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We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you’ve ever tried dragging a too-large speaker—or worse, relied on your phone’s tiny audio for sound projection—you should appreciate this sale on the Skullcandy Terrain Mini: It's palm-sized, no-frills, and currently on sale for $32.99 on StackSocial, with free shipping in the U.S. That price drop isn’t jaw-dropping, but for under $35, you’re looking at an IPX7-rated waterproof speaker that won’t be damaged if it's dropped or gets wet. The Skullcandy Terrain Mini features Bluetooth 5.3, ensuring a stable connection within a 33-foot range. The battery is said to offer 14 hours of playtime, which should cover most day-long adventures or at least a solid workday playlist without needing a recharge. When the battery dies, it can be charged using a USB-C port, which is included, so you won’t need to dig through old cords. It also comes with a wrist strap that you can clip to a bag or swing around like a lanyard when you’re on the move. As far as sound quality goes, it's decent on its own, but the True Wireless Stereo feature allows you to pair it with a second unit for true stereo separation. You can also use Skullcandy’s Multi-Link to chain together up to 99 of these. Realistically, you’ll probably never do that, but the option’s there if you ever want to DJ a flash mob. That said, this speaker doesn’t punch far above its size. It’s built more for casual, portable listening than booming bass or high-volume precision. The fabric mesh helps with durability and sound clarity, but it won't replace your home speaker setup. If you’re in the market for a rugged little speaker that’s waterproof, rechargeable, and easy to toss in a bag, the Skullcandy Terrain Mini fits. View the full article

If a recent pick-up gathers momentum, there could be a scramble to reset portfoliosView the full article

Reversal comes after equity indices hit a series of new records in recent weeksView the full article

