2/8/2024 - TL;DW But I Read
Las Vegas’ evolution is ever apparent as it gears up for Super Bowl 58!
Check out my new favorite Substack: Everyday Poetry
My favorite books:
What Happened To Axe Body Spray?
*Topic : Business
*Length : 6m 40s
*View : 31.6K
Axe body spray existed for almost 20 years internationally, under the name Lynx, before it launched in the United States in 2002. Over the course of the next decade, Unilever’s fragrance brand captured the teenage boy market with its provocative advertising. But it began to fall out of favor, and by 2022, domestic sales had fallen to an estimated $300 million, down from nearly half a billion dollars just ten years prior. Now Axe trying to compete with high-end fragrances… can it succeed?
🤔 The "Axe effect" was a result of teenage boys, especially men, not being very good at washing.
💰 Axe's success in the US was a result of "really disciplined consumer science and high-level marketing strategy."
🌺 Axe struggled initially because they treated it like a deodorant, not a fine fragrance, and used the wrong perfumers.
🚫 The idea that you spray this on and you get the girl is sort of nonsense, really.
📈 The word of mouth for Axe body spray was unbelievable, leading to the rapid expansion of its product offerings and a significant increase in sales.
💸 US retail sales of Axe Body Spray fell over $100 million between 2012 and 2017, indicating a significant decline in popularity.
🐐 Axe's Fine Fragrance Collection marketing takes aim at higher-end brands, indicating a shift in their target demographic and positioning in the market.
💰 Axe and Lynx brand saw $1.7 billion in sales for its body sprays and deodorants in 2022, making it number one in the men's deodorant category globally.
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The headset wars: Why it's Apple's to lose?
*Topic : Business
*Length : 9m 38s
*View : 314K
Two tech titans are now duking it out in the headset wars. Apple's Vision Pro and Meta's Quests offer different price points, different specs, and most importantly, different visions of the future of virtual reality. And both have big hurdles to clear. This week on TechCheck, why the headset battle is Apple's to lose.
🥽 2024 is turning out to be the year of virtual reality with Apple and Meta duking it out.
🎮 The Meta Quest virtual reality headset is pitched as a substitute for in-person interactions, offering the feeling of presence and the ability to engage in various activities with others in the metaverse.
🎧 Easier integration into a normal routine versus a whole new world in the metaverse is being felt by consumers, with Apple introducing technology in its first iterations that consumers are just getting used to.
🍎 Apple's ecosystem and supply chain gives it a significant advantage over Meta in the headset wars.
🍎 Reviewers say Apple's VR headset is "Leaps and Bounds ahead by far" of other headsets, but it's seven times more expensive than the latest Meta headset.
📱 The gatekeeper issue between Apple and developers goes deeper than just App Store policies, reflecting a long-standing tug-of-war between Macs versus PCs and iOS versus Android.
🤔 One Bloomberg columnist puts it this way. It feels like the Mac versus PC battles of the 1990s and the 2000s Steve Jobs offered Sleek hardware and software but it was Bill Gates who taught the world how to use a computer by making it accessible and affordable.
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Will Las Vegas’ Big Bet On Sports Like The Super Bowl Pay Off?
*Topic : Business
*Length : 18m 58s
*View : 329K
Las Vegas’ evolution is ever apparent as it gears up for Super Bowl 58. What was once considered a sports pariah is now hosting the biggest U.S. sporting event of the year, and the event comes less than three months after the city held a Grand Prix Formula One race. That’s not all — Las Vegas now boasts two new entertainment facilities, the Sphere and Allegiant Stadium, adding new offerings like A-list performers.
🎰 Las Vegas has changed and is now seen as more than just the strip, reflecting a shift in the country's perception of the city.
🏈 The total economic impact generated by 1.52 million incremental visitors exceeded $2.29 billion, including $128 million in tax revenue in 2023, demonstrating the significant financial benefits of hosting sports events.
💰 Las Vegas is attracting high-tech jobs and tech companies like Google, making it a center for gaming, tourism, and technology.
🚶♂️ Experts urge the city to become more walkable to decrease pollution and manage space for the growing population, emphasizing the need for continuous shade and mixed-use development.
💰 "173 casinos in Clark County reported a combined net loss of $742.5 million in the 12 months ending on June 30th, 2021."
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