American Airlines faces record safety penalty, tests hotel baggage delivery service.

Amazon sees pay-off from locker service, looks to acquire more patents.

Apple shelves "Genius" TV campaign, puts former designer on the stand against Samsung and plans to beef up security.

AT&T sees 20,000 employees go on strike.

Bank of America brings discounts to bank statements.

Chiquita seeks new CEO as Undercover Boss star exits.

Chrysler’s Dodge pulls out of NASCAR.Continue reading...

How do consumer packaged goods companies hold the line on prices even when material and fuel costs go up? It's easy — downsize the product package.

As we noted in January, shrinking packages are an all too common outcome of recessionary times, when product manufacturers are squeezed on one end by escalating costs, and on the other by resistance from consumers to pay more for products they favor.

An article in the February issue of Consumer Reports addressed the topic, offering specific examples of product packages that have gotten smaller while the price has remained the same.

The fact is, this practice has been going on for years.Continue reading...

You can't spell the brand "Yakult probiotic yogurt" without "yak." (above)

"Do you realize that toilet paper has not changed in my lifetime? It's just paper on a cardboard roll, that's it. And in ten thousand years, it will still be exactly the same because really, what else can they do?" George Costanza, meet the new tube-less Scott toilet paper.

Can branded content be funny? Is branded content just another name for product placement? Yes and yes.

Hermes and Yamaha unveil their $62,000 motorcycle (but does it come with Kelly Saddlebags?)

Expectations run high for slogans and signs at tomorrow's Stewart/Colbert rally in DC.Continue reading...

BP's shares tumble as it begins latest attempt to stop Gulf leak and new charges emerge.

AIG and Prudential failed to reach a deal for AIA insurance business in Asia.

J&J's McNeil unit pulled TV ads month before stopping Tylenol production due to earlier recall.

Kimberly-Clark humanizes Scott paper products brand with spokesman called Scott.

Unilever's plans for Sara Lee face EU inquiry.Continue reading...