During the last couple of weeks, there were news stories that reflected anniversary or celebration marketing, brand alignment, brand identity, brand experiences, brand packaging, brand positioning, brand storytelling, brand strategy, marketing roles, personal branding, and more.
A TALE OF TARIFFS, FEDEX, BARBIE, AND CHRISTMAS
The Winnipeg Sun reported, "A Boston grandmother was briefly hit with an $802 U.S. tariff bill after a $30 Barbie doll shipped from Canada was mistakenly declared at nearly 100 times its actual value, triggering steep duties on paper. FedEx has since removed the charge, saying the error stemmed from incorrect customs paperwork prepared during shipment.
Bonnie O’Connell told the National Post that the doll — purchased for about CA$30 — was meant as a Christmas gift for her four-year-old granddaughter, who recently started skating and enjoys Barbie dolls. O’Connell found the item on Walmart’s Canadian website and asked a cousin in Nova Scotia to buy it and ship it to her home in Massachusetts. The package arrived without issue, but weeks later O’Connell received a bill from FedEx for US$802.
According to O’Connell, a FedEx clerk told her cousin that FedEx would handle the customs paperwork. When the form was completed, the declared value of the doll (CA$29.97) was mistakenly entered as nearly CA$2,997 due to a misplaced decimal point. Then, after converting the inflated value to U.S. dollars and applying a 35 percent tariff on Canadian goods imposed by the Trump administration, customs officials assessed duties of roughly US$742. Additional FedEx fees brought the total bill to US$802.
O’Connell questioned why the package was delivered if duties were owed. She said FedEx initially told her the dispute could take months to resolve. After receiving a final demand notice, she contacted a Boston television station, which raised the issue with the carrier. Following media inquiries, FedEx removed the charge from her account."
UPDATES REGARDING TARIFFS
CNN reported, "The US Commerce Department is poised to significantly reduce the tariffs set to take effect on over a dozen Italian pasta makers’ products later this year. Most products from the European Union are already subject to tariffs of at least 15 percent. The pasta-specific tariffs, initially proposed in October at 92 percent, would have subject Italian pasta to a total rate of 107 percent. The newly announced rates would put the levies between 24 to 29 percent. The final rates will be announced on March 12th."
ABC News reported, "In October, the White House imposed a 25 percent tariff on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities. Rates for cabinets and vanities were set to go up to 50 percent in 2026, while upholstered wooden furniture (sofas and chairs) were set to increase to 30 percent. Now, the 25 percent tariff will remain in effect until January 1st, 2027."
DISAPPEARING RETAIL BRANDS DURING 2025
According to CNN, during 2025, "Shoppers said farewell to a number of well-known retailers. These included: Forever 21, Joann, Party City, and Rite Aid."
END OF NEW YORK CITY METROCARDS
On December 31st, New Yorkers saw the end of MetroCards. The Guardian reported, "First, New Yorkers saw the elimination of subway token, which lasted for half a century. Now, its successor – the swipeable MetroCard, which lasted more than three decades – has seen its demise. The transit system will fully transition to Omny, a contactless payment system that allows riders to tap their credit card, phone, or other smart device to pay fares, much as they do for other purchases. The MetroCard also became a vehicle for promotions, with the city issuing commemorative editions, including one to mark baseball’s home team World Series between the New York Mets and the New York Yankees in the 2000. David Bowie, Olivia Rodrigo, the Wu-Tang Clan, the Notorious BIG, and LL Cool J also graced the card over the years, as did New York TV shows such as Seinfeld and Law & Order. And the MetroCard required a certain technique to use, demanding a special angle of attack and velocity through the turnstile sensor to be read correctly – a learned technique that separated New Yorkers from interlopers."
According to ABC7NY, "Transit officials say more than 90 percent of subway and bus trips are now paid using the tap-and-go system, introduced in 2019. And major cities around the world, including London and Singapore, have long used similar contactless systems. In the U.S., San Francisco launched a pay-go system earlier this year, joining Chicago and others. Still, new changes come with tradeoffs, with some critics raising concerns about data collection and surveillance. Near Times Square on a recent morning, Ronald Minor was among the dwindling group of "straphangers" still swiping MetroCards. The 70-year-old Manhattan resident said he's sad to see them go. He has an OMNY card but found the vending machines to reload it more cumbersome."
