Debbie Laskey's Blog

Welcome to Debbie Laskey's insights and commentary about BRANDING, MARKETING, LEADERSHIP, SOCIAL MEDIA, EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT, and CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES. Debbie has worked in high-tech, the Consumer Marketing Department at Disneyland Paris in France, nonprofits, and insurance. Expertise includes strategic planning, brand development, marketing plans and audits, competitive positioning, websites, communications, public relations, employee engagement, customer experiences, and social media marketing.

Sunday, August 16, 2026

Recent Marketing News: Advertising, Signage, and Barbie

During the last few weeks, there were news stories that reflected advertising, brand experiences, brand identity, brand storytelling, brand strategy, competitive positioning, customer experience marketing, personal branding, product design, product marketing, signage, special event marketing, and more.

BARBIE'S NEW CAMPAIGN

According to Retail Dive, "Mattel has big plans for Barbie. The company is launching a campaign dubbed "Barbie is Moving," which will include brand partnerships, consumer products, and new packaging, among other efforts. Mattel is increasing its investment in Barbie content, including rereleasing seven classic full-length Barbie specials, doubling videos on the company's Barbie YouTube page and debuting a "Barbie in the Nutcracker" animated special on Netflix this holiday season. Meanwhile, the toy company is waiting to see if rights to "Barbie" will revert to Mattel from Warner Brothers. After a hit film based on the iconic character debuted three years ago, the studio has until December to make a sequel, according to The New York Times."

Roberto Stanichi, Chief Marketing and Brand Officer, explained, "From a product line standpoint, we’re looking to solidify Barbie's place as a fashion icon. You're going to see enhanced product value with more detailed fashions, accessories, better style that we believe is going to increase appeal on shelf."

MATTEL ANNOUNCES WHITNEY HOUSTON BARBIE

According to Mattel Creations on August 9th, which would have been Whitney Houston's 63rd birthday, "We're paying tribute as part of the Barbie Signature collection to Whitney Houston, a generation-defining vocal powerhouse. This incredible artist was nicknamed "The Voice," and her legacy of award-winning music, cultural impact, and philanthropy is stronger than ever. Our homage to this superstar captures the iconic look featured in her record-breaking "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" music video from 1987. Her body-hugging lilac tank dress is paired with bold, colorful earrings and pumps, plus her stunning '80s-style curls. With a microphone stand in hand, she's ready to chase your blues away." The doll designer was Carlyle Nuera, and the packaging designer was Priscila Bara.

Pat Houston, Whitney's sister-in-law, said, "May this doll remind every child and every collector that dreams have no limits, excellence leaves a lasting imprint, and true greatness never goes out of style. Thank you, Mattel, for making one of Whitney's dreams come true."

SUPER BOWL ADVERTISING

According to MarketingBrew, "The NFL season has yet to begin, but Disney is already sold out of Super Bowl XVI ad inventory, the company announced on August 5th. Disney, which will air the 2027 Super Bowl on February 14th, 2027, on ABC and, for the first time also on ESPN, shared the sellout news about a month earlier than NBCUniversal did last year, when the company announced in early September that it was out of 2026 Super Bowl inventory. According to Disney, Super Bowl advertisers will represent 58 brands across 34 categories, including financial services, candy, personal care, and software. Nine of those advertisers will be brand new to the Super Bowl, and altogether, the group comprises one of the broadest advertiser and category mixes in Super Bowl history."

ROAD SIGNAGE IN TEXAS

According to Fast Company, "Research has found that at least one kind of negative messaging on roadway signage can actually increase crashes. One insurance company is taking the opposite approach with a new activation. New York City-based Lemonade created "The Slow Sign," a digital sign that compliments drivers for following the speed limit. Made with the creative agency Cash Studio, the insurance company set up a pink, branded digital roadside sign outside Austin (Texas) with a radar speed sign and a message board that works only if you're obeying the speed limit. When motorists drove past the sign at speeds over the limit, the radar speed sign flashed with their speed. When motorists followed the speed limit, though, the message board came to life. The message board identified the color and make of an approaching car with a personalized message thanks to a spotter down the road with a walkie talkie, and that was followed by language like "Obsessed With Your Safe Driving," "Way To Drive a Fast Car Slow," and "You Understood The Assignment." Officials in Finland once tried a similar approach to Lemonade's activation, but with symbols instead of words. Motorists who drove near or at the speed limit were shown a green smiley face on signage. Those driving 10 kilometers per hour (6.2 mph) over the limit were shown a red frown face and anyone going faster than that was shown a red exclamation point."

NETFLIX'S PROMOTIONAL BILLBOARD

If you were driving down Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, California, from August 6th to 8th, and you looked up at one of the billboards, you might have seen a man waving at you. According to KTLA, "Netflix really put the creative juices to work to promote its latest thriller "The Last House." The streamer has put up a billboard like no other. It looks like a fully furnished living room, erected over Sunset Boulevard and Selma Avenue, with a real person living inside. It's a man donning a robe just hanging out at home in a robe. He'll wave to people walking by and write notes on a whiteboard to communicate. It's meant to depict the premise of the movie: about a family trapped in their house and "must work together to survive dwindling resources and the ominous force keeping them trapped." The billboard has definitely captured people's attention."

According to The New York Times, "The stunt is a rare marketing play from a streaming company that otherwise lets its vaunted algorithm do the heavy lifting for promoting its films. The scene has prompted visits from local news crews and other curious onlookers wondering why and how a man is living in a billboard to promote a movie."

Jonathan Helfgot, a vice president of marketing at Netflix, said, "When you do something like this and it connects, the value is immense. That's not just because of the press or social media coverage of it on face value, but because there's actually an emotional connection between the stunt and the movie that it's for."

MACY'S BIG RED BAG

According to Retail Dive, "The giant red billboard sporting Macy's white star logo, on a building tucked into one corner of the department store's Herald Square flagship in New York, is gone. It's gone without a fight, as Macy's says the sign is outmoded, a stark contrast to five years ago, when the retailer went to court to keep the owner from leasing it to another company. At the time, Macy's — which used the space for decades — believed Amazon would take it over and argued that would cause "incalculable damage." Ultimately, the sign stayed with Macy's. What will become of the space remains a mystery, though. In an email, a Macy's spokesperson said that "refreshed and dynamic branding for Macy's Herald Square that honors our heritage while reflecting the future of our flagship" will soon be unveiled."

