eBay Offers Free Appraisals At Drive-Thru Authentication Station

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Following a 25 percent revenue increase in Q3, eBay has converted a Los Angeles gas station into a drive-thru “Authentication Station” where people can appraise and sell their high-end sneakers, watches and collectibles without leaving the car.

The socially-distant initiative comes on the heels of eBay’s new Authenticity Guarantee, a program that involves independent experts verifying items through inspections. The offering is currently available for $200-plus sneakers and watches, two of the marketplace’s largest and popular luxury categories.

To get an appraisal, attendees drive up and stay in their car as an eBay attendant—a top eBay seller and a member of third-party authentication partner Sneaker Con—will take the item inside the station for inspection. Once the item is verified, the person has the option to sell on the spot.

In 2019, eBay sold nearly six million sneakers in North America and over 2 million watches. On average, there are more than half a million sneaker listings on eBay each day and 165,000 daily live listings for luxury watches.

Sales for Rolex, which accounts for 40 percent of luxury watch sales on the site, have increased 60 percent on eBay since last year.

eBays Authentication Station will be open for three days November 19 -21, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 4450 Beverly Blvd.

Between 19 million sellers worldwide and 183 million global active buyers, eBay’s revenues reached $2.6 billion in Q3. Gross merchandise volume was $25 billion, up 22 percent year-over-year.

“A year ago, we were losing share in [the collectible sneakers] category, but now we’re seeing over 50% [volume] growth year to date — and that was before launching the authenticity guarantee,” CEO Jamie Iannone said in a conference call with analysts.

In June, eMarketer reported that Walmart surpassed eBay in share of US ecommerce sales for the first time.

Twitter Promotes Jennifer Prince To Global Head Of Content Partnerships

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This week in leadership updates, Jennifer Prince accepts a promotion as Twitter’s global head of content partnerships, Tara Rush is elevated to SVP and CMO of Audi USA, Adidas names Vicky Free as SVP of global marketing, ShopRunner taps TJ Papp as CMO, Tommy Hilfiger welcomes Tara Rush as president and chief brand officer and more.

Twitter Elevates Jennifer Prince To Global Head Of Content Partnerships

Jennifer Prince has accepted a promotion as Twitter’s global vice president and head of content partnerships, reports Variety.

The update comes nearly a year after the departure of Kay Madati, who previously held the position.

Prince was most recently Twitter’s head of media and entertainment advertising revenue partnerships. Before joining Twitter in August 2013, Prince was head of ad sales for film and television at Google and YouTube.

Audi Of America Appoints Tara Rush As Chief Marketing Officer

Tara Rush has accepted a promotion as Audi of America’s senior vice president and CMO, making her the first woman to lead marketing at the company.

Rush will continue her responsibilities as chief communications officer until a replacement is named.

Prior to Audi, Rush served as chief corporate affairs officer for Heineken USA.

Adidas Names Vicky Free As Senior Vice President Of Global Marketing

Adidas has announced the appointment of Vicky Free to SVP of global marketing, reports WWD.

Free previously served as SVP and CMO at Novant Health. Prior to Novant, Free was SVP of marketing and creative at Disney.

ShopRunner Appoints TJ Papp As CMO And Head Of Marketplace-As-A-Service

According to WWD, TJ Papp has joined ShopRunner as CMO and head of marketplace-as-a-service.

Papp joins from Greats, where he was head of ecommerce. Prior to that, he was SVP, global brand and direct-to-consumer for Kenneth Cole.

Tommy Hilfiger Hires Avery Baker As President And Chief Brand Officer

Tommy Hilfiger has welcomed back longtime employee, Avery Baker, as president and chief brand officer.

Since joining the brand in 1998, Baker has held various roles across the company’s global offices.

Baker returns after stepping down in mid-2019.

On Location Experiences Appoints Deborah Curtis As Chief Marketing Officer

Deborah Curtis has joined On Location Experiences as CMO, reports Deadline.

Curtis most recently served as vice president, head of global brand and product experience at American Express for the past decade.

