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Yesterday was a head-spinning day in the markets. After President Donald Trump announced out of the blue that he would be placing a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for many countriesexcluding Chinastocks rallied. As noted by CNBC, the S&P 500 had its biggest one-day gain since 2008. It surged 9.52% to 5,456. Meanwhile, the Dow rallied 7.87%, and the Nasdaq climbed 12.16%. Yet despite the market recovery, one stock had a particularly bad day. WW International, Inc. (Nasdaq: WW), owner of the WeightWatchers brand of weight management products, saw its shares crash over 62%. Heres what you need to know about the WW stock plunge. WW International reportedly mulling Chapter 11 bankruptcy The main driver of WW International, Inc.s stock price fall yesterday was a report from the Wall Street Journal that said the company was preparing to file for bankruptcy in the coming months. After the report was published, WW stock plummeted. Its important to note that WW International has said nothing publicly about any bankruptcy plans or the WSJs report. However, the WSJ cited people familiar with the matter in its reporting. Fast Company has reached out to WW International for confirmation of its bankruptcy plans. According to the report, one of the big financial challenges affecting WW International is that the company has over $1.4 billion worth of bonds and loans that are set to come due in 2028 and 2029. The report also says that the company would prefer to restructure its balance sheet outside of court processes, but because WW International is publicly traded, that option is likely not feasible. Ozempic and a lackluster 2024 The report notes that one of the main challenges WeightWatchers has faced in recent years is the rise of weight loss drugs like Ozempic. This, combined with an aging subscriber base and a failure to attract younger users, has resulted in a diminished brand image. Partly due to the above, the company has faced financial headwinds. In February, WW International reported its full-year Fiscal 2024 results, in which it said that it made $785.9 million in revenues but that subscription revenues were down 5.6% from the year earlier. The company also reported an operating loss of $236.2 million for fiscal 2024 and a net loss of $345.7 million. Announcing its results at the time, the companys new CEO, Tara Comonte, acknowledged the company was in a period of significant transition as we navigate industry shifts and reposition our business for long-term growth. In 2024, the company launched a telehealth arm aimed at providing weight loss drugs, but that endeavor has struggled. Early in 2024, WeightWatchers lost its most prominent board member, Oprah Winfrey, when the media mogul announced her departure from the company because she wanted to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest with a TV show she was making about weight loss drugs. WW stock plummets After the Wall Street Journal published its report about WW Internationals alleged bankruptcy plans, WW stock plummeted yesterday. Shares fell a staggering 62.21% in the trading session. But while that is a massive double-digit drop, it only equated to a per-share loss of slightly over 28 cents. WW shares had already been below $1 per share since early February. They ended up closing at 0.175 yesterday. As of the time of this writing, in premarket trading this morning, WW shares have recovered slightlyup about 2.9% to around 18 cents per share. Year to date, WW shares have fallen over 86%, and over the past 12 months, WW shares have declined more than 91% as of yesterdays close. Over the past five years, WW shares are down more than 99%. Back in June 2018, WW shares traded above $100 per share.
Category:
E-Commerce
Jason Momoa is a tough act to follow. Especially if youre a Guinness marketer. Last year, the brand partnered with Momoa to direct and star in a U.S. spot for his favorite beer that ended up getting 13 billion impressions. So this year, Guinness decided to celebrate an even more valuable partnerits actual customers and fans. For the newest iteration of the long-running Lovely Day for a Guinness taglinefirst rolled out in a 1935 ad campaignthe brand collected stories from customers across all 50 states. Among the stories is the Treme Brass Brand in New Orleans, who share pints of Guinness before taking the stage. The Chicago Plumbers Union are in there, as theyve been dyeing the Chicago River green on St. Patricks Day since 1962. Theres also Minnesotas Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza, which claims to be the worlds largest ice fishing competition. Guinnesss North American vice-president of marketing Joyce He says the goal was to illustrate how Guinness is not just for St. Patricks Day or an Irish pub (though it is very much about those things). As we delved into the work, the bit that bubbled up that felt so magical was, instead of writing a story and casting actors, we know there’s real people out there who love the brand and have their real Guinness moments, so let’s go and find them, says He. Real fans Created with agency Uncommon, the new campaign solicited stories from real U.S. customers before St. Patricks Day to find as many as it could to feature. The move is the latest example of a brand shining the spotlight on its own customers for a major advertising moment, like Taco Bells Super Bowl ad featuring more than 400 fans. The more than 250-year-old brand has seen a surge in popularity recently, even running short on supply in the UK ahead of the holidays late last year. Some credit the boost to an overall interest in stout among younger customers, which includes the viral splitting the G social trend. Whether youre aiming to get your beer level down to evenly split the word Guinness on a pint glass in your first sip or not, He is hoping the diversity of locations and occasions in the new campaign will give people ideas. We know there’s a massive opportunity beyond the pub, she says. Of course, a Guinness in a pub is amazing and magical, but it’s also really great with Mexican food, and Asian food, and seafood and oysters. I think what’s worked really well for us is honestly just staying true to what’s been true about the brand for over 260 years, and just finding new ways to share that with beer people and being really, really focused about it. Commercial tradition Guinness has long navigated the balancing act between its Irish heritage and the place of prominence in pubs and St. Patricks Day that comes with it and extending its reach to a broader audience. Here are three of its best-ever ads to defy the Guinness stereotype. Surfer (1998) Directed by Jonathan Glazer (The Zone of Interest, Under The Skin, Sexy Beast), this ad won every major advertising award, and has been named by many as one of the best commercials of all-time. Sapeurs (2014) Here the brand heads to Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, in celebration of the Society of Elegant Persons of the Congo, or Sapeurs. Created with AMV BBDO, the spot spotlights a real group of men from all walks of life, who make up the group united by a love of style. The ad was also complemented by a short doc called The Men Inside The Suits, and won director Nicolai Fuglsig a 2015 Directors Guild Award for Outstanding Achievement in Commercials. Compton Cowboys (2018) This was another portrait of a compelling group of friends, this time in Compton, California. Another from AMV BBDO, the ad is told from the perspective of Keenan Abercrombie, who tells us about how he and his friends care for and ride horses in their city better known for its gang violence.
