Happy (belated) Thanksgiving and happy <keyword id="14520" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Black-Friday">Black Friday</keyword>!We at Insider <keyword id="6354851" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="retail">Retail</keyword> have been lamenting the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-dying-cyber-monday-rising-2019-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"death" of Black Friday</a> for years now. But the pandemic could make things even worse. Social distancing rules and in-store capacity limitations will certainly take their toll on the customer turnout for the <keyword id="6368952" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Shopping">shopping</keyword> event. Many retailers also opted to start sales as early as October this year to combat the emergence of large crowds.Beyond black Friday, a lot more has happened in the retail world this week! So, if you haven't already subscribed, <a href="https://newsletter.businessinsider.com/click/19921095.876/aHR0cDovL25ld3NsZXR0ZXIuYnVzaW5lc3NpbnNpZGVyLmNvbS9qb2luLzRucC9kcml2ZXRocnU_bnJfZW1haWxfcmVmZXJlcj0xJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9U2FpbHRocnUmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1Ecml2ZVRocnU/5c818d302ddf9c27c19a8b1aB1c4ef4a7">click here</a> to get our weekly roundup of everything you need to know in the world of retail and restaurants written by me, Shoshy Ciment, and my colleague, Bethany Biron.Now, onto the news of the week!<h2><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/daryl-parks-represent-mcdonalds-black-franchisees-discrimination-cases-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McDonald's Black franchisees' add the attorney who represented the families of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown</a></h2><div type="image" title="Daryl Parks" height="1664" width="2218" msid="79454774" hostid="261"></div>The current and former Black McDonald's franchisees that have filed two lawsuits against the fast-food giant have a new lawyer on their legal team: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/daryl-parks-represent-mcdonalds-black-franchisees-discrimination-cases-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daryl Parks</a>.The civil right attorney has a record of serving as counsel in high-profile racial justice cases. He previously represented the families of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown."The case against McDonald's is historic, and it is a privilege to be representing the Black men and women who were – and continue to be – treated like second-class citizens by the company," Parks said in a statement. McDonald's has denied allegations of racial discrimination.<h2><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/owner-of-sports-illustrated-sees-it-as-licensing-gold-mine-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The owner of Sports Illustrated is licensing branded CBD cream, nutritional supplements, and bikinis</a></h2><div type="image" title="Sports Illustrated Mitchell and Ness collab" height="1436" width="1914" msid="79454775" hostid="261"></div>Authentic Brands Group (ABG), which owns the rights to 50 brands, acquired Sports Illustrated in 2019. The company has been <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/owner-of-sports-illustrated-sees-it-as-licensing-gold-mine-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">licensing the magazine's name and intellectual property to create merchandise</a>, including nutritional supplements, CBD cream, and <keyword id="6362766" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="apparel">apparel</keyword> collaborations.ABG told Business Insider it is trying to balance keeping traditionalist fans happy while expanding into new categories."Our vision is, how do we take arguably the most famous sports brand that's meant a lot to a lot of people, and create a 21st-century <keyword id="6354777" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Media">media</keyword> brand," Marc Rosen, the executive vice president for ABG's business unit, told Business Insider in an interview. "It's about being in a lot of places and being a lot of things to your customers."<h1><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/signet-ceo-jewelry-retail-move-online-plans-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Signet, the owner of Zales and Jared, has upped its e-commerce game during the pandemic</a></h1><div type="image" title="engagement ring" height="1123" width="1497" msid="79454776" hostid="261"></div>Gina Drosos, the CEO of Signet Jewelers, said that the jewelry category has been "quite behind in developing <keyword id="35621" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="e-commerce">e-commerce</keyword>" in an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/signet-ceo-jewelry-retail-move-online-plans-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview with Business Insider.</a>Signet — which operates Kay Jewelers, Zales, Jared, and other jewelry merchants — is pivoting much of its business to online. It is currently in the middle of a multi-year turnaround plan dubbed "Path to Brilliance," which involves improving its omnichannel capabilities.Drosos said the company wants to "crack the code on why it's taken the [jewelry] category so long to move into a virtual world."<h2>Everything else you need to know:</h2><div type="image" title="equinox" height="1333" width="1777" msid="79454777" hostid="261"></div><ul><li>Here's how much people get paid to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/equinox-salaries-revealed-heres-how-much-its-employees-make-2020-11">work at Equinox</a></li><li>How <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-goat-ceo-uses-black-friday-win-over-sneakerheads-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GOAT's CEO</a> uses Black Friday to win over sneakerheads</li><li>Vuori CEO Joe Kudla shares how the activewear brand has nearly <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vuori-athleisure-sales-exploding-ceo-shares-why-2020-11">tripled its revenue</a> so far in 2020</li><li>The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/5-food-brands-that-kellogg-general-mills-could-buy-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5 established food brands</a> that could be acquired by General Mills and Kellogg </li><li>The origin story of the Nike <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-nike-snkrs-app-became-viral-internet-phenomenon-2020-11">SNKRS app</a>, as told by the people who made it a reality</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tj-maxx-ross-benefit-pandemic-disruption-but-not-long-term-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Off-price retailers like TJ Maxx</a> are adding more niche brands to their vendor portfolio</li><li>How Walmart's latest tech acquisition can make <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-toy-hamster-went-viral-and-made-dropshippers-1-million-2020-11">"last-mile" delivery</a> fast and affordable</li><li>We traced the origins and cultural significance of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nike-snkrs-got-em-screen-became-symbol-of-success-2020-11">"Got 'Em,"</a> one of the more divisive phrases in the sneaker world</li></ul>