Brand positioning is crucial for your business’s success in a crowded marketplace. By examining effective strategies from companies like Tesla and Nike, you can identify key elements that resonate with consumers. These examples highlight the importance of innovation, emotional connection, and unique customer experiences. Comprehending these strategies can guide you in crafting your own brand identity. As we explore these influential examples, you’ll discover actionable insights that can transform your approach to brand positioning. Key Takeaways Tesla’s Direct-to-Consumer Model enhances customer experience and control while promoting sustainable energy with innovative electric vehicles. Patagonia’s Environmental Commitment builds trust through transparency, eco-conscious initiatives, and high-quality products that resonate with environmentally aware consumers. Apple’s Emotional Connection fosters brand loyalty through creativity, storytelling, and a focus on user experience, making technology feel personal and relatable. Nike’s Inspirational Branding empowers athletes with a message of motivation, supported by product innovation and community engagement initiatives that deepen brand attachment. Ben & Jerry’s Social Activism integrates advocacy for social issues into its brand identity, enhancing customer loyalty through cause-related initiatives and unique flavor offerings. Tesla: Electric Cars and Clean Energy In regard to electric vehicles and clean energy, Tesla stands out as a prominent leader in the market. The company’s mission to accelerate the world’s shift to sustainable energy highlights its commitment to environmental sustainability. Tesla’s brand positioning strategy emphasizes high performance and safety, evidenced by features like Autopilot and the Model S Plaid, which can go from 0 to 60 mph in under 2 seconds. Unlike brand competitors, Tesla utilizes a direct-to-consumer sales model, enhancing the customer experience. Furthermore, by manufacturing its own batteries and components, Tesla maintains greater quality control and supply chain efficiency. These brand positioning strategy examples demonstrate how Tesla creates a strong brand community and cultivates customer loyalty, setting itself apart in a competitive environment. Apple: Think Different Apple’s brand positioning strategy revolves around innovation, elegance, and simplicity, which resonates with consumers seeking state-of-the-art technology. By adopting the slogan “Think Different,” Apple not only highlights its commitment to creativity but furthermore attracts customers who value individuality and forward-thinking. You’ll notice that Apple emphasizes product quality and user experience, nurturing a loyal customer base that associates the brand with status and premium offerings. The company effectively creates emotional connections by presenting its products as tools for enhancing creativity and productivity. Moreover, Apple’s marketing campaigns utilize compelling storytelling and striking visuals, reinforcing its brand ethos. This approach not only builds brand identity but also develops a community of users aligned with Apple’s values of innovation and excellence. Trader Joe’s: Your Friendly Neighborhood Store Trader Joe’s stands out as a grocery store that embodies the essence of a friendly neighborhood market, where community connections thrive. The brand offers a personalized shopping experience, making customers feel valued. You’ll find a diverse range of high-quality, affordable food products, including unique store-brand items that appeal to health-conscious shoppers. Their nautical theme improves the atmosphere, with playful signage and packaging that contribute to an inviting environment. Trader Joe’s commitment to value is evident through competitive pricing, often offering lower prices than traditional grocery stores. Furthermore, they engage customers with in-store events and product sampling, encouraging feedback and prioritizing satisfaction. This customer-centric approach creates a welcoming space where everyone feels at home. Dollar Shave Club: Shave Time. Shave Money Dollar Shave Club transformed the shaving environment by introducing a subscription model that delivers high-quality razors directly to your doorstep. This approach greatly reduces costs and eliminates the hassle of retail shopping. By using relatable marketing, featuring average individuals in humorous ads, the brand connects well with consumers, making them feel understood. Their slogan, “Shave Time. Shave Money,” effectively summarizes their value proposition of affordability and convenience. This resonates particularly with budget-conscious buyers. Nike: Just Do It Nike’s “Just Do It” slogan serves as a forceful example of effective brand positioning that transcends mere advertising. This iconic tagline, launched in 1988, has transformed Nike into a symbol of empowerment for athletes and everyday individuals. To understand its impact, consider the following elements: Shift in Brand Positioning: Nike moved from performance-focused to an inspirational brand, resonating with consumer aspirations. Influencer Collaborations: Partnering with high-profile athletes helps connect with diverse audiences and reinforces the brand’s motivational message. Product Innovation: Nike consistently emphasizes technology, like Flyknit and self-lacing shoes, enhancing athletic performance. Community Engagement: Initiatives like the Nike Run Club nurture loyalty and encourage sports participation, solidifying Nike’s market leadership. HubSpot: Helping Millions Grow Better In today’s competitive environment, HubSpot stands out as an important resource for businesses seeking to improve their growth strategies. By coining the term “inbound marketing,” HubSpot has transformed how companies attract and engage customers through valuable content instead of traditional advertising. Their all-encompassing suite of tools covers sales, marketing, and customer service, addressing diverse business needs. HubSpot’s user-centric approach includes extensive educational resources like blogs, webinars, and online courses, empowering you to utilize their software effectively. With over 100,000 customers in 120 countries, their global reach illustrates the impact of their customer-centric methodology. HubSpot’s commitment to continuous improvement guarantees that their platform remains relevant in a constantly changing digital environment, making it a crucial partner for your growth. Starbucks: One Person, One Cup, and One Neighborhood at a Time When you think about Starbucks, consider how they build community connections through their stores, creating a welcoming space for everyone. Their commitment to quality consistency not just applies to their coffee but likewise to the overall customer experience, ensuring you receive the same great service no matter where you are. Community Connection Starbucks effectively connects with communities by emphasizing a personalized customer experience, which is central to its brand ethos. This approach not only cultivates loyalty but also improves community engagement. Here are key elements of how Starbucks achieves this connection: Warm Atmosphere: Stores are designed to be inviting, encouraging social interactions among customers. Local Commitment: The company sources coffee ethically and supports local farmers, reinforcing its socially responsible image. Diverse Menu: An extensive menu caters to various tastes, making it appealing to different demographics. Active Engagement: Through social media and community events, Starbucks builds a sense of belonging among patrons, essential for its brand positioning strategy. These strategies demonstrate how focused efforts can strengthen community ties and improve brand identity. Quality Consistency Achieving quality consistency is crucial for any brand aiming to build trust and loyalty among customers. Starbucks exemplifies this by sourcing high-quality coffee beans and maintaining strict preparation standards, ensuring a uniform taste worldwide. Their baristas undergo careful training, reinforcing product quality and excellent customer service. By implementing standardized recipes and procedures, Starbucks allows customers to expect the same flavor and quality, regardless of location. Furthermore, their commitment to ethically sourced coffee not just improves taste but aligns with consumers’ preference for sustainability. The slogan, “One Person, One Cup, and One Neighborhood at a Time,” highlights Starbucks’ dedication to delivering a personalized yet consistent experience, making each customer feel valued while ensuring high-quality products. Airbnb: Your World Is Worth Sharing When you think about unique travel experiences, Airbnb stands out as a platform that connects you with community-driven accommodations. It allows you to explore diverse options, from cozy budget stays to luxurious retreats, all while nurturing a sense of belonging. Unique Travel Experiences Airbnb has transformed the way you experience travel by offering unique accommodations that connect you with local cultures and communities. Unlike traditional hotels, Airbnb allows you to stay in homes, apartments, and even unconventional spaces. This positions Airbnb as a leader in personalized travel experiences. Here are some features that improve your adventure: Diverse Listings: Choose from over 7 million listings, including treehouses, castles, and yurts. Local Hosts: Connect with hosts who share their culture, making your stay more authentic. User Reviews: Read real reviews to build trust and find the best accommodations for your needs. Unique Experiences: Participate in local activities and tours offered by hosts, enriching your travel experience. Community-Driven Accommodations By connecting travelers with local hosts, Airbnb cultivates a sense of community that enriches the travel experience. The platform emphasizes authenticity, allowing you to immerse yourself in local culture rather than a generic hotel setting. Airbnb’s slogan, “Your World Is Worth Sharing,” reflects its mission to promote cultural exchange and belonging. Its peer-to-peer model offers diverse lodging options, from budget to luxury, in over 220 countries, enabling hosts to earn income during providing unique experiences. User reviews and ratings build trust, ensuring quality across listings. Furthermore, Airbnb Experiences improves this community-driven approach by offering curated local activities hosted by residents, further deepening your connection to the destination and its people. Patagonia: Build the Best Product, Cause No Unnecessary Harm Patagonia‘s brand positioning centers on a clear commitment to environmental sustainability, as they strive to “build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm.” This mission drives the company’s decision to use only organic cotton and recycled materials in their products, showcasing a dedication to responsible sourcing. Here are key aspects of Patagonia’s strategy: Environmental Activism: They donate 1% of sales to grassroots organizations focusing on environmental issues, which boosts credibility. Worn Wear Program: This initiative encourages customers to repair, reuse, and recycle clothing, promoting a circular economy. Transparency: Patagonia provides detailed information about sourcing and production processes, cultivating trust among consumers. High-Quality Products: Their focus on quality guarantees customer satisfaction as well as minimizing ecological impact. Ben & Jerry’s: Peace, Love, and Ice Cream When you think about Ben & Jerry’s, consider how their commitment to social activism sets them apart in the ice cream market. Their unique flavor offerings, like “Chunky Monkey,” not just attract attention but likewise reflect a playful brand personality that resonates with consumers. This combination of ethical values and fun products makes them a strong example of effective brand positioning. Social Activism Commitment A strong commitment to social activism is integral to Ben & Jerry’s brand identity, setting it apart in the competitive ice cream market. Their approach not only attracts socially conscious consumers but likewise reinforces their values. Here are four key elements of their social activism commitment: Advocacy for Social Issues: They actively promote causes like climate change, racial justice, and LGBTQ+ rights. Cause-Related Flavors: Flavors like “P.B. Dough” contribute a portion of profits to various social initiatives. Public Statements: Their 2020 support for the Black Lives Matter movement emphasized their stance against systemic racism. Civic Engagement: They encourage voter registration and participation, demonstrating a dedication to democracy and community involvement. This multi-faceted strategy improves brand loyalty and drives meaningful change. Unique Flavor Offerings Ben & Jerry’s stands out in the ice cream industry not merely for its social activism but furthermore for its unique flavor offerings that cater to a wide array of taste preferences. The brand creatively combines ingredients in flavors like “Cherry Garcia” and “Chunky Monkey,” appealing to adventurous eaters. By offering limited-edition flavors, such as “Pumpkin Cheesecake,” they generate excitement and urgency, encouraging customers to make purchases during specific seasons. Their commitment to high-quality ingredients, including fair-trade and non-GMO components, reinforces their premium positioning. Moreover, engaging customers through social media campaigns allows fans to suggest new flavors, nurturing a strong community connection. This innovative approach not only improves customer loyalty but also sets Ben & Jerry’s apart in a competitive market. Playful Brand Personality Playful brand personality is an essential element in Ben & Jerry’s marketing strategy, as it helps the brand connect with consumers on a deeper level. To effectively adopt a playful brand personality, consider these key strategies: Engaging Slogan: Use a catchy slogan like “Peace, Love, and Ice Cream” that embodies your brand values and mission. Whimsical Offerings: Develop unique and fun products, such as creatively named flavors, that attract attention and create memorable experiences. Social Activism: Align your brand with social causes, demonstrating a commitment to important issues that resonate with your consumers. Visual Appeal: Incorporate colorful packaging and humorous language to create an approachable image, making your brand stand out in a crowded market. These elements can help nurture a deeper connection with your audience. Frequently Asked Questions What Is an Example of a Brand Positioning Strategy? An example of a brand positioning strategy is Nike’s “Just Do It.” This slogan effectively motivates customers by emphasizing performance and innovation in sportswear. It positions Nike as a brand that encourages individuals to push their limits and aim for excellence. By focusing on empowerment and achievement, Nike differentiates itself from competitors, creating a strong emotional connection with consumers. This strategy not only improves brand loyalty but likewise drives sales and market presence. What Is Nike’s Brand Positioning Statement? Nike’s brand positioning statement focuses on athletes and active individuals. It emphasizes empowerment, encouraging you to plunge into limits and achieve goals. The brand’s commitment to innovation and performance sets it apart in the sports industry. With the slogan “Just Do It,” Nike resonates with those seeking motivation. It targets a broad audience, from professional athletes to casual fitness enthusiasts, ensuring products meet diverse performance needs and reinforcing its image as a leader in athletic quality. What Is the Brand Positioning Strategy of Coca-Cola? Coca-Cola‘s brand positioning strategy emphasizes creating positive experiences tied to happiness and nostalgia. It markets itself as a staple during celebrations, nurturing emotional connections through campaigns like “Open Happiness.” The brand employs memorable advertising and sponsorships, particularly with major events, to elevate its global presence. Its consistent branding, including the signature red color and unique bottle design, guarantees recognition across various markets, reinforcing its identity as a cultural icon. What Is an Example of Strategic Positioning? An example of strategic positioning is how Tesla markets itself. It emphasizes innovation and sustainable energy, appealing to consumers who prioritize eco-friendliness. By focusing on high-performance electric vehicles, Tesla distinguishes itself from traditional car manufacturers. This approach not solely highlights its commitment to sustainability but additionally captures a specific customer base that values state-of-the-art technology. When you think of electric vehicles, Tesla’s unique positioning helps it stand out in a competitive market. Conclusion Incorporating effective brand positioning strategies can greatly improve your business’s market presence. By analyzing examples like Tesla’s commitment to sustainability or Nike’s motivational messaging, you can identify approaches that resonate with your target audience. Consider your unique strengths and values, then craft a clear and compelling narrative that aligns with these elements. Whether you focus on community engagement, cost efficiency, or social responsibility, a well-defined brand position will differentiate your business and promote customer loyalty. Image Via Envato This article, "10 Powerful Brand Positioning Strategy Examples to Inspire Your Business" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Brand positioning is crucial for your business’s success in a crowded marketplace. By examining effective strategies from companies like Tesla and Nike, you can identify key elements that resonate with consumers. These examples highlight the importance of innovation, emotional connection, and unique customer experiences. Comprehending these strategies can guide you in crafting your own brand identity. As we explore these influential examples, you’ll discover actionable insights that can transform your approach to brand positioning. Key Takeaways Tesla’s Direct-to-Consumer Model enhances customer experience and control while promoting sustainable energy with innovative electric vehicles. Patagonia’s Environmental Commitment builds trust through transparency, eco-conscious initiatives, and high-quality products that resonate with environmentally aware consumers. Apple’s Emotional Connection fosters brand loyalty through creativity, storytelling, and a focus on user experience, making technology feel personal and relatable. Nike’s Inspirational Branding empowers athletes with a message of motivation, supported by product innovation and community engagement initiatives that deepen brand attachment. Ben & Jerry’s Social Activism integrates advocacy for social issues into its brand identity, enhancing customer loyalty through cause-related initiatives and unique flavor offerings. Tesla: Electric Cars and Clean Energy In regard to electric vehicles and clean energy, Tesla stands out as a prominent leader in the market. The company’s mission to accelerate the world’s shift to sustainable energy highlights its commitment to environmental sustainability. Tesla’s brand positioning strategy emphasizes high performance and safety, evidenced by features like Autopilot and the Model S Plaid, which can go from 0 to 60 mph in under 2 seconds. Unlike brand competitors, Tesla utilizes a direct-to-consumer sales model, enhancing the customer experience. Furthermore, by manufacturing its own batteries and components, Tesla maintains greater quality control and supply chain efficiency. These brand positioning strategy examples demonstrate how Tesla creates a strong brand community and cultivates customer loyalty, setting itself apart in a competitive environment. Apple: Think Different Apple’s brand positioning strategy revolves around innovation, elegance, and simplicity, which resonates with consumers seeking state-of-the-art technology. By adopting the slogan “Think Different,” Apple not only highlights its commitment to creativity but furthermore attracts customers who value individuality and forward-thinking. You’ll notice that Apple emphasizes product quality and user experience, nurturing a loyal customer base that associates the brand with status and premium offerings. The company effectively creates emotional connections by presenting its products as tools for enhancing creativity and productivity. Moreover, Apple’s marketing campaigns utilize compelling storytelling and striking visuals, reinforcing its brand ethos. This approach not only builds brand identity but also develops a community of users aligned with Apple’s values of innovation and excellence. Trader Joe’s: Your Friendly Neighborhood Store Trader Joe’s stands out as a grocery store that embodies the essence of a friendly neighborhood market, where community connections thrive. The brand offers a personalized shopping experience, making customers feel valued. You’ll find a diverse range of high-quality, affordable food products, including unique store-brand items that appeal to health-conscious shoppers. Their nautical theme improves the atmosphere, with playful signage and packaging that contribute to an inviting environment. Trader Joe’s commitment to value is evident through competitive pricing, often offering lower prices than traditional grocery stores. Furthermore, they engage customers with in-store events and product sampling, encouraging feedback and prioritizing satisfaction. This customer-centric approach creates a welcoming space where everyone feels at home. Dollar Shave Club: Shave Time. Shave Money Dollar Shave Club transformed the shaving environment by introducing a subscription model that delivers high-quality razors directly to your doorstep. This approach greatly reduces costs and eliminates the hassle of retail shopping. By using relatable marketing, featuring average individuals in humorous ads, the brand connects well with consumers, making them feel understood. Their slogan, “Shave Time. Shave Money,” effectively summarizes their value proposition of affordability and convenience. This resonates particularly with budget-conscious buyers. Nike: Just Do It Nike’s “Just Do It” slogan serves as a forceful example of effective brand positioning that transcends mere advertising. This iconic tagline, launched in 1988, has transformed Nike into a symbol of empowerment for athletes and everyday individuals. To understand its impact, consider the following elements: Shift in Brand Positioning: Nike moved from performance-focused to an inspirational brand, resonating with consumer aspirations. Influencer Collaborations: Partnering with high-profile athletes helps connect with diverse audiences and reinforces the brand’s motivational message. Product Innovation: Nike consistently emphasizes technology, like Flyknit and self-lacing shoes, enhancing athletic performance. Community Engagement: Initiatives like the Nike Run Club nurture loyalty and encourage sports participation, solidifying Nike’s market leadership. HubSpot: Helping Millions Grow Better In today’s competitive environment, HubSpot stands out as an important resource for businesses seeking to improve their growth strategies. By coining the term “inbound marketing,” HubSpot has transformed how companies attract and engage customers through valuable content instead of traditional advertising. Their all-encompassing suite of tools covers sales, marketing, and customer service, addressing diverse business needs. HubSpot’s user-centric approach includes extensive educational resources like blogs, webinars, and online courses, empowering you to utilize their software effectively. With over 100,000 customers in 120 countries, their global reach illustrates the impact of their customer-centric methodology. HubSpot’s commitment to continuous improvement guarantees that their platform remains relevant in a constantly changing digital environment, making it a crucial partner for your growth. Starbucks: One Person, One Cup, and One Neighborhood at a Time When you think about Starbucks, consider how they build community connections through their stores, creating a welcoming space for everyone. Their commitment to quality consistency not just applies to their coffee but likewise to the overall customer experience, ensuring you receive the same great service no matter where you are. Community Connection Starbucks effectively connects with communities by emphasizing a personalized customer experience, which is central to its brand ethos. This approach not only cultivates loyalty but also improves community engagement. Here are key elements of how Starbucks achieves this connection: Warm Atmosphere: Stores are designed to be inviting, encouraging social interactions among customers. Local Commitment: The company sources coffee ethically and supports local farmers, reinforcing its socially responsible image. Diverse Menu: An extensive menu caters to various tastes, making it appealing to different demographics. Active Engagement: Through social media and community events, Starbucks builds a sense of belonging among patrons, essential for its brand positioning strategy. These strategies demonstrate how focused efforts can strengthen community ties and improve brand identity. Quality Consistency Achieving quality consistency is crucial for any brand aiming to build trust and loyalty among customers. Starbucks exemplifies this by sourcing high-quality coffee beans and maintaining strict preparation standards, ensuring a uniform taste worldwide. Their baristas undergo careful training, reinforcing product quality and excellent customer service. By implementing standardized recipes and procedures, Starbucks allows customers to expect the same flavor and quality, regardless of location. Furthermore, their commitment to ethically sourced coffee not just improves taste but aligns with consumers’ preference for sustainability. The slogan, “One Person, One Cup, and One Neighborhood at a Time,” highlights Starbucks’ dedication to delivering a personalized yet consistent experience, making each customer feel valued while ensuring high-quality products. Airbnb: Your World Is Worth Sharing When you think about unique travel experiences, Airbnb stands out as a platform that connects you with community-driven accommodations. It allows you to explore diverse options, from cozy budget stays to luxurious retreats, all while nurturing a sense of belonging. Unique Travel Experiences Airbnb has transformed the way you experience travel by offering unique accommodations that connect you with local cultures and communities. Unlike traditional hotels, Airbnb allows you to stay in homes, apartments, and even unconventional spaces. This positions Airbnb as a leader in personalized travel experiences. Here are some features that improve your adventure: Diverse Listings: Choose from over 7 million listings, including treehouses, castles, and yurts. Local Hosts: Connect with hosts who share their culture, making your stay more authentic. User Reviews: Read real reviews to build trust and find the best accommodations for your needs. Unique Experiences: Participate in local activities and tours offered by hosts, enriching your travel experience. Community-Driven Accommodations By connecting travelers with local hosts, Airbnb cultivates a sense of community that enriches the travel experience. The platform emphasizes authenticity, allowing you to immerse yourself in local culture rather than a generic hotel setting. Airbnb’s slogan, “Your World Is Worth Sharing,” reflects its mission to promote cultural exchange and belonging. Its peer-to-peer model offers diverse lodging options, from budget to luxury, in over 220 countries, enabling hosts to earn income during providing unique experiences. User reviews and ratings build trust, ensuring quality across listings. Furthermore, Airbnb Experiences improves this community-driven approach by offering curated local activities hosted by residents, further deepening your connection to the destination and its people. Patagonia: Build the Best Product, Cause No Unnecessary Harm Patagonia‘s brand positioning centers on a clear commitment to environmental sustainability, as they strive to “build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm.” This mission drives the company’s decision to use only organic cotton and recycled materials in their products, showcasing a dedication to responsible sourcing. Here are key aspects of Patagonia’s strategy: Environmental Activism: They donate 1% of sales to grassroots organizations focusing on environmental issues, which boosts credibility. Worn Wear Program: This initiative encourages customers to repair, reuse, and recycle clothing, promoting a circular economy. Transparency: Patagonia provides detailed information about sourcing and production processes, cultivating trust among consumers. High-Quality Products: Their focus on quality guarantees customer satisfaction as well as minimizing ecological impact. Ben & Jerry’s: Peace, Love, and Ice Cream When you think about Ben & Jerry’s, consider how their commitment to social activism sets them apart in the ice cream market. Their unique flavor offerings, like “Chunky Monkey,” not just attract attention but likewise reflect a playful brand personality that resonates with consumers. This combination of ethical values and fun products makes them a strong example of effective brand positioning. Social Activism Commitment A strong commitment to social activism is integral to Ben & Jerry’s brand identity, setting it apart in the competitive ice cream market. Their approach not only attracts socially conscious consumers but likewise reinforces their values. Here are four key elements of their social activism commitment: Advocacy for Social Issues: They actively promote causes like climate change, racial justice, and LGBTQ+ rights. Cause-Related Flavors: Flavors like “P.B. Dough” contribute a portion of profits to various social initiatives. Public Statements: Their 2020 support for the Black Lives Matter movement emphasized their stance against systemic racism. Civic Engagement: They encourage voter registration and participation, demonstrating a dedication to democracy and community involvement. This multi-faceted strategy improves brand loyalty and drives meaningful change. Unique Flavor Offerings Ben & Jerry’s stands out in the ice cream industry not merely for its social activism but furthermore for its unique flavor offerings that cater to a wide array of taste preferences. The brand creatively combines ingredients in flavors like “Cherry Garcia” and “Chunky Monkey,” appealing to adventurous eaters. By offering limited-edition flavors, such as “Pumpkin Cheesecake,” they generate excitement and urgency, encouraging customers to make purchases during specific seasons. Their commitment to high-quality ingredients, including fair-trade and non-GMO components, reinforces their premium positioning. Moreover, engaging customers through social media campaigns allows fans to suggest new flavors, nurturing a strong community connection. This innovative approach not only improves customer loyalty but also sets Ben & Jerry’s apart in a competitive market. Playful Brand Personality Playful brand personality is an essential element in Ben & Jerry’s marketing strategy, as it helps the brand connect with consumers on a deeper level. To effectively adopt a playful brand personality, consider these key strategies: Engaging Slogan: Use a catchy slogan like “Peace, Love, and Ice Cream” that embodies your brand values and mission. Whimsical Offerings: Develop unique and fun products, such as creatively named flavors, that attract attention and create memorable experiences. Social Activism: Align your brand with social causes, demonstrating a commitment to important issues that resonate with your consumers. Visual Appeal: Incorporate colorful packaging and humorous language to create an approachable image, making your brand stand out in a crowded market. These elements can help nurture a deeper connection with your audience. Frequently Asked Questions What Is an Example of a Brand Positioning Strategy? An example of a brand positioning strategy is Nike’s “Just Do It.” This slogan effectively motivates customers by emphasizing performance and innovation in sportswear. It positions Nike as a brand that encourages individuals to push their limits and aim for excellence. By focusing on empowerment and achievement, Nike differentiates itself from competitors, creating a strong emotional connection with consumers. This strategy not only improves brand loyalty but likewise drives sales and market presence. What Is Nike’s Brand Positioning Statement? Nike’s brand positioning statement focuses on athletes and active individuals. It emphasizes empowerment, encouraging you to plunge into limits and achieve goals. The brand’s commitment to innovation and performance sets it apart in the sports industry. With the slogan “Just Do It,” Nike resonates with those seeking motivation. It targets a broad audience, from professional athletes to casual fitness enthusiasts, ensuring products meet diverse performance needs and reinforcing its image as a leader in athletic quality. What Is the Brand Positioning Strategy of Coca-Cola? Coca-Cola‘s brand positioning strategy emphasizes creating positive experiences tied to happiness and nostalgia. It markets itself as a staple during celebrations, nurturing emotional connections through campaigns like “Open Happiness.” The brand employs memorable advertising and sponsorships, particularly with major events, to elevate its global presence. Its consistent branding, including the signature red color and unique bottle design, guarantees recognition across various markets, reinforcing its identity as a cultural icon. What Is an Example of Strategic Positioning? An example of strategic positioning is how Tesla markets itself. It emphasizes innovation and sustainable energy, appealing to consumers who prioritize eco-friendliness. By focusing on high-performance electric vehicles, Tesla distinguishes itself from traditional car manufacturers. This approach not solely highlights its commitment to sustainability but additionally captures a specific customer base that values state-of-the-art technology. When you think of electric vehicles, Tesla’s unique positioning helps it stand out in a competitive market. Conclusion Incorporating effective brand positioning strategies can greatly improve your business’s market presence. By analyzing examples like Tesla’s commitment to sustainability or Nike’s motivational messaging, you can identify approaches that resonate with your target audience. Consider your unique strengths and values, then craft a clear and compelling narrative that aligns with these elements. Whether you focus on community engagement, cost efficiency, or social responsibility, a well-defined brand position will differentiate your business and promote customer loyalty. Image Via Envato This article, "10 Powerful Brand Positioning Strategy Examples to Inspire Your Business" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The path and peak of policy uncertainty over the past year eerily mimics sentiment at the time of the 2016 referendumView the full article

