WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials are sounding the alarm about teenage use of e-cigarettes, calling the problem an "epidemic" and ordering manufacturers to reverse the trend or risk having their flavored vaping products pulled from the market.

2. Nike's Kaepernick Campaign Signals Change in Shoe Politics - Monday, September 10, 2018

A pair of shoes are set aflame with a cigarette lighter, captured on video and shared widely online to protest a political statement made by the manufacturer.

The New Balance shoes were burned by their owners two years ago after a spokeswoman indicated the company's support for President Donald Trump's trade policies.

3. VF Corp. will Shed its Denim Division - Tuesday, August 14, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) — The company that makes Wrangler and Lee jeans is breaking off its denim division to focus on its fast-growing outdoor and activewear business as Americans swap out jeans for yoga pants.

4. Inflation, Gas Prices, Tariffs Squeeze Consumers - Thursday, August 2, 2018

The price of a can of Coca-Cola? Likely going up. A package of Pampers? That too. Plane tickets? They also may be more expensive. These items and more may cost more in the coming months as people start feeling the effects of higher fuel prices and raw-material costs as well as a range of tariffs.

5. ServiceMaster Posts 8 Pct. Growth in Q2 Revenue - Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Memphis-based ServiceMaster Global Holdings Inc. reported an 8 percent increase in revenue Tuesday, July 31, for the second quarter compared to a year ago.

6. Small Business-Focused CPA Firm Opens Second Arkansas Office - Monday, July 30, 2018

With a recently completed merger, a Memphis accounting and payroll firm that works exclusively with small businesses is expanding its presence in Arkansas.

Patrick Accounting of Memphis has merged with Massey CPA Group, a small business accounting and bookkeeping firm based in Sherwood, Arkansas, effective Thursday, July 26.

7. Power Equipment Maker to Add 200 Tennessee Jobs, Invest $10M - Thursday, July 19, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A power equipment manufacturing company is slated to invest $10 million and add 200 full-time jobs at its Tennessee operations.

According to the state Department of Economic and Community Development, MTD Consumer Group Inc. plans the additional production at its facility in Martin over the next five years.

8. Fashion Firms Upend Design Routine to Focus on Speed, Trends - Wednesday, July 18, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – Prototypes? Passe. Fashion company Betabrand saw that knitwear was a hot style in sneakers and wanted to quickly jump on the trend for dressier shoes. It put a poll up on its website asking shoppers what style they liked, and based on that had a shoe for sale online in just one week.

9. Bain Capital Buying Varsity Brands for $2.5B - Saturday, June 23, 2018

Memphis-based Varsity Brands Inc. is being purchased by Bain Capital Private Equity in a deal Varsity says will help it "accelerate our growth to the next level."

10. Bain Capital Buying Varsity Brands for $2.5B - Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Memphis-based Varsity Brands Inc. is being purchased by Bain Capital Private Equity in a deal Varsity says will help it "accelerate our growth to the next level."

11. Integrated Model - Wednesday, June 13, 2018

With a newly designed call center inside its 570,000-square-foot South Memphis facility, iQor is planning to make 100 new hires by the end of the summer. The global managed services provider is looking to extend the scope of its aftermarket product services in Memphis.

12. Vaping Essays: E-Cigarette Sellers Offering College Scholarships - Monday, June 11, 2018

A growing number of e-cigarette and vaporizer sellers have started offering college scholarships as a way to get their brands listed on university websites and to get students to write essays about the potential benefits of vaping.

13. Last Word: The Commutation, Tuition Freeze and Blackburn and Sundquist - Thursday, June 7, 2018

Alice Marie Johnson walked out of a federal prison in Alabama Wednesday after serving 21 years of a life prison sentence for dealing drugs and laundering money as part of a Memphis drug ring with Texas connections in the 1990s. Johnson’s release came the same day that President Donald Trump commuted her life sentence less than a week after he met with reality television personality Kim Kardashian West who appealed for Johnson’s release. Here is the Associated Press story.

