DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Esports World Cup: The new tournament in Saudi Arabia causing a big splash and division in the industry
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-06 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The Esports World Cup (EWC) – which began on July 3 – has brought together professional gamers, publishers and fans from across the world for an eight-week competitive gaming bonanza. To bring this on the similar scale as the largest traditional sports events and something that brings together the whole industry,” Reichert said. Discovery – CNN’s parent company – and the Esports World Cup Foundation agreed to a new partnership which includes Eurosport, CNN and other WBD platforms. “From my experience, there are a lot of people in [Saudi Arabia] that love their games, right to the top. “It’s probably unprecedented how quickly Saudi Arabia is moving ahead in its progression.

Persons: –, Ralf Reichert, ” Reichert, “, Gen.G, Mohammed Saad, Reichert, ”, Sam Mathews, It’s, it’s, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, sportswashing, SGG, Rod Breslau, “ It’s, ” Dana Ahmed, Manahel, Otaibi, Nick McGeehan, FairSquare, Mohamed bin Salman, Liquid’s, Steve Arhancet, Mathews Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, Riot, New York Times, Adidas, Warner Bros, Eurosport, Anadolu, Getty, EWC, EWC Foundation, Saudi, MBS, Fox News, Investment Fund, Gaming, Amnesty, Fnatic, “ Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, esports, “ Saudi Arabia, Breslau

Shannon Penney, 37, New York City Recently finished her first year as a registered nurse making $120,000 a year. Has built up robust savings, but costs for her dog and mental health care can still squeeze her budget. New job has given her a window into the inequalities of the health care system. Primary source of income: Working full-time as a registered nurse at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital making $120,000 annually. Budget pain points: Penney said her mental health care costs have gone up since she switched to nursing.

Persons: Shannon Penney, Penney, ”, “, ” Shannon Penney, —, — Penney, she’d, She’s, Roth, Bankrate, ’, ” Penney Organizations: NBC, Presbyterian, Weill Cornell Medical Center, Presbyterian Hospital, Federal Reserve, Deloitte Locations: New York City, NewYork, Manhattan, ”, Westchester , New York

☆ JPMorgan says the drop in this beer stock is overdone and calls it a buying opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Constellation Brands could be poised for a breakout after a 3% sell-off Wednesday and a lukewarm first half of 2024, according to JPMorgan. Shares of the beer maker are ahead almost 4% in 2024, lagging the broader market. JPMorgan analyst Andrea Teixeira said the sell-off was "unjustified" and noted that the recent pullback could present a buying opportunity for investors to capture potential margin improvement thanks to stronger beer sales. STZ YTD mountain Constellation Brands shares in 2024. Constellation Brands, home to beer brands Modelo Especial and Corona, is the largest domestic beer importer.

Persons: Andrea Teixeira, Teixeira Organizations: Constellation Brands, JPMorgan, Constellation, Modelo Especial Locations: Corona

☆ Tesla cars included in Chinese government’s purchase catalog for the first time
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —For the first time ever, Tesla cars have been placed on a local Chinese government’s purchase list, according to state-owned media outlet Paper.cn. Tesla is the only foreign-owned EV car brand on the purchase catalog published by the government of Jiangsu province in eastern China. On the government’s purchase catalog, Tesla’s Shanghai-made Model Y was listed at 249,900 yuan ($34,377). Tesla cars had previously been barred from entering some government and military complexes in China due to spying and data security concerns. Those restrictions were lifted in April, when a top auto association announced that Tesla’s cars had passed China’s data security requirements.

Persons: Elon, Tesla, China’s Geely, Tesla’s, Musk, Li Qiang Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Elon Musk’s, EV, Volvo, SAIC, Business, Tesla, European Commission, EU Locations: Hong Kong, China, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Tesla’s Shanghai, Beijing, Europe

☆ CEO of CVS shares the 1 question she always asks her employees—it forces them to make great decisions
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Alex Koller | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Strong leadership requires decisive action, says CVS Health CEO Karen Lynch. "People are going to follow people that are decisive," said Lynch, whose company owns brands including the CVS retail pharmacy chain and insurance company Aetna. "If you're going to lead, you've got to know what direction you're going in." When her employees face a mental block and can't commit to a choice, she asks them a variation of the same question, she said: "What do you think? We'll teach you how to speak clearly and confidently, calm your nerves, what to say and not say, and body language techniques to make a great first impression.

