MM Blend | 2016–2018
Vintage copies.
(№5; 10.11.18)
This impromptu newsletter is a curated blend of trends and other treats catered for folks from fashion and logistics to medicine and finance.
Rather than a quick read, think of this as a back-pocket reading list. Enjoy the spread. (this is personal opinion and not intended to reflect the view of my employer)
Cruising Altitude — Markets / Macro
The bird is the word these days, whether it’s twitter as a power outlet or razor scooter 2.0 flocking into your city. A 30,000 ft view of other topics people are chirping about….
The Ascent: Blockbuster Deals / Stock Market Records
Honey, We Shrunk the: Fastest Growing & Shrinking US Cities
Blockchain 101: Blockchain isn’t a Revolution
Procurement POV: Economic Outlook
In-Flight Service — Direct to Consumer
Peanuts, Pretzels or Cookies: How strangers reaffirm our purchase decisions, prime expectations, jet-setting the standard, ads gone old-school, and departmental disruption.
Getting into the Shopcart with Strangers: Online Reviews Impact Purchasing Decisions
Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Prime: The Prime Effect
Private Party!: Ours v. Smartly
Jet ne sais quoi: How Jet is Targeting Fashion
Advertising IRL!: Billboards / Out-of-Home
Branching Out: The Department Stores of Finance
First Class — Kids these Days
The digital-first generations’ relationship with technology is defining how brands communicate and use distribution channels to develop trust. As mobile reach continues to expand globally, to a younger audience, and the utility of social networks changes with maturity (i.e. Facebook as a search engine/event planner, Instagram for TV/reviews) — What will the next-gen swipe right for next?
Social Status: Teens Technology Report
Peer Pressure Calling: When Kids Get Their First Phone Around the World
Ghosted by Gen Z: Gen Z’s Migration from Social
Alone, Together: Millennial Co-Living (Case Study)
*Hits Snooze*: Waking up to a Grim Financial Future (Solution >> GPS for adulthood)
Turbulence (aka your credit card bill) — Accounting for the Subscription Economy
Looking at your personal P&L — with recurring expenses for media, fitness, food-services, and even clothes (after rent, insurance, health, loans) — when do subscriptions make sense?
Overview: State of the Subscription Economy
Overload: How Many Subscriptions
*Unsubscribe*: Nearly 40% of Subscribers Cancel
Spinning your Wheels: Pricing Teardown: Peloton / SoulCycle
Buy the Shoes: Understanding Cost per Wear
Destination: Flyover States
A Detroit-born, Spartan-bred, Charlotte-brewed and Manhattan-based perspective.
Rise of the Rest: Winners & Losers of the Startup Economy
Meeting in the Middle: What Tech M&A Knows
212 to 313: Cadillacs Move Back to Detroit Poses a Larger Question
The Exit Row: Bonus — Self-Love in an Age of Always-On
#16: 27 Daily Habits
Even Pros Need Lessons: Amygdala vs. Serena Williams
Prepare for Landing: Do: Coursehorse | Read: Ego is the Enemy | Eat: Charley Street
“Fac, si facis”
MM
(№4; 10.14.17)
In other real news, the world has been rather spicy lately. With global market tensions mulling (fires blazing and storms brewing) — everything is being served up with an extra shot…complete with a solid layer of frothiness and a PSL premium. Enjoy the spread.
