PGR Media

Weekly Watch 4/22/2013

mbeatty — Thu, 02 May 2013 16:43:48 +0000

Interactive News

SMG’s Twitter Deal to Yield Closer Ties With P&G, Walmart, Samsung
The Twitter experiment on Madison Avenue just got more serious.
While marketers are dabbling in Twitter’s real-time stream of 140-word missives, and some brands have built teams to interact on Twitter in real-time, investment of ad dollars has been relatively small.
http://adage.com/article/digital/smg-moves-twitter-experimental-advertising-big-leagues/241035/

Tumblr Launches Mobile Ads Today In Big Revenue Push
Tumblr is launching its mobile ads today, marking the first time the 6-year-old startup is placing ads that look and feel like regular posts on the blog network.
The mobile ads–launching today with advertisers like GE, Warner Bros. and ABC–are the first to appear in user streams where until now Tumbr users have just seen content posted by people they follow. Tumblr’s other ads had been constrained to the less visible real estate of the “Radar” post that appears on users’ dashboards, which alternates between paid promotions and images curated by Tumblr staff, and “spotlight” placements on pages that highlight top blogs in categories from sports to architecture.
http://adage.com/article/digital/tumblr-launches-mobile-ads-native-app-users/241012/

Why Social Networks Are The Next Big Mobile Advertising Platform
Until recently, Facebook faced a wall of criticism that that they had failed to sufficiently capitalize on their mobile users. The situation changed in January of this year when Facebook announced in its 2012 Q4 earnings, stating that mobile accounted for around 23% (or $305 million) of its $1.33 billion of advertising revenues sold in the quarter. In addition to this, Instagram was used to share more than 600 million photos to Facebook on New Year’s Day alone.
http://www.mobilemarketingwatch.com/why-social-networks-are-the-next-big-mobile-advertising-platform-31814/

Media News

As Time Warner Spins Off Magazines, Analysts Eye a Merger With CBS
Time Warner and CBS have flirted for years. A marriage now may make more sense than ever.
Buying the most-watched broadcast network would give Time Warner, owner of cable channels such as CNN and TNT, more negotiating leverage to win higher fees from pay-TV systems that carry its programming. And CBS shares, although they are trading near the highest price since the company and Viacom split seven years ago, fetch the lowest valuation compared to earnings out of the six comparable U.S. companies, according to Bloomberg.
http://adage.com/article/media/time-warner-merge-cbs/241013/

New Balance donates $1m to One Fund Boston
New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc. announced Monday a $1 million donation to One Fund Boston, the fund established by Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Governor Deval Patrick to support those directly affected by the Boston Marathon bombings. New Balance, known for its athletic footwear and apparel, added that its own foundation will match contributions made to One Fund Boston by company employees
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2013/04/22/new-balance-donates-one-fund-boston-support-marathon-victims-first-responders/BdYNxcGHttjPwis4eu6cxI/story.html

Time Magazine Honors 100 Influential People
The annual Time 100 gala, held this year on Tuesday night at the Frederick P. Rose Hall, is the kind of place where politicians (Joe Biden) fraternize with celebrities (a cleavage-baring Christina Aguilera) and hedge fund managers (David Einhorn) share the red carpet with Hollywood moguls (Harvey Weinstein) and Emmy-winning actresses (Claire Danes).
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2013/04/25/fashion/20130425-SCENE-6.html

Retail News

Ippolita Enters Men’s Market
The impetus behind Ippolita’s first men’s collection was to create jewelry for the guy who wasn’t being served by the current market.
Ippolita chief executive officer Joe Cavalcante and founder and designer Ippolita Rostagno — who both found the majority of men’s offerings either too chunky or too “rock ’n’ roll” — are looking to address this void with the brand’s premiere 25-piece collection that hit stores in mid-May. In addition to its store that opened on Madison Avenue in New York last September and ippolita.com, the line will be carried at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.
http://www.wwd.com/accessories-news/jewelry/ippolita-enters-mens-market-6907350?module=Accessories-Jewelry-main

Macy’s and Iconix Ready Pop-up Madonna Fashion Exhibit
The pop star is loaning some of her most iconic costumes from over the years for a special one-night-only exhibit at the Macy’s Century City location in Los Angeles on Thursday. On display for just two hours, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. that night in the Material Girl shop will be seminal outfits such as the Jean Paul Gaultier-designed corsets from the 1990 “Blonde Ambition” concert tour and the shimmering, beaded white Bob Mackie gown she poured herself into for the 1991 Academy Awards, accessorizing for the night with a fox fur stole and Michael Jackson.
“The pop-up exhibit at Macy’s perfectly exemplifies the inspiration and spirit of the Material Girl line and will give my fans a great opportunity to see the evolution of my style over the years,” Madonna told WWD.
http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-features/an-immaculate-collection-at-macys-6901887?module=Fashion-Fashion Features-third

Spade Returns, Sleepily
The lovable louche lives. His wardrobe is his pj’s. “I was looking at old magazines and pictures of all these great artists, like David Hockney and Jean-Michel Basquiat, and my friend Glenn O’Brien, who is always walking around in pajamas,” said Andy Spade this week. The look isn’t new—Julian Schnabel is its acknowledged philosopher king—but it’s lately been catching on, for women as well as for men. So Spade and his partner in Partners & Spade, Anthony Sperduti, decided to do something about it. In his first full-scale fashion outing since Spade launched Kate Spade and Jack Spade, the his and hers accessories lines, Spade is debuting Sleepy Jones, a collection of tailored pajama separates and boxer shorts for him and for her.
http://www.style.com/stylefile/2013/04/spade-returns-sleepily/

Matthew McConaughey’s new clothing line, Keds apparel at Macy’s
Actor Matthew McConaughey will launch a new clothing line called JKL. McConaughey partnered with Canadian-based Grand National Apparel on the mainly sportswear-based collection. A portion of the sales from JKL will go to benefit McConaughey’s charity the just keep livin foundation, which supports after-school fitness and wellness programs at inner-city schools.
Macy’s has launched a new Keds apparel line at Macy’s stores nationwide and online at Macys.com and Keds.com. The popular shoe brand know for its plain white lace-up sneakers has expanded into sportswear separates that include skirts, pants, shorts, tops, knits, jackets, tees and more. The collection is priced between $20 and $90.
http://www.latimes.com/features/image/alltherage/la-ar-matthew-mcconaughey-clothing-line-keds-macys-20130422,0,3704666.story

Travel News

Panel Discusses Luxury Travel at Louis Vuitton Men’s Studio in SoHo
Those in search of a lively traveling companion should consider Giorgio Moroder, the prolific music producer behind many hits, including much of Donna Summer’s career. On Thursday, Moroder discussed his travel preferences with Louis Vuitton men’s studio and style director Kim Jones and photographer Daniela Federici at Vuitton’s Greene Street boutique. If Jones and Federici stressed the importance of adventurous and spiritual journeys, Moroder prefers a decidedly more materialistic approach in his travels. “The important thing is to see, to look, the people you meet,” Moroder, who hails from South Tyrol, Italy, said. “I try to eat spaghetti everywhere in the world.
“I like to fly first class, stay in a five-star hotel and have good sushi,” he added.
http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/travel-advisory-6901926?src=search_links

Crutch or timesaver? Navigating the world of mobile travel apps
In an essay published in The Chronicle of Higher Education in January, Robert Huesca argued that constantly checking Facebook or other social media networks can degrade the experience of studying abroad and reduce students’ ability to immerse themselves in a new culture.
The same danger exists for any traveler who uses travel apps designed for mobile devices and integrated with social media networks. The idea is great: use the hive mind formed by your friends and family to navigate new places and find the best eateries, hotels, tours and beaches.
http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/report/crutch-or-timesaver-navigating-the-world-of-mobile-travel-apps/1873

