This newsletter is packed with new sections, stories, links, music, dictators, and Podcasts to tickle your brain.

First Dunkin’ changed its Loyalty Program and now Nike is doing some restructuring to the wholesale market. Specifically targeting buyers with the intent to resell items. For Nike, this is a delicate dance. The resale market and social media influencers have increased the awareness and marketing of Nike products. On the flip side, they also receive complaints from customers that hot items are too hard to find.

The use of bots and software that automatically identifies and purchases specific items, or buys items online in bulk has been a challenge for the retail industry. Lockdown made this more apparent. Some products tie pricing to inventory and a buying bot can influence the inventory. Add to that, generous return policies and if a bot “overbuys” and the bot company returns a large order, mayhem can ensue! Some retailers are adding restock fees and other disincentives in order to slow the large purchases of bots and software.

Auction-based pricing which is used in programmatic media buying is a dynamic pricing model - ads are priced based on market demands. Google Ads took this model and blew it up.

Prices for a pass to avoid lines at Disney’s theme parks in California and Florida are going up. By how much? That depends on the day and the crowd. Looking for the theme (of this newsletter), Auction Based Pricing. The base price for the theme parks did not increase, the service called Genie Plus will start at $15 and increase up to $22 depending on demand. In addition to the cost of getting into the park which ranges from $109 to $159 per day, you can add Genie Plus to the base ticket and that’s not all - some of the most popular rides with the longest lines include a “Lightning Lane” which cost more. Disney is the bar for theme parks and it is a high bar, heck they created an entire customer service program sold to other companies. However, when you start doing the math here, you could be neck and neck with another once-in-a-lifetime trip to Hawaii. Hey Disney, why not put a theme park in Hawaii?

A pair of Levi’s jeans found in an abandoned mine shaft from the 1880s, sold at auction for $76,000. The price tag is the least interesting part of the story. The jeans have proven once and for all exactly what the “distressed” look is like. The pockets on the jeans are similar to the pockets in the jeans we wear today. Knees also look similar, it looks as though the person who might have worn these in the mine had knee pads or some sort of covering on his knees.

Another interesting fact is a phrase on the inside of the jeans that states “The only kind made by white labor”. According to Levi’s spokesperson, the company used that slogan during the Chinese Exclusion Act. History is such a great teacher or could be if listened to.

A little different cover, a taste of William Shakespear followed by a modern take on Love, Loss, and a great way to cope.

A father cruel, and a step-dame false;
A foolish suitor to a wedded lady,
That hath her husband banish'd;--O, that husband!
My supreme crown of grief! and those repeated
Vexations of it! Had I been thief-stol'n,
As my two brothers, happy! but most miserable
Is the desire that's glorious: blest be those,
How mean soe'er, that have their honest wills,
Which seasons comfort. Who may this be? Fie!

Cymbeline - William Shakespear

No, sir
Well, I don't wanna be the blame, not anymore
It's your turn
So take a seat we're settling the final score
And why do we like to hurt so much?

I can't decide
You have made it harder just to go on
And why?
All the possibilities, well I was wrong

That's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa
That's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa
I drowned out all my sense with the sound of its beating
And that's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa

I wonder
How am I supposed to feel when you're not here
'Cause I burned
Every bridge I ever built when you were here?
I still try
Holding onto silly things, I never learn
Oh why?
All the possibilities I'm sure you've heard

That's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa
That's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa
I drowned out all my sense with the sound of its beating (beating)
And that's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa

Pain, make your way to me, to me
And I'll always be just so (so) inviting
If I ever start to think straight
This heart will start a riot in me
Let's start, start, hey!

Why do we like to hurt so much?
Oh why do we like to hurt so much?

That's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa!
That's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa
That's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa
Now I can't trust myself with anything but this
And that's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa

Written by: Hayley Williams, Josh Farro, Taylor York

A quick contrast between Shakespear and Pop Punk Warriors Paramore. The writing talks about love and love lost. The best part is how you can let it make you stronger.

Day 30 coming up on Friday!

Be strong.

Welcome to the misery.

Click on the Apple Music image to listen to the song on Apple Music or on the Spotify Image to listen on Spotify.

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Be Good,

Johnny