Business, Economy & Culture:

Crypto Tycoon Pays $6.2 Million for Banana Duct-Taped to a Wall A $6.2M banana?! 🍌💰 A crypto mogul made headlines for splurging on this quirky art piece, proving that in the world of high stakes and high art, anything is a-peeling. 🎨✨ (bloomberg)

‘Upflation’ Is the New Retail Trend Driving Up Prices for US Consumers- Retailers are adding a touch of extra ✨ to justify higher price tags. Upflation is an attempt to create new applications for things that consumers have decided that they no longer need as much of, and upcharging for them (i.e.- full body deodorant). 💸💎 (bloomberg)

Sportswear Is Set for an Epic Showdown in 2025- The sportswear giants are lacing up for an intense battle in 2025 🏃‍♂️👟 With cutting-edge designs, sustainability moves, and high-tech gear, the race to dominate the market has never been this exciting. Game on! ⚡🥇(bof)

Spirit files for bankruptcy as no-frills carriers struggle to capitalize on the travel boom - Spirit Airlines hits turbulence 🚩 as it files for bankruptcy. Despite the travel boom, ultra-low-cost carriers like Spirit are struggling to keep up. Turns out, flying cheap doesn’t always pay off in the end. ✈️💸 (sherwood news)

Young Americans Rely on Social Media Influencers for News, Pew Says - Social media influencers 📱🎥 are the new go-to for younger generations seeking the latest scoop. This makes so much sense, as legacy media providers have not done much to innovate or appeal to the youngest generations. 📰✨(bloomberg) 

Why ultra-luxury brands love prestige TV - From Succession to Euphoria, luxury brands are stealing the show 🖥️👑. By partnering with hit series, they’re elevating their appeal and captivating audiences with iconic placements. Drama meets decadence! ✨🎬(vogue business)

Shake Shack cheeseburgers to be served in first class on Delta flights- Delta is treating first-class passengers to Shake Shack cheeseburgers 🍔✈️! Because why settle for plain peanuts when you can enjoy a juicy bite at 30,000 feet? Gourmet flying goals achieved. 🛫✨(cnn business)

Bluesky brings the fun, weird vibes of old Twitter back to life- Bluesky is giving social media a retro twist 🐦✨, bringing back the quirky, chaotic energy of early Twitter which we all miss! In the last week alone, 2.5 million users have joined Bluesky. It’s a haven for memes, debates, and randomness—just like the good ol’ days. 💬🎉 (vox)

Fur Industry Faces Challenges with Elevation Strategy and LVMH Support- The fur industry 🦊 is reinventing itself as a luxury must-have with help from LVMH. But with sustainability debates and changing consumer preferences, it’s no easy runway to success. 🛤️💎 (bof)

Taco Bell and KFC’s Owner Says AI-Driven Marketing Is Boosting Purchases Yum Brands (Taco Bell 🌮 and KFC 🍗) are spicing up their strategy with AI! Personalized marketing is driving sales and proving that smart tech can make fast food even faster.🤖✨(wsj)

Instagram will soon let you reset your recommendation algorithm Annoyed by irrelevant Insta content? 📲 Instagram is rolling out a reset button for recommendations, so you can start fresh and curate a feed you actually love. 🌀✨(tech crunch)

Jersey Mike’s Subs Sold to Blackstone in $8 Billion Deal. The deal is expected to close early next year, and last year, another private equity firm, Roarke Capital, agreed to buy Subway for $9.55 million. Sandwiches are officially the hot industry to be in 🥪🔥 (inc)

Did These Fashion and Beauty Trends Predict Trump’s Comeback? Could style predict politics? 🕶️ This piece delves into how fashion and beauty trends—like bold tailoring, vibrant hues, and dramatic aesthetics—mirror cultural shifts that align with Trump’s reemergence. A fascinating look at the intersection of trends and power. 👔✨(bof)

Ozempic Could Crush the Junk Food Industry. But It Is Fighting Back. Ozempic is an enemy to the snack world. 🍟💊 This immensely popular drug could curb cravings and hit junk food sales hard, but the industry isn’t backing down without a fight. Crunch time, indeed. ⚡🥤 (nyt)

