It's pretty clear that people care more about their appearance than ever before. All sorts of companies are making bank in an attempt to help.

The purse-portable Nintendo DS recently introduced a new fashion-based game called Style Savvy that even had Rachel Zoe's fingers moving at its launch party in LA. The game allows players to take on the role of a clothing boutique owner, managing everything from customer questions to budget and inventory.Continue reading...

They may hate being a singular entity as “the Olsen Twins,” but those two sure are busy as one, fresh from launching a long-awaited eyewear line.

Their newest endeavor is a diffusion line with JC Penney called Olsenboye. A limited-edition preview of the juniors line will come out on November 6 at 50 locations, before launching for real in February to 600 stores. The collection includes denim, bottoms, skirts, shorts, tops, dresses, jackets, shoes, and handbags with prices ranging from $20-50.

To drum up excitement for Olsenboye, the mini moguls sent a truck to cruise around New York this past Monday selling merchandise and handing out balloons, pins, and cupcakes. Cupcakes? Everyone loves cupcakes. What a genius business plan.Continue reading...

Android operating system woos major cellphone makers away from competition. [NY Times]

Can Verizon's Droid dethrone the iPhone? [Ad Age]

HTC smartphone launches big campaign in UK and US. [Brand Republic]

Ford rises above wounded competitors, gains 5% market share. [WSJ]

GM and Chrysler upend marketing strategies. [FT]

"Smart Choices" food label program has been suspended by the FDA. [Chicago Tribune]

Disney issues refunds for "Baby Einstein" products. [NY Times]

Movie studios begin to divulge plans for DVD alternatives. [NY Times]

Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen launch juniors line available at JC Penney. [WWD]

(More headlines: Eisner's web studion, Heineken, VW.)Continue reading...

Corona is the latest brand to suffer the headache of a brand-damaging fake ad. The "ad," which features the Corona brand and the message "Drink Us and We'll Hire More Mexicans in Mexico," looks professional enough to be believed as real, at first glance.

But it's another phony, like the child-unfriendly fake ads that sent Hasbro toys brand scrambling to do damage control, though the ads were nothing big in the eyes of many. When fake ads aren't offensive -- and it's an admittedly fine line -- they can conceivably add a little vavoom to a brand (while the brand gets to deny involvement).Continue reading...

JC Penney and Liz Claiborne was one thing. But I am about to throw you a double-whammy, so, I hope you’re sitting down.

The Home Shopping Network is going the way of Target, Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, and even QVC (who just announced its own Liz Claiborne deal), collaborating with high-end designers on lower-priced lines in an effort to reach out to a wider market.Continue reading...

Can exclusive partnerships revive a brand? Depends on your partner.

After disappointing results with fashion insiders Tim Gunn and Isaac Mizrahi, Liz Claiborne has changed course and jumped to the other end of the fashion spectrum: JC Penny and QVC.

Starting in Fall 2010, the Liz Claiborne line will be sold exclusively though JC Penney. Isaac Mizrahi-helmed collection, Liz Claiborne New York, will be sold on QVC. The brand expects to return to profits in 2010, with forecast sales of $100 million on QVC and $1 billion in Penney stores.

The agreement shifts all Liz Claiborne's sourcing, marketing and distribution and their costs to JC Penney, while they retain control of design and brand management. The partnership will shelter Claiborne Inc.'s margins from department store markdowns. Instead, the company will receive a share of royalties based on profit.Continue reading...