Zales and Prince Collab for U.S. Open Sponsorship and Tennis-Inspired Collection
Zales announced that it is sponsoring a few select players for the U.S. Open tennis tournament, coinciding with Zale’s 100th anniversary and focusing on engaging younger audiences. By prominently featuring its logo on players’ uniforms and launching an influencer campaign targeting Gen Z and Millennials, Zales is enhancing its presence in the digital space where younger tennis fans are most active and connecting with them. Zales is also launching a Capsule Collection in collaboration with the brand Prince, featuring a tennis-inspired jewelry line with 14 designs, including custom pieces made from sterling silver, white gold, and yellow gold accented with diamonds.
“Prince is more than a brand, it’s a lifestyle both on and off the court. This collaboration with Zales captures the blend of elegance and energy of tennis, which we also want to inspire in our community,” says Matthew Salter, Executive Vice President, Partnership – Marketing at Authentic, owner of the Prince brand. “Together, the two brands are bringing elevated fashion to an unexpected place while maintaining the spirit of the game.”
Zales and Prince also collaborated to create a custom-designed tennis racket adorned with more than 205 carats of natural diamonds. The piece is valued at $2.5M and comprises 794 diamonds in multiple shapes, including emerald, pear, oval, round, and marquis. The tennis racket will be displayed at the U.S. Open. Meanwhile, the Zales + Prince Collection ranges from $250 to $7,500 and is available on the Zales website for a limited time.
View the Zales + Prince Collection here.
Study Shows APAC Businesses Should Focus on Fraud Prevention as Digital Payments Increase
A study by Discover® Global Network showed that as digital commercial payments rise, businesses across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region are prioritizing fraud prevention and exploring new tools to enhance their payment security. The findings come from the second half of the 2024 Payment State of the Union study conducted by 451 Research of S&P Global Market Intelligence. Thousands of corporate decision-makers were surveyed. Key findings showed that credit cards and ACH/EFT/Wire/Debit cards are among the most widely utilized payment methods for commercial expenses at 61% and 54%, respectively. Meanwhile, 61% of APAC businesses are already investing in commercial payment solutions or are open to doing so. Among the companies that plan to increase their digital payment methods over the next year, 50% plan to use it for employee business travel, 46% for employee compensation, and 45% for supplies.
“While commercial payments are increasingly adopting digital solutions, the transition is not progressing at the same pace as seen in consumer payments due to the complexities of expense management,” said Chris Winter, Head of International Markets (APAC) at Discover Global Network. “As technology continues to advance across the industry and region, it is important that businesses seek to improve the security of their commercial payments programs to defend against fraudulent activity of all kinds.”
The study also highlighted that expense management (92%), fraud prevention (90%), and security (92%) are essential for APAC businesses as payments transition to digital. While commercial payments are seeing a digital transformation, challenges include difficulties tracking and managing expenses and waiting on outstanding receivables. While virtual card numbers (VCN) are set to grow substantially, more than half (53%) of APAC businesses don’t use or offer VCN, and 66% don’t use it to pay for business expenses.
Unlock the full study here.
Nike and LEGO Team Up for Multi-Year Collaboration Focused on Kids
Nike and LEGO announced a multi-year partnership that blends sports and creative play, focusing on children. Although details about the specific products and experiences are still under wraps, the joint venture promises a variety of co-branded offerings starting next year.
Nike VP of Global Kids, Cal Dowers, stated, “At Nike, we believe in the power of sport to move the world forward, and that starts with kids. We’re committed to creating a more accessible and inclusive future that inspires kids of all ages and abilities to be more active. Together with the LEGO Group, we’re excited to invite all kids into a new vision of sport and creative play.”
An animation posted by Nike on Instagram hints at what’s to come, featuring imagery of LEGO characters, including a pegasus and duck, Nike soccer cleats, and a nod to sports icon Michael Jordan.
View the Nike and LEGO Instagram reel here.
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Original Article Links:
Zales Announces Sponsorship of Select Players in Matches at US Open and Unveils a Co-Branded Tennis Inspired Capsule Collection with Prince
Discover® Global Network Study: 91% of Asia-Pacific Businesses Prioritize Fraud Prevention Services, Appeal for Virtual Card Numbers Grows
Just Build It: Nike And Lego Announce Partnership