14. To Get Around Pharmacy Gag Rules, Ask About Drug Costs - Thursday, June 7, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – "Do you have prescription insurance?" It's one of the first questions consumers hear at the pharmacy counter, and many hand over their insurance cards in the hopes of getting a good price. But sometimes using insurance can actually cost more – and even prevent the pharmacist from saying so.

15. Department Stores Making Themselves Over in Beauty Battle - Monday, June 4, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – It's the beauty aisles themselves getting makeovers now.

Department stores are being forced to rethink how they sell higher-end makeup and perfume as competition intensifies from discounters like Target, specialty chains like Sephora and Ulta and online brands. So stores like Saks and Macy's are promising workouts for your face, augmented reality and beauty treatment concierges as they try to attract millennial customers and make the cosmetics aisles more of a destination than a stopover.

16. 100 North Main - Saturday, June 2, 2018

The city’s tallest building, the 37-story 100 North Main Building – may or may not become the city’s second convention center hotel. But the skyscraper that has been vacant for four years and counting is the centerpiece of a 3-acre planned commercial complex anchored by a 600-room hotel, no matter where it winds up in the footprint. The complex, as much as the hotel, promises to change more than the city’s convention business.

17. FDA Warns Teething Medicines Unsafe, Wants Them Off Shelves - Thursday, May 24, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal health officials warned parents Wednesday about the dangers of teething remedies that contain a popular numbing ingredient and asked manufacturers to stop selling their products intended for babies and toddlers.

18. Macy's Sees Robust Mobile, Online Sales as Profits Soar - Thursday, May 17, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – With shoppers in a mood to spend, particularly on clothing, Macy's surpassed profit and revenue expectations for the first quarter of the year and raised its outlook.

The company reported its second straight quarter of higher sales at existing stores after a three-year funk. Its shares surged nearly 9 percent Wednesday, and the stocks of other department store chains rose as well. The rosy performance bodes well for J.C. Penney and Nordstrom, both set to report their quarterly results on Thursday. All are working to appeal to shoppers who are spending more online rather than at department stores.

19. Walmart Unveils Lord & Taylor Site as it Tries to Go Upscale - Thursday, May 17, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – Walmart, long known for its "everyday low prices" mantra and as a place for basics, wants shoppers to think of it as a source for style and upscale fashion as it tries to reach more affluent customers.

20. Report: Goldman Looks to Partner With Apple on Credit Card - Friday, May 11, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – Goldman Sachs and Apple are looking to partner together to create a new credit card, the first foray by Goldman Sachs into the $1 trillion credit card market, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing unnamed sources.

21. Sitting It Out - Tuesday, May 1, 2018

An oil change concept growing like wildfire over the past couple of years will enter the Memphis-area market in Germantown in the next two to three months. Louisiana-based Take 5 Oil Change was acquired by Charlotte, North Carolina-based Driven Brands two years ago and subsequently started to grow its footprint throughout the Southeast, increasing from 60 locations to roughly 300 from Texas through Virginia.

22. Memphis-Based Radians Acquires LFS Glove - Saturday, April 28, 2018

Safety Supply Corp., the parent company of Memphis-based safety equipment manufacturer Radians, announced Monday, April 23, it is acquiring LFS Glove from Bellingham, Washington-based LFS Inc.

23. Agency Warns Retailers Not to Sell Juul E-Cigarette to Kids - Wednesday, April 25, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal health officials on Tuesday announced a nationwide crackdown on underage use of a popular e-cigarette brand following months of complaints from parents, politicians and school administrators.

24. US Brands Suffer Collateral Damage in Chinese Corporate War - Tuesday, April 24, 2018

SHANGHAI (AP) – The rivalry is so notorious it's been called the "great cat-and-dog war." On one side towers Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., China's e-commerce market leader, embodied by the black cat mascot of its Tmall platform. On the other is JD.com Inc., a fast-growing upstart represented by its white dog logo.

25. Memphis-Based Radians Acquires LFS Glove - Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Safety Supply Corp., the parent company of Memphis-based safety equipment manufacturer Radians, announced Monday, April 23, it is acquiring LFS Glove from Bellingham, Washington-based LFS Inc.

