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Stewart hanged himself with bedsheet, authorities say

Mae Anderson

P&G brings back former CEO

Last updated Thursday, May 23, 2013 - 8:30pm

NEW YORK — Procter & Gamble is bringing back former CEO A.G. Lafley, a 33-year industry veteran, to its top post in a surprise move as the world’s largest consumer goods maker tries to improve its results globally.

Lafley, 65, replaces CEO Bob McDonald, effective immediately. McDonald, who will retire June 30 after a transition period, served as CEO since 2009. Lafley, who is also taking the president and chairman titles, previously held the role from 2000 to 2009.

“A.G.’s track record and his depth of experience at P&G make him uniquely qualified to lead the company forward at this important time,” said board director Jim McNerney.

Business, Procter & Gamble Read more Comments

Nike’s Tiger Woods ad draws critics

Mae Anderson The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, March 26, 2013 - 12:54pm

NEW YORK — Maybe winning doesn’t take care of everything.

Nike is causing a social media storm with its latest online ad showing a picture of Tiger Woods overlaid with a quote from him, “Winning takes care of everything.”

The ad, posted on Facebook and Twitter, is supposed to allude to the fact that the golfer recovered from career stumbles to regain his world No. 1 ranking on Monday, which he lost in October 2010. But some say it’s inappropriate in light of Woods’ past marital woes. It’s the latest controversy from the athletic giant who has recently had to cut ties with biker Lance Armstrong and runner Oscar Pistorius due to separate scandals.

Golf, Advertising, Lance Armstrong, Nike, Oscar Pistorius, Sports, Tiger Woods Read more Comments

This undated publicity image released by Marvel shows Robert Downey Jr., as Tony Stark/Iron Man, in a scene from "Marvel's Iron Man 3." "Marvel's Iron Man 3" was one of several upcoming films to receive spotlight treatment with an ad that aired during Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Marvel, Zade Rosenthal)

The stories behind the Super Bowl ads

Mae Anderson The Associated Press

Last updated Monday, February 4, 2013 - 10:46am

NEW YORK — Super Bowl ads this year morphed into mini soap operas.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson shrugged off aliens so he could get more milk for his kids in a Super Bowl spot for the Milk Processor Education Program. Anheuser-Busch’s commercial told the story of a Clydesdale colt growing up and returning to his owner for a heartfelt hug years later. And a Jeep ad portrayed the trials and triumphs of families waiting for their return of family members.

Business, Entertainment, Features, Advertising, Super Bowl Read more Comments

Adver-teasers: Super Bowl viewers get peek at ads

Mae Anderson The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, January 29, 2013 - 5:46pm

NEW YORK — Super Bowl advertisers are learning the art of the tease.

Supermodel Kate Upton appears in an online Mercedes-Benz video in a low-cut top. An unknown man wakes up with his face covered in smeared lipstick and his hands bound in furry handcuffs in a Gildan Activewear clip. And “30 Rock” star Tracy Morgan seemingly curses in a spot for Kraft’s Mio flavored drops.

“Hey, can you say (bleep) on TV?” he asks in the spot titled “Bleep.”

NFL, Advertising, Commercials, Sports, Super Bowl Read more Comments

FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 29, 2008, file photo, carts full of merchandise ordered online are rolled to the main packing area for shipping at the Overstock.com warehouse, in Salt Lake City. Cyber Monday, coined in 2005 by a shopping trade group that noticed a spike in online sales on the Monday after Thanksgiving when people returned to their work computers, is the next in a line of days that stores are counting on to jumpstart the holiday shopping season. This year it is expected to be the biggest online shopping day of the year for the third year in a row. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)

Cyber Monday likely to be busiest online sales day

Mae Anderson The Associated Press

Last updated Monday, November 26, 2012 - 11:19am

NEW YORK — Bye-bye Black Friday. So long Small Business Saturday. Now, it’s Cyber Monday’s turn.

Business, Online shopping, Retail sales Read more Comments

Shoppers (left to right) Val Mahlke, Sue Mahlke, and Amy Beier wait outside of Target Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, in Winona, Minn. for the start of Black Friday sales. (AP Photo/Winona Daily News, Sydney Swanson)

Earlier Black Friday kicks off shopping season

Anne D'Innocenzio, Mae Anderson The Associated Press

Last updated Friday, November 23, 2012 - 10:21am

This year’s Black Friday shoppers were split into two distinct groups: those who wanted to fall into a turkey-induced slumber and those who’d rather shop instead.

