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The article discusses Automotive manufacturer Hyundai's updated long-term strategy, emphasizing its focus on extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) and new technologies. Topics discussed include Hyundai's increased investment in battery and autonomous driving technologies, its plans to expand hybrid vehicle offerings and production, and its approach to achieving profitability while addressing market demand and infrastructure challenges for electrified vehicles.

The article focuses on Dentsu's new partnership with Sports Innovation Lab to enhance its sports marketing data strategy using the Merkury platform. Topics include the integration of detailed audience segments from major sports leagues into Merkury, the growing importance of data-driven strategies in sports marketing, and the shift toward digital and streaming consumption of sports content.

E.l.f. Beauty has seen success in its marketing efforts, particularly among young consumers. The company increased its marketing spending to 25% of net sales in fiscal 2024, up from 7% five years ago. E.l.f. has engaged in partnerships and ran its first national Super Bowl ad, aiming to maintain similar marketing budgets in the future. The company's aggressive marketing strategy has contributed to its growth, with net sales increasing by 77% in fiscal 2024. E.l.f. has also utilized platforms like TikTok and gaming platforms to reach younger audiences. The company's positioning has resonated well with Gen Z, and it has seen an increase in brand awareness among U.S. consumers. E.l.f. plans to continue investing in marketing and digital efforts in the coming years. [Extracted from the article]

United Airlines has launched limited-edition amenity kits and pajamas as part of its sponsorship of Wrexham AFC, a Welsh soccer club. The airline aims to tap into cultural conversations and remain relevant by expanding the definition of advertising. United Airlines has also collaborated with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the owners of Wrexham, who serve as brand ambassadors. Additionally, the airline has created ads that align with pop culture events, such as Taylor Swift's concert film. United Airlines has taken a local market approach to its Super Bowl ads and has considered entering the retail media game. The airline aims to be contextually relevant and reach customers through various channels. [Extracted from the article]

Bumble Bee Seafoods has launched a new campaign targeting millennials by remixing a popular song from the early 2000s, BBMak's "Back Here," to promote its tuna products as a go-to snack. The song has been transformed into "Snack Meal, Baby," and the ad spot features all three original band members. The campaign aims to tap into nostalgia for the Y2K era and leverage music to engage millennials. Bumble Bee positions itself as a healthy snacking option in a market that is experiencing growth in demand for high-protein and healthy snack alternatives. [Extracted from the article]

Instagram is expanding access to its creator marketplace, allowing brands to search for creators to help amplify their messaging to the right audiences on the app. The marketplace is now available in several countries, including the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, and Brazil. Instagram is also expanding access to ten new markets, including South Korea, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Israel, Turkey, Mexico, Argentina, and Indonesia. These expansions provide more opportunities for brands and creators to connect and collaborate on affiliate and creative marketing programs. To be eligible for the marketplace, creators must be over 18 and adhere to Instagram's branded content and monetization policies. [Extracted from the article]

BarkleyOKRP, an independent agency, has acquired Adlucent, a performance media and marketing technology company, to enhance its e-commerce and retail capabilities. The acquisition will allow BarkleyOKRP to expand its expertise in search, display, social, and retail media, and increase its workforce to over 800 employees across multiple offices. Adlucent's client roster includes well-known brands such as Zappos and The Vitamin Shoppe. This move aligns with BarkleyOKRP's goal of competing with larger holding companies and offering comprehensive services with a focus on strategy and creativity. [Extracted from the article]

Kohl's has partnered with Instacart to offer same-day delivery from its brick-and-mortar stores. Customers can use the Instacart app to place orders for delivery from over 1,100 Kohl's locations across the US. The retailer is offering a range of product categories for delivery, including beauty, pet supplies, and home essentials. Kohl's hopes to tap into Instacart's large customer base and boost its digital growth. However, it remains uncertain whether same-day deliveries will significantly impact customer purchasing decisions. [Extracted from the article]

Pinterest has released an overview of rising travel trends on their platform, which could be useful for marketers looking to tap into holiday-themed opportunities. Pinterest remains a popular destination for travel-based research, with over one billion travel-related searches and 10 billion travel saves in one year. Adventure travel, water parks, quiet and solo travels, mysterious places, and road trips are among the key travel trends for 2024. Additionally, Pinterest has highlighted popular destination-related searches, such as "London lifestyle" and "South African food." These insights can inform marketing approaches for the holiday season, particularly on Pinterest. [Extracted from the article]

LinkedIn has released an infographic with tips for B2B marketers to enhance their campaigns. The tips focus on using LinkedIn effectively for outreach efforts, connecting with audiences at the right time and in the right context. The aim is to help marketers achieve more with limited budgets. The full overview can be found on LinkedIn's website. [Extracted from the article]

According to data from Apptopia, Threads, a social media app by Meta, is gaining more daily active users in the US compared to X (Twitter). In April, Threads had an estimated 28 million daily active users, while X had 22 million, indicating a 21% lower usage rate for X. However, X still claims to have over 250 million daily active users globally. While Threads is growing, X's daily active user count has stabilized at a higher level compared to December. Meta believes Threads has the potential to become a billion-user platform, but it still has a long way to go to surpass X's 550 million monthly active users. [Extracted from the article]

Lion Electric, a zero-emission vehicle manufacturer, has announced the layoff of 120 workers, primarily in Canada, due to delays in Canada's Zero-Emission Transit Fund. The company expects the reduction in workforce to save about $40 million annually and does not anticipate a negative impact on production capacity. This layoff follows previous workforce reductions and financial losses for the company. Lion Electric is not alone in facing operational challenges, as other electric vehicle manufacturers have also implemented significant layoffs. [Extracted from the article]