GREENLAND STATUS
CNN reported that Denmark’s foreign minister was “deeply upset” by US President Trump’s appointment on December 22nd of a special envoy to Greenland who openly declared that he wished to see the island become part of the United States. While Trump has repeatedly stated that he wants to annex Greenland, both Greenland and Denmark, a NATO ally of the US, are staunchly opposed to the idea. Trump announced the appointment of Jeff Landry, the Governor of Louisiana, as special envoy to Greenland, "Jeff understands how essential Greenland is to our national security, and will strongly advance our country’s interests for the safety, security, and survival of our allies, and indeed, the World."
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reiterated their opposition to US plans to take over Greenland, stating "You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security. Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, and the US shall not take over Greenland."
THE END OF SPRINKLES
Sprinkles closed its doors and cupcake ATM machines on December 31st. USA Today reported, "Founder Candace Nelson announced the chain's store closures in a social media post on December 31st, which read: "Today is Sprinkles' final day. I’m deeply grateful to the fans, customers, and community who showed up, celebrated with us, and made Sprinkles part of their traditions - and to the team who made it all happen. I’ll always be proud of what we built." Nelson started Sprinkles in 2005 with only a KitchenAid mixer and a big idea. After the first location in Beverly Hills, the company expanded across the United States (Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Washington, D.C.), and launched the "Cupcake ATM," a 24/7 vending machine that allowed customers to purchase cupcakes outside of business hours. In 2012, Nelson sold the company to a private equity firm.
KTLA5 reported, "Tastewise, which tracks consumer trends, said in their 2025 report, that social chatter on cupcakes decreased 15.59 percent over the previous year. But they reported that there are still an astounding 52,000+ restaurants with cupcakes on the menu. Essfeed, which tracks the industry, says the global cupcake market is expected to reach $13.5 billion this year—although it also points out that consumers are now more health-conscious, and that’s forcing markets, including cupcakes, to respond to changing demands. Consumer Confidential reporter David Lazarus agrees and says changing demands may be bad news for top retailers of sweets, 'The simple fact is that cupcakes, while yummy, aren’t addressing the needs of younger consumers seeking healthier foods and snacks.'"
PLACES WITHOUT OPEN DOORS FOR 2026
CNN shared a roundup of the museums, spiritual sites, and theme park rides that will be off limits in 2026:
*Museum of Collecting and Design: "Founded in Las Vegas, the museum was an ode to Jessica Oreck’s love of all things tiny. Travelers could come in and admire the collection or make a flatlay of itsy-bitsy erasers or one-inch figurines. After the strip mall that housed it was designated for demolition, Oreck took the show on the road, driving the collection around the United States. The physical museum is no more, and it’s unclear if it will find another permanent home."
*Centre Pompidou: "Paris’ Centre Pompidou, which opened in the 1970s with a revolutionary inside-as-outside design, is taking a break to renovate its spaces, improve accessibility and remove asbestos. The museum will reopen in 2030. (According to CNN Travel, "When it first opened in 1977, the Centre Pompidou sent shockwaves through Parisian society. The mammoth cultural center, with its industrial exterior and brightly colored exposed pipes, stood out like a sore thumb on the fringes of the French capital’s historic Marais district. Its inside-out construction could not have been further from the surrounding buildings, created in Georges-Eugène Haussmann’s 19th century renovation of Paris, with their trademark tall windows and wrought iron balconies. But that was the point. When former French president Georges Pompidou laid out his vision for the attraction, which would go on to take his name, he was inspired by the eye-catching architecture of modern museums like the Guggenheim in New York. As it approaches its 50th birthday, the Pompidou is preparing to close for five years in order to embark on the latest stage of that evolution. It may not have a Da Vinci, but the art at the Pompidou is no less impressive, with its permanent collection of 140,000 pieces featuring the likes of Picasso, Matisse and Chagall. Around 3.2 million people visit every year for exhibitions, movies and performances — and to take advantage of the national library.")"
*Gounsa Temple: "The 1,300-year-old Gounsa Temple in South Korea’s Uiseong County, a major Buddhist landmark, was burned to the ground by a wildfire that swept through the area in March 2025. The temple, along with three others nearby, is undergoing restoration, but there’s currently no firm timeline in place for reopening."
*Bayeux Tapestry: "The 11th-century series of cloths depicting the English Conquest is one of the world’s oldest and best-preserved forms of visual history. As such, it deserves a good home. Bayeux, the town in northern France that gave the tapestry its name, is in the midst of an ambitious project to update and expand the museum that houses it. The museum shut in August 2025 and aims to reopen in 2027, the centennial of William the Conqueror’s birth."
*Rivers of America at Walt Disney World: "The latest area due for transition is Rivers of America, which includes Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat. The area will be turned into a themed land based on the “Cars” franchise that Disney has said is part of the largest expansion in the history of Magic Kingdom."