Insider Retail: McDonald's franchisees hire prominent racial justice lawyer, Sports Illustrated owner focuses on merch, and the jewelry industry moves online

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="349789" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Epic-Games">Epic Games</keyword> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/epic-games-bypasses-apple-google-fortnite-v-bucks-discount-2020-8">sued Apple</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/epic-games-sues-google-over-fortnite-play-store-removal-2020-8">Google on Thursday</a> for booting its popular video game "<keyword id="3203281" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Fortnite">Fortnite</keyword>" from their app stores, accusing the companies of engaging in monopolistic behavior.</li><li>It's the latest escalation in a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-apple-fortnite-app-removal-matters-developers-2020-8">long-running fight</a> between the tech giants and app developers, who claim <keyword id="6354427" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="apple">Apple</keyword> and <keyword id="6355629" type="DEFINITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="google">Google</keyword> unfairly wield their control over mobile app marketplaces and operating systems to stifle competition.</li><li>The lawsuits also come as lawmakers and regulators are growing more concerned that tech companies have become too powerful and are threatening to crack down.</li><li>Here's what you need to know about Epic's feud with Apple and Google and why it matters.</li></ul><h3>Why did Epic sue Apple and Google?</h3>On Thursday morning, Epic announced a permanent 20% discount on the in-game currency players use within <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-fortnite-battle-royale-2018-3">"Fortnite"</a> to purchase upgrades and customize their characters. But Epic said it couldn't offer the same discount to mobile players because Apple and Google take a 30% cut of all in-app purchases.Instead, Epic <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/epic-games-bypasses-apple-google-fortnite-v-bucks-discount-2020-8">introduced a way for players to pay it directly</a> within the iOS and Android apps, saying it could then pass along the savings to them. But in bypassing Apple and Google's payment systems, Epic broke their app store rules, and the companies swiftly removed "Fortnite."Epic immediately fired back with dueling lawsuits and a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fortnite-epic-games-apple-battle-1984-parody-2020-8">video roasting Apple's most iconic ad</a>, accusing the tech giants of engaging in monopolistic behavior with their app store policies, the latest broadside in its <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/epic-games-bypasses-apple-google-fortnite-v-bucks-discount-2020-8">ongoing battle with the companies</a>.<h3>Why does Epic say Apple and Google's policies are unfair?</h3>For years, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-apple-fortnite-app-removal-matters-developers-2020-8">app developers like Epic have taken issue</a> with the 30% commission Apple and Google charge on in-app purchases, which developers say the companies can only get away with because they dominate the mobile operating system market (most smartphones run on iOS or Android) and make it nearly impossible to download apps <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/epic-puts-fortnite-on-google-official-play-store-2020-4">outside of their own app stores</a>.In its <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/epic-games-sues-google-over-fortnite-play-store-removal-2020-8">lawsuit against Google</a>, Epic claimed that through a variety of legal, technical, and design obstacles including "scary, repetitive security pop-ups" to warn users about non-Play Store app downloads, Google had "installed itself as an unavoidable middleman for app developers who wish to reach Android users and vice versa."Epic also said in an <a href="https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/fortnite-mega-drop-faq">FAQ on its website</a> that Apple doesn't treat all developers the same, and allows "thousands of apps" including "Amazon, Grubhub, Nike SNKRS, Best Buy, DoorDash, Fandango, McDonald's, and StubHub" to collect direct payments.<h3>Who else is on Epic's side?</h3>Several major developers have already rallied behind Epic. <a href="https://twitter.com/pkafka/status/1294015916313894919?s=20">Spotify</a>, which sued Apple over separate but related <keyword id="21588" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Antitrust">antitrust</keyword> issues last year, told Recode's Peter Kafka that "Apple's unfair practices have disadvantaged competitors and deprived consumers for far too long."A spokesperson for Match Group, which owns dating apps such as Tinder, Hinge, Match, and OkCupid, told Business Insider "we fully support Epic Games' efforts today to show how Apple uses its dominant position and unfair policies to hurt consumers, app developers and entrepreneurs."Others have yet to speak out on Epic's lawsuits specifically, but have taken issue with Apple's in-app payment policies in the past. Subscription-based email app Hey <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-developer-rage-30-percent-app-store-tax-2020-6">sparred with Apple</a> in June, and Stratechery author Ben Thompson <a href="https://twitter.com/benthompson/status/1273079296618201093">tweeted</a> that other developers had experienced similar issues.<h3>What have Apple and Google said in their defense?</h3>Apple <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-removes-fortnite-app-store-response-epic-games-2020-8">said in a statement</a> following its decision to remove "Fortnite" that its policies "create a level playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all users."Apple also said developers like Epic "have benefited from the App Store ecosystem — including its tools, testing, and distribution that Apple provides to all developers."Google <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/epic-games-sues-google-over-fortnite-play-store-removal-2020-8">issued a similar statement</a> in response to Epic's lawsuit, saying it has "consistent policies that are fair to developers and keep the store safe for users," adding that "the open Android ecosystem lets developers distribute apps through multiple app stores."<h3>Why does this fight matter?</h3>As <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-walked-right-into-epics-antitrust-trap-by-banning-fortnite-2020-8">Business Insider's Troy Wolverton</a> wrote, Epic's deliberate violation of Apple's policy appeared to be part of a calculated ploy to lure Apple into an "antitrust trap" by provoking it into "flexing its enormous power" over app developers.Epic's move thrusts both Apple and Google back into the antitrust spotlight just weeks after their CEOs were <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tech-antitrust-hearing-recap-bezos-cook-zuckerberg-pichai-testimony-2020-7">grilled during a congressional hearing</a> by lawmakers who argued the companies were unfairly using their size and market power to stifle competition.Apple CEO <keyword id="191843" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tim-Cook">Tim Cook</keyword> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tim-cook-defends-apple-app-store-policies-antitrust-hearing-2020-7">was specifically questioned</a> about how Apple treats developers, and while <keyword id="164502" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sundar-Pichai">Sundar Pichai</keyword>, CEO of Google parent <keyword id="6357623" type="DEFINITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="alphabet">Alphabet</keyword>, fielded more questions about how Google uses search results to favor its own products, regulators have <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/19/17586258/google-eu-antitrust-explainer-play-store-android-search-fine-apple">raised similar concerns</a> about its Play Store and Android policies.Apple and Google are both currently facing multiple antitrust lawsuits and regulatory investigations, and Epic's case could add fuel to the fire.Additionally, Epic may prove to be a more fierce challenger simply because its own success as a company isn't as dependent on either Apple or Google. While "Fortnite" is available on iOS and Android, a substantial amount of users play the game on desktop computers or gaming consoles like Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4.

