The Power of Co-Branding When It Comes to Brand Experiences

Does your brand partner with other brands? 

If done right - meaning that the partnership makes sense to your customers, fans, and stakeholders - then co-branding is an effective brand-building strategy for all brands involved.

According to Investopedia, "Co-branding is a marketing strategy that utilizes multiple brand names on a good or service as part of a strategic alliance. Also known as a brand partnership, co-branding encompasses several different types of branding collaborations, typically involving the brands of at least two companies. Each brand in such a strategic alliance contributes its own identity to create a melded brand with the help of unique logos, brand identifiers, and color schemes. The point of co-branding is to combine the market strength, brand awareness, positive associations, and cachet of two or more brands to compel consumers to pay a greater premium for them...Simply put, co-branding as a strategy seeks to gain market share, increase revenue streams, and capitalize on increased customer awareness."

Here are some examples of co-branding:

(1) Taco Bell's Doritos Locos Tacos: Specialty food item co-developed by Yum! Brands, Inc. and PepsiCo's subsidiary Frito-Lay, Inc.

(2) Citi AAdvantage cards: Citi credit cards that earn American Airlines miles with qualifying purchases.

(3) Nike+: A Nike, Inc. and Apple, Inc. partnership that connects activity-tracking technology in athletic gear with iPhone apps and the Apple Watch.

(4) Dawn Dishwashing Detergent: For more than 40 years, Dawn Dishwashing Detergent has worked with the International Bird Rescue to help wildlife impacted by oil spills and other disasters. The bird rescuers use Dawn to wash sticky oil out of birds' feathers, and Dawn donates thousands of bottles of detergent to the nonprofit.

(5) Ford's Eddie Bauer Editions: Eddie Bauer edition Ford vehicles feature snazzy amenities including signature body cladding, illuminated running boards, and two-tone leather. Eddie Bauer's name lent style and class to Ford, while Ford helped the outdoors brand reach a wider audience.

Check out this recent co-branding initiative featuring two iconic Atlanta-based attractions:

"From June 2nd to June 30th, double your bubbles by experiencing two Atlanta icons with one unbelievable deal that takes you from bubbling ocean discovery to Coca-Cola's signature fizz. This two-for-one combo ticket gets you one-time admission to both Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola. Begin to beat the heat this summer by marveling at manta rays, waddling with penguins, and maybe even getting splashed by dolphins at the Aquarium. Then head to World of Coca-Cola for a refreshing sip in the Coca-Cola Global Beverage tasting room, plus visit the Vault of the Secret Formula, and snap a photo with the Coca-Cola Polar Bear. For one price, you'll experience two world-class attractions. This exclusive summer deal ends June 30th." (Note, the $75 price was a twenty percent discount of regular anytime ticket prices.)

The Georgia Aquarium is known for its 11-million gallons of blue wonder, where visitors can walk through a 100-foot tunnel surrounded by whale sharks, manta rays, and thousands of fish. At World of Coca-Cola's Beverage Lab, visitors can experiment with different flavors to create a unique drink.

During June, Atlanta-area locals and lucky tourists were able to experience two Atlanta attractions at a discounted price due to effective co-branding.

What can your brand learn from this co-branding example?

Image Credits: Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola.

Is Your Brand Overeating at the Social Media Buffet?

Recently, I read a memorable post by Anthony Gaenzle entitled "From Scroll Chaos to Channel Clarity in One Week."

But first, a few words about Anthony, Chief Growth & Strategy Officer at E&I Creative in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Anthony works as a personal brand consultant for executives, business owners, and others. He is a two-time published author, digital marketing influencer, and has helped brands both large and small grow and thrive across multiple industries through strategic marketing campaigns.

Anthony, who is also a fellow blogger, has appeared here on MY blog many times, most recently on May 9th as part of my Spring Leadership Series 2025. A memorable quote from that Q&A was this leadership tip from Anthony, "Listen to understand, listen to build trust, listen to empower your team."

Now, back to Anthony's recent post about social media. His imagery about the social media buffet resonated with me while thinking about all the social platforms that have come and gone over the last decade and also about all the leaders I've encountered over the years who think having a digital presence on every social platform of the moment is the best idea. Who can relate?

As Lisa Masiello wrote back in 2015, "Your prospects and customers are out there. They're talking to each other, sharing information, getting advice and asking questions about your company and products before they ever share their contact information on your marketing form or pick up the phone to talk to sales. You need to be there too — interacting, communicating, and building relationships. They'll keep talking with or without you, saying positive things and maybe negative things about your business. It's important to be part of the conversation."

That is absolutely true, however, the social media landscape has changed in the last decade.

Anthony wrote in his recent post, "At a conference in 2013, I watched another attendee at a pre-event breakfast try to balance waffles, scrambled eggs, bacon, and a yogurt parfait on one flimsy paper plate. You know where this is headed, right? We've all been there. Predictably, everything slid off, directly onto his shoes. That's exactly what chasing every social platform looks like. Lots of shiny choices, zero nutritional value. Before you know it, you're cleaning syrup off your brand-new sneakers instead of closing deals. What's the takeaway here? Your brand plate is finite, and so is your time and energy. Pile on only what you can actually eat (and enjoy)."

Anthony advised that a good idea would be to use a "Choose Two Method" to MAXIMIZE your social media activity. "Instead of buffet-style overload, aim for a well-paired entrée and side dish. Two social media channels give you just enough surface area to show up consistently and experiment without feeling like you're speed-dating algorithms. For bigger brands, going beyond two makes sense. For a one-person show, a smaller business, or a lean startup, limiting your presence makes more sense."

Anthony called this his "Dinner-Party and Cocktail-Hour" approach:

"The Dinner-Party Channel: Choose a channel where your best stories live in long-form. Maybe that's LinkedIn articles, or maybe it's a weekly YouTube show. The vibe here is more cloth napkins, deep conversation, and everyone leaves full."

"The Cocktail-Hour Channel: This channel should be good for short, punchy posts that tease the dinner party and lure newcomers. Think X, Threads, or Instagram Reels. The vibe here is clinking glasses and quick laughs."

He also challenged readers to try this approach for a week to "measure conversations over vanity metrics."

So, what do you think? Is your brand overeating at the social media buffet? Or does your brand have just the right balance of social media platforms, activity, and engagement?

SHARE THIS: One channel can pigeonhole your personality, while three or more invite overwhelm. Think of it like owning a dog and a cat, which creates manageable diversity. Add a parrot, an iguana, and a goat, and suddenly you need an ark. You're spread too thin. You're running a zoo. ~@AnthonyGaenzle #SocialMediaMarketing #BizTip #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credit: LinkedIn.

Read: From Scroll Chaos to Channel Clarity in One Week (June 27, 2025):

https://elevateinspire.beehiiv.com/p/from-scroll-chaos-to-channel-clarity-in-one-week

Read: SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES 2025 – Featuring Anthony Gaenzle (May 9, 2025):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2025/05/spring-leadership-series-2025-featuring_0372116430.html

11 Non-Fiction Summer Reads Featuring Leadership & Marketing Inspiration

What exciting plans do you have this summer? A trip to France, Australia, or somewhere closer to home? If you plan to catch up on your reading, add these 11 non-fiction books to your “to-be-read” pile – brief highlights appear in this post in no specific order. Without a doubt, they will provide food for thought whether you read them at home or on vacation!

LEADERSHIP LESSONS: IN LIFE AND THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS by Bill Shumard

I met Bill Shumard while in high school and served as an intern in the Community Services Department at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, when he served as Director. We re-connected 10 years ago (which was 30 years later!) when we were both working for Los Angeles nonprofits with aligned missions. If you’re a Dodgers fan, you’ll appreciate Bill’s “13-Year Doctoral Degree” detailed in his book that showcased the Dodgers as an enviable employer brand that understands the importance of positive employee experiences. 

