Starbucks believes its comeback lies in becoming the ‘best customer service company in the world’

Amazon.com Inc. has agreed to pay $2.5 billion and overhaul its popular Prime membership program after federal regulators accused the company of using deceptive tactics to lock millions of consumers into subscriptions and then making it intentionally difficult to cancel. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the deal Sept. 25, calling it one of the largest consumer protection settlements in its history. The order requires Amazon to pay a $1 billion civil penalty — the largest ever tied to a violation of an FTC rule — along with $1.5 billion in refunds to an estimated 35 million customers who were charged for unwanted Prime subscriptions or faced obstacles when trying to leave the service. FTC chair Andrew Ferguson described the outcome as “a monumental win for the millions of Americans who are tired of deceptive subscriptions that feel impossible to cancel.” He said Amazon’s enrollment and cancellation flows were designed as “subscription traps,” steering consumers into sign-ups without consent and frustrating efforts to exit.

Nike is renaming its world headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. in honor of its co-founder and first employee Phil Knight. Now known as the Philip H. Knight Campus (PHK), the company said Tuesday that the renamed 400-acre property will serve as a tribute to Knight’s ongoing legacy, as well as a permanent reminder of the founder’s mentality that Nike employees are encouraged to bring to work every day. Beyond a dedication, the new name “represents a living expression of Nike’s roots and a powerful reflection of Knight’s enduring spirit: restless, bold and forever believing in what’s possible,” the Swoosh said in a statement. The first stage of the campus, dedicated in October 1990, united Nike employees – who previously had been scattered across a couple dozen buildings throughout Portland, Oregon – into six buildings that took the names of elite athletes, including Joan Benoit Samuelson, Michael Jordan, John McEnroe, Steve Prefontaine and Mike Schmidt. Nike’s explosive growth in the 1990s, and the hiring spike that ensued, prompted an expansion that roughly doubled the size of the campus, with new buildings named after Nike athletes such as Ken Griffey Jr., Mia Hamm, Jerry Rice and Pete Sampras.

Quad/Graphics, Inc., a marketing experience company that solves complex marketing challenges for its clients, today announced it has been selected as agency of record (AOR) by Scandinavian Designs, a nationwide retailer of modern home furnishings. This strategic collaboration reflects Scandinavian Designs’ decision to consolidate its creative and media strategy, planning and execution under one agency, choosing Quad for its integrated marketing solutions, commitment to data transparency and proven success among retail brands. Quad will work with Scandinavian Designs to help the brand grow its e-commerce footprint, bring the furniture shopping experience to the home through a revival of its catalog and help build its brand equity across the United States. With store locations in more than 50 U.S. markets, Scandinavian Designs is tapping Quad to streamline its brand experience through an integrated purchasing journey that makes direct connections with consumers at home, online or in a physical store.