WEGMANS' SHOPPING CARTS

According to Grocery Dive, "At a time when most grocers are testing smart carts — and about a year after Wegmans itself confirmed it was piloting the tech-forward carts — the New York grocer is taking a more classic approach to improving the in-store customer experience. Wegmans first rolled out the redesigned carts to its Pittsford and Penfield, New York, locations in mid-July, and this month, Wegmans is introducing a limited number of redesigned small carts at both stores. The carts, which are manufactured in the U.S., aim to improve the shopping experience as well as better support the store team, noting that its previous small cart design was more than 15 years old. The new carts are lighter, quieter, easier to maneuver and feature conveniences like cup and phone holders. They're also better suited for larger items and family-pack purchases."

FORD FATHOM TO ARRIVE IN SHOWROOMS IN 2027

CNN reported, "Ford's next truck, its Ford Fathom, will cost $28,350, which should set it up to be a massive seller. And it absolutely needs to be. Ford has spent billions beyond the usual costs developing the Fathom, a smaller electric pickup truck that goes on sale in 2027. But there is no current US market segment along the lines of electric pickup smaller than a regular truck but still with room for a family of five. If it bombs, it’s not just money down the drain. The truck becomes a cautionary tale. Coming out with any new car can typically cost a major company around $2 billion, but the research and development to bring such an inexpensive EV to the market has taken much more than that. The Fathom – and the cars descended from it – has already cost Ford around $5 billion.

Then there’s the low price. Unlike luxury cars, which can be sold for multiple thousands of dollars more than they cost to be assembled, cheap cars need to sell at extraordinarily high volumes to make the same amount of money. That is enough pressure to put on one little pickup truck. Now add in the fact that it's all-electric, in a segment that simply does not exist in the United States.

[Industry analysts] maintain that the better analogue for the Fathom is the Ford Maverick, a small pickup truck that went on sale in 2019 and comes in both gasoline and hybrid variants. It starts at $28,145 – just $200 cheaper than the upcoming Fathom – and sold about 155,000 units last year...raw numbers don't tell the whole story. Ford has sold out its Maverick production run for multiple years in a row. The Maverick's core customer isn't a traditional pickup truck buyer but someone who might be coming over from an equally affordable car, like a Honda Civic.

For Ford, the Fathom is not just about selling as many of them as it can now, but showing where the company is going. While Ford has scaled back plans for EV production, the company hasn't abandoned them entirely. The Fathom is the first product built on what Ford calls the Universal Electric Vehicle platform, which will be the basic architecture for producing multiple upcoming electric cars, from compacts to vans. That should help to make up for some of the Fathom's development costs. And even though the Fathom is aimed at the lower end of the market, it'll have numerous features to help appeal to those buyers from other brands. It'll have a big screen. An optional battery pack should take its range to over 300 miles. Every Fathom, even the most barebones, will have the hardware and sensors necessary to turn on BlueCruise, the company's software that enables drivers to take their hands off the wheel while on the highway."

NEW JERSEY BANS DYNAMIC PRICING

Yahoo News reported, "New Jersey has officially become the first state to place a one-year moratorium on electronic shelf labels, also known as ESLs, as Governor Mikie Sherrill signed into law the Fair Price Protection Act. The newly signed bill bans surveillance pricing — where businesses have the ability to adjust their prices in real-time with digital tags based on consumer data. The bill means, gone are the days that New Jersey retailers may factor in a shopper's online activity, location, purchasing history, or other collected data when setting prices.

While the law focuses on dynamic pricing, lawmakers etched out the temporary pause on ESLs while the New Jersey Innovation Authority studies the technology. However, the bill does not force retailers to stop using, repairing, or replacing any existing ESLs. The temporary suspension will only impact retailers in the state who have not yet added the technology to stores. The new law will not ban loyalty programs or discounts. The bill will officially come into force on February 1, 2027.

Back in April 2026, Maryland became the first state to pass a law banning the practice. The historic law, the Protection From Predatory Pricing Act, stops grocers and other third-party delivery services from using dynamic pricing or an individual's personal data to set higher prices, ensuring consumers pay a transparent, consistent price at the register.

WALT DISNEY WORLD NEWS

Travel and Tour World reported in early August, "Florida has made a plan for Walt Disney World. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District's planning documents provide for one "new major theme park and/or explansion" through 2045. These provisions create development capacity. They do not identify a theme, location, construction contractor, opening year, or operating name for a new park. People going there should NOT think this means they will start building right away. Walt Disney World in Florida CAN add one big park and also some places for people to stay, stores and things that people need. The official papers from the government say what can be built. They do NOT say what it will be called, when it will open, how much it will cost, or what the plan is for building it...The official record does not show that Disney has committed to building a fifth gate or obtained every approval that would be required to begin construction. That distinction sits at the heart of the story."

Important note to tour operators: "Don't market an unannounced theme park as a future certainty."

ARE YOU GOING ON A COOLCATION?

Are you familiar with the term, "coolcation?" According to MobiMatter, "A coolcation is a trip planned specifically around comfortable temperatures rather than guaranteed sunshine. Instead of chasing beach days, travelers head toward cooler locations such as Arctic capitals, alpine villages, fjord coastlines, and Southern Hemisphere destinations mid-winter. The appeal goes beyond comfort. Cooler climates mean fewer crowds, lower prices outside the traditional peak window, and, for many travelers, a more sustainable footprint than overtouristed hotspots in Southern Europe. Searches for cooler destinations are up 74 percent year-on-year since the start of 2026, according to Trip.com data. Iceland flight searches are up 85 percent, and Greenland's summer tours are booked to capacity. Travel to Scandinavia is projected to surge by up to 35 percent in 2026, according to analysis from car rental company Sixt, far outpacing growth in traditional southern European markets."

From a marketing perspective, the term "coolcation" is often used by Nordic tourism operators and tourism promotion agencies.