My two favorite memories of working for Bill showcased his omniscient leadership: (1) when he assigned me the task of interviewing a famous Dodgers pitcher while sitting in the dugout during batting practice one summer afternoon, and (2) when he assigned me the task of accompanying two players to a “meet and greet” at a department store in Hollywood. During both assignments, Bill had confidence in my abilities and sent me on my way toward success. 

As he stated in his book, “Manage relationships in all directions – UP (your supervisor and senior leadership); ACROSS (with your colleagues and the customer); and DOWN (when you’re fortunate to manage other people). Your integrity, willingness to lead AND serve, and ability to be a good teammate will help you grow as a leader.” Bill’s teachings have served me well during my career.

SHARE THIS: Integrity, willingness to lead AND serve, and ability to be a good teammate will help you grow as a leader. ~Bill Shumard #LeadershipTip #DebbieLaskeysBlog

EMPLOYEE UNDERSTANDING: A THREE-PILLAR FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGNING A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND DRIVING BUSINESS SUCCESS by Annette Franz

Known as a customer experience expert, Annette Franz tackles the employee experience in this, her third book. As the book description says, “Companies invest heavily in understanding their customers – but what about their employees? When organizations fail to listen, engage, and support their workforce, they risk high turnover, low morale, and disengagement. But when they prioritize Employee Understanding, they unlock higher performance, stronger retention, and better customer experiences.”

My favorite part of the book addressed how employees, not leaders, can make a difference to fix a toxic culture. Since most people (leaders included) think culture can only be changed from the top down, this was an important mantra: “lead by example, open and honest communication, advocate for change, mentorship and support, encourage respect and inclusivity, seek training and development, promote work-life balance, self-care and resilience, support leadership initiatives, and if needed, look for a new job.”

SHARE THIS: Culture is how employees’ hearts and stomachs feel about Monday morning on Sunday night. ~Bill Marklein via @AnnetteFranz #EmployeeExperience #DebbieLaskeysBlog

ATTACK FROM WITHIN: HOW DISINFORMATION IS SABOTAGING AMERICA by Barbara McQuade

According to the author’s website, “Disinformation is designed to evoke a strong emotional response to push us toward more extreme views, unable to find common ground with others. The false claims that led to the breathtaking attack on our Capitol in 2020 may have been only a dress rehearsal. Attack from Within shows us how to prevent it from happening again.”

When I asked Barbara here on my blog in September 2024 what three take-aways she hoped readers would have, she responded as follows: 

“First, I hope to raise awareness that certain tactics have been used throughout history to manipulate the public: blaming scapegoats, undermining critics, using fear, and more. Once we can recognize these tactics, we are less likely to be manipulated by them. 

Second, I hope that readers will see the real harms caused to American society by disinformation. Lies and misleading claims are eroding democracy, public safety, and the rule of law. For example, false claims of a stolen election have led to laws in many states making it more difficult to vote. I expect we will see false content generated by AI in the upcoming election. I worry that claims that prosecutors are "weaponizing" the criminal justice system will lead to a loss of confidence in the legitimacy of law enforcement and the courts, leading to vigilante violence, just as we saw on January 6th.

Third, I hope that readers will choose to put truth over tribe. Today, it seems that some people don't care about the facts. They care only about winning. But blind allegiance to a political party is not democracy. We need to encourage independent thinking over the idea that our political system is us-versus-them. As Americans, parties are rivals, but not enemies. We are all in this together.”

SHARE THIS: Too often, people think of leadership as rock star adulation. Instead, leadership means doing the quiet little things necessary to empower others. ~@BarbMcQuade #LeadershipTip #DebbieLaskeysBlog

48 DAYS TO THE WORK AND LIFE YOU LOVE – FIND IT OR CREATE IT by DAN MILLER

This book was recommended by Joseph Lalonde, who’s appeared on my blog four times and whose interesting interpretations of leadership have been at the core of two of my blog series. 

As the book began, the author asked, “Do you do your work only because of its paycheck? Do you long to leave for something more enjoyable? Have you tried another path only to return to what is more familiar? A job should not define who or what you are…Your calling is a much larger concept than what you do daily to create income. Work opportunities come and go. The direction of your life should remain constant.”

SHARE THIS: Playing it safe is like body surfing in two feet of water. You may not drown, but you’re also not deep enough to catch any waves.” ~Robert Kriegel via Dan Miller #DebbieLaskeysBlog

WHO IS GOVERNMENT – THE UNTOLD STORY OF PUBLIC SERVICE by MICHAEL LEWIS

If you’re a graduate of political science (like me) or simply a political observer (and let’s face it, during these crazy political times, who isn’t?), then this is the book for you! Since I don’t want to spoil the stories told in this book, instead, I’ll share the synopsis from the book flap, “The vivid profiles in this book blow up the stereotype of the irrelevant bureaucrat. They show how the essential business of government makes our lives possible, and how much it matters…The stories inside this book are unexpected, riveting, and inspiring, including a former coal miner devoted to making mine roofs less likely to collapse, saving thousands of lives; an IRS agent straight out of a crime thriller; and the manager who made the National Cemetery Administration  the best-run organization, public or private, in the entire country.” Now, doesn’t this sound like a book you want to read?

SHARE THIS: Writers write the words, but readers decide their meaning. ~Michael Lewis #writing #reading #inspiration #DebbieLaskeysBlog

WE THE MEN – HOW FORGETTING WOMEN’S STRUGGLES FOR EQUALITY PERPETUATES INEQUALITY by JILL ELAINE HASDAY

According to this book’s flap, this is the first book “to explore how forgetting women’s struggles for equality – and forgetting the work America still has to do – perpetuates injustice, promotes complacency, and denies how generations of women have had to come together to fight for reform against regression…The stories in this book highlight the persistence of women’s inequality and make clear that real progress has always required women to disrupt the status quo, demand change, and duel with determined opponents.”

As Hasday asked readers, did you know that a 2021 survey of federal courthouses found that, more than 165 were named after men, and only four were named after a woman? She elaborated, “Commemorations are not just decorative flourishes or scenery. They shape the vision of America that we carry around with us, which is why generations of women have fought to reconstruct the commemorative landscape and why they have faced such persistent resistance.” In addition, “a 2019 count found that a woman’s name was on less than twelve percent of the post offices honoring individuals – just 98 out of 823.” And lastly, “a 2017 survey found that only nine out of the 411 national park sites (2.2 percent) commemorated women’s history.”

Hasday also shared this disappointing fact, “Congress has never designated a public holiday to celebrate an important woman in American history or to recognize women’s struggles against sex discrimination.” By contrast, how many times have you had work holidays on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day and President’s Day?

In addition, another problem is the pay gap between men and women. In 2003, a woman earned 75.5 cents per each dollar a man earned. In 2023, the amount has barely increased and was 82.7 cents for each dollar a man earned.

And as Hasday wrote in her ending, “Pursuing justice for women has always required sustained mobilization against entrenched resistance…Feminists still have many battles to win as we work to transform a nation whose promises of empowering WE THE PEOPLE have too often been limited to WE THE MEN.”

SHARE THIS: Real progress has always required women to disrupt the status quo, demand change, and duel with determined opponents. ~Jill Elaine Hasday #WomensEquality #equalpayforequalwork #DebbieLaskeysBlog

AMERICAN WOMAN – THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE MODERN FIRST LADY FROM HILLARY CLINTON TO JILL BIDEN by KATIE ROGERS

As a lifelong bibliophile, I appreciated how author Katie Rogers described Jill Biden, the only First Lady who continued to work – as a community college teacher – while living in the White House, “Jill, a teacher, is always reading – and when she is not reading, she is often grading papers…despite her love of the beach, she is not a fan of beach reads, gravitating instead toward heftier works of fiction or volumes of poetry.”

And when Rogers asked Biden what prepared her for the sort of life she’s lived including as First Lady, Biden replied, “Because you have to. They want you to be strong. Because a lot of times they can’t…But if they can look at their First Lady as someone who is strong and can help them through a struggle, whether it’s depression, whether they’re suffering from an illness, whether their child has been shot at a school, you have to be strong.”