Fat Brands has signed a development deal with California Burger to add Fatburger to 40 existing Round Table Pizza restaurants in Northern California. This co-branding strategy is part of Fat Brands' growth strategy to provide menu diversity and additional revenue for franchisees. The first hybrid units are set to open this year, and the deal covers the next 10 years. Co-branding has been successful for Fat Brands, with over 200 co-branded locations across its portfolio. The company plans to continue rolling out new co-branding options in the future. [Extracted from the article]

Krispy Kreme will be changing its loyalty program from a punch-card style system to a points-per-dollar system. Under the new program, customers will earn 10 points for every dollar spent, but the redemption cost of points is not specified. The program will offer personalized rewards based on consumer behavior and preferences, and may also include surprise promotions. The specific rewards menu will consist of doughnuts and beverages, but it may change over time. Customers will have 30 days to use their rewards before they expire, and points will expire after 365 days of inactivity. The company did not disclose the discount rates associated with the new program. [Extracted from the article]

According to a survey commissioned by HungerRush, nearly two-thirds of consumers have a negative reaction to dynamic pricing in restaurants. Four in five consumers said they would either stop going to a restaurant altogether or go at different hours to avoid surge prices. However, smaller restaurants and local chains that raise prices were viewed more favorably by nearly half of diners. The article also mentions the backlash Wendy's faced when they announced plans to introduce dynamic pricing, highlighting the importance of consistency and transparency in pricing for consumers. [Extracted from the article]

Mod Pizza has hired Jennifer Anderson, the former Chief Marketing Officer of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, as its new Chief Marketing Officer. Anderson will be responsible for overseeing all marketing aspects at Mod Pizza, including advertising, digital marketing, consumer insights and engagement, local store marketing, and menu development. She brings nearly two decades of marketing and culinary experience to her new role, having previously led various marketing initiatives at Raising Cane's that contributed to the brand's growth. This appointment comes after Mod Pizza recently appointed Beth Scott as its CEO. [Extracted from the article]

Little Caesars has signed development agreements to open over 30 stores in seven different markets across the United States. The brand is also exploring the use of offsite construction to speed up development. These deals are part of Little Caesars' strategy to sign multi-unit deals with operators in specific target markets. The pizza chain experienced a decrease in the number of units in 2021 and 2022 but returned to net unit growth in 2023. Little Caesars currently operates 575 stores in the U.S. with a total of 4,217 stores when including franchisees. [Extracted from the article]

Dollar General recently opened its 20,000th store in Texas and plans to continue expanding. The retailer expects to complete over 2,000 real estate projects this year, including opening 800 new stores, remodeling 1,500 locations, and relocating 85 stores. Dollar General's success can be attributed to its strategic maneuvering, understanding of consumer needs, and commitment to under-served markets. The company's lean operating model, smaller store sizes, and curated product selection have also contributed to its growth. In contrast, Dollar Tree plans to close 600 Family Dollar stores this year. Dollar General's focus on rural areas and offering convenience and affordable prices have been key factors in its success. The normalization of e-commerce is causing retailers to reevaluate the role of physical stores, but Dollar General believes that its physical store footprint must be continually refined and reevaluated. Dollar General's direct rivals include Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and Big Lots, while other competitors include Walmart, Target, and various local and independent retailers. Walmart plans to add more Supercenters and remodel stores, while Target plans to open new stores and remodel existing ones. Big Lots, however, has faced financial challenges and is on Retail Dive's bankruptcy watch list. [Extracted from the article]

Varo Bank's new CFO, Allen Parker, is focused on ensuring the bank's profitability in the face of ongoing economic challenges. Parker emphasizes the importance of looking ahead and understanding the necessary elements for success, as well as executing current strategies effectively. Drawing on his experience at companies like Zillow and Amazon, Parker believes that finance plays a crucial role in supporting business leaders' decision-making. Varo Bank plans to invest in customer acquisition, machine learning, and talent assessment to improve efficiency and achieve profitability. While the bank has made progress in reducing losses, it remains optimistic about its ability to become a profitable player in the neobank space. [Extracted from the article]

Outdoor lifestyle brand Solo Stove is hosting a unique cooking class in Alabama's Majestic Caverns, where they will descend ten stories underground to cook a deep-dish pizza. The event, called "Deepest Dish," will be livestreamed on Facebook and aims to promote Solo Stove's pizza oven and cookware set. The company has been employing aggressive marketing strategies, including celebrity partnerships and new agency appointments, to draw customers to its outdoor products. The event seeks to be educational, showcasing how consumers can use Solo Stove's offerings to make better deep-dish pizza. [Extracted from the article]

Outdoor lifestyle brand Solo Stove is hosting a unique cooking class in Alabama's Majestic Caverns, where they will descend 10 stories underground to cook a deep-dish pizza. The event, called "Deepest Dish," will be livestreamed on Facebook and aims to showcase Solo Stove's pizza oven and cookware set. The company has been employing aggressive marketing strategies, including celebrity partnerships and new agency appointments, to promote its outdoor products. This event combines adventure and education, with certified pizzaiolo chef Matt Frampton guiding the cooking class and exclusive giveaways and prizes available to viewers. [Extracted from the article]

Velveeta, a brand owned by Kraft Heinz, has released a limited-time hair dye called Velveeta Gold, inspired by the yellow color of its cheese. The product is meant to encourage boldness and self-expression. Actress Julia Fox debuted the hair color at a New York Knicks game. The hair dye is available for purchase on Amazon for $7.50, the same price as a block of Velveeta cheese. This release is part of Velveeta's "La Dolce Velveeta" creative platform, which aims to promote indulgence and enjoyment. [Extracted from the article]