FALL ARRIVES EARLY FOR KRISPY KREME

According to news from the doughnut brand, "Move over, summer. Krispy Kreme is welcoming the return of Pumpkin Spice – joined by the fan-favorite Biscoff Cookie Butter Doughnut – as it unveils its Autumn Seasonal Collection, the brand's latest seasonal menu refresh, available beginning Tuesday, August 11th. Featuring the return of fan-favorite Pumpkin Spice alongside craveable new seasonal doughnuts and beverages, the lineup delivers the rich, comforting flavors fans wait all year to enjoy. And this is just the beginning, with even more seasonal experiences arriving later this month and throughout September. Available for a limited time at participating shops nationwide, Krispy Kreme's Autumn Seasonal Collection features four doughnuts inspired by the season's most comforting flavors: NEW Maple Cheesecake Doughnut; NEW Cafe Mocha Doughnut; Biscoff Cookie Butter Doughnut; and Pumpkin Spice Cake Doughnut. Krispy Kreme is also serving up two seasonal lattes that celebrate the flavors of fall: Pumpkin Spice Latte and a NEW Apple Crisp Latte."

DOMINOS PAY FANS TO BETA TEST APP & WEBSITE

Restaurant Dive reported, "Domino's Pizza will give customers $5 off their next order for using its new digital ordering system, according to a press release. The effort is designed to encourage customers to share feedback about its recently relaunched website and app experience, and is supported by a new campaign by agency of record WorkInProgress. Customers who place a qualifying online order between August 3-30 are eligible for a $5 off coupon that can be used the following week on a digital order. They are not required to provide feedback on the ordering experience to receive the discount. Along with the promotional offer, Domino's has launched a campaign that will run across TV, online video, social and digital through August 30. A 15- and a 30-second spot show a wide range of consumers in different scenarios — moving house, playing mahjong, doing yoga, LARPing and procrastinating at college — who can use the deal. The campaign around its relaunched website and app is in line with Domino's focus on digital channels."

According to Mark Messing, Domino's vice president of global digital marketing, "We streamlined our website and app to make them bolder, brighter, more modern and engaging for customers, but we want to hear from them."

And according to Matt Talbot, co-founder and chief creative officer at WorkInProgress, "Domino's Beta Tester is the easiest job ever. You get paid for ordering pizza."

WENDY'S BRAND EVOLUTION

According to Restaurant Dive, "On August 7th, Wendy's CEO Robert Wright laid out five areas of focus that would help turn around the beleaguered chain, which has faced ongoing challenges related to traffic and sales growth, the closure of hundreds of underperforming locations, and pressure from an activist investor. Wright said that he initially started at Wendy's over 28 years ago, working alongside founder Dave Thomas, an experience which made a big impression on him regarding what Wendy's needs to do today."

He noted five areas that will be critical to fix:

(1) Strengthen menu with better food quality and compelling value.

(2) Create distinctive branding and marketing that can boost demand.

(3) Focus on operational excellence.

(4) Create a better digital experience.

(5) Ensure that Wendy's restaurants are leveraged as an engine for growth.

Wright explained, "Today, we are not performing at our potential. Traffic is down. Our value proposition has slipped, and franchisee economics are under pressure. That said, I've seen this brand at its best, and I know we can fix these issues. I'm incredibly optimistic about the power of the Wendy's brand and the future success we can create.”

SHARE THIS: Products are made in a factory, but brands are created in the mind. ~Walter Landor #BrandIdentity #BrandExperience #DebbieLaskeysBlog

CLAIRE'S BRAND EVOLUTION

According to Retail Dive, "With about 900 stores, Claire's is revamping a cornerstone of its reputation under new ownership. The brand is relaunching its in-store piercing experience starting this month across the U.S. and Canada. The experience includes a fully redesigned layout with interactive "Inspiration Bars" for creating piercing stacks, dedicated selfie spaces, and more. The broader update also features an expanded stud earring selection including lab diamond options, a new training program for specialists, and a refreshed visual identity. Claire's developed a dedicated group of instructors, dubbed the Piercing Excellence Team, who travel across the country to train and support store employees. Claire's will continue to offer free piercings with the purchase of a piercing kit starting at $29.99."

NAME CHANGE FOR BED BATH & BEYOND

According to a brand press release, "Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. (NYSE: BBBY) announced on August 4th that it's becoming Neighborhood Intelligence and will begin trading on Nasdaq under the ticker NXH, with its last day of trading on the NYSE on August 14th, and its first day of trading on Nasdaq on August 17th, and that it will relocate its corporate headquarters to Nashville, Tennessee. The Company's organization centers around three interconnected pillars: Omni-Channel Retail, which helps customers create a home they love; Home Services, which helps them improve, maintain, and protect it; and Home Ownership, which brings together the financial, transactional, and advisory capabilities that support one of life's most important investments. Together, the pillars are designed to create an ecosystem that serves customers before they purchase a home, while they own it, as they improve it, and when they ultimately decide to sell or transfer it, in support of a single mandate: to make homeownership simpler and more affordable while creating long-term value for shareholders."

CRACKER BARREL BACK IN THE NEWS

The Wall Street Journal reported, "David Deno is the incoming CEO of Cracker Barrel, effective August 10th. He succeeds outgoing chief executive Julie Felss Masino, who is stepping down following a controversial rebrand and strategic shift. Deno is the former CEO of Bloomin' Brands (parent company of Outback Steakhouse). Masino remains with the company in an advisory capacity through early October 2026." And from Fox Business, "Masino's departure follows an attempt to rebrand Cracker Barrel that sparked controversy last summer. The company's changes included the removal of the "old timer" from the company's logo, as well as adjustments to the interior layout of the restaurants that have long included a general store. The rebrand was part of a $700 million overhaul across the company's 660-plus restaurants, which also included a revamped menu and decluttered dining rooms. Cracker Barrel reversed course on the rebranding push less than a week after the backlash began, with Masino saying that the effort missed the mark and came out of an effort to improve the guest experience at its locations."

Let's not forget what Jon Shapiro, Chief Creative Officer of Brand Experiences at PV&COHO, wrote in Restaurant Dive back in September 2025, "Evolution must be grounded in strategy and authenticity. Brand managers shouldn't fear change. But they must ensure that change amplifies their essence - not erases it.

Key takeaways for any brand considering a refresh:

(1) Start with research. Engage core and growth audiences to understand what they value about your brand and which equities to protect, evolve, or retire.

(2) Define your brand DNA. Clarify your values, voice and personality traits so every decision reflects who you are and who you want to become.

(3) Filter creative through strategy. Make sure design choices serve the strategy, not just design trends.

(4) Test with your audiences. Validate concepts with both loyalists and new audiences to ensure that the changes resonate across segments.

