During the month of July, there were news stories that reflected advertising, brand experiences, brand identity, brand storytelling, brand strategy, celebration marketing, cobranding, customer experience marketing, employer branding, holiday marketing, language, personal branding, product launches, social media marketing, special event marketing, sports marketing, strategic alliances, and more. Stories from the early part of the month were detailed in my mid-month post on July 20th.
38TH ANNUAL "SHARK WEEK"
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 at 8PM ET/PT. Since 2010, it has been the longest-running cable television programming event in history and is broadcast in over 72 countries." The main purpose of this annual series is to celebrate the ocean, dispel misconceptions about sharks, and increase conservation efforts for these mysterious creatures of the deep.
The social media marketing strategy behind Shark Week's promotions was creative and memorable - perhaps, one of the best campaigns I've ever seen! With a round of applause to the team behind the posts, here's a recap:
On June 18th on Twitter/X: The image was a reimagining of Mount Rushmore with different types of sharks (a sawshark, a great white, a hammerhead, and a whale shark) in place of American presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. A schedule of all the shows for Shark Week was included. This post set the stage for clever promotional posts that would follow throughout July.
Then, on July 4th on Twitter/X, a video version of the famous painting "George Washington Crossing the Delaware" by Emanuel Leutze was posted with the message, "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of sharks. The Fourth of July isn't the only thing we're celebrating this month! #SharkWeek, the greatest week in history, returns July 26th on Discovery."
Then, on July 5th on Twitter/X, the post's message was, "A true work of shark (with painting palette emoji). When an iconic masterpiece meets the most iconic week in history (with a shark emoji). #SharkWeek returns July 26th on Discovery." The post was accompanied by the famous "Mona Lisa" painting by Leonardo da Vinci holding a shark.
Then, on July 8th on Twitter/X, the post's message was, "This is what we call an iconic work of Sharkitecture (with a shark emoji). The greatest week in history, #SharkWeek, returns July 26th on Discovery." An illustration of a reimagined Eiffel Tower accompanied the post featuring a shark fin, shark eyes, shark teeth - plus many shark fins visible in the Seine River.
Then, on July 9th on Twitter/X, the post's message was, "The birth of...shark? The greatest week in history, #SharkWeek, returns July 26th on Discovery." A reimagining of Sandro Botticelli's masterpiece, "Birth of Venus," accompanied the post including a shark fin visible in the water.
Then, on July 11th on Twitter/X, the post's message was, "A Great Wall for the GREATEST week in history (with a shark fin). #SharkWeek returns July 26th on Discovery." An illustration of China's Great Wall reimagined in the shape of a shark accompanied the post.
Then, on July 13th on Twitter/X, the post's message was, "The real culprit behind that GREAT wave (with a shark emoji). #SharkWeek returns July 26th on Discovery." A reimagined version of Hokusai's "The Great Wave of Kanagawa" featuring a great white shark in the large wave accompanied the post.
Then, on July 15th on Twitter/X, the post's message was, "Behold...Sharkhenge. #SharkWeek, the greatest week in history, returns July 26th on Discovery." An illustration of Britain's Stonehenge featuring sharks instead of stones accompanied the post.
Then, on July 17th on Twitter/X, the post's message was, "Our kinda jewelry (followed by three shark emojis). #SharkWeek returns July 26th on Discovery." A reimagined version of Johannes Vermeer's iconic painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring" accompanied the post, but in this version, a shark was her earring.
Then, on July 18th on Twitter/X, the post's message was, "This shark knows ball (with a soccer emoji). Don't miss Jaws versus Orca when #SharkWeek returns Sunday, July 26th on Discovery." An illustration promoting the World Cup soccer FIN-ALS (get it, FIN?) accompanied the post. There was a reimagined gold FIFA World Cup trophy with a shark's mouth around a soccer ball instead of two human figures holding up the Earth. And both an orca and great white shark were included wearing soccer jerseys atop a soccer ball with the "Shark Week" logo.
