Brand Audits’ Afternoon Update

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Time
How Startups Are Rethinking Delivery (Again)
New companies are eliminating the middle man. Startup founder Gagan Biyani says he gained 20 lb. eating greasy takeout four years ago. The 27-year-old entrepreneur didn’t have the time or energy to prepare healthy meals while running his first company. “I’d frequently just eat what was readily available,” he says. “The food system today has forced people to choose between quality and convenience.”
Entrepreneur
IKEA is opening a Pop-Up Cafe that serves breakfast in bed
Swedish furniture company IKEA is opening a pop-up café in London that serves diners breakfast in bed from May 18 to 20, reports The Wall Street JournalCustomers can book a single or double IKEA bed for a 45-minute period from 7 a.m. until noon and order a traditional Swedish breakfast. From noon until 3 p.m., you can still book the beds, but only for naps. Sleep specialists will be available throughout the day. Breakfast in bed isn’t just for homebodies anymore.
Food52
I don’t cook—but I do eat—and I just love this site. The photography, the styling, the layout, and the language all come together to make this a pleasure to look at and to read. About Food52: “A few years ago, we set out to bring cooks together from all over to exchange recipes and ideas and to support each other in the kitchen. We wanted to create a buzzing place for others who do what we do all day long: talk about food! Together we create cookbooks, take on food projects, help others with our real-time food Q&A—the Food52 Hotline—and support local food producers. Since we started Food52 (we cook 52 weeks a year, get it?), millions of cooks and eaters have found their way to the site.”

BRAND AUDITS’ UPDATE: TODAY’S HEADLINES

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The Business of Fashion (BOF)

Lifestyle brands such as Lululemon are now entering the outdoors clothing and accessories market. For example in March, Lululeman unveiled its ‘Trail Bound Line’ a collection specifically for hiking. The difference this brand and Nike, bring to the market is that the clothes look good and are fashionable on or off the trails—no plaid shirts in site! And why can’t we look great in the great outdoors anyway?
Selling the Great Outdoors: The Billion-Dollar Brand Battle for the Casual Camper

Inc.com

Fashion designer Cynthia Rowley describes how designers have a multitude of tools to get work onto the world stage.
Cynthia Rowley: How Social Media and E-Commerce are making Fashion more fun

Entrepreneur.com

In the article, author Adam Robinson, CEO of Hireology says:
“Most companies say they have core values, but very few of them actually live their core values in these moments of uncertainty. It’s the behaviors that are encouraged—or rewarded—in these moments that tell you what your core values really are, and I find that most companies have a wide gap between what is stated and the actual core value.”

Brand Audits’ Update: Today’s Headlines

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Luxury Daily
From Jimmy Choo’s bull terrier campaign star; London Craft Week; Net-A-Porter’s increasing mobile efforts; to Rolls-Royce introducing its latest bespoke offering; and finally, Swarovski focus on elevating the customer experience across all channels.

Top brand moments from last week.

Fast Company
Favourite list of the year when Fast Company names the 100 Most Creative People in Business. From those inspiring leaders in technology, design, media, music, energy, marketing, science, sports, and more.

The 100 Most Creative People in Business.

Forbes
In first place among the big carriers is Delta Air Lines. Over the past three years, 81.89 percent of its summer flights arrived on time. It’s the only major airline with an arrival record above 80 percent.

The Best and Worst Big Airlines for 2015 Summer Travel.

100 Amazing People!

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Jill Bernstein, editorial director, and Erin Schulte, senior editor from Fast Company announced 2015’s 100 Most Creative People in Business:

“Now in its seventh year, the list highlights the people whose bold and bright ideas are shaping industries all across the business landscape.

“Start with our cover story on actress, producer, and advocate Amy Poehler, and dig deeper to learn about the Arizona professor who helped develop a possible cure for Ebola, or the nipple tattoo artist who helps breast cancer survivors feel whole again. On our site, you’ll find online-only features like photo essays and Bonus Round Q&As that will help you weave creativity into your own work.

Read more here.

LVMH is increasing the number of women in leadership positions

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Business of Fashion (BOF) reports that:

“In October 2014, just 4.6 percent of Fortune 500 companies had female CEOs, while only 19 percent of board members at these companies were women.

In fashion, more women rise to leadership positions — but not by much. Across 50 major fashion brands studied by BoF, only seven (or 14 percent) are run by women, and about 25 percent of board members of publicly-traded fashion and luxury companies are women. In a sector in which 85 percent of the customer base is composed of women, this seems disproportionately low.”

But LVMH is doing something about these statistics. Read more here.

Fine craftsmanship is essential in the luxury industry

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Brands are coming together for London Craft Week to remind consumers of the importance of fine craftsmanship and its essential role in the luxury industry.

London Craft Week is a new event that will take place from May 6-10, highlighting all elements of craft and bringing together skilled craftsmen and brands from around the world. Fine craftsmanship is an important element of luxury, and brands can help form closer connections and justify expensive prices by reminding consumers of the extensive work that goes into creating products.

Read more here.