Her appointment follows Endeavor acquiring a majority stake in On Location in early 2020. On Location has partnerships with the NFL, NCAA, PGA of America and the United States Tennis Association, among others.

PodcastOne Appoints Ilana Susnow As Head Of Marketing And Audience Development

PodcastOne, a subsidiary of LiveXLive, has named Ilana Susnow as its head of marketing and audience development.

Susnow will oversee all marketing initiatives for PodcastOne’s podcasts, including The Adam Carolla Show, The LadyGang and Off the Vine, among others.

Susnow joins PodcastOne from E.W. Scripp’s Pickler and Ben talk show as head of marketing and integrations.

Listen In: Good Work Begins With Good Health

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First thing’s first. Take a deep breath. Exhale.

How are you feeling right now?

Our show today is all about turning inward and taking small steps to make sure we’re taking care of ourselves. Ayzenberg Senior Strategist and yoga instructor to a.network, Alexa Borghi, reminds us that to do well at work, we need to be healthy and happy. And that begins with mindfulness and self-reflection.

“For any career it’s important to have your focus on personal health first.” And as Alexa notes, “There’s no time more relevant than 2020 to have this conversation.”

The conversation ranges from how her work as a yoga instructor impacts her work as a senior strategist, the books she recommends for those interested in pursuing yoga and tenets for achieving a greater awareness of our own wellbeing. Oh, and a few exercises you can start doing immediately to help combat stress.

All told, Alexa’s philosophy is something anyone can put into action: private reflection can make you a more fulfilled professional and is the first step toward increasing your general wellness.

About Listen In: Each week on Listen In, Bretz and a rotating cast of hosts from Ayzenberg interview experts in the field of marketing and advertising to explore uncharted territory together. The goal is to provide the a.network audience with actionable insights, enabling them to excel in their field.

68 Percent Of Consumers Will Do Their Holiday Shopping Online

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With thousands of brick-and-mortar stores set to close this year, the holiday season is even more important to retailers. Yet a new report signals more bad news for the group and the potential demise of Black Friday. According to 97th Floor, 52 percent of consumers have decided to never do their holiday shopping in stores.

97th Floor surveyed 1,000 US shoppers to understand their hopes and fears regarding crowded malls and online shopping in the wake of COVID-19.

As expected, 68 percent of respondents said they plan to do most of their holiday shopping online due to the pandemic. What’s more, 81 percent of shoppers said that even if retailers offer great in-store experiences during the holidays, they’re still not sure they’d want to shop in person.

Despite research that suggests consumers are tightening their wallets, the report found that 73 percent of shoppers will spend either the same amount or less than they did last season.

Consumers’ fears about in-store shopping have also led to a dim holiday spirit. Just 20 percent of respondents said they’re definitely in a holiday “shopping mood.” And only 26 percent of people who have been to a midnight Black Friday doorbuster said it was worth it, an indication that the end of in-store Black Friday shopping is near.

Still, for those who do plan to shop in store, 54 percent said they want to get through their shopping lists by early November to avoid crowds.

These findings echo those of a Loqate report about consumer shipping expectations, which revealed that convenience and safety are top priorities for shoppers. As consumers plan to shop online, retailers must ensure packages arrive on time for 38 percent of shoppers are concerned they’ll arrive late and 10 percent are extremely unlikely to buy from a brand that delivered a late package.

For 59 percent of online retailers, the concern is that shipper fees may strain profitability, according to Loqate.

Retailers looking to make up for pandemic losses should also consider implementing an address verification solution as 40 percent of shoppers trust retailers who have one more than retailers without it. In addition, 22 percent of shoppers would make another purchase in the future from that retailer.

The Nature Conservancy Names Meg Goldthwaite As Chief Marketing And Communications Officer

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This week in leadership updates, The Nature Conservancy appoints Meg Goldthwaite as chief marketing and communications officer, Kate Spade brings on Jenny Campbell as CMO, AT&T Communications names Kellyn Smith Kenny as chief marketing and growth officer, Warner Bros co-president of worldwide marketing JP Richards is leaving, Warner Bros Television Group president and CMO Lisa Gregorian plans to exit, Volkswagen hires Kimberley Gardiner as SVP of marketing and more.

