During the last couple of weeks, there were news stories that reflected brand alignment, brand experiences, brand identity, brand storytelling, celebration marketing, customer experience marketing, personal branding, product launches, social media marketing, special event marketing, and more.
NEW BARBIE STAMPS
As a lifelong Barbie fan, I was excited about this news! On May 1st, the US Postal Service announced "A new release coming this summer: a set of Barbie stamps featuring Barbie dolls through the years, dressed for 10 iconic careers. Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, collaborated with Mattel on the design of the stamps. To best showcase the dolls and their career attire, the stamps employ a rarely used format, a third taller than the usual vertical commemorative stamp. Kessler says the team approached the project "with a spirit of fun," using bright, energetic shades — predominantly the famous "Barbie Pink" — to evoke a feeling of joy. Barbie commemorative stamps will be released on July 11th, during the 2026 National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention in Austin, Texas. As Forever stamps, they will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price."
I look forward to purchasing a first-day issue and using these stamps for all my future mail to promote Barbie's mantra, "You Can Be Anything."
ROSES AND THE KENTUCKY DERBY
According to WLKY in Louisville, "One of the Kentucky Derby’s most iconic traditions came together the day before the race as the famous Garland of Roses was assembled. Nearly 1,000 Freedom Roses were delivered to Kroger (the company that has made the garland since 1987) in Middletown, Kentucky — but only the top 465 were selected for the final piece. Each rose was carefully inspected for color, size, and quality. Floral artists then spent hours handcrafting the garland, a meticulous process that brings the long-standing Derby symbol to life. The nearly 40-pound Garland of Roses was draped over the winning horse at May 2nd's 152nd Kentucky Derby, continuing the tradition known as the 'Run for the Roses.'"
FIRST FEMALE TRAINER WINS KENTUCKY DERBY BY "BREAKING THE BARN CEILING"
On May 2nd, while some eyes were on women's fascinators (the colorful hats with feathers and dramatic shapes) or mint julips (the traditional beverage of the event for nearly a century), many eyes were on Cherie DuVaux, who became the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby in 152 years with her horse Golden Tempo and jockey Jose Ortiz. Golden Tempo's stunning win was made all the more impressive by the fact that at one point during the race, he was in last place. After the race, she said, "I'm just glad I could be a representative of all women everywhere - that we can do anything we set our minds to."
According to CNN, "There is always a whirlwind that follows winning the Derby DeVaux's is an especially busy vortex thanks largely to the tagline that has permanently attached itself to DeVaux’s name: “The first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby.” It is her hard-earned and rightful place in history. The Kentucky Derby is the longest-running continuous sporting event in the United States. It has survived two World Wars, Prohibition, pouring rain, searing heat, and even a global pandemic. Though three fillies have crossed the finish line first, no female jockey or trainer had won it until DeVaux busted through the BARN CEILING, taking down the old-boy network made of flannel, denim, seersucker, and cigars."
Did you catch the twist on BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING with busting through the BARN CEILING?
PIZZA HUT'S READING PROMOTION
According to the New York Post, "Pizza Hut is taking a page out of its old playbook. The pizza chain is bringing back a nostalgic invention to keep kids reading and away from technology this summer from June 1st through August 31st. The "BOOK IT!'s Summer of Stories" program opened for enrollment on May 1st. Readers who hit their milestones will be provided digital Reading Award Certificates, which are redeemable for a free, one-topping Personal Pan Pizza from Pizza Hut. Students may redeem one Reading Award Certificate per month, and the certificate must be used to reward the student who earned it. This program is completely free.
BOOK IT! originated in the mid-1980s when the then-president of Pizza Hut, Arthur Gunther, and Bud Gates, a marketing executive for the company, were discussing President Ronald Reagan's calls for literacy support, When Gates thought about what would encourage his own child to read, he came up with the idea of using pizza and pizza parties in classrooms as an incentive. Less than a year after its launch, the program saw 7 million students in 233,080 classrooms across the nation taking part, according to the LA Times in 1985."