Weekly Watch 4/15/2013

mbeatty — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:58:12 +0000

Interactive News

Twitter Expands Sponsored Video Push With BBC America Deal
Twitter is venturing deeper into branded content with a new network partner.
The company has signed a deal with BBC America to serve video clips that can appear in-stream on Twitter when users click — after, they hope, brief pre-roll from a sponsor.
http://adage.com/article/media/twitter-teams-bbc-america-sell-video-sponsorships/240992/

Facebook Practices What It Preaches for ‘Home’ Ad Blitz
Facebook is going all-in for its first ad push with TV spots that launched during March Madness championship games — but also with a heavy dose of Facebook marketing to practice what it preaches.
“We get to be our own client,” said Rebecca Van Dyck, Facebook’s head of consumer marketing, speaking at Ad Age’s Digital Conference. “We are going through all the same things that you guys are.”
http://adage.com/article/special-report-digital-conference/rebecca-van-dyck-facebook-ads-home-ad-campaign/240922/

Five Things You Didn’t Know About CPG Mobile Advertising
Packaged-goods marketers may not have been the fastest adopters of mobile advertising, but they’re catching up, according to a new study by Millennial Media and comScore, which found CPG advertisers more than tripled spending on mobile last year.
http://adage.com/article/digital/things-cpg-mobile-advertising/240903/

Media News

JC Penney to Bring Back Coupon Advertising in Newpapers
JC Penney will reverse Ron Johnson’s strategy of reducing discounts and put coupon advertising in newspapers again, said William Ackman, the activist investor who recruited the ousted chief executive.
Mr. Johnson, who was replaced by Myron Ullman on Monday, implemented a pricing strategy that eliminated almost all of the company’s discounts and promotions in favor of everyday low prices. Shoppers shunned the department store chain, and sales sank 25% last year.
http://adage.com/article/media/jc-penney-bring-back-coupon-advertising-newpapers/240858/

Boston Retail Moves Closer to Normalcy
As investigators in white hazmat suits continued to comb the crime scene from the Boston Marathon bombings, workers and residents in downtown Boston were trying Wednesday to resume some sense of routine.
After numerous erroneous reports that an arrest had been made earlier in the day, both the Boston Police Department and the FBI issued statements to the contrary. But by Wednesday evening, reporters were once again camped out at the Westin Hotel waiting for a law enforcement-led press conference that had already been delayed twice.
http://www.wwd.com/retail-news/retail-features/lord-taylor-video-helps-identify-boston-suspects-6898424

Managing Social Media For Multiple Brands
Managing social media for one audience is difficult, but what about the companies that have more than one brand under their corporate umbrella?
Chico’s, which owns Chico’s, White House Black Market and Soma Intimates, has social media accounts for each of its brands and a team of six that manages it all. The challenge is coming up with strategies that fit the the mostly distinct audiences. The secret to success, as you could guess, is in the data.
http://www.digiday.com/brands/managing-social-media-for-multiple-brands/

Retail News

Analysts Cautious on WolverineAnalysts are closely watching Wolverine World Wide Inc. after the firm said Tuesday its acquisition of Collective Brands’ Performance & Lifestyle Group contributed more than expected to earnings per share, while the core brands did not perform up to scratch.
“We still have some concerns over the [core] business after [it reported] lower net earnings in the quarter and likely [flat] performance for the year,” said Christopher Svezia, an analyst at Susquehanna Financial.
http://www.wwd.com/footwear-news/business/www-q1-beats-street-6895529?module=hp-fn

Welcoming Spring With Kate Spade
Kate Spade stylist Brad Goreski and creative director Deborah Lloyd (above) greeted guests and introduced the designer’s spring collection Thursday at Bloomingdale’s in Chestnut Hill. Models came out barefoot and un-accessorized and Brad and Deborah highlighted top trends — preppy florals, pops of color, bows, and head-to-toe hues — by adding shoes, bags, and jewelry to the ensembles, while asking the audience for their favorite fashion advice.
http://www.bostonmagazine.com/fashion-style/blog/2013/03/12/welcoming-spring-with-kate-spade/

Denim: By the Numbers
From true blue to rich in hue, denim’s delicate balance of styles and price points is clearly working in its favor.
Authentic indigo is gaining traction, even as color, while hardly the dominant story it was a year or even six months ago, continues to provide pop at popular prices. At a wide range of price points, there’s still plenty of room for novelty in areas such as distressed looks, coated finishes, prints and unusual zipper, pocket and hardware embellishment.
http://www.wwd.com/markets-news/denim/denim-by-the-numbers-6896198?module=Retail-Trends and Analysis-bullet

Brands Build Buzz with Pop-ups
Fashion houses were particularly active this season, enticing consumers with pop-up stores on both sides of the Atlantic. In Milan, Chloé, which has no monobrand boutique in Italy, took up temporary residence at Corso Como to give a platform to its 16-piece reedition collection, part of its 60th anniversary festivities.
In Paris, Topshop, which is currently scouting for a location in the French capital, made an ephemeral appearance at Galeries Lafayette, while Vanessa Bruno decided to turn her fling with New York into a long-term affair.
http://www.wwd.com/retail-news/trends-analysis/brands-build-buzz-with-pop-ups-6890963?module=Retail-Trends and Analysis-bullet

Travel News

Celebrity Cruises brings ‘solsticising’ initiative full circle
Celebrity Cruises is bringing its $140-million “Solsticising” initiative – the modern luxury brand’s coined term for adding onto its four Millennium Class ships some of the most popular venues and experiences found on its five award-winning Solstice Class ships – full circle today, as Celebrity Constellation enters a scheduled drydock period to add the full complement of Solstice Class-inspired features and attributes guests love on the ship’s three Millennium Class sister ships
http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/celebrity-cruises-brings-solsticising-initiative-full-circle/

On Trails Less Traveled
Walking trips are the ultimate in slow travel, allowing tourists to take well-trod paths through Cinque Terre in Italy or around the Ring of Kerry in Ireland at their own pace. Strollers seeking more solitude who try Europe’s less celebrated regions often find that the trade-off is less service. But that doesn’t have to be the case. For explorers seeking quiet pathways, a few outfitters offer pioneering routes and a comfortable place for you to put up your feet at day’s end. Here are a few.
http://travel.nytimes.com/2013/04/21/travel/on-trails-less-traveled-in-europe.html?ref=travel&_r=

Weekly Watch 4/8/2013

mbeatty — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:25:25 +0000

Interactive News

How Can I Get Followers On Twitter
Status and influence. Most of us seek it, in some form. It is normal to ask “how can I get followers on Twitter?” Or Facebook, Pinterest, or Foursquare. Somehow, we have come to believe like homeruns or touchdowns – that someone is keeping score and we have to increase our batting average in social media.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/tjmccue/2013/04/12/how-can-i-get-followers-on-twitter/

LinkedIn Buys News App Pulse For $90 Million
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) — Professional networking website LinkedIn is paying about $90 million to acquire Pulse, which makes an e-reader platform used on mobile devices.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/12/linkedin-pulse_n_3064619.html

Media News

300-plus boats to participate in Charleston sailing regatta April 18-21
On the heels of the S.C. In-Water Boat Show this coming weekend will be the Sperry Top-Sider Charleston Race Week sailing regatta April 18-21.
http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20130408/PC05/130409357/1165/300-plus-boats-to-participate-in-charleston-sailing-regatta-april-18-21