Persons: Karen Lynch, Lynch, LinkedIn's, you've, " Lynch, Socrates, Tamar Gendler, Gendler, Jeff Bezos, Nicholas Lovejoy, Amazon's, Jeff, Lovejoy Organizations: CVS, Aetna, Yale University, Wired, CNBC

☆ How Champagne celebrations became a Formula 1 tradition and a coveted sponsorship deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Gregory Leporati | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Since 2021, Formula 1 races have used Ferrari Trento sparkling wine for podium celebrations. Ferrari Trento said it had nearly tripled its US sales since the start of its F1 partnership. They've been spraying and imbibing sparkling wine produced by the Italian company Ferrari Trento (no relation to the Ferrari car manufacturer). Our goal is really to increase our export sales and make Ferrari Trento more and more international." Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton celebrate on the podium with Ferrari Trento sparkling wine in 2021.

Persons: Ferrari Trento, —, Georges Bizet's, Carmen, Matteo Lunelli, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jo Siffert, Dan Gurney, Mumm, Lunelli, Daniel Ricciardo, Aly, Theresa Sanchez, it's, Christian Miller, UC Davis, Miller, who's, — Ferrari, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Yuri Kochetkov, Sanchez, It's Organizations: Service, Ferrari Trento, Ferrari, Champagne, Chandon, University of California, Netflix, UC, Wine Market, Las, — Ferrari Trento, Prix, Las Vegas, Formula, NFL, NBA, MLB Locations: Trento, Champagne, Italian, Italy, United States, Argentine, Swiss, Davis, Ferrari Trento, Miami, Las Vegas

☆ California put up its fast-food wage to $20. Its governor is adamant it's not causing employment to fall.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But BLS data shows that employment in California's limited-service restaurant industry dips in the winter. Related storiesThe BLS data includes employment at all limited-service restaurants, including those exempt from the new minimum wage. The year-over-year growth in limited-service restaurant employment is a continuation of a trend seen before the pandemic, too, with total employment in the industry growing every year. AdvertisementThe $20 minimum wage was introduced to support workers in a state with a notoriously high cost of living. Have you been affected by California's new $20 minimum wage?

Persons: —, Gavin Newsom, Newsom, Newsom's, Tom Manzo, It's Organizations: Service, Business, California, Industrial Alliance, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Wall Street, California Employment Development Department, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Locations: California, USA

☆ Top 5 things to watch in the stock market Friday, including big jobs report
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The June employment report on Friday morning came in slightly better than expected with the economy adding 206,000 nonfarm jobs versus 200,000 expected. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. Top things to watch Friday, July 5Stocks were mixed slightly Friday following another record S&P 500 th holiday. The June employment report on Friday morning came in slightly better than expected with the economy adding 206,000 nonfarm jobs versus 200,000 expected.

Persons: Eli Lilly, Jefferies, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Constellation Brands Novo Nordisk Eli Lilly Samsung Organizations: Treasury, Constellation Brands, JPMorgan, Novo Nordisk, Samsung Electronics, Jim Cramer's Charitable, CNBC, Constellation Brands Novo Nordisk, Constellation Brands Novo Nordisk Eli Lilly Samsung Electronics

☆ Saks Fifth Avenue is buying Neiman Marcus with Amazon’s help
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus are merging to create a luxury department store empire. “We’re thrilled to take this step in bringing together these iconic luxury names, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman,” said HBC CEO Richard Baker in a release. Saks has 39 stores, while Neiman Marcus, which filed for bankruptcy in 2020, has 36 stores. Neiman Marcus also owns Bergdorf Goodman. Both of them will report to Baker, who becomes the executive chairman of Saks Global.