How many other First Ladies have this core belief?

SHARE THIS: Jill Biden, a teacher, is always reading. ~Katie Rogers #readingopensminds #JillBiden #DebbieLaskeysBlog

WHEN WOMEN LEAD – WHAT THEY ACHIEVE, WHY THEY SUCCEED, AND HOW WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM by JULIA BOORSTIN

Fellow blogger and leadership expert Eric Jacobson shared a review about this book earlier this year, and it intrigued me. 

Eric wrote, “Boorstin shares that whether you’re a woman looking to rise in your organization or taking on a new leadership position, or a male leader looking to empower women in your organization, this book is for you. It's essential to see the data about the financial benefit of having women in leadership roles – there are a range of studies that have found that having diversity in gender and race in the C-suite and in boards improves corporate performance, that female founders yield higher returns to investors, and that having diversity among investors improves their performance as well. Boorstin’s book will resonate with women and inspire them to unlock their strengths, but it may be even more important for men to read, to help them to succeed in this fast-changing business world. [Lastly,] it’s also important for men to understand the challenges women face around stereotypes. If men can see how much unconscious bias is holding women back, [hopefully] the more they’ll be able to unlock the opportunity by investing in women.”

SHARE THIS: If men can see how much unconscious bias is holding women back, the more they’ll be able to unlock the opportunity by investing in women. ~Julia Boorstin via @EricJacobsonKC #equalityforwomen #DebbieLaskeysBlog

YOU’RE THE BOSS – BECOME THE MANAGER YOU WANT TO BE (AND OTHERS NEED) by SABINA NAWAZ

As Nawaz states in her introduction, “Whether you’re a new manager or have been in the C-suite for years, this book is a guide to empower you with a wealth of tactics and strategies essential for thriving in every stage of your career. By unearthing and meeting all the unknown forces head-on, you will have the clarity and confidence at your disposal to show up in every interaction as a world-class boss.”

When Nawaz first arrived in the United States, she was confused by things that she had not experienced in her home country. Some examples included a water fountain at Boston’s airport and also wondering if a fire hydrant were actually a mailbox (it was not). She shared those instances of disorientation to demonstrate how difficult it can be as a new boss when propelled into a position of authority.

According to Nawaz, “The takeaway for you as a manager is that you can and should continue to be the best in your role – you just don’t have to be the ONLY best. You don’t have to outdo your team. Each team member has their own role. In an abundance mindset, there’s plenty of space in the talent pool to invite those who work for you to join you.”

SHARE THIS: In an abundance mindset, there’s plenty of space in the talent pool to invite those who work for you to join you. ~Sabina Nawaz #Manager #Leadership #DebbieLaskeysBlog

HOW BRANDS BECOME ICONS – THE PRINCIPLES OF CULTURAL BRANDING by DOUGLAS B. HOLT

Due to ever-changing technology and instant news coverage, it’s always a good idea for individuals (with personal brands) and corporate brands to take stock of their brand identities, brand messaging, brand strategies, brand storytelling, and brand experiences. This is a good book for such an exercise.

As the author explains, “The Oxford English Dictionary defines a cultural icon as “a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol, especially of a culture or a movement; a person or an institution considered worthy of admiration or respect. More generally, cultural icons are exemplary symbols that people accept as a shorthand to represent important ideas.”

He ended the book, “The greatest opportunity for brands today is to deliver not entertainment, but rather myths that their customers can use to manage the exigencies of a world that increasingly threatens their identities. To do so, companies would do well to follow the lead of the most successful brands of the last half-century rather than throw their marketing budgets at Hollywood. Brands become cultural icons by performing myths that address society’s most vexing contradictions.”

SHARE THIS: Brand managers must act as composers of a brand’s myth. ~Douglas B. Holt #iconicbrands #brand experience #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: Brands become cultural icons by performing myths that address society’s most vexing contradictions. ~Douglas B. Holt #iconicbrands #brand experience #DebbieLaskeysBlog

THE NEW OLD: CRAFTING YOUR BEST LATER LIFE by ERIKA ANDERSEN

I met Erika Andersen 15 years ago on Twitter/X, and since then, I’ve read all of her leadership books and gained a wealth of leadership and business secrets that lead to success. She’s appeared here on my blog in Q&A’s plus book reviews a total of 13 times! And one of her Forbes articles served as inspiration for my recent Spring Leadership Series of 2025, which featured 25 thought leaders.

Erika’s newest book “reimagines aging as the most liberating chapter yet.” In her 70’s, Erika (and her husband) moved to Spain, learned Spanish – and even read the Harry Potter series in Spanish! In this new book, she looks at aging and proposes ways to “craft your best later life.”

Erika wrote, “In my mid-60s, when I started thinking about eventually retiring from work, I began getting anxious about that idea. As soon as I noticed my anxiety, I made the effort to name my fear (step 1). And what I saw after some self-reflection was that I didn’t know who I would be if I wasn’t working many hours a week as “the founder and CEO of Proteus.” I had spent decades with that as a big and important (to me) part of my identity – and the idea of not having that was scary. I asked myself what was the worst thing that could happen to me in this situation (step 2), and I realized that it was the possibility of not having a clear sense of identity and not having impact or influence, that is, not making any positive difference in the world. I then thought about how I could make that outcome less likely, and I understood that I needed to clarify what I wanted my post-work identity to be (step 3).

I started by summarizing my curiosity about my later-life identity into a simple question. That question was, “How can I become what comes after the butterfly?” Here’s how I came to that: up to that point, I had been thinking of my life as being like the evolution of a caterpillar to a butterfly. I saw my childhood and youth as the caterpillar stage, and it seemed to me that the deeply self-reflective time I spent in a spiritual community in my twenties was “being in the cocoon.” I saw being the mother of my children and founder and CEO of my company as my butterfly stage. However, unlike an actual butterfly, I was now seeing that stage wasn’t the end for me: I had to discover and build my next stage of evolution.”

So, as Erika asks, "What comes after the butterfly stage in your life?" A very good question for all of us to consider – when we still have the ability to take action.

SHARE THIS: Being the boss of your life is a powerful antidote to society’s limiting and limited expectations of old people. ~@erikaandersen #TheNewOld #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Lastly, if you’d like some recommendations for recently-published works of fiction, check out the following by some of my favorite fiction authors:

THE STOLEN LIFE OF COLLETTE MARCEAU by KRISTIN HARMEL

DON’T OPEN YOUR EYES by LIV CONSTANTINE

KING OF ASHES by S.A. COSBY

DON’T LET HIM IN by LISA JEWELL

VERA WONG’S GUIDE TO SNOOPING (ON A DEAD MAN) by JESSE Q. SUTANTO

Have a great summer – and HAPPY READING!

Image Credit: Debbie Laskey’s Library.

Read Eric Jacobson’s review of WHEN WOMEN LEAD:

https://ericjacobsononmanagement.blogspot.com/2024/12/when-women-lead.html

When it comes to customer experiences, one brand always saves the day!

Today is an important date in the world of e-commerce because on this date in 1994, Jeff Bezos launched Amazon. Initially created as an online bookseller, it has evolved into an online marketplace where almost anything can be found and purchased, sometimes earning the nickname "the disrupter of industries" according Entrepreneur magazine and, in the process over the years, also earning the nickname "The Everything Store" by The New York Times. This post serves as a birthday greeting to Amazon!

According to Wikipedia, "The company, originally named Cadabra, was founded in the converted garage of Bezos' house and was renamed to Amazon in November 1994. Bezos chose the Seattle area for its abundance of technical talent from Microsoft and the University of Washington, as well as its smaller population for sales tax purposes and the proximity to a major book distribution warehouse in Roseburg, Oregon. The Amazon website launched for public sales on July 16, 1995, and initially sourced its books directly from wholesalers and publishers. Amazon went public in May 1997. It began selling music and videos in 1998, and began international operations by acquiring online sellers of books in the United Kingdom and Germany. In 1999, it initiated the sale of a diverse range of products, including music, video games, consumer electronics, home improvement items, software, games, and toys."