Business, Black Friday, Shopping Read more Comments

A customer browses food piled into shopping carts on Brighton Beach Avenue, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. People in the coastal corridor battered by superstorm Sandy took the first cautious steps Wednesday to reclaim routines upended by the disaster, even as rescuers combed neighborhoods strewn with debris and scarred by floods and fire. (AP Photo/ John Minchillo)

Big Apple improvises to reopen for business

Candice Choi, Mae Anderson The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, October 31, 2012 - 5:08pm

NEW YORK — Two days after Superstorm Sandy brought business in New York City to a standstill, stores that lost power are again serving customers, albeit by flashlight. Companies with closed offices are setting up shop in coffeehouses. And the owner of the Skylight Diner is borrowing bacon from his neighbors because the restaurant’s cupboard is bare.

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Pizza Hut contest meant to get question into presidential debate

Candice Choi, Mae Anderson The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, October 10, 2012 - 9:42am

NEW YORK — During the next presidential debate, the candidates will be pondering the important questions of our time. But the most controversial may be “Sausage or pepperoni?”

Campaign, Marketing, National Read more Comments

(AP Photo/Barnes & Noble)
This undated image provided by Barnes & Noble shows one of the two new Nook tablets the company will be releasing in the fall of 2012.

Barnes & Noble launches new Nook HD

Mae Anderson The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, September 26, 2012 - 10:58am

NEW YORK — Barnes & Noble is rolling out two new versions of its Nook tablet with sleek new hardware and a sharper high-definition screen. The bookseller’s move heightens the already intense tablet wars heading into the holiday season.

Barnes & Noble said Wednesday that its new Nook HD will come in two sizes, one with a 7-inch screen (measured diagonally), starting at $199, and one with a new 9-inch diagonal screen, called the Nook HD+, starting at $269.

Business, e-books, e-readers, Nook, Tablets Read more Comments

This undated product image provided by Toys R Us shows One Direction collector dolls by Hasbro, an item on Toys R Us' "Hot Toy" list. Toys R Us, a Wayne, N.J.-based retailer is introducing a “hot toy” reservation program beginning Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2012. Under the system, Toys R Us will offer parents the opportunity to reserve the 50 toys on its “hot toy” list. (AP Photo/Toys R Us)

Tot tablets, retro brands are ’hot toys’

Mae Anderson The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 9:12am

NEW YORK — It’s still technically summer, but for some it’s not too soon to think about what the kiddies will want for the holidays.

Business, Retail, Toys Read more Comments

Procter and Gamble spins out Tide Pods

Mae Anderson The Associated Press

Last updated Monday, March 5, 2012 - 7:31am

NEW YORK — It took eight years, 450 product sketches, 6,000 consumer tests and hundreds of millions of dollars for Procter & Gamble to create something that it hopes will be destroyed in the wash.

Business, Procter & Gamble, Utah, Featured Read more Comments

Super Bowl ads battle for championship

Mae Anderson The Associated Press

Last updated Sunday, February 5, 2012 - 10:53pm

NEW YORK — The pressure was on. The tension was thick. And then, there were yawns in between.

Advertising, Super Bowl, National Read more Comments

This scene from an advertisement provided by the Coca-Cola Co. and Wieden + Kennedy, shows the polar bear tumbling through the air trying to catch his bottle of Coca-Cola before it falls to the ground. The "Catch," ad will be aired during Super Bowl XLVI, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012.

Super Bowl advertisers go after "second screens"

Mae Anderson The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - 6:31pm

NEW YORK -- Call it the "second-screen" Super Bowl.

About two-thirds of smartphone and tablet owners use their gadgets to do things like text or post on Twitter while watching TV, according to research firm Nielsen. So, for Sunday's game, companies from Coke to Chevy are trying to reach fans on all the "second screens" they have.

Business, NFL, Advertising, Digital devices, Smartphones, Super Bowl, television, Football Read more Comments

Earlier deals, longer hours woo Friday shoppers

Mae Anderson The Associated Press

Last updated Friday, November 25, 2011 - 11:04am

A few violent incidents broke out across the country on Black Friday as millions of shoppers rushed into stores that opened their doors hours earlier than usual on the most anticipated shopping day of the year.

Black Friday, Christmas shopping, Retail, Shopping, National Read more Comments

(The Associated Press) In this photo provided by the Gap, items from the Gap's 1969 Men's fall collection are shown. Gap, the nation’s largest clothing chain, on Monday, Aug. 1, 2011 is rolling out a marketing campaign that features 30- to 90-second online documentary-style videos centered around the goings on at its denim design studio in Los Angeles called the Pico Creative Loft.

Gap touts jeans with tacos and Twitter

Mae Anderson The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, August 3, 2011 - 2:05pm

NEW YORK — The "1969: L.A. and Beyond" series of short videos has all the elements of a reality TV show. It has action. It has fashion. And the star of the show is always in demand.

Business, Clothing, Retail, National Read more Comments