Apple and Google just got sued by the maker of the hugely popular video game 'Fortnite' over their app store policies. Here's what you need to know about the major antitrust battle it reignited.

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Kevin Winter/GettyBeyoncé just made a big deal with Adidas.</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/beyonce">Beyoncé</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/adidas">Adidas</a> are <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/beyonce-partners-adidas-athleisure-ivy-park-2019-4">collaborating</a> on a footwear and apparel line, as well as on relaunching Ivy Park. </li><li>The collaboration could allow Adidas to target young female sneakerheads, as 22% of teen girls responding to Piper Jaffray's most recent survey said they collect sneakers. </li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/nike">Nike</a> is also making major investments to win over women, with changes such as releasing more sneaker designs and athleisure offerings. </li></ul>In an effort to win over female shoppers, Adidas is looking to Beyoncé. Last week, the sports retailer announced a new partnership with Beyoncé, with plans to co-create new footwear and apparel that will run the gamut from performance- to lifestyle-focused items. Beyoncé is additionally planning to work with Adidas to relaunch her athleisure brand, Ivy Park.The partnership is part of Adidas' wider strategy to win over women. In 2018, Adidas <a href="https://www.adidas.com/us/shebreaksbarriers">launched</a> the "She Breaks Barriers" campaign that advocated for wider media coverage of women's sports. Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/beyonce-partners-adidas-athleisure-ivy-park-2019-4">Beyoncé is partnering with Adidas to create new shoes and apparel and relaunch athleisure brand Ivy Park</a>With the Beyoncé deal, Adidas has the chance to win over not just women seeking athleisure, but also the growing market of female "sneakerheads." According to the most recent version of Piper Jaffray's biannual teen survey, 22% of all female teenage respondents said they collected sneakers or identified as "sneakerheads." That's fewer than the percentage of male teen respondents who identified as sneakerheads, which came in at 31%. With fewer female teen sneakerheads than male, there could be an opportunity for brands to tap into the market. Clothing was the top thing teen girls reported spending money on, while food was No. 1 for teen boys. And, while according to Piper Jaffray, the average teenage boy shops using Nike's SNKRS app 39 times a year, the average teenage girls shops it 19 times a year. Adidas has won over sneakerheads in recent years with its Yeezy collaboration with rapper Kanye West. As popular Adidas styles such as Stan Smith and the Superstar have fallen out of style, Adidas has said it plans to focus more on Yeezy, boosting the number of product launches to between 20 and 30 a year, up from two or three a few years ago.A footwear collaboration with Beyoncé could be a similar hit, winning over a slightly different set of sneakerheads. Adidas isn't the only retailer trying to win over women, sneakerheads, and the cross-section of the two. Nike is making major investments in its women-centric offerings, with changes such as launching more sneaker designs and athleisure offerings. "We want to help create the next wave of growth for women in sport and with a fully-dedicated women's offense, we see an even healthier, long-term future for Nike," CEO Mark Parker said in a call <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4250413">with investors in March. </a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/future-of-retail-2018?IR=T&amp;itm_source=businessinsider&amp;itm_medium=ctgr&amp;itm_term=ctgr_leadgen&amp;itm_content=ecommerce_ctgr_leadgen&amp;itm_campaign=ecommerce_ctgr_leadgen_future_of_retail_mobile_commerce"></a> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wine-sommelier-explains-barnyard-hay-aroma-taste-2019-4">'Barnyard' can be a good quality in wine, according to a sommelier</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

Beyonce's collaboration with Adidas could help the company win over a key customer - and Nike should be terrified