Persons: New York CNN —, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, “ We’re, ”, Richard Baker, Marc Metrick, Ian Putnam, Baker, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, ” Neil Saunders, “, Amazon, Saunders Organizations: New, New York CNN, New York CNN — Saks Fifth, Saks, HBC, Saks Fifth, Saks Global, HBC Properties, Canadian, Brands, Neiman, Capri, GlobalData, Federal Trade Commission, FTC Locations: New York, Hudson’s, Glendale , California, Columbus , Ohio

☆ I've traveled to 20 countries in 2 years. I found the most stunning coast in one of the least-visited countries.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Marielle Descalsota | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Last month, I traveled to Timor-Leste, a country located in the South Pacific. It's also the 14th least-visited country in the world and the least-visited in Asia, according to a January report from CEOWorld magazine. Some 81,000 tourists visited Timor-Leste in 2023 — putting it just ahead of Chad and Sierra Leone, per the report. Marielle DescalsotaOnly a handful of airlines fly to Dili, the capital, where the only international airport in Timor-Leste is located. As I grew up in Singapore and can speak some Indonesian, when locals didn't speak English, that was my fallback language.

Persons: —, I've, France —, It's, Fernando, Hilton, nasi goreng —, 9Milhas, Gloria, Jesus Christ —, Marielle Organizations: Service, Leste, South Pacific, Business, National Statistics Directorate Timor, YouTube, Google, Timor Plaza, Apartments, East Timor Centavo, US Department of State, Burger, Coffee, Cristo Locations: Maldives, France, Timor, South, Bahamas, Asia, Chad, Sierra Leone, Dili, Bali, Indonesia, Darwin, Australia, Dili's, sightsee, East Timor, Indonesian, Singapore, Marielle, Cristo Rei, It's, Angola

☆ 'One of the greatest ways to invest in Asia': Fund manager names 6 under-the-radar stocks to buy
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Amala Balakrishner | In Amala-Balakrishner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Portfolio manager Richard Kaye is bullish on the Japanese market and believes it offers an opportunity "a lot of people don't recognize." The stronger performance of Japanese equities follows the Tokyo Exchange Group's push for reforms last year. Stocks to play Kaye believes several sectors and stocks in Japan make good plays right now. Among the companies on his radar are Fanuc Corp and Keyence Corp which are in the business of automation products. In medical electronics and health care, Kaye is bullish on Shimadzu Corp and Sysmex Corp .

Persons: Richard Kaye, Kaye, CNBC's Organizations: Tokyo Exchange, Fanuc, Keyence, Shimadzu Corp, Sysmex Corp, Tokyo Disney Resort, Tokyo Stock Exchange, U.S Locations: Japan, Asia, China, Tokyo, U.S

Mattress brands love an excuse to hold a sale, so it's no surprise that there are several mattress sales to find this Independence Day. Below, I've rounded up all of the best Independence Day mattress sales and 4th of July mattress deals to help make browsing easier. You can also find more of the best 4th of July sales here, including everything from air conditioners to swimsuits. The best 4th of July mattress salesAmerisleep : Get $500 off any mattress with the promo code JULY500: Get $500 off any mattress with the promo code Awara : Get up to 50% off mattresses. View at SaatvaHelix Dawn Luxe Mattress (Queen) $1,780.30 $2,373.80 Save 25% For extra firm support, you'll want the Dawn mattress.

Persons: — it's, you'll Organizations: Business, Amazon Prime, Luxe, Independence

☆ Gen Z wants flavorful drinks. Here’s how Big Beer is trying to attract them
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

That’s a problem for Big Beer, which is dealing with flat sales, declining volume and a fickle generation of younger drinkers who are completely ditching the bottle or preferring anything but a regular beer. It’s a non-carbonated drink because “bloating that may come from carbonation is considered a top barrier” for younger drinkers and the trend of “decarbonizing” drinks is blowing up on the app. Last year, it acquired Blue Run Spirits, a cult favorite high-end bourbon and rye whiskey brand, in light of US spirit sales surpassing beer sales. Its aptly titled “Beyond Beer” category is currently a $1.5 billion part of its global business and is helping attract younger, legally aged drinkers. Despite younger drinkers’ hesitance with buying beer and flat sales, Big Beer companies aren’t facing an existential threat.