The Nature Conservancy Appoints Meg Goldthwaite As Chief Marketing And Communications Officer

The Nature Conservancy has named Meg Goldthwaite, former CMO of NPR, as chief marketing and communications officer.

Goldthwaite most recently served as a managing partner at Cove Creative.

AT&T Communications Hires Kellyn Smith Kenny As Chief Marketing And Growth Officer

AT&T Communications has announced the appointment of Kellyn Smith Kenny to chief marketing and growth officer, Adweek reports.

Smith Kenny comes from Hilton, where she served as global CMO for two years.  

Warner Bros Co-President Of Worldwide Marketing JP Richards To Exit

According to Deadline, JP Richards is stepping down from his position as co-president of worldwide marketing at Warner Bros amid WarnerMedia’s restructuring.

Richards has been with the company for six years. Prior to WarnerMedia, he worked at Universal for 12 years.

Kate Spade Appoints Jenny Campbell As Chief Marketing Officer

According to WWD, Kate Spade New York has hired Jenny Campbell as CMO. She succeeds Mary Beech, who departed in July 2019.

Campbell joins Kate Spade from Tinder, where she served as CMO for nearly two and a half years. Prior to Tinder, she held roles at 72andSunny, Nike and Wieden + Kennedy.

Warner Bros TV President And Chief Marketing Officer Lisa Gregorian To Exit

After more than three decades, Lisa Gregorian, president and CMO of Warner Bros Television Group, will exit at the end of the year.

As Deadline reports, Karen Miller, current executive vice president of creative services, will assume some of Gregorian’s duties.

Volkswagen Hires Kimberley Gardiner As Senior Vice President Of Marketing

Kimberley Gardiner, former CMO of Mitsubishi, is joining Volkswagen as SVP. Gardiner has over 21 years of automotive experience including leadership roles at Toyota and Kia.

She replaces Saad Chehab, who exited in May after nine months.

ViacomCBS Entertainment And Youth Group Chief Marketing Officer Jacqueline Parkes To Step Down

Jacqueline Parkes, CMO of ViacomCBS entertainment and youth group, is departing at the end of the year, according to Deadline.

For the past five years, Parkes has been leading marketing for MTV, VH1, CMT and Logo.

As per Deadline, ViacomCBS is close to finalizing her replacement.

Nokia Chief Marketing Officer Barry French To Exit

Nokia’s CMO since 2014, Barry French, is stepping down following the company’s announcement of a reorganization plan that would do away with its end-to-end strategy.

French, who’s also a member of HMD Global’s board of directors, first joined Nokia in 2006 and played key roles in the development of Nokia Siemens Network.

Yelp Appoints Tony Wells To Board Of Directors

Yelp has named Tony Wells, chief brand officer of USAA, to its board of directors, serving on the Compensation Committee.

Prior to USAA, Wells was CMO for Schneider Electric’s North American market. He also has served as CMO at ADT Security and 24 Hour Fitness.

Measure J Passing Will Require L.A. County To Allocate General Funds To Social Services

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Amid the nation’s growing calls for racial justice, nearly 60 percent of Los Angeles County voters have approved Measure J, an initiative that will divert millions of county dollars to social services for communities disproportionately affected by racism.

As part of Measure J, 10 percent of unrestricted, locally generated county funds, or about $360 million to $900 million, must go toward social services such as job training and jobs to low-income residents, access to capital for small minority-owned businesses, rent assistance, community-based restorative justice programs and mental health treatment.

Dubbed “Re-Imagine L.A. County,” Measure J prohibits L.A. county from spending the money on prisons, jails or law enforcement agencies.

After officially launching Yes on Measure J more than two weeks ago and running a 10-day flight of television advertising ahead of election day, the campaign has garnered 100 million digital impressions, the measure’s co-chairs, Isaac Bryan and Eunisses Hernandez told AList.