Then, on July 19th on Twitter/X, the post's message was, "We all scream for #SharkWeek (with a shark emoji). The greatest week in history returns Sunday, July 26th at 8P on Discovery." An illustration of a reimagined version of Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream" accompanied the post with a shark jumping out of the water behind the screamer's head.
Then, on July 23rd on Twitter/X, the post's message was, "A national treasure (with a shark emoji). #SharkWeek begins in THREE DAYS at 8P on Discovery." An illustration of a reimagined version of the Washington Monument as a standing shark accompanied the post - including three shark fins circling in the reflecting pool below the monument.
Then, on July 24th on Twitter/X, the post's message was, "Four score and seven bites ago (with a shark emoji and an American flag emoji). Only TWO DAYS until #SharkWeek begins at 8P on Discovery." An illustration of a reimagined hammerhead shark as Abraham Lincoln sitting in the Lincoln Memorial accompanied the post.
Then, on July 25th on Twitter/X, the post's message was, "The stars, the stripes, the SHARKS (with a Statue of Liberty emoji and a shark emoji). Only ONE DAY until #SharkWeek begins at 8P on Discovery!" An illustration of a reimagined shark as the Statue of Liberty accompanied the post - and the book held in the statue's hand featured Roman numerals for 26.
And lastly, on the morning of July 26th on Twitter/X, the post's message was, "The biggest stars of the summer have arrived (with a movie clapboard emoji plus a shark emoji). #SharkWeek begins TONIGHT at 8P on Discovery." An illustration of a reimagined "HOLLYWOOD" sign with letters spelling "SHARK WEEK" accompanied the post.
Side note: I noticed that the above-referenced posts also appeared simultaneously on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
Lastly, are you wondering why these posts were so memorable? According to an article from Global Leaders Institute for Art Innovation from October 2024 entitled, "When Art Meets Marketing: The Rise of Brand Collaborations with Cultural Institutions, "The fusion [of art with mainstream events] is an evolving trend that highlights the fluid boundaries between art and commerce. While such partnerships can provoke debates about cultural integrity, they also offer opportunities for creative expression and audience engagement."
SHARE THIS: The fusion of art with mainstream events...can offer opportunities for creative expression and audience engagement. ~Global Leaders Institute for Art Innovation #SharkWeek #ArtHistory #TheScream #MonaLisa #Stonehenge #EiffelTower #DebbieLaskeysBlog
WANTED: WRITER FOR TV SHOW "JEOPARDY"
CNN reported, "The head of the long-running, beloved quiz show with a perilous name is currently drowning under a sea of applications to join its staff and help devise clues, famously written as answers. During July, for the first time in the history of the popular game show, "Jeopardy!" opened its hiring process to the public at large, inviting anyone willing and able to be its next writer to apply, as long as they can pass a rigorous recruitment process befitting a TV show synonymous with some of the smartest people in the country. The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the show's team of nine writers only arose because one of them decided to retire after three decades with the series. When the role was first posted online, it generated a slew of news stories that also undoubtedly led to an increase in the number of candidates...it could be as high as 1,000, all of which senior staff will need to sort through. The job listing noted that the new hire will be responsible for writing an average of eight categories each week (all sourced according to the show's rigorous standards, meaning no use of artificial intelligence or Wikipedia), devising last-minute replacement clues on taping days, and providing quick research during filming to assist with judging during game play. The role, which is based out of the Sony Pictures Entertainment studio lot in Culver City, California, has a potential salary of up to $172,000."
DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION HAVE A CHIEF PEOPLE AND CULTURE OFFICER?
Have you heard about the C-Suite role called "Chief People and Culture Officer?" Yum Brands has. Nation's Restaurant News reported on July 21st, "Nai De Leon has been named chief people and culture officer of Yum Brands, parent company of Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger & Grill. She will oversee talent, leadership development, total rewards, organizational effectiveness, and people operations across the company's global system, which includes 63,000 restaurants in 155 markets. She will report to CEO Chris Turner, who took on his role last year. De Leon joined Yum in August 2025."
