Business Casual

Peloton Cuts Product Prices in Attempt to Expand Customer Base

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 14:51:33 +0000

Gyms were hit particularly hard by the pandemic, but are beginning to see tentative traffic as business opens back up. Targeting these cautious gym-goers, Peloton creates new, more affordable products aimed at those still wanting to work out from home. After Peloton’s Tuesday announcement, NBC News reported consumer doubts that the company’s marketing tactic would stick. Meanwhile, Peloton’s shares spiked 9%.

In this Business Casual snippet, hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern consider Peloton’s investment in gym-shy budget consumers. Peloton’s move signals the company’s bet that the gym experience may never fully recover. If their bet pays off, the fitness apparatus company could reap big profits. If they’re wrong, and consumers return to the gym in search of community and motivation, Peloton will have missed the mark.

Kohl’s Invests Big in Customer Cash Back Loyalty Program

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 14:45:36 +0000

Department store retailer, Kohls, recently got booted from the S&P 500 index, losing its spot to online artisan market, Etsy. In a bold new move, Kohl’s decides to rework its customer reward system, dropping points and going all in on its signature Kohl's Cash. According to USA today, Kohl’s chief marketing officer said the change is meant to streamline rewards, "So that will make it much easier for customers to understand what they're earning, what they have available and how to redeem it."

In this Business Casual snippet, hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern explore the landscape of loyalty rewards programs in the retail space. In a post-COVID, retail-shy marketplace, what is the value of loyalty reward programs? Kohl's shareholders are optimistic the customer focused move will help the department store stay competitive.

McDonald’s Revives Celebrity Brand Collaboration with Travis Scott Burger

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 14:40:25 +0000

Twenty eight years ago, McDonald’s partnered with Michael Jordan to brand, market, and sell their meals. The fast-food chain has not attempted a celebrity branded partnership since...until now. On September 8, Variety reported the brand collaboration between McDonald’s and Travis Scott. Fans of Travis' psychedelic hip-hop can now order his signature McDonald's meal: a fully loaded quarter pounder, with fries, BBQ sauce, and a Sprite. The publicity drop coincides with the release of Scott’s collaborative merchandise and clothing line flashing a vintage McDonald’s look.

In this Business Casual snippet, hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern consider McDonald’s high profile attempt at influencer marketing. Will the product, a decked out burger, be enough to get target customers in the drive through? Litwin and Kern break down takeaways of this brand partnership and what marketers can take away from the collaboration.

Minnesota Icon Surly Beer Hall Permanently Closes Doors

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 22:50:39 +0000

Clinking cold pints on a hot day with friends is a familiar sound of summer. But 2020 has a different summer in store for craft breweries. In Minneapolis, CBS Minnesota reports the Surly Beer Hall will “close indefinitely in November.” This particular beer hall paved the way for other Minnesota craft breweries to serve beer on site. As an industry leader and icon of the city, the loss stings for locals. With revenue down 82%, Surly simply couldn’t make it through the slow winter months, explained owner Omar Ansari. The announcement foreshadows a potentially ominous trend among craft breweries in the coming months.

On this Business Casual snippet, hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern consider the craft brewery business model. Will people return to their favorite “public living room,” to have a beer with friends and keep these businesses alive? Kern attests that hospitality isn’t going anywhere and that experience of the local brewpub is too well-loved to disappear. But as the weather cools and outdoor seating becomes difficult, will craft breweries manage to survive the winter?

KEY POINTS:

Production breweries are doing well, but taprooms and brewpubs are struggling.
The Brewers Association estimates a 10 to 20 percent decline in sales for small and independently owned craft breweries in 2020.
What is the fate of smaller breweries that have difficulty creating social distance in their beer halls?

Will US Airlines Dropping Change Fees Get Customers Booking Again?

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 22:38:45 +0000

Few industries have been hit as hard by the global pandemic as the airline industry. Even as the U.S. State Department lifts its “Do not travel,” advisory, travel is merely trickling back. With business travelers still not booking, and perhaps never fully coming back, airlines turn to serve leisure travel customers. According to CNN Business, United Airlines led the change as the first to drop change fees. Just a day later, Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines also pulled change fees to some degree. The industry-wide move shows that customers have the upper hand.

On this Business Casual snippet hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern ponder how far airlines will go to earn the dollars of travelers. As travel begins to pick up, what role do airlines play in curbing the spread of COVID while trying to stay in business?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Airlines’ customer service has never been better as they vie for traveler’s business.
Will other industries hard hit by the pandemic also make sweeping changes?
Despite COVID outbreaks, travel to Las Vegas, Orlando, and Denver are up.
Is bolstering leisure travel potentially disastrous?

Payless Returns from Bankruptcy as an Online Retailer

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 02:24:59 +0000

Millennials saw another piece of their childhood die off last year when news revealed the reliable back-to-school staple, Payless Shoesource, was filing for bankruptcy. The affordable shoe store chain could not survive the ecommerce boom and shuttered over 2,000 brick and mortar locations.

But, an announcement on Tuesday revealed Payless is making a phoenix-like comeback. The brand is returning to the market with the same values, community and affordability, but with an all new range of products including shoes, apparel, and accessories. Reflecting the expansion in merchandise, the company plans to drop “shoesource,” from the name. Payless intends to start online in ecommerce, with plans to open 300-500 new stores. The stores will reflect the shift toward the experience economy and feature technology like touch screens, smart mirrors, and augmented reality.

Hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern on this Business Casual snippet as they analyze Payless’s new business model, as well as how they plan to reach consumers looking for value in the middle of a pandemic.

Microsoft Finally Retires Internet Explorer

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 02:19:22 +0000

Right around the 25th anniversary of Internet Explorer, Microsoft announces the final end to the company’s hallmark proprietary browser. To take its place, Microsoft offers a new version of Edge, the browser powered by Google open source software, Chromium. Though these changes won’t take effect immediately, the phase out plan eliminates Internet Explorer use completely by August 17, 2021. Business Casual takes a look at the end of a Microsoft era and what it means for the future of internet browsing.

According to The Independent, Microsoft’s complete move to a Google fueled browser may have larger ramifications. Google's Chromium already powers a number of leading browsers. Adding to the Chromium arsenal gives Google more influence over browser best practices like new features, usability, and privacy practices.

Join hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern on this Business Casual snippet as they consider how the thinning of the browser market will impact users and tech giants. As more browsers gather under one umbrella, for there to be any further shake-ups, it may be up to users to demand what they value in a browser, or more realistically, another major tech company with the resources and capital to challenge Google's dominance.

Hiring Data Remains Muddy Amid Economic Recovery, But Jobs Are Out There

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 02:07:29 +0000

The Trump Administration and ADP (Automatic Data Processing Inc.) have varying figures on the Summer’s hiring data, but one thing is for certain: hiring slowed in July, reported the Washington Post. The slowdown coincides with the coronavirus re-gaining momentum, and the disappointing numbers also come at a pivotal moment as Congress deliberates over a new relief package for unemployed Americans and struggling businesses.

Though hiring numbers are sluggish, hiring is still happening, particularly in service, retail, and back-end corporate positions. Business Casual welcomes guest Bill Kasko, President of Frontline Source Group, to gain insight and gather tips for today's jobs seekers.

Airlines Look to Cut Flights to Small Cities if Federal Funding Expires

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 22:56:15 +0000

The air travel industry took an enormous hit as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The government rushed to their aid with $50 billion dollars in March, and the airlines managed to continue service. But the air travel industry has hardly bounced back over the Summer, and the pandemic aid is fast approaching expiration on September 30.

An anonymous American Airlines official cautioned that some cities may start losing service as early as next week, reported the New York Post. While airline labor unions lobby for additional aid, Congress is faced with the encroaching decision to support America’s struggling air transportation industry. Daniel Litwin & Tyler Kern discuss the implications of this potential abandonment of smaller markets on this snippet from Business Casual.

