Business News: Railroads Merge, Prebiotic Pepsi Pops Off, Real Estate Investors Surge, and Chicago's Sports Collectors Convention Heats Up

Right About Now with Ryan Alford

Business News: Railroads Merge, Prebiotic Pepsi Pops Off, Real Estate Investors Surge, and Chicago's Sports Collectors Convention Heats Up

Explicit

Published on Aug 1, 2025, 5:00:00 PM
Total time: 00:17:32

Episode Description

SUMMARY

Ryan Alford breaks down 8 major stories shaping business and marketing—from Shopify’s AI assistant and a historic railroad merger to PepsiCo’s prebiotic cola and Nike’s rapid sneaker lab. Plus: TikTok’s 60-minute videos, Sprite x Jalen Hurts, and more.

TAKEAWAYS

  • Shopify's introduction of the AI assistant Sidekick and its impact on e-commerce.

  • The merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, creating a coast-to-coast railroad network.

  • PepsiCo's launch of a prebiotic cola aimed at health-conscious consumers.

  • Live Nation Urban's new creator network for connecting brands with influencers.

  • The increasing role of investors in the single-family housing market.

  • Nike's Air Imagination Lab for rapid sneaker prototyping using 3D printing.

  • Sprite's NFL marketing campaign featuring quarterback Jalen Hurts and player-led storytelling.

  • TikTok's testing of longer video uploads, potentially challenging YouTube.

  • The National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago and its significance in the collectibles market.

  • The overarching theme of reducing friction in business processes to enhance efficiency and customer satisfaction.

 

More about Right About Now with Ryan Alford

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