Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the biggest shopping holidays in the United States. Brand Innovators Chief Marketing Officer Ted Rubin explains how this shopping holiday is evolving.
Rubin says his biggest takeaway from Black Friday is that "simplicity is the key." Retailers and consumers are expanding this holiday into more than just a day. It is imperative retailers make consumers' lives easy, says Rubin.
Another retailer in the spotlight is Dick's Sporting Goods. In November, shares jumped more than 20 percent. Third Quarter revenue was up more than 7 percent, but the growth was driven by store expansion rather than growth in sales at existing locations. The company's new ad campaign touts its growing store footprint this holiday season. Rubin says its important to understand the need to change business models and move beyond the brick-and-mortar experience by offering perks such as free shipping.
Nestlé has dismissed its CEO Laurent Freixe after an investigation into an undisclosed relationship with a direct subordinate. The company announced on Monday that the dismissal was effective immediately. An investigation found that Freixe violated Nestlé’s code of conduct. He had been CEO for a year. Philipp Navratil, a longtime Nestlé executive, will replace him. Chairman Paul Bulcke stated that the decision was necessary to uphold the company’s values and governance. Navratil began his career with Nestlé in 2001 and has held various roles, including CEO of Nestlé's Nespresso division since 2024.
Kraft Heinz is splitting into two companies a decade after they joined in a massive merger that created one of the biggest food companies on the planet. One of the companies will include brands such as Heinz, Philadelphia cream cheese and Kraft Mac & Cheese. The other will include brands like Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles and Lunchables. When the company formed in 2015 it wanted to capitalize on its massive scale, but shifting tastes complicated those plans, with households seeking to introduce healthier options at the table. Kraft Heinz's net revenue has fallen every year since 2020.
About 780,000 pressure washers sold at retailers like Home Depot are being recalled across the U.S. and Canada, due to a projectile hazard that has resulted in fractures and other injuries among some consumers.
President Donald Trump has fired one of two Democratic members of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board to break a 2-2 tie ahead of the board considering the largest railroad merger ever proposed.
