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Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Five Tips For Hiring Your Dream Team
Dayton Miller is the Managing Director of BFG Partners, a leading venture capital firm specializing in early-stage consumer products. 'Team work makes the dream work' is a cliche for a reason. It is critical to have a dedicated, synergistic team in order to maximize your success as a company. Finding the right talent is one of the most important steps in building a strong foundation of a business, and it is something BFG Partners places significant value in. Beyond building our own team, we also take pride in having supported our portfolio brands with making key hires. Below are my top tips for building your 'dream team.' 1. Look for people who are hungry and scrappy. We have found that oftentimes athletes possess these two qualities. They are often highly goal oriented, are generally smart, have a strong work ethic and are willing to learn. In the early days of growing a business, this drive goes a long way. Intrinsic motivation is one of the toughest traits to teach but one of the most common traits I see in high performers. 2. Consider unconventional experience. Some of the best hires our team and portfolio brands have made are people outside of our industries. Good ideas come from everywhere. Look to see if they have the fundamentals, what they can apply from their other experiences, and if they have the ability to learn. With this, also look for people who know what they don't know. They should be willing to admit their shortcomings and ask for help. 3. Assess cultural fit. Culture fit is critical for long-term team cohesion and productivity. Make sure to evaluate how well candidates align with your team's mission, work style and company culture. This is also the time to clearly articulate the vision and objectives of your team. The interviewer should go in with a clear understanding of what specific skills, experiences and personalities are needed to achieve their business goals. 4. Good communication and collaboration. This goes beyond just sending thank you notes after each interview. We are looking to see how thoughtful their overall email correspondence and phone conversations are while getting to know a potential candidate. A great way to get a deeper understanding of someone's communication and work style is to ask former colleagues and references what it's like working with them. 5. Set them up for success. As important as the recruitment and interview process is, I believe the onboarding process is even more important. It is up to you as the employer to set your new team member up for success by ensuring they have a comprehensive plan and place to start, all necessary training and resources, and the ongoing support in place to execute effectively and continue to grow in the role. I also recommend proactively scheduling introductory meetings with key team members and stakeholders so they feel comfortable building rapport from the very start. Lastly, I always provide regular feedback to new hires. It will help them learn more quickly so they can thrive and grow. Building a dream team requires time, thoughtfulness and sometimes risk. At BFG Partners, we've seen firsthand how the right mix of hunger, diverse experience and cultural alignment can drive a company toward success. By prioritizing intrinsic motivation, valuing unconventional backgrounds and fostering effective communication, you can create a high-performing team. Remember, the journey doesn't end once you've found the right talent. It is critical to have a solid onboarding process to ensure your team members are integrated properly and armed with the correct tools for success. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How Reliable Is Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) for Long-Term Dividend Income?
Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) is included among the 10 Best Passive Income Stocks to Buy Now. An array of toothpaste, toothbrushes, and mouthwashes on a bright background, highlighting the company's oral care products. The company has been rewarding shareholders with growing dividends for the past 62 consecutive years, which places it in an elite group of Dividend Kings. The stock supports a dividend yield of 2.28%, as of July 10. In the first quarter of 2025, Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) reported strong earnings, with its revenue coming in at $4.9 billion, which beat estimates by $47.8 million. The company's GAAP gross profit margin and Base Business gross profit margin both rose by 80 basis points, reaching 60.8%. It maintained its leading position in the toothpaste market, holding a global share of 40.9% year to date. The company also continued to lead the manual toothbrush segment with a global market share of 31.9% over the same period. Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) is a consumer goods company offering a range of products across oral care, personal care, household, and pet care categories. The stock has surged by nearly 6% in the past six months. While we acknowledge the potential of CL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and Disclosure: None. Error al recuperar los datos Inicia sesión para acceder a tu cartera de valores Error al recuperar los datos Error al recuperar los datos Error al recuperar los datos Error al recuperar los datos
Harvard Business Review
10-07-2025
- Business
- Harvard Business Review
How Pop Mart Won Young Customers in a Fragmented Attention Economy
In the Internet era, content is not only abundant but increasingly fragmented. Customers' attention is also becoming fragmented due to the short videos and other media they consume every day. As that happens, the traditional logic of consumer product innovation and marketing with sophisticated, big-budget development is becoming less efficient. Instead, to win customers who grow up in today's attention economy, leaders need agile strategies tailored to these individuals' emotional and identity needs. My research on company cases and behavior patterns of digital natives indicates that young companies like Pop Mart, a Chinese toymaker that's reached global success by selling character-based premium products, offer valuable insights. During 2024, Pop Mart's stock price has more than quadrupled year-over-year. Understanding Pop Mart's story—and the individuals it serve—can help consumer goods companies build up brand recognition among the digital-native generation and achieve financial success. The lessons in this article also apply to business leaders running B2B operations, who must learn to cater their products to a group of digitally native decision-makers. This generation isn't just individual consumers. They are increasingly influencing an organization's purchasing decisions. Appealing to Young Customers Pop Mart is best known for its artist-designed collectible figurines and 'blind box' marketing strategy, in which buyers don't know which figure they've purchased from a themed set until opening the package, which can compel them to buy more. Pop Mart first created a sensation in 2017 by organizing comic toy exhibitions in China. It then began collaborating with luxury brands, creating a series of hit products, and opening hundreds of stores around the world. In 2024, Labubu, one of Pop Mart's signature dolls with unique artistic design , wielded its charm across millions of fans in Southeast Asian countries, a market many multinational companies are actively competing for. Pop Mart's business outside mainland China now accounts for nearly 40% of its $1.8 billion total revenue. What propelled Pop Mart's success lies in its agile strategies targeting millenials and Gen Z customers. Leverage Real-time, Data-based Customer Insights In an era of fragmented attention, companies need to upgrade their ability to rapidly identify—and promote—the right innovations, based on real-time consumer feedback. Coupled with swift adjustment in supply chain decisions and marketing resources, such insights help transform otherwise fleeting trends among young customers into tangible profits. This sort of resource matching capability is akin to how TikTok's algorithm identifies emerging internet sensations. When the algorithm detects that a type of short videos is gaining traction, e.g., garnering high engagement through shares, likes, and completion rates, the algorithm automatically channels more traffic to the content, amplifying its visibility across the platform. Similarly, when developing a new product series, Pop Mart collects feedback from the markets in real-time and iterates the design accordingly. Once it identifies characters that can foster strong connections with users, the company will swiftly adjust its product development resources so it catches trendy topics among young customers. Such a doing-to-learn approach allows companies like Pop Mart and TikTok to maximize their chance of success in pushing forward the right innovations in a time when the audience's attention is highly fragmented. One example of this 'algorithmic' operation—where smart use of consumer feedback data, not just creativity, drives the lifecycle of a new innovation—is the recent breakout success of Labubu. Originally a niche figure from The Monsters series by artist Kasing Lung, Labubu rose to prominence through Pop Mart's agile and data-driven approach. When the company's monitoring caught global celebrities like Lisa of BlackPink