in the spotlight
Posted by Barry Silverstein on October 19, 2011 02:10 PM

With the Occupy Wall Street movement now one month old and continuing to rattle workers in the financial industry around the world, a few big financial brands are being rattled independent of placard-carrying protesters in their midst.
Goldman Sachs lost $428 million in its latest quarterly earnings report, its second quarterly loss ever.
Citigroup has agreed to pay $285 million to settle SEC charges that it misled investors related to its mortgage businesses.
And Bank of America can't bank on being Number 1 anymore, as BofA cedes top spot to JPMorgan Chase this week.Continue reading...
brand news
Posted by Shirley Brady on October 19, 2011 08:55 AM

Apple reports China as its second-largest market by sales after US. Apple stores will close for a few hours today for an employees-only memorial webcast celebrating Steve Jobs' life.
Amazon's IMDb sued for disclosing actress' real age, while digital deal with DC Comics irks rivals.
Audi-Ford price gap is widest since 1999.
Bank of America is no longer America's largest bank.
Deezer to launch music streaming service in more than 100 countries.
Diageo triumphs in alcohol brand battle.
Disney battles environmentalists at parks, while fans crash website in search of princess dolls.Continue reading...
More about: Brand News, Amazon, Apple, Audi, Bank of America, DC Comics, Deezer, Diageo, Discovery, Disney, Duke's, Facebook, Fiat, Ford, Fox, Glad, Goldman Sachs, Groupon, Harley-Davidson, IMDb, Intel, Kinect, Lancia, LivingSocial, Manolo Blahnik, McDonald's, Microsoft, NBA, News Corp., Pepsi, PepsiCo, RNC, RyanAir, Sesame Street, Spirit, St Croix, Tata, Walmart, Xbox, YouTube, The X Factor, China, Rupert Murdoch, Steve Jobs
brand news
Posted by Shirley Brady on October 18, 2011 08:45 AM

Air France replaces CEO, Mercedes-Benz USA CEO is ousted in Daimler exec shuffle, and Olympus shares plunge as its CEO is fired.
Apple sells 4 million iPhone 4S units in first weekend, as Samsung sues to block the device in Japan and Australia and HTC loses Apple patent case in US. Steve Jobs' Silicon Valley memorial service reportedly filled with humor and music, as company prepares to honor late co-founder and report earnings on Tuesday. Starbucks and Apple are also partnering in the UK on free music downloads.
Mattel eyes UK's HIT Entertainment, home to Thomas the Tank Engine and other kids' properties.
Bank of America posts $6.2 billion quarterly profit, while Goldman Sachs reports $428 million loss.
BlackBerry customers receive free apps and tech support to make amends for outages.Continue reading...
More about: Brand News, Adweek, Air France, Bank of America, BlackBerry, BMW, Bulgari, Cadbury, Cartier, Citigroup, Daimler, Disney, Facebook, Ford, GE, Goldman Sachs, Google, Groupon, Hungry Jack's, HTC, HIT Entertainment, IBM, Intel, Krispy Kreme, LivingSocial, Liz Claiborne, LVMH, Mattel, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, Mini, Motorola, MTV, New York Times, Olympus, Philips, Salesforce, Samsung, Starbucks, Thomas the Tank Engine, Twitter, Viacom, Virgin, Virgin Galactic, Walmart, Yahoo, Michael Wolff, Richard Branson, Stan Lee, Steve Jobs, will.i.am
week in review
Posted by Cristi Sauser on October 14, 2011 04:30 PM

Our most-read blog posts of the week include Solo Red Cup Anthem, LeBron James, Stella Artois, JLo , and more:
#1 Toby Keith Late to the Party with Solo Red Cup Anthem
#2 LeBron James: Heart of a Lion, Logo of a Lamb
#3 Bank of America Increases Fees Despite Ongoing Occupation
#4 Aaron Rodgers Makes Low-Key National Advertising Debut
#5 Stella Artois Sexes Up the Perfect Pour
#6 Jennifer Lopez Turns Second Video Into a Fiat Commercial (Paid for by Fiat)
#7 Ben & Jerry's Mooved by Occupy Wall Street Protests
#8 Real Steel's Over-the-Top Product Placements (and the FOX/NFL Bot Tie-In We Already Have)
#9 Men, Be a Pepper! Be a Slimmer, More Manly Pepper!
#10 The Original Penguin Jacket Makes Cars Jump With Joy. Or Something.
More about: Solo Red Cup Anthem, Lebron James, Stella Artois, JLo, Jennifer Lopez, Toby Keith, Dr. Pepper, Real Steel, Wall Street Protest, Ben & Jerry, Aaron Rodgers, Bank of America
follow the money
Posted by Matthew Moore on October 12, 2011 05:01 PM
While some companies are embracing the ‘Occupy’ demonstrations popping up across the United States, others like Bank of America have made the decision to ignore the impact that these demonstrations can have on consumer sentiment.
Less than two weeks after ‘Occupy Wall Street’ demonstrations began in downtown New York, executives at Bank of America thought it a good time to roll out a new $5 monthly charge to its customers making check card purchases in a given month. Two other large banks, JP Morgan and Wells Fargo, are also reported to be considering similar fees.
Bank of America is now taking heat (including being spoofed on Ellen) for its recent fee introduction from both legislators and the media. Senator Dick Durbin, D-Ill. urged customers to take their money to different banks. A Fox Business Network anchor went further and made headlines when she cut up a Bank of America debit card on air.
Consumer watchdogs will argue that the fee is not fair and that the government needs to protect consumers; however, the damage for Bank of America has already been done thanks to all of the negative press its announcement has received. Recent reports of sluggish performance on the bank’s website over the past few week have even been attributed to the bank’s fee announcement.Continue reading...
brand news
Posted by Dale Buss on September 22, 2011 09:01 AM