26. Starbucks to Close Stores for Afternoon for Bias Training - Wednesday, April 18, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) — Starbucks, trying to tamp down a racially charged uproar over the arrest of two black men at one of its stores in Philadelphia, plans to close more than 8,000 U.S. stores for several hours next month to conduct racial-bias training for its nearly 175,000 workers.

27. Volkswagen Replaces CEO Mueller, Announces New Structure - Friday, April 13, 2018

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) – Volkswagen replaced CEO Matthias Mueller with core brand head Herbert Diess on Thursday and said it is creating a new management structure to enable faster decision-making as autonomous and electric cars transform the industry.

28. Wyndham-Owned Hotel Chains Getting Brand Names Tweaked - Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Some familiar hotel chains are getting their names tweaked. Wyndham Hotel Group announced Tuesday that it's adding the words "by Wyndham" to 12 hotel brand names.

Days Inn becomes Days Inn by Wyndham. Ramada will be Ramada by Wyndham. Super 8 becomes Super 8 by Wyndham.

29. Nine West Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection - Monday, April 9, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – Nine West Holdings Inc. has filed for bankruptcy protection, the latest retailer to do so as it attempts to restructure its debt and refocus on its more successful products.

30. Frontier Gun Maker Remington Seeks Bankruptcy Protection - Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Remington, the storied gun maker that began turning out flintlock rifles when there were only 19 states in the Union, has filed for bankruptcy reorganization amid years of slumping sales and legal and financial pressure over the Sandy Hook school massacre.

31. First Horizon Among Top Companies for Women Executives - Friday, March 16, 2018

For the seventh straight year, the parent company of First Tennessee Bank – where women comprise more than 60 percent of the workforce – has been honored as one of the top companies in the nation for female executives.

32. Spectrum Brands Combining With HRG in $10B Deal - Tuesday, February 27, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – Consumer products company Spectrum Brands is combining with its biggest shareholder, HRG Group Inc., in a deal valued at $10 billion.

33. Twitter Makes Money for First Time Ever, But Problems Remain - Friday, February 9, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – Twitter made money for the first time in its nearly 12-year history, a milestone that satisfied investors in the short term but might not resolve the company's broader problems any time soon.

34. Dunkin' Donuts to Stop Using Foam Cups by 2020 - Thursday, February 8, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – Foam cups at Dunkin' Donuts will soon be history, removing what the company estimates will be a billion of them each year from the waste stream.

Dunkin' said Wednesday that the polystyrene foam cups will be completely phased out from its stores globally by 2020.

35. Another Round: American Whiskey Makers Toast Strong Sales - Friday, February 2, 2018

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – American whiskey makers toasted another round of robust sales in 2017, stirred increasingly by consumers' thirst for the priciest spirits – mixed in cocktails or sipped straight up.

36. Three(i) Creative Evolving With A Focus on Political Communications - Thursday, February 1, 2018

Kenneth Worles Jr. has been passionate about politics since the 2008 election when he got involved in projects for former city Mayor A C Wharton and the congressional campaign of Ricky Wilkins. His friends describe him as an “urban politico.”

37. More Caffeine, Please: Keurig Is Buying Dr Pepper Snapple - Tuesday, January 30, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – Keurig is buying Dr Pepper Snapple Group, bringing together the make-at-home coffee brand with the company behind Dr Pepper soda, Mott's apple juice and Snapple iced tea.

38. Despite Merry Holidays, Retailers Face Challenges in 2018 - Tuesday, January 16, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – Retailers are riding high after ebullient U.S. consumers shopped at the healthiest pace in more than a decade over the holiday season. But merchants can't afford to rest easy.

39. Exit Strategy - Friday, January 12, 2018

When Kroger’s Delta Division announced last week it would shutter its stores at 1977 S. Third St. in the Southgate shopping center and 2267 Lamar Ave. near Airways Boulevard, there was already a considerable history of what might follow the Feb. 2 closing.