Rebecca Christianson, CEO of Thriving People Consulting, explained the role in more detail, “Employee experience is treating your employees like important customers by ensuring their experiences at work are human-centered, use the latest digital technologies, and are personalized, compelling, and memorable. It's seeing the world through the eyes of employees, staying connected with them, co-designing people solutions, then implementing bespoke initiatives that meet their needs. To achieve this, companies need dedicated People and Culture roles."
RETURN OF MANHATTANHENGE
Coined by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson in 1997, Manhattanhenge is the spectacular phenomenon where the setting sun aligns with Manhattan's east-west street grid. After visiting Stonehenge and studying the alignment of the ancient stones with the summer solstice, Tyson realized that the same solar phenomenon also happened in New York City. The best viewing dates for 2026 were: May 28-29 and also July 11-12. According to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, "These two days happen to correspond with Memorial Day and Baseball's All Star break. Future anthropologists might conclude that, via the Sun, the people who called themselves Americans worshiped War and Baseball. For these two days, as the Sun sets on the grid, half the disk sits above and half below the horizon - mirroring the way the sun aligns with the ancient stone monument of Stonehenge in the United Kingdom."
SHARE THIS: Future anthropologists might conclude that, via the Sun, the people who called themselves Americans worshiped War and Baseball. ~American Museum of Natural History (@AMNH) #Manhattanhenge #AllStarGame #DebbieLaskeysBlog
CO-BRANDING: MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AND FIREHOUSE SUBS
According to the sandwich brand's press release, "Firehouse Subs, the firefighter-founded restaurant brand known for hearty, hot subs, announced its first professional sports league partnership: a multi-year deal with Major League Baseball (MLB), making Firehouse Subs the 'Official Sub' of MLB across the United States and Canada. To celebrate the start of the second half of the baseball season, Firehouse Subs will launch "Extra Innings, Extra Subs" – a season-long promotion that rewards fans all summer long. Beginning Friday, July 17th, any time an MLB game goes into extra innings on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, guests can buy a medium sub and get another medium sub free – redeemable the following Monday through Wednesday. The offer is redeemable through the Firehouse Subs app or at Firehousesubs.com with promo code "EXTRA."
Beyond "Extra Innings, Extra Subs," Firehouse Subs will also serve as Official Partner of the MLB PLAY BALL initiative and Presenting Partner of MLB Pitch, Hit & Run. PLAY BALL, a priority MLB initiative launched in 2015 under Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr., promotes participation in baseball and softball with an emphasis on casual play. Pitch, Hit & Run – celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026 – gives boys and girls ages 7–14 the chance to compete in skills competitions, with Finals held at the World Series presented by Capital One. The partnership marks the first national sports league deal in the brand's 31-year history, launching as the MLB season enters its second half and the push toward October begins.
As the Official Sub of MLB, Firehouse Subs also brings its longstanding commitment to first responders to the national stage. A portion of every purchase at Firehouse Subs restaurants in the U.S. benefits the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which has awarded more than $115 million in lifesaving equipment and resources to public safety organizations across North America."
Carolina Berti, Chief Marketing Officer at Firehouse Subs, said, "We weren't looking for just any sports partnership, we were looking for the right one. Baseball is that partner: a sport built on community."
CHICAGO BOASTS WORLD'S LARGEST HELLO KITTY CAFE
Chicago Sun-Times reported, "There's just something about Hello Kitty — the little cartoon with a cute-as-a-button bow. Sanrio's Hello Kitty has been charming fans since her debut in the 1970s, and she's landed her own pink-powered experience in Chicago. Hello Kitty Cafe Chicago opened as the largest of the brand's cafes. Visitors and kids of all ages can enjoy two stories and 8,000 square feet not just of merchandise and photo ops, but a full-service afternoon tea in the exclusive Bow Room and a host of Instagram-worthy baked goods."
