REPOST if you stand with AOC!

Bring in Angela Merkel!

Good. European legislation is better than American (🇺🇸) and Chinese 🇨🇳 regarding food safety.

James Watt didn’t just invent better steam engines—he marketed the Industrial Revolution.

By creating “horsepower,” he translated complex engineering into a language farmers and pit owners understood. His unit still defines power today, from F1 cars to Apollo 11. #Marketing #Innovation
#davetrott

Early in my marketing career we relied on focus groups-slow, expensive, but essential.

Today, AI-driven tools like Evidenza and ACE are revolutionizing market research, delivering insights in hours instead of months. A new era has arrived. #Marketing #AI #MarketResearch

Hakuhodo DY Holdings names new president and COO | News | Campaign Asia Yasuo Nishiyama and Kenji Nagura will join the new leadership team, with Masayuki Mizushima set to become chairman following Yuichi Toda's retirement.

#Hakuhodo’s leadership reshuffle follows its merger with DY Media Partners, set to take effect in Apr 2025. The unified entity will have 4,601 employees, with no job losses in Japan.

Big decisions loom for Dentsu as it records thumping great 2024 loss - More About Advertising Dentsu must be considering withdrawing from the global stage after recording a whopping great 2024 l

#Dentsu is refocusing on media under its Mid-term Plan, scaling back CRM and, likely, creative. It signals a retreat from its global multi-disciplinary ambitions. Despite acquisitions its creative push struggled with rapid exec turnover, the future of its non-media businesses is uncertain.

Hakuhodo and DY Media Partners merge in Japan | News | Campaign Asia The two entities will merge by April 2025, uniting creative and media operations to form a 4,601-strong advertising powerhouse. Here's what it means for the advertising community.

#Hakuhodo and #HakuhodoDYMediaPartners
are merging effective April 1, 2025, to form a single entity with 4,601 employees. This move aligns with #HakuhodoDYHoldings’ strategy . The combined entity will retain the Hakuhodo name and continue collaborating with sister agencies.

In 2023, Sundar Pichai compared AI to fire and electricity. By 2024, businesses struggled to see value. Linus Torvalds called it “90% marketing, 10% reality.”

The real AI bubble is in denial. To unlock AI’s potential, focus on hard tasks, not just easy wins. Aim carefully and hit the target.

From Asics to DoorDash, these are the best ads of 2024, according to top agency creatives Leaders from Leo Burnett, Wieden+Kennedy, Havas and more reveal the 2024 ads they wish they’d made – campaigns that captivated, sparked envy and exemplified the power of brilliant creativity.

Laura Esteves, VP of Creative at DM9 Brazil: “As a writer, runner, and Brian Cox fan, my pick is Asics’ ‘Desk Break’ campaign. A fresh take on mental health & wellness as businesses return to the office.”

Over the last decade, ‘Free Returns’ went from a perk to a problem. Returns doubled in 5 years (8% → 16%), tripling costs.
Retailers are pushing back: return fees, shorter windows, BORIS policies. But the friction risks hurting brands.
How brands handle returns is now brand-defining.

Honda and Nissan to begin merger talks amid EV competition Automakers eye eventual three-way tie-up with Mitsubishi as industry shifts

Honda and Nissan plan to enter merger talks, aiming to combine resources to compete with Tesla and Chinese EV makers, Nikkei reports. A holding company structure is under discussion, with a memorandum of understanding expected soon. Details on stakes to follow.

Indian-born CEO of Japanese company says nation needs immigration to thrive Japan has very few foreign-born CEOs, and boardrooms are overwhelmingly male.

The Indian-born CEO of Kameda Seika, Lekh Juneja, warns Japan must embrace more immigration to revive its economy and restore the glory of its boom years. Despite years of failed policies, Japan risks losing its competitive edge as global tech dominance slips. #JapanEconomy #Immigration

Once taboo, more Japanese women are brewing sake Not long after dawn, Japanese sake brewer Mie Takahashi checks the temperature of the mixture fermenting at her family’s 150-year-old sake brewery, Koten, nestled in the foothills of the Japanese Alps...

In the Edo period (1603–1868), women were banned from sake breweries, likely due to beliefs about impurity or the physical demands of production. Today, as gender barriers fall and Japan’s workforce shrinks, more women are joining the industry. “Now, it’s about passion, not gender.”

In 1843, Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol to expose the cruelty of child labour and the greed of the wealthy. Inspired by grim realities, he replaced cold facts with emotion, turning Scrooge into a symbol of change. His “sledgehammer” of storytelling still resonates today. #DaveTrott

“Product/Market Fit is a buzzword in startups, but have we got it backwards?
MediaTech Ventures’ Paul O’Brien puts it: “It should be Market/Product Fit. Start with the market, then design a product.”
Marketing isn’t just ads; it’s understanding, building, and creating demand before you launch.”

