Latest news with #brand
GSM Arena
a day ago
- General
- GSM Arena
Samsung Galaxy A17 renders leak Comments
29 July 2025 You'll have trouble telling it apart from its predecessor from the front.
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why Your Brand Is Your Only Defense Against AI's Sea Of Sameness
How does your brand show up in AI? Imagine discovering that 40% of your potential customers never see your website, never click your ads, never even know you exist because an AI answered their question first. This isn't fiction, it's happening today: traffic to company sites has dropped up to 30% as consumers skip Google for ChatGPT. But here's what separates tomorrow's market leaders from today's casualties: In a world drowning in AI-generated sameness, your brand becomes the life raft. When machines evaluate options for humans, only brands that have prepared for an AI-first world will thrive. The rest become invisible. The AI opportunity most brands are missing Yes, Google's market share dipped below 90% for the first time since 2015. Yes, AI chatbots processed 55.2 billion visits last year. But here's what most people aren't realizing: AI doesn't replace brand value - it amplifies it. The data confirms this opportunity: A recent Bain report sited that while 80% of consumers use AI for search, conversion rates through AI-powered discovery are already 2x higher than traditional Google search for certain categories. Adobe reports AI-referred traffic to retailers exploded 1,200% between July 2024 and February 2025. According to Adobe, traffic to U.S. retail websites from Generative AI sources jumped 1,200 percent. Why strong brands win the AI algorithm game Here's the counterintuitive truth: As AI generates more content, brand differentiation becomes more valuable, not less. Why is that? Large language models trained on billions of web pages naturally develop preferences for established, trusted brands. When asked for recommendations, ChatGPT doesn't randomly select options - it synthesizes patterns from authoritative sources, reviews, and expert opinions. Strong brands dominate these training datasets. Companies will increasingly get new customers directly from AI-driven recommendations. A brand's success won't happen by chance, but rather the result of deliberate brand-building strategies that work with AI, not against it. The playbook for AI brand dominance Forget keyword stuffing. AI models value: Brands implementing comprehensive schema markup will see higher inclusion rates in AI-generated responses. Traditional SEO metrics become secondary to new KPIs: Develop content explicitly designed for AI consumption: Instead of generic chatbots, create AI representatives that embody your brand: The future isn't just AI talking to humans - it's AI marketing, negotiating, selling, and servicing with AI: Measuring success in the AI-first world Traditional metrics need AI-era upgrades. Instead of just tracking organic search rankings, click-through rates, and time on site, start measuring the AI metrics that matter such as AI recommendation frequency, brand authority score in LLM responses, AI agent-assisted conversion rates, cross-platform AI mention sentiment, and zero-click value capture. Now is the time to start your brand's AI-readiness plan. The choice is binary: Either your brand becomes the default AI recommendation in your category, or your competitors will. In a world where content is AI-generated and there's a sea of sameness, your brand isn't just your differentiator - it's your survival strategy. The companies investing in AI brand dominance today will own the customer relationships of tomorrow.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ty Haney Officially Returns to Outdoor Voices
She's back. Confirming a badly kept secret in the apparel industry, Ty Haney has officially returned to Outdoor Voices, the brand she founded in 2013. More from WWD Obagi, Milk Makeup Owner Waldencast Enters Filler Market With New Acquisition Ulta Beauty Acquires Space NK as It Speeds Up International Expansion How Blu Scarpa Plans to Scale With The Help of Fiat Heir Lapo Elkann Actually, Haney has been quietly working with the company for nearly a year, creating product and brainstorming on how to reimagine the brand. But with a capsule collection ready to launch on Aug. 4, it was time for the official reveal. 'I formally started last August,' Haney told WWD. 