Extra hot, no foam — coming in hot
To go please… wheels up
https://venturebeat.com/2017/08/23/blockchain-startup-winding-tree-could-upend-the-travel-industry/
Order ahead — prime expectations
Neither here nor there…https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/09/09/upshot/where-should-amazon-new-headquarters-be.html
Who wore it better…http://fortune.com/2017/09/25/amazon-sears-parallels/
Newton’s law of e-comm… https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/22/business/economy/warehouse-jobs
Taking notes (& names)…http://mashable.com/2017/10/20/stitch-fix-ipo-going-public/
Splash of almond milk — trendsetters
Speaking of Basics….https://www.newyorker.com/culture/on-and-off-the-avenue/how-everlane-hacked-your-wardrobe
Don’t run from something, run to something…https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/301078
And I think it’s fly when…https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-streetwear-brand-supreme-is-worth-1-billion-and-abercrombie-isnt-1508331601
Less baggage, fewer problems… http://www.retaildive.com/news/why-retailers-are-trying-on-showrooms/
Defining Design…https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/opinion/op-ed-why-retail-is-getting-experience-wrong
And in health…http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/why-health-care-is-ripe-for-digital-disruption/
Extra whip — things are getting tight
https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-provocative-look-at-the-harm-fromcorporate-heft
https://www.wsj.com/articles/this-market-cant-go-on-much-longer
Over Ice — hold the hangover please
https://www.wsj.com/articles/liquor-makers-need-to-sober-up-to-the-decline-in-teenage-drinking
Mobile Pay — ’cause it’s Friday night and I just..
Just get the cookie — treat yo-self
https://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbradberry/2015/01/27/13-habits-of-exceptionally-likeable-people
http://www.businessinsider.com/best-online-budget-apps-2017-6/#you-need-a-budget
http://www.businessinsider.com/what-it-takes-to-get-hired-on-wall-street-2017-9
Last byte: CB2, meet the new kid on the block- Project 62.
Last sip: https://cookieandkate.com/2014/homemade-pumpkin-chai-latte/
“You aren’t learning anything when you’re talking”
(№3; 04.11.17)
Good things come to those who wait. Like a smooth, bold French Press — best brewed with a bit of patience and quality grounds. Enjoy the spread.
US Politics — Check your twitter feed.
What’s All the Fuss About? — Across the Pond
French Twist: https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-04-03/a-le-pen-led-france-may-be-the-euro-crisis-that-draghi-can-t-fix
“Boring is sexy in a world where you have more volatility and political risk”
https://www.wsj.com/articles/europes-new-safe-haven-german-real-estate
Excellent Long Read (best for a DMV-esque wait line):http://www.vogue.com/article/british-prime-minister-theresa-may-interview-brexit-political-views
Waitin’ on A Tax Return — Finance / Business
How many licks does it take to get to the center of a market pop?:
Short Humans, Long Machines: http://fortune.com/2017/03/30/blackrock-robots-layoffs-artificial-intelligence-ai-hedge-fund/
Does this make my debt look big?: http://www.investopedia.com/partner/reuters/tpgs-j-crew-part-bad-retail-lbo-pattern/
Return Policy…No Bueno: https://www.wsj.com/articles/no-buyout-rescues-are-coming-for-battered-retailers
Follow-Up: Startups Leave Scars: https://www.wsj.com/articles/gillette-bleeding-market-share-cuts-prices-of-razors
MM Exclusive: The Department Store Saga — 60K+ Retail Jobs Reportedly Lost Feb-March
The Downfall: https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/news-analysis/americas-retailers-are-closing-stores-faster-than-ever
The Victim: https://www.buzzfeed.com/coralewis/america-lost-more-than-60000-retail-jobs-in-two-months
The Culprit: https://www.recode.net/2017/3/9/14872122/amazon-millennials-online-clothing-sales-stitch-fix
Snap it or it Didn’t Happen — Tech
Live Streaming- the Stock Market: http://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/06/spotify-may-go-public-without-ipo-report.html
There’s More to the Story…: https://www.fastcompany.com/3062593/clone-wars-why-instagram-will-legally-get-away-with-copying-snapchat-stories
http://mashable.com/2017/03/18/facebook-stories-vs-snapchat/
Progress Is Not Linear — Life / Strategy
The Key is the Point: http://www.inc.com/quora/elon-musks-surprising-strategy-for-thinking-about-everything.html
Subjective Success: https://hbr.org/2017/03/stop-reading-lists-of-things-successful-people-do
Make Mistakes, Take Chances….: http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-power-of-learning-by-doing-1484772179
Don’t Quit Your Daydream
http://www.vogue.com/article/top-travel-destinations-2017
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/travel/places-to-visit
The Last Sip:
Happiness Country in the World? Norway! (Runner-Up: Denmark. US #19)
(№2; 11.29.16)
Happy Cyber Hangover!