Lucky Magazine Hosts Annual Fashion and Beauty Blog Conference
THE SOCIAL WORLD: As social media matures and splinters, presenters and attendees at the second West Coast edition of Lucky Magazine’s Fashion and Beauty Blog Conference, held Thursday and Friday at the SLS Beverly Hills hotel, were grappling with how to leverage it most effectively.
http://www.wwd.com/media-news/fashion-memopad/the-social-world-6884123?module=Media-Digital-second

Retail News>

Taylor Swift teams up with Keds: Style News
Taylor Swift puts best foot forward: If you’re sneaker-shopping and come across a pair embellished with a heart-shaped charm engraved with the initials “TS,” that would be Taylor Swift. The bright, playful Taylor Swift Keds Champion collection came out this month.
http://www.cleveland.com/style/index.ssf/2013/04/style_news_taylor_swift_teams.html

Sears Holdings Forms Entertainment Unit
Sears Holdings Corp. has created Shop Your Way Brands, which will focus on developing entertainment-driven fashion and lifestyle brands. Heading up the business unit is Bernt Ullmann and his team at Star Branding, whose partners include Tommy Hilfiger, Andy Hilfiger and Joe Lamastra.
http://www.wwd.com/retail-news/department-stores/sears-star-branding-team-up-for-nicki-minaj-and-adam-levine-lines-6887954?module=Retail-Department Stores-main

Nordstrom to Open at Toronto’s Yorkdale Centre
Nordstrom will open a three-level, 188,000-square-foot store in Toronto in fall 2016 at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre, which is one of North America’s most productive and fashionable malls.
“Yorkdale is clearly a premier fashion destination, home to an impressive mix of retailers and we’re excited to be part of the center,” said Karen McKibbin, president of Nordstrom Canada.
http://www.wwd.com/retail-news/department-stores/nordstrom-to-open-at-torontos-yorkdale-centre-6885319?module=Retail-Department Stores-bullet

Travel News

Seven Travel Secrets of Experienced Fliers
When it comes to making a trip go more smoothly, experienced fliers have their own travel secrets — from squeezing the most out of those affinity cards to packing bags to dealing with lost luggage.
And they don’t mind sharing what they’ve learned.
Whether you’re jetting across the pond to Europe, taking a short hop to your vacation destination or logging air miles for business, here are seven tips that could save you some time, money and hassle the next time you fly.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/04/10/seven-travel-secrets-experienced-fliers/#ixzz2QBHfdJD8

Why business travel is growing this year
Thanks to an improving economy and increasing business and consumer confidence, expect a boost to business travel spending this year.
A new report from Global Business Travel Association upgrades its 2013 growth projection for spending on business travel to 5.1 percent from 4.6 percent. That’s good news for the travel industry since U.S. business travel spending will reach $268.5 billion a year. If it holds, the growth rate would be a substancial improvement over the 2012 growth rate of 1.8 percent.
http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/bulletin/why-business-travel-is-growing-this-year/17219

How the U.S. Travel Industry Is Adapting to a Growing Wave of Chinese Tourists
Tourists from China now spend more on international travel than tourists from any other country. The U.S. travel industry is slowly learning how to attract them.
According to a report released last week by the U.N. World Tourism Organization, Chinese travelers spent $102 billion on international tourism in 2012, 40% more than they spent in 2011. More than 80 million Chinese traveled internationally in 2011, outspending German tourists — the longtime leader in overseas travel spending — for the first time. Those numbers have steadily climbed since 2000, when 10 million Chinese traveled abroad.
http://business.time.com/2013/04/09/how-the-u-s-travel-industry-is-adapting-to-a-growing-wave-of-chinese-tourists/

Weekly Watch 4/1/2013

mbeatty — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:11:49 +0000

Interactive News

Facebook to Debut First TV Ad to Promote ‘Home’ for Android
Facebook is making a big bet that people want to be surrounded by content from their friends each and every time they look at their phones, and it’s teeing up a marketing campaign that will include its first-ever TV advertising.
http://adage.com/article/digital/facebook-developing-tv-ad-promote-home-android/240715/

Media News

Oprah Winfrey Tells Ad Buyers OWN is Making It
Oprah Winfrey pitched advertisers on her Oprah Winfrey Network last night with more ammunition than she had in her possession a year ago. “Last year I told you it was the biggest climb of my life… Well, we made it,” Ms. Winfrey said to a room of media buyers and advertisers.
http://adage.com/article/special-report-tv-upfront/oprah-winfrey-tells-ad-buyers-making/240735/

Forbes Style Director Joseph DeAcetis Talks Photo Shoots, Men’s Fashion
WHO HAS THE TIME?: Apparently some of the biggest names in business have zero time to shop. Under Armour’s Kevin Plank, Instagram’s Kevin Systrom, Spotify’s Daniel Ek and SpaceX’s Elon Musk are among the Forbes-photographed billionaires who wound up buying clothes from their shoots.
http://www.wwd.com/media-news/fashion-memopad/forbes-style-director-joseph-deacetis-talks-photo-shoots-mens-fashion-6879688?module=Media-Media Features-main

Retail News

Burn Rubber Honors Miguel Cabrera With Triple Crown New Balance Shoes
Detroit (97.1 The Ticket) – Sneakerheads and baseball fans will be lining up to get their hands on this special shoe honoring Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera and his 2012 triple-crown-winning performance.
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/04/04/burn-rubber-honors-miguel-cabrera-with-triple-crown-new-balance-shoes/

A Match Made in Heaven: Taylor Swift and Keds Collaborate
Taylor Swift is trading her cowboy boots for a pair of canvas shoes. The multi-platinum love-song writer partnered with Keds to launch 12 colorful shoes that are different from the brands typical styles.
http://www.vibevixen.com/2013/04/match-made-in-heaven-taylor-swift-and-keds-collaborate/

Travel News

Celebrity Cruises Adds More Destinations to its 123go! Event
Celebrity Cruises unveiled an addition to its “123go!” event – a value of up to two shore excursions. Guests can choose to embark on one of the modern luxury brand’s 2013 Europe sailings, either onboard the 2,850-guestCelebrity Eclipse or the newly “Solsticized” Celebrity Infinity
http://www.travelagentcentral.com/cruises/celebrity-cruises-adds-more-destinations-its-123go-event

Weekly Watch 3.25.13

mbeatty — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:08:05 +0000

Interactive News

Facebook Partners With Goldbely to Gift Your Favorite Foods
Emily Price14 hours ago
Facebook Gifts are about to get more delicious.
Food-delivery startup Goldbely announced a partnership with Facebook Tuesday, which will bring some of the nation’s best food to Facebook.
http://mashable.com/2013/03/26/facebook-goldbely/

Twitter Ad Revenue to Approach $1 Billion by 2014, Fueled by Mobile
Twitter’s global ad revenue will catapult from $582.8 million this year to $950 million next year, according to new projections from the market research firm eMarketer on Wednesday, which cited the strength of Twitter’s mobile presence in revising its earlier projections upward by a combined $180.1 million.
http://adage.com/article/digital/twitter-ad-revenue-approach-1-billion-2014/240565/

Media News

Back to Basic Cable: CBS Buys Half of TV Guide Network
CBS Corp. has acquired the cable channel TVGN along with TVGuide.com and plans to operate both with co-owner Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.
CBS, whose eponymous flagship network is TV’s most-watched, acquired the stakes in TVGN, formerly called the TV Guide Network, and TVGuide.com from a unit of JPMorgan Chase & Co., according to a statement today. Terms weren’t announced. A person familiar with the matter said last week CBS would pay more than $100 million.
http://adage.com/article/media/cbs-buys-half-tv-guide-network-back-basic-cable/240557/