'It's been so much fun to reactivate, reconnect to the vision, work on product and evolve what was an awesome brand into an awesome brand for today.' The first hints that something was afoot came last week when Outdoor Voices erased its Instagram feed, added the brand's former motto 'Doing Things' to its web page and followed just one person, Haney. That led to widespread speculation that she was returning. Her official role is founder, partner and co-owner and she will lead product, brand and creative, along with community engagement and activations to help refocus the brand identity and engage with new generations, as well as core consumers who already have a connection to the company. Haney said she has repurchased a company stake and is working with a team that includes Katie Siano, president; Tiffany Wilkinson, the former creative director who has rejoined the brand in that role, Jessica Guzman, the new design director, and Mariel O'Brien, general manager and chief operating officer. Last June, Consortium Brand Partners, a fund manager and brand-building company founded by three former Marquee Brands executives, purchased the troubled activewear brand for an undisclosed price. Corsortium, which is led by Cory Baker, Michael DeVirgilio and Jonathan Greller, is one of the new players in the brand management business, joining Authentic Brands Group, WHP Global, Bluestar and the founders' former firm, Marquee. Over the years, Outdoor Voices had faced numerous financial challenges, internal management rifts, excess inventory that had to be sold at off-price channels, cash flow issues, a revolving door of executives and store closures. Last spring the company's 16 remaining stores abruptly closed after Outdoor Voices reportedly stopped paying a number of its vendors and neglected to pay rent on some of the stores for months, according to published reports. Once a direct-to-consumer darling, Outdoor Voices established a strong Millennial following for its colorful leggings and tops and its exercise dress with shorts underneath. It also created a popular social media presence with its hashtag, #DoingThings, where customers would share images of themselves enjoying athletic activities. The company frequently hosted events such as group exercise classes. In 2018, the brand was valued at $100 million, but that dropped to $40 million in 2020. Haney abruptly resigned from the company in February 2020, and Mickey Drexler, an investor and chairman since 2017, stepped down the following July. The two reportedly clashed over management styles, among other issues. Haney was succeeded as chief executive officer on an interim basis by Cliff Moskowitz, the former president of InterLuxe, a New York investment firm. Haney returned to Outdoor Voices in June 2020 when it received funding from NaHC03, the investment management company run Ashley Merrill, founder and CEO of sleepwear brand Lunya. She became the new chairman of Outdoor Voices and Haney took an active role as one of the company's board members. Merrill took on the role of interim CEO last fall, but both she and Haney soon exited. Haney said she was introduced to Consortium by Keith Miller, an early investor in Outdoor Voices, around the time of the purchase. But because she was already busy running her other two successful start-ups — Joggy, a plant-based energetics brand, and Try Your Best, or TYB, a Web 3.0 platform that brings together brands and consumers to build value — it wasn't on her mind to rejoin OV. TYB recently closed an $11 million series A funding round. 'I have two companies that I've been running since I left after Outdoor Voices, and they're both going very well. So I It wasn't really on my mind to consider reengaging with OV,' she said. 'But I got to meet Cory and his partners from March to August, and really get a sense for what they were excited about, and vice versa, and I got comfortable with the idea, and excited and energized about being part of it again. So I've formally joined back.' She believes the niche that Outdoor Voices dominated in the early days still represents an opportunity today, albeit in an updated way. 'You'll see in the product imagery, the collection still is rooted in movement and all materials meant to sweat in, but it's much more bold and fashion-forward and lifestyle-oriented underneath this umbrella of recreation. So a fresh and exciting perspective and really pushing it into a new version of itself.' She admitted that there were some dark days during the first go-round, but she looks at it as a learning experience. 'I look back on my experience with OV, and 90 percent that first chapter was awesome — 10 percent was hard. But I'm grateful for the masterclass in learning.' The biggest lesson she learned was that any successful company needs to have a seasoned chief operating officer. Because no one had that position at OV, there was a 'massive gap from an operating leadership perspective,' she said. So Haney said when creating Joggy and TYB, her first hire for both was a chief operating officer. At Outdoor Voices, that role will be assumed by O'Brien. 'I've been a lot more thoughtful in my businesses since then,' she said. When Consortium bought the company, its plan was to stabilize the business and eventually add categories, open stores and explore international distribution. That's the game plan it is following for its other acquisition, Draper James. Consortium also owns Jonathan Adler, in which it bought a majority interest last January. David Peyser Sportswear is also an investor in Outdoor Voices. 'The consumer doesn't see [Outdoor Voices] as depressed,' DeVirgilio said last fall. 'We have to put time and money into this brand, and we will,' Baker added at the time. 