and Rihanna organically promoting Labubu on social media and generating huge views, Pop Mart rapidly relocated resources to amplify the momentum. Recognizing higher user engagement with a soft, tactile type of dolls in plush form, the company created the 'soft vinyl plush' category by combining expressive rubber faces with plush bodies. This further enhanced shareability on social media as users posted more physical interactions with Labubu. When expanding globally, Pop Mart leveraged Shopee and TikTok data on consumer feedback to localize offerings for new markets. Data analysis also influenced its marketing decisions for the Western customers, aligning with locally relevant fairytale themes and fashion culture. Through data-driven operations from product innovation to marketing, Pop Mart demonstrated how product concepts—from the mischievous grinning, fanged Labubu to the pouty-lipped, perpetually unimpressed Molly with large emerald eyes—can be transformed into cultural phenomena attractive for global young consumers. Companies across a wide range of industries, not just those in consumer goods and services, can learn from Pop Mart and TikTok to build more adaptive and data-informed product and brand strategies. By continuously monitoring, testing, scaling, and iterating, firms can dynamically match concepts with shifting market signals, much like how algorithms amplify viral content. This requires having the infrastructure to track real-time consumer feedback and the organizational agility to swiftly adjust product development, marketing, and supply chain decisions. While today's geopolitical uncertainties often complicate supply chain planning, these uncertainties also present an opportunity for firms to build more capabilities allowing for rapid responses. For example, Pop Mart's supply chain optimization to develop precise and operationally lean infrastructures enabled a 30-fold increase in production within a year. Companies that adapt and develop sufficiently granular, responsive resource allocation systems—across a product's life cycle—will be rewarded with cost-effective growths, especially with the digitally native customers. Tap into Young Customers' Individuality and Community Needs For brands, winning the digital-native customers also means adopting marketing strategies that engage with their deep psychological needs and seizing on opportunities to create cultural phenomena associated with the brands and products. Take the blind box marketing strategy. Although Pop Mart is known for the surprising and even addictive nature of its mystery figures sold in blind boxes, the company is not the first to use the strategy. The concept originated in Japan, where consumers purchase random, palm-sized toys sealed inside plastic capsules from a special vending machine without knowing the exact contents in advance. This approach encourages the collection of various editions, including limited or hidden ones. What's special is that Pop Mart managed to turn users' collecting behaviors into a phenomenon: not only driving repeat purchases from existing users, but also attracting loads of new customers as loyal fans post their highly emotional unboxing reactions on social media. Underneath the use of limited and hidden editions are strategies to attract and satisfy the emotional needs of young customers. Moreover, these strategies greatly enhance the user's sense of self identity. When someone secures a coveted, limited-edition item, they feel cool and unique. Owning a rare Labubu doll that no one else has? That is a bold statement of identity and individuality. For other companies, they should likewise asses how their products and brands connect with young audiences on a deeper identity level, and explore innovative ways to enhance these touchpoints and foster more meaningful consumer relationships. The tangible benefits of such deep connection are evident across many consumer goods industries. It's seen in those IP-related merchandises purchased by K-pop group fans, and in Starbucks' seasonal themed products (such as its iconic holiday cups) that go beyond utility to evoke emotional resonance and deepen brand affinity. Business leaders can also learn from Pop Mart's focus on offline experiences to engage young users and build a cultural phenomenon around their brands. Different from its Japanese competitors selling blind box figurines, which are marketed via Internet sales and a distributor model, Pop Mart has built its own flagship stores with vibrant color and digital media to create a unique brand experience and encourage meet-ups. This is important for young customers who crave for human connections after the pandemic—some fans would even travel across continents to visit these iconic stores and engage with fellow enthusiasts. Having such spaces encourages customers to spend more time in the stores, building a deeper sense of brand loyalty and community. And such loyalty can extend to online platforms as well. In the case of Pop Mart, online communities for young customers from Instagram to Reddit further amplified the cultural phenomenon sparked by Pop Mart's art toys, building up a positive feedback loop between online and offline sales. In a similar vein, Nike's seamless integration of physical stores, mobile apps, and online campaigns illustrates how a unified ecosystem can deliver for consumers—and the brand. Companies aiming to foster robust engagement with Gen Z customers can draw important lessons from Pop Mart's success beyond the blind box tactics. At the heart of its appeal are strategies that spark user-generated content and help young