Epic Games Gets Fortnite Fans to Fight Apple's App Store

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 22:50:26 +0000

Apple’s products have been so well designed, the company has acquired over a billion users. With that captive audience, Apple keeps users from straying by creating a single point of sale--the app store. The cost of reaching Apple’s consumer base? A 30% commission.

Epic Games claims this is a monopoly that squelches healthy competition, and the game developers have taken a series of theatrical actions to draw attention to the issue. Epic began by coding in an in-app payment system that sidestepped the app store commission, a direct breach of app store rules. After their popular game, Fortnite, was banned from the store, the company turned to its fan base with a video asking to align with their cause.

As Apple now faces a lawsuit from Epic Games, fans of the two massive companies may find themselves torn. Who is in the right to be making demands and setting the rules? Could the standoff between the two companies trickle down to benefit smaller developers and consumers, or is this all just a money grab? Daniel Litwin & Tyler Kern break it down and give their thoughts on this snippet from Business Casual.

Blue Canary's Dan Ryan Weighs In on Southwest’s Scaled-Back Cleaning Protocols

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 19:31:34 +0000

On this Business Casual segment, hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern sourced thoughts from Blue Canary Co-Founder Dan Ryan to highlight an industry leader’s perspective on Southwest Airlines’ recent decision to scale back COVID-19-related cleaning protocols between flights.

Blue Canary aims to provide the hospitality industry with access to hospital-grade hygienic standards and works with major hoteliers across the U.S. to design bespoke programs to make this vision a reality.

In particular, Ryan said Southwest’s decision isn’t a surprise given the airline’s traditional approach to the market.

“I think it will affect consumer confidence with many people,” he said. “But Southwest has never been about many people. Southwest has a very specific culture and customer. For their model to work effectively, it’s all about wheels up, and it always has been.”

Walmart Dipping Its Toe in Same-Day Delivery Options

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 18:38:00 +0000

On this Business Casual segment, hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern explore how America’s biggest retail juggernaut, Walmart, is attempting to keep pace with the I-want-it-now world of modern retail.

Walmart and Instacart have teamed up to test same-day delivery services in Los Angeles, San Diego and Tulsa, Oklahoma, with positive results potentially spurring a wider rollout.

The move is aimed at keeping up with retail giant Amazon and Whole Foods, which have both implemented same-day delivery.

Uber & Lyft Get an AB-5 Update

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 16:03:52 +0000

On this Business Casual segment, hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern outline how an already struggling ridesharing industry – Uber reports that it’s lost nearly $2 billion over the past three months – is facing a second reckoning.

Officially codified in January, California Assembly Bill 5 looks to more equitably classify workers in the state as independent contractors or employees, helping, in theory, to curb unfair labor practices.

Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft have been accused of engaging in those practices, avoiding classifying drivers as employees to reap the benefits of drivers being classified as contractors.

In May, three California cities filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming Uber was violating the new rules of AB-5, to re-classify their drivers as employees

This week, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ethan Schulman ruled Uber, and Lyft, must comply with AB-5, which would guarantee benefits for drivers like overtime, paid sick leave and expense reimbursement.

Fitness Professional Brett Larkin Unpacks New Gym Mask Mandates

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 14:41:38 +0000

Gyms were particularly hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic. By nature, the facilities share space and touchpoints in high frequency. But gyms are still looking to bounce back. Planet Fitness CEO, Chris Rondeau, recently announced a required mask mandate to quell gym-goer anxiety. Still, the polls show that customers are cautious, with 75% of Americans hesitant to return to gyms after quarantine.

Business Casual dives headfirst into the future of the fitness industry. Hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern welcome guest Brett Larkin, Founder of Uplifted Yoga™️, for insider insight. Larkin previously consulted with MarketScale on Lululemon’s acquisition of home-workout technology, Mirror. Today, her data falls in line with the acquisition, showing a mainstream shift toward working out from home motivated by both safety and convenience.

Buffets Appear to Be A Thing of the Past for Vegas

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 19:24:52 +0000

Buffets are an environment that may not fit into the world’s “new normal.” With tight lines, open-air food, and the sharing of utensils, buffets don’t lend well to COVID curtailing efforts. Caesars Entertainment has taken note and acknowledging the fall of the buffet, a fact some competitors are choosing to ignore. The brand announced it would do away with its buffets in the wake of a deal announcing a merger with Eldorado Resorts.

Business Casual hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern consider the future of buffets, not just at Caesars Resorts but on the Las Vegas strip and beyond. As casinos find their new place in the post-pandemic economy, there is no room in the business for products and marketing initiatives that don’t turn a profit.

AAA Tests Vehicle AI Only to Find Troubling Inconsistencies

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 19:08:59 +0000

The latest cars on the market flout high-tech features like lane-assist and auto obstacle detection, alluring modern buyers. This smart software is designed for a safer drive, but recent third-party testing by the American Automobile Association unearths troubling inconsistencies in design and function.

On this episode of Business Casual, hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern take a look at the AAA’s findings. The study revealed a 66% hit rate on stationary vehicles. The car’s AI also struggled to detect faded lane markings, making the lane-detect feature highly erratic. With such findings, the hosts ponder whether automobile manufactures are over-flouting their tech, and what the consequences are for consumers.

The world continues to turn to tech to solve its problems such as automobile safety, but in a relatively new science is vehicle AI moving too fast?

Cinemark CEO Doesn't Thinks AMC's Release Deal Will Disrupt Exhibition Ecosystem

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 00:51:12 +0000

Since the coronavirus pandemic swept the globe, movie theaters have had to shut their doors. As a result, theaters are taking a second look at their relationship with production companies. For AMC and Universal, that means shortening the time a film is in theaters, and sharing the revenue once it turns to in-home streaming. Cinemark CEO, Mark Zoradi, comments on the adverse effects this brief run time could mean for a film’s earnings and the cinema profit funnel at large.

Tyler Kern and Daniel Litwin, hosts of Business Casual, consider Zoradi’s comment in context with how viewers are consuming media today. As at-home streaming becomes the norm and the preference, going to the theater becomes a niche experience. Perhaps a shortened theater run may ultimately help drive demand and get people in theater seats.

Digital Pays Out for The New York Times While Print Journalism Flounders

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 20:39:26 +0000

With writers laid off, publications not going to print, and thousands of media professionals furloughed, the world of print media experienced drastic cutbacks as a result of the pandemic. But The New York Times, other than its several lay-offs and furloughs, has somehow remained insulated to the economic effects of the global pandemic as an institution. In fact, the paper gained digital subscribers and now relies more on revenue from digital subscribers than print.

Business Casual hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern take a look at the numbers and consider how the Times saw growth while their marketing budget saw cuts. The world of media and journalism is changing, and distinguished, historic papers like The Times are finding success with pay-walled content. Will print and digital news media continue to peacefully co-exist in the future of news media?

What Will Make a Virtual-Only CES Valuable to Guests?

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 20:32:47 +0000

The tech industry’s most astounding innovations often premier on the global stage at CES--the Consumer Electronics Show. Recently the conference organizers, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), announced the world-famous conference will go virtual in 2021. With an event so heavily focused on networking, how will a virtual experience change and perhaps improve a participant’s experience?

Business Casual hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern check in with technology PR professional Ronjini Joshua for her perspective. Joshua is the Owner & President of The Silver Telegram, a PR agency focused on brand awareness, media relations & thought leadership for technology brands, specifically. She points out that a virtual experience may “allow us to be able to experience more of the show itself,” cutting out the fluff of travel time and walking the floor. The virtual experience is inherently more efficient, and participants will be leaning in to get the most out of it. Joshua also encourages participants to network not only at the show but beforehand as well, which will make starting meaningful conversations all the more fluid.