THE SEARCH FOR HIDDEN GOLD IN FINLAND
CNN reported, "More commonly known as the home of Santa Claus and for its landscapes reminiscent of the magical world of Narnia, Lapland in Finland is inviting tourists to swap reindeer rides for a summer-long hunt for hidden gold. Participants will explore the trails and landmarks of Levi, a resort in northern Finland, known for winter ski slopes and views of the Northern Lights, where fortune hunters will be in search of a gold bar worth 20,000 euros (USD $23,300). The Midnight Sun Hunt began on June 18th at the Levi Visitor Centre, and the final clue will be revealed on August 22nd. Participants collected their first clue and registered for the hunt at the center. Afterward, further clues will be shared, leading hikers through local trails, attractions, and landmarks, each bringing them closer to the hidden prize. The gold bar could be found after any clue, organizers said, with additional hints being released throughout the summer, gradually making the location of the gold easier to identify."
FRANCE'S NEW SOCIAL MEDIA BAN
The Guardian reported on July 21st, "France's parliament approved a bill banning social media access for children under 15, making it the first EU country to ban children from apps such as TikTok. President Emmanuel Macron has championed the ban as a key reform of his final term in office and pledged to enforce it by September. After Macron's government suspended pensions reforms last year, a social media ban could be his last major domestic change before he steps down next year. Under-15s will be blocked from creating new accounts from September 1st, according to the legislation. Exceptions to the ban are provided for sites such as online encyclopedias and educational platforms. France will be closely watched by other European states. It is one of 20 countries worldwide to have proposed or introduced such measures. Last December, Australia became the first country in the world to require TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, and other top sites to remove accounts held by under-16s or face heavy fines."
WORLD'S MOST LIVABLE CITY
CNN reported, "The world seems to be changing at lightning speed, so it's perhaps good to know that some things remain the same — at least when it comes to the most livable city. Copenhagen has taken the Number 1 spot on the annual list from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) for the second year running. The Danish capital beat out Austria's Vienna, which previously had a three-year run at the top, for the second year in a row on the annual list, released on July 6th. The EIU, a sister organization to The Economist magazine, ranked 173 cities around the world on a number of different factors including education, stability, healthcare, infrastructure, and culture. Copenhagen received "perfect" scores in three categories, including stability, infrastructure, and education."
Here's the list of the world's top ten cities:
(1) Copenhagen, Denmark
(2) Vienna, Austria
(3) Melbourne, Australia
(4) Sydney, Australia
(5) Zurich, Switzerland
(6) Geneva, Switzerland
(7) Osaka, Japan
(8) Adelaide, Australia
(9) Vancouver, Canada
(10) Tokyo, Japan
SEINE RIVER: NEW ATTRACTION FOR LOCALS AND TOURISTS IN PARIS
CNN reported, "If you're visiting Paris this summer, you may want to add swimming in the Seine to your itinerary. And after the heat this city has seen in the past few weeks, you may absolutely need to. Paris just experienced its hottest day on record, with temperatures topping 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 Celsius) in late June...Starting July 5th, Parisians and tourists can take a refreshing plunge in the Seine, for the second summer in a row. A century-old ban has given way to what is fast becoming a new Parisian summer tradition. The seasonal opening was timed to mark 250 years of Franco-American friendship. For American visitors, there may be no more quintessentially Parisian way to celebrate the 4th of July than a dip in the Seine.
Though many are treating river swimming as a modern novelty, Paris has a complicated history with the Seine. It all began in the 17th century as a casual practice straight off the river's sloped banks — a habit initially banned in 1716 on the predictable grounds of public decency. By the 19th century, bathing had evolved from a quick cool-down into a major social and sporting event. Wealthier establishments along the banks offered restaurants, cafés, and swimming lessons. One of them, the Piscine Deligny, became one of the city's most fashionable spots, eventually hosting swimming events for the 1900 Paris Olympics. The river's golden age began to fade around the turn of the 20th century. A wave of drownings and river-traffic accidents led to the French government implementing a total ban on swimming in 1923.
But the real death of Paris' swimming culture wasn't down to rules and regulations — it was caused by pollution. Water quality experienced a catastrophic decline throughout the mid-20th century. By the 1970s, the Seine was, in effect, a flowing urban cesspit: more than half of the region's wastewater was dumped straight into it untreated. The toll on its ecosystem was almost terminal, and by 1970, the river was effectively biologically dead, its fish population reduced to just three resilient species.