DISNEYLAND'S AUTOPIA WILL GO ELECTRIC
ABC7 reported on May 8th, "Disneyland's Autopia ride is preparing to go fully electric. The resort has an agreement with the California Air Resources Board to retire the Tomorrowland ride's current gas-powered engines in early 2027. Autopia debuted with the opening of Disneyland in 1955 and quickly became popular among young guests."
MUSEE D'ORSAY SPECIAL EXHIBIT
CNN reported on May 8th, "Artworks by Renoir, Degas, and Rodin that are believed to have been looted by the Nazis from their Jewish owners have gone on display at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. The museum, home to the world's largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, has taken a significant step in France's effort to reckon with its dark past, opening a permanent space for work thought to have been looted by the Nazis, but whose rightful owners have not been identified. The exhibition, titled "Who owns these works?," will feature a rotating selection of the 225 such pieces that are currently housed by the museum. Twelve paintings and one sculpture are currently on display."
CNN further explained, "Northern France was directly occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II, while much of the south fell under the Vichy regime, which collaborated with the Nazis and participated in the deportation of Jews to concentration camps. Roughly 100,000 artworks were looted in France during the war, according to a report published by the Working Party on the Spoliation of Jews in France, set up by the French government in 1997. Around 60,000 of these were recovered in Germany and Austria at the end of the war and three-quarters were returned to their rightful owners or descendants. However, some 15,000 of these pieces were not returned because their original owners' and heirs' identities could not be established. Most of the works were sold off by the French state during the 1950s, according to the Musée d'Orsay’s website, but 2,200 were held back for safekeeping by the country's national museums. As such, they became the responsibility of the MNR (National Museums Recovery). Over the past 30 years, 15 MNR works held at the Musée d'Orsay have been returned to their rightful owners. The museum has engaged a team of provenance researchers to look into the history of the unclaimed artworks, with a view to ultimately restore some of them to their rightful owners."
Annick Lemoine, president of the Musée d’Orsay, said in a press release announcing the creation of the new space that the issue of art looted by the Nazis is a "priority focus" for museums in France and is "more relevant than ever. Today, by dedicating a room to these works, the museum hopes to both highlight the specific issues related to them and convey to the public the memory of this dark period. For behind each painting, each object, often lie shattered lives, lives disrupted, even destroyed, by the violence of the Nazi regime."
CURRENT CONSUMER SENTIMENT
CNN reported on May 8th, "Consumer sentiment continued to decline this month, reaching a fresh record low as the war in Iran drags on, keeping energy prices elevated. The University of Michigan's latest consumer survey, released on May 8th, showed sentiment fell early this month to a preliminary reading of 48.2, the lowest on record going back to 1952. Sentiment had previously reached its lowest point just last month, below anything seen during the Great Recession, the pandemic, and the inflation surge afterward."
YOKO ONO'S TRADEMARK CHALLENGE
According to The Guardian, "A Brittany (France) brewer is in a squeeze after Yoko Ono ordered him to stop selling a bestselling craft beer labelled John Lemon. The Japanese-American artist and widow of the Beatles star John Lennon claimed it was a breach of a trademark she had registered a decade ago to stop her late husband being mocked, his name misused, and his reputation sullied.
Aurélien Picard, the owner of L'Imprimerie brewery in Bannalec, near Finistère, said it had been selling bottles of the lemon and ginger-flavoured craft beer for five years. He said the name and label, featuring a caricature of the rock legend wearing glasses made of lemon slices, was meant to be a joke and tribute to the singer-songwriter, who was murdered in New York in 1980...Last month, Picard received a letter from Ono’s lawyers ordering him to immediately stop using the name or he would face a fine for each day he refused. Picard said he was surprised Ono would bother with such small beer.
Picard explained, "We’re only a tiny outfit, with me running it and two employees. I explained to the lawyers that we don't sell in supermarkets. We deliver our bottles ourselves to bars and creperies in our local area and asked if they would give me time to sell the bottles that had were already labelled." After an exchange of letters, the brewery has been allowed to sell its remaining stock of 5,000 bottles of John Lemon beer before July 1st." Picard is now considering renaming the beer Jaune Lemon (Yellow Lemon).