consumers express their individuality and social identity. Equally critical is the creation of immersive offline experiences, offering customers dedicated spaces to connect, explore, and share, while digital communities amplify this sense of belonging and self-expression. By skillfully tapping into the young customers' psychological needs, blending experiential touchpoints and community connections, companies are more likely to deepen young customers' ties to the brand and elevate their products into lifestyle symbols. Cultivate Belonging and Loyalty Among Digital Natives Like LEGO, Pop Mart has gradually developed its own unique brand language to further enhance users' sense of community and belonging. This is particularly important for consumer brands trying to appeal to the digital generation, as these young customers can often feel isolated despite constant online activity. In the case of Pop Mart, the company has intentionally cultivated a series of buzzwords that's emerged within the brand's fandom space over time. Phrases like 端盒 (buy a whole set of blind boxes to get one's target doll) and 拆盒 (split a full box) have become an integral part of the community culture. Beyond blind boxes, other particular terms have also been augmented through user generated content across social media platforms, such as 娃友 (friends of doll), while enhancing Pop Mart's relationship with users. Over the decades, successful brands—from Apple to Hello Kitty—often intentionally form a set of brand language choices in their interactions with users, strengthening their perceived identity and community engagement. Pop Mart's exclusive language is not so different. Language helps facilitate the deep rooting of a cultural phenomenon and drives a brand's continuous growth. While this lesson may not be as broadly applicable as the previous two, it still offers meaningful implications for firms aiming to communicate more effectively with digital-native customers. Companies should actively monitor online conversations related to their brands among young audiences and participate in the emerging of unique expressions and trending word choices. By supporting the shared vocabulary and linguistic style within one's brand community, companies can foster a stronger connection with the young generation. … One additional point: Many of these developments are taking place within the realm of social media platforms, such as RedNote in China and TikTok in Southeast Asia. For companies seeking to engage with young customers, understanding these platforms and effectively leveraging their traffic and insights is essential. However, generational gaps often pose challenges in recognizing and capitalizing on emerging trends. To bridge this gap, companies need to ensure they have enough younger employees and creative talent to complement their typically older management teams. Just like how Tecent's Pony Ma puts it: 'In business, maybe you didn't do anything wrong—the only mistake was being too old.'
France 24
09-07-2025
- Business
- France 24
China's snaps 4-month consumer decline but factory price deflation deepens
Chinese officials have been trying to revive sluggish domestic spending since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the government's official growth target at risk. That comes just as leaders face heightened turmoil sparked by US President Donald Trump's trade war. The consumer price index -- a key measure of inflation -- edged up 0.1 percent on-year last month, according to data published by China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The reading beat the 0.1 percent drop forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists and was an improvement on the 0.1 percent fall seen in May. The flip into positive territory was "mainly due to the rebound in prices of industrial consumer goods", NBS statistician Dong Lijuan said in a statement. Dong noted that "policies of expanding domestic demand and promoting consumption continued to be effective". Beijing has set its official growth target this year at around five percent, although many economists consider that goal to be ambitious because domestic spending remains sluggish. The government has introduced a series of aggressive moves since last year in an attempt to get people spending, including key rate cuts, abolishing some restrictions on homebuying and a consumer goods trade-in scheme. In a signal of further deflationary pressure, Chinese factory gate prices fell in June at the fastest rate in nearly two years, the NBS also said on Wednesday. The producer price index declined 3.6 percent year-on-year, accelerating from a 3.3 percent drop in May, and faster than the 3.2 percent decline estimated in the Bloomberg survey. "I think it is too early to call the end of deflation at this stage," Zhiwei Zhang, president and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management, wrote in a note. China's once-booming real estate market has been mired in a crisis for years, stalling many large construction projects and spooking would-be homebuyers. "The momentum in the property sector is still weakening," Zhang said. The slump in the property market -- long a key driver of growth -- gives China's exports a more prominent role in boosting economic activity. However, the outlook for Chinese exports has also darkened with fierce headwinds on trade this year. Trump revealed new tariff rates for many countries this week, with many at levels similar to those announced -- and later paused -- in April. Zhang said "the market is too complacent about the damage of such high tariffs on both the US and the global economy".