Serious efforts to reverse the damage began in the mid-1980s, leading to a political promise that would haunt French leadership for a generation...As recently as 2013, the Paris triathlon had to be canceled outright because the water quality was too dangerous for athletes. [Then] in 2016, mayor Anne Hidalgo relaunched [Paris mayor Chirac's pledge to swim in the Seine] ahead of the city's 2024 Olympic bid. This time, it took more than a billion euros and a monumental engineering project to overhaul the French capital's wastewater treatment and connect thousands of riverside homes to the sewer network for the first time. The massive effort to clean up the river was timed to coincide with the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, which used the Seine for swimming contests. And despite the city's trademark scepticism, around 100,000 people showed up in the first public season in 2025."
This summer, there are three free public swimming spots along the Seine: Bras Marie near Notre-Dame (between the 5th and 11th Arrondissements), Grenelle facing a quarter-scale replica of the Statue of Liberty (between the 15th and 16th Arrondissements), and Bercy (between the 12th and 13th Arrondissements).
THEME NIGHTS: ATTRACTION FOR NEW BASEBALL FANS
Marketing Brew reported in July following the 96th Annual All-Star Game, "MLB theme nights have long been popular, but new trends are starting to take shape as teams across the league court families with theme nights tied to children's shows and women with book-related themes. The Boston Red Sox, which hosted their first-ever theme night in 2013, will put on about 60 to 65 theme games this season, which have become an increasingly important contributor to ticket sales, according to Travis Pollio, senior director of ticket strategy and promotions for the Red Sox. Some of the themes, like Toy Story 5 and Hello Kitty games, reflect MLB's recent focus on younger generations, while others, like nights for Fourth Wing and Heated Rivalry, indicate baseball's efforts to cement more women fans. But with each team playing 162 regular-season games per season, there's something for just about everyone. In 2023, the Red Sox worked with Warner Bros. for a Barbie theme game tied to the at-home release of the movie, renaming Fenway Park "Kenway Park" for the occasion, Pollio said. It was something of a turning point for the team's theme games, and was one of its first that went relatively viral. Several teams now host Barbie theme games."
According to MLB Chief Marketing Officer Uzma Rawn Dowler, "These games are designed for people who are not already baseball die-hards, meant to bring new fans into the ecosystem, and into our ballparks, that might not traditionally think to go to a baseball game."
And according to Alexandra Layman, senior manager of group events for the Seattle Mariners, "Books are the way of the future. We have a lot of female readers, and some of these big book franchises are very attractive, so I think that's where my 2027 [planning] is going."
Let's not forget this news previously reported back in May, "No ballgame experience is complete without peanuts and Cracker Jacks. Or, in Chicago, a pope hat. At the Chicago White Sox' game on August 11th against the Cincinnati Reds, all fans in attendance will receive a team-branded hat shaped like a mitre, the ceremonial headdress worn by religious leaders including Pope Leo XIV, who is perhaps the most famous White Sox fan alive. The pope's status as a certified White Sox fan has been well-documented: he was photographed in a White Sox cap at the Vatican and attended Game 1 of the 2005 World Series. Naturally, that level of papal support was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the team."
However, according to MarketingBrew, "Once the newcomers are through the gates, the challenge then becomes getting them to return for themed or non-themed games. By and large, teams are attempting to lock in long-term fans by making sure that games are enjoyable and memorable." And as MLB Chief Marketing Officer Uzma Rawn Dowler said, "We want to ensure that the experience is top tier, and that fans are planning their next visit to the ballpark soon after leaving their first, if not before."
ARE YOU A "DESIGNATED SCROLLER" AT DISNEY THEME PARKS?