(5) Leverage packaging as a storytelling tool. Packaging is more than a container. It's a tactile brand touchpoint that should connect emotionally and reinforce the brand narrative."

IMPACT OF AI (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE) ON MARKETING

Kristi Melani, Chief Marketing Office at Reputation, wrote in Fast Company, "The organizations that lead in this next era will recognize that reputation is no longer simply the result of effective marketing. It has become one of the foundations of effective marketing. Every customer interaction, review, accurate business listing, service recovery, and experience that reinforces trust contributes to how a business is understood before a customer ever engages with it. AI has expanded the scope of marketing by expanding the number of business activities that influence marketing success, making customer experience, reputation, and operational excellence inseparable from the strength of the brand itself.

Marketing has always been about shaping perception. The next chapter will be defined by earning recommendation, and that requires more than compelling campaigns or differentiated messaging. It requires building an organization whose actions consistently reinforce its promises, because every customer interaction shapes how the brand is understood. In the age of AI, your brand is no longer what you say it is. It's what AI understands it to be."

SHARE THIS: In the age of AI, your brand is no longer what you say it is. It's what AI understands it to be. ~Kristi Melani/Reputation via @FastCompany #AI #Marketing #BrandExperience #DebbieLaskeysBlog

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

Image Credits: Mattel and Macy's/Retail Dive.

Read about THE LAST HOUSE - but spoiler alert, watch the show before reading:

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-last-house-ending-explained

Read full details about "Disney Florida Expansion" from Travel and Tour World (August 2026):

https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/fo2f4up0dkx0/

Read "Top 20 Cool Destinations for Summer 2026: Best Global "Coolcations" to Escape the Heat"

https://mobimatter.com/blog/top-20-cool-destinations-for-summer-best-global-coolcations-to-escape-the-heat/

And check out my posts about other name changes:

At IHOB, It's Now All About the Burgers! (June 2018)

http://debbielaskey.blogspot.com/2018/06/at-ihob-its-now-all-about-burgers.html

Less Means More with This Brand's New Name (Dunkin') (September 2018):

http://debbielaskey.blogspot.com/2018/09/less-means-more-with-this-brands-new.html

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Let's Celebrate The Wizard of Oz Day!

On today's date in 1939, the movie classic THE WIZARD OF OZ had its world premiere. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, and at the 1940 award ceremony, it won Oscars for Best Original Score, Best Original Song ("Over the Rainbow"), and Academy Juvenile Award (Judy Garland).

In a 2009 article, San Francisco Chronicle film critic and author Mick LaSalle wrote, "The entire Munchkinland sequence, from Dorothy's arrival in Oz to her departure on the yellow brick road, has to be one of the greatest in cinema history — a masterpiece of set design, costuming, choreography, music, lyrics, storytelling, and sheer imagination."

In 2019, researchers at the University of Turin analyzed a database of 47,000 films to determine the most influential movies in cinema history, and they named MGM's The Wizard of Oz (1939) as the most influential film of all time. The University of Turin (UniTo) has been a launching pad for contemporary filmmakers, and university researchers are associated with cinematic research, having devised a mathematical algorithm to objectively measure cinematic influence. In addition, the city of Turin (Torino) serves as a major filming hub and hosts the prominent Torino Film Festival.

How will YOU celebrate today? Of course, you could watch the original movie again and dress up like your favorite character. Or you could find a showing of WICKED THE MUSICAL and attend the show. Or you could watch the two WICKED movies directed by John M. Chu (WICKED - 2024 and WICKED: FOR GOOD - 2025). Or you could visit the Smithsonian's American History Museum in Washington, D.C., to see the ruby red slippers worn by Judy Garland as "Dorothy." Or you can "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" to the Judy Garland Museum - her restored 1920's birthplace home - in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

According to Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, "A second pair of ruby slippers is on display at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, the official showcase for the organization behind the Oscars. The ruby slippers in question are said to be the shoes that received the coveted close ups in the film — including the now famous heel clicks that send Dorothy back to Kansas — thus making them the holy grail of all Hollywood memorabilia, and most valuable of the four pairs that were worn by Garland, according to film historians. Upping their value is that they're nicknamed the "Witch's Shoes," since they were the pair taken from the feet of the Wicked Witch of the East in the film. Leonardo DiCaprio, Steven Spielberg, and former Disney chairman Bob Iger helped the Academy acquire the slippers in 2012 in an auction after they had been stored in MGM's costume vault, and then owned by private collectors." According to Iger, "The ruby slippers occupy an extraordinary place in the hearts of movie audiences the world over."

Or, you can read two works of fiction with interesting spins on the well-known story:

BEFORE DOROTHY by Hazel Gaynor (c. 2025)

Here's a brief synopsis from Amazon, "Chicago, 1924: Emily and her new husband, Henry, yearn to leave the bustle of Chicago for the promise of their own American dream among the harsh beauty of the prairie. But leaving the city means leaving Emily's beloved sister, Annie, who was once closer to her than anyone in the world. Kansas, 1932: Emily and Henry have established their new home among the warmth of the farming community in Kansas. Aligned to the fickle fortunes of nature, their lives hold a precarious and hopeful purpose, until tragedy strikes and their orphaned niece, Dorothy, lands on their doorstep. The wide-eyed child isn't the only thing to disrupt Emily's world. Drought and devastating dust storms threaten to destroy everything, and her much-loved home becomes a place of uncertainty and danger. When the past catches up with the present and old secrets are exposed, Emily fears she will lose the most cherished thing of all: Dorothy. Bursting with courage and heart, Before Dorothy tells the story of the woman who raised a beloved heroine, and ponders the question: what is the true meaning of home?"

FINDING DOROTHY by Elizabeth Letts (c. 2019)

Here's a brief synopsis from Amazon, "Hollywood, 1938: As soon as she learns that MGM is adapting her late husband's masterpiece for the screen, 77-year-old Maud Gage Baum sets about trying to finagle her way onto the set. Nineteen years after Frank's passing, Maud is the only person who can help the producers stay true to the spirit of the book — because she's the only one left who knows its secrets. But the moment she hears Judy Garland rehearsing the first notes of "Over the Rainbow," Maud recognizes the yearning that defined her own life story, from her youth as a suffragette's daughter to her coming of age as one of the first women in the Ivy League, from her blossoming romance with Frank to the hardscrabble prairie years that inspired The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Judy reminds Maud of a young girl she cared for and tried to help in South Dakota, a dreamer who never got her happy ending. Now, with the young actress under pressure from the studio as well as her ambitious stage mother, Maud resolves to protect her — the way she tried so hard to protect the real Dorothy."