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding Lifehacker as a preferred source for tech news. When you log into the Peloton app, you probably get down to the business of finding a class, whether that means searching through the absurdly large library of single classes, turning to your Stack, or following the personalized plan curated for you by the app's AI. All of that is fine and well—though generally, following a Stack or personalized plan is better, since it reduces the time you spend deliberating and dilly-dallying and gives you a clear goal for the workout—but you have another option. In fact, depending on your goals, you have another potentially superior option in the form of a Peloton Program. What is a Peloton Program?Program is the term Peloton uses for longer-term, guided training routines that are tailored to a specific goal. They can range from a few days long to weeks long, but the idea is that you'll finish the program and be more prepared to do whatever it was you were training for. When you log into the app on your mobile device or Peloton equipment, you'll see your personalized plan first, followed by a subheading that says Your Programs. There, any Programs you're currently participating in will be ready to go. You can just tap it to keep moving through it with whatever class or exercise is next up. To access Programs and see everything available, tap Classes in the bottom row of the mobile app, then Programs up at the top. (It's to the right of Classes, Gym, and Collections.) Each program is designed by an instructor (or, sometimes, more than one instructor) and when you tap on it, you'll see information on how many classes are in it, how many days or weeks it lasts, and how long the classes are. You'll also see a summary of the Program and what it's designed for, as well as notes on which equipment, if any, is necessary for the classes. You can even see a week-by-week breakdown of what classes to expect. These are self-paced, so you can take the classes or participate whenever you want, but you should try to do them in the timeframe laid out by the instructor. What can you use Programs for?This is the fun part. There are so many Programs and some of them are almost too specific to believe—but that's why they're useful. There's probably one in there that aligns with exactly what you're trying to do, whatever it is. A selection of titles: Strength for Soccer (one week, seven classes) The Power of Sleep (two weeks, 15 classes) Strength for Cyclists (one week, six classes) Floor Bootcamp (four weeks, 24 classes) Road to Half Marathon (10 weeks, 40 classes) Strength for Tennis & Pickleball (one week, eight classes) Strength for Skiers (one week, 11 classes) You Can Run Outdoors (eight weeks, 16 classes) Set the Barre (four weeks, 13 classes) Path to Inversion (two weeks, 12 classes) There is "density training," training for people who golf, and training for anyone looking to pull off a yoga inversion. Again, these are specific goals, but with strength, meditation, and other classes geared toward them, you can take a more well-rounded approach to meeting them. Programs are also classified as beginner, intermediate, or advanced, so you don't end up in over your head or bored. One thing I like about them—besides that they help you create a goal-based workout plan and are so tailored to specific achievements—is that participating in them earns you extra points toward your Club Peloton rank. By moving up in Club Peloton, you can unlock discounts and early access to other classes, providing even more variety (and some smugness, if you're like me). View the full article