New York Magazine Launching Revamped iPad App
BIG APP-LE: New York magazine’s tablet app for the past two years has been a standard digital replica, a static PDF with scrollable pages, zooms and gateways to its Web site and RSS feed. It was time for a revamp. On Monday a new subscription iPad app that combines a daily news stream from its network of blogs and an interactive version of the magazine will appear on the Apple newsstand.
http://www.wwd.com/media-news/fashion-memopad/big-app-le-6872349?module=Media-Digital-third

Traditional Media Adapting to Digital Trends Through Acquisitions
Don’t count out traditional media companies just yet.
That’s one of the many conclusions from a panel discussion on “M&A in Digital Media and Technology: 2013 & Beyond.” The panel was hosted by the Association for Corporate Growth. Lloyd Rothenberg, a partner at the law firm Loeb & Loeb, moderated the discussion; the panelists included Ron Shah, vice president, Stripes Group; Paul Cianciolo, vice president, FirstMark Capital; Jeffrey Gross, vice president, Allegiance Capital Corp., and Melissa Stepanis, managing director, Silicon Valley Bank.
http://www.wwd.com/media-news/media-features/traditional-media-adapting-to-digital-trends-through-acquisitions-6869156?module=Media-Media Features-second

Retail News

Façonnable’s Next Stage
NICE, France — Façonnable is planning to celebrate the opening of its new boutique in Bellevue, Wash., today as it unveils the new course of the brand under artistic director Julian Neale.
Across from Lake Washington, the directly operated 3,500-square-foot unit, modeled after a new store concept, is located at upscale shopping center Bellevue Collection. The new store blueprint is fashioned after a house on the French Riviera, with striped awnings and facades, a sea-blue color palette and an outdoorsy feel. Shelves come in bleached oak, and wood planks embellish the ceiling.
http://www.wwd.com/markets-news/ready-to-wear-sportswear/faconnables-next-stage-6855063?module=Retail-Specialty Stores-main

Saks Fifth Avenue Revamping Men’s Private Label
NEW YORK — Saks Fifth Avenue is accelerating the rollout of its men’s private label.
Starting this fall, the line will have a new name, three subbrands and devoted shops in key markets. And the retailer did not rule out the possibility that it would wholesale the collection in the near future.
http://www.wwd.com/menswear-news/retail-business/saks-fifth-avenue-revamping-mens-private-label-6855347?module=Retail-Department Stores-bullet

Soft Goods Importers Split on Spring, Retail Outlook
Marketers of mass-market apparel are evenly split on both their reports on spring business and their expectations for full-year retail sales.
According to a quarterly survey of soft goods suppliers by Capital Business Credit, 50 percent of respondents said their spring business was better than a year ago while 50 percent said results were flat or down. Among those experiencing an improved spring, the majority saw year-on-year growth of 3 to 10 percent.
http://www.wwd.com/business-news/forecasts-analysis/soft-goods-importers-split-on-spring-retail-outlook-6861272

Travel News

The 10 Best Airports For Kids, According To Travelnerd
Traveling is, in and of itself, no easy feat. So, adding little ones into the equation is enough to make a family want to stay home. We know that there are many important reasons to travel as a family, and some would say that the time is always right to do so.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/25/the-10-best-airports-for-kids_n_2932795.html?utm_hp_ref=travel

Weekly Watch 3/18/13

mbeatty — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:35:23 +0000

Interactive

Native ads show more brand lift than traditional pre-roll
Native advertising has more influence on brand lift that standard pre-roll, according to a study conducted by Sharethrough with Nielsen Online Brand Effect. Jarritos soft drink was one of the brands tested. Native ads tended to be more likely to leave viewers with a favorable impression of a brand than pre-roll ads, and in one case a pre-roll ad actually increased the likelihood that a viewer would say they had an unfavorable or very unfavorable impression of the brand. “Native ads outperformed pre-roll regardless of the category or the marketing objectives of the five measured advertisers,” Nielsen noted.
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/196478/native-advertising-study-shoots-some-bullets-at-pr.html

Startup Watch: Mobile Polling App ‘Thumb’ Opens Doors to Brands and Researchers
Thumb is a mobile polling app that first hit the scene in July 2010 with a simple, valuable premise – for users to submit ‘yes or no’ questions and get near-instant feedback from fellow members of the startup’s active community. Not sure which sunglasses go best with that outfit? Ask Thumb – just snap a photo, post it with your question, and within seconds you’ll have an answer.
http://adage.com/article/digital/consumer-mobile-polling-app-thumb-pro/240410/

Twitter, Growing Up On Its 7th Birthday, Hints At Its Politics
Thursday is Twitter’s seventh birthday, which is like 100 in Internet years. It all started on March 21, 2006, when Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey sent his first tweet, which read “just setting up my twttr” (without vowels, as the service’s name was written originally). Over the course of a few short years, Twitter grew into the social and news behemoth. Twitter has an estimated 200 million active users in 2013.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/twitter-birthday_n_2923659.html

YouTube crosses 1 billion mark for unique monthly visitors
YouTube is now garnering more than 1 billion unique visitors a month, and they are screening 4 billion hours of content. “If YouTube were a country, we’d be the third largest in the world after China and India,” according to a company blog post. “Our monthly viewership is the equivalent of roughly 10 Super Bowl audiences.”
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57575491-93/youtube-breaks-records-with-1-billion-monthly-users/

Media

Condé Nast Launches Digital Channels
Condé Nast Entertainment finally got in the production business Monday with two YouTube channels.
The entertainment division, created over a year ago to get a cut of any television and film adaptations inspired by company magazines, has been quietly hiring executives and optioning the occasional article for possible production — three to be exact. But it hadn’t really stretched its legs until now.
http://www.wwd.com/media-news/digital/cond-nast-launches-digital-channels-6841862?module=Media-Digital-second

New York Times Fetes Deborah Needleman’s First Issue
The New York Times celebrated Deborah Needleman’s first issue of T: The New York Times Style Magazine with a party at the Palazzo Crespi in Milan, where guests wandered through a succession of grandly furnished and gilded rooms.
http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/new-york-times-fetes-deborah-needlemans-first-issue-6797019?module=Media-Media Features-second

How Time Inc. Should Reinvent Itself as an Independent Publisher
When Time Warner spins off its magazine unit, the world’s biggest magazine company will become an anomaly: a publicly traded media company consisting entirely of magazines. Time Inc. titles were once the crown jewels of media, generating nearly a billion in annual operating profit just a decade ago. By 2012 that had fallen to $420 million, a precipitous 25% drop from the year earlier. Despite recent cost cuts, that portfolio — and its infrastructure — was built for an era when ad dollars were plentiful.
http://adage.com/article/media/time-reinvent-independent-publisher/240254/

Retail

Craig Leavitt Sees $4B Future for Kate Spade
Kate Spade is ready for its shot at the big time. Craig Leavitt, chief executive officer, told analysts at an investment meeting Friday that the fun and quirky brand is charting aggressive growth on several fronts. Over the next four years, he expects to drive its total retail sales up to $2 billion.
http://www.wwd.com/business-news/forecasts-analysis/leavitt-sees-4b-future-for-kate-spade-6850589?module=hp-topstories