*Bluestockings: "This pioneering downtown New York City bookstore just couldn’t survive gentrification. The feminist, worker-owned shop, which opened its doors in 1999, announced its closure in September."
*Paris Catacombs: "One of Paris’ most spooky attractions, the bones of millions of former Parisians are on view in this nearly one-mile-long tunnel. A former limestone mine, it sits underneath the fashionable Montparnasse neighborhood. The catacombs are under repair and due to open sometime in 2026."
*The Met Museum Rooftop: "New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art isn’t closing — but its rooftop is. The roof, which has long been a spot for site-specific works, is one of the areas the museum is upgrading and expanding over the next five years. When it reopens in 2030, it will increase from 7,500 to 10,000 square feet — all the better for those group photos."
*Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) of Raleigh, North Carolina: "Raleigh’s contemporary art museum announced an indefinite pause in mid-2025. In an announcement, the museum said it was “taking a collective breath — not to step back, but to look forward. We’re exploring bold new ways to engage our audiences, fund our mission, and serve our community with greater impact."
UNIQUE NEW YEAR'S EVE AND DAY CELEBRATIONS
MAINE: National Geographic reported, "At midnight each New Year’s Eve, in tiny Eastport, Maine, an eight-foot-long illuminated sardine descends into the main square for revelers to kiss as the clock strikes 12. Fireworks and brass band music add to the spectacle for attendees, many of whom wear homemade sardine-shaped hats. The event pays tribute to Eastport’s fishing heritage. In the early 1900s, the island town near the Canadian border held 18 canneries."
MISSOURI: National Geographic reported, "Missouri’s oldest town, Ste. Genevieve, was established in the 1730s by French settlers. Now, their descendants celebrate this heritage each December 31st with La Guignolée, an ancient French New Year’s wassailing or caroling custom. Troupes of costumed singers, dancers, and fiddlers perform in and around the 18th- and 19th-century buildings in this historic town, an hour’s drive south of St. Louis."
KEY WEST, FLORIDA: According to Southern Most Beach Resort, "As thousands gather on Duval Street, all eyes turn to the roof of Sloppy Joe’s Bar, where a giant, illuminated conch shell—the symbol of the Florida Keys—slowly descends. The crowd cheering and counting down as the conch shell drops to mark the stroke of midnight."
BAHAMAS: National Geographic reported, "A Bahamian New Year's Day tradition since the 18th century, Junkanoo (a burst of music, dance, storytelling, and parades) revolves around pulsing street parades, enlivened by cowbells, whistles, horns, and goatskin drums. Many participants don bold outfits created in communal studios called “shacks,” where elders teach youths costume design, an experience considered a rite of passage."
PARIS BAGUETTE HEADS TO MEXICO
French-style bakery Paris Baguette plans to open 150 bakeries during 2026 in Canada and Mexico with plans for future growth in Central and South America. The bakery chain, which began in Korea in 1988, has 3,700 locations in Korea, and 270 locations in 28 US states and Canada. Paris Baguette North American CEO Darren Tipton plans to reach 1,000 locations in the United States and 100 in Canada by 2030.
STARBUCKS' NEW MARKETING COLLABORATION ROLE
In late December, Starbucks hired a senior manager from E.l.f. Cosmetics in a new marketing role to create fashion and beauty collaborations. Digiday reported, "Neiv Toledano has joined Starbucks as its senior marketing manager of fashion and beauty. While Starbucks has always had employees who have worked on collaborations, including in the fashion and beauty spaces, this is a first-of-its-kind dedicated role and a signal that Starbucks is placing a bigger premium on these types of partnerships. At E.l.f., Toledano worked on collaborations with buzzy brands like Stanley and Liquid Death."
According to Eunice Shin, founder and CEO of global brand and growth strategy consultancy Elume Group, "Engagement with fashion and beauty has long been part of the Starbucks DNA, to some degree. At the most basic level, the coffee brand someone carries is an element of "social signaling," similar to the shoes they wear or the handbag they carry."
On a related note, Starbucks has signed on to be the official coffee partner of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Team USA.