Persons: youngs, Gen, NIQ’s Kaleigh Theriault, “, ” Theriault, Gallo, Mark Anthony Brands, Miller, flavorful, TikTok Constellation, Corona, ”, Saúl Trejo, TikTok, Molson Coors, Molson, ” NIQ’s Theriault, Bud Light, seltzer, Jason Lowrie, it’s, Bud, Bud Light Seltzer, Dylan, ’, “ Young, ” Bryan Roth Organizations: New, New York CNN — Beer, CNN, Beverages, Big Beer, Molson Coors Beverage Company, Modelo, Constellation Brands, Anheuser, Busch InBev, TikTok, Corona, Corona Refresca, Molson Coors, Molson, “ Suppliers, Busch, Feel Goods Company Locations: New York, Corona, carbonation

☆ China-built EVs hit with EU tariffs; Nio says it may have to raise prices in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The EU's decision comes at a time when Chinese automakers have been aggressively expanding into Europe with competitively priced offerings, posing a threat to the region's top automakers, many of which have lagged behind in EVs. It did not comment on whether it would end up raising prices as a result of the levies. When the EU first announced the tariffs last month, Tesla said it will likely increase the Europe prices of its Model 3 vehicle. The EU has yet to say what specific level of tariffs Tesla will face, but noted last month that the U.S. automaker "may receive an individually calculated duty rate." watch nowChinese and EU officials have held several rounds of meetings to discuss the tariffs, with Beijing in June criticizing the EU's imposition of tariffs as a "protectionist act."

Persons: Nio, Xpeng, Tesla, Yadong Organizations: Union, European Commission, European Union, Automakers, EV, CNBC, EU, U.S ., Commerce Ministry Locations: China, Shanghai, Europe, EVs, Beijing

☆ Influencers have changed the ad industry. Now what?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Gaelle Legrand | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Commercial playsTania Bryer: In 1994, it was considered groundbreaking – using an ad to flip gender roles on their head. They're somehow interacting with brands through the prism of influencers, and it gives them a way to talk back. Tania Bryer: A 2019 Edelman study revealed that consumers' trust in the brands they purchase from had declined, but trust in influencers was up. Tania Bryer: And Chawawa says that trust also extends to the type of influencer brands work with. Tania Bryer: And while that may be convenient for brands, creator economy strategist Jamie Gutfreund says it can hurt influencers.

Persons: Tania Bryer, Munya Chawawa, Instagram, Munya, Richard Edelman, Edelman, They're, Joe Gagliese, There's, that's, it's, TikTok, Blake Chandlee, Goldman Sachs, You've, I've, copywriters, Emily, Jamie Gutfreund, influencers Organizations: YouTube, Trust, influencers Locations: influencers, Paris

Hong Kong CNN —There are a lot of princesses at Hong Kong Disneyland, but not the ones you think. Hair carefully coiffed, and in full makeup Liang Xiaoyu, 18, is dressed for a day out at Hong Kong Disneyland. Noemi Cassanelli/CNNAnd at Hong Kong Disneyland, Disney characters aren’t the sole fashion inspiration for dedicated fans. Li Mengru, 27, poses for a picture during an interview with CNN, at the entrance of Hong Kong Disneyland on June 7, 2024. Yang Yushen, who also goes by Kris, and his partner Jimmy Redinger like the romantic side of Hong Kong Disneyland.

Persons: “ Duffy, ”, Liang Xiaoyu, Noemi Cassanelli, CNN Liang, Mary Janes, Duffy, Qin Wuxiao, Jessie, it’s, Charmy Chan, Yanni Chung, Judy, Nick Wilde, “, Chan, CNN Oscar Yim, Captain America, Marvel, CNN Jing Hongche, Li Sitan, CNN Charmy Chan, Chung, Li Mengru, Chen Xinyu, Li, Chen, Linda Lee, CNN Li, Cassanelli, Yang Yushen, Kris, Jimmy Redinger, Ankh Wong, Kris Yang, Yang, Zootopia, Hercules ”, Redinger, Disney, Mariko Otomo, Nozomi Yasuda, Yuka Izawa, CNN Otomo, China’s “ meng ”, Mariko Otomo kitted, Deng Chundan, CNN Deng Chundan, Le, Godiva, Chow Tai, Gen, ” Shen Jing, CNN Linda Lee, CNN Chen Xinyu, CNN Lee, CNN Chen, lacy Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Disney, CNN, Hong Kong Baptist University, USA, Captain, Hong Kong Disneyland, Marvel, “, Hong, Hong Kong Tourism, Hong Kong Locations: Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Hong, China’s Fujian, Guangdong, Japan, Arendelle, Tomorrowland, Tsim Sha Tsui, China, Southeast Asia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Grizzly Gulch, United States, Chinese, Hebei, Asia, Hangzhou