END OF SPIRIT AIRWAYS
AP reported on May 2nd, "Spirit Airlines, an impish upstart that shook the industry with its irreverent ads and deep discount fares, has announced that it has gone out of business after 34 years. The ultra-low cost airline that once operated hundreds of daily flights on its bright yellow planes and employed about 17,000 people said it had "started an orderly wind-down of our operations, effective immediately." Although Spirit had gone bankrupt twice before, the company said high oil prices, which have been rising because of the war with Iran, made it impossible to stay aloft. On its website, the airline indicated that all flights have been canceled and customer service is no longer available. Some passengers arrived for flights and were stunned to find them canceled, while workers learned overnight they were out of jobs."
The Trump administration had considered a government bailout for the cash-strapped business to keep it from going under, but a deal was not reached. Regarding the potential bailout, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, "We often times don't have half a billion dollars laying around."
DUTCH BROS CORPORATE CULTURE
Restaurant Business reported, "If you're not convinced that Dutch Bros is a hot restaurant chain by the pure numbers — 31 percent annual revenue growth, 8.3 percent same-store sales growth — or the long lines at its new drive-thru shops, then maybe this will convince you: CEO Christine Barone told analysts, "In 2025, we received over 780,000 applications for just 19,000 shop roles. That's a 2.4 percent acceptance rate." To put that into perspective, the overall acceptance rate for Harvard University's Class of 2029 was 4.2 percent. In other words, it's tougher to get a job at Dutch Bros than it is to get into Harvard."
Dutch Bros has become the third-largest coffee chain in the U.S. and has built its business on its culture. According to Barone, "We’re a great place to work and grow. We create a fun, high-energy environment for our broistas while also providing clear and compelling futures through internal growth and leadership development."
DEATH OF TED TURNER
American businessman, television producer, media proprietor, and philanthropist Ted Turner died at the age of 87 on May 6th. What are Ted Turner's most memorable accomplishments? The creation of the 24-hour news cycle with the invention of CNN, the Cable News Network? Or the creation of "America's Baseball Team," the Atlanta Braves? Or the creation of Turner Movie Classics or the Cartoon Network? Or his philanthropy to the United Nations? Or wildlife conservation of bison in Montana?
CNN reported, "When Ted Turner bought the Atlanta Braves in 1976, he was not buying a baseball dynasty. He was buying content. The Braves at that time were perpetually near the bottom of the league. They were not yet "America's Team," and on most nights, they barely even looked like Atlanta's team. A decade after relocating from Milwaukee, the team routinely played before thousands of empty seats. There were rumors of relocating once again. But Turner saw an opportunity: He had a national TV station in need of programming. The FCC had cleared the way for WTCG, later known as TBS, to become the first-ever "superstation," using satellites to transmit across the country. And so, starting in 1977, Turner turned the Atlanta Braves into a nightly content machine. Their games began beaming into households across the country, night after night, summer after summer. It was an audacious, deeply Turner-esque media play. The Braves did not have to be good to be valuable; they just had to be on. And in an era before every MLB game could be summoned on a smartphone, being on every night mattered...The vision worked: Braves games often drew strong ratings and, over time, developed a significant out-of-market fan base, leading the franchise to often be dubbed "America's Team." That nickname cemented itself in the 1990s, when the team became one of baseball's foremost powers, winning the division title year after year, reaching the World Series five times and winning in 1995, and producing five Hall of Fame players. As a result of national availability and, later, on-field success, cable viewers in Oregon, Nebraska, New York or anywhere else that TBS reached had the potential to become Braves fans."
According to Dale Murphy, a Braves legend and rightfielder during the 1980s, "There’s a lot of baseball fans around the country and the world because of what Ted did through TBS. He should be in the Hall of Fame."
In June 2010, Turner joined Warren Buffett's and Bill Gates's The Giving Pledge, vowing to donate the majority of his fortune to charity upon his death. He wrote, "Looking back, if I had to live my life over, there are things I would do differently, but the one thing I would not change is my charitable giving. I'm particularly thankful for my father's advice to set goals so high that they can't possibly be achieved during a lifetime and to give help where help is needed most. That inspiration keeps me energized and eager to keep working hard every day on giving back and making the world a better place for generations to come."