40. Gibson Guitar Factory Property Fetches $14.4M, New Midtown Tiki Bar Opening Soon - Monday, January 1, 2018

145 Lt. George W Lee Ave.

Memphis, TN 38103

Sale Amount: $14.4 million

Sale Date: Dec. 27, 2017

Buyer: Somera Road Inc., Tricera Capital

41. Blankenship Named President Of Coldwell Banker Collins Maury - Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Sean Blankenship has joined Coldwell Banker Collins Maury as president, coming to the Collierville-based full-service real estate firm after serving as chief marketing officer for Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. In his new role, Blankenship will focus on growing the company’s presence in the greater Memphis and northern Mississippi markets.

42. Tyson Announces $300M Facility in Tennessee - Saturday, November 25, 2017

Springdale, Arkansas-based Tyson Foods has announced it will create more than 1,500 jobs and invest more than $300 million into a new facility in Humboldt, Tennessee, about 85 miles northeast of Memphis.

43. Tesla Wants to Electrify Big Trucks, Adding to Its Ambitions - Monday, November 20, 2017

DETROIT (AP) – After more than a decade of making cars and SUVs – and, more recently, solar panels – Tesla Inc. wants to electrify a new type of vehicle: big trucks.

44. Walmart Sees Strong Online Sales Lift Third-Quarter Results - Friday, November 17, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) – A surging online business and strong food sales boosted Walmart's results Thursday ahead of the holiday season, a day after its rival Target offered a cautious forecast that overshadowed progress it has made in bringing more customers to its stores.

45. Shipping Container Retail Village Coming to Medical District - Monday, November 6, 2017

A shipping container retail village is planning to open in the Memphis Medical District in mid- to late-November as part of an effort to give entrepreneurs a creative alternative to traditional bricks and mortar.

46. Seeing the Future With ‘Macroforces’ - Tuesday, October 31, 2017

A keynote talk from the 2017 Back End of Innovation Conference by Tom LaForge, founder and CEO, Macroforces LLC. Tom LaForge begins the conference asking, “What is a macroforce and why should they be important to you?”

47. Gibson Plans to Sell Downtown Factory, Build a New One - Monday, October 30, 2017

145 Lt. George W. Lee Ave., Memphis, TN 38103: Nashville-based guitar maker Gibson Brands Inc. confirmed Friday, Oct. 20, it is putting its Downtown Memphis factory on the market and plans to build and lease a new facility nearby.

48. Whimsy Expands Into Franchises - Monday, October 30, 2017

The co-owner of a Memphis-based cookie company with one retail store in East Memphis is about to turn her simple recipe for sweet treats into a nationwide enterprise.

Whimsy Cookie Co. founder and co-owner Laurie Suriff said she’s on the verge of launching a franchise-based expansion for the business she started in 2006 out of her home. The plan is to replicate the Whimsy model – built around a pink, whimsically designed experience inside the store and thick sugar cookies with colorful frosting – starting with a location opening in Little Rock in December.

49. Highline Aftermarket Expands Memphis Facility - Saturday, October 21, 2017

Highline Aftermarket, a manufacturer and distributor of automotive chemicals, lubricants, parts, tools and related accessories, is expanding its existing Memphis presence and headquarters in Memphis.

50. U of M Files $33.5M Permit for Land Bridge - Monday, October 23, 2017

570 Houston St. 

Memphis, TN 38111

Permit Amount: $33.5 million

Owner: University of Memphis

Details: The University of Memphis has filed a $33.5 million building permit application with the Office of Construction Code Enforcement to move forward with a parking garage and a long-awaited land bridge over the Southern Avenue railroad track.

51. Highline Aftermarket Expands at Memphis HQ - Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Highline Aftermarket, a manufacturer and distributor of automotive chemicals, lubricants, parts, tools and related accessories, is expanding its existing Memphis presence and headquarters in Memphis.

52. Ring Partners With Conagra On PAM Spray Bottles - Saturday, October 14, 2017

Ring Container Technologies, a product packaging and plastic container manufacturing company based in Oakland, Tennessee, has completed a collaboration with Conagra Brands to create a new plastic bottle for PAM Cooking Spray.

