And I'm a Muenster on the Hill |
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"There's a clinical study out there that shows you have two years more mental acuity if you take multivitamins every day." — Michael Costello |
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1. Taylor Swift Boosted United's Flight Sales by a Quarter |
United Airlines is experiencing a significant boost in demand, attributing a 25% increase in flight bookings to Taylor Swift concerts during weekends when she has performances abroad. Andrew Nocella of United highlighted Swift's impact at a recent travel industry conference. It's not just international flights getting a bump; domestic travel within the U.S. is also feeling the Swift effect.
The pop star's Eras tour is proving to be an economic powerhouse. Market research suggests that the tour could contribute as much as $5 billion to the global economy. While United Airlines itself hasn't specifically added flights to cater to Swift's concert schedule, Southwest added more than 10 flights around her dates in Miami and New Orleans this October. That's nice of them, eh?
Swift also recently endorsed Kamala Harris for president, and today's polls show the race is still neck-and-neck. Harris will sit down with Oprah Winfrey next, and if that doesn't sway things, then I'm all out of ideas. Wait. Could Harris potentially offer a more substantial economic policy? Call me naive, but that seems to be the thing all the undecided voters seem to be saying matters to them most!
In unrelated news, Swift has been criticized for her private plane usage but claims to have bought double the amount of carbon credits needed to offset her private jet flights for the Eras tour. Aviation accounts for 2.5% of global CO₂ emissions, but it has contributed around 4% to global warming to date. It's Climate Week next week in New York City, and on Monday night I got invited to a comedy show about it called, simply, "Let's Not Die." Read More |
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2. McDonald's Launches Crocs Happy Meal |
McDonald's has just teamed up with footwear brand Crocs for the latest Happy Meal craze, and I'm Happy to tell you all about it because I have a journalism degree. Happy Meals now come with a dash of quirky style — an extra-special keychain that's a mini replica of Crocs, flaunting McDonald's themed flair. 🍔🍟 Your palm-sized (unless you're a small dog) Croc shoe, comes in one of 10 designs:
Golden Arches and Happy Meal Smile • Pure Golden Arches • The Classic Burger • Nugget Love • Fry Frenzy • Blue Character • Red Character • Scribble Smile • Happy Meal Box Pattern • Ballpit Bash
They really pushed the boat out, creativity-wise, with "Blue Character" and "Red Character," huh?
In totally unrelated news the oceans are teaming with plastic, and 20 percent of American schoolchildren are obese. Pairing toys with food gives your child a reason to pester you. God bless America! If only our former First Lady was doing more to counteract the pervasive influence of sugary drinks on our children. Wait… Read More |
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| What if we could explore the ocean like we explore space?
DEEP, a UK-based ocean technology firm, aims to "make humans aquatic." Their main project is the Sentinel system, an underwater habitat that allows people to live and work at depths of 200 meters (656 feet) for up to a month.
The Sentinel features interconnected modules that can be used for everything from studying ocean chemistry to exploring shipwrecks. Plus, it's super flexible—whether it's a six-person crew or a 50-person research station, it can be arranged in different setups to fit the needs. |
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3. Michelle Obama Makes Surprise Appearance at Costco: Let's Make Your Kid Healthier! |
Former First Lady Michelle Obama was seen at a Costco warehouse in Livermore, California, where she surprised customers with a sales pitch for her new healthy drink, Plezi Fizz. The name does not inspire excitement, but it's certainly better than "Blue Character" and "Red Character."
Onlookers were delighted to see her in person, engaging with a crowd and showcasing the beverage, which is healthy, calorie-free, and tastes good. A TikTok video captured the moment as shoppers gathered around to take photographs of the famous advocate for healthy eating.
Michelle's company, Plezi Nutrition, positions itself as a leader in creating healthy food and beverage brands. On its website, Michelle says starting with a beverage was crucial because of the widespread concerns regarding sugary drinks among parents and pediatricians.
