Here’s what large national advertisers are up to this week:
Costco has started offering prescriptions through a partnership with healthcare startup Sesame. For $179, members can get a prescription for the GLP-1 weight loss drug plus a meeting with a doctor or specialist. Members who get the drug are also able to message a doctor with questions or issues as they continue to use Ozempic... Levi Strauss, which has long relied on wholesalers like Macy’s and Kohl’s to drive its business, is now doing nearly half of its sales through its own website and stores. In Q1, direct-to-consumer sales made up a record 48% of overall sales at Levi’s, up from 42% in the year-ago period and 25% higher on a two-year basis, the retailer said. The shift is a boon for Levi’s profits. But it raises questions about the company’s relationships with its wholesale partners and whether it will hurt those retailers as they grapple with their own existential challenges.
Arby’s has announced that the beef purveyor will offer free sandwiches throughout April in a bid to answer an age-old question, as they put it: “Who actually eats at Arby’s?” From now until April 30, customers can score one free sandwich, wrap or gyro per week with any purchase from curly fries to apple turnovers. Arby’s claims no sandwiches are “off-limits,” whether it’s the half-pound roast beef or the Crispy Chicken Club Wrap. To score this weekly food freebie, customers must already have or can create an Arby’s Rewards account and place the order through the restaurant’s app or website for instore pickup only.
Seven months after a 3.3 million vehicle recall for Hyundai and Kia, the automakers are still working to repair the fire hazard that prompted the recall. Both issued warnings to drivers in September to park affected vehicles outside because of a risk of fire. “Until these recalled vehicles have been repaired, the manufacturers say the safest place to park them is outside and away from homes and other structures. Fires can occur whether the vehicle is parked and turned off or while driving,” the administration said.
Hot Wheels continues to expand its inclusivity with the launch of the Flippin Fast, developed in collaboration with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN). This new product is aimed at an audience that many retailers often overlook. Designed to provide a more inclusive play experience, the Flippin Fast features a unique design that allows it to roll just as smoothly upside down as it does right side up. The Flippin Fast includes a rotating center piece, including the cockpit, which spins independently of the car body, doubling up as a fidget spinner for kids who find sensory comfort in such activities.