During the last week, okay, the last week-and-a-half, there were news stories that reflected brand advocacy, brand experiences, brand identity, brand storytelling, cobranding, employee experiences, personal branding, and more.
LOUVRE MUSEUM ROBBERY
In news that shocked the world, on October 19th, thieves disguised as construction workers stole eight pieces of the French Crown Jewels valued at $100 million from the Apollo Gallery in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. The robbery took less than eight minutes, of which the thieves spent four in the museum itself, and occurred during regular opening hours.
As reported by the AP, “Two suspects were arrested in connection with the theft of Crown Jewels from Paris’ Louvre museum, justice and police officials said Sunday, October 26th, a week after the heist that stunned the world and sparked a massive manhunt. The Paris prosecutor said that investigators made arrests Saturday evening, adding that one of the men taken into custody was preparing to leave the country from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. A police official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing case, told The Associated Press that two men in their 30s, both known to police, were taken into custody. He said one suspect was arrested as he attempted to board a plane bound for Algeria. The official added that one of the suspects was identified through DNA traces at the scene."
TEDDY BEAR THIEVES AT THE LOUVRE?
Following the news of the Louvre break-in and robbery, the Cafe Saint Honore (in Paris, France) shared a post on Instagram of two teddy bears wearing red French beret hats climbing on the Louvre Museum's triangle - as if they were the thieves. In a related post, they shared a cover page of Le Parisien newspaper with the following story, "Breaking News: The Heist of the Century? Priceless pieces stolen from the world's most famous museum. The suspects were seen yesterday and captured in this photo, their whereabouts are still unknown. Some people claim to have seen them drinking tea at Cafe Saint Honore and acting suspicious. We're sure the bears at Cafe Saint Honore could only steal smiles. Neighbors in the area say they are extremely cute and adorable and the only thing they could steal would be smiles and tenderness."
What an excellent example of inserting a brand into mainstream news!
IS THIS THE FUTURE OF EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCES?
CNN reported, “Most people go to work for the paycheck and benefits. What they typically don’t expect is to have to return some of the money when they leave. But with some benefits — such as signing or retention bonuses, tuition reimbursement and some forms of training — workers may have to pay their employer back if they’re subject to a so-called stay-or-pay agreement, which specifies that the employee will be on the hook to repay the company for the cost of certain benefits if they don’t stay at the organization for a minimum amount of time.
In other words, paying for benefits intended to attract or retain employees only to have them get the benefit and then quit — and potentially work for a competitor — doesn’t offer a great ROI for the employer. But there are some instances when “stay or pay” agreements are viewed as abusive and limiting employee mobility, especially when they apply to lower income workers and involving what are called training repayment agreements (sometimes referred to, especially by critics, as TRAPs).”
According to Chris Hicks, a senior policy adviser at consumer advocacy group Protect Borrowers, “TRAPs are often forced on workers as a condition of employment and require workers who receive on-the-job training — regardless of the quality or necessity of that training — to pay back the supposed cost if they leave their job before the end of a specified term.”
According to a 2023 report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, “Employers’ use of TRAPs began in the 1990s, predominantly for higher-skilled, higher-wage positions, such as engineers, securities brokers, and airline pilots. Still in use in those industries, they are now also common in lower- and moderate-wage industries where jobs are disproportionately held by women and minorities, such as in the healthcare, transportation, and retail industries.”
CNN also reported that, “Earlier this week, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a first-in-the-nation measure banning certain stay-or-pay provisions and putting guardrails around others. It takes effect on January 1, 2026. Among the new prohibitions: California-based employers may not seek repayment for on-the-job training, except for apprentice programs; and they may not seek repayment for any type of benefit when a worker is let go without cause or their job is eliminated.”
NO KINGS PROTESTS
NPR reported, “One of the biggest days of protest against the Trump administration's policies happened on Saturday, October 18th, in cities around the U.S. The overriding theme of the marches was the accusation that President Trump is behaving more like a monarch than an elected official. It marked the second massive wave of protests organized by No Kings — a network of progressive organizations fighting against Trump's agenda. Organizers said about 2,600 No Kings events were planned across nearly every state.”
COBRANDING — KAHLUA & DUNKIN’
Designrush reported, “Kahlua and Dunkin’ are stirring up the coffee liqueur scene, with Salma Hayek Pinault back to lead the show. The global actress and producer returns as Kahlúa’s leading lady in "It’s Kahlunkin,'" a campaign that redefines indulgence with a caramel swirl and a touch of telenovela tropes. The campaign spotlights the "Kahlúa Dunkin’ Caramel Swirl Cream Liqueur," a collaboration that uses Kahlúa’s coffee-and-rum base with Dunkin’s caramel flavor and real cream. For marketers, Kahlúa’s “It’s Kahlunkin’” campaign demonstrates how a humorous and culturally tuned story can reinvigorate two legacy brands.”