53. Truck Mania Event Coming to Memphis International Raceway - Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Memphis International Raceway will host the Spyder Offroad Performance Truck Mania event Saturday, Oct. 14, featuring The Enthusiast Network’s most popular Four Wheeler and Truck Trend brands, including everything from pickups to wreckers, rigs and more.

54. Ring Partners With Conagra on PAM Spray Bottles - Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Ring Container Technologies, a product packaging and plastic container manufacturing company based in Oakland, Tennessee, has completed a collaboration with Conagra Brands to create a new plastic bottle for PAM Cooking Spray.

55. Wright Investments To Buy Up to $400M in Hotels - Saturday, October 7, 2017

Wright Investments, a Memphis-based hotel management, investment and project management company, is planning to acquire up to $400 million in hotel properties over the next two to three years by investing the firm’s newly raised Hospitality Opportunity Fund II.

56. Jump Around With The Fans In Madison - Thursday, October 5, 2017

Weather makes all the difference in making a destination a memorable or miserable experience. Chalk fall up as a fantastic time to visit Wisconsin.

I spent a long weekend to close out September in Madison, Wisconsin, with a quick stopover in Chicago. Specifically, I visited Madison and had a day in Chicago before flying home late Sunday night. I chose to fly direct to Chicago instead of making a connection to fly into Madison. It was cheaper and I also had friends driving up from Cincinnati. So we all drove on together from Chicago, about a two-hour drive.

57. ServiceMaster Appoints Persson To Lead American Home Shield Spinoff - Wednesday, October 4, 2017

The ServiceMaster spinoff of American Home Shield will be overseen by a former Ingersoll Rand executive with experience in corporate spinoffs and their development

Dion Persson has been appointed senior vice president of business development for ServiceMaster Global Holdings, the Memphis-based provider of residential and commercial services, the company announced on Monday, Oct. 2.

58. ServiceMaster Appoints Persson To Lead American Home Shield Spinoff - Tuesday, October 3, 2017

The ServiceMaster spinoff of American Home Shield will be overseen by a former Ingersoll Rand executive with experience in corporate spinoffs and their development.

Dion Persson was appointed senior vice president of business development for ServiceMaster Global Holdings, the Memphis-based provider of residential and commercial services, on Monday, Oct. 2.

59. ServiceMaster Appoints Persson To Lead American Home Shield Spinoff - Tuesday, October 3, 2017

The ServiceMaster spinoff of American Home Shield will be overseen by an Ingersoll Rand executive with experience in corporate spinoffs and their development

Dion Persson is senior vice president of business development for ServiceMaster, the Memphis-based provider of residential and commercial services announced Monday, Oct. 2.

60. Hotel Management Co. to Buy Up to $400M in Properties - Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Wright Investments, a Memphis-based hotel management, investment and project management company, is planning to acquire up to $400 million in hotel properties over the next two to three years by investing the firm’s newly raised Hospitality Opportunity Fund II.

61. Week Ahead: Oct. 2-9 - Monday, October 2, 2017

Hey, Memphis! Prepare to rock out this week as the Mempho Music Festival hits Shelby Farms Park and Wilco plays The Orpheum. Plus, Beale Street memorializes one of its own, Memphis legal pros discuss the Confederate monuments issue, and much more in The Week Ahead…

62. Velcro's Video Implores Consumers to Say 'Hook and Loop' - Wednesday, September 27, 2017

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – Lots of pop songs have hooks. This one has loops, too. Velcro Cos. this week released a music video with a message it hopes will stick as well as its products: "Don't Say Velcro."

63. Target is Raising Minimum Hourly Wage to $15 by End of 2020 - Tuesday, September 26, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) – Target Corp. is raising its minimum hourly wage for workers to $11 starting next month and then to $15 by the end of 2020, a move it says will help it hire and keep the best employees and make shopping a better experience for customers.

64. Tennessee Taco Opens in Former Los Compadres Space - Monday, September 11, 2017

3295 Poplar Ave.
Memphis, TN 38111

65. Drivers Whose Cars Were Flooded by Harvey Can't Find Rentals - Wednesday, September 6, 2017

BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) – His three vehicles flooded by Hurricane Harvey, Jason Bell checked at one car-rental office only to find about 2,500 people ahead of him on the waiting list. When he tried a more out-of-the-way location, the reservations still numbered about 300.