'Our job is to reengage the consumer with good product in an authentic way.' The team is even more positive now that Haney is front and center again. 'We are thrilled to welcome Ty back to the company she founded,' said Baker. 'She is a visionary founder whose creativity and strategic insight are unmatched. With her at the helm, the brand is returning to its roots with renewed purpose and energy. This is a homecoming in every sense — and one that positions OV for an exciting new chapter.' Haney said although the new Outdoor Voices will be online initially, she envisions the company eventually getting back into retail. 'For the foreseeable futures, we'll be owning and creating strength with our own website. But given how important the IRL kind of activations and physical touch points are to a movement brand, I am certain that we'll start to open stores at some point.' The capsule that will launch next week will feature technical apparel and accessories that honor the brand's heritage, but in a modern way. Haney said the brand will also be hosting an activation in New York in September. Haney was born in Long Beach, Calif., and grew up in Boulder, Colo., where she ran track competitively. But the brands she wore to run were always boasting that they could make someone 'harder, better, faster, stronger,' she said in 2018. So she set out to create an activewear brand focused on having fun rather than performing at the highest level. 'As you get older, activity takes on a whole new meaning: it's less about this harder, faster kind of pressure-oriented positioning and all about freeing fitness from performance, and that's what OV is built on.' Haney is now a mother of two and wife to country singer Mark Wystrach, lead singer of Midland. Best of WWD EXCLUSIVE: Maje Names Charlotte Tasset Ferrec CEO Nadja Swarovski Exits Family Company Amid Ongoing Corporate Shakeup Aeffe MD Exits Fashion Group Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
How Smart Entrepreneurs Use Content To Build A Powerful Digital Empire
Your goal as an entrepreneur is to grow, no matter what industry you're in. How your passion manifests in your projects or eventual companies doesn't matter. You want to reach a larger audience, connect with like-minded individuals worldwide and boost your visibility. Having navigated this space and observed countless others, I've seen firsthand the profound impact of mastering this aspect of business. Using content strategically to establish online authority may be one of the most well-traveled paths in the tech-driven age. The question is how to ensure your content performs well and achieves the objective of building a robust digital empire. Whether you're testing the waters as a solopreneur or looking to reinvigorate an established brand, here's a blueprint you can follow. They Learn What Drives Performance Creating online content isn't a creative writing class. It's also not the same as turning in an A+ research paper. You don't always get points for showing up and doing the work. Instead, you must learn what genuinely performs in the digital world and resonates with audiences you'll likely never meet face-to-face. Some core elements of good communication still apply in the online world. Your voice must establish and build trust, which you achieve by weaving thought leadership into your content. Show your audience why they should listen to you. Talk about your expertise and experiences while relating to their perspectives or needs. Beyond that, delve into what makes you unique, including any proprietary knowledge you've gained. Simultaneously, allow your creative juices to shine. Storytelling is often more effective than simply presenting cold, hard facts when you aim to connect with an audience. Numbers and charts don't evoke the same feeling as an illustration of their real-world impact on an individual. Facts are easy to gloss over and dismiss due to cognitive bias or dissonance. But it's more difficult to ignore someone's firsthand account of how they've been affected by a company's actions. It's why a single client testimonial can be so powerful. SEO-driven visibility is another critical element. If your content isn't showing up in organic searches and isn't click-worthy, your keywords aren't relevant enough to do their job. They Practice Consistency Iconic brands are recognizable for reasons beyond sheer popularity. There's something about the identities of these companies that remains constant, whether it's core messaging, characters featured in commercials and on packaging, or a familiar logo—their identity stays the same. Smart entrepreneurs approach their content with the same mindset. They understand the power of consistently putting it out there, knowing it will take more than a few pieces to truly drive engagement and convert. Just as relationships take time to build, requiring constant dialogue, the content entrepreneurs create becomes the conversation with their audiences. Being consistent with your publishing schedule and the information you offer shows audiences they can trust you. The meat of what you produce also becomes a way for them to recognize