“For far too long the needs of our Black and brown communities fell on the budget chopping block and as a result, these communities have paid the price. Measure J will now change that,” said Hernandez, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

The amendment will be phased in next July and fully implemented by June 30, 2024.

The passing of Measure J marks a momentous step in the nation’s journey toward a racial reckoning and coincides with Ayzenberg’s efforts to create more diverse and equitable career initiatives to bridge the racial gap in the advertising industry.

One such initiative includes a virtual career day Ayzenberg and LA Promise Fund recently hosted for more than 75 low-income high school students in South L.A. The program saw a group of Ayzenberg employees share the behind-the-scenes of their ad campaigns and how students can apply the skills they’re learning to real-world career options.

Ayzenberg is actively working to educate young black and brown students in the local community about design and advertising opportunities by continuing the conversation with BIPOC leaders in the space.

“Ayzenberg wholeheartedly supports the transformative Measure J and believes criminal justice reform will better the City of Los Angeles and will create a path forward for the entire country,” said Ayzenberg CEO Eric Ayzenberg.

Virtual Marketing Teams With Planable Founder Xenia Muntean

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On this 232nd episode of “Marketing Today,” I interview the founder of Planable, Xenia Muntean. Planable allows marketing teams to collaborate, and even more importantly, visualize the content that they are creating before posting it online.

Our conversation starts with Muntean’s experience growing up in the Republic of Moldova, a post-Soviet country in Eastern Europe. This environment taught Muntean the discipline, resiliency, and work ethic that led her to land on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, though the journey wasn’t always smooth. Muntean says, “it’s only a path now looking back, connecting all the dots and looking backward.”

She then talks about how the problems with collaboration in her first marketing business led her to create Planable out of necessity. The best part about Planable is “the clarity that the tool gives you around your content.” Now, marketing teams all over the world use Planable to help “them simplify their content workflows.” Muntean then discusses how Planable is “more about the people than it is about the content itself” and removes miscommunication during collaboration. Finally, we discuss the current state of the world and the challenges that have been presented by the global pandemic. Muntean simply states, in the beginning,” uncertainty was the biggest challenge.”

Highlights from this week’s “Marketing Today”:

  • Xenia was born and raised in the Republic of Moldova, a post-Soviet country in Eastern Europe. 1:27
  • Xenia learned a lot about independence, resilience, and survival from spending her life in such a unique country. 2:08
  • The path from Moldova to Forbes 30-Under-30 list was a long one filled with its unique challenges. 3:00
  • During her second year in university, Xenia started her first social media marketing business. 3:58
  • Collaborating with clients and her team while trying to build incredible content was a very big struggle at first. 4:46
  • Planable was built out of a necessity to collaborate on content with both clients and employees. 5:49
  • In a country that was not her own, pitching to the venture industry in London was made easier by a welcoming community. 6:52
  • Tech Stars was made up of a majority of female CEOs, which made the transition that much more comfortable for Xenia. 7:49
  • Xenia built her business on what she could control and didn’t pay attention to any bias towards her as a woman. 8:46
  • Planable is designed for teams to collaborate on content and is used by companies all over the world. 9:10
  • As a workflow system, Planable allows social media teams to visualize and coordinate content before it is ever posted. 10:30
  • Planable takes the guessing out of posting content on social media. 11:30
  • B2B marketing for Planable relies a lot on inbound marketing and just recently started using influencers. 11:44
  • The first season of the People of Marketing Podcast is wrapping up and has proved very difficult but useful as a marketing tool. 13:27
  • Xenia has used her podcast to listen to the journeys and challenges that marketing leaders have faced on their way to the top. 14:20
  • Planable focuses on the people in the marketing teams rather than the content itself. 15:20
  • Though the ongoing pandemic didn’t change the product, it did change how Planable had to communicate the product to clients and potential clients. 16:28
  • Offering a free trial and discounts was Planable’s way of helping clients that might be going through financial struggles. 17:20
  • Cuts may have hit the marketing space the hardest, and COVID slowed the expected growth for collaboration tools. 18:50
  • Embracing remote work requires an understanding of the issues and challenges that are facing your team. 20:16
  • Planable replaces all the tools that present opportunities for gaps in communication and clarity. 21:28
  • Xenia’s Facebook business, crafting jewelry with her mother, taught her quite a bit about discipline and work ethic. 22:28
  • Do whatever you can to stay out of your own way; you are capable of amazing things. 23:50
  • The multitude of companies in the alternative-meat industry inspires Xenia with how they market themselves. 26:03
  • Silos are the largest threat to marketing teams in the current world environment. 26:57

