Big name celebrities have long been the drug of choice for big brands looking to lock in their relevance with young, pop-culture-obsessed consumers. Whether its Snoop Dogg’s deal with Constellation Brands, the owner of Corona Extra’s U.S. distribution rights that has the LA-based rapper waxing poetic about the famous Mexican beer; Ryan Reynold’s tie-up with Mint Mobile that eventually made him the owner of the challenger cellphone brand; or, of course, the grand-daddy of all modern-era celebrity equity deals between 50 Cent and Vitamin Water – …
Retail Could Have Been a Game Changer at CGI
Some use the moniker ‘Davos-on-Hudson’ to describe the Clinton Global Initiative – better known colloquially as ‘CGI’ by global movers and shakers. But no matter what name it goes by, historically, the annual gathering during UN Week in September has arguably been one of the hottest invites to come by on planet earth. Where else besides Davos can you rub elbows with U2’s Bono, heads of state, and the CEO of Unilever – all within the confines of a few thousand square feet in Midtown Manhattan? CGI Field Report This year I was fortunate to …
The Risks and Rewards of Taking a Stand
Float with me here for a minute. If I had to go out to dinner with any brand, I think I'd choose Mercedes Benz. First of all, I love Mercedes vehicles; I have owned several over the years and they have been incredibly reliable. In fact, I have one in the garage that my family uses as sort a back-up utility car – a 2014 350 GL Diesel with over 100,000 miles. I plan on keeping it forever. But reliability is not why I would choose to dine with Mercedes Benz. Now, I know this is sounding a bit odd, but stay with me. Here’s a brand I …
Taking a Stand Has Become a Necessity
The much-debated Disney versus DeSantis blow-up – the one in which one of America’s most beloved brands came into the crosshairs of Florida Governor and 2024 GOP Presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis over the Florida measure that critics have dubbed the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law – has brought into bas-relief an undercurrent that has been brewing for some time: the politicization of Big Business. And for retail brands that stand on the frontlines between consumers and Corporate America, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Wake-Up Calls To be clear, the …
Hollywood and Retail Need More Activists Like Maggie Q
Margaret Denise Quigley – best known by fans around the world as Maggie Q – has become one of Hollywood’s biggest names over the last decade and a half. The Hawaii native got her start in acting in the late 90s while living in East Asia when she began transitioning out of fashion modeling. Her athleticism, beauty, and raw acting talent caught the eye of Jackie Chan who saw her potential as an action star, and took it upon himself to mentor Q, schooling her on the finer points of martial arts made for entertainment. She recently connected with …
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Lesson 3: How Retail Proceeds Forward
Editor’s Note: Arick Wierson, a columnist for The Robin Report, has undertaken the formidable task of dissecting and analyzing the broad and far-reaching consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as it relates to global retail. Understandably, we are presenting Wierson’s commentary in serialized lessons. This is the third of a three-part series. Lesson 3: The Losses Incurred in Russia Will Force Retailers and Brands to Proceed More Cautiously as They Contemplate Future Overseas Investments By the latest count, according to the list …
Lesson 2: How the Conflict in Ukraine Will Likely Broaden the Global Divide Between the ‘Haves’ and the ‘Have-Nots’
Editor’s Note: Arick Wierson, a columnist for The Robin Report, has undertaken the formidable task of dissecting and analyzing the broad and far-reaching consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as it relates to global retail. Understandably, we are presenting Wierson’s commentary in serialized lessons. This is the second of a three-part series. Lesson 2: How the Conflict in Ukraine Will Likely Broaden the Global Divide Between the ‘Haves’ and the ‘Have-Nots’ There is never an ideal time for war and bloodshed, but the conflict in …
Lesson 1: History Doesn’t Repeat Itself
Editor’s Note: Arick Wierson, a columnist for The Robin Report, has undertaken the formidable task of dissecting and analyzing the broad and far-reaching consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as it relates to global retail. Understandably, we are presenting Wierson’s commentary into serialized lessons. This is the first of a three-part series, Lesson 1: History Doesn’t Repeat Itself … nor Does it Necessarily Rhyme Since it came out in 2020, Morgan Housel’s The Psychology of Money, has sold more than one million copies and has …