And, of course, who can resist the new word combined from both brand names? Sounds a lot like spelunking, which is the recreational activity of exploring caves.
WHICH AMERICAN NATIONAL PARK DOMINATES INSTAGRAM?
According to Yahoo News, “What’s the most Instagrammed park? Grand Canyon National Park reigns supreme with a staggering 4.5 million Instagram hashtags. To put that dominance in perspective, the Grand Canyon's closest competitors — Yosemite and Rocky Mountain National Parks — each have 3.6 million Instagram hashtags, nearly a million posts behind. The gap only widens from there, with Joshua Tree trailing at 2.3 million hashtags and even iconic Yellowstone managing just 1.3 million.
This Instagram hierarchy tells us more about American travel patterns than park quality. The most hashtagged parks tend to be the most accessible, the most famous, or the most conveniently located near major population centers. They're the parks that appear on postcards and tourism brochures, the ones that make it onto bucket lists and road trip itineraries. So while the Grand Canyon deserves its social media crown — those layered red rocks and endless vistas are undeniably spectacular — remember that some of America's most stunning landscapes are still waiting for their viral moments.”
STAND UP TO CANCER AT THE WORLD SERIES
Major League Baseball reported, "On Saturday. October 25th, the Jonas Brothers performed “I Can’t Lose” after the fifth inning of Game 2 of the World Series at Rogers Centre in Toronto, adding a special new layer to the long-standing SU2C moment that is a signature of Major League Baseball’s big events. As has been tradition since 2009, the in-stadium Stand Up to Cancer placard moment, in partnership with Mastercard, aired live on FOX. Players, umpires, managers, coaches, and fans held up signs honoring loved ones affected by cancer – those who have survived, those currently in the fight and those who have succumbed to the disease. Blue Jays slugger George Springer honored his grandparents. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s placard read “Abuela.” Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts' sign read “Ron.” The cameras panned the stands, where fans held up handwritten signs or placards that honored the masses: “Survivors.” “Those We Lost.” “Loved Ones.”"
KAMALA HARRIS SPEAKS TO BBC
The BBC reported, “Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has told the BBC she may run again for the White House. In her first UK interview, Harris entertained the prospect of another run at the White House, saying her grandnieces would, "in their lifetime, for sure,” see a female president. Asked if it would be her, she said, "possibly,” confirming she is considering another run at the top job.”
Harris said she had not yet made a decision, but underlined that she still sees herself as having a future in politics: “I am not done. I have lived my entire career as a life of service and it's in my bones."
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM NEWS
As reported by CNN, “California Governor Gavin Newsom teased a potential 2028 presidential run when asked in an interview on October 26th if he’d seriously consider it after the 2026 midterms. Newsom explained in the interview that his focus is on the midterms and helping Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives, saying President Donald Trump’s presidency will “de facto end” if Democrats succeed in the 2026 midterms.”
WHITE HOUSE EAST WING DEMOLITION
NPR reported, “All that's left of the East Wing of the White House is a pile of rubble. A White House official not authorized to speak on the record tells NPR the demolition phase of President Trump's project to build a 90,000 square foot ballroom, is ahead of schedule. Although Trump initially said the project wouldn't "interfere with the current building" and would be "near it but not touching it," he explained that "in order to do it properly, we had to take down the existing structure." The East Wing demolition, the White House official said, is going directly up to the edge of the residence and includes tearing down the East Garden Room, Family Theater and East Colonnade, as well as the complex of offices. The sight of excavators tearing into the East Wing set off alarms among preservationists, but the White House is doubling down, insisting the demolition is necessary.”
According to The 19th, "From the East Wing, Franklin D. Roosevelt expanded the role of first lady, working to highlight women. Eleanor Roosevelt's first news conference, on March 6, 1933, featured 35 reporters, all of them women. During her tenure, she held nearly 350 news conferences, helping to elevate the role of women in national and political life, as well as in journalism."
According to Hillary Clinton on Twitter/X, "It's not his house. It's your house. And he's destroying it."
And, in an editorial in USA Today by former first daughter Chelsea Clinton, “Although I spent many of my formative years living in the White House, I always knew it wasn’t my house. The White House belongs to the American people, and that’s why we call it the People’s House. I never forgot that. So yes, while I played hide-and-seek in the White House residence and danced outside the closed doors of many a state dinner, I never once thought, “this is my house” in the way my friends thought of theirs.
