Sometimes a brand blazes a trail, only to find itself outrun by the competition. 

Back in 2006, entrepreneur Blake Mycoskie, who made his name and a small fortune as a contestant on reality TV show, The Amazing Race, came up with a unique proposition for a new brand, TOMS Shoes. The business model: TOMS would donate a pair of shoes to a child who lived in poverty for every pair of shoes sold. The philanthropic concept quickly became a sensation that catapulted the company's brand awareness to superstar status.

Not surprisingly, other companies started to knock off the idea. The most egregious copycat has been a line of shoes called "BOBS" that Skechers introduced in 2010. BOBS not only look exactly like TOMS signature shoe, right down to the logo stitched on a visible exterior label, but Skechers also shamelessly followed TOMS' "one-for-one" model of giving away a pair of shoes for every pair sold.Continue reading...

Disney and Netflix sign landmark agreement for the web streaming service.

GlaxoSmithKline begins assembling new global branding effort on its impact around the world.

Tesco bails out of Fresh & Easy venture in U.S.

AOL's Advertising.com group acquires Buysight.

Apple upgrades iTunes, secures USPTO patent for "retina."

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BMW has US luxury auto sales crown in its sights.

Campbell Soup Company donates $500K to Salvation Army.

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New York-based Warby Parker has 20/20 vision when it comes to selling their branded eyeglasses, and brand of philanthropy. Touting "eyewear with purpose" the startup disrupted business-as-usual, bringing comparatively low-priced ($95) but high-quality glasses with a 30-day "no questions asked" return policy online, and the choice of five different pairs of glasses for five days to try at home.

And now with $36.8 million of funding, led by General Catalyst Partners (and partner Joel Cutler joins Warby Parker’s board), they’re getting ready to open their first retail store, in the brand's home turf — NYC’s Soho neighborhood, where they've been testing the retail water with pop-up stores.Continue reading...

One example of Apple rivals jostling for the spotlight ahead of the now-confirmed iPhone 5 announcement foreshadowed on Sept. 12th: Nokia has been teasing its Sept. 5th mobile announcement in London with a series of videos on the brand's YouTube channel.

Nokia's new smartphone teaser campaign started with a flirtatious blonde bicyclist in "Things are about to change" on Aug. 29th, shifting gears to a blonde-cropped Jean Seberg lookalike in three teasers today — "Stay tuned!" "Nearly there!" and "One. More. Day."

The narrative hints at (a) augmented reality, as she goes shoe-shopping (and winds up with a pair of red canvas TOMS slip-ons) and (b) wireless charging and syncing for the new Lumia Windows 8 smartphones, as our heroine confronts the tangle of cables in her apartment:Continue reading...

Facebook I.P.O. raises regulatory concerns, as regulators review Morgan Stanley's pre-Facebook IPO actions and the social network's share price drops 18% below IPO price and shareholders worry. NASDAQ is also being sued by an irate investor, while Facebook, its bankers and CEO Mark Zuckerberg are also being sued. One hot commodity: Zuckerberg's post-IPO secret wedding to Priscilla Chan sees Claire Pettibone-designed wedding dress "go viral."

Apple's iPad played a key role in the largest debt restructuring in history, with 100 iPads saving Greece $140 billion. European banks were less prepared for the Greek economic crisis.

SAP to acquire Ariba for $4.3 billion in push into cloud.

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Amazon's massive cloud business raises questions.

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TOMS has partnered with FEED Projects to help children stay focused in school by providing meals. Every purchase of a pair of limited edition FEED 12 Classics gives one pair of new shoes and 12 school meals to children in need.

Founded in 2007 by model Lauren Bush Lauren, the presidential niece and granddaughter, FEED Projects sells FEED bags, sometimes in collaboration. (Remember the co-branded Gap faux pas?) A portion of each sale is donated to the United Nations World Food Program for children.

Bringing charity back home, TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie has partnered with Helen Keller International's ChildSight program to help provide prescription glasses to children living in impoverished U.S. communities.Continue reading...

TOMS Europe is raising money for the Get It Done charity with a customized shoe auction. Become a fan of TOMS Europe on Facebook to learn more: www.facebook.com/TOMSeurope

Allstate looks to jettison weak agents.

Amazon's iPad challenging Kindle Fire set to be revealed today.

Arnott's promotes Roadies beer chip brand in Australia.

Aston Martin named UK's coolest brand, while Asos tops British digital brand love ranking.

Barclays is Britain's most beefed about banking brand.

BP launches "My Gulf" web series promoting Louisiana Gulf Coast tourism and culture on YouTube.

CBS News confirms Andy Rooney's last 60 Minutes is Sunday.

Esprit value tumbles.

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