The drink comes in flavors like Lemon Lime Squeeze, Cherry Limeade, and Strawberry Lemonade. Plezi Fizz boasts no added sugar, is rich in fiber, and contains 70% less sugar than leading fruit juices. Instead of sugar, the beverage uses plant-based sweeteners like stevia leaf extract.
Costco sells a case of Plezi Fizz containing 18 cans for $13.79. That's approximately the price of two Happy Meals at McDonald's. If only there were a revival underway for a nutrition store focused on helping people stay healthy. Wait… Read More |
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4. How GNC Emerged from Bankruptcy: Focusing on its "Coaches" |
When I was at my reasonably high-quality college, I had a part-time job working at a GNC store in Brighton, England. It was interesting. We sold a lot of protein shakes and homeopathic medicine. Something called "Bach's Rescue Remedy" used to fly off the shelves. Every couple of weeks a customer would ask me if we also sold anabolic steroids, and I'd have to say, "I'm afraid not." This would be a little sad. I eventually quit because they wouldn't give me Christmas Eve off, and my mum would have killed me if I'd missed it. The best salespeople in the store were the ones who knew all the products and could answer everybody's questions. It turns out, the firm's new CEO has recognized the value in having educated salespeople when he could have just asked me a quarter of a century ago.
The firm declared bankruptcy in 2020 and closed more than a thousand stores; however, they're still in business almost 90 years after their founding, and we caught up with their new CEO, Michael Costello, about the company's plans.
"We're focused on bringing trusted health solutions for consumers," he said. "And especially after Covid, many, many people are turning back to health and saying how important health is to them, but it's a confusing category out there. What do you trust? What should you take? And GNC is uniquely positioned to be that trusted advisor for you."
Michael was a GNC customer in the 1990s. "I bought my creatine there. I bought my protein powders." Now the big box stores sell protein powder and creatine. So "what GNC is really focusing on is making sure we get the right education for consumers. You come in; you have a lifestyle question. What people don't realize is when people say, 'I want to take more protein,' what do you want more protein for?"
The firm's coaches are now trained to ask lifestyle questions. "We're spending a lot more time over the last year shutting down stores, doing role play, putting more education out there so that our coaches are ready to help you in your journey," he said.
"There's a clinical study out there that shows you have two years more mental acuity if you take multivitamins every day," he said. "Or with a leucine protein, you can add 17% of your strength. You must find a trusted resource on these things."
The firm is also looking to help people who are taking GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Ozempic on their weight loss journeys.
"If you come off GLP-1s and are trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, we can talk to you about the right proteins and shakes to take to really help you maintain that weight that's been lost. We think about weight management. The beautiful thing is, I think as we meet these consumer needs, they'll reward us in business. And we're seeing that in the weight management category."
The firm has also continued to sell supplements like Glucose Trim and Slim for customers who "are just trying to lose those last 12 pounds," he said. Although, aren't we all? I was also recently introduced to the idea that one can be happy regardless of how much one weighs. Apparently such things don't matter quite as much as most Americans tend to think, and indeed, we're all obsessed with being thin to the detriment of our national character. But who am I to judge? Read More |
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5. It's A Good Day to Check Your 401(k) After Fed's Rate Cut Decision |
It took a day for the news to sink in, but the stock market hit records yesterday, following the Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates by half a percent. Analysts say the proactive stance by the Fed might just be the shield we need against the knee-jerk reactions to any unsettling data, especially when it comes to a volatile labor market.
Following a slight dip late on Wednesday, U.S. stock indexes made a remarkable comeback. The S&P 500 leapt by 1.7%. Hot on its heels, the Dow industrials rallied by 1.3%, a gain of about 520 points, crossing 42,000 for the first time. For savers, it's great news. If you have $500k in an S&P index fund, for example, then you'll be looking at a gain of about $8.5k yesterday. And, if you don't? Well then, it sucks to be you, I guess. Also: Sorry about that. At least you can afford a Happy Meal! Read More |
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