REVERSAL OF STARBUCKS' GROWTH STRATEGY
CNN reported, "Starbucks spent years trying to become an inescapable storefront on the streets of New York, Los Angeles, and other big cities in America. Now that’s coming to an end. Its expansion once seemed limitless. It was even a joke. In 1998, an Onion headline read “New Starbucks Opens In Rest Room of Existing Starbucks.” But Starbucks is now struggling, and its strategy of saturating urban areas to draw coffee drinkers on their way to work in the morning has backfired amid competition, the rise of remote work, and rising costs. So CEO Brian Niccol, hired last year from Chipotle to revive Starbucks, no longer wants its stores to be right next to each other. Starbucks closed roughly 400 stores nationwide that are concentrated in large metro areas as part of its $1 billion restructuring plan. Starbucks closed 42 locations in New York, or 12 percent of its total in the city. It recently lost its top spot as the largest chain in Manhattan to Dunkin’, according to Center for an Urban Future, a New York City think tank that tracks chain openings and closings. Starbucks also reportedly closed more than 20 locations in Los Angeles during 2025; 15 in Chicago; seven in San Francisco; six in Minneapolis; five in Baltimore; and dozens more in other cities."
WORLD'S OLDEST RESTAURANT CELEBRATES 300 YEARS
According to the Smithsonian Magazine, "Sobrino de Botin, confirmed by the Guiness Book of World Records as the oldest restaurant in the world, just celebrated 300 years of scintillating history. Opened in 1725 in the center of Madrid, it’s the longest continuously running restaurant on record—they kept the soldiers fed during the Spanish Civil War, and they even stoked the flames of their 300-year-old oven every day during the Covid-19 pandemic when the world was on lockdown.
The four-story building, originally a private home, dates to at least 1590, not long after Phillip II moved his royal court to Madrid. In the 18th century, a man named Candido Remis took over the building and opened a tavern, naming it Sobrino de Botin, or "nephew of Botin." French chef Jean Botín, Remis' famous uncle by marriage, had worked in the Court of the Hapsburgs.
Back then, restaurants were very different than the establishments of today. Botin was a casa de comida, a house of food, meant for weary merchants and traders who peddled their goods in the nearby Plaza Mayor market, just outside the city walls. “There’s a myth that people were worried that if taverns served food, the men would never go back home to their wives,” says culinary anthropologist Floriana Gennari. To eat at a casa de comida, travelers would bring their own ingredients and the tavern cook would prepare a meal for them. It wasn’t until the 1800s that Botín became a confectionery, and then finally began calling itself a restaurant, emulating the new style of dining in France, characterized by table service and a refined menu—an indulgence meant only for the upper class."
STAR TREK CELEBRATES 60 YEARS
According to TrekMovie.com, "2026 is a milestone year, marking the 60th anniversary of the debut of Star Trek: The Original Series. The actual anniversary arrives on Star Trek Day in September, but why wait? Celebrations kicked off on January 1st during the nationally broadcast Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, with a Star Trek float and its theme “Space for Everybody.” The design featured classic Trek elements including a big USS Enterprise and transporters, and celebrity guests from various iterations of the show. Paramount also plans more 60th anniversary celebrations.
On January 15th, Star Trek will launch a show about the famed Starfleet Academy. Set after the events of Discovery in the 32nd century, the new series will focus on a diverse class of cadets with a faculty that includes familiar faces like Voyager’s Robert Picardo. This show is Trek’s biggest attempt to attract that coveted young demographic, so Paramount has lined up some big TikTok influencers to help with the upcoming promotional push. It remains to be seen if the new show will attract this target market, expand the audience, and still keep the current older Trek fans subscribing to Paramount+ all at the same time."
And according to StarTrek.com, "Star Trek: The Cruise will set sail February 20-27th, offering fans a week filled with once-in-a-lifetime experiences in celebration of the franchise's 60th anniversary. Joining the voyage are legacy Star Trek actors William Shatner and Walter Koenig, along with more than 20 actors from across the Star Trek universe, who will commemorate the milestone alongside fans with special events and activities honoring six decades of Star Trek's iconic shows and films. The brand will also partner with DoSomething, the national hub for youth-centered leadership and service, to boldly go into 2026 with “Boldly Go Green,” a new campaign centered around making an environmental impact in multiple locations in celebration of Star Trek's 60th anniversary."
JACK IN THE BOX CELEBRATES 75 YEARS
The fast-food brand kicked off its 75th anniversary, launching a year-long celebration packed with throwback menu items, exclusive collectibles, craveable deals, and surprises. According to a press release, "For 75 years, Jack in the Box has done fast food differently; pioneering the drive-thru, serving burgers and tacos side by side, and building a cult following fueled by bold flavors and even bolder ideas. Now, Jack in the Box is celebrating the milestone the best way he knows how: by bringing back fan favorites, limited edition collectables, and giving the Jack Pack plenty to look forward to all year long.