Recently, I received an email from a well-known jewelry brand, a brand that has become even more widely known due to its latest brand spokesperson, Ariana Grande, who has become a mega-star due to the international success of WICKED, THE MOVIE (parts one and two). In the email, there were several nice jewelry items with links to the products on the brand's website. I visited the website to take a look and then decided to visit a local store to try several items on in person. 

Once I arrived at the local store, I saw two salespeople and two other customers - so the store was definitely not busy. Once one customer left, I asked the available salesperson for assistance because she did not approach me - and she did not welcome me to the store either. I showed her the items I was interested in trying on, and she checked inventory on her handheld device. She told me that there were no bracelets or necklaces in stock at her store. Note, I had checked the website prior to my in-store visit and learned that the store had the items in stock. While shaking my head, I asked to see some other items and showed the salesperson the email I had received, and again, she said the items were not in stock at her store. I thanked her and left.

What did I do upon returning home and booting up my computer? If you guessed "logged into Amazon," you'd be correct. I immediately logged into my Amazon account and searched for the desired item, the Gema Bracelet Mixed cuts, Multicolored, Rhodium plated from Swarovski - surprisingly at a lower price than from the store - and purchased it. I also learned that there were other items in the Gema Crystal Collection that had not been advertised by the brand, either in-store on online. 

As a result of this purchase from Amazon and not from Swarovski, I started to think about how completely different the two customer experience journeys were. According to customer experience expert and author Annette Franz, "A journey map is a visual story-capturing/storytelling exercise during which you paint the picture of the customer experience for a specific interaction by walking in the customers' shoes to capture their steps, needs, and perceptions of the interaction. Journey mapping is a creative process that allows you to understand – and then redesign – the customer experience. The output is not just a "pretty picture" once the map is developed, it is meant to be a catalyst for change."

Therefore, if this famous jewelry brand wishes to keep customers so that they purchase directly from them rather than sending customers elsewhere, it would behoove them to improve their customer journey mapping process.

To quote Zen Yinger, who shared her thoughts about Amazon on my blog during my Spring Leadership Series last year: "What sets Amazon apart is not just the convenience it offers, but the unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction...In essence, Amazon isn't just a company; it's a symbol of customer-centric leadership, innovation, inclusivity, adaptability, and responsibility. It represents the evolution of an industry leader that not only meets - but anticipates - the needs of a dynamic and interconnected world."

And lastly, let's return to a quote from Annette Franz that appeared here on my blog in 2016, "You need to ensure that you deliver a great experience at all stages of the customer lifecycle." Seems like there are a lot of take-away lessons for Swarovski from my recent experience, because according to Bill Gates, "Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning."

SHARE THIS: We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It's our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better. ~Jeff Bezos #CustomerExperience #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credits: Swarovski and Amazon.

Check out Annette's newest book, Employee Understanding:

https://cx-journey.com/employee-understanding

Read SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring Zen Yinger (June 2024):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/06/spring-leadership-series-featuring-zen.html

Read An Amazing Amazon Experience – But It Didn't Start That Way (January 2018):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2018/01/an-amazing-amazon-experience-but-it.html

Read Customer Service Is Not Something to Drive Around (June 2016):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2016/06/customer-service-is-not-something-to.html 

How will your brand recognize the Fourth of July?

Since today's date is July Fourth or the Fourth of July, it's celebrated as Independence Day in the United States. For those of us in the marketing arena, we are tuned in to brands who stand out based on how they celebrate.

Do the following brands stand out because they feature the word "American" in their names? American Airlines, American Broadcasting Company (ABC), American Eagle Outfitters, American Express, American Fireworks, American Freight, American Greetings Corporation, and Bank of America.

These brands may align their logo, email messaging, social media posts, and advertising with the red, white, and blue colors of the American flag. They may also include some form of "independence" wording or theme in their tagline or logo.

A long-time favorite brand is Sherwin-Williams, because it used one of its color swatches to match one of the colors on the American flag in a social media post years ago.

Another favorite brand is Canine Companions, a nonprofit formerly known as Canine Companions for Independence and currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, because it featured a group of puppies with celebratory hats in a social media post years ago.

And a final memorable brand is Krispy Kreme, who, last year, introduced its "Star Spangled Sweetness Collection" doughnuts: the Freedom Flag Doughnut, the Cotton Candy Sparkler Doughnut, the Firework Cookies and Kreme Filled Doughnut, and the Chocolate Iced with Patriotic Sprinkles Doughnut. In addition, according to the brand's website, "We’re sweetening your Independence Day this year with a FREE Original Glazed doughnut when you visit our shop wearing red, white, and blue. Valid July 4th only at all participating shops in shop and drive thru, limit one per person. Not available online."

However, remember, the buzz of the moment should NEVER overshadow your core brand promise, brand story, and mission.

So, which brand will be the winner as this year's stand-out brand on Independence Day?

SHARE THIS: Where you see wrong or inequality or injustice, speak out, because this is your country. This is your democracy. Make it. Protect it. Pass it on. ~Thurgood Marshall #July4th #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: The essence of America, that which really unites us, is not ethnicity or nationality or religion. It is an idea, and what an idea it is — that you can come from humble circumstances and do great things. ~Condoleezza Rice #July4th #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. ~John F. Kennedy #July4th #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: With freedom comes responsibility. ~Eleanor Roosevelt #July4th #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credits: Sherwin-Williams and Canine Companions.

Check out these interesting facts about the Fourth of July:

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/g22022801/4th-of-july-trivia/

Best Social Media Post of the Month for June 2025

How many social media posts do you recall? Do some go viral because they are for charity, like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? Or do some go viral because they happened at the right moment in time, like the Oreo tweet when the lights went out at the 2013 Super Bowl? Or do some go viral and become memorable simply because they're funny?

In a new monthly series on my blog - appearing during the first week of each month - I am sharing the best social media post of the preceding month. The choice may appear on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.

According to Google, "The best social media post of the month is typically one that effectively combines high engagement with relevance to current events, holidays, or trending topics, while also aligning with your brand identity and authentically connecting with your audience; this could include a thought-provoking question, a relatable story, a visually appealing image, a timely meme, or a behind-the-scenes look, depending on your platform and target demographic."

Without further ado, the post that earns my recognition as the best social media post of the month from June 2025 was shared on Twitter/X on June 4th, 2025, by the Broadway musical (and traveling musical) sensation CATS!

June 4th was HUG YOUR CAT DAY, so this was an especially timely post that featured two actors from the show dressed as cats in a warm embrace. For fans of the musical and for cat fans around the world, this was a memorable and purrfect post to commemorate the day.

Brands that can align their products or services with an event, holiday, or trending news that everyone is talking about have the potential to be memorable. And CATS THE MUSICAL definitely succeeded in my book!

What brand do you think will stand out during July, and why?

SHARE THIS: Did your brand recognize #HugYourCatDay with a purrfect post? @CatsMusical did! Meow! #DebbieLaskeysBlog #BrandStorytelling #BrandExperience

Image Credit: CATS THE MUSICAL via Twitter/X.

Marketing News of the Month of June: Product Packaging, Promotions, and More

During the past month, there were news stories that reflected brand identity, brand positioning, brand storytelling, co-branding, logo designs, personal branding, product packaging, product pricing, sponsorships, and more.

EVOLUTION OF THE WORD "PRIDE" AND THE RAINBOW FLAG

During June, we celebrated "Pride Month." Have you ever wondered about the evolution of the word "pride" as well as the origin of the rainbow flag?  

According to History.com, "More than three decades before June's annual celebration became official, the concept of "gay pride" had already emerged within the LGBTQ+ community. As early as 1966, a group had adopted the acronym P.R.I.D.E., which stood for "Personal Rights In Defense and Education." The terms "gay pride" and "gay power" were also influenced by the civil rights movement's language of "Black pride" and "Black power." 