<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/the-inside-story"></a><div type="image" title="Shoshy Ciment" height="1667" width="2500" msid="80753655" hostid="261"></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Insider is taking you behind the scenes of our best stories with our series "<keyword id="6740960" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="the-inside-story">The Inside Story</keyword>." </li><li>This week, events and content fellow Grace O'Connell-Joshua spoke to Insider <keyword id="6354851" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="retail">retail</keyword> reporter Shoshy Ciment who primarily covers athletic-wear, <keyword id="51770" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="sneakers">sneakers</keyword>, and streetwear with a focus on companies like Nike, Adidas, and StockX.</li></ul>Grace O'Connell-Joshua: You focus on athleticwear, streetwear and sneakers. What a cool beat! How did you get into covering the industry? Shoshy Ciment: I did not have a serious interest in sneaker culture before I started covering it. I started off covering retail generally as an Insider fellow in 2019 and on a whim, decided to head out to cover a pop-up shop for sneakers from an Adidas and Arizona Iced Tea collab that were going for 99 cents that summer.When I got there, the scene was complete chaos. I ended up being one of the first people to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/adidas-arizona-ice-tea-popup-shut-down-by-police-2019-7">break the story</a> about how police had to shut down the pop-up after two teenagers were assaulted in massive crowds of angry people who were willing to get violent for some shoes. This was my first real-world exposure to the sneakerverse and I knew I wanted to continue to learn more about this culture and its enthusiasts. From there, I started interviewing people in the industry, on the retail and resale side, and continued to read and learn more.O'Connell-Joshua: What do you think is driving the sneaker resale market? Why are consumers switching over to resale instead of buying directly?Ciment: The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ultimate-guide-to-make-6-figures-reselling-sneakers-nike-yeezy">sneaker resale market</a> is successful for a variety of reasons that come down to basic economics. Certain sneakers will always be inherently valuable, such as those that feature collabs with celebrities like Travis Scott or Virgil Abloh, or those with especially unique designs or origin stories. This inherent value is intensified when the sneaker is released in a limited quantity. Demand for a new pair almost always outweighs the supply in a new drop, which makes them even more valuable on the resale market.O'Connell-Joshua: What streetwear social media accounts do you follow and why?Ciment: So much of the sneaker community exists on social media so it's super important to stay on top of all the latest online trends and follow all the bot accounts and cook groups. I follow some more mainstream media accounts like Complex, Hypebeast, Footwear News, B/R Kicks, Sneaker News, etc for news, but also rely on some up-and-coming accounts like Saint (@saint on Twitter). Some of my favorite sneaker people to follow include Edgar Alvarez from InputMag, NPD sports analyst Matt Powell, and Michael Sykes, II from FTW, who has an AWESOME sneaker newsletter called The Kicks You Wear, which I read every week. O'Connell-Joshua: Do you describe yourself as a "sneakerhead"? If yes, how many pairs do you have and which are your favorite?Ciment: While I am absolutely not a sneakerhead, I am able to appreciate and enjoy the culture as someone who covers it. I do find myself constantly looking down to see what people have on their feet though.I don't have a sneaker collection but my favorite pairs these days are the Yeezy Suns (those colors!) and the 'Gym Red' Jordan 1s. In general, I prefer classic silhouettes like Jordan 1s and the OG Chuck Taylor Converse All-Stars (I wear these a lot).O'Connell-Joshua: At the inauguration, I noticed that the husband of Kamala Harris's niece (Meena Harris), Nikolas Ajagu, wore a pair of the Air Jordan 1 x Dior collaboration. Do you think sneakers have become increasingly political over the past few years, especially after <a href="https://www.insider.com/nike-ceo-john-donahoe-how-company-responds-colin-kaepernick-controversy-2020-2">Colin Kaepernick's Nike campaign</a>? Ciment: Sneakers are absolutely more than just a fashion statement. The sneaker industry has never existed in a silo and is intrinsically bound to an array of cultural influences. For example, as most people know, sneaker culture has its roots in Black culture. This fact is a major focal point behind many diversity efforts among big footwear companies today.To me, it's not surprising to see sneakers permeate life outside of fashion. For some people, sneakers might just be an income or a way to avoid being barefoot. For others, sneakers are a way to express one's values and individuality.O'Connell-Joshua: What is a day in the life of a streetwear/sneaker reporter like? Ciment: I start my day on Twitter, generally to see what drop people are complaining about missing out on. I connect with some sources, answer emails, read the latest news, and connect with my editors about possible story ideas.O'Connell-Joshua: What's your favorite part of your job? Ciment: I love getting to meet young entrepreneurs who hustle like mad to get to where they are. There are a lot of rags to riches stories in the sneaker world and it is always inspiring to get to hear them firsthand. O'Connell-Joshua: What's the biggest story on your beat today? <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/28-outstanding-people-of-color-in-sneaker-industry-designers-execs-2020-9">The lack of diversity inside top footwear companies </a>today is one of the biggest stories on my beat. Many people have been having this conversation regarding the lack of representation of minorities in the industry for years. Finally, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/15-change-makers-adidas-paving-the-way-for-diversity-inclusion-2020-11">big brands are taking action and working on a change,</a> which is great news. Now, it's a matter of following up on these commitments and understanding how change is happening, if at all. Who are the leaders behind this movement? What is the root of the problem? These are the questions I try to understand in my reporting in this area. Beyond resale, side-hustling, and the latest Yeezys, I see the topic of diversity as one of the most important stories in the footwear industry today.Read some of Shoshy's top stories here: <ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ultimate-guide-to-make-6-figures-reselling-sneakers-nike-yeezy">SNEAKER SELLING SIDE HUSTLE: Your guide to making thousands reselling hyped pairs like Air Jordans and Yeezys</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-nike-snkrs-app-became-viral-internet-phenomenon-2020-11">Inside SNKRS: How a group of Nike employees went 'unconventional' to build a chart-topping app that would transform sneaker culture</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amnotify-founder-teen-started-his-company-from-a-hospital-bed-2020-12">A college dropout runs a multi-million dollar sneaker cook group, AMNotify, with thousands of members across the world. Here's how he launched one of the first exclusive sneaker forums from a hospital bed in 2017.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/15-change-makers-adidas-paving-the-way-for-diversity-inclusion-2020-11">Adidas is tackling inclusion with a council to fight racism and a new hire for global HR. Here are 15 change-makers at Adidas paving the way for diversity within the company.</a></li></ul>