Australian Government Moves Forward with Making Tech Giants Pay News Publishers

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 02:23:45 +0000

Google and Facebook have been under increasing scrutiny for their power. Australia aims to confront that power head-on with a recent code drafted by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The draft forces the tech giants to pay Australian publishers in order to share their digital content.

Australia’s move aims to “create a level playing field and a fair-go,” said Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg. Google expresses deep concern at the action, arguing that it intervenes with the free market and disincentives innovation. Facebook continues to review the proposal and how it may affect their business.

Business Casual hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern explore the ethical and economic implications of such a regulatory move, posing the question “Could this happen in the US?”

Where Do All the Old Solar Panels Go?

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 02:19:36 +0000

Solar panels have long been the figurehead of the sustainability movement. They are the celebrities of being “off-grid,” representing everything it means to building a lifestyle in harmony with the earth. But how earth-friendly are solar panels?

Millions of tonnes of solar panels hit landfills each year, and that number is only expected to grow. Though the state of Washington and parts of Europe encourage manufacturers to handle recycling their panels, the makeup of panels does not make dismantling them so easy. Business Casual hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern uncover the hidden costs of solar panels, including their short life span and challenging recycling process. The two query, “What are the long term impacts of pursuing this renewable energy?”

Restaurant Owners Weigh In on the Future of Food Delivery

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 02:11:19 +0000

The coronavirus pandemic ravaged most businesses, but one small sector experienced incredible growth—food delivery service providers. Apps like Uber Eats, Postmates, Seamless, DoorDash and others have become essential services in a socially distanced world. As restaurants slowly creep back to operation, will delivery become a permanent model of their business?

Business Casual hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern dive into the restaurant community and ask small-business owners their thoughts on the future of food delivery. Bob Vreeland, operator of Godfather’s Pizza in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Tyler Hollinger, CEO & Founder, Highlife Productions answer: Are Uber Eats and Postmates a permanent profitable solution for restaurants as they keep doorstep delivery a long-term offering?

Should the COVID Vaccine Turn a Big Profit for Big Pharma?

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 19:04:31 +0000

In the latest news on the coronavirus, Business Casual hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern analyze Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla’s recent statement about the ethics behind profiting off of a COVID vaccine.

As the government doles out taxpayer dollars to the private sector in the race for a cure, should the resulting vaccine still come at a price to Americans? Bourla is incredulous at the thought, saying “You need to be very fanatic and radical to say something like that right now.”

Whether private companies are getting aid from the government or not, the private sector has provided diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for COVID already. Business Casual explores both sides of the coin of American capitalism in this unprecedented ethical query, discussing...

How “Operation Warp Speed,” has created costly government contracts with private health companies
Why Pfizer has the potential to make over $13 billion in sales if they charge the public
If the private sector finds a solution to COVID, are they accountable to the public’s taxpayer dollars that helped them create a vaccine?

Budweiser's Non-Alcoholic Beer Reflects New Growth and Rising Demand

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 18:50:36 +0000

Hard seltzer rocked the beer industry. Now, a new beverage trend is on the rise—non-alcoholic low-calorie beer.

Pro athletes are pushing the product as a healthier way to stay social. Dwayne Wade spearheads Budweiser’s launch of Bud Zero, a 50 calorie no sugar, no alcohol beer. But the market for low calorie, non-alcoholic beer extends beyond just athletes looking to stay trim and fit. This product welcomes anyone into the social culture where beer is consumed, including those who don’t drink alcohol.

Business Casual hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern consider the marketing and production logistics needed to make this product take off.

Sales of non-alcoholic beer this year rose 40% in dollars.
Non-alcoholic beer fosters inclusion and marks a shift in consumer demand.
Non-alcoholic beer appeals to healthy athletes as well as sober socializers.

eBay Offloads Classified Ads Business for Nearly $10 Billion

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 22:41:47 +0000

Online shopping fixture eBay has continued slimming operations, selling its classified ads business to Norwegian retailer Adevinta for nearly $10 billion.

This is the latest in a line of similar moves for the company, which split with PayPal in 2015 and offloaded StubHub to Viagogo in 2019.

On this Business Casual snippet, hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern highlight what this could mean not only for eBay, but for the wider world of ecommerce and advertising on online retail platforms.

Taking Off Turkey Day: Walmart Closing on Thanksgiving for First Time Ever

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 22:29:24 +0000

The biggest private employer in the United States just announced an unheard-of initiative.

For the first time ever, Walmart will close stores on Thanksgiving Day, breaking a tradition of beginning Black Friday deals on Turkey Day and offering employees the chance to be with their families in what’s been a trying year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On this Business Casual snippet, hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern discuss whether or not this was a smart economic move for the retailer, how Black Friday might look different in the midst of the pandemic, and what this might mean for the entirety of the brick-and-mortar retail landscape.

Spare Change? U.S. Facing Coin Shortage in Midst of Pandemic

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 22:17:49 +0000

In the midst of this unprecedented period of uncertainty, the United States’ economy is facing a unique challenge – a coin shortage.

On this Business Casual snippet, hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern outline how the economic downturn due to COVID-19 and more have contributed to this unique shortage and how chains like Texas-based grocer HEB are employing some creative tactics to address it.

At the federal level, the U.S. Mint and other regulatory bodies are also working on a fix, though the shortage’s forcing of cashless and touchless options, Litwin and Kern said, begs the question – will the way Americans use cash ever really return to normal?

KFC Launches Finger Lickin’ Beyond Fried Chicken

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 02:12:12 +0000

Launching their faux chicken version of their product in about 50 locations in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego next week, Kentucky Fried Chicken is joining the ranks of burger chains and other restaurants vying for customers that prefer plant-based dietary options. But is the offering as ‘finger lickin’ good’ as KFC’s tried and true menu? Well, in a trial run last year in Atlanta, the dish sold out in just one hour! A culinary collaboration between Beyond Meat and KFC and coated in an exclusive-to-KFC breading that is similar to the chain’s popcorn nugget breading, Beyond Fried Chicken is the first protein derived from plants—not animals—to be offered at a national chicken chain in the U.S. However, vegetarian-, vegan-, non-GMO, and gluten-free buyers beware: while 100% plant-based, KFC’s Beyond Fried Chicken dishes will be prepared in the same fryers and oil as their world-famous Kentucky Fried Chicken, which may not make the product acceptable for those that adhere to certain dietary restrictions or those with peanut/legume allergies.

On this Business Casual segment, MarketScale co-hosts Taylor Bagley, Tyler Kern, and Daniel Litwin discuss:

Whether the SoCal launch will be as successful as the trial in Atlanta
If this move could lead to more sustainable fast food dining options
How plant-based chicken may impact KFC’s existing B2B sourcing relationships
The best way to market this new product

Every week, Business Casual brings topics to the forefront that affect the food and beverage sector and other B2B industries. For continuing thought leadership, tune in to MarketScale’s Business Casual each Wednesday and Friday to stay abreast of the trends and news shaping our menus and world today.

American Farmers' Beef with Burger King’s Flatulent Cow Ad

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 01:58:06 +0000

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, around 50% to 65% of all methane emissions come from human activities, including factory farming. So, in an effort to curtail the methane emissions caused by cattle flatulence by 33% per day, Burger King is adding 100 grams of lemongrass to improve its cows’ low-carb diet. Developed in collaboration with professors from the Autonomous University at the State of Mexico and University of California, Davis, Burger King’s new lemongrass-fed beef formula is purported to help cows release less methane during the digestion process. While the premise could help to curb a key contributor to climate change, a controversial YouTube Burger King ad, drawing millions of views and thousands of comments, has the U.S. beef farmers in a dither, swearing to cut ties with the chain, with leaders in the industry calling the marketing gambit both “condescending and hypocritical”. The ad, featuring a yodeling boy in a cowboy hat singing about cow farts, their methane release and impact on climate change, has even attracted criticism from scientists as well as from a Department of Animal Science professor at fellow collaborator UC Davis, as the burger chain’s ad focuses on cow flatulence instead of belching—the bigger problem—and promotes a study that is still ongoing.