Entertainment reporter Ben Fritz wrote in The Wall Street Journal, "Disney Is the Happiest Place on Earth, unless you're the designated scroller. To avoid endless lines, one person in every party has to manically book and revise ride reservations on their phone...As you enter Disneyland or the Magic Kingdom these days and walk down Main Street, you'll notice something disconcerting: Everyone is furiously typing on their phones. They're not (only) scrolling TikTok. They're making reservations for Lightning Lanes, the system Disney visitors use to manage ride reservations. Lightning Lanes have lots of benefits, particularly, they let you wait on shorter lines and they make the company more money. But using them effectively requires that someone in every party spend much of the day managing the app to get the best reservations. The big question: Is it still the happiest place on Earth when you spend much of the day buried in your phone?"
NEW STRATEGIC ALLIANCE BETWEEN KRAFT HEINZ AND THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY
A press release on the Kraft Heinz Company's website on July 21st reported, "The Kraft Heinz Company and The Walt Disney Company have announced a long-term, multi-year strategic alliance, bringing together two of the world's most iconic companies. The enterprise-wide alliance spans foodservice, media, events, and more, creating a platform for innovation and storytelling that reaches families wherever they engage with Disney and Kraft Heinz brands in parks and cruises, and at home. The alliance officially launches this summer, with activations and experiences rolling out across North American Disney parks, resorts, cruises, and more. The collaboration enables Kraft Heinz and Disney to deliver new menu offerings, distinctive dining experiences, and storytelling-driven offerings inspired by Disney's unmatched portfolio of beloved stories and franchises.
Ten Kraft Heinz brands (including HEINZ, Philadelphia, Kraft Mac & Cheese) will become part of Disney moments that guests and fans love most bringing familiar favorites to settings as iconic as Main Street and as adventurous as Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. The alliance will introduce new menu items, guest experiences, and product offerings at hundreds of dining locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Disneyland Resort in California, and on Disney Cruise Line sailings out of North America."
According to Nicolas Amaya, President of North America at Kraft Heinz Company, "Kraft Heinz and Disney are two companies that are woven into the fabric of family life. For generations, families have grown up with our brands side by side watching Disney favorites with a bowl of Kraft Mac & Cheese or reaching for HEINZ at the table. This alliance is about showing up together in the moments that matter most — whether at the parks or at home — to deliver elevated experiences and storytelling that turn everyday meals into memories that last a lifetime."
POWERBALL LOTTERY IN UNITED KINGDOM
NPR reported, "Powerball ticket sales in the United Kingdom began on July 21st, giving players across the Atlantic a chance at winning the same massive jackpot that U.S. players already play for — with the same minuscule odds. The expansion, first announced in April through an agreement between the Multi-State Lottery Association in the U.S. and Allwyn UK, marked the first time a lottery outside the U.S. contributes to the Powerball jackpot. The expansion will allow UK players to play for much larger jackpots than are now available at lotteries in the country and Europe...U.S. lottery officials say the expanded player base will allow Powerball jackpots to grow more quickly, likely increasing sales as more people are drawn to larger grand prizes...The estimated jackpot amounts in each country will differ due to currency conversion rates and because the U.S. advertises prize amounts pretax. UK Powerball jackpots will also be paid over 30 years, whereas in the U.S., jackpot winners have a choice between taking their winnings spread over years through an annuity or in cash. (Nearly all winners opt for cash.) Powerball is played in 45 U.S. states, and Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In the game, players choose five white-ball numbers from 1 to 69 and one red Powerball number from 1 to 26. Drawings will continue to be held Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays."
REVERSING THE NARRATIVE AROUND NURSING
NPR reported, "Since the days of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, the profession has been seen as women's work. But as male-dominated industries like manufacturing decline, nursing has emerged as a stable career choice for all. Jobs are plentiful, and they pay well. The national median wage for registered nurses tops $90,000 a year. Across the country, only about 1 in 8 nurses are men. But their share has risen slowly, thanks to ongoing efforts by nursing schools. At the University of Alabama at Birmingham, about 1 in 6 nursing students are men. Professor Curry Bordelon, who's also president-elect of the American Association for Men in Nursing, has worked his whole career to set a new narrative around nursing."