your voice and brand identity. Audiences come to recognize these characteristics, reminding them of what initially drew them to your content while providing additional reasons to keep consuming it. They Leverage Platform Diversification And Collaboration The number of content creators isn't slowing down. With a current estimated worth of $104.2 billion, the market size is expected to double by 2027. There are around 200 million active content creators in the world, making the opportunities for collaboration seem endless. Building a powerful digital empire means recognizing that you can expand your reach through community. Collaborating with others in your niche, including influencers, naturally demonstrates your content's value. There may be opportunities to offer online classes in your area of expertise and promote in-person or online workshops. Such collaborations introduce you to a wider network while opening doors for the monetization of your knowledge. Diversifying your content by experimenting with various formats and platforms is another key means of expansion. You might consider investing in a social media strategy, for example. This doesn't mean you need to be on every social media site, but you can certainly grow by trying out different tools. LinkedIn and Substack, for instance, offer a wealth of content-creation features. Substack is a platform that lets you create long-form and short-form posts, videos, and subscriber chats. You could also offer free and paid subscriber content to different audience tiers. Your Digital Empire The point of building a digital empire is to set up a system for attracting and converting target audiences. At the same time, you want to establish your place in your industry or niche while inspiring authentic conversation. Using content to accomplish long-term business growth isn't a one-way street—it involves far more than simply putting up a website and creating a YouTube channel. Although it might start with actions like these, leveraging content to fuel growth is truly about learning what works and what doesn't. Treating content creation as a discipline—by being consistent with your voice, topical authority and brand identity—is essential. Otherwise, people may not perceive your content as reliable and trustworthy. Finally, diversifying your reach can expand your market while strengthening relationships within your niche.
Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Collapse of fashion label The Vampire's Wife investigated
The fallout from the closure of a cult fashion brand worn by royalty and celebrities remains unresolved as investigations continue into events leading to its collapse. The Vampire's Wife was launched by Susie Bick, the former supermodel and wife of the musician Nick Cave. The brand's Falconetti dress was worn by the Princess of Wales for her official portrait alongside Prince William, completed by Jamie Coreth in 2022. Other customers included the actors Jennifer Aniston and Rachel Weisz, the model Kate Moss, and singers Florence Welch and Kylie Minogue. Harry Styles, the singer, and Brad Pitt, the actor, have the label's custom-made tote bags. The company went into administration in July last year after receiving a tax bill from HM Revenue & Customs, which was owed more than £700,000. The administrator's accounts showed that although the company had £852,000 in a bank account, its total estimated financial deficiency was £1.18 has already settled an outstanding bill from a financing company recorded as being owed £600,000 after it called in his personal guarantee. The winding up of a company normally ends within 12 months, but the administrators have been given more time after saying they are investigating the brand's affairs prior to its collapse. The administrators stated in their most recent report: 'Initial assessment of the company's records suggested that there could be a matter that might lead to recoveries for the insolvent estate and thus further investigations were considered necessary.' Bick, 58, launched the label in 2014 and named it after an unfinished novel written by her Iovine, co-founder of Interscope Records and Beats Electronics, made a significant investment in the company in 2019. Bick's son, Arthur, died aged 15 in a fall from a cliff near Brighton after taking LSD in 2015. Cave's album, Ghosteen, was written in the aftermath. Bick announced the closure of the fashion label in an Instagram post in May last year, writing: 'I wish to thank my extended family at The Vampire's Wife who helped me create such beautiful things.' Cave, 67, later wrote on social media: 'The Vampire's Wife was not just a clothing company, it was a pure and necessary articulation of the grief that Susie felt in the wake of the death of our son, Arthur. 'The Vampire's Wife was Susie's Ghosteen … Susie's dresses were an attempt to give her grief form by throwing fabric over an invisible boy, as an act of love, an act of mercy, and an act of contrition… 'The clothes Susie created were objects of devotion, sacred things that will live on regardless of the brand's fortunes.'