On this snippet of Business Casual, Tyler Kern, Daniel Litwin and Taylor Bagley discuss not only how the ad portrays farmers, but how it seems to make light of both the scope of and solution to our planet’s climate issues. The Business Casual trio also break down different studies conducted over the years that point to the specific companies responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as studies that compare the emissions produced by different industry segments versus that of the Agriculture sector.

Bringing thought leadership your way, MarketScale’s Business Casual keeps you current with the hottest topics and newest trends shaping business today. And for the latest thought leadership, news and event coverage across B2B, be sure to check out our Industry pages.

A Hard Landing Looms for Delta and Business Travel During Pandemic

Sat, 18 Jul 2020 02:30:54 +0000

In December 2019, sweeping all 11 categories, corporate travel professionals in the annual Business Travel News Airline Survey named Delta Air Lines the #1 airline for the ninth consecutive year—the only airline to have earned the top spot for business travel nine years in a row. But in a pandemic-stricken world, numerous industries are declining in the jet stream left by the coronavirus, including the aviation industry, forcing airlines globally to park planes, cut costs and raise capital to stem losses. In what some analysts call the worst season in aviation industry, Delta posted a $2.8 billion adjusted net loss, or $4.43 per share, for the second quarter as passenger revenue plummeted 94%. And with the majority of companies whose workers travel via air for business reasons not willing to jeopardize the safety of their employees until a COVID-19 vaccine is developed, leading to a possible 12- to 18-month lag in business travel demand, Delta is projecting a poor-performing third quarter, expecting both revenue and flight capacity to be at only 20% to 25% of what it was at the same time last year.

As Delta hemorrhages $27 million each day, Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern, the Business Casual crew, discuss how the pandemic is grounding airlines around the world, and with a financial outlook that indicates the industry will most likely not return to a pre-COVID scale, address the impacts to Delta, the airline sector and business travel jetting forward.

Every week, Business Casual brings topics to the forefront that affect travelers and workers in the aviation sector as well as other B2B industries. Tune in each Wednesday and Friday to stay abreast of the trends and news shaping our country and skies today.

White Castle Adds AI-Powered Robots to the Kitchen

Sat, 18 Jul 2020 02:21:50 +0000

Reminiscent of Rosie the Robot, the robotic housekeeper in the 60’s era space-aged The Jetson’s cartoon, Flippy the frying (and grilling) robot is set to make its debut this September at White Castle, the country’s first fast food burger chain (established in 1921). Created by Miso Robotics and first unveiled in 2018, Flippy is the world’s first autonomous robotic kitchen assistant, boasting IoT compatibility, cloud-based monitoring and learning, and auto tool switching capabilities that enable it to not only work the grill or fryer, but also self-clean and work collaboratively with kitchen staff, too. While Flippy has cooked more than 40,000 pounds of fried food—including 9,000 sandwiches at LA's Dodger Stadium, the Arizona Diamondbacks' Chase Field, and two CaliBurger locations—White Castle has been in collaboration with Miso for over a year now, aiming to get Flippy on a ROAR (robot on a rail) system at a select location to seamlessly shift between the burger griddle and the oil fryer while allowing restaurant employees to focus more on hospitality instead.

Could this robotic development be the automated solution the food industry is seeking, particularly during pandemic-driven labor challenges, increased delivery demand, and contactless consumer preferences? In this snippet of Business Casual, find out what co-hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern think as they discuss the proliferation of automation in the food industry and the future possibilities if Flippy’s trial run at White Castle is a success.

Tune into the Business Casual podcast each Wednesday and Friday to stay abreast of the recent trends and hottest topics impacting the food and beverage sector. And, be sure to check out MarketScale’s Industry pages for the latest thought leadership, news and event coverage across B2B.

Ford Employees Push to End Sales of Police Vehicles

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 23:26:59 +0000

From a global pandemic to police brutality to an economic recession to systemic racism and more, our country is certainly experiencing an age of contention unlike any before—controversy that is bleeding through into our everyday lives and even drilling into the businesses we work for.

Earlier this year, Amazon was beleaguered by petitions from their workers calling for the company to do more to keep them safe during the pandemic, while Google employees implored their leaders to stop working with U.S. border and immigration agencies, citing mistreatment of asylum seekers and refugees. And since George Floyd’s brutal death while in police custody back in May, protests, demonstrations and general outrage have resulted in the Black Lives Matter movement calling for police defunding, an effort aimed at changing the role of law enforcement in communities across America. This effort is being echoed throughout the halls of the Ford Motor Company as well, with approximately 100 employees asking the auto giant in a letter to stop the production and selling of police vehicles.

On this snippet of Business Casual, co-hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern break down:

The employees and groups who authored and/or are behind the letter sent to Ford management
The highlights of CEO Jim Hackett’s response to salaried worker
The number of law enforcement vehicles Ford produces, their share in the company’s overall sales revenues, and the role these cars play in vehicle technology testing
Ford’s 70-year history as a major provider of police packages
The trend in employee protests that are forcing major multinational corporations to rethink relationships with polemical institutions

Bringing thought leadership to your day, MarketScale’s Business Casual keeps you current with the hottest topics, latest events and newest trends shaping business today. And to stay on the cutting edge of the most recent news and event coverage across B2B, be sure to check out our industry pages.

Will a Rise in Q2 PC Shipments Endure the Recession and Pandemic?

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 23:11:56 +0000

In April, CNBC reported that due to disruptions in supply chains caused by the coronavirus outbreak, global sales of PCs in the first quarter 2020 suffered a sharp slump, with only 51.6 million PC units shipped in the first three months of the year. That figure was down 12.3% from the previous year and marked the biggest fall in shipments since 2013. However, despite the economic slowdown, recent reports from leading research, market intelligence and advisory firms, Gartner and IDC, paint a much more positive picture for the second quarter of this year. IDC reports global shipments hitting 72.3 million units, an increase of 11.2% from the same quarter in 2019. Gartner, on the other hand, reports just 64.8 million units shipped—a less optimistic rise of 2.8% from Q2 last year. This disparity in shipments may be due to the fact that Gartner didn’t include Chromebooks in its reporting while IDC did. Both companies, though, agree that specific variables can be attributed to this resurgence of PC shipments, including students and businesses who have had to adapt to learning and working remotely.

On this Business Casual segment, MarketScale co-hosts Tyler Kern and Daniel Litwin discuss:

Whether the escalation of shipments will be transitory or prolonged as the global recession and pandemic looms indefinitely
How manufacturers and businesses will react to this information
If consumers will opt for PCs over mobile moving forward
And much more!

Every week, Business Casual brings topics to the forefront that affect the technology sector and other B2B industries. Tune in each Wednesday and Friday to stay abreast of the trends and news shaping our world today.

Big Retailers Band Together to Governors for Greater Mask Requirements

Sat, 11 Jul 2020 02:22:40 +0000

The COVID-19 pandemic is raging on, though not everyone is on the same page regarding the precautions needed to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in the wake of another period of growth in the number of Americans infected.

In fact, some Americans are openly and vocally opposed to being required to wear masks in public spaces, including retail stores.

The Retail Industry Leaders Association is looking upward for help with this issue, citing safety concerns for employees and customers and lobbying government officials for stricter regulations concerning mask usage.