Every generation has a duty to care for and update the White House as needs evolve for the number of staff in an administration, for technology, for a more complete representation of America, for security or other understandable reasons. But how we do it ‒ and whom we include in the process and whom we leave out ‒ says a great deal about our respect for history and for the People’s House.
A disregard for history is a defining trait of President Trump’s second administration. Reports indicate he has directed the Smithsonian Institution and the National Park Service to censor exhibits and erase mentions of slavery and the treatment of Native Americans. Federal websites have deleted references to women’s rights and LGBTQ+ history. In one especially embarrassing episode, Trump's Department of War, formally known as the Department of Defense, even scrubbed its site of all mentions of the Enola Gay ‒ the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima ‒ because an automated effort to remove the word “gay” caught it in the process.
This is what happens when we take a wrecking ball to our heritage. Disregarding our democratic institutions and the rule of law or impounding funds that Congress has already approved grow from the same source of disregard for our founding ideals, and the norms and laws that have helped us move, over time, closer to a more perfect union, the cardinal call of our U.S. Constitution.
Our greatness doesn’t come because we ignore our history – it comes because we acknowledge it, we learn from it and build a better future on it, including in the buildings and gardens of the People’s House. The White House will always be a home I was lucky enough to live in for a while. Even more important, it is a mirror of our democracy, resilient when we honor its foundations but fragile when we take them for granted. What was dismantled today isn’t just marble or plaster; it is a reflection of how easily history can be erased when power forgets purpose."
SHARE THIS: Our greatness doesn’t come because we ignore our history – it comes because we acknowledge it, we learn from it and build a better future on it. ~Chelsea Clinton #WhiteHouse #DebbieLaskeysBlog
APPLE NUMBERING SYSTEM
According to ET News, "In the first half of 2027, Apple will launch the "iPhone 18e" and "iPhone 18." Then, in the second half of the year, Apple will launch a next-generation iPhone Air, "iPhone 20 Pro," "iPhone 20 Pro Max," and second-generation foldable iPhone. The move is said to be part of a broader attempt to reset the iPhone's naming system and revitalize the product lineup around the device's 20th anniversary. There is a strong argument that Apple will skip "iPhone 19" nomenclature."
SHARENTING
Are you familiar with the term sharenting? According to IDX, "Sharenting consists of posting photos, videos, or stories about your kids on social media. Before you post, consider that this information could be used by bad actors for harassment, identity theft, and more...Bad actors could use these personal details to track down your child’s location, commit identity theft, or attempt to hack into your accounts. Your kids could also be subjected to cyberbullying or harassment."
Here are some tips from the Better Business Bureau to better protect your kids when you share photos:
(1) Avoid sharing personal details about your child, including identifiable information (name, age, school, teacher, grade level) within photos. Scammers could use this information to attempt to commit identity theft.
(2) Choose generic backgrounds for your photos. Avoid showing identifiable location markers such as house numbers, street signs, school signs, bus stops, or other landmarks.
(3) Review your social media privacy settings regularly, and be mindful of who can view your posts.
BOMBAS ENTERS BRICK AND MORTAR
USA Today reported, "The sock brand Bombas is expanding its horizons by opening three brick-and-mortar stores – the first physical locations for the brand. The stores will be in New York City, Boca Raton (Florida), and Austin (Texas). Founded in 2013 by Randy Goldberg and David Heath, Bombas is known for its high-quality, and often higher priced, socks. Bombas said it continues to see success in the online market, but about 65 percent of shoppers purchase socks in person, according to a company statement."
TOYS "R" US RETURNS
USA Today reported, "Looking to boost sales this holiday season, Toys "R" Us is once again opening new stores. The toy retailer announced that it will open more than 30 locations in the U.S. for the winter holiday season, including eight flagship stores and more than 20 temporary seasonal shops. Toys "R" Us filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2017 and by 2018, the toy retailer announced the closure of more than 700 stores throughout the U.S. Over the years, Toys "R" Us attempted comebacks under new ownership but none have proven successful. Most recently, the retailer opened a flagship location in Minnesota's Mall of America in 2023, which remains open."
WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE
As reported by WCVB of Boston, "The Women's Pro Baseball League has announced its inaugural four teams, including Boston, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, as it prepares for its first season starting in spring 2026. The league was announced last year and will feature two teams on the East Coast and two on the West Coast, chosen for their fan support, media presence, and baseball histories. The team names have not yet been announced. The season will include four weeks of regular season play, a week for all-star competitions, and two weeks of postseason play. Each team will play twice a week, with games running seven innings, and batters using aluminum bats."