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Alan B. Hart is the creator and host of “Marketing Today with Alan Hart,” a weekly podcast where he interviews leading global marketing professionals and business leaders. Alan advises leading executives and marketing teams on opportunities around brand, customer experience, innovation, and growth. He has consulted with Fortune 100 companies, but he is an entrepreneur at his core, having founded or served as an executive for nine startups.

Sinclair Names John Zeigler As Its First Chief Marketing Officer

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This week in leadership updates, Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. appoints John Zeigler as its first CMO and McDonald’s appoints Reggie J. Miller as VP and global diversity, equity and inclusion officer.

Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. Hires John Zeigler As First Chief Marketing Officer

Sinclair has appointed John Zeigler as its first CMO, according to the Baltimore Business Journal.

In the newly created role, Zeigler will focus on marketing strategy for all of Sinclair’s affiliate television stations and 21 regional sports networks.

Zeigler joins Sinclair from the YES Network, where he served as vice president overseeing marketing. Prior to YES Network, he worked at Z Living Network, WGN America and other local stations.

McDonald’s Hires Reggie J. Miller As Vice President And Global Diversity, Equity And Inclusion Officer

McDonald’s has announced the appointment of Reggie J. Miller to VP and global diversity, equity and inclusion officer.

Miller comes from VF Corporation, where he most recently served as VP of global inclusion and diversity and implemented the company’s first-ever formal diversity and inclusion strategy.

Prior to working at VF Corporation, Miller was director of diversity strategy and support for Walmart US stores.

Esteé Lauder Launches Voice-Activated Sampling Campaign On Spotify To Promote Its New Product

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Amid a backdrop of increased audio streaming among consumers, Estée Lauder has partnered with Spotify on a voice-activated campaign to promote the new iteration of its Advanced Night Repair serum, which the brand launched in August.

The campaign includes a voice-activated sampling program that lets listeners request a sample of Estée Lauder’s new product, making it the first of its kind on Spotify. Those with a free Spotify subscription can use their Google Home to request a sample of Advanced Night Repair.

Users can also create a personalized playlist to complement their nighttime skincare routines. Each playlist, which is based on the user’s Spotify streaming history via a customized microsite, will feature calming sounds and short audio messages that speak to the importance of a nighttime skincare regimen. The playlists will refresh weekly.

In-person beauty try-ons, which are key drivers of skincare and makeup purchases, ground to a near halt when the crisis hit and authorities ordered nonessential businesses to close. 

In response, many brands have pivoted to virtual try-on experiences to recreate the offline shopping experience for beauty enthusiasts. Nevertheless, McKinsey found that the beauty industry will decline by 30-35 percent this year.

By the end of March, Estée Lauder’s quarterly sales declined by 11 percent to $3.35 billion and profits decreased 14 percent. During the brand’s fiscal fourth quarter, which ended June 30, skincare sales increased by three percent despite makeup sales dropping by 61 percent.

After an initial slump brought on by the pandemic, Spotify’s Q2 revenue grew 11.1 percent year-over. At the end of Q2, Spotify had 299 million monthly active users (MAUs) and 138 million paying subscribers, according to the Wall Street Journal. The company will release its Q3 2020 earnings tomorrow.