According to Britannica, "It goes back to 1978, when the artist Gilbert Baker, an openly gay man and a drag queen, designed the first rainbow flag. Baker later revealed that he was urged by Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S., to create a symbol of pride for the gay community. Baker decided to make that symbol a flag because he saw flags as the most powerful symbol of pride.

Baker saw the rainbow as a natural flag from the sky, so he adopted eight colors for the stripes, each color with its own meaning (hot pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, turquoise for art, indigo for harmony, and violet for spirit). The first versions of the rainbow flag were flown on June 25, 1978, for the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day parade. Baker and a team of volunteers had made them by hand. Then he wanted to mass-produce the flag for consumption by all. However, because of production issues, the pink and turquoise stripes were removed and indigo was replaced by basic blue, which resulted in the contemporary six-striped flag (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet). Today this is the most common variant of the rainbow flag, with the red stripe on top, as in a natural rainbow. The various colors came to reflect both the immense diversity and the unity of the LGBTQ community.

It was not until 1994 that the rainbow flag was truly established as the symbol for LGBTQ pride. That year Baker made a mile-long version for the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Now the rainbow flag is an international symbol for LGBTQ pride and can be seen flying proudly, during both the promising times and the difficult ones, all around the world."

While some brands changed their brands to reflect the rainbow colors this past June, many did not.

According to Newsweek, "In a notable shift from recent years, a number of blue-chip corporations and sports organizations are quietly scaling back their public-facing support for LGBTQ+ Pride Month in 2025. About 39 percent of corporate executives say their companies are reducing public Pride efforts this year, according to a recent survey from Gravity Research. That includes less frequent use of rainbow-themed logos, fewer social media posts, and scaled-back sponsorships of Pride events. The change comes as brands grapple with political pressure and the fallout from past controversies, including 2023's high-profile backlash against Bud Light and Target for LGBTQ-inclusive campaigns. This pivot coincides with the Trump administration's scrutiny over both federal and private sector DEI programs.

The muted corporate response this year marks a break from recent traditions. BMW updated its logo across its global social media footprint in June 2024 but did not this year. Cisco, the Silicon Valley tech giant, also skipped updating its logo this year after incorporating the rainbow flag into its logo in 2024. Only four NFL teams changed their logos this year to mark Pride month: the Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, and Los Angeles Chargers. Bank of America is also among the brands that abandoned its Pride marketing and dropped its hashtag #BofAPride for the second consecutive year.

The decision reflects a broader cultural and political shift, with many executives citing the Trump administration's hostile stance toward diversity programs and transgender rights as a core reason for retreating. In January, shortly after Trump's return to the White House, the State Department enacted a "one flag policy," banning U.S. embassies and overseas missions from flying pride or Black Lives Matter flags."

DAVE & BUSTERS AND MATTEL'S HOT WHEELS

Dave & Busters has launched a summer collaboration that targets both kids and nostalgia-loving adults. According to MediaPost, "The restaurant entertainment center chain has joined with toy giant Mattel on an exclusive in-restaurant game based on the classic Hot Wheels cars. The "Hot Wheels Victory Lap" game launched on June 2nd and is only available to play at Dave & Busters. The new in-restaurant video game seats players "behind the wheel of their favorite car" as they race on a virtual track." And the chain also added several Hot Wheels-themed items to its summer menu. There are 174 Dave & Buster's locations in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada.

GENESIS AND THE PGA

According to MediaPost, "Genesis and the PGA Tour have signed a multi-year partnership. Hyundai Motor Corporation's luxury brand is the first global official vehicle of the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions through 2030. According to Jose Munoz, president and CEO of Genesis, "Together, we are committed to delivering excellence — whether through enhancing the experience for players, caddies, and fans, or supporting meaningful initiatives like California Rises."

According to PGA Tour in February 2025, "Inspired by the strength and hope of the Greater Los Angeles community, Genesis' charitable initiative, California Rises, will aid in the rebuilding efforts as a result of the California wildfires that devastated the region in January. California Rises will raise funds for the American Red Cross, World Central Kitchen, California Fire Foundation, and the Genesis Inspiration Foundation. These organizations have already made significant impacts in the wildfire response and will continue to play an important role in the ongoing recovery efforts."

MLB PARTNERS WITH ATHLETES UNLIMITED SOFTBALL LEAGUE (AUSL)

According to a statement by Major League Baseball, "In a first-of-its-kind partnership with a women's professional sports league, MLB announced a strategic investment in the AUSL to help the fledgling softball circuit become an established, sustainable entity. The investment, which is part of MLB's ongoing commitment to supporting the growth of softball at all levels, will include joint sales and marketing efforts, extensive promotional support, and broadcasts on MLB Network and MLB.com to raise the visibility of the AUSL and its athletes. With women’s sports, and softball specifically, experiencing an explosive rise in popularity, the AUSL is a new avenue for the world's best softball players to compete professionally. The league's commissioner is Kim Ng, who previously served as senior vice president of baseball operations for MLB and the first female general manager of a major American men's professional sports team while with the Miami Marlins from 2020-2023."

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said, "MLB's investment in the AUSL represents an opportunity to support softball's long-term growth and expand our engagement with these outstanding athletes and their fans. As a part of our broader commitment to growing softball and creating more opportunities for women and girls in sports, this agreement reflects our confidence in Kim Ng’s leadership, the AUSL vision, and the incredible talent of its athletes."

UNITED AIRLINES AND JETBLUE FORM BLUE SKY

According to United Airlines' website, "JetBlue and United Airlines have announced Blue Sky: a new and unique collaboration that gives customers of both airlines even more options to find flights that fit their plans as well as new opportunities to earn and use MileagePlus miles and TrueBlue points across both airlines." 

Blue Sky includes the following components, with some starting as early as fall 2025 - subject to regulatory review:

(1) United's MileagePlus customers can earn and use miles on most JetBlue flights. JetBlue's TrueBlue members can earn and use points for flights on United's extensive domestic and international network.

(2) Each airline will offer flights on one another's website and app to make booking across the two airlines' complementary networks simple and easy. Blue Sky includes an interline agreement, not a codeshare, meaning each airline will continue to publish and market flights independently under its own brand and flight numbers.

(3) The benefits of each airline's loyalty program - priority boarding, complimentary access to preferred and extra legroom seats, and same-day standby/switch - will be available when customers travel on the other airline's aircrafts.

(4) As part of the airlines' agreement, JetBlue will provide United access to slots at JFK International Airport (NYC) for up to seven daily round-trip flights out of JFK Terminal 6 to begin as early as 2027. And, as part of a net-neutral exchange, JetBlue and United will exchange eight flight timings at Newark.

(5) United will move its website and mobile app's ability to sell hotels, rental cars, cruises, and travel insurance, on both a stand-alone and package basis, to new technology and services provided by JetBlue's Paisly platform.

Joanna Geraghty, CEO of JetBlue, said, "This collaboration with United is a bold step forward for the industry — one that brings together two customer-focused airlines to deliver more choices for travelers and value across our networks. United's global reach perfectly complements JetBlue's East Coast leisure network, and significantly expands the options and benefits for TrueBlue members, no matter where in the world they are traveling. This is a clear win for our customers and crewmembers, and supports our JetForward strategy."

Scott Kirby, CEO of United, said, "Blue Sky reflects our airlines' shared focus on innovation and the customer experience. The JetBlue brand is tied to a great product, and under Joanna's leadership, the airline continues to deliver for customers. We're always looking for ways to give our MileagePlus members even more value and benefits, and this collaboration gives them new, unique ways to use their hard-earned miles and find options that fit their schedules. Plus, our employees are really excited about United's return to JFK for the longer-term and we're all looking forward to starting up flights very soon."

How will this collaboration impact United's and JetBlue's brands? And how many leaders do you know who emphasize the customer experience?