Apple will introduce new iPhones next month, board member Al Gore confirms.
Bank of America, Citigroup and Wells Fargo are hit by ratings downgrades by Moody's.
Bill Gates tops 2011 Forbes 400 wealth ranker.
Facebook is introducing a 'listen with your friends' music app but faces challenges in digital entertainment.
Full Tilt Poker fires back at Justice Department.
Hulu invests in content even as it's for sale.
Netflix teams with Discovery for two-year deal.
News Corp. nixes a "Simpsons" channel but has big hopes for FX.Continue reading...
More about: Apple, Al Gore, Bank of America, Budweiser, CVS, Citigroup, Discovery, Facebook, Full Tilt Poker, FX, Goodrich, Moody's, National Football League, Netflix, News Corp., Nielsen, Procter & Gamble, Sky, The Simpsons, Twitter, United Technologies, Wells Fargo, YouTube, Yves Saint Laurent, Zynga, Bill Gates, Emily Blunt, Rihanna
brand news
Posted by Shirley Brady on September 12, 2011 06:35 PM

Al Gore prepares 24-hour global warming Climate Reality live-stream event.
Angry Birds spurs 1M t-shirts and 1M plush toy sales per month for Rovio.
AT&T will use plant-based packaging for accessories as Coca-Cola's PlantBottle arrives on UK shelves.
Bank of America announces 30,000 job cuts.
Boston Globe newspaper puts up online paywall.
British American Tobacco gears up for legal battle vs. the Australian government.
Broadcom bets on web traffic for mobile with $3.7 billion NetLogic deal.
Glenn Beck says his new TV network is "not for slugs."
Google - just another ad company?
Groupon sued by its own employees.Continue reading...
More about: Brand News, Angry Birds, AT&T, Bank of America, Boston Globe, British American Tobacco, Broadcom, Coca-Cola, Farmville, Google, Groupon, Knorr, Kroger, Marks & Spencer, McGraw-Hill, Microsoft, Mulberry, NBCUniversal, NetLogic, NHL, Nike, Nike MAG, PlantBottle, Reckitt Benckiser, Rovio, S&P Capital IQ, Steve Madden, Superga, Telefonica, Toyota, Unilever, Virgin, Vivo, Walmart, Walmart Labs, Windows, Zynga, New Jersey Devils, Al Gore, Ashley Olsen, Mary-Kate Olsen, Madonna, Glenn Beck, Richard Branson, Corn Refiners Association, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Australia
brand news
Posted by Shirley Brady on September 9, 2011 09:00 AM

Green Bay Packers defend title to win NFL kickoff game, while Bud Light kicks in as NFL sponsor, and Coors Light debuts new campaign.
President Obama presents $447 billion jobs stimulus plan to tough audience.
American Apparel search for plus-size models backfires.
Aquascutum among brands finding new life in China.
Bank of America could shed up to 40,000 jobs.
Facebook complaints can't get an employee fired, judge rules while site adds five languages.
John Galliano found guilty in anti-racism case.
Glenn Beck launches web TV network.
Google details electricity usage.Continue reading...
More about: Brand News, American Apparel, Aquascutum, Axe, Bank of America, Facebook, Glenn Beck, Google, Green Bay Packers, Guangzhou Bank, John Galliano, Porsche, Scotiabank, Tommy Hilfiger, WWE, Yahoo, Amar'e Stoudemire, Oprah Winfrey, Rachel Roy, Unilever, Volkswagen, Waitrose, Fashion's Night Out, Barack Obama