Starbucks acquires San Francisco's La Boulange Bakery for $100M to improve food menu and build out national premium brand.

Amazon acquires Avalon Books.

Bank of America execs explain how they hid Merrill Lynch losses. 

China embraces robot labor.

FedEx retires jets to cut costs.

Foursquare teases new app.

Google appears poised to buy Meebo as social agency M&A continues.

Marriott looks to expand through acquisitions.

Microsoft unveils Xbox Music as replacement for Zune.Continue reading...

American Express announced an innovative social media integration with Twitter this week, enabling US cardmembers to turn customized Twitter hashtags into savings via sync.americanexpress.com. Promoted with the tagline “Sync. Tweet. Save.” the social marketing promotion is the most direct use of Twitter to date by a brand that creates a real utility for customers: couponless savings loaded directly to their synced cards and automatically delivered in a credit statement.

“With Twitter, we’ve really hit the trifecta. We have a great platform in Twitter,” said Ed Gilligan, Vice Chairman, American Express. “We know our cardmembers are engaged in Twitter. We’ve been working with them to think about how can we help them move from conversations to commerce. To turn a tweet into a transaction.”

Brands trying out Amex Sync include Best Buy, McDonald’s, Whole Foods Market, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Century 21, The Cheesecake Factory, Dell, FedEx Office, FTD, Gulf, H&M, Seamless.com, Sports Authority, Ticketmaster, Virgin America and Zappos. They'll be closely watching the analytics on this test, with the Amex Synch API offering also supplying reports to merchants about customer spending, online and offline.

And if they're in Austin for SXSW on March 12th, they can celebrate at a concert featuring Jay-Z.Continue reading...

For about $6 million annually for the next 20 years, The Sports Authority took over naming rights from investment-management company Invesco for the Denver Broncos’ stadium in August. The Authority’s first interaction with Broncos fans didn’t seem to go that well.

On August 30, the retailer put up a humungous sign on the stadium that reads, “Sports Authority Field.” The Colorado-based Sports Authority also proudly tweeted that Broncos fans “might notice something a little different on your drive home today."

They sure did. Following fan complaints, the company took the sign down a week earlier than the company had planned, according to Denver’s KDVR-TV. “The signage we put up we didn’t like,” a company spokesperson told the station. “We’re fans, too. We’ll put up a new sign next week that’s more representative with the stadium.”Continue reading...

It's a classic David and Goliath tale, as Foursquare (aka the little east coast social start-up that could) continues to compete against Facebook, the west coast social giant that just raised millions from Goldman Sachs.

Foursquare got a jump on Facebook by launching its social check-in service in March 2009, well ahead of Facebook's foray into the check-ins business last August with Facebook Places.

But it needs to maintain its momentum, such as the recent survey of the busiest US airports that showed Foursquare check-ins comfortably in the lead. Cue its latest push.Continue reading...

Following its record-breaking social media-mapping marketing promotion with Virgin via taco trucks and airport check-ins, Loopt recently teamed with the Sports Authority apparel retailer in its next iteration: premier retailer woos the mobile consumer.

In this campaign, Loopt Star users could receive rewards available through iTunes in two ways:

1. Check in at any pro sports team stadium and receive a $10 cash card to use on any purchase at Sports Authority. 

2. Check in at any Sports Authority store, and receive $10 off a purchase of $50 or more. 

Loopt Star calls it a mobile rewards game, as CEO Sam Altman explains, "to encourage multiple visits."Continue reading...

We've noted Shopkick before, but it bears taking another look now that it's live. Shopkick is a new mobile app that rewards users with “kickbucks” redeemable via gift certificates, music downloads and Facebook games. The smartphone app tracks and offers promotions to customers from the moment they enter a store to the cash register – and even in the fitting room.

Enter the store: gain points. Head to the dressing room at American Eagle to try on something – more points. Try out a tennis racquet at Sports Authority – match points!

It takes 1,250 kickbucks to earn a $5.00 American Eagle giftcard, but already retailers are considering upping the ante. Shopkick takes a small fee for each kickbuck earned, and a percentage of any sale resulting from using the app. In addition to the retailers, Shopkick can offer brands' coupons and promotions to shoppers.Continue reading...

It's a semi-last chance for Brandchannel's special World Cup editon of Brand Bites. Likewise, Nike says, "Like, we were totally always all about The Netherlands!" (above)

Meanwhile: "Nike" + "Curse" + "World Cup" = 1,560,000 search results.

Axe recognizes an opportunity when it sees one. Paraguay team fan (and model) Larissa Riquelme sells left cleavage for advertising. Now that Paraguay has been knocked out, right cleavage going for half price. (Mildly NSFW)

Yes, fine, here is that dingy game-picking octopus picking Spain to win. Happy now, Paul fans?Continue reading...

BP today implemented a second oil collection system, halted dividend payments and committed $20 billion to compensate victims of the oil spill; still, investors worry that it will default on debt. BP's chairman was derided for commenting after meeting with President Obama today, "We care about the little people." Obama's speech also disappointed many on Twitter and Facebook. Next up: BP CEO Tony Hayward in the hot seat on Thursday.

Apple and AT&T report record iPhone 4 pre-sales as Best Buy stops taking pre-orders.

AOL is close to selling Bebo.

Disney closed five ESPN Zone locations.

Facebook adds "like" button to comments.

Sports Authority gives Foursquare mayors $10 cash cards.

Twitter says it can't keep up with World Cup traffic.