For its ad stereotyping Asians, GM has offered the standard 'we're sorry you're so easily offended' apology, with a brand spokesperson saying, "Our intent was not to offend anyone and we’re deeply sorry if anyone was offended."

In fact, it really is not a surprise that GM wouldn't immediately recognize the ad as offensive. While brands now go out their way to avoid racism targeting many groups, Asians are still typically not on the vigilance radar. Heck, even Iron Man 3, a film that has been criticized for pandering to Chinese interests, couldn't resist throwing a little barb in about how poor the Chinese are at English. (see above; "Man Iron").

GM added that it would make sure "this never happened again." Maybe not at GM, but this will happen again. It was just in 2002 that popular youth clothing line Abercrombie & Fitch was slammed for a line of Asian-themed shirts including one reading, "Wong Brothers Laundry Service—Two Wongs Can Make It White." The brand's response? "It's never been our intention to offend anyone." Sound familiar?Continue reading...

Black Friday shoppers in the US (and Canada) could set a record today, as the post-Thanksgiving annual retail rush is on.

Here in New York, just before midnight on Thanksgiving evening, I observed massive line-ups at the corner of Broadway and Lafayette for Adidas and Best Buy on the northeast corner of that intersection, and smaller queues starting at the southeast corner for Hollister, H&M, Uniqlo and, across the street, American Eagle and Victoria's Secret. Police, using bullhorns, tried to get the crowds to disperse by announcing, "Stores don't open until 8 A.M." — but the shoppers, mostly in their late teens and 20's it appeared, were undeterred.

All eyes, in particular, are on Walmart today, which has been downplaying the threat of OUR Walmart-organized employee strike action at its stores across the US, which are being organized online and shared on Twitter via the #walmartstrikers, #changewalmart and #makingchange hashtags, and on Tumblr.Continue reading...

American Airlines and United 9/11 lawsuits may finally get resolved.

Andy Murray is poised for endorsement deals after historic U.S. Open win.

Apple will boost carriers and U.S. economy with release of iPhone 5 as Samsung is ready to sue and iPad Mini pictures leak.

Burberry rocks luxury sector with warning of lower sales and profits.

Chevrolet disputes Reuters' Volt report.

Chrysler unveils new models to dealers, prices new Viper around $100,000.

Dallas Morning News launches social-content marketing company.

FedEx and UPS gain ground in China.

GM stops deliveries of several popular 2013 vehicles to fix OnStar glitch.Continue reading...

Whereever you look in America, you're likely to see teenagers walking around with some form of Abercrombie & Fitch clothing on them. It’s easy to tell because the company sticks its name all over pretty much every stitch of clothing that it sells.

If all those walking billboards don’t show that there is already enough loyalty to the A&F brand out there, the company would like to keep a little closer track of just who is in the club and who isn’t. Its U.S. stores will now have a loyalty program, Columbus Biz Insider reports. A&F-owned Hollister already has its own loyalty program that goes by the only-attractive-to-teenagers name of Club Cali. Continue reading...

If Mom's told you once, she’s told you a million times: “Money doesn’t grow on trees.”

Of course, some teens have trouble accepting the value of this age-old adage. But in today’s economy, as the Wall Street Journal reports, teen-clothing retailers like Aeropostale, Buckle Inc., and Old Navy are listening to Mom, their primary customer, and even catering to her shopping needs.

It makes sense to “TTM,” or target the mom, a term internalized by Aeropostale, as reports show teen spending power rapidly shifts from allowances to parents’ budgets. "You need to make that mom feel comfortable, because ultimately she's writing the check," says Richard Jaffe, apparel and softlines director at brokerage firm Stifel Nicolaus & Co.Continue reading...