Leading the 75th anniversary celebration is the return of one of the most-requested items in Jack in the Box history: the Chicken Supreme. First introduced in 1980 and retired in 2004, the cult-favorite sandwich is officially back and ready to reclaim its throne as the first of several nostalgic menu returns planned throughout the year. Debuting alongside the Chicken Supreme are Jibbis, Jack in the Box’s new lineup of limited-edition collectible bag charms. Packed inside every Chicken Supreme Munchie Meal, Jibbis are made to be clipped, collected, and shown off — because one charm is never enough. There are four Jibbis to collect, including Spicy, Saucey, Icy, and the ultra-rare “The Boss.” Whether you score one or chase them all, these mini icons are for a limited time only. And Kicking Off 75 Years the Jack Way: 2 Tacos for $0.75: There’s no better way to celebrate 75 years of Jack in the Box than with the item that’s defined us for decades: tacos. As a burger brand famously known for tacos, Jack is kicking off its anniversary with a nod to one of its most iconic menu items. On January 6th, new and existing Jack Pack members can score 2 Tacos for $0.75, available exclusively through the Jack app for one day only. To keep the celebration going, Jack will roll out 75 Days of Trivia throughout the year, serving up in-app trivia questions tied to key dates and fan-favorite moments. Guests who answer correctly will unlock same-day offers, giving fans even more reasons to check in, play along, and come back for more."
WINNIE THE POOH CELEBRATES 100 YEARS
The BBC reported, "Winnie-the-Pooh was first featured in the short story The Wrong Sort of Bees published in the newspaper London Evening News on December 24th, 1925. The bear soon became loved world-wide, alongside Tigger, Christopher Robin, the game of Pooh sticks, and the fictional 100 Aker Wood, which was in reality Ashdown Forest, East Sussex, where author AA Milne had a country home."
On December 22nd, The Walt Disney Company unveiled the official Winnie the Pooh 100th Anniversary logo to kick off celebrations for 2026. This milestone marks 100 years since the character's debut on December 24th, 1925. The anniversary logo features Pooh Bear alongside an iconic red balloon with "100 Years" text. As part of the upcoming celebrations, Winnie the Pooh is scheduled to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 11th, 2026."
SHARE THIS: A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside. ~Winnie the Pooh #WinniethePooh100Years #BrandStorytelling #DebbieLaskeysBlog
SHARE THIS: Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved. ~Winnie the Pooh #WinniethePooh100Years #BrandStorytelling #DebbieLaskeysBlog
SHARE THIS: Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon. ~Winnie the Pooh #WinniethePooh100Years #BrandStorytelling #DebbieLaskeysBlog
In other Disney news, Disney California Adventure, Disney's second gate in Anaheim, California, opened in 2001. Disney will celebrate the park's 25th Anniversary during 2026 with special food, merchandise, and character outfits; and Tokyo's DisneySea will also celebrate its 25th Anniversary during 2026 and will begin its "Sparkling Jubilee" on April 15th, 2026.
ROUTE 66 CELEBRATES 100 YEARS
According to Google AI, "2026 marks the Route 66 Centennial, celebrating 100 years since its establishment in 1926, with events and initiatives happening throughout the year across the eight states it traverses (Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California), including a national kickoff in Springfield, Missouri, in April, grants for local revitalization, and a major push for preservation, tourism, and research. Big celebrations, special tours, and local festivities are planned to commemorate the "Mother Road's" legacy, with many organizations and communities preparing for increased visitors. Since Springfield, Missouri, has been designated as the "birthplace of Route 66," it will host the national kickoff on April 30, 2026, marking the day the highway was officially named."
BRANDS ENTER PUBLIC DOMAIN IN 2026
During 2026, the following artistic works or brands enter the public domain during 2026. Anyone can copy, share, perform, or adapt these works without needing permission or paying royalties. By being in the public domain, new art, films, and media can be built upon these classic brands, which may foster cultural preservation and innovation.
*Films: "All Quiet on the Western Front," "Animal Crackers," "Morocco," "The Big Trail," and "Hell's Angels"
*Characters: The original Betty Boop, Pluto (the dog), and Miss Marple
*Books: The Maltese Falcon (Dashiell Hammett) and As I Lay Dying (William Faulkner)
*Music (Compositions): "Georgia on My Mind," "Dream a Little Dream of Me," "I Got Rhythm," "Embraceable You," "But Not for Me," and "I've Got a Crush on You"
*Art: Piet Mondrian's "Composition with Red, Blue, and Yellow"
According to Jennifer Jenkins, the director of Duke University Law School's Center for the Study of the Public Domain, who has compiled an annual list of public domain entrants for over a decade, "Books tend to become cheaper — and available in more editions — once they enter the public domain. A lot of creative works from the 1930s haven't been in print for decades, and ownership questions have kept many from being available online at all — at least while they were under copyright. Publishing houses go out of business, people die, ownership changes hands. Another benefit is that third parties can now digitize old films and sound recordings that have physically deteriorated over the decades — allowing for their preservation and wider distribution."