Here's how Insider reporter Shoshy Ciment covers the booming multi-billion dollar sneaker resale market

Hello everyone! Welcome to this weekly roundup of Business Insider stories from co-Editor in Chief Matt Turner. <a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/insider-weekly">Subscribe here to get this newsletter in your inbox every Sunday.</a>Read on for more on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/soulcycle-instructors-celebrities-misbehavior-2020-11">SoulCycle's top instructors mistreating staff</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-moderna-developed-coronavirus-vaccine-record-time-2020-11">Moderna's research revolution</a>, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-ceo-sundar-pichai-alphabet-brin-page-leadership-style-2020-11">Google CEO Sundar Pichai's leadership shift.</a> Hello!We now have two promising coronavirus vaccines, with Moderna's promising results this week backing up those from Pfizer the previous week. Moncef Slaoui, the head of the White House "Operation Warp Speed," said this morning that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/slaoui-americans-could-receive-vaccine-beginning-december-11-2020-11">some Americans will begin receiving the vaccine for COVID-19 as soon as December 11</a>, per Connor Perrett.That has some employers already wondering <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/can-employers-make-workers-get-coronavirus-vaccination-lawyers-covid-mandatory-2020-11">whether they can make it mandatory for employees to get vaccinated</a>, Yoonji Han and Jack Newsham reported. You can read their story in full here:<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/can-employers-make-workers-get-coronavirus-vaccination-lawyers-covid-mandatory-2020-11">Employers are frantically calling labor lawyers to ask if they can make a coronavirus vaccine mandatory in the workplace</a></li></ul><h2><keyword id="2034270" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="SoulCycle">Soulcycle</keyword>'s top instructors mistreated staff</h2>From Katie Warren:In August 2014, Jennifer Brody was working as a studio manager at California's Palo Alto SoulCycle when she met Conor Kelly, a "master instructor" with SoulCycle. Kelly was in town from the East Coast to teach a class.After riding in his class, Brody, who is a Black woman, said she changed out of her workout clothes and put a bandana on her head. When she passed Kelly in the studio, she said, he laughed and said "Whoa — Aunt Jemima!" in an apparent reference to the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/aunt-jemima-is-changing-its-name-mascot-over-racial-stereotype-2020-6">syrup and pancake brand</a>."That he felt OK calling me 'Aunt Jemima' in the middle of a studio lobby in Palo Alto was disgusting," Brody recently told Business Insider. Brody said she told a couple of instructors of color about Kelly's remark, but she didn't officially report it because, she believed, "There wasn't anyone who would have cared.""SoulCycle kind of turned the cheek on a lot of stuff as long as they were making money," Brody added.SoulCycle instructors were fawned over by riders and the company's top brass, but insiders said inappropriate behavior became more commonplace as SoulCycle's cult following grew.Read the full story here:<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/soulcycle-instructors-celebrities-misbehavior-2020-11">SoulCycle's top instructors had sex with clients, 'fat-shamed' coworkers, and used homophobic and racist language, but the company treated them like Hollywood stars anyway, insiders say</a></li></ul><h2>Moderna's research revolution</h2><div type="image" title="moderna covid vaccine record time 2x1" height="1200" width="2400" msid="79355012" hostid="261"></div>From Andy Dunn:In January, Stéphane Bancel, the chief executive of Moderna, was skimming through the news on his iPad while vacationing with his family in the south of France. A headline stopped his finger: "Health Officials Work to Solve China's Mystery Virus Outbreak," <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/health-officials-work-to-solve-chinas-mystery-virus-outbreak-11578308757?mod=searchresults&amp;page=1&amp;pos=6mp;pos=6">The Wall Street Journal</a> reported on January 6.The Frenchman, who is 48, wrote an email to Dr. Barney Graham, a vaccine researcher at the US National Institutes of Health, asking him what he knew about these pneumonia cases cropping up in central China.Graham said he didn't yet know the identity of the mysterious virus, but within a few days it was identified as a novel coronavirus. Bancel urged the Graham to let him know when government scientists had the virus' genetic sequence.His company, Moderna, was ready to get to work.Now, less than a year later, Moderna and the NIH have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moderna-coronavirus-vaccine-works-to-prevent-covid-19-company-says-2020-11">developed a vaccine that appears to be highly effective</a> at preventing people from coming down with COVID-19, the disease caused by that new virus. Read the full story here:<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-moderna-developed-coronavirus-vaccine-record-time-2020-11">How the sprint for a coronavirus vaccine transformed Moderna into a $39 billion powerhouse that's poised to reshape biotech</a></li></ul>Also read:<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-pharmacies-hospitals-could-profit-from-covid-19-vaccine-2020-11">Pharmacies, doctor's offices and hospitals are gearing up to give coronavirus vaccines to millions of Americans. Here's how they're preparing and how much they stand to profit along the way.