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Paramount, Tesla, Constellation Brands and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Tesla — The electric vehicle maker rose nearly 3% , a day after posting stronger-than-expected delivery numbers for the second quarter. Shares popped 10% during Tuesday's session. Constellation Brands — The beer and wine stock rose more than 2% after a better-than-expected earnings report. Southwest Airlines — Shares were fractionally lower after the airline carrier announced it had adopted a shareholder rights plan. Shares dipped about 1% during Tuesday's session.

Persons: Tesla, LSEG, Eli Lilly, — CNBC's Lisa Han, Jesse Pound, Sarah Min Organizations: Paramount, Paramount Global, Skydance Media, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Constellation Brands, Constellation, Southwest Airlines —, Elliott Investment Management, Food and Drug Administration, MGM Resorts, MGM Resorts International

☆ 10 things to watch in the stock market Wednesday after the S&P 500's record close
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Pepsico 's price target was lowered to $190 from $200 at Cowen, which cited some weakness in salty snacks. Loops Capital raised its price target for off-price retailer TJX to $125 from $115. Lululemon 's price target was lowered to $470 from $505 at Baird, but kept its outperform rating. Pepsico 's price target was lowered to $190 from $200 at Cowen, which cited some weakness in salty snacks. Lululemon 's price target was lowered to $470 from $505 at Baird, but kept its outperform rating.

Persons: Tuesday's, depletions, Jefferies, Eli Lilly, Lululemon, Baird, BTIG, Dell, Amphenol, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, John Thys Organizations: Constellation Brands, Pepsico, Cowen, Nike, MGM Resorts, Bank of America's, Jim Cramer's Charitable, CNBC, AFP, Getty Locations: Zeebrugge, Belgium

☆ I'm an American mom living in Germany. There's less variety to choose from at the grocery store and they all close on Sunday.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Naomi Kaye Honova | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Although larger grocery stores will offer a bigger variety, it generally won't be as vast as an American supermarket. For instance, urban grocery stores in Germany simply don't have the physical capacity the way many American grocery shops do, allowing American shops to stock numerous brands and types of the same product. You have to bag your own stuffAt most major American grocery stores, your groceries generally get bagged for you as you check out. Most Germans do their grocery shopping at standard and discount grocery stores. Opening times at German grocery stores may seem short in comparison to US storesMany Americans who visit Germany are surprised to find that German grocery stores have more limited opening times than they are used to.

Persons: —, you'll Organizations: Service, Business, Omega, Aldi Locations: Germany, United States, American, Bavaria, Bavarian, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Turkish, Berlin, Kafer, Munich

Learn moreThe 4th of July sales and deals are officially underway, and what could be more patriotic than stocking up on some products made in the USA? Whether you're ready to drop some major cash or you're just looking to browse some knickknacks, we've got you covered. Brands like Zippo, Igloo, and Brooklyn Bedding all carry multiple American-made products, and we've highlighted some of the best. Don't forget to check out our massive roundup of the best 4th of July sales from products made around the world, too. It's pre-seasoned for convenience, and this brand regularly features in our guide to the best cast iron skillets.

Persons: we've, Buddy Organizations: Business, Brands, Weber, Purple, Walmart Locations: USA, American, Brooklyn

☆ Nestlé and other companies are trying to stake their claims as weight loss drug experts. They’re not
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

But health professionals are warning consumers not to take medical advice from the same companies trying to sell them food, supplements and other consumables. “People who are on (GLP-1 drugs) eat less calories. Daily Harvest, a meal kit service, has a GLP-1 food collection. In May it announced a new line of frozen meals called Vital Pursuit, pitching the brand to users of weight loss drugs. Some taking GLP-1 drugs have reported losing hair and muscle.