Thousands marched on foot in search of what remained of their lives before the two-year conflictView the full article

With the latest advancements in smartphone technology, small business owners now have the opportunity to leverage powerful new tools to enhance their marketing efforts. Google Pixel’s recent unveiling of the Pro Res Zoom feature offers a solution to one of photography’s common challenges: capturing clear images from a distance. This innovation is particularly significant for small businesses that rely on visuals, such as retail, food, and event services. Pro Res Zoom redefines the traditional use of digital zoom. According to Google, instead of simply enlarging a blurry image, this feature intelligently analyzes the existing details—like shapes and colors—before reconstructing a much clearer photo. For small businesses that frequently showcase products online, creating compelling images is key to attracting customers. Whether it’s a stunning bouquet from a flower shop or a mouthwatering dish from a restaurant, high-quality imagery can make all the difference in online engagement and sales. One of the standout benefits of Pro Res Zoom is its potential to simplify the photography process. Small business owners often juggle multiple roles, leaving little time for specialized skills like photography. This technology allows anyone to produce professional-looking images of their products, enhancing their online presence without the need for expensive equipment or professional services. It levels the playing field, enabling smaller operations to compete more effectively with larger brands. Customer engagement is another area where this technology can shine. In an era where visual content drives consumer behavior, having high-quality images can significantly impact purchase decisions. Pro Res Zoom equips businesses with the ability to create captivating social media posts, attractive website visuals, and engaging advertisements. These powerful images can drive traffic and increase conversions, which is crucial for growth in a competitive marketplace. However, while the advantages are substantial, small business owners should also consider potential challenges. The reliance on smartphone technology means that businesses must stay current with software updates and features. Additionally, not all users may find the transition to new technology seamless. There could be a learning curve associated with using Pro Res Zoom effectively, necessitating some initial time investment for business owners who wish to maximize its benefits. Another consideration is the need for a robust online presence. While Pro Res Zoom can improve image quality, it’s essential that businesses also engage in other marketing strategies, such as search engine optimization (SEO) and social media outreach, to ensure their content reaches the intended audience. Comprehensive marketing plans remain crucial for leveraging any new technology effectively. “Instead of just using a magnifying glass to look at a blurry, distant photo, Pro Res Zoom uses the few details that are there, like shapes and colors, and then fills in the rest of the missing information, creating a new, much clearer image,” explains Google regarding the feature. This ingenuity reflects a growing trend in the tech space where solutions are designed to enhance user experience and accessibility. As small business owners continue to adapt to the shifting landscape of digital marketing, adopting innovative technologies like Pro Res Zoom can offer significant advantages. The ability to produce stunning visuals could elevate a brand’s identity, creating memorable impressions that capture customer attention. For small business owners, the key will be to remain adaptable and ready to embrace such advancements. By integrating these tools into an overall marketing strategy, businesses can enhance their visibility and engagement in a competitive environment. For more information about Google Pixel’s Pro Res Zoom, visit the original post. This article, "Google Pixel Unveils Pro Res Zoom for Crystal Clear Distant Photos" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