TACO BELL BEVERAGE NEWS

According to Restaurant Business, "Taco Bell is expanding the test of its beverage-focused, in-store concept Live Mas Cafe to another 30 locations in California and Texas by this fall. But the Mexican fast-food chain isn't waiting that long to give customers at its restaurants more drink options. The Irvine, California-based chain is introducing a line of six Refrescas to its restaurants nationwide. The beverages will be priced from $3.79 to $4.49. Both moves are key in the company's plans to make beverages a far bigger part of its overall business. Taco Bell wants to generate $5 billion in sales through beverages every year by 2030, a number that, on its own, would be a Top 20 U.S. restaurant chain and one of the biggest drink providers in the country."

NO MORE KRISPY KREME DOUGHNUTS AT MCDONALD'S

According to The Street, "In 2022, fast-food giants McDonald's and Krispy Kreme joined forces to test a unique collaboration. It began with nine McDonald's restaurants in Louisville, KY, and the surrounding area, selling three popular Krispy Kreme Doughnuts: the Original Glazed Doughnut, Chocolate Iced with Sprinkles Doughnut, and the Raspberry Filled Doughnut. 

In a 2022 press release, McDonald's said that this "small-scale test" will help it "understand how offering new bakery items like Krispy Kreme could impact operations" in its restaurants. The test later rolled out to 160 McDonald's restaurants in Kentucky. By March 2024, McDonald's and Krispy Kreme announced that they were further expanding their partnership after "consumer excitement and demand exceeded expectations." They said Krispy Kreme doughnuts would be available nationwide at participating McDonald's restaurants by the end of 2026. The doughnuts could be purchased individually or in boxes of six, starting at breakfast and lasting throughout the day. 

However, this match made in heaven took an unexpected turn: McDonald's and Krispy Kreme both revealed that their partnership will officially end on July 2nd. The surprise decision came after Krispy Kreme revealed in its first-quarter earnings report for 2025 that it faced a net loss of $33.4 million during the quarter. The end of the Krispy Kreme and McDonald's partnership also comes during a time when McDonald's is struggling with weak consumer demand after facing controversy over its menu prices and a temporary E. coli outbreak in a few of its restaurants last year."

DEATH OF LORETTA SWIT

American actress Loretta Swit died at age 87 on May 30th. According to The Guardian, "Swit achieved worldwide fame as Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan, head nurse with a mobile army hospital during the Korean War in the TV sitcom M*A*S*H. She appeared in all 11 years of the show from 1972 to 1983 – longer than the conflict that inspired it. The two-and-a-half-hour M*A*S*H finale aired on February 28th, 1983, and was the most-watched episode of any scripted TV series ever due to its more than 100 million viewers.

Misogyny ran throughout the big-screen version of M*A*S*H in a way that was not present in the 1968 novel by Richard Hooker on which it was based. In the TV version, Major Houlihan, a strict disciplinarian, was the butt of sexist jokes from the surgeons and other men in the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital unit. Swit, who had the only leading female role in the show, took a stand before the fifth series began. She was then allowed to contribute to her character’s development, making Houlihan more three-dimensional, warm, and brave. 

Swit said, "I am a feminist, from the top of my head to the bottom of my toenail, and I favor playing strong women." From then on, Swit's character was referred to mainly by her real name rather than as "Hot Lips" and a more human side emerged when Houlihan broke down in front of her nurses, confessing she was hurt by the disdain they held for her because of her stern manner. Swit's performance won her two Emmy awards as outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series, in 1980 and 1982."

According to ABC7, "Every time I had a chance to write for her character, we'd get away from the Hot Lips angle and find out more about who Margaret was. She became more of a real person," Alan Alda told The Hollywood Reporter in 2018. The series ended on a happy note for Houlihan, who spends much of the finale debating whether she wants to head to Tokyo or Belgium for her next overseas post. Ultimately she opts to return to America and work at a hospital, citing her father - a career Army man. Swit didn't personally agree that was the correct decision for a military-minded official: "I didn't think that was correct for my Margaret. I think her next move was Vietnam...I still get letters from women all over the world who became nurses because of Margaret Houlihan. To have contributed to someone's life like that is remarkable," she told Yahoo Entertainment."

Swit never had another starring vehicle. She has been quoted as saying, "Actors are always identified with certain parts. To some, Marlon Brando will always be the Godfather. That's just how it is."

Interesting fact: According to The New York Times, Swit's Off-Broadway debut was in Henrik Ibsen's play, "An Enemy of the People" in 1961 - my favorite all-time play!

DEATH OF BRIAN WILSON

Brian Wilson, co-founder of singing group The Beach Boys, died on June 11th. He was the eldest and last surviving of three musical brothers: Brian played bass, Carl lead guitar, and Dennis drums. The Beach Boys rose in the 1960's from local California band to national hitmakers to international ambassadors of surf and sun. Even Beatles' superstar Paul McCartney drew inspiration from Brian Wilson.

DEATH OF FRED SMITH

Frederick Wallace Smith, the founder, executive chairman, and long-time chairman and CEO of FedEx Corporation, died on June 21 in Memphis, Tennessee, at age 80. According to the FedEx website, "Born on August 11, 1944, in Marks, Mississippi and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Smith was a born entrepreneur. In 1962, he entered Yale College to pursue a degree in economics. While at Yale, the young Smith worked as a charter pilot. It was at Yale where he conceived the idea for an integrated air-to-ground system that would ensure overnight delivery, a concept that would eventually become Federal Express. After graduating from Yale in 1966, he served four years in the United States Marine Corps (USMC), which included two tours of duty in Vietnam where he served as a rifle platoon leader, a company commander, and aerial observer/tactical air controller in the OV-10A. He was decorated with the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts for his military service. He left the Marine Corps in 1970 as a Captain, and would often joke that he received his business degree from the USMC.

Smith launched Federal Express in 1973 with a fleet of 14 Dassault Falcon jets and a vision to transform the shipping industry. Under his leadership as its President and CEO, FedEx grew from a small startup into a multinational corporation that redefined global commerce. Today, FedEx is the world's largest express transportation company and is consistently recognized as one of the world's most admired companies. The company employs more than 500,000 team members globally, connects more than 220 countries and territories, and moves nearly $2 trillion in goods annually and more than 17 million shipments per day. Smith's pioneering approach not only created an industry leader but also set new standards for customer focus with the renowned Purple Promise, a globally consistent People-Service-Profit culture, and a brand trusted by shippers and recipients around the world."

DEATH OF TERRY LOUISE FISHER

Former LA prosecutor and creator of iconic legal TV shows, Terry Louise Fisher died on June 10th. According to Museum.TV, "Terry Louise Fisher began her career not in television but as a lawyer in the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. She later sidestepped into a specialty in entertainment law and in 1982 wrote for and produced the Emmy Award-winning series Cagney and Lacey...But she is best known for her work as co-creator (with Steven Bochco) and supervising producer of L.A. Law from 1986 to 1988. L.A. Law, which ended its run in 1994, was considered the quintessential example of 1980's "appointment television," perfectly capturing the greed, glitz, and power-seeking of the decade, and capturing in the process of its narratives an audience intrigued by those very elements. The power struggles among the show's law partners were echoed in Fisher's 1987 legal battle with Bochco, when a negotiation for Fisher to take over from Bochco as executive producer failed and he banned her from the set. Since then, Fisher published two novels, produced other series and several made-for-television movies, and in the mid-l990's she co-wrote Cagney and Lacey: The Return (1994) and Cagney and Lacey: Together Again (1995)."

DEATH OF ANNE BURRELL

Food Network star Anne Burrell died on June 17th at age 55. She was born in a small town near Syracuse, New York, and discovered her passion for food early - inspired by her mother's cooking and Julia Child. She attended the Culinary Institute of America, trained in Italy, and eventually became a Food Network TV star. Her signature spiky hair and bold personality made viewers of all ages smile and laugh - and want to cook alongside her.

