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Mary Kay is applying AI: Brand uses tech to simplify makeup choices

Mary Kay is applying AI: Brand uses tech to simplify makeup choices

By Brian Womack, The Dallas Morning News

DALLAS — Mary Kay wants to introduce you to your new personal styling guru: artificial intelligence.

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In a bid to appeal to younger makeup users, the storied North Texas-based brand has unveiled a new AI-powered digital service to help users pick the ideal foundation for their beauty routines, according to Lucy Gildea, chief brand and scientific officer. The service provides some simple technology tools to take the guesswork out of the process of selecting the right shade by just looking into a camera on a device. read more

Tesla offers cheaper versions of 2 electric vehicles in bid to win back market share in tough year

Tesla offers cheaper versions of 2 electric vehicles in bid to win back market share in tough year

By BERNARD CONDON

NEW YORK (AP) — Tesla rolled out new, cheaper versions of two of its electric car models on Tuesday in hopes the offerings will help revive flagging sales but investors dumped its stock anyway.

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The new Model Y, costing just under $40,000 with a stripped-down interior, comes in a brutal year for Tesla as it tries to attract more customers despite an aging lineup, stiff competition from foreign EV makers and anti-Elon Musk boycotts targeting the company.

The reaction from the stock market after the news broke suggests the new models are not expected to help much. read more

Interest in women’s sports is growing. Here’s how some women-owned companies are responding

Interest in women’s sports is growing. Here’s how some women-owned companies are responding

By ANNE M. PETERSON

Laura Youngson didn’t expect to focus so much on soccer cleats when she organized a group of women to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and play a high-altitude match.

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The point of the 2017 game was to highlight inequality in sports for women and girls. On that front, Youngson achieved her goal with the match becoming the subject of a documentary and landing the group in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Still, something bothered Youngson as the match unfolded. Glancing at the athletes’ feet, she was struck that all the women were wearing men’s or boy’s soccer cleats instead of gear that was designed specifically for them. The realization led her to launch IDA Sports, which makes soccer cleats for the unique athletic needs of women. read more

Government shutdown threatens to stall the recovery in the IPO market

Government shutdown threatens to stall the recovery in the IPO market

By DAMIAN J. TROISE, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. government shutdown is waving a caution flag at private companies racing to make the move to the public market.

The market for initial public offerings has been on a years-long recovery after spiking inflation slammed the brakes on activity in 2022. The IPO market is already on track for its best year since 2021 with 163 deals and $31 billion in proceeds raised so far, according to Renaissance Capital.

Companies rely on the U.S. government, through the Securities and Exchange Commission, to review and approve IPO filings, while monitoring the ongoing process. The SEC is now operating with minimal staff, significantly delaying or halting those reviews and approvals.

Investors and companies are dealing with more than just technical issues. A prolonged government shutdown could sap confidence in the U.S. markets and economy. IPO activity typically remains strong through October, then slows in the U.S. during the final two months of the year. read more

Starbucks’ sweeping store closures aren’t a surprise. Here’s why

Starbucks’ sweeping store closures aren’t a surprise. Here’s why

By Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, The Seattle Times

Deanna Meyerhoff, 55, moved to Seattle in 1993. Back then, the expansion of Starbucks was just so tremendous,” she said.

Until recently, Meyerhoff would treat her daughter to pink drinks and stop for iced black tea lemonades while on walks with the family dog, she recalls. But those are memories now.

Her favorite Starbucks stores in her neighborhood, Haller Lake, recently shuttered as part of a slew of closures announced by the company last week. Living in the coffee giant’s hometown, “it definitely hits differently when it’s a local company,” Meyerhoff said.

“It’s a shareholder thing: You grow or you die. And they grew — and, now, they have to shrink back to actually make money.”

Meyerhoff isn’t an industry analyst, but her assessment is shared by some who see last week’s $1 billion Starbucks restructuring plan, including layoffs and store closures, as a move to please investors.

Like other large coffee chains, Starbucks is trying to stand out among the competition and welcome more customers through its doors all while fighting global and local headwinds — from production costs to President Donald Trump’s tariffs. read more