Wearing Your Personality on Your Handbag. This is such a great holiday gift idea for handbag lovers. I’m absolutely buying into this trend; it reminds me of middle school days with my chunky Tiffany’s bracelet and Pandora charm bracelets. Anything charm-related brings me back to simpler times. 🧿💎 (nyt)

Snap’s Bitmojis Step Out With Prada, Miu Miu Bags- Your Bitmoji just got bougie! 💃👜 Snapchat avatars are now rocking Prada and Miu Miu bags, making your digital self as stylish as your real one. Because, why not flex in the virtual world too? No doubt, we will continue see luxury brands look for ways to appeal to us through our digital experiences 👛✨  (wwd)

Entrepreneurship/Venture Capital:

Consumer Tech is Bouncing Back and Brynn Putnam Is Bouncing Back With It. When Brynn Putnam sold her startup Mirror to Lululemon in the early days of the pandemic, many people told her that it was too soon. However, her timing was impeccable, as the Mirror popularity (along with many at-home pandemic workouts) took a nosedive shortly after. Now, she’s working on a company in stealth, and she plans to publicly launch next year. She’s raised a $3 million seed round from Lerer Hippeau.🏃 🏋️ (tech crunch)

AI Investments are Booming, but Venture-Firm Profits are at a Historic Low. U.S. venture firms returned $26 billion worth of shares back to their investors, the lowest amount since 2011. We’re in a year of AI frenzy, and many venture capital firms have invested a ton of capital into the AI space while there’s simultaneously been less public filings and acquisitions. 💻️📈 (wsj)

Elon Musks’s xAI Startup is Valued at $50 Billion In New Funding Round. This news is wild since the company has more than doubled its valuation since the spring. They’ve raised $11 billion this year. 📊🌆 (wsj)

Podcasts:

WTF Happened To Your Favorite Brands Incl. Outdoor Voices, Glossier, Abercrombie & Fitch, and More With Sammi Cohen- Pop Apologists- Ever wondered what happened to iconic brands like Glossier and A&F? 🔥🎢 This podcast (FEATURING YOURS TRULY!!!) dishes on their rise, fall, and everything in between. Grab your tea and watch/listen to us yap away! ☕✨ (spotify podcast)

Simon Sinek: The Advice Young People NEED To Hear- The Diary Of A CEO Simon Sinek drops wisdom bombs 💡🎤 in this podcast, sharing life-changing and actionable advice for young people on purpose, leadership, and making an impact. It’s a must-listen for anyone who is aggressively chasing their dreams 🚀✨(spotify)

Emma Grede ON: The Formula to Building a Billion Dollar Empire & How Identifying Your Fears Will Help You Achieve Your Dreams - On Purpose with Jay Shetty - Emma Grede, co-founder of popular Kardashian-led brands such as Good American & Skims, spills the secrets to her billion-dollar success 💼💎, diving into the power of fear, ambition, and mindset. It’s inspiring and packed with practical tips (and her accent is so incredibly chic) 🌟🎧(spotify)

Resources:

McKinsey’s ‘State of Fashion 2025’- This annual McKinsey report tells us that (spoiler alert!) the state of fashion is going to be dire in 2025. There’s mention of global trade reshuffling, price-sensitivity due to inflation, and the acceleration of climate change. 🎽👖 

Elfster- A great platform that simplifies organizing and managing gift exchanges this holiday season. It allows users to create gift exchange groups for Secret Santa, draw names electronically, and set preferences and wish lists to ensure everyone receives meaningful gifts. With features like budget settings, anonymity options, and mobile accessibility, Elfster makes the gift-giving process easy, fun, and hassle-free for families, friends, and workplaces. 🎅🎁

Yuka - The Mobile App That Scans Your Products- a viral app that scans food and cosmetic products to reveal how healthy and safe they are. With a simple scan, it gives a score and detailed breakdown of ingredients, helping you make smarter, healthier choices. 🌱✨

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