66. Alchemy Owners Buy Interim Restaurant - Wednesday, September 6, 2017

The owners of Cooper-Young’s Alchemy Memphis are buying East Memphis eatery Interim Restaurant & Bar.

Tony Westmoreland, executive chef Nick Scott, and Ed and Brittany Cabigao are purchasing Interim, located at 5040 Sanderlin Ave., from Eat Here Brands, which also owns Babalu in Overton Square.

67. VW Plots Return to Relevance in US Following Diesel Scandal - Tuesday, September 5, 2017

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) – Volkswagen is rolling out its plan for re-selling most of the cars involved in the German automaker's diesel emissions cheating scandal.

Volkswagen brand head Herbert Diess told reporters after a board meeting at Volkswagen's lone U.S. plant in Tennessee on Thursday that the fallout from the scandal "is something we need to live with" as the company seeks to regain relevance and market share in the United States.

68. Rhodes’ Wigginton Shaping Campus Culture in New Role - Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Rhodes College has appointed Russell Wigginton vice president of student life and dean of students. In his newly created role, he will provide leadership for student success and help shape the campus culture for a diverse and inclusive student body.

69. Igniting Customer Advocacy - Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species” indicates it’s not the strongest of species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one that is most adaptable to change. Likewise, your marketing strategies must evolve to align with the changing ways consumers are progressing through the customer lifecycle. For example, many are relying much more on advocacy, often in the form of social media reviews by customers, than they are on brand messaging to drive purchase decisions.

70. Tech Companies Banishing Extremists After Charlottesville - Friday, August 18, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) – It took bloodshed in Charlottesville to get tech companies to do what civil rights groups have been calling for for years: take a firmer stand against accounts used to promote hate and violence.

71. Consumers Reports Pulls Microsoft Laptop Recommendation - Friday, August 11, 2017

Consumer Reports is pulling its recommendation of four Microsoft laptops after one of its surveys found that users were complaining about problems with the devices.

The consumer advocacy group said Thursday that it can no longer recommend Microsoft laptops or tablets because of poor reliability compared to other brands. Microsoft said the findings don't accurately reflect Surface owners' "true experiences."

72. Red-Hot Growth for Pyro’s Fire Fresh Pizza - Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Pyro’s Fire Fresh Pizza has blazed quite a trail over the past five years by growing to five Memphis-area locations, and now co-owners Chad Foreman and Kirk Cotham are turning their sights toward expansion through the southeastern U.S.

73. Gillette Out, ServiceMaster to Spin Off Unit - Thursday, July 27, 2017

To Memphians, Rob Gillette is the ServiceMaster Global Holdings Inc. leader who moved the company’s headquarters from East Memphis to Downtown and put the old Peabody Place Mall back in use.

74. Last Word: No Assumptions, Riverfront Concepts and A Tale of Two Teams - Wednesday, July 19, 2017

The “Midtown is Memphis” arch in Overton Square is no more. Vanished this week as the former Chiwawa is being converted to Indian Pass Raw Bar – for those of you new to Memphis, these are both restaurants – one former and the other future.

75. Monogram Foods Taps Vanness for Role as CIO - Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Memphis-based Monogram Foods has tapped a woman who joined the company in 2013 to fill a newly created position of chief information officer.

Having a female executive at a company like Monogram in charge of IT is something of a rarity, according to Joan Vanness, who was promoted to the new role after joining Monogram first as senior vice president for information technology.

76. Verizon Takes Over Yahoo to Complete $4.5 Billion Deal - Wednesday, June 14, 2017

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Verizon has taken over Yahoo, completing a $4.5 billion deal that will usher in a new management team to attempt to wring more advertising revenue from one of the internet's best-known brands.

77. RedRover Adds Will Cook As Design Architect - Wednesday, June 14, 2017

RedRover Sales & Marketing has added three new employees in recent months, including design architect Will Cook, who has more than 10 years of graphic design experience and comes to RedRover from The Commercial Appeal and Savant Learning Systems. In his new role, Cook primarily designs print and web collateral for RedRover’s clients while also assisting the sales and marketing teams in other ways, including participating in sales meetings and calls.