And here's a fun story, according to Yahoo, "In London in 2009, Harrods department store replicated a scene from "The Wizard of Oz," where Dorothy's house lands on the Wicked Witch of the East. Colossal 14-foot-tall ruby slippers were produced for the installation, which was showcased that year throughout December from the retailer's streetside windows."

So, no matter how you choose to celebrate, have fun and follow the yellow brick road!

Monday, August 10, 2026

Happy World Lion Day!

Celebrated annually on August 10th, World Lion Day was founded in 2013 by the Big Cat Initiative and National Geographic. The day's purpose is to raise awareness and support for the conservation of these magnificent creatures.

Here are some interesting facts about lions:

(1) A lion's roar can be heard from 5 miles away.

(2) Lions can reach speeds of 50 miles per hour.

(3) Lions can leap as far as 36 feet.

(4) Lions are social animals and empathise with other members of their pride. For example, they experience contagious yawning just like humans.

(5) Lions live between 12 and 16 years in the wild.

(6) White lions are a rare genetic variant of African lions, not a separate species. There are very few white lions left in the wild.

And now, let's pivot to marketing and check out six brands featuring lions in their logos and brand storytelling.

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

According to Wikipedia, "Founded in 1895, the New York Public Library (NYPL) is a chartered public library system in New York City. With nearly 53 million items and 92 locations, the New York Public Library is the second-largest public library in the United States behind the Library of Congress. The two iconic marble lions guarding the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building of the New York Public Library are named Patience and Fortitude. Their famous names were officially given to them in the 1930s by New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. He believed these were the exact virtues New Yorkers needed to survive the Great Depression."

According to the NYPL's website, "NYPL's neighborhood libraries in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island—many of which date to Andrew Carnegie's visionary philanthropy at the turn of the 20th century—are centers of educational innovation and service, vital community hubs that provide far more than just free books and materials. Our local libraries play a key role in closing the digital divide, especially for the millions of New Yorkers who don't have internet access at home. New York City public school students rely on their local branches for homework help. The city's immigrant communities count on NYPL's English language and literacy classes. Job seekers depend on our comprehensive job search resources. Altogether, the Library offers tens of thousands of free programs annually, serving everyone from toddlers to teens to seniors."

MONTEREY ZOO

According to the zoo's website, "In 1994, Charlie Sammut purchased the beautiful 51 acre Vision Quest Ranch located in the sun belt between Monterey and Salinas, California. The Monterey Zoo, formally Wild Things Animal Rentals, Inc. is now home to 100+ exotic animals ranging from spiders to African elephants. The zoo continues to run full-time educational programs that touch thousands of children and adults annually. The Vision Quest Ranch B&B helps support the animals by offering exciting alternative means of overnighting in Monterey County while providing a unique adventure for animal enthusiasts. The Monterey Zoo is home to five majestic African Lions. And due to the founding director's special relationship with an African lion named "Josef," the silhouetted lion in Monterey Zoo's logo and seen throughout the zoo, is in honor of Josef."

THE RITZ-CARLTON

According to Wikipedia, "The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC is an American multinational company that operates the luxury hotel chain known as The Ritz-Carlton. The company has 108 luxury hotels and resorts in 30 countries and territories with 29,158 rooms, in addition to 46 hotels with 8,755 rooms planned for the future. The current company was founded in 1983, when the previous owners sold the Ritz-Carlton brand name and the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Boston. The brand was subsequently expanded to other locations. The company is currently a subsidiary of Marriott International...The story of the Ritz-Carlton brand begins with Swiss hotelier Cesar Ritz, who was well-known in the hotel industry as the "king of hoteliers and hotelier to kings." He redefined luxury accommodation in Europe with his management of The Ritz in Paris and the Carlton Hotel in London, among others. Although Ritz died in 1918, his wife Marie continued the tradition of opening hotels in his name...The Ritz-Carlton logo combines a crown and a lion. The crown represents the British royal seal, while the lion symbolizes financial backing. Together, the design was created by pioneer hotelier Cesar Ritz in the early 20th century to signify that the brand was the king of hotels."

DENVER ZOO CONSERVATION ALLIANCE

According to Wikipedia, "The Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance is an 80-acre nonprofit zoological garden and conservation organization located in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1896, it is operated by the Denver Zoological Foundation and funded in part by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. Denver Zoo was started with the donation of an orphaned American black bear. With the construction of Bear Mountain, it became the first zoo in the United States to use naturalistic zoo enclosures rather than cages with bars." According to its website, "For 130 years, the Zoo has been a place where Colorado comes a little closer to wildlife - and our story is still being written...And the African lion is featured on the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance logo because lions are one of the most popular and prominent species housed at the zoo, serving as a symbol of the organization's core mission to protect wildlife. The lion in the logo represents this ongoing dedication to both the care of big cats at the 80-acre campus and the zoo's broader global conservation efforts."

SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE

According to the alliance's website, "San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is an international, nonprofit conservation organization with two front doors. We integrate wildlife health and care, science, and education to develop sustainable conservation solutions. Conservation is at the heart of everything we do. And it starts with that connection we make with people and wildlife every day. Because when wildlife thrives, all life thrives...The lion in the San Diego Zoo logo (part of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) honors "Rex," the iconic lion whose roar in 1915 inspired founder Dr. Harry Wegeforth to create the zoo."

According to Wikipedia, "The San Diego Zoo is a zoo in Balboa Park in San Diego, California. It began with a collection of animals left over from the 1915 Panama–California Exposition that were brought together by its founder, Dr. Harry M. Wegeforth. The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is a safari park located in the northern part of San Diego. Opened in 1972, the safari park operates as a sister location to the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park. The safari park houses over 3,000 animals representing more than 400 species. It hosts a large array of wild and endangered animals from every continent except Antarctica. In 2022, the safari park attracted over 1.6 million visitors."