The perfect cure? This wallet (and waistline)-friendly assortment of hand-crafted articles to kick off the holiday season, of course.
Enjoy the spread — no coupon code necessary
Blend Blockbuster — A Must-Read
http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-need-to-read-1480083086
You’re Hired! 2016 — Election Topics
Bullish on being bullish: https://www.google.com/amp/www.wsj.com/amp/articles/baffled-by-donald-trump-analysts-tell-investors-to-bet-on-motorcycles-and-pizza
Oh you millennials….: https://apple.news/AlGPF0r1dQfSsqpztcKuv6Q
Does this come in gold? http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/26/business/a-donald-trump-led-trip-back-to-the-gold-plated-80s.html
Make the world honest again: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-25/fake-news-trump-and-the-pressure-on-facebook-quicktake-q-a
Changes are on the Menu — Finance
Catering now available: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/17/business/dealbook/goldman-sachs-bank-to-the-elite-makes-pitch-to-the-masses
Today’s fund du jour: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/28/business/dealbook/carlyle-group-turns-focus-from-hedge-funds-to-lending
Fintech spice: http://www.americanbanker.com/bankthink/blockchain-is-fintechs-real-game-changer
Investment banking & chips: http://www.wsj.com/articles/an-investment-bankers-guide-to-brexit-1480261038
Because You Watched Shark Tank….
Razor burn sucks: http://www.wsj.com/articles/online-upstart-harrys-razor-jumps-into-gillettes-turf-1478707250
Smarter than they seam: http://qz.com/829521/forget-wearables-in-the-future-your-clothes-will-connect-to-the-internet/
https://hbr.org/2016/11/how-predictive-ai-will-change-shopping
#Darwin’sFilter: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/21/technology/personaltech/instagram-introduces-new-features-that-mimic-twitter-and-snap-tools
While you were partying… : http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/25/business/dealbook/value-of-payments-provider-stripe-doubles-to-9-2-billion
How Amazon (& Mobile) Stole Christmas — remember when spend per click meant earning coins on Treasure Mountain?
Thumb power: http://qz.com/846415/black-friday-2016-report-shows-shoppers-broke-online-and-mobile-sales-records/
Discounts mean war: https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/news-analysis/holiday-price-war-intensifies-as-wal-mart-target-pursue-amazon
Consumer carbon: https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/intelligence/is-e-commerce-really-better-for-the-environment
RE-comm movement: http://www.wsj.com/articles/singapores-sovereign-wealth-fund-will-pay-2-66-billion-for-p3-logistics-parks-1478533935
Off-Price & Off-Topic: https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/intelligence/after-decade-of-growth-when-will-off-price-hit-saturation-point
Mind Your Manners — the US is Passing Gas: http://www.wsj.com/articles/new-milestone-the-u-s-is-now-a-net-exporter-of-natural-gas-1480258801
“Silent gratitude isn’t very much use to anyone”- Gertrude Stein
(№1; 10.18.16)
Free lunch meets free breakfast in today’s hand-crafted selection of relevant articles highlighting topics of macro views / sentiment, industry shifts, banking trends– amongst other treats.
Enjoy the spread.
MMM
Topics du jour:
Investing — when finance gets funky:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/everyones-worst-investing-fears-1476653219
Industry highlight– [not so] fast casual:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/restaurant-chains-get-burned-by-overexpansion-new-rivals-1476649241
Banking — buyouts and bad news bears:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-ultimate-earnings-fighting-championship-1476615601
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/09/business/wells-fargo-isnt-the-only-firm-that-needs-a-lesson
C&R feature– fashion / retail:
https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/fashion-tech/decoding-amazons-fashion-ambitions
https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/intelligence/anthropologie-super-store
https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/intelligence/whats-next-for-the-american-department-store
Real Estate:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/in-queens-residential-development-is-fueling-commercial-demand-1474248811
http://www.wsj.com/articles/health-care-reits-back-off-nursing-1476204787
VC / Entrepreneurial:
https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/people/uniqlo-fast-retailing-ceo-tadashi-yanai-management-principles
“I like it when somebody gets excited about something. It’s nice.” ― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