Persons: Ozempic, JP Morgan, —, ”, Donny Kranson, GLP, Nestlé’s, Jorge Moreno, Jody Dushay, Tom Little, “ I’m, “, 1nutrition.com, Atkins, Robert Atkins, Nestlé, Mark Schneider, Marie Callender’s, Slim Jim, Orville Redenbacher’s, Tom McGough, William Dietz Organizations: New, New York CNN, “, Vontobel Asset Management, GNC, Nestlé, Visitors, Yale School of Medicine, Physicians, Harvard Medical School, Danone, Bloomberg, STOP, George Washington University Locations: New York, United States, Switzerland, Novo Nordisk's, Hillerod, Denmark, what’s, Conagra, GLP

☆ There are 3 new types of fintech consumers. Here's who they are and what they want from their banking experience.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Sponsor Post | Sponsored Visa | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Relevance to this demographic starts with understanding the subtle nuances among these three different groups of fintech consumers. Fintech Pioneers: the big spendersYoung affluent consumers are embracing a variety of payment methods, from cryptocurrency accounts to cross-border payment accounts. The technology revolution in banking lets these "Fintech Pioneers" accrue benefits and manage their finances in an efficient way that doesn't disrupt their lifestyles. They don't want to constantly vet new fintech solutions, or risk encountering technical glitches that can jeopardize their finances. The combination indicates their embrace of age-old exchange methods while still being open to fintech and new payment methods.

Persons: Fintech isn't, it's, aren't, They're Organizations: Fintech, Tech, Visa's, Insider Studios, Visa

☆ America’s Divided Summer Economy Is Coming to an Airport or Hotel Near You
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Jeanna Smialek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The travel industry is in the midst of another hot summer as Americans hit the road and make for the airport to take advantage of slightly cheaper flights and gas. But the 2024 vacation outlook isn’t all sunny: Like the rest of the American consumer experience this year, it is sharply divided. Many richer consumers — always the lifeblood of the travel industry — are feeling good this year as a strong stock market and rising home values boost their wealth. The gulf between higher- and lower-income consumers has been widening for years, but it is expected to show up especially clearly in travel this summer. Budget hotel chains, by contrast, are expected to report a pullback.

Organizations: Foods, Walmart, Budget

☆ How 1.5 million plastic bottles are turned into clothing every day
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( David Valerio | Grant Tyler | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Polyester is one of the most popular fabrics in the world. Made from PET plastic, it is prized for its durability, lightness, and low cost of production. While these characteristics make it ideal for various uses across the textile industry, the oversupply of polyester has also fueled an environmental disaster. Now, brands like Adidas, Nike, and Shein are trying to increase the amount of polyester made from recycled plastics — but is this the best use of old plastic? This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Organizations: Adidas, Nike, Business

☆ Two luxury rivals are joining forces — and Amazon is getting in on the action
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In a deal that shows just how hard things are getting in the luxury retail space, Saks Fifth Avenue's parent is purchasing rival department store company Neiman Marcus for $2.65 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported. Amazon — which has long tried to boost its luxury offerings as part of its "everything store" concept — and Salesforce are getting in on it, too, with both taking minority stakes in the new company, Saks Global. As e-commerce and the power of luxury conglomerates like LVMH and Kering have grown, department stores are facing diminishing returns. If not, rather than schlep back to the department store, why not go straight to the source, the Loewe boutique? It also makes the new company's leader — Marc Metrick, who runs Saks' e-commerce business — a natural choice.

Persons: Neiman Marcus, Taylor, Macy's, Bergdorf Goodman, Porter, Loewe, — Marc Metrick, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Kering, Neimans, They've, Bernard Arnault's LVMH Organizations: Service, Saks Fifth, Street Journal, Saks Global, Loewe, Saks, Dior Locations: New York

Search resuls for: "Brands"

25 mentions found