Chattanooga is like Wolfsburg West today, with Volkswagen AG executives swarming the company’s new state-of-the-art, eco-forward assembly plant in Tennessee to celebrate the grand opening of its first assembly facility in the United States in two decades. VW is starting to make a significantly improved new Passat mid-size sedan at the plant and will begin selling the car this fall.

But the Volkswagen executives in Tennessee — and at the company’s kick-off of a new partnership with the Museum of Modern Art in New York City yesterday —also have been talking about something else that is essential to lifting their paltry 3-percent market share in the United States: a clarification and strengthening of their brand.Continue reading...

This weekend's slate of movie openings offers a little product placement for everyone.

A time traveling sci-fi mind-bender offers up donuts. A tragic tale of cyber predation is full of one glossy tech brand in particular. And then there is the kids' Easter product placement juggernaut that is Hop, and its basket of major brand "partners."  

But first, at top, check out a behind-the-scenes look at Morgan Spurlock's doc on product placement, Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, used to advertise KDF wrap graphics services.Continue reading...

In 1893, Richard Sears and Alvah Roebuck, two young men with a knack for selling watches, started a company that became one of the great direct marketing innovators and retail brands in the US.

The company sold everything imaginable, targeting primarily rural families via a giant mail order catalog. It wasn't until 1925, when American cities grew up, that Sears Roebuck, later to be known simply as Sears, opened retail stores.

Today, it seems, Sears is gradually going back to its direct marketing roots via online sales. While its retail store sales plummet, Sears is ramping up its e-tail offering with the hope of being more (Web)SavvySanta than the sad Santa depicted in its holiday 2010 campaign.Continue reading...

Apple opens new Mac software store, enables peer-to-peer app sharing.

BlackBerry parent RIM beats analyst estimates.

Canada Goose challenged by knock-offs.

Chevron and BP named in latest WikiLeaks cables.

CNN bids adieu to Larry King, pads schedule until Piers Morgan debut.

Dramamine brand sold by J&J for $76 million.Continue reading...

Target, a brand that has dominated the big box retail branding landscape for years, appears to be in a slump.

After moving its branding operations in-house, Target appeared to have its finger on the pulse of a nation and successfully made shopping big-box almost sexy.

This is why the ad above is so distressing. The Target team appears to be out of touch with Americans' desire to do more with less, and be better engaged parents.Continue reading...

Kmart is launching its private-label product line, Smart Sense, joining the ranks of Target’s Archer Farms and and Wal-Mart’s Great Value. The products range from snacks and beverages to household cleaners, oral care, over-the-counter medications, paper products and household cleaners.

It's also expanding options for shoppers, all in a bid to win more market share and help families stretch their holiday shopping budgets. Read on for details.Continue reading...

BMW issues safety recall for power-braking problems in 5, 6 and 7 Series vehicles worldwide.

BP pledges Gulf of Mexico oil fields to spill fund as new CEO Bob Dudley talks up "fast evolution, not revolution."

Chevrolet plans to use the Major League Baseball World Series this month to launch adds for its new Volt extended-range hybrid.

Dow Jones Industrial Average surges by more than 10% during the third quarter, a glimmer of economic cheer.

Emirates Telecommunications offers to buy 46% of Kuwait’s Mobile Telecommunications, potentially one of the biggest EMEA deals in recent years.Continue reading...

Reuters goes inside the war room at BP, which embarks on diversion strategy and retains Dick Cheney's former PR head, while US Attorney General Eric Holder promises a criminal investigation and public outrage like this ramps up. President Obama also vowed today to tighten laws to avoid a similar catastrophe, which made the New Yorker (right).

Toys R Us gears up for Toy Story 3, for which Disney is selling tickets within Facebook.

McDonald's launches campaign as official restaurant of 2010 FIFA World Cup.Continue reading...