Want to Buy a Friend a Beer? TGI Friday’s Has an App for That

Facebook is a place to promise to buy a friend a beer, but now TGI Friday’s is turning it into a place to actually make good on that promise. On its Facebook page, the restaurant chain now offers the option for users 21 and over to order up to five beers for a friend, who will receive an electronic gift card worth $5 for each beer, good for purchasing anything at TGI Friday’s.

The new app follows TGI Friday’s launch earlier this year of a new menu of craft beers and dishes meant to pair with them. For those who haven’t thought ahead for dear old Dad, the app’s launch comes just in time for Father’s Day.Continue reading...

Nikkei slips as another earthquake hit Japan Sunday, as Tepco head pressured to quit after costing shareholders $26 billion; fear of radiation and shortages drives panic buying of Japanese goods; auto industry suffers as Toyota, Honda and others stand to lose billions in revenue; and Wal-Mart reopens 12 quake-hit stores.

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BlackBerry-maker RIM is in "slow-motion decline," says WSJ, while acquires mobile tool developer.

Facebook is reportedly in talks to hire former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs; and updates Questions in boost for brands.Continue reading...

Retailers continue their drive to take all the fun out of Black Friday. Or as they call it, a drive to "make a profit." Reports this year are saying many more stores than ever will be open on Thanksgiving Day itself, providing amble opportunity for shoppers to work off some of that indigestion by buying a $140 laptop.

For years now, the tradition of Black Friday has been seeping into all the other surrounding days, creating a sort of Black November. Cyber Monday now accounts for a huge portion of holiday season sales. And retailers such as Best Buy now hold "early doorbuster" sales in the days leading up to Friday. Now, in the logical conclusion, many stores are staying open and hosting sales on Thanksgiving itself. ("Gravy Thursday?")

Old Navy, Wal-Mart, Toys "R" Us and RadioShack are all retailers experimenting with holiday hours. Even TGI Friday's, rebelling against its brand name's very promise, is testing out Thanksgiving Thursday openings.Continue reading...