SHARE THIS: Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell, and advertise. ~Ted Turner #InspirationalLeadership #DebbieLaskeysBlog
CHANGES ANNOUNCED FOR 99TH OSCARS IN 2027
NPR reported, "On May 1st, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced several significant rule changes for the 99th Oscars, including AI protections for actors and writers as well as expanded eligibility for international films. The Academy said the changes are in response to listening to the global filmmaking community and addressing barriers to entry in its eligibility process. The Academy added that its rules and eligibility standards have always evolved alongside technologies such as sound, color, and CGI, and that AI is no different. Awards rules and guidelines are reviewed and refined each year. Among the most noteworthy changes, the Academy now explicitly states that only roles, "demonstrably performed by humans with their consent" are eligible for Acting awards. The Academy also requires screenplays to be "human-authored" and said it reserved the right to investigate the use of generative AI in any submission."
THE WEATHER CHANNEL CELEBRATED 44 YEARS
On May 1st, the Weather Channel celebrated its 44th anniversary. Its post on Twitter/X read, "It's my bday. Today we're 44. Four decades of tornadoes, snowstorms, hurricanes, and sunrises; and you, watching right alongside us. Thanks for making us part of your mornings, evenings, and every "did you see that radar?!" moment in between. Thanks for riding out every storm with us. Here's to the next 44."
THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING CELEBRATED 95 YEARS
On May 1st, the Empire State Building celebrated its 95th anniversary. One of the most clever co-branded ways to celebrate until May 31st is with Ghiardelli's Kong Sundae paired with unforgettable skyline views.
SHARE THIS: The Empire State Building was named "America's Favorite Building" by the American Institute of Architects. #ESB #FunFact #DebbieLaskeysBlog
UPDATES FROM BURGER KING CEO'S PHONE CALLS
Restaurant Business reported, "Tom Curtis, the president of Burger King, took so many calls earlier this year from customers after giving out his number that, on weekends, according to his wife, he was only allowed to take them on his porch. Curtis ultimately took 1,500 calls from customers around the country, and that was just a fraction of the total number of calls the company fielded so far this year. Members of Curtis's team took another 7,000 calls. And the company itself 64,000 overall. That is an invaluable set of data for the Miami-based fast-food chain, which is still in the early stages of a multi-year comeback effort. The conversations were designed to accomplish multiple goals: Give Burger King a marketing tool, connect the company with its customers in a unique way, and give executives insight into the restaurant's performance."
CHIPOTLE HIRES CHIEF BRAND OFFICER
Chipotle Mexican Grill appointed Fernando Machado as Chief Brand Officer, effective June 1st. In this role, Machado will lead the company's global marketing strategy, brand positioning, and customer engagement efforts as Chipotle continues to execute its growth strategy, drive innovation, and expand its global footprint.
FORD MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO CELEBRATE AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY
Marketing Dive reported on May 1st, "Ford Motor Company announced a new campaign, titled "American Value. For American Values." that includes a new ad, an employee pricing promotion for consumers, and charitable activations nationwide. The effort is timed to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States and positions Ford as a company that, like America, has often valued the dignity of hard work, looking out for neighbors, and the independent spirit that built the middle class and keeps communities moving, according to Global Chief Marketing Officer Lisa Materazzo. She explained, "To reaffirm our role, not just as as an automaker, but as a trusted, long-standing partner to America and the American people, Ford is extending employee pricing to customers at participating dealers on most new 2025 and 2026 Ford and Lincoln vehicles through July 6th. The program can save buyers anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the vehicle, and does not require a rebate, coupon, or negotiation." And along with its employee pricing promotion, Ford will put its values into action at the local level, with 250 dealers partnering with local nonprofits. Through Ford Building Together, the automaker will help deliver resources, like hosting blood drives and food collection, to directly support U.S. communities."