With the latest advancements in smartphone technology, small business owners now have the opportunity to leverage powerful new tools to enhance their marketing efforts. Google Pixel’s recent unveiling of the Pro Res Zoom feature offers a solution to one of photography’s common challenges: capturing clear images from a distance. This innovation is particularly significant for small businesses that rely on visuals, such as retail, food, and event services. Pro Res Zoom redefines the traditional use of digital zoom. According to Google, instead of simply enlarging a blurry image, this feature intelligently analyzes the existing details—like shapes and colors—before reconstructing a much clearer photo. For small businesses that frequently showcase products online, creating compelling images is key to attracting customers. Whether it’s a stunning bouquet from a flower shop or a mouthwatering dish from a restaurant, high-quality imagery can make all the difference in online engagement and sales. One of the standout benefits of Pro Res Zoom is its potential to simplify the photography process. Small business owners often juggle multiple roles, leaving little time for specialized skills like photography. This technology allows anyone to produce professional-looking images of their products, enhancing their online presence without the need for expensive equipment or professional services. It levels the playing field, enabling smaller operations to compete more effectively with larger brands. Customer engagement is another area where this technology can shine. In an era where visual content drives consumer behavior, having high-quality images can significantly impact purchase decisions. Pro Res Zoom equips businesses with the ability to create captivating social media posts, attractive website visuals, and engaging advertisements. These powerful images can drive traffic and increase conversions, which is crucial for growth in a competitive marketplace. However, while the advantages are substantial, small business owners should also consider potential challenges. The reliance on smartphone technology means that businesses must stay current with software updates and features. Additionally, not all users may find the transition to new technology seamless. There could be a learning curve associated with using Pro Res Zoom effectively, necessitating some initial time investment for business owners who wish to maximize its benefits. Another consideration is the need for a robust online presence. While Pro Res Zoom can improve image quality, it’s essential that businesses also engage in other marketing strategies, such as search engine optimization (SEO) and social media outreach, to ensure their content reaches the intended audience. Comprehensive marketing plans remain crucial for leveraging any new technology effectively. “Instead of just using a magnifying glass to look at a blurry, distant photo, Pro Res Zoom uses the few details that are there, like shapes and colors, and then fills in the rest of the missing information, creating a new, much clearer image,” explains Google regarding the feature. This ingenuity reflects a growing trend in the tech space where solutions are designed to enhance user experience and accessibility. As small business owners continue to adapt to the shifting landscape of digital marketing, adopting innovative technologies like Pro Res Zoom can offer significant advantages. The ability to produce stunning visuals could elevate a brand’s identity, creating memorable impressions that capture customer attention. For small business owners, the key will be to remain adaptable and ready to embrace such advancements. By integrating these tools into an overall marketing strategy, businesses can enhance their visibility and engagement in a competitive environment. For more information about Google Pixel’s Pro Res Zoom, visit the original post. This article, "Google Pixel Unveils Pro Res Zoom for Crystal Clear Distant Photos" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has announced job openings for attorney-advisors to represent the agency in defensive and appellate litigation. View the full article

María Corina Machado’s odds surged on Polymarket hours before official announcementView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source. As someone who's completed six marathons over six years, I approached Garmin's marathon training plans with cautious optimism. After all, Garmin dominates the running tech space, and their watches are virtually ubiquitous among serious runners. Surely their training plans would reflect the same attention to detail and runner-focused design? Plus, I’m already a huge fan of racing with my no-nonsense Garmin Forerunner 165. After months of following the program (and eventually customizing it), here's what I learned about the reality of trusting your watch to get you to the finish line. Racing a half-marathon with the Garmin Forerunner 165. Credit: Meredith Dietz How Garmin's run coach worksGarmin's run coach offers personalized, adaptive marathon training programs that adjust based on your performance metrics and recovery data. Your watch data drives your training, with workouts that evolve based on how you're actually responding rather than blindly following a static plan pulled from a book. The system analyzes metrics like your VO2 max, training load, recovery time, and recent workout performance to tailor each session. When you crush a tempo run, the plan might push you a bit harder next time. If your recovery metrics suggest you've overtrained, it dials things back. It's smart, responsive training that theoretically removes the guesswork. However, I wouldn’t recommend blindly trusting whatever shows up on your wrist. What Garmin gets rightThe speedwork, tempo runs, and interval sessions were genuinely helpful. Having these structured workouts automatically adjusted to my current pace meant I wasn't second-guessing whether I was running too hard or too easy. The watch would beep when I drifted out of my target zone, keeping me honest during those tough threshold efforts. The adaptive nature of the program also shines during the day-to-day grind. Recovery runs automatically adjust based on how your body is responding. If you're showing signs of fatigue, the plan gives you easier days. This attention to recovery is rare in cookie-cutter training plans, and I both appreciate and depend on it. Where Garmin falls shortThe most glaring issue with Garmin's marathon training plans is its overly conservative approach to long runs. As any experienced marathoner knows, the long run is the cornerstone of marathon preparation—it's where you build the aerobic base, practice race-day fueling, and develop the mental fortitude to push through mile 20 and beyond. Some specific examples from my experience: A 34-minute recovery run recommended on a day when my own intermediate plan called for five miles. A 90-minute long run when I was planning an 18-miler (which actually takes me closer to three hours). Credit: Meredith Dietz Garmin clearly has safety and recovery in mind, which is admirable. But here's the reality: if you're crazy enough to be training for a marathon, you've already committed to pushing beyond normal comfort levels. The long runs that feel "inherently crazy" are simply necessary. If I'd relied solely on Garmin's workouts, I wouldn't have gotten those crucial 20-milers that prepare you for race day. Yes, the three-hour run isn't a rigid rule—it's a guideline to cap training runs since injury risk increases beyond that point. Some coaches advocate for shorter long runs with a focus on quality over quantity. But for many runners, especially those new to the marathon distance, getting one or two 20-milers under your belt builds irreplaceable mental toughness. Personally, I always risk a little more time on my feet to ensure I'm truly prepared, and it's never hurt me. Perhaps equally frustrating is Garmin Connect's "stay tuned for more" approach to future workouts. The platform often won't show you upcoming long runs or key sessions until just days before, making it difficult to plan your training calendar effectively. As runners, we need to see the big picture. We need to know when that crucial 20-miler is scheduled so we can plan our weekend, arrange childcare, or adjust work commitments. While you can move workouts around once they appear, long runs are major time commitments that ideally should be mapped out from day one of training until race day. Strong foundation, but customization is keyGarmin's marathon training plans are solid and convenient, but they're better used as a starting point rather than gospel. By most training standards, Garmin sits on the lower end for long run distance and overall weekly mileage. Following their plan strictly would be survivable, but not ideal or practical for many runners looking to truly prepare for 26.2 miles. Setting up your Garmin training planGetting started is straightforward: Open the Garmin Connect app or website. Navigate to Training > Training Plans, Select your goal race (marathon) and target date, Answer questions about your current fitness level and running experience, Choose your goal (finish, set a PR, or hit a specific time). The plan syncs automatically to your watch, and workouts appear in your daily training calendar. Once set up, your watch will prompt you to start the scheduled workout when it's time to run. The workouts include detailed instructions, target paces or heart rate zones, and real-time feedback during your run. Garmin Forerunner 165 $240.00 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $240.00 at Amazon How to customize your Garmin training for successUse Garmin's adaptive features for your daily runs and speedwork, but take control of your long runs and overall mileage progression. 1. Reference an established planLook at free, time-tested programs—like those from Hal Higdon—to understand what your training should look like at different phases. Between one and two months out from race day, you should have several runs in the 16- to 20-mile range. Use this as your benchmark to evaluate whether Garmin's recommendations are on track. 2. Know what to prioritizeWhen customizing your plan, focus on: Long run progression: Your longest runs should gradually build to 18-20 miles (or around three hours, for slower runners). Peak weekly mileage: Know what total weekly mileage you should hit during your peak training weeks. Consistency over perfection: It's better to complete 90% of a slightly ambitious plan than 100% of an overly conservative one. 3. Use Garmin's "Create Workout" featureThis is where the magic happens. Garmin allows you to create custom workouts and load them into your training calendar: In Garmin Connect, go to Training > Workouts > Create a Workout. Build your custom long run: Set distance goals, add fueling reminders, or program pace ranges. Schedule it to replace Garmin's recommended workout. The workout syncs to your watch, giving you the same guided experience with your custom parameters. You can create workout templates for your key long runs, tempo sessions, or any other workout you want to follow. This way, you still get the benefit of your watch guiding you through the workout with real-time feedback, but you're following a training progression that actually prepares you for marathon day. 4. Let Garmin handle the detailsWhile you override the long runs, let Garmin's adaptive system manage your recovery runs and easy days, and fine-tune your speedwork intensities. This gives you the best of both worlds: proven long-run progression from established marathon programs, plus data-driven daily adjustments from your Garmin. The bottom lineI still consider myself a loyal Garmin user—but a strategic one. The interface is excellent, the adaptive features are genuinely helpful for day-to-day training, and having structured workouts pushed to your watch eliminates decision fatigue. However, blindly following the marathon plan would have left me underprepared for race day. With a little customization and the willingness to push beyond Garmin's conservative recommendations, you can create a training experience that combines the best of data-driven coaching with the proven principles that have gotten millions of runners to the finish line. Your watch is a powerful training tool—just don't let it hold you back from the big miles that make marathoners. View the full article