MORE PASSENGER ROOM ABOARD UNITED AIRLINES WITH OPEN MIDDLE SEAT
According to a company press release on July 14th, "United announced its latest United Economy class innovation: a row of Economy Plus seats on its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft with extra elbow room and access to a shared table across an open middle seat. This new Economy Plus offering will be available starting later this year. United expects to include this new Economy Plus option on its entire order of 50 A321XLRs and is exploring offering these types of seats on other aircraft types in the future. United expects to be the only U.S. airline that will offer this seating option, and it follows the airline's recently announced "United Relax Row," multiple rows of seats on its Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 widebody aircraft that transform into a couch and will be available in early 2027.
On each XLR, one row will have large, custom-designed tables stretching from armrest to armrest across the open middle seats, giving customers sitting in the window or aisle seat extra space to stretch out on longer international flights. The table is permanently fixed, with a soft leather-like covering, and two indentations for cups. And the extra space is in addition to the three inches of additional legroom already offered in Economy Plus on the XLR."
AMERICAN EAGLE GOES BACK TO SCHOOL
MarketingDive reported, "American Eagle began rolling out its campaign for the crucial back-to-school season on July 22nd. The effort will span social programming, experiential activations, and brand advertising, including a 30-second ad running on YouTube and paid social. Overall, the marketing will focus on culture around malls, campus life, and sports. The sports angle is particularly well-timed: Lamine Yamal, the Spanish soccer star who signed a five-year global ambassador deal with the brand in January, just helped his national team to World Cup gold on July 19th. The 19-year-old phenom "kicked" off his first campaign with the brand last month, and will now have an even bigger role in the back-to-school push...American Eagle seems to have a knack for finding the right celebrity partners at the right time. The brand last year memorably teamed with actor Sydney Sweeney for a campaign that, while controversial, helped attract new customers and briefly reversed a negative sales trend."
According to American Eagle CMO Craig Brommers, "I never feel like talent should define a brand, but the right talent can certainly amplify a brand."
NEW ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN FOR HANES
MarketingDive reported, "Hanes is embracing a more risqué marketing approach with "Get Comfortable," the leading piece of a larger shift in creative direction for the over 125-year-old marketer. The basics brand is positioning the campaign and refresh as a deliberate break with its past messaging, with an emphasis on coming across bolder and more entertaining. The launch follows parent HanesBrands getting acquired by rival Gildan Activewear for $2.2 billion last year. Some of the Hanes ads center on situations that are usually the stuff of anxiety nightmares, like getting caught with one's pants down at a bar or grocery store, but they underscore how Hanes lets the wearer brush off potential embarrassment and come off as cool. The ads also display Hanes' updated logo, which has the brand's signature red flag icon floating above its wordmark."
NEW TERM: "GHOST DOWNSIZING"
Inc. Magazine reported, "Polish research firm Omni Calculator (based in Krakow, Poland) released its "Ghost Downsizing AI Survey 2026." The research was based on parallel surveys of 665 employed U.S. adults and 354 C-Suite executives. It found nearly a third of employees reported a new workforce pattern called "ghost downsizing" to be on the rise, often among employers automating tasks of newly-vacated positions with AI (artificial intelligence). Work that apps can't do is shifted to remaining staff, allowing managers to maintain or increase output without proportional headcount growth. Among employees surveyed, 30 percent said their team had shrunk while workload increased."
SHARE THIS: On paper, employment looks stable, but in practice, the people who remain are doing more with less while their leaders, officially, say nothing has changed. ~@OmniCalculator #GhostDownsizing #EmployeeExperience #DebbieLaskeysBlog
NEW TERM: "MARKETING WALLPAPER"
According to Justin Joy, "Most marketing feels like wallpaper, and that's the problem. Scroll LinkedIn for five minutes, and you'll see it. Brands post the same carousels. The same "we're thrilled to announce" captions. The same stocky reels that look like they were made on autopilot. It's noise disguised as content. Pretty, polished...and forgettable. But here's the thing nobody tells you: Your audience doesn't care about your brand guidelines. They care about how you make them feel. Here's what actually matters: A story people can repeat in one sentence; consistency that builds trust, not just reach; design that makes you pause, not scroll; and content that entertains first and sells second. Sadly, most brands are too busy ticking boxes. So who are the ones that win? They're the ones bold enough to rip the script, break the template, and actually sound alive."