AI'S THREATS TO WORKING WOMEN
INC reported, "Though it's overhyped, AI technology is evolving fast, and as companies invent new, more sophisticated AI apps, they're having a big impact in the workplace. This triggers immediate worries about repercussions for the future of work...A new study highlights how AI is a particular threat to women in the workplace.
The new report, "AI and Emerging Risks for Women Workers," from the National Partnership for Women & Families (NPWF) finds that artificial intelligence is reshaping women's jobs and working conditions. The analysis examines the wide-ranging impacts of AI on women's work and reveals that women of color make up more than 30 percent of workers in the jobs that are considered the most "AI-vulnerable." As well as a reminder that the job scene isn't a monolith and is biased in many ways, the study could prompt CEOs to address gender inequalities and unfairness in the workplace. The data, gathered by nonprofit advocacy group National Partnership for Women & Families (NPWF), shows that AI is definitely "reshaping women's jobs and working conditions," and not necessarily in commendable or future-facing ways.
The data clearly shows that AI is much more of an immediate threat to female workers in the U.S. than it is to men, due to the uneven distribution of female workers in jobs that are more at risk of AI automation. The report points out that "because of the nation's history of undervaluing and underpaying for the labor of women, particularly women of color," women occupy a greater proportion of "certain jobs with lower wages and worse benefits and conditions."
The NPWF report also suggests that for policy-making related to AI, "women workers must be centered in both research and policy development." Women's "experiences, needs, and insights should drive our collective response to AI's transformation of work." But as AI tech expands and becomes a key part of every workplace, these suggestions could also play a role in individual workplaces: pretending gender discrepancies don't exist isn't acceptable when AI's threat is so asymmetric. Some training programs on equality, and also on proper and acceptable AI use will probably be a good idea."
SHARE THIS: Women's experiences, needs, and insights should drive our collective response to AI's transformation of work. ~@NPWF #AI #WorkplaceTrends #EqualityintheWorkplace #DebbieLaskeysBlog
PINK AND BASEBALL ON MOTHER'S DAY
Did you notice all the pink during baseball games on Mother's Day? According to Yahoo Sports, "Baseball is all about tradition, and one tradition that seems to always be at the forefront is Mother's Day. Notice the pink gear (bats, fielding gloves, batting gloves, belts, wristbands, socks, shoes, ribbons, catcher vests and facemasks, and umpire vests and facemasks) on this special Sunday? Well, it's one way players honor their mothers on game day. There's more to it than just the pink accessories though. It's also a way for MLB to honor breast cancer awareness."
But how did this tradition start? Back in 2006, baseball rules were very strict about bat colors. However, after John Hillerich, IV, the chief executive for bat manufacturer Hillerich & Bradsby saw NHL players using pink hockey sticks to raise money for breast cancer awareness, he went to MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, who immediately approved the idea the use of pink baseball bats to support breast cancer awareness. Within a few years, hundreds of players used pink bats. And each year, the used bats are auctioned to raise funds for breast cancer charities. In 2013, MLB approved using baseballs featuring pink stitches. And during the years, more pink has appeared.
WASHINGTON'S REFLECTING POOL AND "AMERICAN FLAG BLUE"
According to Wikpedia, "The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool opened in 1924 following the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial, and was designed by Henry Bacon. Part of the iconic image of Washington, D.C., the reflecting pool hosts many of the 24 million visitors who visit the National Mall annually. Depending on the viewer's vantage point, it dramatically reflects the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Mall's trees, and the expansive sky. President Trump initially stated that the cost to repaint the reflecting pool would be $1.8 million, but on May 8th, the Interior Department said they planned to pay $13.1 million."
According to ArtNet on May 11th, "A Washington D.C.-based education and advocacy nonprofit is suing the U.S. Department of the Interior over its renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF), which was founded in 1998 to better connect Americans to the nation's landscape heritage, backed a lawsuit on April 12th in the U.S. District Court in Washington claiming that painting the basin of the Reflecting Pool "American flag blue" violates federal law. In its lawsuit, TCLF argues that the Reflecting Pool's color is a character-defining feature of the site and cannot be changed without following federal review processes under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. TCLF is seeking a temporary restraining order as well as a preliminary injunction to stop work. The first hearing for the case is scheduled for May 21st."
