In Boston, Deirdre Fernandes reported Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski has signed a marketing deal with Capital One in which he will offer "financial tips and savings advice." The campaign, called, "#GRONKonomics," gives consumers "common-sense advise for managing money." Activation around the campaign will appear on Gronkowski's Facebook and Twitter feeds (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/2). FAST COMPANY's Dan Solomon noted there "actually is a rational basis in tapping Gronk to talk finance," as he "made headlines this summer when he revealed that he keeps his entire NFL salary in savings, living exclusively off his (lucrative) endorsements" (FASTCOCREATE.com, 11/2).
SPA DAYS: In Philadelphia, John George reported New Jersey-based Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa named U.S. women's national soccer team MF Carli Lloyd an endorser for the chain, which has locations in Pennsylvania, South Jersey and Delaware. The company "signed a three-year partnership" with Lloyd. She will be "featured in new Hand & Stone advertising, and will support social media efforts and make limited personal appearances for the company" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/3).
DRIVE RIGHT: La Liga club FC Barcelona F Lionel Messi has signed a two-year endorsement deal with India-based Tata Motors in a move to raise the automaker's "'cool quotient' across global markets." Tata, which makes Jaguar and Land Rover, is using the hashtag #madeofgreat as part of its Messi campaign (INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES, 11/3). Tata becomes the "first Indian brand endorsed" by Messi (ECONOMIC TIMES, 11/3).
NBA NEWS: Raptors F DeMarre Carroll and adidas confirmed that Carroll "has joined the brand" (SLAMONLINE.com, 11/3)....Harman Int'l Industries announced the launch of Signature Edition headphones named after Warriors G Stephen Curry, the first signature product under Curry's name since he signed with JBL in May. The headphones will feature a blue and yellow color scheme as a nod to the Warriors (Harman).
