airlines -- just in time for the holidays.

But don't fret, product placement conspiracy theorists; American Airlines isn't spending a fortune to brainwash you into flying on its planes. Dawn Turner, manager of promotions at America Airlines, told the New York Times:

"We did not spend any money. We don’t have any money to spend — you read the headlines, right?”Continue reading...

The hot new product for many brands this holiday season? Temporary stores. That includes brands that have never had a brick-and-mortar location to begin with, like eBay.

The online auction house has announced plans to open a mobile boutiques in 12 cities across the country to service holiday shopping, including a 5,500-square-foot pop-up holiday depot in the heart of Manhattan. The locations are being promoted with $50 gift cards to the first 100 shoppers, with a secret password available through eBayHoliday.com. But the temporary stores will be selling more than just Michael Kors and Dooney & Burke handbags, M.A.C. cosmetics and  Anthropologie dresses. They will function as brand ambassadors aimed at introducing users to eBay's particular approach to shopping. To this end, the branded boutiques will feature terminals where shoppers can learn how to buy via eBay.Continue reading...