A business advisory column argues that raising marketing budgets often fails to produce more customers because companies misdiagnose the real problem. The author says firms frequently lose revenue not from insufficient visibility but from poor targeting, unclear value propositions, mishandled inquiries and weak conversion processes. The piece recommends auditing the full funnel—from first interest to final sale—before spending more on ads.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-10-27
Arsalan Tavakoli-Shiraji, Databricks co-founder and SVP of field engineering, told TechCrunch Disrupt attendees that strong technology alone did not win enterprise deals in the company's early years. He described failed meetings, including one with UBS, and said partnering with Microsoft as an Azure cloud partner let Microsoft's sales team book meetings and advocate for Databricks under Microsoft's own contract terms.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-26
According to the Financial Times, artists including Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Charli XCX, Summer Walker and Doja Cat have been using the long-dormant iTunes Store to release exclusive songs and albums. Grande's surprise iTunes-only live version of Petal reportedly pushed the album from number 15 to number 6 on the charts, while Swift's Life of a Showgirl sold better through physical and digital purchases than streaming in its first US week.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-10-26
Tesla said it has started manufacturing production-quality units of its Optimus humanoid robot at its Fremont, California plant, previously used solely for EV assembly. The announcement came alongside third-quarter results showing flat revenue of $28.04 billion and net income of $787 million, down 43% year-over-year, as spending on AI and robotics surged.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-10-21
Sally Rooney says Faber has stopped supplying her books in the UK because her stated support for the banned group Palestine Action could make fulfilling UK publishing contracts a criminal offence. Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation under the Terrorism Act last July, and Rooney had pledged to continue directing sales proceeds to the group, which remains legal in Ireland. She previously cancelled a UK trip to collect an award over fears of arrest.
theguardian.com
· 2026-10-14
Multiple countries, including Germany and New Zealand, are reporting record shares of electric vehicles in new car sales. The surge coincides with rising oil prices tied to the conflict involving Iran that followed U.S. military action, which has pushed gasoline costs higher in many markets.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-10-14
A startup advice piece argues founders typically act as the first salespeople, often succeeding because they deeply understand the product's purpose. It contends that despite this early success, sales is the function founders should hand off to a disciplined, professional hire as the company grows.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-10-13
China's auto industry association reported that passenger car exports jumped 64% year-on-year in September, as domestic sales growth remains weak. Automakers are increasingly turning to overseas markets to sustain growth, even as the EU caps imports of Chinese hybrid vehicles at 350,000 units annually.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-10-12
In-N-Out has reached roughly $2 billion in annual sales despite sticking to a stripped-down menu, a strategy that runs counter to the industry trend of expanding offerings. The chain has instead leaned on its secret, off-menu items as a key draw for customers.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-10-12
Global sales data show gasoline-only vehicles have fallen under 50% of new car sales worldwide for the first time, according to reporting on the milestone. The shift reflects growing shares of electric and hybrid vehicles in the global new-car market.
tech.slashdot.org
· 2026-10-11
Circana analyst Mat Piscatella reported that US retail sales of Xbox consoles fell 33% year-to-date through August 2026, marking an all-time low since the brand launched nearly 25 years ago. PlayStation 5 sales fell 25% over the same period, their weakest showing since 2013. Both Microsoft and Sony have raised console prices multiple times in the past two years amid chip shortages.
tomshardware.com
· 2026-10-11
A year-long Senate investigation found that AI data center developers have often exaggerated the community benefits of their projects while obscuring key figures. Companies reportedly tout construction job counts but withhold permanent staffing numbers, with some disclosing ratios as low as one permanent job per megawatt of capacity. The probe also examined sales-tax exemptions on computer equipment, which investigators say are more lucrative to companies than the property-tax breaks that typically draw public scrutiny.
tomshardware.com
· 2026-10-10
GoKawiil