Category:
E-Commerce
Over the last year, there has been no shortage of new career trends: From the great stay to revenge quitting, employees are rethinking their careers, their relationship to their employers, and redefining what success looks like as we potentially head into a recession. The latest trend: the glass elevator. Just like in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the glass elevator can take you in any direction in your career. We are seeing a new glass elevator trend in the workplace, where more people are opting for horizontal job moves at their current employer instead of seeking a different role at a new company, shares Jennifer Roberts, AVP of talent and organizational development, AT&T. This glass elevator takes you not just up and down but sideways and, in any direction, people looking for growth and new career possibilities are moving to other disciplines or organizations. Roberts shares that she has seen many of their employees switch careers every 3 to 4 years to gain new experience, without having to leave the company. In fact, she says that at AT&T, they saw 12,800 lateral moves in 2024. She and other leaders expect to see more job-function crossover in the years to come. So, should you get on the glass elevator or not? Are you better off making a horizontal move or taking that set of stairs towards your next promotion? Heres three things to consider before you decide to get on this elevator: Will this help with your job security?Layoffs are continuing only a few months into 2025. A number of companies either cut jobs already this year or have more layoffs planned. And for many organizations, a potential recession plus the inflation rate will force leaders to make tough calls when it comes to their workforce this year. They wont just be eliminating roles that are no longer needed, but may also need to let go of individuals in order to survive as a company. If you are concerned about stability in your current role and notice that your projects are no longer a priority for the company, its time to get your resumé ready. And consider both internal and external opportunities. This might be a moment to look at a horizontal move: to go and take an assignment in a part of the organization thats growing, and where they need more talent to scale their efforts. You can look at internal openings, and you can also make connections and meet leaders overseeing new initiatives where they may need your skillset. Or they like your background and experiences and are willing to invest in upskilling you. A horizontal move in this case can help you with job security and also help you gain new experience and continue to grow in your career. Will you have training and support to take on this assignment?Before stepping on the glass elevator and accepting a horizontal move, be sure to ask if you will have the support to be successful in this role. Here are questions to consider before taking on this move: How long will this assignment be for?Gain an understanding of how long you are expected to be in this role. Things may change in the organization, and knowing how long leadership expects you to be in this role can help you mentally prepare for this commitment. Will my prior role be backfilled?Ensure your manager and leadership is aligned to your moving to this new assignment. Dont put yourself in a position where you are required to do your old job and your new job for an extended period of time. You and the team wont be set up for success. What does success in the role look like?Review the job description with your future manager. Also ask what success looks like for them. What will they have hoped you would have accomplished a year from now? Are there KPIs/goals/metrics they can share? Will you have access to training and on-boarding? Are there mentors you will be paired with who can help you learn how this team works and how to get your job done? Reflecting on these questions and getting some of the answers will help you determine if this is the right next move for you. Whats next after this ride on the glass elevator? One of the best pieces of career advice my father ever gave me was this: Every assignment is a stepping stone to what you are meant to do next. And sometimes, I was so busy getting that next assignment, that next promotion, that next big initiative, I didnt stop to think about what happens after it ends. I never asked myself or others what I should plan to do next; I wish I had been more proactive, instead of reactive, in my career. If you are going to get on the glass elevator, and take a horizontal job, make sure to ask the question: What comes after this? Its important to discuss this with your network at work before committing to this new assignment. Talk to your current manager, former managers, the person who may be your future manager on this assignment, and trusted colleagues and mentors at work. Get their advice and perspective, particularly if they have taken on a horizontal assignment in their career. Once you finish this assignment, what would you do next? Would you go back to your former division, or take on another assignment on this team? What does the path to promotion look like after taking on an assignment like this? How does this make you more or less marketable internally as a candidate for roles? The glass elevator may or not not be the right next career move for you. And in this current market, its important to explore all options, particularly if you want to stay and try to grow in your current company. So whether you take the stairs or get on the glass elevator, make sure you ask the right questions so you can make the best decisions, both in the short term and long term, for your career.
Category:
E-Commerce
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