TIMES SQUARE'S CELEBRATION FOR AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY
The Associated Press (AP) reported, "After the crystal ball drops on New Year's Eve in New York City, it will rise again, sparkling in red, white, and blue to usher in 2026 and kick off months of celebrations for the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday. The patriotic touches at this year's Times Square gathering, including a second confetti drop, will offer an early glimpse of what's ahead: hundreds of events and programs, big and small, planned nationwide to mark the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776...The stroke of midnight will also mark the official launch of America Gives, a national service initiative created by America250. Organizers hope to make 2026 the largest year of volunteer hours ever aggregated in the country."
America250 (the official nonpartisan organization charged by Congress to engage every American in celebrating and commemorating the Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence) also revealed that the decorated Times Square Ball will drop again on July 3, 2026, marking the first time in history that the Ball will drop outside of New Year's Eve. The Fourth of July countdown moment will anchor America250’s nationwide Independence Day celebrations and reinforce New York City's central role in the nation's Semiquincentennial celebration.
THAT'S NOT DOROTHY IN KANSAS — IT'S BARBIE!
According to KCUR, "A theme park spotlighting famous toys including the Barbie brand and Hot Wheels is slated to come to Kansas powered by the state’s sales tax incentive for major developments. Bonner Springs officials in October approved a large tax incentive package to help the $540 million development of Mattel Adventure Park in Wyandotte County. The park will be built near an entertainment district in Kansas City, Kansas. That area already features shopping and sports venues, and it will likely be the new home of the Kansas City Chiefs' new $3 billion stadium.
It’s another major development project to which the state has committed future tax revenue through the Sales and Tax Revenue incentive, also known as STAR bonds. Those are loans secured by a municipality that are paid off through state and local sales tax revenue generated by the project. Sales taxes collected in the special district go to paying back the bonds instead of being collected by governments.
Developers told the city that the project consists of the theme park, an indoor rainforest, retail space, and hotels. The theme park will feature a Barbie Beach House, where visitors can build custom Barbie dolls, and a Hot Wheels rollercoaster, among several other toy-branded attractions. The developers estimate the development will create $190 million of annual revenue. Construction may begin in 2027, and the theme park could open in 2031. That’s the same year the Chiefs expect to open a new stadium in the same area.
The park may inspire visitors to purchase more toys made by Mattel, which would lead to an increase in sales tax revenue to help pay for the project, however, consumers are turning to online shopping. That could lead to a significant number of theme parks visitors to purchase toys online, possibly even after they’ve already left the state."
GEORGE CLOONEY BECOMES FRENCH CITIZEN
According to NPR, "A French government bulletin confirms that the country has granted citizenship to George Clooney, along with his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, and their 7-year-old twins. The Clooneys bought an 18th-century estate in Provence, France in 2021. In an Esquire interview this October, the Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker described the French "farm" as their primary residence, a decision he said was made with their kids in mind.
The Guardian reported, "Clooney’s affection for Italy has been long and mutual. In 2002, he bought a villa on Lake Como, and he and his wife, Amal Clooney, the British-Lebanese human rights barrister married in Venice in 2014. A 2012 profile of the actor noted that he was "fast becoming the most popular public figure in Italy...despite [being a man] who isn’t Italian, doesn’t speak Italian, and lives here only in summertime."
So why did the Clooneys not seek Italian citizenship? A clue may lie in the actor's praise for France’s privacy laws. In an interview with Esquire in October, Clooney said, "I was worried about raising our kids in LA, in the culture of Hollywood. I don't want them to be walking around worried about paparazzi. I don't want them being compared to somebody else's famous kids."
Italian rules over publishing photographs of people in public without their consent have strengthened over the past decade, and are tighter than those in the US. Yet France's are nonetheless more stringent, and the climate surrounding celebrity less excitable, especially in rural areas. Meanwhile, the secluded location of the Clooneys' French estate acts a significant deterrent to those hoping for a photo. By contrast, anyone with a rowing boat can in theory gain a commanding view of the villas overlooking Lake Como."
2025 WAS THE YEAR OF THE OCTOPUS
According to the UK's Wildlife Trust, it has been 75 years since there were as many octopus in British waters as there are now, so, as a result, the Trust named 2025 the "Year of the Octopus." Scientists believe that milder winters lead to the bloom, which is the term for octopus birthing seasons.
