Pinterest is finally getting into the data game. The photo-heavy (and ridiculously popular) social site has launched Pinterest Web Analytics to help brands and advertisers better understand what users are doing with their content in a move towards monetizing its huge amount of traffic.

The 3-year-old company—which is the fastest website to reach 10 million unique visitors a month—has taken a cautious approach in defining its business model, in part to avoid the mistakes of other social networks that moved too fast.Continue reading...

Today is L.L.Bean's 100th anniversary in business, which the Maine-based outdoor outfitter is marking by bringing a giant version of its iconic boot to the Big Apple and a gear giveaway on Facebook. But with the bootmobile now making its way back to Maine, the brand is celebrating with a more meaningful effort beyond a cute photo opp in Times Square. corporate citizenship initiative.

The retailer, inspired by research from the National Park Foundation that shows 60% of American kids spend less than an hour a day outside, today kicks off Million Moment Mission, an initiative ("You Share. We Give. Kids Win") to encourage families to get outside and share outdoor experiences. 

L.L.Bean is pledging to donate $1 (up to $1 million) to the National Park Foundation for every "outdoor moment" Americans share online or by attending one of L.L.Bean's many outdoor events this year, with its website promoting "100 years with 100 adventures" via its Outdoor Discovery Schools program.Continue reading...

Leon Leonwood Bean sold his first pair of boots back in 1912 — and it swiftly kicked him, and his pride, right back. Of the first 100 pairs he sold, 90 were returned because the leather separated, according to the Associated Press.

Rather than call it quits, his solution proved to be the launch of a venerable brand that turns 100 on January 18th: a money-back guarantee, for which he borrowed some cash and started over again, opening his iconic store in Freeport, Maine, five years later.

The outdoorsman’s genius, clearly, was in his marketing. He obtained Maine’s list of people with hunting licenses who lived out-of-state and sent them notices about the boot. Since then, Bean has done well as a catalog merchant and now online. According to the AP's report on the anniversary, the “privately held company expects to have $1.5 billion in sales in its 2011 fiscal year.”

To celebrate the L.L.Bean brand centenary, from Maine to Manhattan, the public will be treated to the sight of a massive version of the company’s hunting boot rolling through the streets this week. Forget the Batmobile — L.L. would no doubt get a chuckle from the Bootmobile, which will be parked in New York's Times Square from 1pm to 3pm on Wednesday.Continue reading...

After four months of testing with customers, L.L.Bean introduces everyday free shipping (no minimum order) to the US and Canada beginning March 25th.

The retail brand stated in a press release that its founder "introduced the concept of free shipping in 1912 by adding 'post paid' in catalog copy. Now, as L.L.Bean nears its 100th anniversary, the tradition of free shipping returns.Continue reading...

Duane Reade's new beauty section will be stocked with upscale brands. [WSJ]

Beauty product sales were down but skincare lines did well in 2009. [WWD]

L.L.Bean launched its Signature collection, but consumers aren't impressed. [Wallet Pop]

DreamWorks promises 3-D animated movies from now on. [Businessweek]

Puma teamed up with Droga5 on a visually stimulating smartphone. [BrandFreak]

Microsoft tries to show up Google by revamping its Bing search engine. [LA Times]Continue reading...

In 1912 an avid outdoorsman in Maine named Leon Leonwood Bean invented a fully waterproof boot. Using a list of hunting license holders, Bean sent out a catalog promoting it. Hunters loved it and L.L.Bean was born.

Today L.L.Bean is a billion dollar brand specializing in active clothing and equipment, including tents and backpacks. It has dabbled in brand extensions (such as L.L.Bean edition Subaru cars), but mostly sticks to its characteristic outdoorsy image. The Bean Boot is still the brand's anchor. However, L.L.Bean is about to launch into a new segment, and it might be the brand's most dangerous adventure yet. Continue reading...