On this Business Casual snippet, hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern highlight these efforts, ask if they’re enough, and outline their own thoughts about how participation in brick-and-mortar retail should take place as the world continues to battle COVID-19.

Is TikTok’s Time Really Up?

Sat, 11 Jul 2020 02:17:53 +0000

The conversation around user data and how it’s collected and shared is louder than ever, and it’s now butting heads with one of the world’s most popular social media platforms.

TikTok, a Chinese-based app allowing users to share short videos of themselves dancing, performing skits, commenting on others’ videos and much more, is under fire from large countries like our own United States government and India, which have expressed a desire to fight or, in some cases, ban usage of Chinese-based applications.

The fear stems from a supposed fear that sensitive American user data is being shared with the Chinese government.

On this Business Casual snippet, hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern discuss how much data sharing goes on behind the scenes of all our favorite apps, apps that are rising up and ready to fill the void should TikTok be pulled from U.S. users, including some created by industry heavy-hitters, and more.

Were Casino Openings a False Start?

Sat, 11 Jul 2020 02:13:53 +0000

As the United States began its reopening efforts, Las Vegas casinos followed suit, with the latest numbers suggesting more than 800 of almost 1,000 U.S. casinos being currently open for business.

However, this march toward a new normal hasn’t gone exactly as planned, as cases of COVID-19 began to spike once again.

In casinos, social distancing is difficult to enforce, and no travel restrictions or universal mask requirements were put into place for Las Vegas casino guests until a mask requirement that went into effect in late June.

While Vegas’s tourism industry is critical to the city’s economy, is it once again time to shut the doors on its famous casinos?

On this Business Casual snippet, hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern discuss whether there’s any safe way to keep Vegas open as long as the pandemic rages on, what measures need to be taken to slow down the spread once more, and what it might take for Americans to buy in to those efforts.

Postmates Debates Consolidation or Going Public as its Next Move

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 19:51:05 +0000

While around the world, COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on humans, businesses and numerous industries, particularly the restaurant sector, it has conversely proven to be a windfall for food delivery services such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grub Hub and Postmates.

Although operating in nearly 3,000 U.S. cities, in years past, Postmates grappled to create the revenue growth required to excite IPO investors. However, this pandemic-driven uptick in business has opened some novel opportunities for the company. On early Monday morning, Reuters reported that Postmates has revived plans for an initial public offering. Further, shortly after the Reuters report was published, the New York Times reported that "Uber has made a takeover offer to buy Postmates".

Postmates’ prospects of going public or merging with Uber puts them at a unique crossroads, and on today’s Business Casual segment, MarketScale co-hosts Taylor Bagley, Tyler Kern, and Daniel Litwin discuss:

The pandemic’s effect on food delivery services
Postmates’ previous IPO attemp
Consolidation within the food delivery category
The pros and cons of staying private vs. going public vs. merging

Bringing thought leadership to your day, MarketScale’s Business Casual keeps you current with the hottest topics and newest trends shaping business today. And for the latest thought leadership, news and event coverage across B2B, be sure to check out our industry pages.

Dust Mask Shortage Puts Construction and Engineering Workers in Respiratory Peril

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 19:40:54 +0000

From using machine tools that produce fine dusts and particles or silica dust from bricks and concrete, respiratory hazards are common in the construction and engineering fields. A vital component of respiratory protective equipment (RPE), dust masks are used to control respiratory hazards, helping to protect workers from lung and airway diseases such as emphysema, bronchitis and silicosis while decreasing the risk for cancer. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sourcing FFP2 and FFP3 dust masks for work purposes has become a challenge for many firms, sparking concerns not only about a shortage of dust masks, but inflated prices when they are available.

On this snippet of Business Casual, Tyler Kern and Daniel Litwin break down the findings of a recent survey conducted by several trade bodies as well as the Construction Industry Coronavirus Forum (CICV Forum) regarding both the availability and escalated costs of dust masks, and the effect the shortage and inflated pricing of this critical RPE element are having on both employee safety and the construction industry as a whole.

Every week, Business Casual brings topics to the forefront that affect operators and workers in the Engineering and Construction sectors as well as other B2B industries. Tune in each Wednesday and Friday to stay abreast of the trends and news shaping our world today.

Facebook’s Faces Pressure as Advertisers Press Pause on Hate

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 19:09:21 +0000

With 2.5 million monthly active users as of 2020, Facebook is arguably the largest social media site in the world. But is the company doing enough to prevent hate speech on its platform? According to stophateforprofit.org, the answer is no. Long criticized for their laxity in combatting hate speech, facing public pressure, employee unrest and the rapidly escalating Stop Hate for Profit advertiser boycott, Facebook’s Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said Friday that Facebook will remove posts that incite violence or attempt to suppress voting while affixing labels on posts that violate hate speech or other policies. However, in a growing protest over how Facebook has handled hate speech and other harmful content, the Stop Hate for Profit campaign is gaining momentum, with more than 400 companies—including well-known brands such as Verizon, Coca-Cola, Lego, Unilever, Honda, the Hershey Company, Ben & Jerry's, The Clorox Company, Adidas, Ford, Denny's, Volkswagen, Microsoft, Levi's, Eddie Bauer, JanSport, Dockers and Target—vowing to halt advertising on the social network during July.

With 99% of Facebook’s $70 billion made through advertising—mostly from thousands of small-and medium-sized businesses, many of which can’t afford a cut in advertising scope and have little to no other platform to reach such a wide audience—on today’s Business Casual segment, MarketScale co-hosts Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern hash out the consequences the Stop Hate for Profit boycott could have on Facebook:

Will the small- to mid-sized companies be able to participate in the boycott, and if so, how?
What happens if more companies sign on to the campaign?
What if the boycott drags on longer than one month?
How will the ramifications of the boycott impact Facebook’s consumer confidence and trust with established B2B partnerships?
Will the campaign shakeup Facebook’s current hierarchy wherein Zuckerberg retains the most decision-making power for the company?

Listen to the podcast to hear the Business Casual crew discuss these points and more. And be sure to tune into the Business Casual podcast each Wednesday and Friday to stay abreast of the recent trends and hottest topics impacting B2B and our world. Also, check out MarketScale’s industry pages for the latest thought leadership, news and event coverage across B2B.

Sony and Microsoft: The Console Price Cold War

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 02:57:31 +0000

While Microsoft and Sony have been more than forthcoming about the design, hardware, specs and the games for their next-gen consoles set to release this holiday season, one thing these tech veterans are holding back on is price. In this game of ‘price chicken’, a console battle is looming on the horizon—the likes of which hasn’t been seen since 2013—with each company reluctant to be the first to announce pricing in fear that they may be undercut by the competition, risking marketshare in uncertain post-pandemic financial times.

Who will win this cat and mouse console cold war? Microsoft’s Xbox Series X or Sony’s PlayStation 5? Well, in today’s Business Casual segment, MarketScale co-hosts Daniel Litwin and Taylor Bagley hammer out who has the most to lose in this heated standoff, particularly with large, public, annual industry events like E3 being canceled due to COVID-19.

Coming to you on Wednesdays and Fridays each week, tune into the Business Casual podcast to stay abreast of the most recent trends and hottest topics impacting B2B. And, be sure to check out our industry pages for the latest thought leadership, news and event coverage across B2B.

The Post-Pandemic Rise of P2P Platforms

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 02:52:39 +0000

Person-to-person or peer-to-peer (P2P) social payment apps such as Venmo, PayPal, Square Cash, Zelle and more have become increasingly popular over the last few years, particularly for younger generations. Rather than pulling cash out of your pocket, these P2P apps are tied to your bank account, credit or debit card, allowing users to virtually pay back friends for coffee, dinner or cocktails, or for amenities like haircuts and pet grooming services…even rent payments—all for free! But in a post-pandemic world, these apps have taken on a life of their own as people are seeking ways to tip service workers, donate to causes, and patronize businesses that moved to digital services during lockdowns. Further, these apps facilitated quicker access to coronavirus stimulus payments, driving more users to the platforms.