DEATH OF MORTIMER MATZ

Mortimer Matz died at age 100 in New York City on June 26. He was recognized as the co-creator of the annual Nathan's hot dog eating contest that began in the early 1970's in New York City. However, he claimed that it was a Coney Island tradition dating back to 1916. In 1975, while publicizing the fledgling New York City Marathon held in Central Park at the time, he suggested that the race be expanded to all five boroughs. In 1976, to celebrate the nation's bicentennial celebration, it was. Matz has been referred to as "a public relations impressario and trendsetter for providing a raincoat to arrested clients to hide their handcuffs when paraded on a perp walk for the benefit of news reporters," according to The New York Times.

HAWAII'S CLIMATE CHANGE TOURIST TAX

Hawaii became the first U.S. state to establish a climate impact fee. This fee will represent an additional tax on tourists to fund climate change resiliency projects and environmental stewardship within the islands. The country's inaugural "Green Fee" will raise Hawaii's current transient accommodations tax (TAT) by 0.75 percent for a total of 11 percent placed upon the nightly lodging rate. The fee will apply to travelers staying in hotels, short-term vacation rentals, and for the first time ever, cruise ships. For a nightly hotel rate of $300, that would be an extra $2.25 each night. This new tourist tax will go into effect on January 1st, 2026.

STARBUCKS' LOYALTY PROGRAM 

According to Delish, "Beginning June 24, the Seattle-based coffee giant nixed its 25-star bonus for customers who bring their reusable cup. According to a Starbucks spokesperson, you'll earn double stars on your order instead. It will likely just result in fewer points overall. Implemented in 2022, the initial 25-star bonus plan was available for all loyalty members. With it, you could earn enough to hit the 100-point redemption level by bringing a personal cup just four times to snag a qualifying coffee, tea, or snack for free. For the uninitiated: You typically earn stars/points by making purchases at Starbucks — usually one star per dollar spent, but sometimes, with bonus multipliers for special promotions or payment methods. Instead of 25-star bonus per visit with a reusable cup, you'll NOW only earn double stars on your purchase."

One fan showed his outrage on social media, "I thought we wanted to ENCOURAGE people to bring in reusable cups, not contribute to the plastic waste epidemic with single use cups. Hey Starbucks, did you forget the mission statement?"

TRUMP'S "TACO" TRADE BRANDING

According to The Hill, "President Trump has fielded questions from the Oval Office in recent weeks about Elon Musk’s drug use, sensitive matters of diplomacy, and the ethics of accepting a Qatari jet as a gift to be used as Air Force One. While he's chafed at some of those questions, few set him off like the one he received about the concept of the Wall Street TACO trade, an acronym that stands for "Trump Always Chickens Out." The TACO trend has struck a particular nerve with the president, who built his brand on his business acumen and presents himself as a master dealmaker.

The TACO acronym has caught on in political circles in recent weeks, though the term was coined by a Financial Times columnist. The acronym is a reference to traders on Wall Street becoming less reactive to Trump's tariff announcements based on the pattern that he will ultimately pull them back or kick them down the road. The president initially threatened tariffs on Mexico and Canada in early February but ultimately delayed imposing them. Trump imposed sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs on dozens of nations on April 2nd but announced one week later that there would be a 90-day reprieve where the tariffs were lowered to 10 percent."

APPLE'S RE-NUMBERING ITS OPERATING SYSTEMS

Announced in early June at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple is changing the way the company names its software updates. According to CNET, "This is an approach that may seem familiar to anyone who's familiar with Windows 95 or a 1957 Chevy. Apple is rebranding its operating systems by using the last two digits of the upcoming year. So the current iOS 18 will be replaced by iOS 26, not iOS 19, when it arrives in the fall of 2025. That is, the new numbering system reflects the last two digits of 2026, rather than the current year of 2025, similar to how new automobile models are introduced. Samsung and Microsoft have both used year-based naming systems. The change should make it simpler for users to keep track of what operating system is the most up-to-date."

And if you were wondering, the current iPhone model is iPhone 16, which came out in September 2024. As CNET reported, "The iPhone 17 lineup is expected to be announced in September, but there's no word on it being renamed to iPhone 26 rather than iPhone 17."

SALE OF LOS ANGELES LAKERS

For a sports team long associated with celebrities, winning, and the term "Show Time," it's apparently time for a new era. As reported by ABC7Los Angeles, "The Buss family's decision to sell a controlling stake in the Lakers at an eye-popping franchise valuation of $10 billion marks the end of nearly a half-century when one of the most valuable properties in the sports world was run by an eccentric father and his sometimes squabbling children...The Lakers and the Buss clan have been inextricable since 1979 - the longest active ownership tenure in the NBA - but Mark Walter's stunning sports coup Wednesday, June 18th, effectively ends this improbable era.

Mark Walter, who heads a group that already bought 27 percent of the Lakers in 2021, has a sterling reputation in Southern California for his group's stewardship of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The iconic baseball team has become a perpetual World Series contender with bold, aggressive financial moves grounded in smart organizational planning ever since Walter's firm, Guggenheim Partners, paid $2 billion to wrest the Dodgers from the reviled Frank McCourt in 2012.

Magic Johnson, a former LA Laker and partial owner of the LA Dodgers, said, "Mark Walter is the best choice and will be the best caretaker of the Laker brand. The proof is in the pudding on what he's been able to accomplish with the LA Dodgers. Mark has been nothing short of a winner notching 2 World Series and 11 NL West divisional titles in the last 12 years!"

Dave Roberts, LA Dodgers Manager, said, "He's really committed to the city of Los Angeles in various ways, and sports is something that he's very passionate about, and certainly Los Angeles sports. Speaking (as) a Dodger employee, he's very competitive and he's going to do everything he can to produce a championship-caliber team every single year and make sure the city feels proud about the Lakers and the legacy that they've already built with the Buss family."

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND L.L. BEAN

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, outdoor retailer L.L.Bean went "off the grid" for the second consecutive year, pausing all social media channels to prioritize time outside and encourage followers to join them. Beginning May 1st and ending May 31st, the company wiped its social media profiles clean, leaving behind expert-informed resources, tips, and tools to support people in getting outside for their own mental well-being.

The brand's social media messaging read, "Off the grid. See you June 1st" and featured a photo of a mountain, tent, and hiker.

Shawn Gorman, L.L.Bean Executive Chairman, said, "My great-grandfather, Leon Leonwood Bean, believed that nature is the most powerful antidote to the stresses of life, a conviction confirmed by modern research. Our priority at L.L.Bean is to support our customers on their outdoor journeys, outfitting them in quality gear and creating greater accessibility to outdoor activities. We're honored to partner with Mental Health America and Strava to encourage as many people as possible to experience the restorative power of time spent outside."

POPE LEO AND AI

According to CNET, "Pope Leo XIV, who took over leadership of the Catholic Church in May, is revealing one area that he'll be focusing on: Artificial Intelligence. The Pope has called for tech companies to develop a "superior ethical criterion" against which AI should be evaluated. This message was delivered to tech leaders from Google, Meta, OpenAI, and IBM, who attended the second annual conference on AI and its ethics in Rome.

The framework the Pope is asking for would ensure that AI takes "into account the well-being of the human person not only materially, but also intellectually and spiritually." In his June 20th message, the Pope also pointed to AI's unprecedented and rapid access to information as potentially impacting children's development the most. 

The Vatican doesn't have any regulatory power but that hasn't stopped it from being vocal about the ethics of AI. In 2020, the Vatican created the Rome Call for AI Ethics, a document about the ethical considerations of AI algorithms. IBM, Microsoft, and Qualcomm signed on, agreeing to abide by the principles. The Pope's firm stance on AI is similar to that of his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, who urged that AI be used only to benefit humanity."

ARMY'S SALUTE TO WALT DISNEY

According to ABC7NY, "Rocky the Bulldog, the proud mascot of the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division, is celebrating a milestone birthday today on June 13th. It's been approximately 60 years since Walt Disney first received a letter from the 3rd Infantry Division's commanding general asking if he would create a mascot for his so-called "Dogface Soldiers." 

Brigadier General Stephen Capehart, deputy commanding general of support, explained, "The idea came for a bulldog mascot from World War II. Two soldiers talking about what is probably the best animal to represent the 3rd Infantry Division. And Rocky became our mascot." 

