Tag: Business Deals

Barbie and Balmain Pair Up for Couture NFT Project

Posted on by scott.hodges

Barbie, the quintessential American toy by Mattel, announced a partnership with French fashion powerhouse Balmain.

This collaboration is surprising on many levels. First, there is no actual doll involved. Second, the collection is a mix of real fashion and NFTs.

The collection includes 50 adult garments inspired by the iconic Barbie doll. Avatars of diverse racial backgrounds model the clothes, and three NFTs of unique looks are being sold at auction.  Barbie is extending its efforts into the realm of virtual collectibles as each NFT includes a doll-sized physical design. The entire collection and the NFT designs are unisex: there is no more Barbie and Ken, just high-end fashion for all.

Mattel also has a partnership with Gucci to create Hot Wheels Collectibles.

Nestle Teams Up with Starbucks to Boost International Standing

Posted on by scott.hodges

Switzerland-based company Nestle has recently signed a treaty with one of its biggest competitors: Starbucks Corp. Nestle will be paying $7.15 billion in cash for the Starbucks business, which has annual sales of up to $2 billion, and plans to market the chain’s consumer and food-service products internationally. The arrangement does not include Ready-to-Drink drinks or the sales of products within Starbucks coffee shops.

The move comes as part of Nestle’s recent mission to attract higher-end coffee enthusiasts. Mark Schneider, Nestle CEO, said: “With Starbucks, Nescafe and Nespresso, we bring together three iconic brands in the world of coffee.”

Several hundred Starbucks employees will join the Nestle team, and will continue to operate in Seattle, Washington, once the agreement closes by the end of this year.

According to Bloomberg, “Nestle has been bolstering its presence in the U.S., and last year added niche brands Blue Bottle Coffee and Chameleon Cold-Brew to expand its portfolio. Nespresso has introduced a machine that’s more attuned to American’s preference for bigger cups of joe three years ago.”