Forbes
07-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
AI Brings Precision To The Future Of Sustainable Food Marketing
Food and consumer goods companies are rapidly embracing artificial intelligence to refine their green marketing strategies, as investments in sustainable food and branding are set to surge globally in the years ahead. By 2030, spending on sustainability-focused advertising could reach $225 billion annually, up from an estimated $75 billion today, according to Valentin Saitarli, CEO of AI technology firm PRAI Inc. 'Given rapid growth in global ad spend, coupled with growing regulatory demands, shifting consumer preferences and intensifying competition, we anticipate brands will dedicate 10–15% of their marketing budgets specifically to sustainability messaging by 2030,' says Saitarli. 'That would represent roughly $130–225 billion annually.' This shift comes at a time when sustainability is no longer just a niche concern. From multinational food companies to emerging plant-based startups, brands are racing to prove their green credentials, not only to meet compliance standards, but to capture the loyalty of a generation that equates sustainability with quality and ethics. Tastewise, an AI-driven consumer intelligence platform for the food sector, says that 'Brands that focus on sustainable practices— from eco-friendly packaging to ethical sourcing— are gaining favor with consumers. AI helps brands communicate these practices effectively by analyzing which sustainability messages resonate most with their target audience.' Behind the scenes, machine learning models scan millions of data points from social media, online reviews, recipe searches and product feedback to identify trends in real time. These insights allow brands to move beyond generic sustainability slogans, tailoring messages to the specific values of different consumer segments. Saitarli, who previously held roles at Apple and Infosys Knowledge Institute and now lectures on AI at Florida International University, says regulatory frameworks like the EU Green Claims Directive and evolving ESG disclosure rules in the U.S. are among the most powerful drivers of this shift. Valentin Saitarli, CEO of AI technology firm PRAI Inc. 'These new rules are pushing brands to increase transparency, with sustainability communication budgets expected to rise by as much as 25%,' he says, noting that this regulatory pressure is being amplified by growing consumer demand for accountability. Consumers Demand Transparency 'Consumer trends strongly support sustainable products, with studies consistently showing that the vast majority of Millennials and Gen Z consumers prefer brands committed to environmental responsibility,' says Saitarli. A survey produced by global strategic consulting firm, L.E.K. Consulting found that, globally, 93% of consumers now consider sustainability important to their lives and personal values— an increase of 6% since 2019. Clear labeling and packaging helps guide sustainable choices, with about half of consumers conveying willingness to pay more for sustainable food and beverage products. Tamsin Deasey Weinstein, a strategic advisor specializing in the application of AI across sectors and markets agrees that messaging is key. 'Consumers are no longer satisfied with vague claims about products being sustainable, healthy, or environmentally friendly,' she says. 'They want the facts.' This demand for transparency has become a key opportunity for marketers. According to a Tastewise survey on 'Consumer Perceptions of Food Branding in the Digital Age,' more than 85% of U.S. consumers value transparency claims that focus on environmental impact, versus other factors such as manufacturing process and product traceability. That desire for clarity is pushing companies to rethink not just what they say, but how they say it. In this landscape, responsiveness and authenticity matter more than ever. Clover Sonoma weaves sustainability into its brand, from USDA Organic and animal welfare ... More certifications to recyclable packaging that displays its environmental commitments. Behind the scenes, AI-powered tools like North Star Carbon Management and Samsara help the company track emissions and optimize delivery logistics and traceability— turning sustainability marketing into measurable action. Sustainable Food Storytelling And Experiences Research from Deloitte, cited by Saitarli, indicates that blending AI insights with human storytelling can boost consumer trust and brand engagement by up to 50%. The key, he said, is harnessing AI to create compelling narratives grounded in credible data— stories that resonate with consumers who increasingly prioritize environmental responsibility. When paired with human voices, such as farmers, supply chain workers or climate advocates, these tools can evoke both trust and empathy. This fusion of science and emotion is at the heart of a growing number of successful