Improved Q4 Results at Perry Ellis Lift Shares
Perry Ellis International Inc. earned back some of the respect it had recently put at risk among investors Thursday as it reported a fourth-quarter performance marked by improving trends in sales, profits and margins. Shares ended the day at $18.51, up $1.11 or 6.4 percent. They had fallen 13.1 percent, to $16.79, on Feb. 19 after the Miami-based sportswear firm provided guidance for the holiday period that fell well below previous analysts’ estimates.
http://www.wwd.com/business-news/financial/improved-q4-results-at-perry-ellis-lift-shares-6861455?module=hp-mens

QR codes find new roles in customer loyalty and m-commerce
QR codes are being used to build customer loyalty by providing valuable feedback and, increasingly, are employed for mobile commerce without using NFC, writes Matthew Talbot, senior vice president of m-commerce for SAP, Singapore. QR “will certainly play a role going forward in mobile CRM and payments, and whether you are a bank, retailer, consumer brand or transport company, you are likely to embrace this,” he writes.
http://www.mobilemarketer.com/cms/opinion/columns/15010.html

Travel

Celebrity Cruises presents “Sinfully Good” new entertainment
An edgy outgrowth of modern luxury line Celebrity Cruises’ commitment to offer what consumers want in innovative, late-night entertainment is the debut of “Sin City Comedy.”
http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/celebrity-cruises-presents-sinfully-good-new-entertainment/

Younger Travelers Set Sail
Baby boomers, with their numbers, disposable income and inclination to travel, have long been the backbone of the cruise business, but younger cruisers are now stepping forward and represent a huge opportunity for travel agents who understand them. According to New York University’s Stern School of Business professor, Scott Galloway, Generation Y’s numbers now exceed those of boomers’, and the group is poised to take their place as the generation with the most spending power.
http://www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Cruise/Info/Younger-Travelers-Set-Sail/

Weekly Watch 3/11/13

mbeatty — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:30:52 +0000

Interactive News

What the New Facebook Newsfeed Means for Brands
Yesterday Facebook unveiled a reimagined newsfeed experience that has enormous implications for every brand with a Facebook page. Here are five of the big shifts you should have on your radar.
http://adage.com/article/digitalnext/facebook-newsfeed-means-brands/240214/

YouTube Previews ‘Brandcast’ Upfront in Chicago, Focuses on Youth, TrueView Format
YouTube’s upfront is nearly two months away, but the video service is giving advertisers a sneak peek at what’s to come at events in Chicago and Los Angeles.
More than 200 people were in attendance as YouTube previewed its “Brandcast” event on Monday evening at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, where the company said they’re not going after TV’s audience so much as doubling down on YouTube’s core 18-34 demo.
http://adage.com/article/digital/youtube-previews-brandcast-upfront-chicago/240154/

Social media users in urban India to reach 66 million by June 2013
Social media users in urban India are estimated to reach 66 million by June 2013 on the back of availability of affordable smartphones and consequent mobile Internet use, a report said Tuesday.
“The number of social media users in urban India reached 62 million by December 2012 and it is estimated to reach 66 million by June 2013,” a report on social media in India by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and Indian Market Research Bureau (IMRB) said.
http://gadgets.ndtv.com/social-networking/news/social-media-users-in-urban-india-to-reach-66-million-by-june-2013-341753

5 Trends That Will Drive The Future Of Technology
Trends get a bad rap, mostly because they are often equated with fashions. Talk about trends and people immediately start imagining wafer thin models strutting down catwalks in outrageous outfits, or maybe a new shade of purple that will be long forgotten by next season.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/gregsatell/2013/03/12/5-trends-that-will-drive-the-future-of-technology/

Media News

How Time Inc. Should Reinvent Itself as an Independent Publisher
When Time Warner spins off its magazine unit, the world’s biggest magazine company will become an anomaly: a publicly traded media company consisting entirely of magazines.
Time Inc. titles were once the crown jewels of media, generating nearly a billion in annual operating profit just a decade ago. By 2012 that had fallen to $420 million, a precipitous 25% drop from the year earlier. Despite recent cost cuts, that portfolio — and its infrastructure — was built for an era when ad dollars were plentiful.
http://adage.com/article/media/time-reinvent-independent-publisher/240254/

Condé Nast Launches Digital Channels
A NEW WORLD: Condé Nast Entertainment finally got in the production business Monday with two YouTube channels.
The entertainment division, created over a year ago to get a cut of any television and film adaptations inspired by company magazines, has been quietly hiring executives and optioning the occasional article for possible production — three to be exact. But it hadn’t really stretched its legs until now.
http://www.wwd.com/media-news/digital/cond-nast-launches-digital-channels-6841862?module=Media-Digital-main

New York Times Co. Extends ‘Ricochet’ Ads to Conde Nast, Ad Age and People
Soon a host of publishers will follow the New York Times Co. and allow advertisers to buy specific articles as they are distributed on social networks.
The Times launched the product, called Richochet, last April to let advertisers choose specific articles from a publisher’s archive to bind their ads to for a certain duration. The technology then creates a unique URL for the selected articles, which the advertisers can distribute to their social networks.
http://adage.com/article/digital/york-times-extends-ricochet-conde-nast-ad-age/240311/

Retail News

E-Commerce: Three Ways Same-Day Delivery Will Change Retail
With Amazon’s same-day delivery under way, and Google Shops reportedly next, the clock is ticking on traditional retailers who’ll need new ways to lure customers.
E-commerce sales will reach $327 billion by 2016, according to Forrester Research. Consumers will be purchasing everything from $12 shampoo to $3,000 handbags — maybe even cars — online.
http://adage.com/article/digital/e-commerce-day-delivery-change-retail/240170/

U.S. Retail Sales Jump
WASHINGTON — Retail sales in the United States rose more than expected in February, suggesting that consumer spending this quarter will hold up despite higher taxes.
The Commerce Department said on Wednesday that retail sales increased 1.1 percent last month, the largest rise since September, after a revised 0.2 percent gain in January.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/14/business/economy/us-retail-sales-jump.html?_r=0

New Balance takes custom in new direction
New Balance is taking customization much further than choosing colors or other aesthetic details: The athletic brand is introducing a track-specific running shoe that uses 3-D printing to create a plate on the sole of the shoe that is supposed to enhance performance with every step. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/us-news-travel/last-minute-spring-break_b_2840129.html

Celebrity Cruises makes air travel a breeze with new, significantly improved “Celebrity’s ChoiceAir”
MIAMI – Modern luxury brand Celebrity Cruises knows that today’s high-end consumers desire simplicity, choice and value when planning a vacation. Celebrity is taking its modern luxury vacation experience to new heights today as it debuts a newly enhanced air travel service, “Celebrity’s ChoiceAir.” The launch of Celebrity’s ChoiceAir introduces the cruise industry’s first lowest-airfare guarantee, which complements the other premium benefits of the program: “Assured Arrival,” “Your Choice Flights” and “24/7 Support.”
http://www.traveldailynews.com/news/article/53756/celebrity-cruises-makes-air-travel

Weekly Watch 3/4/13

mbeatty — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:25:17 +0000

Interactive News

Facebook is Ushering In a New World of Relationship Media
Today’s consumers are far more connected, with social profiles following them around wherever they go. And Facebook’s recent moves show the company is taking full advantage this in a series of small steps that, if successful, could literally overhaul media and marketing.
In the past, the bulk of any marketing plan was fulfilled by buying ad impressions. But Facebook’s goal of omnipresent connectedness with its users presents a rare opportunity to change this model, to sell relationships, not impressions. And that’s not all.
http://adage.com/article/digitalnext/facebook-ushering-a-world-relationship-media/240177/