RINGLING BROS. CIRCUS
The Palm Beach Post reported that the Ringling Bros. circus is set to return in January 2026 with visits to four Florida cities without animals, "In place of lions, tigers, and elephants, Ringling Bros. now focuses entirely on human artistry — from acrobatic bike teams from China to Colombian acro-salsa dancers and a world-renowned contortionist making her U.S. debut. Music drives the experience with live drumming, beat drops, and DJ-led moments, all set against a massive LED stage design that captures performers and audience reactions in real time. Before the show even begins, a live Ringling “Hype Crew” gets the audience dancing, turning every arena into a party."
According to Juliette Feld Grossman, CEO of Florida-based Feld Entertainment, "The "Greatest Show on Earth" is headed to Florida early next year. This new production moves at the speed of today’s world — fast-paced, dynamic, and full of energy. We’re honoring the legacy of circus arts while inspiring everyone to move, play, and join the celebration."
GENERAL MOTORS TO INTRODUCE EYES-OFF DRIVING
As reported by SF Gate, "General Motors is planning to launch a new eyes-off driving system on the Cadillac Escalade IQ in 2028. In late October, GM CEO Mary Barra talked about the new system along with other upcoming GM technology at its GM Forward media event in New York. The new eyes-off system is based on GM's Super Cruise, which currently covers more than 600,000 miles of mapped North American roads, and GM says it's logged more than 700 million hands-free miles without a single crash attributed to the technology.
GM detailed how AI will reshape the in-car experience. Starting next year, its vehicles will include conversational AI powered by Google Gemini, allowing drivers to speak to their cars in natural language. Drivers will be able to do things like ask the car to explain one-pedal driving, identify a maintenance issue, or find a restaurant along the route. Later, GM says it plans to introduce its own proprietary AI assistant, fine-tuned with individual vehicle data and driver preferences through OnStar connectivity.
Also coming in 2028 - a new centralized computing platform, which GM says will launch on the Escalade IQ. The platform will integrate propulsion, steering, infotainment, and safety systems onto a single, high-speed computing core. GM says the new system will enable ten times more over-the-air software capacity, a thousand times more bandwidth, and as much as 35 times greater AI performance to support autonomy and advanced features. The platform will allow vehicles to get software updates long after they leave the dealership, unifying software for both electric and internal-combustion models. Taken together, GM says the technologies mark a fundamental shift in its strategy, moving toward vehicles defined as much by intelligence and software as by horsepower or design. Through AI robotics, and high-speed computing, the company says it is building the foundation for a new generation of cars that can learn, adapt, and assist their drivers in ways that go far beyond traditional transportation."
VATICAN RETURNS ART TO INDIGENOUS GROUPS
PBS reported, "The Vatican is expected to soon announce that it will return a few dozen artifacts to Indigenous communities in Canada as part of its reckoning with the Catholic Church’s troubled role in helping suppress Indigenous culture in the Americas. The items, including an Inuit kayak, are part of the Vatican Museum’s ethnographic collection, known as the Anima Mundi museum. The collection has been a source of controversy for the Vatican amid the broader museum debate over the restitution of cultural goods taken from Indigenous peoples during colonial periods...Vatican and Canadian officials said they expected an announcement in the coming weeks, and that the items could arrive on Canadian soil before the end of the year.
Most of the items in the Vatican collection were sent to Rome by Catholic missionaries for a 1925 exhibition in the Vatican gardens that was a highlight of that year’s Holy Year. The Vatican insists the items were “gifts” to Pope Pius XI, who wanted to celebrate the church’s global reach, its missionaries and the lives of the Indigenous peoples they evangelized. But historians, Indigenous groups, and experts have long questioned whether the items could really have been offered freely, given the power imbalances at play in Catholic missions at the time. In those years, Catholic religious orders were helping to enforce the Canadian government’s forced assimilation policy of eliminating Indigenous traditions, which Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission has called 'cultural genocide.'"
TYLENOL LABEL AND AUTISM
According to Medical Professionals Reference, "The maker of Tylenol is urging US health regulators not to add an autism warning label to it and other pain relievers containing acetaminophen, calling the request “unsupported by the scientific evidence and legally and procedurally improper.” Kenvue’s response, dated October 17, came after a citizen petition sought new pregnancy warnings for acetaminophen. The petition, filed by the Informed Consent Action Network, asked the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to note a possible link between prenatal exposure and autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The petition piggybacked on recent remarks by President Donald Trump, who said Tylenol might cause autism, a claim many health experts say is not supported by science. By contrast, experts say acetaminophen remains the only pain reliever considered safe during pregnancy."