On this Business Casual segment, co-hosts Taylor Bagley, Tyler Kern and Daniel Litwin take on the rise of P2P apps, discussing their impact on both traditional banking and the unbanked customer, the ability to buy and sell bitcoin as well as trade equities, and other benefits such as how using the Square Cash debit card provides users with a rotating rewards program for delivery dining through DoorDash, grocery store purchases and more.

Tune into the Business Casual podcast each Wednesday and Friday to stay abreast of the recent trends and hottest topics impacting B2B and our world. And, be sure to check out MarketScale’s industry pages for the latest thought leadership, news and event coverage.

As Small Business Loan Program Comes to an End, Debate Heats Up

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 02:47:40 +0000

After delivering more than half a trillion dollars to millions of employers, the Small Business Administration is set to stop approving government-backed loans as of July 1st. However, in a June 12th report, the Fed told Congress that a multiplicity of data reveals “an alarming picture of small business health during the COVID-19 crisis.” In fact, a National Bureau of Economic Research analysis reports that between February and April, the number of working business owners, including small businesses, fell by 22%, the largest drop on record, with restaurants, hotels, construction and transportation companies taking the brunt of financial misfortune during the pandemic. And according to Holly Wade, Director of Research and Policy Analysis for the National Federation of Independent Business, which represents small businesses, “We’re still in a crisis. Until we have better therapies and a vaccine, we’re not going to see a full recovery by any stretch."

On this snippet, MarketScale’s Business Casual co-hosts Taylor Bagley, Tyler Kern and Daniel Litwin discuss:

How the demands for more support for small businesses are prompting a debate between lawmakers
How the 25/75 rule only allowed for 25% of the funds received to be applied toward, rent, mortgages, utilities and other operating expenses in order for businesses to be eligible for loan forgiveness
How onerous restrictions and minority employers without banking relationships left $130 billion unspent in the Payment Protection Program, with 55% of small businesses opting not to apply for PPP loans and 71% not applying for Economic Injury Disaster loans
How large banks deemed that loaning to businesses with fewer than 50 employees too labor intensive
How small community banks were ill equipped to handle the deluge of applications and process large amounts of data in short timeframes
How new restrictions will inhibit companies with ample resources, like Shake Shack, Ruth’s Chris and more, to benefit from future business aid
How the smallest businesses will need more help as the economy reopens amid “alarming circumstances”

Bringing thought leadership to your day, MarketScale’s Business Casual keeps you current with the hottest topics, the newest trends and the latest technology shaping business and our world today. And for the latest thought leadership, news and event coverage across B2B, be sure to check out our industry pages.

Walmart Experiments with Cashierless Checkout at Fayetteville Superstore

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 23:10:48 +0000

From social distancing to masks to gloves to hand sanitizers, businesses reopening in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic are utilizing unprecedented strategies to limit the spread of the coronavirus and the imminent threat of a second wave. On this snippet, MarketScale’s Business Casual co-hosts Tyler Kern [embed contributor page] and Daniel Litwin discuss Walmart’s latest efforts to confine the contagion within the mega-brand’s stores.

Considered an essential business during the pandemic, Walmart kept its doors open, shelves stocked (in most cases) and their workers employed while other businesses were forced to shut down and layoff staff. However, in April, health officials ordered the closure of a Walmart in suburban Denver as three people connected to the store died after being infected with the coronavirus and at least six employees tested positive. To prevent other closures while protecting workers and customers, earlier this week, the Walmart opted to remove cashiers and standard conveyor belt lines at one of its popular superstores in Fayetteville, Arkansas. In a testing the waters type of tactic to limit human interaction, this coronavirus-inspired solution could also help customers pay and leave the store faster. While store staffers will be ready to assist anyone who has a large order, has trouble working the machines, or just prefers having some human interaction at the checkout, if all goes well, the company could expand the concept to more of their superstores.

This cashierless test, believed to be the first at a full-fledged Supercenter, comes about a year after Walmart conducted a similar dry run of a self-checkout-only system at a Walmart Neighborhood Market (Walmart’s smaller grocery-focused chain) in Pea Ridge, Arkansas. That initial trial run was considered successful enough that the company replicated the system at a new Neighborhood Market in Coral Way, Florida that opened in back in January.

Litwin and Kern chat about Walmart’s cashierless strategy, shopper reactions as well as those of employees whose jobs may be transformed or altogether eliminated.

Airlines Say Masks Might Become a Must When Taking to the Skies

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 23:04:27 +0000

In today’s Business Casual segment, MarketScale co-hosts Tyler Kern [embed contributor page] and Daniel Litwin opine on whether or not more action is required by the government to enforce the wearing of masks by passengers while on commercial flights or if this is an issue that should be mandated and imposed by the aviation industry alone.

With several U.S. airlines (Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines) threatening to ban passengers who refuse to wear masks while traveling, on July 15th, the Airlines for America trade group said they will be implementing new face mask policies for travelers as we traverse the skies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, many in the airline sector believe that the industry alone cannot fix this problem and have called once again on the federal government to mandate masks for passengers and frontline workers and implement broader action on COVID-19 safety measures in aviation.

In fact, opposing a federal requirement on masks for flying travelers, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has stated that the issue is best determined by airlines and unionized frontline workers, who are most at risk if coronavirus spreads on planes, with rules that can be communicated before flying, on the plane and during the flight with punishments that could include the suspension of flying privileges as well as leniency to remove masks while eating or drinking while in the air.

However, Susannah Carr, an United Airlines flight attendant and Association of Flight Attendants has said that this current approach is not working and is a definitely an issue that needs to be addressed, testifying before the House Transportation Committee that her colleagues have discussed "the fact that passengers don't like to wear the mask, might take it off for a longer period than just to eat or drink."

And it’s not just those in the aviation industry who are upset about people not wearing masks during flights. Passengers cooperating with mask requirements are also livid with their non-masking-wearing seatmates.

Further, Sara Nelson, who is the President of the Association of Flight Attendants said in a statement, "The federal government has completely abdicated its responsibility to keep the flying public and aviation workers safe during COVID-19.” She goes on to say, "Masks are essential to keep passengers, flight attendants, and frontline aviation workers safe during the Coronavirus pandemic. It is also essential to rebuild confidence in air travel.”

EU Antitrust Probes Target Apple, Twice

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 22:55:01 +0000

On today’s Business Casual segment, brought to you by MarketScale, co-hosts Tyler Kern [embed contributor page] and Daniel Litwin take on allegations against Apple that have resulted in two antitrust investigations being leveled at the company by the European Commission.

In recent months, the EU has launched anti-trust investigations into Google, Amazon and Facebook. And on Tuesday, June 16, the EU announced that it’s now launching two antitrust investigations into Apple’s App Store rules and the Apply Pay platform as well, seeking to assess whether Apple’s rules for app developers on the distribution of apps via the App Store breach EU competition rules.

While companies can place their apps on the App Store at no cost, Apple charges companies 30% from in-app purchases and 30% on subscriptions for the first year, then 15% thereafter. Reaching a new single day record of $386 million on January 1st and generating $1 billion for the company each month—with $50 to $100 million of those revenues going directly to Apple—Spotify, which competes directly with Apple music, and Kobo, an e-reader company that competes with Apple Books, have filed complaints against the tech giant over the last year, stating that these practices are unfair, stifling and distorting competition by promoting Apple’s own books and music, while collecting and using customer data siphoned from Spotify and Kobo databases.