The other day, a friend confessed her new nightly routine: hiding in the bathroom for ten minutes after putting her kids to bed. The reason wasn’t to scroll TikTok, but to breathe. “It’s either that or cry into the mac and cheese,” she laughed. It struck me: parenting in 2025 often looks like quietly triaging our own stress while juggling work deadlines, permission slips, Slack pings, and dinner prep. Headlines scream about the youth mental health crisis, but what rarely makes the front page is the state of the people raising those kids. Working parents are running on fumes. And here’s the part we can’t gloss over: our kids’ emotional health is directly tied to ours. As psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Raghu Appasani explained to me, emotional regulation is contagious. “Both the calm and the chaos are felt by children. When parents experience chronic stress or burnout, it doesn’t just live in their nervous system. It shapes the family’s emotional climate,” he said. Even babies, before they can speak, sense our tension. Over time, parental stress can erode a children’s sense of safety, making the world feel less predictable than it is. Neuroscience backs it up. A child’s developing brain learns to self-regulate by co-regulating with their parent’s nervous system. In other words, if we’re running on fumes, so are they. The good news is, there are practical ways to flip the script, and we don’t need a three-day meditation retreat to do it. A few ideas: Micro-pauses matter. Before you rush from Zoom call to carpool, take 60 seconds in the driveway to breathe. Literally. These moments act like emotional shock absorbers, resetting your nervous system so you show up calmer and more present. Leverage digital tools as check-ins, not crutches. Dr. Raghu, Chief Medical Officer for the child-centered wellness app Ginko, recommends InsightTimer and Calm to help adults regulate stress through guided mindfulness. Other platforms, like Wysa, provide exercises to track mood and offer coping strategies. He’s also a fan of journaling tools like Daylio or Stoic, which offer quick “check-ins” that can help you notice when you are sliding into burnout. Pair parenting with prevention. If therapy apps like BetterHelp make it easier to fit sessions into a packed schedule, think of it as mental fitness, not just as a crisis hotline. The reality is that self-care isn’t indulgence. It’s infrastructure. Just like we maintain the Wi-Fi so homework can get done, we need to maintain our mental bandwidth so our kids can feel steady. Shielding them from every stressor isn’t possible. But modeling how to downshift, recover, and stay connected? That’s a parenting lesson with lifelong returns. View the full article

US president signals he may cancel planned meeting with Xi Jinping over the moveView the full article

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source. You might not think of Netflix as a gaming company, but games are most certainly a part of their business. While the vast majority of us Netflix subscribers simply stream TV shows and movies on the app, the company also offers access to games, free of charge as part of a Netflix plan. These aren't all throwaway titles, either: Netflix has licensed some notable names here, including Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Oxenfree, and Heads Up! But while Netflix's games have largely been mobile-only for the past few years, the company is trying something new. This week, Netflix is rolling out games you can play on your TV, all without having to leave the Netflix app. You don't need a dedicated gaming controller, or to rely on something like a TV remote, to play. Instead, players control the game from their smartphones. What a time to be alive. At launch, you can't simply play any of Netflix's existing mobile titles on your TV. Instead, the company has licensed five party games that weren't yet part of its games library, designed to be played with others around the TV. These titles include: LEGO Party!: This is Mario Party but with LEGOs, complete with mini-games, maps, and LEGO characters. Boggle Party: Up to eight players can try to find words in a jumbled letter grid. Pictionary: Game Night: Guess what the other person is drawing before the time runs out. Tetris Time Warp: Play different versions of Tetris, including the 1984 original and the classic Gameboy version. Party Crashers: Fool Your Friends: One person in the group is the odd one out, and doesn't know what anyone else is talking about. The group needs to figure out who that person is. LEGO Party! and Tetris Time Warp are both preexisting games you can play on other platforms, but it seems the other three are making their debut on Netflix. How to play Netflix games on your TVTo try out any of these fives games when they're available in your market, open the Netflix app on your smart TV, then scroll to the "Games" tab. Choose a game, then use your smartphone as the controller. View the full article

A potentially worrisome trend is emerging among young adults. Instead of landing a job and moving to the big city after graduation, many are moving back into their childhood homes instead. About 1.5 million more adults under 35 live with their parents today than a decade ago. That’s a 6.3% jump, more than double the rate of growth for the young adult population overall. The issue is affordability. Over the past decade, urban rents have climbed about 4% per year, while wages for full-time workers have increased by only 0.6% annually. That means it’s harder than ever to live in a big city on the typical salary—especially if you’re a new graduate without much work experience. The situation is even more challenging for aspiring homeowners: The median house price in the U.S. has risen about 90% in just 10 years, or more than 6% each year. And as prices rise—the median home sells for more than $400,000 now—so too do the ages of homebuyers. The median first-time U.S. homebuyer is 38 years old, up from 31 about a decade ago. Why is the rent so high? Put simply, there isn’t enough housing. As an economist, I know that when demand rises faster than supply, prices have to increase. And supply is severely limited in the places where people most want to live: big cities such as New York and San Francisco. In most of these cities, planning and zoning laws prevent developers from building enough to meet demand. For example, rezoning a plot of land from commercial to residential often requires mountains of paperwork. And in many cities, objections from neighbors can stall a proposed development. These are just two of many obstacles local governments throw in homebuilders’ way. One city that has tried something different is Austin, Texas. After deliberately relaxing its zoning laws a few years ago, Austin has seen a boom in home construction. Rents fell by 10% in one year and by as much as 22% in two years after that change. By making it easier to build, Austin has made it cheaper to live there. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Austin has a far lower share of its young adults living with their parents than many other cities do. Just 6% of working adults in the Austin metro area live with their parents, one analysis found, versus nearly 14% in Greater San Antonio and 20% in Greater Los Angeles. The pros and cons of living with the ’rents One obvious advantage of living with parents is that they tend to charge below-market rents, or nothing at all. That makes it easier to save for a deposit on a house, helping young adults get on the property ladder sooner than they would otherwise. Indeed, homeownership rates among those 25 to 34 have risen slightly since 2016. There are also potential disadvantages, however, particularly when it comes to socializing. Living at home with parents can make it much more challenging to meet new people. This, in turn, could partly help explain why Americans are getting married and having children later in life. These delays might not seem important, but they can leave people feeling like they’re behind in life, which can affect their health and well-being. I also wonder whether living with parents is indirectly making young adults unhappier at work. That’s because older adults often live far from the urban centers where young people are most likely to find jobs directly related to their degrees. Job satisfaction rates are substantially lower among 18- to 29-year-olds than among the rest of the working population. A problem for the entire US The housing shortage isn’t just an issue for young adults. A recent analysis I found insightful was headlined “The housing theory of everything.” It argued that the issue helps explain at least part of the current malaise in the U.S. economy. For example, when people can’t live and work where they want, they’re unable to use their talents fully. That contributes to the relatively slow productivity growth the U.S. has experienced in recent years. Similarly, if people can’t live in areas where they might meet and work with like-minded individuals, they have fewer opportunities to share ideas, which can hinder innovation. And if the housing shortage is indeed encouraging young adults to delay having children, it could make it harder for the U.S. to fund Social Security and other government programs in the future. Making it easier to build new homes in places people want to live and work could go a long way to easing these problems. It’s possible high rents translate into high barriers to adulthood, too. Rohan Shah is assistant professor of economics at the University of Mississippi; Institute for Humane Studies This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

Yet another food retailer has joined the growing list of companies that have recalled pasta-related products over the last few weeks. Sprouts Farmers Market, a supermarket chain headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, with stores across more than two dozen states, has voluntarily recalled select lots of Sprouts Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad due to a risk of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. On October 9, a recall notice was published to the website of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To date, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this recalled product. According to the notice, the recall is in response to Sprouts being alerted by its supplier, Fresh Creative Foods, that the pasta within the pasta salad could potentially be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Fast Company has reached out to Fresh Creative Foods for comment. Which products are impacted by the recall? The affected lots of Sprouts Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad were packaged in plastic containers and sold from the “grab and go” section of stores or packaged directly from in-store deli service counters. Here are the specific product details: Grab and go: Sprouts Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad (UPC 2-15786-00000): Best use by dates from October 10, 2025, to October 29, 2025. Deli service counter: Sprouts Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad (UPC 2-15587-00000): Best use by dates from October 10, 2025, to October 29, 2025. The affected items were sold in the following states: Alabama Arizona California Colorado Delaware Florida Georgia Kansas Louisiana Maryland Missouri North Carolina New Jersey New Mexico Nevada Oklahoma Pennsylvania South Carolina Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Washington Wyoming Don’t eat the affected product If you purchased the affected product, you should throw it away or return it to your local store for a full refund. To reduce the risk of cross-contamination, the FDA recommends taking extra care to clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that have come into contact with the product. If you have any questions about the recall, call Sprouts Customer Relations at 480-814-8016 or submit a form at the Sprouts website. The list of retailers recalling pasta products is growing Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a food safety alert regarding a Listeria outbreak linked to prepared pasta meals. According to the CDC, the outbreak has hit 15 states. It has sickened 20 people, with 19 requiring hospitalization. Four people have died due to the outbreak, which dates back to last year. Sprouts is one of many retailers that have voluntarily recalled ready-to-eat pasta products in the weeks following the CDC’s alert, although the notice does not mention the outbreak. Here are some other recent pasta-related recalls to be aware of: Ready-to-eat pasta meals from Trader Joe’s, Kroger, and Walmart More pasta meals sold at Albertsons and Trader Joe’s Kroger pasta salads What is Listeria and who is at risk of infection? Listeria is a disease-causing bacteria that can be spread to and from foods. Listeria infection is caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. As the Mayo Clinic notes, healthy people rarely become very ill from Listeria infection. However, the disease can turn deadly for some. Pregnant women, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more at risk for infection. View the full article