According to Kenvue, "For over a decade, and as recently as August, FDA has fully evaluated the emerging scientific evidence and repeatedly concluded that the data do not support a causal association between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism."
US COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS
NPR reported on October 29th, “The White House has fired six members of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, the independent federal agency that advises the President and Congress on design plans for monuments, memorials, coins and federal buildings. The seven member commission is made up of experts in architecture, art, urban and landscape design. Since its creation in 1910, the commission has reviewed plans for everything from Arlington National Cemetery to Maya Lin's Vietnam Veterans Memorial. In an email to NPR, the White House said it is preparing to appoint a new slate of commissioners that are more aligned with President Trump's America First Policies. The commissioners would have advised President Trump on his anticipated White House ballroom and his plans for a monument similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, which he says will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. In an email to NPR, architect Bruce Redman Becker, one of the commissioners who was fired, wrote that neither project was submitted for review.”
PILLSBURY DOUGHBOY’S HOME
According to MarketingDive, “Pillsbury is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its Doughboy mascot with an interactive experience powered by augmented reality (AR). Consumers can scan packages of Pillsbury products and visit a mobile website to explore the pillowy character's abode.The General Mills brand also listed the Modern Doughhouse Revival on real-estate site Zillow with an asking price of 1 million biscuits. The campaign was inspired by a pitch made on a recent episode of Jimmy Fallon’s new advertising competition show."
CANADIAN AD FEATURING PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN AND TARIFFS
The BBC reported, “Ontario Premier Doug Ford has stood firm behind his decision to run an anti-tariff ad in the US that featured Ronald Reagan and angered Donald Trump, saying “We have achieved our goal.” Ford added the TV spot had “one billion views,” and has garnered attention from as far as the UK and India. His comments on October 27th come after President Trump suspended trade talks with Canada over the ad and said that he would hike tariffs on Canada 10 percent “over and above” current levies.”
According to The New York Times, “Canadians have reacted with anger and have rallied around the flag in a rare burst of patriotism, but the Canadian economy has been suffering the consequences of the dispute. Ontario, in particular, has much at stake in trade relations with the United States, and its premier posted the entire Reagan address online.”
COBRANDING —THE BIG APPLE AND A CLASSIC FILM
Travel & Leisure reported, “New York City's Botanical Garden is back with a dazzling and nightmare-inducing display celebrating Tim Burton’s iconic film, "The Nightmare Before Christmas." The outdoor trail is an immersive ode to the 1993 Disney film featuring video projections, music, and scenes complete with beloved characters like Jack Skellington, Sally, and Zero. The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail will be open on select evenings through November 30th and is appropriate for all ages.”
According to Jennifer Bernstein, the president and CEO of New York CIty's Botanical Garden, “There’s nothing quite like the feeling of fall in New York, and we’re delighted to offer a beautiful and convenient escape right here in the City. The Garden provides a perfect way to experience the magic of autumn with family and friends.”
COBRANDING — "WICKED: FOR GOOD"
As the countdown continues until the arrival of the second film in the WICKED franchise (set to arrive in movie theaters on November 21) directed by John M. Chu and starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, countless brands are announcing their cobranding initiatives. Here are more brands (see my October 7th, October 14th, and October 21st “Marketing News of the Week” recap posts for three previous lists) that have launched their movie-themed collaborations:
*Precious Moments - Glinda and Elphaba doll figurines
*Printfresh - Glinda pajamas featuring jeweled wands and Elphaba’s Alchemy-themed pajamas
*Lush - assorted cosmetics and skincare products
*The Noble Collection - Replica Glinda earrings
* Mattel Creations - Glinda and Elphaba dolls
*Lovepop - Wicked collection pop-up greeting cards
*Little Golden Books “Wicked” Series - We Are Shiz (University)
Save the date and swing by my blog on November 21st for a full recap of WICKED: FOR GOOD cobranding initiatives and products.
What other recent marketing buzz caught your attention? Since there's always something happening that impacts marketing, read #DebbieLaskeysBlog for the scoop!
Image Credits: Twitter/X (Hillary Clinton's post), Major League Baseball and Stand Up to Cancer, Apple, and Cafe Saint Honore (Paris, France).
Read Chelsea Clinton's full post:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2025/10/23/trump-east-wing-white-house-chelsea-clinton/86854489007/
Read the 19th's full post:
https://19thnews.org/2025/10/east-wing-first-ladies-history-demolished-trump-ballroom/
Read more about the Women's Pro Baseball League:
https://www.womensprobaseballleague.com/
Check out the Pillsbury Dough Boy’s house:
https://www.doughplacelikehome.com/
