There’s a huge difference between a 13-year-old and a 30-year-old, but there is one thing that brings them together: sharing the role of bookends to the demographic group known as the Millennials. 

Now two years into its run with Madonna's Material Girl collection, repped by her blogging daughter Lourdes and Mick Jagger's model daughter Georgia May, Macy’s knows that this big swath of humanity is where the money is, and it's working hard to get more of them in the store. That's why the retailer is launching 13 new brands and expanding 10 other existing labels that it believes will resonate with millennials, as AP reports.

Molly Langenstein, group merchandise manager for Millennials for Macy's, told WWD that "We're serious about this and we're aggressively going after this consumer. This is not a test."

This youthful focus has been going on since March when the retailer’s merchandise team was restructured to pay or more attention to that age group. Ch-ch-changes are expected to continue over the next three years that include integrating tablets and other user-friendly tech into the shopping experience as well putting different displays on the shopping floor more often.Continue reading...

Burberry released the campaign for its Autumn/Winter 2012 collection, starring British actress Gabriella Wilde and musician Roo Panes. The black and white campaign, shot by fashion legend Mario Testino, uses London as the backdrop. "We wanted to play with everything that’s at the heart of the Burberry world – celebrating our brand and London through imagery, film, music, weather and our iconic outerwear, all in a very poetic and British way," explained Burberry chief creative officer Christopher Bailey.

In other fashion/luxury news today:Continue reading...

Baby Boomers aren’t spending as much as they used to on discretionary items as the focus their dollars on generally more necessary spending. Because of that, retailers are doing what two of our nation’s most famous Boomers, Woodward and Bernstein, told us all to do: Follow the money.

That discretionary cash is starting to be spent by the millennials, the generation that is currently aged between 13 and 30, and retailers are all trying to figure out ways to part them from their cash. CNBC reports that Macy’s, which already woos tween girls with Madonna's Material Girl juniors collection, has a three-year plan in place to help bring more young shoppers into their stores.Continue reading...

Truth or Dare hit movie theaters way back in 1991, but Madonna is still milking the brand. She's already selling Truth or Dare fragrances at Macy's and now she’s putting out a Truth or Dare shoe collection as a precursor to a fashion collection of the same name. The timing isn't coincidental — the singer's next album, titled MDNA, launches on March 27th.

The Truth or Dare line, a collaboration with Canada's Aldo Group, will offer more than 60 styles when it launches in August. The cost: between $89 and $349, the perfect price point for any Material Girl.Continue reading...

Apple slashes iAd pricing again as mobile ad share declines as its stock price and size cloud analysts' view of the rest of the economy.

Avon names new CFO to steer it through scandal and layoffs as it woos HSN CEO Mindy Grossman to take over.

Boeing locks in biggest order with Lion Air.

Carnival Cruise social-media strategy examined in wake of Italy disaster.

Embraer shows off Jackie Chan jet in China.

Heineken to cut costs, invest in emerging markets.Continue reading...

Amazon launches this-side-of-spam simple email service.

American Apparel files $5 million suit over 'exploding' nail polish bottles.

Blackwater (now Xe) suit tossed 7 years after "grisly deaths."

Goldman Sachs: better at marketing than managing assets?

Horizon Air retires brand in favor of Alaska Air.

JCPenney is closing 25 stores and select operations.

Madonna's Material Girl juniors collection for Macy's replaces Taylor Momsen with Kelly Osbourne.

Neutrogena hires Kristen Bell to endorse brand.

North Face backs U.S. Freeskiing brand with the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.

Taco Bell refutes "where's the beef?" lawsuit.

Twitter is blocked during protests in Egypt.

Google and Microsoft join President Obama's fight on $75 billion illegal drug e-market, as Obama meets with Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to discuss bolstering the US economy.

WikiLeaks leader Julian Assange granted bail (but Sweden vetoes) as supporters pay $360,000 for New York Times ad.

Audi and Mercedes-Benz lead automaker push to go social for 2011 Super Bowl.

Best Buy share price plunges on lowered forecast, despite brighter November for US retail sales.

Brett Favre draws criticism for trying to profit from end of winning streak.

CNBC launches subscription CNBC Pro, "for the serious investor."Continue reading...

Sure, Lady Gaga may be the latest groundbreaking and outrageous performer to catch the media's attention, but don't count out the original "material girl" just yet. Madonna has been front-and-center recently, and her aura is anything but dim. She's currently starring on ABC's new TV show, "The Marriage Ref," and she caused her usual buzz at Sunday's Oscars when she appeared with 26-year-old boy toy model Adam Senn.

Now the iconic performer has struck a deal with Macy's to launch the "Material Girl" collection, inspired and designed with Madonna and her daughter Lourdes. The "fast-fashion" collection will target juniors and hit the market in August, just in time for the back-to-school season.Continue reading...