NEW "GODFATHER" NOVEL
AP reported on May 13th, "Decades after the last "Godfather" movie and more than 10 years since the last novel, the story of the Corleone crime family has a new chapter, presented for the first time from a woman's point of view. Approved by the Mario Puzo estate and written by bestselling author Adriana Trigiani, "Connie" is scheduled for a fall 2027 release and will center on the Corleone family member played by Talia Shire, sister of director Francis Ford Coppola, in the three "Godfather" films."
According to Random House, the Puzo estate "sought out" Trigiani after she published a Substack essay lamenting how little was known about the Corleone women. She explained, "The new novel is about how a woman works to forge her own way in a world that's already decided who she is, what she's about, and how she should be treated. People underestimated Don Vito Corleone and Michael Corleone at their peril. The same will be true for Connie Corleone."
And according to Anthony Puzo, the author's son and executor, "We had been looking for someone to retell the story from a new perspective. Adriana was knocked out when I told her that the character of Vito Corleone (played in the films by Brando and De Niro) was actually based on my grandmother. We talked about how the women ran both of our families, but behind the scenes. Adriana's vision for Connie's life blew us all away. I'm very pleased and excited to have her on board."
SPIRIT'S LOYALTY MILES BECOME PIZZA
Papa John's announced on May 8th, "As recent airline uncertainty has left many travelers clutching expired boarding passes and loyalty points that were rendered useless, Papa Johns is offering a soft landing. Introducing "Skies to Pies," a limited‑time offer that transforms Spirit Airlines' unusable loyalty program into something reliable: hot Papa Johns pizza. For a short time, eligible former Spirit loyalty members can convert proof of their loyalty into a free pizza. Stranded Spirit members can now find a home in Papa Rewards. And once verified, Papa Johns will send the first 250 people a code for a free large one-topping pizza. That's it. No blackout dates. No middle seats. Just Better Ingredients. Better Pizza."
SHARE THIS: Papa Johns turned an unfortunate customer experience into an excellent customer experience! #SkiestoPies #CustomerExperienceMarketing #DebbieLaskeysBlog
LOOKING FOR JUDGES FOR ITALY'S TIRAMISU WORLD CUP
According to the announcement in Holiday Pirates, "Every October, Treviso, the northern Italian city widely credited as the birthplace of tiramisu, transforms its main square into the most delicious competition on the planet. The Tiramisù World Cup gathers 240 competitors from around the world to face off across two categories: Original Recipe and Creative Recipe. And every year, 100 volunteer judges are needed to help decide who wins. This year, that judge could be you. You won't get paid, and you won't get your flights covered, but you will taste more tiramisu in two days than most people manage in a lifetime." More details coming in October!
MET GALA FASHION
And let's not forget the annual Met Gala that took place in New York City on Monday, May 4th. The outlandish fashion that appeared on the red carpet did not disappoint, but more interesting from a marketing standpoint were the nearly 50 brands that quickly aligned their products with the outfits with posts on Instagram - ranging from booksellers and libraries featuring book covers to desserts such as doughnuts, cakes, and candy. Read my post from May 7th with a recap (link below).
What other recent marketing buzz caught your attention? Since there's always something happening that impacts marketing, read #DebbieLaskeysBlog for the scoop!
Image Credits: US Postal Service and Grow As Entrepreneurs (via Instagram).
Read: Achieving Pizza Mind Through Books (Los Angeles Times - November 15, 1985):
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-11-15-vw-2399-story.html
For the full list of changes to the 99th Oscars:
Read the study: AI and Emerging Risks for Women Workers (April 2026)
(Source: National Partnership for Women & Families)
https://nationalpartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/ai-emerging-risks-for-women-workers.pdf
Check out the details for the 2026 Tiramisu World Cup:
https://tiramisuworldcup.com/en/
Read my post: See How Some Brands Celebrated the Met Gala! (May 7, 2026)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2026/05/see-how-some-brands-celebrated-met-gala.html