According to Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of EU’s competition policy, “We need to ensure that Apple’s rules do not distort competition in markets where Apple is competing with other app developers, for example with its music streaming service Apple Music or with Apple Books. I have therefore decided to take a close look at Apple’s App Store rules and their compliance with EU competition rules.”

In a statement from Apple, the company asserts that, “Our goal is simple: for our customers to have access to the best app or service of their choice, in a safe and secure environment. We welcome the opportunity to show the European Commission all we’ve done to make that goal a reality.”

While Apple maintains that it’s done nothing wrong, Litwin and Kern delve deeper into the situation, pondering whether the EU’s maximum penalty of 10% of global revenues for breaking competition rules—just a drop in the bucket for this multinational tech giant, even though services represent 18% of Apple’s annual sales—will actually curb the company’s long-term business practices, and whether or not other solutions are necessary to help protect smaller app providers.

Keeping you informed of the newest trends and the hottest topics in B2B, tune into the Business Casual podcast each Wednesday and Friday. And for the latest thought leadership, news and event coverage across B2B, be sure to subscribe to our MarketScale Radio channel on either Spotify or Apple Podcasts where you can find all of our Business Casual, Ratified and other contributor shows; or go to Marketscale.com/Industries to view all of our live video and classic article content.

Netflix Puts Trademark Boots on Space Force Name, Edging Out U.S. Military

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 15:34:19 +0000

While fans and critics may be clashing about the comedic success of the new Steve Carrell and Greg Daniels Space Force series that debuted on May 29th, Netflix is apparently winning the planetary battle against the U.S. military to trademark the show’s name. Starring Carrell as a decorated general tapped to lead a newly formed sixth branch of the US Armed Forces, Space Force is a 10-part thinly-veiled satire series of the Trump administration following the exploits of a motley crew trying to put "boots on the moon again” in an effort to ensure total space dominance.

Co-hosts Taylor Bagley, Tyler Kern, Daniel Litwin take on this somewhat farcical situation in this segment of MarketScale’s Business Casual. Reportedly, Netflix filed for trademark applications for the Space Force name as early as January 2019, including filings in Australia, Mexico and parts of Europe, while the U.S. Air Force has only a pending application in the U.S. for an “intent to use”. Further, in a drolly similar intergalactic trademark situation, in January of this year, the U.S. Space Force appeared to have boldly gone where only Star Trek had gone before when they unveiled their logo which many likened several of its design elements to the “Star Trek Starfleet Command insignia”.

Litwin, Kern, and Bagley discuss how Netflix’s trademark of the Space Force name could be problematic particularly as it pertains to the sale of memorabilia, apparel, or other items featuring the term “Space Force”, the government’s laxity when it comes to registering military asset trademarks, and other military-based trademark conflicts with companies like Paramount and Disney.

Keeping you informed of the newest trends and the hottest topics in B2B, tune into the Business Casual podcast each Wednesday and Friday. And for the latest thought leadership, news and event coverage across B2B, be sure to subscribe to our MarketScale Radio channel on either Spotify or Apple Podcasts where you can find all of our Business Casual, Ratify and other contributor shows; or go to Marketscale.com/Industries to view all of our live video and classic article content.

CrossFit’s CEO Scandal Put the Company and Brand on a Slippery Slope

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 14:49:52 +0000

On June 10th, Greg Glassman stepped down from his position as CEO of CrossFit, and on this segment of Business Casual, Tyler Kern, Taylor Bagley, and Daniel Litwin opine on whether or not this move will be enough to ensure the future of the company as well as many of its affiliate gyms.

Established in 2000 and characterized by high-intensity functional interval training and sound nutrition practices, CrossFit has been a highly popular health and fitness lifestyle solution that enables members to accomplish any goal—from improved health to weight loss to better performance. Boasting a network of more than 13,000 affiliates around the world with over 7,000 gyms offering the program in the US alone, it’s estimated that there are roughly 4 million CrossFitters so devoted to this competitive approach to fitness that the community has often been described as cult-like. Well, Mr. Glassman’s recent insensitive remarks regarding George Floyd as well as the COVID-19 pandemic on social media and via email may have driven a wedge in this close-‘fit’ community, alienating members and gyms alike while outraging socially-oriented organizations like Black Lives Matter, medical-focused groups like the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), and even the NFL.

Litwin, Kern and Bagley chat about the many companies and brands that have crafted statements in support of the BLM movement and the fact that CrossFit remained silent during these weeks of nationwide protests and civil unrest, the racially and socially tactless tweets and emails between Glassman and the IHME and several of his affiliate gyms that sparked this national scandal, the proposed withdrawal of many gym affiliates from their contracts with the company, name brands like Reebok, FitAid and Rogue severing their partnerships with CrossFit, and the financial bind gyms are already facing due to pandemic social distancing and how Glassman’s callous statements will further tip the fiscal scale for these workout locations as we move into the future.

IBM Does an About-Face on Facial Recognition Technology

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 14:41:09 +0000

On this Business Casual snippet, Tyler Kern, Taylor Bagley and Daniel Litwin discuss an announcement made my IBM on June 8th regarding the tech giant’s intention to stop offering facial recognition software for "mass surveillance or racial profiling".

In 2019, a study conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that none of the facial recognition tools from Microsoft, Amazon and IBM were 100% accurate when it came to recognizing men and women with dark skin. Further, a study from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology suggested facial recognition algorithms were far less accurate at identifying African-American and Asian faces compared with Caucasian ones. In a world currently riding the shockwaves of social unrest and protests calling for police reform in the wake of George Floyd’s death while being apprehended by officers in Minneapolis, this technological bias in gear provided to policing organizations has definitely been put under the microscope.

In support of IBMs move to abandon ‘biased’ facial recognition tech, Chief Executive Arvind Krishna, stated, “We believe now is the time to begin a national dialogue on whether and how facial recognition technology should be employed by domestic law enforcement agencies".

As the first major company to back out of a technology largely used by law enforcement, the Business Casual dynamic duo break down Krishna’s letter to congress urging action against police malfeasance as well as more regulation on how law enforcement uses facial recognition technology, two different studies of Amazon’s facial recognition system by the ACLU which resulted in both Congress members and professional athletes being falsely matched with images of those in a mugshot database, whether IBM’s decision was based solely on current racially-charged events or just part of an ongoing massive restructuring within the company, and much more.

Bringing thought leadership to your day, MarketScale’s Business Casual keeps you current with technology leaps both forward and backward, the hottest topics and the newest trends shaping business and our world today. And for the latest thought leadership, news and event coverage across B2B, be sure to check out our industry pages.

HBO Max Launch: Feat or Flop?

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 21:41:31 +0000

With virtually every network introducing their own streaming services, it’s no surprise that WarnerMedia has jumped on the streaming bandwagon as well. Boasting a library that includes the entire HBO services, films and TV from Warner Bros.’ 100-year content collection, top content from around the world, DC’s superhero films, classic films from Turner Classic Movies, a monthly offering of new Max Originals, the complete libraries of The Big Bang Theory, Rick and Morty, Gossip Girl, South Park, Friends, and more, including the highly anticipated Friends reunion special (which has been temporarily delayed due to he COVID-19 pandemic), HBO Max is a direct-to-consumer video service that guarantees to offer something for everyone—from Gen Z to Boomer! However, launched on May 27^th at a subscription cost of $14.99 per month (or free to AT&T customers who were already subscribed to HBO) and poised to compete with Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video, the debut of HBO Max left many confused. Whether it was how viewers could gain access to the platform or how it differed from other HBO subscriptions, mass misunderstandings about the launch resulted in Twitter providing a specific HBO Max “For You” section to better explain the platform.

On this snippet of Business Casual Taylor Bagley breaks down what many may deem a breakdown in the much-awaited HBO Max launch, the distinctive HBO brand perplexities, the consumer’s much awaited expansion of premium content, and the various methods of streaming the service that are currently available.