Levi’s Elevates Chief Marketing Officer Jen Sey To Brand President

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This week in leadership updates, Levi’s promotes CMO Jen Sey to brand president, Hyatt Regency Aruba appoints Denise Florio as director of sales, marketing and events, Riot Games hires Jason Bunge as CMO and more.

Levi’s Names Its Chief Marketing Officer Jen Sey As Brand President

As part of a series of leadership changes at Levi’s, the company has elevated its CMO, Jen Sey, to brand president.

Sey has been with Levi’s for nearly 22 years.

According to the press release, the company is capitalizing on the pandemic-induced shifts in consumer behavior to focus on direct-to-consumer and the digitization of the brand.

Hyatt Regency Aruba Hires Denise Florio As Director Of Sales, Marketing And Events

Denise Florio has joined Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino as director of sales, marketing and events.

Florio’s appointment comes after the resort’s recent multimillion-dollar renovation.

Before joining Hyatt Regency Aruba, Florio served as corporate director of learning and development for Hyatt Hotels Corporation.

Riot Games Names Jason Bunge As Chief Marketing Officer

Riot Games has announced the appointment of Jason Bunge to CMO.

In his new role, Bunge will oversee Riot Games’ game marketing, product publishing and global strategy teams.

Prior to joining Riot Games, Bunge served as senior vice president of brand management and marketing for Electronic Arts.

Instacart Hires Ariel Bardin As Senior Vice President Of Product

Instacart has announced the appointment of Ariel Bardin to SVP of product.

Before joining Instacart, Bardin spent the last 15-plus years at Google, where he most recently oversaw YouTube’s full suite of creator products as VP of product management.  

InterPrice Technologies, Inc. Appoints Anne Daley As Chief Marketing Officer

Anne Daley has joined InterPrice Technologies, Inc. as partner and CMO, according to a press release.

Most recently, Daley served as a managing director at Barclay’s investment-grade syndicate. Prior to joining Barclay’s, Daley was a senior member in-syndicate at Goldman Sachs.

Preferred Hotels & Resorts Elevates Caroline Klein To Chief Communications Officer

Caroline Klein has accepted a promotion as chief communications officer of Preferred Hotels & Resorts.

As part of her new role, Klein will also serve as chief communications officer of Preferred’s sister division PHG Consulting.

Klein joined Preferred in August 2012, first as senior manager of public relations for the Americas and most recently as executive vice president of corporate communications and public relations.

Ad Council Elects New Members To Its Board Of Directors    

The Ad Council has announced new members to its board of directors. In addition, Hayley Romer, chief revenue officer and publisher of The Atlantic, has been appointed secretary of the board.

New members of the Ad Council board include:

  • David Cohen, CEO, Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB)
  • Seth Dallaire, Chief Revenue Officer, Instacart
  • Leslie Gillin, CMO, JPMorgan Chase
  • Michael Guth, SVP and CMO, Spectrum Reach, the advertising sales business of Charter Communications
  • Elizabeth Herbst-Brady, VP, Head of North American Sales & Global Client Solutions, Verizon Media
  • Lee Hurley, CMO, Northwestern Mutual
  • Sean Lyons, Global CEO, R/GA
  • Scott Kelliher, Head of Brand Advertising & Partnerships, eBay Ads
  • Matt Kohan, VP, Marketing Culture & Capabilities, Anheuser-Busch
  • Suzanne Kounkel, Chief Marketing Officer, Deloitte
  • Barri Rafferty, EVP, Head of Communications, Wells Fargo
  • Elizabeth Rutledge, CMO, American Express
  • Cara Sabin, CEO, Sundial Brands, Unilever
  • Melissa Selcher, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, LinkedIn
  • Raj Singhal, COO, Huge
  • Tim Sims, Chief Revenue Officer, The Trade Desk
  • Marisa Thalberg, EVP, Chief Brand and Marketing officer, Lowe’s
  • Alicia Tillman, Global Chief Marketing Officer, SAP
  • Sebastian Tomich, Global Head of Advertising, Marketing Solutions, New York Times
  • Mark Zagorski, CEO, DoubleVerify