Why one company is training its staff to negotiate higher salaries - Raconteur Photoroom hopes improving the negotiation skills within the business will lead to better deals with suppliers and fairer compensation

“Empowering negotiators: Photoroom trains employees in negotiation, saving on supplier costs while boosting autonomy and salaries. CEO Matthieu Rouiff: ‘I’d rather pay people more and get good deals than pay less and lose impact.’ #Leadership #Innovation”

Influencer marketing doesn’t need more metrics — it needs more trust and collaboration between brands and influencers Despite its widespread use and significant impact, influencer marketing is surrounded by uncertainties, ambiguities and controversies, both for practitioners and general public.

Influencer marketing is now a part of brand strategy, but it’s not without challenges. From measuring campaign success to balancing authenticity and creative control, both brands and influencers face tough questions. Is the impact worth the risk?

Hello Kitty at 50: a Japanese success story of simplicity and cuteness The character has become a global phenomenon.

Hello Kitty just turned 50 and is still going strong! Worth $4B a year, she’s set to star in a live-action movie, with a new park and resort on the way. Her milestone was celebrated worldwide, from Japan to the UK! #HelloKitty50 #KawaiiForever

Thailand, Malaysia draw M&A interest as Asian ad giants hit pause: Report | News | Campaign Asia A new SI Partners' report reveals Asian advertising groups are under pressure to adapt or face acquisition—with Q3 2024 deal volumes up 7.2% and AI investments hitting $17 billion despite concerns ove...

In APAC, political tensions and post-Covid recovery slow M&A by Asian ad giants. #Hakuhodo eyes Southeast Asia despite challenges, while #Dentsu’s shift to Japanese leadership reshapes regional power.

Interesting. Didn’t Epstein also have his primary residence in Florida? Who else lives in Florida?

Otra decisión equivocada de la FIFA.

Key Stories on Japan's Retail & Consumer Markets in December JapanConsuming monthly report December 2024 issue is now out. The following is a summary of the latest issue, providing a quick update on all the key news and analysis in Japanese retail and consumer ...

Very insightful indeed for those interested in the Japanese market.

Seven retail trends for 2025 - Raconteur Trust in digital, the rise of resale and the revival of the department store, here are seven trends for resourceful retailers next year.

The future is uncertain, but these 7 trends are shaping:
1️⃣ Department stores make a comeback.
2️⃣ Sustainable farming ends cheap food.
3️⃣ Resale/rentals thrive with Gen Z.
4️⃣ Print media regains trust.
5️⃣ Nearshoring rises, China stays vital.
6️⃣ Ad overload risks trust.
7️⃣ Smart attire returns.
Stay ahead!

Más de 75 premios nobel se oponen a Kennedy como secretario de Salud de EU Varios de los nombramientos de Donald Trump para su administración han generado polémica.

#Internacionales | Más de 75 premios nobel han enviado este lunes una carta abierta en la que expresan su oposición al nombramiento de Robert Kennedy Jr como secretario de Salud de Estados Unidos. ❌

World War I showed “more is better” doesn’t always work, as Germany’s single 20mm cannon outperformed Britain’s 8 machine guns. WWII’s HMS Hood fell to similar thinking. Today, advertisers rely on repetition over creativity, proving once again: they’ve got more money than brains. #davetrott

In business, change is constant—but so is resistance to it. By 2022, employees faced 10+ major changes/year vs. 2 in 2016, leading to fatigue and just 43% willing to support change (down from 74%). Key to navigating it? Trust and team cohesion, which vastly boost change capacity. #Marketoonist

'A Shohei economy': How Shohei Ohtani's first year transformed the Dodgers financially It's been one year since the Dodgers agreed to terms with Shohei Ohtani on a 10-year, $700-million deal, and the impact has been bigger than imagined.

The Dodgers’ partnership blitz last season was like clockwork: ANA (Apr 1), Toyo Tires (Apr 4), Kowa (Apr 8), Daiso (Apr 22), and more—cosmetics, dairy drinks, EVs. All tied to Shohei Ohtani, signed a year ago today on a 10-year, $700M deal. His impact? Even bigger than expected.

Firms should quit turning foreign workers into Japanese ones Many foreigners struggle with the idiosyncrasies of Japan's employment system. Local firms tend to assimilate overseas personnel rather than utilize their unique skills.

Hiring foreign workers using the same criteria as local staff often leads to forced assimilation, undermining diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. This approach limits the full potential of foreign employees’ unique skills and contributions. #Diversity #Inclusion #WorkplaceEquality

Ricoh selected among Financial Times 'Best Employers Asia- Pacific 2025' Ricoh Co Ltd has announced its inclusion in the Financial Times' "Best Employers: Asia-Pacific 2025" list, securing the 35th position among 500 selected companies. This prestigious recogniti...

Ricoh Co., Ltd. has been named to the Financial Times “Best Employers: Asia-Pacific 2025” list, ranking 35th overall and 4th in the Tech Hardware category. This recognition highlights Ricoh’s commitment to inclusion, innovation, and employee growth across the region. #BestEmployers #Ricoh