</a></li></ul><h2>Sundar Pichai's leadership shift</h2><div type="image" title="Sundar Pichai Berlin Office" height="1667" width="2500" msid="79355017" hostid="261"></div>From Hugh Langley:When Larry Page and Sergey Brin stepped away from their day-to-day duties at Alphabet last year, an informal agreement with CEO Sundar Pichai was made: the two billionaire cofounders would make themselves available whenever Pichai called, but they would not initiate contact.It was an important acknowledgement that Pichai, the understated, 48-year-old engineer who rose through the ranks, was now the sole decision maker at the helm of an internet powerhouse that includes Google, YouTube and Android. The founders' arrangement also signaled that the grueling task of steering the company through some of the biggest crises in its history was now Pichai's problem.Read the full story here:<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-ceo-sundar-pichai-alphabet-brin-page-leadership-style-2020-11">Inside Larry Page and Sergey Brin's quiet agreement with Sundar Pichai that has forced Google's CEO to distinguish his leadership style</a></li></ul>Also read:<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-parler-rose-from-obscurity-conservative-alternative-twitter-platform-2020-11">Parler created a platform for conservatives by burning the Silicon Valley script. Inside the rapid, mysterious rise of the 'free speech' Twitter alternative.</a></li></ul><h2>ICYMI: Amazon puts the healthcare industry on notice</h2>From Blake Dodge, Megan Hernbroth, and Shelby Livingston:Ever since Amazon bought the online pharmacy PillPack in 2018, industry insiders have been waiting for Amazon's big move into the prescription-drug business. On Tuesday, it finally came, <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/cvs-walgreens-riteaid-stock-price-reaction-amazon-digital-pharmacy-launch-2020-11-1029811333">triggering a sell-off of shares for distributors, retail pharmacies, and health plans alike</a>.Read the full story:<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-push-into-pharmacy-competition-pharmacies-health-plans-startups-2020-11">Amazon just put the entire healthcare industry on notice with its latest push into pharmacy. Here's who stands to win and lose.</a></li></ul>Also read:<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-pharmacy-drug-deals-more-expensive-goodrxs-2020-11">Amazon's pharmacy deals are way more expensive than one of its key rivals', showing the long road ahead for the tech giant's ambitions to disrupt the industry</a></li></ul>Here are some headlines from the past week that you might have missed.— Matt<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-real-estate-policies-taxes-affordable-housing-2020-11">A Joe Biden presidency could transform homeownership. Here are the winners and losers of his real-estate policies.</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stock-picks-to-buy-cheap-companies-value-economic-rebound-goldman-2020-11">GOLDMAN SACHS: Buy these 20 deeply underpriced stocks now before the recovery helps them rebound and crush Wall Street's low expectations in 2021</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hedge-fund-salaries-analyst-bridgewater-citadel-aqr-point72-two-sigma-2020-11">HEDGE FUND COMP: How much engineers, associates, and researchers are paid at AQR, Bridgewater, Citadel, D.E. Shaw, Point72, and Two Sigma</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/li-jin-describes-how-she-got-hired-at-andreessen-horowitz-2020-11">Rising-star VC Li Jin describes her 6-month process to getting hired by Andreessen Horowitz — and how she landed the job with no prior experience</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kevin-oleary-investing-why-betting-big-psychedelics-medicine-2020-11">Kevin O'Leary of 'Shark Tank': Why I'm betting big on psychedelics, and how investors should be thinking about this opportunity</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-nike-snkrs-app-became-viral-internet-phenomenon-2020-11">Inside SNKRS: How a group of Nike employees went 'unconventional' to build a chart-topping app that would forever change the sneaker landscape</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-atlantic-search-for-next-ceo-2020-11">David Bradley has talked to 100 people in his search for The Atlantic's next CEO. Who in the world are they? We found some names.</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/exclusive-snap-acquires-hot-music-app-voisey-2020-11">Snap has acquired Voisey, a hot new music app that looks an awful lot like TikTok</a>