Nielsen Starts Measuring Effectiveness of Mobile Ads
Got an opinion about that ad on your smartphone? Nielsen wants to hear it.
The media measurement company is expected to announce Wednesday it will start assessing consumer sentiment regarding in-app mobile ads with its new product Nielsen Mobile Brand Effect. Now available in the U.S, it’s already being used by app analytics firm Flurry, multi-screen ad network YuMe and social game developer Zynga.
http://adage.com/article/digital/nielsen-starts-measuring-effectiveness-mobile-ads/240168/

Tumblr to Introduce Mobile Ads In Bid for Profitability
Tumblr, the 6-year-old blog network that months ago began letting advertisers pay for prominent placement, expects to make its first annual profit this year after extending the feature to smartphones.
In the first half of this year, companies will be able to promote their posts and blogs to bigger audiences on Tumblr’s mobile app, similar to the way the web version works, VP Derek Gottfrid said in an interview with Bloomberg News. Closely held Tumblr has tested the product internally and is looking to sign up advertisers to introduce it, he said.
http://adage.com/article/digital/tumblr-introduce-mobile-advertising/240163/

Media News

Buyers Focus on New York’s Hits
NEW YORK — As the European collections season hits full swing, retailers continue to digest the New York shows, which provided a mix of styles from power women to tomboys.
Oversize outerwear, motorcycle jackets, luxe sweatshirts and knee-high boots were among the key items, as were tailoring and chunky knits. Buyers said they were strategic in their purchases, upping their buys for collections that were unique and well priced.
http://www.wwd.com/retail-news/merchandising/buyers-focus-on-new-yorks-hits-6776142?module=Retail-Trends and Analysis-bullet

More Consumers Using Digital Devices to Shop
Holiday shoppers are plugged into their digital devices.
According to GfK Roper/SapientNitro’s consumer shopping survey about the in-store versus mobile-tablet shopping experience, smartphone owners are putting smartphones and other devices to greater use this year and across a variety of shopping behaviors.
Consumers who bought something using a digital device rose to 74 percent this year, compared with 55 percent last year.
http://www.wwd.com/retail-news/marketing-consumer-behavior/more-consumers-using-digital-devices-to-shop-6550139?module=Retail-Marketing and Consumer Behavior-bullet

Spring lip colors to flip for
Counting down the days till spring? I sure am. But even when the days and nights are chilly, it doesn’t stop me from rocking some spring lip color inspirations.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/blogs/fashionate/spring-lip-colors-flip-024443626.html

Retail News

Kate Spade Saturday Opens in Tokyo
TOKYO — Kate Spade Saturday opened its first freestanding store this weekend, appropriately enough on its namesake day.
Kate Spade’s new accessibly priced lifestyle brand makes its debut in a prime spot on Tokyo’s trendy Cat Street in the Omotesando district, just across a narrow path from Ralph Lauren’s massive flagship and a heavily trafficked Marc by Marc Jacobs store.
http://www.wwd.com/retail-news/specialty-stores/kate-spade-saturday-opens-in-tokyo-6813158?module=Retail-Specialty Stores-bullet

New Balance running customization in new direction
NEW YORK (AP) — New Balance is taking customization much further than choosing colors or other aesthetic details: The athletic brand is introducing a track-specific running shoe that uses 3-D printing to create a plate on the sole of the shoe that is supposed to enhance performance with every step.
Athletes are measured on a sensitive track to gauge the direction their foot travels whether its forward or back, left or right, and how it moves; 100 sensors are placed on an insert inside the shoe to measure pressure at different points; and a motion capture system — like the ones used for video games and movies — adds stride and broader movement into the equation. Based on the biomechanical data, custom spike plates, the part of the shoe that actually connects with the ground, are created.
http://www.usnews.com/news/sports/articles/2013/03/06/new-balance-running-customization-in-new-direction

Good Girls Go Bad for Juicy Couture’s Fall 2013 Collection
Thanks to Juicy Couture, being bad has never looked so good.
Juicy Couture is presenting its Fall 2013 collection in this film starring models Kasia Struss, Lindsay Ellingson, and Anais Mali as a band of rock n’ roll models who land in jail for being criminally stylish.
http://fashionista.com/2013/02/good-girls-go-bad-for-juicy-coutures-fall-2013-collection/

Diamond Jewelry Trends for 2013
Jewelry trends determine what you buy and what not. Every year, new designs, patterns make it to the list. Some are admired by diamond jewelry lovers, others go ignored. Yet jewelers, designers come up with something new. This year, 2013, too, they’ve brought in new items for people to admire, to add to their diamond jewelry collection.
http://www.diamondne.ws/2013/03/06/diamond-jewelry-trends-for-2013/

Travel News

Celebrity Cruises presents “Celebrity’s World Tour”
MIAMI – World tours aren’t limited to rock stars. Celebrity Cruises announced the kickoff of “Celebrity’s World Tour 2014-15,” the brand’s introduction of guest-inspired, destination-rich, modern luxury vacations to all seven continents of the world.
The collection of itineraries in Celebrity’s World Tour will be revealed in detail as each set opens for bookings over the next four weeks. Today, Celebrity offered a preview of the type of destination-rich vacations the brand will offer in each of the seven continents, with more ports of call, more overnight stays, and the modern luxury style, design, cuisine and entertainment the brand is known for delivering onboard:
http://www.traveldailynews.com/news/article/53616/celebrity-cruises-presents-celebrity-s-world

Cruising 101: Guide to finding deals and booking a trip
Ready to take the plunge and book a cruise? Here’s a guide to the many booking options, from going directly to a cruise line by phone or online to using a cruise-focused travel agent. We offer tips on finding a good agent, how to find the best deals, how to choose a line and ship, how far in advance to plan a cruise, and the pros and cons of waiting until the last minute to book. We also explain such terms as a “guarantee cabin” and “Wave Season.”
http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2013/02/19/cruising-101-guide-on-finding-deals-and-booking-a-trip/1898869/

Weekly Watch 2/18/13

mbeatty — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:15:00 +0000

Interactive News

Google Uses Google Products to Market Movie Starring … Google
Google is giving the upcoming film “The Internship” a marketing assist, offering it what’s arguably the most exclusive placement on the web: the Google home page. Google has historically reserved that prime real estate to promote its own products, like the Nexus 7 tablet it featured in August. Google notably used it for political advocacy in January 2012 when it protested the anti-piracy SOPA bill before Congress by putting a black box over its logo (some other publishers, such as Wikipedia, actually went dark in protest). However, Google has been more frequently using the space to promote “Hangouts” with celebrities, such as Will.i.am.
http://adage.com/article/media/google-google-products-market-movie-starring-google/239779/

Sprint Partners With Telefónica to Form Mobile Ad Network
Sprint has partnered with European telecommunications firm Telefonica to create a mobile ad network spanning the U.S., the U.K., Germany and Brazil. The joint venture will seek out global brands looking to reach the network’s more than 370 million mobile users.
For both companies, the agreement is an attempt to establish a new revenue stream by collecting user data and in turn offering mobile display ads targeted to users’ demographics. The network plans to build a taxonomy of users based upon apps and mobile websites they traffic. Users then could potentially be placed in categories such as “urban jetsetter” or sports fanatic, Dan Polk, Sprint’s director of New Ventures, said.
http://adage.com/article/digital/sprint-partners-telef-nica-form-mobile-ad-network/239902/