campaigns. A recent study found that emotionally charged storytelling can significantly boost consumer interest in sustainable chocolate. When over 2,000 participants viewed social media videos about cocoa production, those exposed to emotionally framed messages, highlighting issues like child labor and deforestation, were more willing to pay a premium for chocolate labeled as sustainably sourced. Companies are using generative AI to create immersive digital content, such as videos, social media stories or virtual experiences, that highlight sustainability messages. PepsiCo, for example, is turning recycling into an interactive experience through a new AI-powered initiative called Oscar Sort, developed in partnership with Intuitive AI. Installed above smart recycling bins, the playful system uses computer vision and real-time feedback to guide users on how to properly dispose of their waste, encouraging correct sorting through an entertaining, game-like interface. While promoting sustainability, the system also serves as a subtle but effective advertising tool: it reinforces PepsiCo's environmental values at the exact moment of product disposal. 'The stakes are particularly high in consumer packaged goods and retail sectors. Already, more than 40% of growth in these industries comes from sustainability-marketed products, and they could represent up to 30% of all green branding expenditures by 2030,' Saitarli notes. 'Giants like Unilever and Nestlé have started tapping AI tools to better target sustainability messages, a strategy that has yielded measurable gains in market share and consumer trust.' Unilever's in-house creative agency, U-Studio, is helping drive the company's sustainability agenda by using AI to power purpose-led marketing. By analyzing and reusing the most effective elements from past campaigns, U-Studio creates content that not only promotes sustainability but is itself more resource-efficient. The approach supports Unilever's wider goals of reducing environmental impact, encouraging responsible consumption, and advancing social good through smarter, tech-driven storytelling. AI is at the heart of this transformation that transcends traditional product promotion by weaving in storytelling, immersive experiences and advanced personalization. AI algorithms can segment audiences based on values, purchasing behaviors, location and even sentiment, allowing brands to deliver custom sustainability messages that feel relevant and trustworthy. Whether it's promoting regenerative agriculture practices to eco-conscious shoppers or highlighting plastic-free packaging to coastal communities, precision is key. According to Saitarli, 'Brands deploying AI-driven analytics and personalization platforms have seen their marketing effectiveness improve by around 40%. Advanced targeting helps engage eco-conscious consumers more precisely, boosting loyalty by 25–35%.' The Risk Of Greenwashing But as the push for green marketing accelerates, so too does the risk of greenwashing, where brands make exaggerated or false environmental claims. Here, AI can serve as a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can process complex data across supply chains to verify sustainability claims, offering a powerful defense against credibility risks. On the other, without human oversight, AI tools alone could inadvertently amplify misleading narratives. Kantar's Sustainability Sector Index reveals that, while most consumers believe companies should address social (74%) and environmental (64%) issues, over half (52%) say they've encountered misleading claims about brands' sustainability efforts. This tension underscores the need for strong ethical frameworks in AI deployment. 'The balance between AI and human oversight is critical,' Saitarli warns. 'AI can process information up to 10,000 times faster than humans, but ethical behavior and emotional resonance remain essential to consumers. Brands that effectively integrate AI's precision with human judgment achieve significantly greater impact in their sustainability efforts.' Industry leaders are beginning to respond by embedding audit tools, third-party verification and review processes into their AI systems, ensuring that sustainability messaging is not just data-driven but also ethically sound. Researchers such as those at the Cognition, Narrative, and Culture Lab at Florida International University are developing advanced AI tools to identify disinformation campaigns that use narrative persuasion to influence public perception and behavior. Ultimately, Saitarli argues, companies that integrate AI effectively while maintaining transparency and ethical rigor will not only navigate rising scrutiny but also build lasting loyalty among consumers eager for brands that match their environmental values. 'Optimal integration of advanced analytics with authentic human input,' he said, 'will define the next generation of sustainable branding.'