78. Women Are Not Robots - Tuesday, June 6, 2017

A Front End of Innovation Conference talk by Erica Eden, director, Global Design Innovation, PepsiCo. “We don’t treat women like people,” Erica begins this talk. “If you look across multiple categories, the overall hypothesis is that the men’s brands cast a shadow over the women’s brands.”

79. It's Primetime at Amazon.com ... Shares Hit $1,000 - Wednesday, May 31, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) – Amazon, the internet goliath that revolutionized the way much of the world buys books, toilet paper and TVs, hit a new milestone Tuesday. Its stock surpassed the $1,000 mark for the first time.

80. Science Behind Empathy and Storytelling - Tuesday, May 16, 2017

A talk by Tim Urmston, Seek Co. founder and CEO, from the Front End of Innovation Conference 2017. Connecting brands with people they serve through insights, story, ideas and strategy – this is what supercharges a project.

81. In The Bag: Coach Buying Kate Spade for $2.4 Billion - Tuesday, May 9, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) – Coach will spend $2.4 billion for Kate Spade, tying together two premier brands in the luxury goods sector that have fought to snare younger shoppers.

Noting that crucial demographic, Coach Inc. CEO Victor Luis said in a statement Monday that Kate Spade has a "strong awareness among consumers, especially millennials." Coach executives say that 60 percent of Kate Spade customers are in that group.

82. Nearing 100 Days, Trump Says His Presidency is 'Different' - Tuesday, April 25, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – For nearly 100 days, President Donald Trump has rattled Washington and been chastened by its institutions.

He's startled world leaders with his unpredictability and tough talk, but won their praise for a surprise strike on Syria.

83. Shaffer Named Executive Director Of Rebranded BLDG Memphis - Wednesday, April 19, 2017

John Paul Shaffer recently was named executive director of BLDG Memphis, the rebranded entity that brings the Community Development Council of Greater Memphis and Livable Mem-phis under a single organizational identity.
In his new role, Shaffer’s job is to guide the organization in its mission of supporting neighborhood revitalization through a network of organizations and individuals working in the community development space – which BLDG Memphis does primarily through organizational capacity building, community education and engagement, and public policy and advocacy – as well as to promote the new brand. 

84. Retail Group: Sales to Grow 3.7 Percent to 4.2 Percent - Thursday, February 9, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) – Despite a bumpy holiday season, chains like The Limited shutting down and department stores such as Macy's closing stores, the largest retail trade group says it's still optimistic that sales will grow this year – especially online.

85. JT Returns and Mr. Clean Channels Magic Mike - Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Buzz is building around this year’s Super Bowl ads, which will feature Justin Timberlake, political controversy, Mr. Clean as Magic Mike, and the first-ever live ad.

In another record-breaking year, with ad costs exceeding last year’s $5 million per 30-second spot, big brands are, once again, putting it all on the line. Some will score big and others will be nursing a multimillion-dollar headache Monday morning. Here’s what we know so far.

86. Despite Scandal, VW in Running for Global Sales Crown - Wednesday, January 11, 2017

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) – It's ironic: Volkswagen spent 2016 battling a huge scandal over cars it rigged to cheat on emissions tests.

And now stands a decent chance to pass Toyota for the title of world's biggest carmaker for the year.

87. McDonald's Sells China Business in Deal Worth Up to $2.1B - Tuesday, January 10, 2017

HONG KONG (AP) – Fast-food giant McDonald's is selling a controlling stake in its China business to a group of investors led by state-owned Chinese conglomerate Citic in a deal worth up to $2.1 billion, the companies said Monday.

88. Snowball Express Benefits Local Families Who Lost Military Parent - Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Seven local families are in Dallas/Fort Worth this week for the 11th annual Snowball Express Weekend, an all-expense-paid holiday gala for children of fallen military heroes.

They are among approximately 1,800 children and spouses of fallen military participating in the event that runs Dec. 11-15.