Abu Dhabi carrier Etihad said Friday it is launching flights to Kabul, making it the latest airline to offer direct routes to the Afghan capital. Etihad, which announced a record $476 million profit in 2024, said the new service responded to “growing demand” for travel between the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan and that the three weekly flights starting in December would support “trade, travel, and community ties.” “The UAE hosts one of the largest Afghan communities in the Gulf, with around 300,000 Afghans living and working in the country, according to the Afghan Business Council,” the airline said in a statement. “The new flights will further strengthen these economic and social ties while enhancing connectivity through Abu Dhabi.” Other international carriers flying direct to Kabul include Turkish Airlines and FlyDubai. The oil-rich UAE has forged close ties with the Taliban-led government of Afghanistan in recent years. In June 2024, the Emirati leader, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, met a top official and Cabinet member, Sirajuddin Haqqani, who had a U.S. bounty on his head over his involvement in an attack that killed an American citizen and other assaults. A few months later, the UAE accepted the credentials of a Taliban government ambassador. Even though the Taliban are largely isolated from the West, due to their restrictions on women and girls, they have successfully established bilateral relations with regional powers. In July, Russia became the first country to recognize them as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. And, on Friday, India said it was upgrading its technical mission in Kabul to a full embassy. —Associated Press View the full article

Threads has rolled out a new feature aimed at enhancing community engagement on its platform: Communities. This initiative provides small business owners with a fresh avenue to connect with their audience and foster deeper relationships within niche interest areas. As Threads expands its capabilities, it’s crucial to explore how these Communities can be leveraged effectively. Designed as casual, public spaces, Communities on Threads allow users to engage in conversations about a variety of popular topics, from basketball to TV shows. Currently in the testing phase, this feature covers over 100 interests, paving the way for users to join discussions that resonate with their passions. “Communities build on features like custom feeds and topic tags to help you meaningfully connect with people who share your interests,” Threads notes. This functionality can be particularly beneficial for small business owners looking to cultivate a loyal customer base. By joining or even creating a community relevant to their sector, businesses can position themselves as thought leaders while fostering a sense of belonging among their customers. The membership is public, meaning that communities you join will be visible in your profile and feed menu. This transparency can be advantageous for small businesses. For instance, if a local bakery joins or initiates a “Baking” community, it showcases its expertise and passion, potentially drawing in clients who share a similar interest. Connecting on shared hobbies creates a natural platform for promoting services or products organically. Each community features a custom Like emoji tailored to the topic, which enhances the engagement experience. For example, in a book-related community, members may use a stack of books as a Like, reinforcing their affinity for the topic. This personalization contributes to the overall interactive experience, making it easier for members to bond and engage, which is important for businesses seeking to build community around their brand. Exploring and joining communities on Threads is straightforward. Users can search for communities by name or simply tap on a community tag in their feed. By offering over 100 communities in its initial rollout, Threads is encouraging users to discover those that align with their interests. This approach supports small business owners in identifying and connecting with potential customers who are already enthusiastic about related topics. However, while the introduction of Communities provides exciting opportunities, small business owners should also be mindful of potential challenges. With the public nature of community membership, businesses need to maintain a consistent and professional presence, ensuring that their engagement reflects their brand identity. Furthermore, the landscape of these communities is evolving. As Threads plans to introduce special badges for standout contributors and establish ranking systems within communities, it’s essential for businesses to remain active and engaged to gain visibility. The competition to stand out may intensify as more users flock to these spaces, making consistent, quality engagement critical. “We’re also working on ranking within communities and the For You feed so that you see the most relevant posts first,” Threads states. This will enhance user experience by surfacing the information that’s most pertinent to them, requiring businesses to stay up-to-date on community trends and effectively target their content. Small business owners should also remain cautious about the time commitment required to nurture these communities. As engagement increases, the task of monitoring discussions and contributing meaningfully may demand more resources than initially anticipated. Prioritizing effective time management will be vital for businesses hoping to leverage these new features without detracting from other critical operations. As the Threads platform continues to evolve, small business owners have a unique opportunity to capitalize on community engagement to build brand loyalty and connect with their audience in meaningful ways. Stay informed about these developments by reading more on Threads’ official announcement here: Threads Communities Announcement. This article, "Threads Unveils Communities: Connect Over Shared Interests in Real-Time" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Threads has rolled out a new feature aimed at enhancing community engagement on its platform: Communities. This initiative provides small business owners with a fresh avenue to connect with their audience and foster deeper relationships within niche interest areas. As Threads expands its capabilities, it’s crucial to explore how these Communities can be leveraged effectively. Designed as casual, public spaces, Communities on Threads allow users to engage in conversations about a variety of popular topics, from basketball to TV shows. Currently in the testing phase, this feature covers over 100 interests, paving the way for users to join discussions that resonate with their passions. “Communities build on features like custom feeds and topic tags to help you meaningfully connect with people who share your interests,” Threads notes. This functionality can be particularly beneficial for small business owners looking to cultivate a loyal customer base. By joining or even creating a community relevant to their sector, businesses can position themselves as thought leaders while fostering a sense of belonging among their customers. The membership is public, meaning that communities you join will be visible in your profile and feed menu. This transparency can be advantageous for small businesses. For instance, if a local bakery joins or initiates a “Baking” community, it showcases its expertise and passion, potentially drawing in clients who share a similar interest. Connecting on shared hobbies creates a natural platform for promoting services or products organically. Each community features a custom Like emoji tailored to the topic, which enhances the engagement experience. For example, in a book-related community, members may use a stack of books as a Like, reinforcing their affinity for the topic. This personalization contributes to the overall interactive experience, making it easier for members to bond and engage, which is important for businesses seeking to build community around their brand. Exploring and joining communities on Threads is straightforward. Users can search for communities by name or simply tap on a community tag in their feed. By offering over 100 communities in its initial rollout, Threads is encouraging users to discover those that align with their interests. This approach supports small business owners in identifying and connecting with potential customers who are already enthusiastic about related topics. However, while the introduction of Communities provides exciting opportunities, small business owners should also be mindful of potential challenges. With the public nature of community membership, businesses need to maintain a consistent and professional presence, ensuring that their engagement reflects their brand identity. Furthermore, the landscape of these communities is evolving. As Threads plans to introduce special badges for standout contributors and establish ranking systems within communities, it’s essential for businesses to remain active and engaged to gain visibility. The competition to stand out may intensify as more users flock to these spaces, making consistent, quality engagement critical. “We’re also working on ranking within communities and the For You feed so that you see the most relevant posts first,” Threads states. This will enhance user experience by surfacing the information that’s most pertinent to them, requiring businesses to stay up-to-date on community trends and effectively target their content. Small business owners should also remain cautious about the time commitment required to nurture these communities. As engagement increases, the task of monitoring discussions and contributing meaningfully may demand more resources than initially anticipated. Prioritizing effective time management will be vital for businesses hoping to leverage these new features without detracting from other critical operations. As the Threads platform continues to evolve, small business owners have a unique opportunity to capitalize on community engagement to build brand loyalty and connect with their audience in meaningful ways. Stay informed about these developments by reading more on Threads’ official announcement here: Threads Communities Announcement. This article, "Threads Unveils Communities: Connect Over Shared Interests in Real-Time" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Billionaire hedge fund manager’s CIFF has focused donations on issues such as climate changeView the full article