SoulCycle's top instructors had sex with clients, 'fat-shamed' coworkers, and used homophobic and racist language, insiders say

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="349789" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Epic-Games">Epic Games</keyword> sued <keyword id="6354427" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="apple">Apple</keyword> on Thursday, accusing it of engaging in anticompetitive behavior through its <keyword id="115504" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="App-Store">App Store</keyword>.</li><li>It filed the legal paperwork after Apple pulled "<keyword id="3203281" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Fortnite">Fortnite</keyword>" from the App Store. The company said Epic violated App Store guidelines by offering a new way to make in-app purchases that bypassed the controversial 30% fee charged by Apple's and <keyword id="6355629" type="DEFINITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="google">Google</keyword>'s app stores.</li><li>Epic announced earlier on Thursday that players would get a permanent 20% discount on V-Bucks, the in-game currency in "Fortnite," if they paid directly through Epic.</li><li>It's the latest escalation in a battle between <keyword id="713061" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="App-developers">app developers</keyword> and the <keyword id="6358815" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tech">tech</keyword> giants, particularly Apple. Developers and lawmakers alike have criticized Apple for taking a large cut of purchases made in the apps in their stores and wielding power over developers.</li></ul>Epic Games, the company behind "Fortnite," <a href="https://cdn2.unrealengine.com/apple-complaint-734589783.pdf">filed an injunction</a> against Apple on Thursday, accusing it of engaging in anticompetitive behavior via its App Store.Earlier Thursday, the gaming company announced the ability to make in-game purchases directly through Epic, bypassing <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-developer-rage-30-percent-app-store-tax-2020-6">the 30% cut Apple and Google take</a> from in-app purchases. In response, Apple pulled "Fortnite" from the App Store, with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fortnite-kicked-off-google-play-store-2020-8">Google's Play Store following suit later in the day</a>.An Apple representative told Business Insider that "Fortnite" was removed after Epic "took the unfortunate step of violating the App Store guidelines." Google did not respond to a request for comment, but told <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/13/21368079/fortnite-epic-android-banned-google-play-app-store-rule-violation">The Verge</a> that it could "no longer make it available on Play because it violates our policies." The escalation is the latest development in an on-going battle over the power that Google and Apple wield over app makers, which has developers and lawmakers alike <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tim-cook-defends-apple-app-store-policies-antitrust-hearing-2020-7">criticizing the tech giants' policies.</a> "Apple's removal of Fortnite is yet another example of Apple flexing its enormous power in order to impose unreasonable restraints and unlawfully maintain its 100% monopoly over the iOS in-app Payment Processing Market," Epic's complaint reads. Shortly after Apple removed "Fortnite" from its store, it also launched a short film titled "Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite," <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fortnite-epic-games-apple-battle-1984-parody-2020-8">a scathing parody of Apple's famous "1984" commercial.</a>Here's Apple's statement in full: "Today, Epic Games took the unfortunate step of violating the App Store guidelines that are applied equally to every developer and designed to keep the store safe for our users. As a result their Fortnite app has been removed from the store. Epic enabled a feature in its app which was not reviewed or approved by Apple, and they did so with the express intent of violating the App Store guidelines regarding in-app payments that apply to every developer who sells digital goods or services. "Epic has had apps on the App Store for a decade, and have benefited from the App Store ecosystem — including its tools, testing, and distribution that Apple provides to all developers. Epic agreed to the App Store terms and guidelines freely and we're glad they've built such a successful business on the App Store. The fact that their business interests now lead them to push for a special arrangement does not change the fact that these guidelines create a level playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all users. We will make every effort to work with Epic to resolve these violations so they can return Fortnite to the App Store."<h2>Bypassing Apple and Google</h2>The issue stems from an offer Epic announced on Thursday called <a href="https://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/news/the-fortnite-mega-drop-permanent-discounts-up-to-20-percent">the "Fortnite Mega Drop"</a>: a permanent 20% discount on V-Bucks, the in-game currency in "Fortnite."The new prices are available on PCs and consoles but not necessarily on mobile: Epic said that because Apple and Google take a 30% cut of purchases made within their app stores, it couldn't provide the 20% discount for gamers who pay through those stores.Instead, Epic directed players to use its direct payment system "to get the best deal on V-Bucks and real-money purchases."In <a href="https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/fortnite-mega-drop-faq">an FAQ page</a> on Epic's website, the company said it was offering the new payment options to provide more choice to players and to pass along savings to them."Thousands of apps on the App Store are allowed by Apple to accept direct payments, including commonly used apps like Amazon, Grubhub, Nike SNKRS, Best Buy, DoorDash, Fandango, McDonalds, and StubHub," the company said.Epic added: "Clearly Apple acknowledges that third party payment services are safe and acceptable for goods and services."<h2>An ongoing battle</h2>Epic has sparred with the companies behind the major app stores before.Earlier this year, the company gave in to Google after a months-long battle over the <keyword id="6369511" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="google-play-store">Google Play Store</keyword>. Epic had initially refused to offer "Fortnite" through the Play Store, instead offering the game to Android users <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/3/17645982/epic-games-fortnite-android-version-bypass-google-play-store">via a direct download</a> from Epic's website. But Epic eventually acquiesced to Google, saying that the company "puts software downloadable outside of Google Play at a disadvantage" by classifying it as malware and citing nonexistent security issues, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/21/21229943/epic-games-fortnite-google-play-store-available-third-party-software">according to The Verge</a>.Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has also spoken out about Apple's policies, <a href="https://twitter.com/TimSweeneyEpic/status/1288139365399633924?s=20">saying in a tweet last month</a> that the company had "gone crazy.""Apple has no right to take any percent of any company's revenue just because they made the phone people use to access the stuff," Sweeney tweeted.Epic's latest changes signal a growing animosity between app developers and Apple's App Store in particular. Developers have long argued that Apple wields too much power over developers and demands too high a cut of in-app purchases. Most recently, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-app-store-commissions-hey-email-2020-6">the email app Hey was barred from the App Store</a> after it refused to stop directing users outside the store to pay the app's $99 annual subscription fee.Apple's treatment of app developers has also come under scrutiny from Congress; lawmakers on the House antitrust subcommittee recently <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tim-cook-defends-apple-app-store-policies-antitrust-hearing-2020-7">questioned Apple CEO Tim Cook</a> about whether Apple's practices constituted anticompetitive behavior.

The developer behind 'Fortnite' is suing Apple after the iPhone maker yanked the game from the App Store