89. Last Word: St. Jude Dollar Amounts, Fred's On The Move and The Treble Clef - Friday, December 9, 2016

Grizz over the Trailblazers 88 – 86 Thursday evening at the Forum. At the end of the first half, Grizz coach David Fizdale had to be restrained by players on the way off the court after a technical was called on him. And welcome to Memphis, Toney Douglas. We love what you are doing with the fourth quarter.

90. Volkswagen Bets on New Technology to Bounce Back From Crisis - Wednesday, November 23, 2016

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) – Volkswagen's namesake brand hopes to bounce back from its diesel emissions scandal with a broad restructuring that will mean more battery-powered cars, digital services such as ride-sharing, and more SUVs for the U.S. market.

91. Grizzlies’ New Speaker Series to Enhance Bond With Businesses, Fans - Thursday, November 17, 2016

On the court, the Memphis Grizzlies have a new head coach in David Fizdale and have remixed the roster with a heavier sprinkling of youth.

Change in the NBA is inevitable. And that’s true off the court, too, where business-side and sales employees are always seeking new ways to engage with the community and grow the fan base.

92. Another Bid From China for US Hotel; $6.5B for Hilton Stake - Tuesday, October 25, 2016

NEW YORK (AP) – HNA Group is snapping up a 25 percent ownership stake of the Hilton hotel chain for about $6.5 billion, the latest attempt by a Chinese interest to acquire real estate in the U.S.

93. A S Hospitality, Teraco Create Partnership - Saturday, October 8, 2016

A S Hospitality, a division of Dexter Solutions, a leading brand delivery services company, has officially signed a long-term partnership with Teraco that further expands its products and services for the hospitality market. The multi-year agreement names A S Hospitality as Teraco’s sole distributor of hotel key cards.

94. A S Hospitality, Teraco Create Partnership - Friday, October 7, 2016

A S Hospitality, a division of Dexter Solutions, a leading brand delivery services company, has officially signed a long-term partnership with Teraco that further expands its products and services for the hospitality market. The multi-year agreement names A S Hospitality as Teraco’s sole distributor of hotel key cards.

95. Hospitable Market - Saturday, September 17, 2016

The Memphis area hotel market continues on its solid run of the past few years, led by the Downtown submarket with strong occupancy and room rates. The pipeline for new Downtown hotel projects is loaded, with as many as 15 projects in various stages of development and hotel construction picking up in other parts of the county.

96. Last Word: Mike McLean's Campaign, Jimmy Carter and Beyond Disparity Studies - Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Mike McLean is running one heckuva campaign for Clerk of the Courts. Some of you are thinking, “Why haven’t I heard of that position before?” “Who is the incumbent?”

97. Use Instagram to Gain Share - Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Now with more than a half-billion users, mobile photo-sharing site Instagram has surpassed Twitter in popularity. In fact, according to GlobalWebIndex, it is the fastest-growing major social media network.

98. Last Word: SEC and GMF, Wiseacre's Growth and Apartment Action - Thursday, August 11, 2016

The Securities and Exchange Commission has been investigating Global Ministries Foundation since mid-July. The revelation turned up Wednesday in a Memphis Federal Court filing by the receiver appointed to oversee and sell the Tulane and Warren apartments.

99. Wal-Mart Buying Online Retail Newcomer Jet.com - Tuesday, August 9, 2016

NEW YORK (AP) — Wal-Mart is buying fast-growing online retailer Jet.com for $3 billion in cash plus $300 million in stock, scooping up a newcomer that launched a year ago with the intention of challenging online leader Amazon.

100. AAA Auto Club Says Not All Gasoline Is The Same - Friday, July 8, 2016

Many motorists are clogging their car's engine by not using gasoline with enough added detergents.

That's the conclusion of a study released Thursday by the AAA auto club.

Federal rules in place since 1996 require all gasoline to have some engine-cleaning additives, but many major brands have extra detergents. AAA said tests it commissioned from an independent lab found that lesser gasolines left 19 times more deposits on engine intake valves than so-called top-tier fuels after the equivalent of 4,000 miles of driving.