FUTURE OF LEADERSHIP IN 2026
Rolling Stone reported, "The year 2026 doesn’t feel like the future. It feels like a paradox. On one side, the exponential rise of AI is demanding more speed, more output, and more optimization. On the other, the social and cultural climate is fraying under pressure, burnout is rampant, trust is eroding, and people are longing for depth, connection, and meaning. Professionally and culturally, we are trapped in a binary mindset, a system of “either/or” thinking that is no longer serving us. You’re told you must choose: profit or purpose. Be competitive or caring. Prioritize technology or protect humanity. Move fast or be mindful. These false dichotomies are exhausting. They’re the mental software of burnout, compelling leaders and teams to sever parts of themselves just to fit into a model of work that can no longer accommodate the complexity we’re living in. But the truth is: complexity doesn’t require clarity by subtraction, it requires clarity by synthesis.
Jim Collins gave this a name: The Genius of the AND. He studied visionary companies that endured and outperformed, and discovered a common thread: leaders who refused the tyranny of “either/or.” Instead of choosing between short-term results or long-term vision, companies pursued both. They held paradoxes, discipline and creativity, continuity and change, idealism and pragmatism, in productive tension. That same mindset isn’t just helpful in 2026. It’s essential. We’re no longer in a world where opposites can be kept in separate silos. Today, leaders must master the ability to lead across contradiction: automation and authenticity, acceleration and stability, profit and people. In a post-pandemic, AI-driven world, AND is no longer just a conjunction, it’s the essential grammar of leadership.
Our most pressing challenge in 2026: the rise of AI. Many leaders feel they must choose: embrace AI and lose the human spirit, or reject AI and fall behind. But the real opportunity is in refusing that choice. AI is not here to erase people, it’s here to elevate them. The most effective leaders of the next decade won’t just manage people or technology. Our task is to strengthen what AI can’t replicate — our wisdom, empathy, creativity, and judgment — and then leverage AI for what it does best...It means building teams who know when to accelerate and when to recover. And above all, it means rejecting the false choice between speed or stillness, and embracing the creative tension that lives in both."
IRISH WOMEN CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS IN JANUARY
National Geographic reported, "The highlight of the season is Nollaig na mBan (pronounced "Null-ig na Mahn"), also known as Women’s Christmas, Little Christmas, or Little Women’s Christmas. On Nollaig na mBan, gender roles reverse, and it’s a day for women to rest. The holiday, which is an Irish folk tradition, falls on January 6th, the twelfth and final day of Christmas and the Feast of Epiphany, when Catholics commemorate the visit of the three wise men. This year, pubs and restaurants in Ireland will be filled with women celebrating on January 6th, but that’s not the only way women will mark the day. Women participate in poetry events, lunches, and sea swims to fundraise for charities like Women’s Aid and many, like the National Women’s Council, also use the day to bring awareness to important issues affecting women like domestic violence and childcare."
PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR 2026 — UPDATE
In December, global color authority Pantone announced its 2026 Color of the Year as Cloud Dancer, a version of white - and the first time white has been chosen since Pantone began naming a color of the year in 1999. TIME Magazine explained, "This year’s pick is meant to represent serenity and tranquility, which Pantone says is ever in need in a frenetic society. Cloud dancer calls back to the need for human connection."
According to Thomas McMillan, professor of practice in marketing and director of the Center for Retailing Innovation at Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School, "The choice favors safety over boldness, ultimately limiting its potential cultural and marketing impact. Cloud Dancer is widely viewed as underwhelming because white is already pervasive across retail. It dominates home interiors, apparel basics and packaging design, leaving little sense of discovery or novelty. When a trend authority selects a color that consumers already see everywhere, it can feel less like a forward-looking statement and more like confirmation of the status quo. In paint, every gallon begins as a white base, and color formulas are added to create every other shade. Beyond paint, white is the safest option across home, apparel and packaging because it is easy to live with, easy to match and rarely polarizing. Because white already serves as the starting point across categories, naming it Color of the Year reinforces an existing baseline rather than pushing consumer behavior in a new direction. Symbolic impact is about messaging and meaning. It reflects cultural themes like calm, reset or restraint and fuels conversation, editorial coverage and brand storytelling. The color serves as a shared creative platform that brands use for press, storytelling, and design credibility."
Some other comments included:
FROM INSTAGRAM: "Your choice is about as inspired as mayonnaise."
FROM INSTAGRAM: "Pantonedeaf."