DETROIT LIONS

According to Wikipedia, "The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions compete in the National Football League as a member of the National Football Conference North division. The team plays their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit. The franchise was founded in Portsmouth, Ohio, as the Portsmouth Spartans in 1928 and joined the NFL on July 12, 1930. Amid financial struggles, the franchise was relocated to Detroit in 1934 and renamed the Lions in reference to the city's Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise, the Detroit Tigers. The Lions are the only franchise operational for the entirety of the Super Bowl era to not appear in a Super Bowl. The team's uniforms have basically remained the same since they moved to Detroit in 1934: silver helmets, silver pants, and either blue or white jerseys...The Lions officially unveiled a new logo and uniforms on April 20, 2009. The logo was given a flowing mane and fangs, while the typeface featured a modern font...On February 1, 2017, the Lions announced a new typeface, logo, and the complete removal of the color black from the team identity. While the previous logo was retained, the border was changed from black to silver...On April 12, 2023, the Lions announced they would celebrate their 90th season in franchise history during the 2023 season with a commemorative logo and jersey patch. The inspiration for the patch is an homage to their logo from 1961 to 1969, which is also honored in the WCF memorial logo and the 60th commemorative season logo...The team's mascot is Roary the Lion."

What other famous brands feature lions in their logos? Chime in and share.

Last year on this date, I shared 22 passages from books I read during 2025, and three years ago on this date, I shared my five favorite books of all time. Today, I'm going to share the five best books I read last year to celebrate National Book Lovers Day.

According to NationalToday.com, "Books are the purest form of escapism. They can take you to any time, place, or culture. In honor of National Book Lovers Day, August 9, we put away our smartphones, pull out a good book, and simply read. (Of course, an audiobook will suffice.) From clay tablets to eBooks, literature has played a crucial role in preserving cultures, educating the masses, and storytelling. Thanks to Johannes Gutenberg's 15th-century printing press, anyone, not just royalty, monks, or landed gentry, could read and own books. But, alas, there was no overnight shipping. Today, join a book club or re-read a favorite novel because National Book Lovers Day rocks!"

Drum roll please...here are the five best books I read last year.

THE LIBRARY OF LOST DOLLHOUSES by Elise Hooper. It's easy to see why I chose this book: I have a passion for reading, libraries, San Francisco, architecture, the Art Institute of Chicago's Thorne Rooms, dollhouses, miniatures, history, and to quote the author, "the importance of illuminating overlooked women."

According to the book's flap, "Tildy Barrows, Head Curator of a beautiful archival library in San Francisco, takes an unexpected turn when she, first, learns the library is on the verge of bankruptcy and, second, discovers two exquisite never-before-seen dollhouses. After finding clues hidden within these remarkable miniatures, Tildy sets out to decipher the secret history of the dollhouses, aiming to salvage her cherished library in the process. Her journey introduces her to a world of ambitious and gifted women in Belle Epoque Paris, a group of scarred World War I veterans in the English countryside, and Walt Disney's bustling Burbank studio in the 1950's. Spanning the course of a century, this book tells the captivating story of secrets and love that embrace the importance of illuminating overlooked women."

Author Elise Hooper explained, "As I delved deeper and deeper into the history of dollhouses, I noticed that miniatures tend to grow in popularity during difficult times. For example, at the end of World War I, Queen Mary commissioned a grand dollhouse from England's leading artisans as a way of lifting the nation's spirits. After the dollhouse was finished, over a million and half people showed up to see it exhibited. In the United States, the Art Institute of Chicago's well-known Thorne Rooms and Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle were created and exhibited during the Great Depression to raise money for charitable causes. And then in 2020, while people were stuck in their homes during the pandemic, another flourishing of modern miniatures took hold once again and captured people's imaginations on social media. I love this proof of how art plays an important and positive role in our lives."

My favorite quote from this book was: "Reading is magic. Think of the imagination and sense of adventure that readers employ every time they crack open a book."

THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah. Published in February 2024 (but I read it in 2025), this historical work of fiction tells the story of a young woman from San Diego who served as a nurse in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Her brother did not survive the war, but she did. Her father had been so embarrassed about her going to war that he lied and told people she went to Italy instead. When she came home from the war, she suffered from PTSD, and no one at the Veterans Administration believed that she had suffered - and continued to suffer from her trauma - and yet she experienced as much trauma as the men who saw battle.

The book was incredibly well-written, the story was so well researched, and upon finishing it, the characters remained with me for a long time. And after finishing the book, I conducted my own research about the impact of American women who served in Vietnam and learned that there is a Vietnam Women's Memorial in Washington, D.C. Glenna Goodacre, the sculptor of the Vietnam Women's Memorial, explained, "My desire to create a lasting tribute to the American women serving in Vietnam is founded upon my deep respect for each of them, and my heartfelt prayer for their healing and hope. I have been humbled by the enormity of such a task yet incredibly honored by the overwhelming gratitude of the veterans. The emphasis of this tribute is centered on their emotions: their compassion, their anxiety, their fatigue, and above all, their dedication."

Author Kristin Hannah has said, "One of the things I love about historical fiction is its ability to illuminate the modern world. Now, more than ever, we need to find a way to come together and have civil, informed conversations."

My favorite quote from this book was: "Thank God for girlfriends. In this crazy, chaotic, divided world that was run by men, you could count on the women."

THE BORROWED LIFE OF FREDERICK FIFE by Anna Johnston. According to author Johnston, "I’ve always been fascinated by cases of mistaken identity and the phenomenon of doppelgangers. I began exploring the idea of one man being able to redeem another man’s life, even after death, and the plot grew quickly from there."

According to the book's description, "Frederick Fife was born with an extra helping of kindness in his heart. If he borrowed your car, he’d return it washed with a full tank of gas. The problem is, at age eighty-two, there’s nobody left in Fred’s life to borrow from, and he's broke and on the brink of eviction. But Fred’s luck changes when he's mistaken for Bernard Greer, a missing resident at the local nursing home, and takes his place. Now Fred has warm meals in his belly and a roof over his head — as long as his look-alike Bernard never turns up. Another character, Denise Simms is stuck breathing the same disappointing air again and again. A middle-aged mom and caregiver at Bernard's facility, her crumbling marriage and daughter's health concerns are suffocating her joy for life. Wounded by her two-faced husband, she vows never to let a man deceive her again. As Fred walks in Bernard’s shoes, he leaves a trail of kindness behind him, fueling Denise's suspicions about his true identity."

My favorite quote from this book was: "Love is about picking someone up and never, ever putting them down again, no matter how heavy things become."

THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE by Jo Piazza. As a fan of other books by Piazza, it's easy to see why I chose this book. In fact, in her book that I read in 2024, CHARLOTTE WALSH LIKES TO WIN, the protagonist, Charlotte Walsh, ran for Senate from the state of Pennsylvania, but the book ended with no clear ending. Instead, there was an author's note at the end, and that note made the book memorable:

"I bet you have a lot of questions after getting to the final page of this book. Namely, does Charlotte win? Does she lose? Does she stay with Max? Does she opt to do it all on her own? The truth is, I've written six different endings to this book...In these politically charged times, everything is taken as a statement. A definitive ending to this book would have been seen as one statement if she won and another if she lost...I wanted to talk about what it means to be an ambitious woman and what it costs us...I wanted to show how difficult it still is for a woman to run for office even though we all know we need more of us in government."

And now, back to THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE, a book about romance, a murder mystery, history, and Sicily...according to the book's description, "Sara Marsala barely knows who she is anymore after the failure of her business and marriage. On top of that, her beloved great-aunt Rosie passes away, leaving Sara bereft with grief. But Aunt Rosie’s death also opens an escape from her life and a window into the past by way of a plane ticket to Sicily, a deed to a possibly valuable plot of land, and a bombshell family secret. Rosie believes Sara’s great-grandmother Serafina, the family matriarch who was left behind while her husband worked in America, didn’t die of illness as family lore has it . . . she was murdered."

My favorite quote from this book centered around this theme: "The importance of women writing their own histories and legacies."

GROWING HOME by Beth Ferry with art by The Fan Brothers was recognized as Barnes & Noble's 2025 Children's Book of the Year. Reading children's books as an adult can be considered "brain candy" because it fosters imagination and provides joy and escapism with beautifully crafted stories and illustrations.

According to the book's description, "A motley crew of talkative plants, a curious spider, and a grumpy goldfish use their newfound magical abilities to defend their family from a greedy human. Ivy is the beloved houseplant of young Jillian Tupper of Number 3 Ramshorn Drive, much to the constant dismay of Toasty the goldfish, who is technically the family pet — swimming in his special place of honor, the antique octagonal fish tank — and should be the most loved. It seems that’s how the cookie crumbles in the curious Tupper household, but soon a sequence of thrilling and magical events challenges that way of life forever. First, there’s the arrival of Arthur, a knowledgeable spider with a broken leg and a curious mind, hidden in an old typewriter. Then Jillian throws everyone for a loop when she brings home dear, sweet Ollie, a school houseplant who just wants to be friends and sing. When Toasty splashes the plants with his tank water out of frustration, the friends learn that they can do magical things — like lift heavy objects and turn things invisible! It turns out Toasty’s fishtank isn’t just for fish; it was made by a curious inventor who gave it special powers that, in the wrong hands, could disrupt everything forever. And a curious man with purple shoes just so happens to want that tank at any cost. Can Ivy, Toasty, Arthur, and Ollie grow to be friends in time to work together to save their beloved Tupper family from utter ruin?"

My favorite quote from this book was: "Have you talked to any of your plants lately? Admired their green leaves or their pretty flowers? Told them they are beautiful? No? Get on that, reader! Then go pet your dog, cat, snake, or guinea pig. Talk to your goldfish! Sing to your parakeet. Animals are people too! Never forget that!"

Doesn't that story sound like fun? It certainly was!

What will YOU read to celebrate National Book Lovers Day? I hope this post gave you some ideas! Happy reading!

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Welcome back, Ted Lasso!

Were you a fan of the Apple+ television series TED LASSO that ran from 2020 to 2023? If yes, then you’ve anxiously been waiting for the show's return! Well, your wait is over because the series arrives today on Apple Television - and I'm also excited to be re-introduced to the series' memorable characters and Ted's inspiring leadership lessons.

According to Foster School Business Professor Bruce Avolio, "Leaders like Indra Nooyl (former CEO of Pepsi), Eleanor Roosevelt, and Nelson Mandela, similar to Ted Lasso, seek to instill a belief that everyone matters." What a wonderful leadership lesson and take-away from the series for all leaders.

In anticipation of season four of TED LASSO, I've chosen snippets referencing the series from five marketing and leadership experts who've appeared on my Blog since the series launched in 2020. Enjoy!

AMANDA HAHN-PETERS: "There's something so refreshing about Ted Lasso's leadership style — he's humble, vulnerable, self-aware, and, above all, joyful. Early in the series, when Ted, a former American football coach, takes over as the head coach of an English Premier League soccer club, he isn't afraid to be vulnerable and admit that, despite being one of the organization's higher-ups, he's a soccer newbie. Instead of being embarrassed by his lack of soccer knowledge, Ted accepts suggestions from others in the organization to help make the team better. A specific example is when he seeks input on game strategy from AFC Richmond's kit manager, Nathan Shelly. As kit managers don't usually contribute to a team's strategy, this stood out as a moment of transformational leadership. This is also a good reminder to all current and aspiring leaders that great ideas can come from anywhere and at any level of an organization.“

ZEN YINGER: "Ted Lasso's approach to leadership is a refreshing departure from conventional portrayals. In a world often fixated on success at any cost, Ted stands out by emphasizing the human side of leadership, creating a memorable and uplifting experience for viewers.”

JOSEPH MICHELLI: "Ted was a resoundingly optimistic, ethical leader, who cared about developing the people around him. He overcame a lack of experience coaching soccer through folksy wisdom, a clear vision for the future, genuine compassion, and kindness. I believe we need more examples of leaders like Ted Lasso – those that are authentically caring, unpretentious, and other focused.”

GREGG VANOUREK: “The Ted Lasso series is brilliant on many fronts, including the way it showed the human aspects of leadership and the complex dynamics of being part of a team and community. For leaders (and others), it has powerful lessons about heart, humanity, dignity, love, hope, belief in people, and the transformation of pain and hardship. Ted connected with others - and inspired them - while proving the naysayers and cynics wrong. He reminded us that love and humanity are at the heart of great leadership. Even though Ted admitted, "You could fill two Internets with what I don't know about football," his keen sense of observation and unique approach brought so much to the team."