Pope Leo XIV encouraged international news agencies on Thursday to stand firm as a bulwark against the “ancient art of lying” and manipulation, as he strongly backed a free, independent and objective press. History’s first American pope called for imprisoned journalists to be released and said the work of journalists must never be considered a crime. Rather, journalism is a right and a pillar upholding “the edifice of our societies” that must be protected and defended, he said. “If today we know what is happening in Gaza, Ukraine and every other land bloodied by bombs, we largely owe it to them,” Leo said of journalists. “These extraordinary eyewitness accounts are the culmination of the daily efforts of countless people who work to ensure that information is not manipulated for ends that are contrary to truth and human dignity.” Leo’s comments came in a speech to executives of international news agencies belonging to MINDS International, a consortium of leading agencies including The Associated Press. In his five months as pope, the Chicago-born Leo has spoken out strongly on the need to protect freedom of expression and the rights of journalists. In his first meeting with reporters right after his election, Leo called for the release of imprisoned journalists and affirmed the “precious gift of free speech and the press.” More recently, he insisted that journalism was “not only an act of justice, but a duty of all those who long for a solid and participatory democracy.” In a letter to a crusading Peruvian journalist repeatedly sued for her work, Leo affirmed the freedom of the press was an “inalienable common good.” On Thursday, he strongly encouraged news agencies amid a double crisis they are facing, with economic pressures threatening their survival and consumers increasingly unable to distinguish truth from lies. “I urge you: Never sell out your authority!” Leo said. He quoted Hannah Arendt’s “The Origins of Totalitarianism” in asserting that the world needs free and objective information. He cited her warning that “the ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist.” Leo said even with the challenges posed today by artificial intelligence, news agencies must stand firm. “With your patient and rigorous work, you can act as a barrier against those who, through the ancient art of lying, seek to create divisions in order to rule by dividing,” he said. “You can also be a bulwark of civility against the quicksand of approximation and post-truth.” Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. —Nicole Winfield, Associated Press View the full article

With Halloween on the horizon, Chicago Costume is stuffed. Packaged costumes, including superheros and Japanese animation characters in both kid and adult sizes, dangle near colorful wigs and bottles of fake blood. Downstairs, vintage clothes from the 1970s beg for one more boogie night. The frightening possibilities mask the work that’s gone on behind the scenes to stock the family-owned shop and its sister store for the spooky season. Owner Courtland Hickey said he ordered 40% fewer costumes this year because of President Donald The President’s tariffs on products from China. To fill the gap, Hickey and his mother, Chicago Costume founder Mary Hickey Panayotou, looked to their decade’s worth of unsold costumes and accessories to see what could be repackaged or repurposed. The tariffs made new imports more expensive, and storewide price increases might spook customers, he said. “If people have less money in their pocket to spend, … then costumes are going to be lower on their list,” Hickey said. “So the more we have to invest in new products, the riskier it is for the business because we aren’t going to sell it.” Tapping the old inventory required sorting through several thousand items stored in backrooms and a warehouse. Vintage pieces once reserved for rentals combined with fresh items became sets. A surplus of black robes became the foundation for Halloween wizards, judges, choir members and graduating students, Hickey said. “They’re a staple piece that gets transformed by the accessories we pair with them,” he said. Courtland Hickey Some of Chicago Costume’s 35 employees also got busy sewing fabric scraps and foam material into imitations of the miter headdresses worn by high-ranking Catholic clergy. Paired with a robe, the headwear would let someone dress up as Pope Leo, a Chicago native. Panayotou founded Chicago Costume in 1976 by custom-designing and renting costumes for the Windy City’s theater companies. It fast became a destination for non-actors looking for Halloween outfits. Commercially made children’s costumes followed, and a stockpile of capes, masquerade masks, “Star Wars” kits and other leftovers grew from there. “I’m kind of a hoarder,” Panayotou said. “I didn’t want to throw stuff away. So there’s a lot of accessory items and pieces. Here’s the dress, but we have only one glove.” Having excess inventory typically is avoided in retail, but the practice has given Chicago Costume a supply cushion during what has been an unpredictable 2025 for import-reliant segments of the industry, including toy manufacturers and stores. Hickey said tariffs weren’t on his radar until he and and other Chicago Costume staff members met with suppliers at the Halloween & Party Expo in January. Whether The President would impose duties on Chinese goods after his inauguration the following week was a big topic of conversation at the Las Vegas event, he said. On Feb. 1, the president signed the first tariff order of his second term. Hickey already had ordered his usual number of new costumes but put fulfillment and delivery on hold when the tariff rate on imports from China ballooned to 145% in April. Nearly 90% of the costumes Chicago Costume sells in stores and online are made in China, in line with the costume industry average, he said. Some suppliers already had products ready and said they would not charge him extra, Hickey said. Others said he would have to pay more to cover the cost of tariffs. “Take it or leave it,” he recalls being told. “I pretty much left it.” Other small businesses that rely on Halloween describe similar their own tariff-related woes. Trick or Treat Studios, which designs masks based on characters from popular horror movies as well as costumes and props, laid off 15 employees, one-fourth of its staff, in May, co-founder Christopher Zephro said. Zephro uses factories in China to make plastic masks but said he is reducing the amount of work done there and shifting it to Mexico, where his latex masks are manufactured. In the meantime, he raised prices by 15%. At Chicago Costume, which generates well under $1 million dollars in annual sales, shoppers will see fewer sales promotions and discounts, Hickey said. Children’s costumes of officially licensed characters and bulky sets will cost at least 25% more, he said. A lederhosen costume, for example, is priced at $49.99, or $10 more that it did a year ago. Hickey, who has served on the board of the National Costumers Association for 20 years, initially saw a silver lining in The President’s tariffs. Big retail chains have siphoned sales from independent costume shops with the help of cheap costumes from China, he said. In May, Hickey published a column on the National Costumers Association’s website that outlined Chicago Costume’s can-do, environmentally superior approach this year. He hoped it would galvanize the trade group’s 100 independent store members — a group that numbered 220 a decade ago — to dust off old stock, reorganize their shops and prepare for “a potentially great Halloween.” Tariffs have “peeled back the curtain on just how deep our reliance on cheap overseas manufacturing has become,” he wrote. “If this shift hurts Amazon dropshippers, Spirit Halloween, or Walmart’s over-imported costume lines, I’m not going to mourn. In fact, I see it as a chance for us to reclaim what made local retail special.” Some of Hickey’s idealism has since faded. The impact of tariffs on Halloween played out differently than he expected. The largest retail chains doubled down, flooding the market with cheap costumes and dropping prices to hold onto customers. “It’s been a lot harder than I hoped, but I still believe that optimism, adaptability, and differentiation are what will keep independent costume shops like us alive,” he said. Chicago Costume is used to embracing challenges. To keep revenue flowing year-round, the stores cater to cosplay fans and themed parties. The Hickey-Panayotou family has a separate business making mascot costumes for the Chicago Bulls and other professional sports teams, and acquired a theatrical services company founded in 1886 along with its collection of period pieces. Diversifying made it easier to rotate and refurbish old stock instead of slashing prices after Halloween or throwing pieces away, he said. For a customer who wanted to be a Hollywood diva, his wife, Erin, who handles social media for Chicago Costume, paired a robe trimmed with feather boas from the vintage collection with a new cigarette holder, hat and pair of sunglasses. Total cost: $65. Damien Johnson, 53, is a longtime Chicago Costume patron whose birthday is Oct. 31. He has spent as much as $300 on his Halloween getups and said he would never shop online or at discount stores. Despite his loyalty, Johnson delayed his costume-buying by a month this year. He also gave himself a spending cap. Transforming himself into the clown-faced Pennywise character from Stephen King’s “It” will come to $90, including hair and makeup. “I always overbought.” he said. “This year, I am good.” Terry Chea contributed from Santa Cruz, California. —Anne D’Innocenzio, AP Retail Writer View the full article

Oil prices declined on Friday, after settling around 1.6% lower in the previous session, as the market’s risk premium faded after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a plan to end the war in Gaza. Brent crude futures were down 66 cents, or 1%, at $64.56 a barrel at 1016 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was down 61 cents, or 1%, to $60.90. “Finally having some kind of peace process in the Middle East is lowering the shoulders a little bit,” said Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at SEB. This could ease fears about crude carriers passing through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, he said. BOTH BENCHMARKS ON TRACK FOR WEEKLY GAINS Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas signed a ceasefire agreement on Thursday in the first phase of U.S. President Donald The President’s initiative to end the war in Gaza. Under the deal, which Israel’s government ratified on Friday, fighting will cease, Israel will partially withdraw from Gaza, and Hamas will free all remaining hostages it captured in the attack that precipitated the war, in exchange for hundreds of prisoners held by Israel. Numerous vessels have been attacked by the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen since 2023, targeting ships they deem linked to Israel in what they described as solidarity with Palestinians over the war in Gaza. On a weekly basis, Brent was up around 1% and WTI was relatively flat, so far. Both benchmarks fell steeply last week. Prices climbed about 1% on Wednesday to a one-week high because of stalled progress on a Ukraine peace deal, a sign that sanctions against Russia, the world’s second-largest oil exporter, could continue. The Gaza ceasefire deal means the focus can move back to the impending oil surplus, as OPEC proceeds with the unwinding of production cuts, said Daniel Hynes, an analyst at ANZ. A smaller-than-expected November hike in output agreed by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+) on Sunday eased some of those oversupply concerns. “Markets’ expectations for a sharp ramp up in crude supply have not manifested themselves in substantially lower prices,” BMI analysts said in a note on Friday. “The most recent rise in production is lower than previously feared, contributing to a slight rise in prices for the week,” they said. Investors are also worried that a prolonged U.S. government shutdown could dampen the American economy and hurt oil demand in the world’s largest crude consumer. Additional reporting by Sudarshan Varadhan —Anna Hirtenstein, Reuters View the full article