FROM INSTAGRAM: "SO...you all sat down and had some meetings. Rolled around some ideas. And in all those meetings, not a single one of you...in this moment where white supremacy is in the news everyday...thought, 'Maybe now isn't the right time for this?"
Pantone shared the following statement behind the color's choice and surrounding controversy, "Cloud Dancer visually represents a space to create, like a blank page ready for you to turn your inspiration into reality. It gives us the ability to become receptive both to what can be and what’s ahead as Cloud Dancer suggests the inner peace we feel after clearing the noise around us. Cloud Dancer reflects a universally shared experience: wherever we are in the world, we all look up to the buoyant clouds for inspiration, wonder, and to spark imagination. In the simple act of looking up, we're connected by the drifting lightness of clouds. That universality is a huge part of why Cloud Dancer was selected as the Pantone Color of the Year 2026."
However, on a cute note, a two white cats share their adorable interpretation of the Pantone news on their Instagram account - check it out (https://www.instagram.com/sis.twins). Meow!
SHARE THIS: Brands that align their content with trending news have the potential to be memorable. ~@DebbieLaskeyMBA #DebbieLaskeysBlog #BrandStorytelling #SocialMediaTip
LOUVRE THEFT — UPDATE
According to the BBC, "Four more people from the Paris region have been arrested as part of the investigation into the theft of precious jewellery at the Louvre Museum. However, no trace has so far been found of the stolen jewels...Shortly after the theft, it was revealed by the Louvre's director that the only camera monitoring the Galerie d'Apollon was pointing away from a balcony the thieves climbed over to break in. The president of the Louvre, Laurence des Cars, has since admitted that the museum had failed in its responsibilities, but denied that security had been overlooked - saying that from the time she took office in 2021, she had been warning constantly of the need for more investment. Since the incident, security measures have been tightened around France's cultural institutions. And the Louvre has transferred some of its most precious jewels to the Bank of France following the heist."
LOUVRE THEFT FELT AROUND THE WORLD
The New York Times reported that, as a result of the brazen Louvre theft, American museums are in the process of reassessing their security measures with a focus on perimeter control, the adequacy of their security cameras, and the timely availability of armed responders.
According to Anthony Amore, director of security at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, "The biggest takeaway is, 'Are your security people who watch your perimeter aware of who is working at the museum?'"
According to Geoffrey Kelly, a former member of the FBI Art Crime Team, "The most visited museum in the world, arguably the most famous museum in the world, to see it robbed in broad daylight, that was really shocking."
COUNTDOWN TO THE WINTER OLYMPICS
CNN reported, "For a few weeks in February, an 11.5-acre site in southeast Milan will house thousands of athletes participating in the 2026 Winter Games. But the important question surrounding Olympic villages, like Olympic stadiums, is: What happens next? The recent history of the Games, both summer and winter, features a trail of wasteful temporary housing or long-term residences that were difficult to sell (Rio de Janeiro), poorly maintained (Athens), or out of reach for low-income families (London).
In Milan, Italy’s most expensive rental market, architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has designed an Olympic Village that can convert into an affordable 1,700-bed student residence within months of the closing ceremony. Helpfully, many athletes’ facilities — spaces for socializing, recreation and fitness — are needed by students, too. In fact, there’s so much overlap that Italian real estate developer Coima promises to have it ready in time for the fall 2026 semester. The project also presented an opportunity for urban regeneration. In addition to designing six new buildings, the architects restored two historic structures on the site, a former rail yard. And while the “village” moniker suggests a walled-off community, SOM considers this to be a “porous urban block” connected to the surrounding Porta Romana district via public pathways and green spaces. Future Olympic legacy planners will be watching with interest."
And let's not forget that the Super Bowl is quickly approaching with its expensive (and hopefully) memorable ads!
What other recent marketing buzz caught your attention? Since there's always something happening that impacts marketing, read #DebbieLaskeysBlog for the scoop!
Image Credits: The Walt Disney Company (Winnie the Pooh), Iriss Abyss (Sis.Twins on Instagram), Shutterstock (flags of Denmark and Greenland), Jack in the Box, and StarTrek.com.
Keep up-to-date on everything relating to the 60th anniversary celebration of Star Trek:
https://www.startrek.com/60
Read more about the oldest restaurant in the world:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/the-oldest-restaurant-in-the-world-just-turned-300-years-old-180987899/
Enjoy some timeless Winnie the Pooh quotes via Inc. Magazine and Southern Living:
https://www.inc.com/peter-economy/17-inspiring-winnie-the-pooh-quotes-about-love-kindness-acceptance.html
and
https://www.southernliving.com/culture/friendship-quotes-winne-the-pooh