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">LinkedInRon Faris, founder and CEO at Virgin Mega.</div></div></div>Nike announced <a href="http://news.nike.com/news/nike-digital-studio-2016">on Tuesday</a> it had acquired Virgin Mega, a little-known 12-person startup that sits within Richard Branson's Virgin Group, to help it launch a new "digital studio" based in New York City.In the release announcing the acquisition (which didn't reveal the terms of the transaction), Nike said the studio will be responsible for "expanding the community and functionality" of Nike's core mobile experiences.So what does that mean? And why did Nike acquire an entire company to do so when it has its own marketing team and works with a roster of agencies that include AKQA, R/GA, and Wieden + Kennedy?We caught up with Virgin Mega founder and CEO Ron Faris to find out.Faris first joined the Virgin Group in 2006 as director of brand marketing and experiences. He was responsible for the free Virgin Mobile music festival and tie-ups with artists and sports brands, from Lady Gaga to the New York Knicks.In 2013, Faris went to Branson with an idea for a new Virgin company: a tech startup dedicated to fan communities and shopping on mobile phones.Faris said: "I left my post running marketing at Virgin Mobile to start a tech startup, mostly because I just felt I knew that millennials in particular were seeking new ways to interact with the brands they loved through mobile devices. Through my experience with working with companies like BuzzFeed, mobile, and music festivals, I saw that millennials require an experience when they connect with brands they love and they like to connect emotionally."Virgin Mega was somewhat of a stealth startup. It didn't do a lot of press or attempt to hang on the coat tails of the Virgin brand name. It was also venutre backed, raising undisclosed seed investment from FirstMark Capital and QueensBridge Venture Partners. Faris' plan with Virgin Mega was to build a team of engineers and product staff who would use data to test new types of mobile experiences.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left"><div><div class="image on-image">Virgin MegaCam'ron "Killa Crunch" cereal.</div></div></div>The first release was "MegaLine" an app that let fans to compete with each other as they waited in a digital queue for exclusive products. Users could earn "jumps" that would move them up the queue to get closer to the products when they went on sale.The types of exclusive items ranged from a breakfast cereal and t-shirt designed by hip hop artist Cam'ron, A$AP Rocky jewelry, and a Valentine's Day cronut necklace.Faris: "At music festivals I was always taken by how, right before the gates would open, you'd see tons of kids in line, in the rain, all super excited. There's a lot of energy that happens in lines. Not all lines are bad. A lot of magic can happen in lines. It's that tailgate where everyone is sharing their common love for something - be it for a football game, a concert, or Nike sneakers."A short while ago, Virgin Mega met with Nike to discuss how they could work together to create a mobile experience for the so-called sneakerhead community - fanatical sneaker fans who often spend hours in line for the latest shoes."We started exploring discussions about how we could work together and as we were getting to know one another, the synergies were there, there was a great cultural fit, and one thing led to another," Faris said. "Honestly the passion they have for their community and their products is exactly the type of energy we seek in the clients we work with and it was undeniable that after several conversations, this [acquisition] would be a dream come true."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Rick Wilking/ReutersSir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group.</div></div></div>Faris added that Branson and the team at Virgin believe the two brands share a lot of "common DNA," so they appreciated the team leaving to go to Nike made sense.<a href="https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/fascinating-virgin-company-you-have-never-heard-was-just-acquired-nike">In a blog post</a>, Branson wrote of the acquisition:"I am sad to see Ron and his team go but they will nw create a new digital innovation studio in the heart of New York City where they will invent and incubate next generation mobile experiences. I can't wait to see what they'll cook up next with a brand as customer-focused and creative as Nike!"Faris and the team's first focus is making the Nike SNKRS app more community focused - and there's every possibility that will come with a little help from the music relationships he has spent so many years building up at Virgin.<a href="http://seekingalpha.com/article/3985083-nikes-nke-ceo-mark-parker-q4-2016-results-earnings-call-transcript?part=single">In Nike's most-recent earnings call</a>, the company outlined its commitment to investing in digital to grow its business.Chief financial officer Andy Campion said "demand creation" - marketing that educates consumers about why they need a new product - increased 2% in fiscal 2016 "as we strategically invested in digital consumer engagement and sports marketing while gaining efficiencies in traditional <keyword id="35666" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="advertising">advertising</keyword>." The company's operating overhead also increased 8% for the full year as Nike made investments in consumer-facing digital products.CEO Mark Parker added: "Mobile innovation and personal services are dominating the landscape. That's why we invest in integrating digital and physical <keyword id="6354851" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Retail">retail</keyword> seamlessly, giving our consumers better access to the products they want and while we are working even closer with our best wholesale partners who share our vision for the future of retail." <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/navy-seal-surprising-training-diet-2016-2">We asked a Navy SEAL what he ate during training, and his answer shocked us</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="hydGp0MDE6evYhTqMiubHdVdF_VT5eA6" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

You Searched For "snkrs" and got 7 results

Insider Retail: McDonald's franchisees hire prominent racial justice lawyer, Sports Illustrated owner focuses on merch, and the jewelry industry moves online

Shoshy Ciment

Apple and Google just got sued by the maker of the hugely popular video game 'Fortnite' over their app store policies. Here's what you need to know about the major antitrust battle it reignited.

Tyler Sonnemaker

Beyonce's collaboration with Adidas could help the company win over a key customer - and Nike should be terrified

Kate Taylor

Here's how Insider reporter Shoshy Ciment covers the booming multi-billion dollar sneaker resale market

Grace O'Connell-Joshua

SoulCycle's top instructors had sex with clients, 'fat-shamed' coworkers, and used homophobic and racist language, insiders say

Matt Turner

The developer behind 'Fortnite' is suing Apple after the iPhone maker yanked the game from the App Store

Avery Hartmans

Nike just bought a little-known tech startup inside Richard Branson's Virgin Group

Lara O'Reilly

You Searched For "snkrs" and got 7 results

Insider Retail: McDonald's franchisees hire prominent racial justice lawyer, Sports Illustrated owner focuses on merch, and the jewelry industry moves online

Shoshy Ciment

Apple and Google just got sued by the maker of the hugely popular video game 'Fortnite' over their app store policies. Here's what you need to know about the major antitrust battle it reignited.

Tyler Sonnemaker

Beyonce's collaboration with Adidas could help the company win over a key customer - and Nike should be terrified

Kate Taylor

Here's how Insider reporter Shoshy Ciment covers the booming multi-billion dollar sneaker resale market

Grace O&apos;Connell-Joshua

SoulCycle's top instructors had sex with clients, 'fat-shamed' coworkers, and used homophobic and racist language, insiders say

Matt Turner

The developer behind 'Fortnite' is suing Apple after the iPhone maker yanked the game from the App Store

Avery Hartmans

Nike just bought a little-known tech startup inside Richard Branson's Virgin Group

Lara O'Reilly

Grace O'Connell-Joshua