01.24.24 | Shop Talk looks at the importance of archiving LP’s and physical media that have an uncertain future. New York based ARC—Archiving of Contemporary Music—keeps and maintains the largest popular music collection in the world. Caught My Eye warns visitors in Las Vegas not to stop on pedestrian bridges for photo ops for fear of a $1,000 Pedestrian Flow Zone ticket. Also, a woman in California has a pop-up Blockbuster at the end of her driveway. Chad Hurley, co-founder of YouTube, is our Business Birthday.

01.23.24 | A man in Salem, Ohio preserved his dead wife for over six years in their RV until he died, so they could be buried together. But first, John Deere Company has made the decision to team with electric battery company EGO to produce a full complement of battery powered lawn equipment. Finally, a Catholic Priest in Poland gets in trouble for having a Viagra fueled PNP gay sex romp in which one man collapsed and emergency services were not called. Haven’t we heard this story before?

01.17.24 | Shop Talk looks at 15 brands that were boycotted in 2023 mostly for inclusive advertising to LGBTQ consumers. Were the boycotts successful? Caught My Eye focuses on the decision by Hertz to reduce its electric car fleet by a third, or 20,000 vehicles, based on depreciation and cost of repairs. Also, a couple of queer facts from Disney are revealed. George Sperti, inventor of Preparation H, is our Business Birthday.

01.16.24 | After 54 years, Fruit Stripe gum will be no more. The brand, owned by Ferrara Candy Co., will no longer be available. So, if you are a fan of Fruit Stripe, grab it while you can. But first, Gucci ignores a MAGA boycott and Jodie Foster says working with Gen Z can be a challenge.

01.10.24 | Shop Talk discusses the popularity of gift cards and how companies expect breakage to help their bottom line. Caught My Eye shares a story about a Burger King employee that received little recognition upon his 27-year tenure. Also, a United Airlines New Years’ Time Travel Flight was a bust. Thierry Hermes, founder of leather and luxury goods brand Hermes, is our Business Birthday.

01.09.24 | North Carolina and Montana are the latest states to ban adult websites like PornHub unless users provide a government issued ID for age verification, joining a list of others who have enacted similar restrictions. Then, toy maker Fisher-Price created a “Like a Boss” office activity center that sent one Mom off. Her complaint went viral on social media when she referred to the toy as “baby’s First Cubicle.” Finally, a technique to put meaning into New Year’s Resolutions that are not just about weight loss and financial health.

12.27.23 | Shop Talk shares tails of Holiday/Christmas parties gone wrong. Caught My Eye alerts us to the “new” spice of 2024 according to McCormick’s and a house is moved in Halifax using 700 bars of Ivory Soap. Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, former CEO of LEGO, is our Business Birthday. Happy 76th to Kjeld!

12.26.23 | Tennessee and Florida have both proposed legislation to ban all flags other than the Stars and Stripes and state flags. It is a way to ban the Pride and Trans flags without saying it, but we all know what’s going on. Then, Wrigley Extra Gum came under fire from a few consumers for showing a commercial that showed two women kissing. Finally, people who have grown tired of their pet goldfish have let them loose in the wild. The Great Lakes has perhaps thousands and they are upsetting the eco-system. The goldfish can live 25 years and grow to the size of a football!

12.20.23 | Shop Talk shares two new taglines that Connecticut will be using to rebrand itself away from being preppy and stuffy—wait until you hear what they picked! Caught My Eye covers an employee from Hooters suing the restaurant for false representation. She thought she had won a Toyota for selling the most beer, but… Also, Delta Airlines is trying to shed plastic cups after 70 years. Elsie de Wolfe, credited with creating the Interior Design profession, is our Business Birthday.