Fewer Chinese Auto Brands in U.S. Than Predicted
Ten years ago, as new-vehicle sales were slipping and incentives were rising, auto manufacturers faced a potentially greater issue: Chinese brands were gearing up to sell low-cost vehicles in the U.S. that threatened to undercut the established brands. The first Chinese vehicles were due to arrive as early as 2007, and industry analysts said it was almost certain they would be here by 2010. Fast forward to 2016, and the only Chinese...
Emerging From Shadows, Pot Industry Tries to Build Brands
Denver — Snoop Dogg has his own line of marijuana. So does Willie Nelson. Melissa Etheridge has a marijuana-infused wine. As the fast-growing marijuana industry emerges from the black market and starts looking like a mainstream industry, there’s a scramble to brand and trademark pot products. The celebrity endorsements are just the latest attempt to add cachet to a line of weed. Snoop Dogg calls his eight strains of weed “Dank From...
All-Day Breakfast Helps McDonald’s Reverse Slump
Turns out that an Egg McMuffin for lunch hit the spot at McDonald’s. The fast-food giant’s decision this fall to offer breakfast items all day in the U.S. market is one reason why McDonald’s is ending 2015 on a notable upswing after starting the year in a deep slump. Under the guidance of Steve Easterbrook, who took over as McDonald’s chief executive in March, the chain’s U.S. comparable-store sales — that is, sales at restaurants...
Nike’s Michael Jordan Brand Will Make Sneakers for Women
New York — After ignoring women for three decades, Nike’s Jordan Brand will start making sneakers for them. There will also be gear for weekend warriors and football fans. Nike’s vision for Michael Jordan’s flagship line is to now extend to categories beyond basketball — all with the goal of doubling the brand’s sales to $4.5 billion by 2020. That even includes a play for runners, a category Nike already leads by a mile. “It is a...
Chains Seek Millennials’ Love
Dallas — They’re adding exotic sauces and electrical outlets, donning Twitter handles and serving shareable plates. Restaurateurs have gone a-courtin’. The target that chains across the spectrum are wooing? Millennials, the 83.1 million Americans born between 1982 and 2000 who now represent the largest single age group in the U.S. While some studies show this demographic (also described as 18- to 34-year-olds) dramatically cut back on...