Germany’s Transition to EV Going the Distance

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 21:20:24 +0000

At a time when every country should be accelerating a shift to meet ambitious net-zero emission goals to save our planet, Germany is putting the pedal to the metal in the electric car transition. A recent McKinsey report pegs Germany to become the world market leader for electric cars by 2021, with more than 1.7 million electric vehicles produced—a study that doesn’t even include potential production from Tesla’s Berlin Gigafactory planned to be up and running by mid-2021. While electric cars made up only 1.8% of new passenger car registrations last year in Germany, with diesel and petrol cars accounting for 32% and 59.2% respectively, as part of a post-pandemic $146 billion economic recovery plan to boost consumer demand while eliminating refueling concerns, Germany is taking a bold step in moving their country from pollution-causing vehicles to zero-emission cars by requiring every gas station in the nation to install electric car charging stations at their locations. Further, the stimulus package will double existing subsidies to $6,720 on electric vehicles costing up to $44,800 while implementing higher taxes for fuel-thirsty, internal-combustion SUVs.

With only about 28,000 charging stations in operation currently, BDEW, Germany’s energy and water industries association, sees at least 70,000 charging stations and 7000 fast-charging stations as the minimum for mass-market EV usage and support in the country. Although the timeline for deployment and the type of chargers have yet to be determined, on this Business Casual segment, co-hosts Taylor Bagley, Tyler Kern and Daniel Litwin postulate on Germany’s EV stimulus, and chat about the logicality of incorporating charging stations at gas stations with Level 2 240-volt charging capabilities and outdated combustion-oriented infrastructure versus placement at convenient expressway petrol stations, and the benefits of Tesla’s Giga facility in Berlin versus importing EVs from overseas.

Keeping you informed of the newest trends and the hottest topics in B2B, tune into the Business Casual podcast each Wednesday and Friday. And for the latest thought leadership, news and event coverage across B2B, be sure to subscribe to our MarketScale Radio channel on either Spotify or Apple Podcasts where you can find all of our Business Casual, Ratify and other contributor shows; or go to Marketscale.com/Industries to view all of our live video and classic article content.

Signal App Downloads Escalate, Offering Enhanced Protestor Privacy Protection

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 20:16:22 +0000

Spiking in downloads while other “encrypted” messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram stagnate, on this segment of Business Casual, Daniel Litwin and Tyler Kern discuss the unprecedented rise in downloads of the privacy-focused Signal app since the unfortunate and highly-controversial death of George Floyd, a black man who tragically died after a white Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes.

In August of 2014, Michael Brown, Jr., an 18-year old unarmed African-American man was fatally shot by a white police officer in the city of Ferguson, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, erupting in both peaceful anti-police protests as well as civil disorder. According to hundreds of documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, since that time, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been monitoring the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, frequently collecting information, including location data, on BLM activities from public social media accounts, including Facebook and Twitter. The reports also show the DHS watching over those events which are expected to be peaceful, including a nationwide series of silent vigils, a funk music parade and a walk to end breast cancer in the nation’s capital. The tracking of domestic protest groups and peaceful gatherings raises questions over whether the DHS—a department created in large part to combat terrorism boasting a budget in excess of $50 billion annually—has allowed its mission to slink over the limits of useful security activities.

More recently, protests, both nationwide—in all 50 states—and globally, calling for the end to police violence against black citizens, have been sparked by the death of George Floyd on May 25^th. Though most of the protests over systemic racism in America over the past weeks have been peaceful, violence and looting has also increased resulting in a ramp up of surveillance by the US government, including the use of drones and facial recognition cameras during protests, IMSI catchers which intercept and read text messages, as well as the Justice Department’s sanctioning of the DEA to “conduct covert surveillance” against protesters and “share intelligence” with other law enforcement agencies.

In response to these measures and as protests against police brutality continue to sweep across the U.S., American’s app downloads have shifted concurrently. In fact, as of June 3^rd, Signal, a messaging, calling and video app whose encryption keeps people’s communication hidden in the event that their phones are stolen, hacked or confiscated by police, has become one of the top 10 most downloaded social apps on iOS for the first time—downloaded 121,000 times since Floyd’s heartbreaking death, and now garnering 289,277 user ratings in total. Signal’s end-to-end encryption provides a method of communication where only the users that are involved in a conversation have the encryption keys required to read messages, enabling protestors to coordinate their actions while preventing eavesdropping by third parties with a feature that blurs faces from photos to protect their privacy and prevent them being identified and possibly charged later on.

Kern and Litwin discuss the mix of variables that continue to create unrest in our country, whether the encrypted apps that currently prioritize user privacy will eventually share user data and their responsibility as private entities, if the spike in Signal downloads represents an opportunity for new privacy-focused messaging apps to enter the marketplace and the features they should incorporate, and how not only individuals but companies as well will react to escalated surveillance by authorities.

Tune into the Business Casual podcast each Wednesday and Friday to stay abreast of the recent trends and hottest topics impacting B2B. And, be sure to check out MarketScale’s industry pages for the latest thought leadership, news and event coverage across B2B.

SpaceX Boards NASA Astronauts on the ISS

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 22:46:06 +0000

It’s likely fair to move SpaceX out of the realm of “start-up” or “potential player.”

Last weekend, the company worked alongside NASA to send NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley to space and board them onto the International Space Station, marking the Dragon Capsule and Falcon 9 rocket the first commercially developed spacecraft to achieve this milestone.

The launch also marked the first launch of humans into space since 2011, and it brought around 10 million live viewers across all broadcast channels.

This is obviously an important moment for space flight, particularly in terms of reusability, as the Falcon 9 returned to Earth successfully and landed on a drone ship. While it won’t be reused, similar rockets in the future certainly could be.

What impact could this SpaceX success have on the future of space exploration? Could trips to the Moon and even to Mars someday be viable? Is a commercially backed model the future of NASA’s work?

On this Business Casual snippet, hosts Daniel Litwin, Tyler Kern and Taylor Bagley tackle those complicated questions.

Google’s Watching – Alphabet, Inc. Facing Privacy Lawsuit

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 22:10:56 +0000

Google is facing a hefty lawsuit – three individuals in California have hit Alphabet, Inc. with a class action lawsuit worth $5 billion, alleging that the company has tracked sensitive personal browsing information even while users were engaged in “Incognito” browsing.

The complaint asserts that, through Google Analytics, Good Ad Manager and more, Google is “(engaging) in covert and unauthorized data collection from virtually every American with a computer or phone.”

So, what implications does this lawsuit have for the way the internet – and particularly user data – is managed and collected? Even if nothing is technically illegal, do companies have an obligation to be more transparent? How can users do more to protect themselves and their data?

On this Business Casual snippet, hosts Daniel Litwin, Tyler Kern and Taylor Bagley explore these complicated questions and the future of online privacy.

Has the Workplace Really Changed Forever in These 5 Ways?

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 21:43:37 +0000

The spread of the novel coronavirus and the COVID-19 pandemic have altered the way we collectively view many aspects of global society, and work is among those aspects being critically examined.

However, as a new normal begins to dawn, how much will the world’s workplaces actually change?

On this Business Casual snippet, hosts Daniel Litwin, Tyler Kern and Taylor Bagley explore a recent Forbes piece penned by CIO and Head of Customer Experience, Logitech Massimo Rapparini, who posits that these five key changes will come to the modern workplace:

- A Smaller, Hybrid Office Space

- Blurring of the Line Between Home Offices and Traditional Workspaces

- A Rise in Virtual Events

- Greater Recruitment Diversity

- Better Work-Life Balance

Is he right? Explore alongside Litwin to walk through each of these key areas and determine whether the post-pandemic landscape will be this drastically altered.