Twitter begins integrating advertising software
(Reuters) – Twitter Inc said on Wednesday it is opening up its platform to third-party advertising management software, taking another step to establish its ad-based business model ahead of an initial public offering.
The ads application programming interface, or API, would allow advertisers to connect their existing ad management software to their Twitter account to automate ads on the micro-messaging platform.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/20/net-us-twitter-advertising-idUSBRE91J14720130220

How Much Is Facebook Really Worth?
When Facebook launched its IPO last summer, it was one of the most anticipated events in the Internet history. Alas, excitement soon turned to disappointment as the stock tumbled to roughly half its offering price. Since then it’s up by 50%.
That’s an enormous amount of volatility in a short period of time. So the question remains, what’s Facebook really worth?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/gregsatell/2013/02/21/how-much-is-facebook-really-worth/

Media News

Time Warner Said in Talks To Sell Most of Time Inc.
FORTUNE — Media giant Time Warner has begun discussions to separate itself from Time Inc., its $3.4 billion (in annual revenue) publishing division, according to three people familiar with the matter. A serious buyer is in talks with the company, one of the sources says. A meeting of the buyer’s representatives has been scheduled for today to discuss a potential deal, which is still in a formative stage and may never come to fruition. In one scenario, most of the company’s publishing titles, such as People, InStyle, and Real Simple, would be carved out and rolled into an independent company and sold to the undisclosed buyer. Under this plan, Time Warner (TWX) would maintain control of at least three titles — Time,Sports Illustrated, and Fortune — according to the sources. A Time Warner spokesman says, “We never comment on speculations of this nature.” The exact mechanics of the complex transaction were not available at the time of publication.
http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2013/02/13/time-warner-time-inc-sale/

The New York Times’ Muse for Ad Product Innovation: Its Newsroom
On Tuesday, NYTimes.com will be the canvas for the latest example of this effort: an ad for Wisk detergent [shown above] that displays what appears to be, at least on the surface, a clean shirt. But when a reader uses the cursor to move a digital black light over the shirt, they unearth hidden dirt spots beneath the surface. The Wisk ad will also be shown to some Times readers on the iPad, and will allow them to reveal the dirt stains by swiping their fingers over the ad.
The Times portion of the Wisk campaign will also include interstitial video ads, and will account for about 10% of the overall Wisk campaign that is expected to reach mid-seven figures, according to Ms. Sinnott.
http://adage.com/article/digital/nyt-s-muse-ad-product-innovation-newsroom/239880/

H2 Network Is a Hit With Men, Advertisers
H2 was created in September 2011 as a place to house the documentary-style fare once prevalent on History, which moved toward more personality-driven fare such as “Pawn Stars” and “Swamp People.” But media buyers note H2 is more than just a home for History’s library content — it will roll out about a dozen new originals in 2013.
The channel, which is in nearly 70 million homes, has quickly attracted both viewers and advertisers. H2 averages 365,000 total viewers in prime time, and 170,000 in its target demo adults 25-to-54, ahead of more established channels like Science, Military, HLN, Nat Geo Wild and Speed. Its first original series, “America Unearthed,” is averaging 765,000 viewers in 2013 and surpassed 1 million viewers for the first time in January.
H2 reaches an audience media buyers say is underserved. “Outside of ESPN, where do you go to find the affluent male? This is a sweet spot for advertisers looking for these men,” said Rob Bochicchio, exec VP-chief media-investment officer at ID Media.
H2 is attracting more high-end advertisers from the financial, auto and tech world, said Marc Morse, senior VP-national buying, at RJ Palmer.
http://adage.com/article/media/h2-network-a-hit-men-advertisers/239859/

Times Company to Sell New England Media Holdings
The New York Times Company plans to sell The Boston Globe and other New England properties, allowing the media company to focus energy and resources on its flagship newspaper.
The Times Company announced on Wednesday that it had retained Evercore Partners to manage the sale of the New England Media Group, anchored by The Globe, Boston.com, The Worcester Telegram & Gazette and Globe Direct, a direct-mail marketing company.
Mark Thompson, president and chief executive of the Times Company, described The Globe and The Telegram & Gazette as “outstanding newspapers.” In a statement, he said selling the newspapers “demonstrates our commitment to concentrate our strategic focus and investment on The New York Times brand and its journalism.”
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/new-york-times-company-plans-to-sell-the-boston-globe/

Retail News

LVMH Confirms Jean-Christophe Babin as Bulgari CEO
PARIS — LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton on Tuesday appointed Jean-Christophe Babin, Tag Heuer’s longtime chief executive officer, as the new ceo at Bulgari.
http://www.wwd.com/business-news/human-resources/lvmh-confirms-babin-as-bulgari-ceo-6741640?module=Business-Human%20Resources-bullet

Michael Kors Tops List of Most Sought-After U.S. Brands Online
Michael Kors took the top spot as the most-sought-after American fashion brand on the Internet, according to Digital Luxury Group, which creates market intelligence for luxury brands.
In “The World Luxury Index American Fashion,” DLG found that Kors captured 19.6 percent of the more than 31 million Internet searches covering 35 U.S. fashion brands in 10 global markets (Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Russia, U.K. and U.S.), using insights from Google, Bing, Yandex and Baidu. The study was conducted from January to June 2012.
After Kors, the top 10 was rounded out by Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Vera Wang, Tory Burch, Kate Spade, Diane von Furstenberg, Betsey Johnson and Tom Ford.
http://www.wwd.com/media-news/digital/michael-kors-tops-list-of-most-sough-after-us-brands-online-6780428?module=hp-topstories

Melbourne denim expert suggest freeze-cleaning jeans to keep them longer
A MELBOURNE jeans-lover reckons he has the solution to jeans that lose their colour and dexterity with washing: clean them in the freezer.
Fitzroy-based Nobody Denim wash designer Troy Strebe said overwashing was a pair of jeans’ worst enemy.
“Washing definitely degrades not only the colour of the jean but also the fabric of the jean, especially if you are machine washing or drying,” he said.
“You could put your jeans in the freezer next to a box of bicarb soda and turn them inside out and that freezes off the bacteria.”
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/central/melbourne-denim-expert-suggest-freeze-cleaning-jeans-to-keep-them-longer/story-fngnvlpt-1226582757694

Fine Jewelry, Luxury Handbags and Elite Timepieces Featured in February 24th Auction
Government Auction’s February 24, 2013 auction will feature a large collection of gold coins, luxurious handbags, jewelry and antiques in this weekend’s auction event on the online auction site LiveAuctioneers.com. Bidding in this one day event will start at only $2 on most lots.
Tehachapi, CA (PRWEB) February 20, 2013
Government Auction’s February 24, 2013 auction will feature a large collection of gold coins, luxurious handbags, jewelry and antiques in this weekend’s auction event on the online auction site LiveAuctioneers.com. Bidding in this one day event will start at only $2 on most lots.
http://www.sfgate.com/business/prweb/article/Fine-Jewelry-Luxury-Handbags-and-Elite-4295253.php#ixzz2LY4naIOx

Travel News

Celebrity Announces 2013 Excite the Senses Sailings
Celebrity Cruises is reprising its indulgent and engaging “Excite the Senses” cruises this year.
Each of these voyages will offer foodies a comprehensive sensory experience, including in-depth demonstrations, robust and enriching tastings, food and beverage pairing dinners and behind-the-scenes culinary experiences, led by Celebrity’s talented team of chefs, sommeliers and beverage experts and presented within Celebrity’s signature modern luxury restaurants, lounges and other inviting public spaces. http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/8683-celebrity-announces-2013-excite-the-senses-sailings.html