Retired U.S. Navy Captain Cappy Surette, now a Senior Manager for Disney Experiences Public Affairs, adds, "Walt had one of his animators named Dale King, who worked for Disney legend Bob Moore, create Rocky the Bulldog." Ever since, Rocky has remained an iconic and beloved symbol of strength, toughness, and pride for the division.

To commemorate this year's milestone, the division welcomed a real-life four-legged Rocky to Fort Stewart, Georgia: a 2-year-old rescue bulldog who also happens to have been born on the 4th of July. Brigadier General Capehart explained, "The American Kennel Club donated Rocky to us because they realized we did not have a live mascot, and that's how Rocky joined the division."

When asked to describe Rocky in three words, Sgt. Anthony Herrera said, "Steals the show. It doesn't matter how good you are or how well you're doing at your job, once Rocky shows up all eyes go to him, and he's the center of attention. And he's what everybody's there for. When Rocky shows up to a formation, you automatically see the smiles. You already feel this connection with the history of our division."

JUNE 14TH SPLIT SCREEN

NPR reported the events of June 14th as a "split-screen moment" in America by highlighting the contrast between two events: A military parade in Washington D.C., celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Army (which also fell on President Trump's 79th birthday) set against "No Kings" protests all across the country against the executive branch of government and the apparent lack of checks and balances by the other branches of the federal government.

THE BATTLE BETWEEN BATTERY BRANDS

According to Fortune, "Duracell has filed a lawsuit against Energizer. The battery companies are battling over Energizer's claims that its Max batteries last 10 percent longer than Duracell. Duracell, which is owned by Berkshire Hathaway, says it has suffered "irreparable reputational harm" because of the ads. The companies have a long history of lawsuits against each other."

The complaint, filed June 13th in a Manhattan federal court, is the latest in a long series of legal battles between the two companies, "The Energizer MAX False Advertising is a clear effort by Energizer to expand its market share — at Duracell’s expense — by confusing and misleading consumers about the comparative performance of Energizer MAX batteries and Duracell Power Boost batteries with blatantly false advertising in a transparent, and unfair, effort to drive sales."

Duracell hopes to end the ad campaign and seeks monetary damages. The battles between the two companies go back almost 80 years when Duracell first entered the market in 1946. Energizer was then known as Ever Ready and invented the AA battery in 1907.

INTRODUCING RITZ-CARLTON'S YACHT COLLECTION

According to Travel+Leisure, "Since the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection launched in 2022 with its first ship, Evrima, it marked the start of a major trend for first-time luxury travelers at sea. Since then, hotel operators including the Four Seasons, Orient-Express, Aman, and Waldorf Astoria, have invested in ships — following The Ritz-Carlton's lead."

Tina Edmundson, the president of Marriott International's luxury brands, said, "When Evrima set sail in 2022, the Ritz-Carlton became the first luxury hotel brand to enter the world of yachting, ushering in a new era of hospitality at sea. As we look ahead to the launch of Luminara (our third yacht), we're reminded of our continued commitment to innovation and excellence. With chef-led culinary experiences, museum-worthy art, and immersive cultural programming, Luminara raises the bar once again by delivering the kind of personalized, elevated travel our guests have come to expect from the Ritz-Carlton."

"The third ship from Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Luminara, welcomes its first guests next week, sailing from Monte Carlo on July 3. The biggest ship yet from the brand, Luminara has 226 suites, each with a terrace. (Ilma, which launched in 2024, is just slightly smaller, with 224 cabins). Setting it apart from the two sibling yachts that came before, Luminara will sail to Asia, Alaska, and Canada — all firsts for the company."

CALLING TRUMP MOBILE

On June 16th, a new mobile service launched. "Announced on the 10-year anniversary of their father's launch of his historic presidential campaign, Trump Mobile is a next-generation wireless provider with bold ambitions and a customer-first mission. Trump Mobile will offer 5G service through all three major cellular carriers. At the heart of Trump Mobile is its flagship The 47 Plan, which is available for only $47.45 per month. Subscribers will receive the following added benefits: Unlimited talk, text, and data; Complete device protection; 24/7 roadside assistance through Drive America; Telehealth services, including virtual medical care, mental health support, and easy ordering and delivery for prescription medications; Free International calling to more than 100 countries; and no contracts, no credit check...While customers can easily switch using their current phone, Trump Mobile is also excited to announce it will release the "T1 Phone" in August. It is a sleek, gold smartphone engineered for performance and proudly designed and built in the United States for customers who expect the best from their mobile carrier."

But should a sitting President be selling anything with their name on it?

JEFF BEZOS' WEDDING IN ITALY

The founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, got married in Venice, Italy, on June 28th. The wedding invitation read as follows:

"We are excited for you to join us! We have one early request: please no gifts.

Instead, we're making contributions in your honor and with gratitude for making the journey to celebrate with us in Venice.

Donatons on your behalf are being made to the UNESCO Venice Office to safeguard this city's irreplaceable cultural heritage, to CORILA to restore the vital lagoon habitats that protect Venice's future, and to Venice International University to support research and education for sustainable solutions.

This magical place has gifted us unforgettable memories. Our hope is that through these efforts and by you joining us, Venice will continue to inspire wonder for generations to come."

However, not everyone was happy about the occasion. According to BusinessInsider, "Many protests had taken place in advance of the Bezos-Sanchez wedding, largely coordinated by a pop-up group called "No Space for Bezos," (which was a play-on-words due to Sanchez' flight into space), and one was underway at Piazza San Marco. A person had climbed one of the three flagpoles in Venice's central square. In a similar spot earlier in the week, Greenpeace rolled out a huge banner with Bezos' face, reading: "If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax."

As reported in BusinessInsider, "Tommaso Cacciari, an activist and fourth-generation Venetian, was among those who helped organize protests against what they saw as a boastful spectacle in their hometown. He explained, "Jeff Bezos, in his amazing arrogance, thought that he would come, not to a city, but to a theme park...But Venice is still lived in by citizens, by activists, by people who love their city and want to change the way it's being run." For Cacciari, the wedding isn't just another celebrity event; it's a symbol of how, in his view, the city caters to the super-rich rather than the people who work and live there. Two Venices existed in parallel on that particular weekend — one arriving by private jet, slipping onto speedboats; the other waiting in line for the vaporetto (Venice's public water bus)."

JC PENNEY, VENICE - AND DIFFERENT WEDDING NEWS

According to MediaPost, "Exhausted by breathless coverage of Jeff Bezos' $10 million wedding to Lauren Sanchez? JCPenney seems to be, too. So the retailer pulled together a beautiful wedding in Venice, CALIFORNIA, for a cool $10,000 - and not a single water taxi, helicopter, or sinister security team in sight. The effort celebrated Estefany Gomez and Leonardo Rendon, a pair of Los Angeles high school sweethearts who reunited after 14 years apart. The ceremony, admittedly a different kind of fairy tale vibe than the high-security affair the Bezos camp put together, included a $99 wedding gown, a $350 tuxedo, and outfits for every wedding guest. This was the latest move in the "Yes, JCPenney" campaign, launched in April, aimed at surprising consumers with unexpectedly chic and affordable fashion at middle America's oldest department store."

According to Marisa Thalberg, Catalyst Brands’ chief brand and marketing officer, "Most of us aren't planning our weddings with a ten-million-dollar budget or a palazzo on standby. At JCPenney, we know that the most memorable celebrations are the ones filled with real moments surrounded by the people we love, and style that surprises everyone, and that's why we're quietly redefining what's possible for couples everywhere - delivering wow-factor memories, minus the jaw-dropping price tag."

That's EXACTLY how to take advantage of mainstream news and put your brand's spin on it!

What other recent marketing buzz caught your attention? Since there's always something happening that impacts marketing, read #DebbieLaskeysBlog for the scoop!

Image Credits: Apple, L.L. Bean, and United Airlines.

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