ERIC STONE: "Ted Lasso really stands out for me with his leadership style. Have you ever watched someone handle a challenging situation so well that it inspires you to be better? Whether it's navigating a tough conversation with an employee or teammate, or presenting to senior leadership, you walk away thinking, I wish I could communicate like that. That's the kind of leader Ted Lasso embodies; someone who connects with both the head and the heart. While he's a bit quirky at times, he proves that you can lead with high character without sacrificing high standards. He balances optimism with accountability, making people feel valued while pushing them to be their best. His ability to build trust, transform team culture, and inspire loyalty is something every leader can learn from. Just like some companies rally around slogans like Just Do It or Play Like a Champion, Ted's guiding principle is simple but powerful: Believe."

What new leadership lessons will we learn from Ted during season four? We'll have to tune in to see. In the meantime, my gratitude to Amanda, Zen, Joseph, Gregg, and Eric for sharing their thoughts about Ted Lasso the character and series.

And lastly, I highly recommend the book "Lead It Like Lasso" by Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio, because, as the authors explained, it’s "a leadership book for life, your life."

Let's Celebrate Blogger Day with Eric Jacobson!

Since 1999, each year on August 5th, Blogger Day is observed. A blog, a shortening of the word "weblog," is an informational website published on the Internet that consists of story-like text entries typically displayed in reverse chronological order.

According to Holidays Calendar, "Although blogs originally started out as the work of individuals, they have increasingly been used by organizations, universities, and media outlets to distribute information. Today, there are over 600 million blogs published among the 1.9-plus billion websites that currently exist on the Internet. Over two million blog posts are published every day. In the United States alone, there are over 32.7 million bloggers; and it's been estimated that approximately 80 percent of all Internet users read blogs."

To celebrate Blogger Day, I'd like to welcome a leadership expert back to my blog who I met many years ago when we collaborated with MicroMentor. Eric Jacobson, based in Kansas City, Missouri, has three decades of experience in successfully leading employees and teams through periods of revenue growth, new product development, and re-engineering. He is an experienced mentor and coach and holds an MBA Degree from Keller Graduate School. His passion is helping individuals to become effective leaders at work, within organizations, and wherever they are called upon to lead and inspire. Eric's writings about leadership and management appear regularly on his blog, and he's been a valued contributor here on my blog in Q&A-format posts and as a participant in my many leadership series since 2009.

QUESTION: You share inspiring book reviews about leadership on your Blog. How do you decide which books to review?

ERIC JACOBSON: I choose books with content I believe will help my blog's readers to become better leaders. Ideally, books with immediately actionable techniques, processes, and practices. I choose books as well that I believe would be good ones for leaders to share with their employees striving for broader leadership opportunities. Fortunately, there are plenty of new books each year about leadership, in fact, I featured 48 on my blog during 2025.

QUESTION: What are the three most common themes that appear on your Blog?

ERIC JACOBSON: Here are the three:

(1) Servant leadership.

(2) Communication – particularly listening skills.

(3) Team Building and Workplace Culture.

QUESTION: Author Stephen King has said his secret for writing is to set aside time to write every day. What are some of your writing secrets?

ERIC JACOBSON: I set aside time to write each week, but not every day. Beyond that, I read a lot of news sites to spot business and workplace trends that I think would be good for my blog. Plus, I rely on various public relations firms and book publishers who send me advance copies of books for my review and consideration to feature on my blog. For those books, I seek out authors who are willing to add additional insights about their books, such as why they authored the book, most pertinent tips, and critical takeaways for leaders.

QUESTION: Which is your favorite post on your Blog, and why? (Link will be provided at end.)

ERIC JACOBSON: Wow, that's a tough choice to make, because so many leadership books I've featured have offered so many tips for leaders. However, if I have to choose only one, it would be my "New Year's Resolution" post that I feature toward the end of each year. It's a quick-read list of 70 ways to become a better leader and encourages readers to select a few from the list and resolve to become better in the new year. I like this post because the list includes tips and techniques from many of my blog posts - and all are actionable for both new and seasoned leaders.

(Note: This particular post has inspired me to write several related posts - see link of most recent one at end.)

QUESTION: How has blogging changed and/or evolved over the years? (Fun fact, we’ve both been blogging since 2009.)

ERIC JACOBSON: From what I've read, there are more blogs than a decade ago – business and personal. So, blogs aren't dead even though there are more ways to share content via social media channels, such as TikTok, Instagram, articles on LinkedIn, etc. Furthermore, blogging remains highly relevant in 2026, serving as a key tool for SEO, digital marketing, audience engagement, and long-term content strategy, especially when combined with AI and social media. Businesses that maintain high-quality blogs see measurable benefits, including more lead growth for companies that blog regularly compared to those that don't.

Saturday, August 1, 2026

Best Social Media Post of the Month of July 2026

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 my favorite tweet of all time, 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 monthly series on my blog appearing during the first week of each month (hard to believe I've been writing these posts since February 2025!), I share my choice for the best social media post of the preceding month. My 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 applause as the best social media post of the month from July 2026 was a post on July 17th on Instagram by SendAFriend.

If you're not already familiar with SendAFriend, here's an introduction from the brand's website, "Whether you're looking to brighten someone's day, celebrate a special moment, or just let someone know you're thinking of them, we're here to help you send the perfect cuddly companion. Join us in our mission to make the world a happier place, one stuffed friend at a time. Our care packages are the simplest way to spread love, smiles, and joy, but they contain so much more than stuffed animals. When you send a friend, we donate a portion of each purchase to nonprofit organizations sharing our vision of making the world a better place. Together, we've donated over $1.6 million through our Spread the Love Fund to incredible charities because of generous people like you. And as of late 2024, we have helped over one million people send happiness across the globe, and our team has expanded to over 30 employees who share the mission of making the world a better place."

SendAFriend's post on Instagram featured a plush shark with the message, "Shark Fun Fact: Sharks do not watch Shark Week due to limited underwater cable infrastructure."

With all the publicity surrounding the annual week of shark-related TV shows, this post was clever and memorable. According to Discovery.com, "Summer's most-anticipated television programming event, Discovery Channel's "Shark Week," returned for its historic 38th year on Sunday, July 26th. " The main purpose of this annual series is to increase conservation efforts about these mysterious creatures of the deep. The post by SendAFriend expertly aligned its products and brand personality with this annual television event.

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 SendAFriend definitely succeeded in my book!

Which brand will stand out during August, and why? Swing by #DebbieLaskeysBlog during the first week of September to read about my choice.