How to Maximize Your Money While Traveling Abroad
When putting together a travel budget, most people look at the most obvious expenses first: transportation, lodging, entertainment and dining. But when traveling internationally, there is a whole slew of additional costs to consider. Travelers should not only think about what they’re spending their money on, but how they’re spending their money as well. Relative to finding a cheap hotel or affordable flight, cutting the cost of foreign transaction fees and exchange fees is less straightforward. Banks and credit card companies are making a pretty penny on these international fees as over 50 million Americans traveled abroad in 2012 alone. Here’s a quick guide to choosing the right payment options while traveling abroad
http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-maximize-your-money-while-traveling-abroad-2013-2#ixzz2LY25q642

Traveling exhibit tells African-American stories
JESUP, Iowa — Anna Mae Weems was beside herself.
“This is the best turnout we’ve had in four years,” she said.
Weems, a community leader and civil rights activist, was referring to an exhibition of “Dan Deery Presents: History with an African-American Emphasis,” which was displayed in the Jesup Community School library Tuesday.
http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/traveling-exhibit-tells-african-american-stories/article_5773ed59-217d-5250-aca9-551f359121b1.html

Weekly Watch 2/15/2013

mbeatty — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 18:33:15 +0000

Interactive News

Tablet search ads could earn Google $5B, analysis shows
Google’s search-advertising business could generate $5 billion from tablet ads in 2013, according to a Marin Software analysis. The effectiveness of Google’s tablet search ads increased 31% during 2012, the analysis says, with tablet conversion rates set to overtake those of desktop ads by year-end.
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2013/02/12/report-google-search-will-generate-5-billion-from-tablets/?mod=dist_smartbrief

Online video will rival broadcast for ad dollars, report says
A growing number of agencies will divert some of their spending from broadcast and into online videos, according to a ZenithOptimedia report. The firm points to proliferation of broadband connections and smartphone devices as fuel for the trend. “We expect this trend to continue as online video adoption continues to rise, fueled by more content becoming available through more devices,” the report states.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/491789-Agency_Sees_Ad_Dollars_Moving_to_Digital_Video.php

Parsing the stakes of Twitter’s upcoming advertising API
Twitter is reportedly preparing to launch an API for advertisers later this quarter, and is already briefing agency and ad executives. The API’s success will depend on how well Twitter can increase advertising without clogging users’ feeds, experts say. “They have a strong heritage as an organization in making sure the [stream] is hallowed ground. … I don’t believe that will change at all,” says Jordan Bitterman of Digitas.
http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/twitter-prepping-bigger-ad-play-147209

Facebook newsfeed ads get 46 times better CTR than sidebar ads
Facebook’s newsfeed ads have a clickthrough rate of 1.87% — more than 46 times better than the CTR for the social network’s sidebar ads, according to a Nanigans study of almost 1 billion ad impressions. Mobile newsfeed ads did better still, with a CTR of 3.38% and a cost per click of less than half the cost of desktop ads.
http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Facebook-Newsfeed-Ads-Retailers-High-Value-Clicks/1009661

Media News

W Magazine to Reduce Frequency
It appears even healthy ad pages aren’t enough to keep magazines from reducing frequency. Condé Nast said Thursday it was scaling back W magazine, which had been performing relatively well among advertisers, to 10 issues a year from a monthly.
http://www.wwd.com/media-news/fashion-memopad/down-two-6684420?module=most-popular-viewed

Data Emerging as Top Driver of Brands’ Success
Web sites need to have more than just a pretty interface. Until now, much of a brand’s or retailer’s digital presence was based on aesthetics and how their digital flagship or Facebook page looked. But as pressure to see a return on investment mounts, customer data will become a key differentiator between those that succeed and those that don’t.
http://www.wwd.com/media-news/digital/data-emerging-as-top-driver-of-brands-success-6673961?module=most-popular-viewed

New York Times Slows Ad Declines (Slightly), Adds More Digital Subscribers
The New York Times Co. said it modestly slowed its advertising declines in the fourth quarter as online subscription business continued to grow, contributing to better profits than Wall Street had expected. Advertising slid to $265 million, down 8.3% from a year earlier, excluding the effect of an extra week in the fourth quarter of 2012. That slide compared with an 8.9% decline in the third quarter. Subscribers to digital editions of the New York Times and International Herald Tribune, meanwhile, increased 13.1% from September to 640,000. The Times made plain its interest in further expanding that revenue when it recently surveyed subscribers on potential new digital products such as NYT Junior, DealBook Pro and even an ad-free version.
http://adage.com/article/media/york-times-improves-profit-slower-advertising-declines/239648/

Retail News

Tumi Names George Esquivel Creative Director
Tumi will bring on its first new creative director in nearly four years. Footwear designer George Esquivel joined the travel and lifestyle accessories company, and in his new role will impart his creative expertise on the product development and marketing communications sides.
http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/tumi-brings-on-george-esquivel-6689554?module=fashion-news–page-3

Apax Partners Names Cole Haan CEO
At the same time Apax Partners completed its $570 million acquisition of Cole Haan from Nike Inc., the private equity firm has hired Jack A. Boys as the brand’s chief executive officer
http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/apax-partners-taps-cole-haan-ceo-6690081?module=fashion-news–page-3

Retail sales saw slight rise in January
U.S. retail sales rose 0.1% in January, meeting economists’ predictions, as the effects of increased job security and rising property values helped temper the impact of higher payroll taxes and gas prices, according to a Commerce Department report released Wednesday. Department stores, online retailers and grocers saw the biggest increase, the report says. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/13/us-retail-sales-idUSBRE91C0U520130213

Christopher Burch Sells C. Wonder Stake to Fidelity
Christopher Burch has found a new partner for C. Wonder — and it’s willing to pay big bucks to go along for the ride. Boston-based investment giant Fidelity has taken a 10 percent stake in the budding chain, according to sources. One person familiar with the matter said the hedge fund paid $35 million, which would give C. Wonder a lofty $350 million valuation.
http://www.wwd.com/business-news/mergers-acquisitions/christopher-burch-sells-c-wonder-stake-to-fidelity-6693589?module=Retail-latest

Travel News

Grand Cayman receives proposal for cruise port
A cruise line has indicated interest in developing berthing facilities in George Town, Grand Cayman. Present facilities in George Town cannot accommodate large ships, and the majority of passengers are tendered to shore when cruise ships call. Tourism Minister Cline Glidden met recently with cruise officials in Florida and said the government received a “preliminary proposal from one of the lines,” according to a report in Caycompass, an online publication. Glidden did not name the cruise line.
http://www.travelweekly.com/article3.aspx?id=246270&a=cruise

Travel Agents Launch New Association
To help more travel agents tap into the destination weddings and honeymoons market, a new association has been formed that focuses directly on the niche. The Destination Wedding & Honeymoon Specialists Association (DWHSA) will focus on networking, training, marketing support and supplier relations and is aimed at agents who are veteran honeymoon and destination wedding specialists as well as those who are just getting into the business.
http://www.travelagewest.com/Travel-News/Industry-News/Travel-Agents-Launch-New-Association/

Celebrity Cruises Honors Avoya with Top Award
Celebrity Cruises recently bestowed its 2012 Overall National Accounts Partner of the Year Award upon Avoya Travel. The highest Travel Partner of the Year award given by Celebrity Cruises, it recognized the agency for unsurpassed sales performance last year and excellence in customer service. Celebrity Cruises senior vice president of sales Dondra Ritzenthaler presented the award to Avoya co-presidents Brad and Van Anderson during the Celebrity Cruises National Conference in December.
http://www.travelagewest.com/Travel-News/Industry-People/Celebrity-Cruises-Honors-Avoya-with-Top-Award/