And according to Esther Ene Ogenyi, "Picture this. A business decides to run ads because everyone else is doing it. They don't have a clear message, no brand voice, no positioning, just a flyer, a budget, and high expectations. So the ad goes live, but nothing happens. No sales, no engagement, no real traction. Then comes the blame: "Ads don't work." But the truth is, it's not the ads that failed, it's the foundation that wasn't built. Running ads without a brand strategy is like building a house without a blueprint. It might look okay from the outside, but eventually, cracks will show. Your brand strategy is what tells people who you are, what you stand for, and why they should trust you. Your ads are simply the voice that communicates it. If your audience doesn't understand your brand, even the best ad creative will fall flat. Because ads can only amplify what already exists, they can't fix confusion."
NEW WORD: "SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL"
Did you add the word "semiquincentennial" to your vocabulary in order to celebrate this year's Fourth of July? Dictionary brand Merriam-Webster defined the word as, "A 250th anniversary or its celebration. If the word's mouthful of seven syllables overwhelms, it's simple to break down. The prefix semi- here means half in quantity or value, while quincentennial refers to a 500th anniversary or celebration (so half of 500 equals 250). Quin- comes from the Latin word quinque, meaning five, and centennial comes in part from the Latin centum, meaning hundred."
Side note: Merriam-Webster was established in 1828, and will soon celebrate its bicentennial, or its 200th anniversary.
SHARE THIS: The first Merriam-Webster dictionary was issued on September 24, 1847. It cost $6.00 per copy and earned the praise of President James K. Polk (1845-1849). ~@MerriamWebster #FunFact #Etymology #DebbieLaskeysBlog
FOURTH OF JULY UNIQUE CELEBRATIONS
While the news focused on Times Square in New York City for the ball drops as well as Coney Island for Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, there were other "interesting" celebrations across the country. Here's a recap from the Smithsonian Magazine:
(1) Key Lime Pie Eating Contest in Key West, Florida (part of Key Lime Festival)
(2) Fence-Painting Contest in Hannibal, Missouri (near the boyhood home of Mark Twain)
(3) Gold Rush-Style Party in Columbia State Historic Park, California
(4) The Lebeau Zydeco Festival in Lebeau, Louisiana (part of the annual Creole heritage celebration)
(5) Oatman Egg Fry in Oatman, Arizona
(6) Sea Turtle Release on the big island of Hawaii
(7) Bend Pet Parade in Bend, Oregon (annual parade began in 1924)
(8) The Great Bristol Outhouse Race in Bristol, Vemont
(9) Fourth of July Midnight Parade in Gatlinburg, Tennessee (followed by the River Raft Regatta down the Little Pigeon River)
(10) Kite-Flying Contest in Ocean City, New Jersey
FOURTH OF JULY DEALS
In addition to celebrations, there were countless Fourth of July food deals. Here's a sampling from USA Today, CNN, and Bake Magazine:
(1) Corner Bakery Cafe: during July, customers were able to purchase any individual bakery item for $2.50; and also get $50 off catering orders of $250 or more.
(2) Delmonic's: the restaurant celebrated the milestone with the debut of its America 250 Baked Alaska dessert.
(3) Sonic: through July 12th, a limited-time America $2.50 menu included a Red, White, and Blue Slush Float.
(4) Burger King: on July 4th, loyalty members were able to get a Whopper Jr. for $2.50, exclusively on the BK App; and Burger King also offered a limited-edition Firecracker Cookie Pie.
(5) Krispy Kreme: customers who wore America's colors got a free Original Glazed doughnut in-store on July 4th with a limit of one per guest. Customers were also able to get an Original Glazed dozen for just $2.50 with the purchase of any dozen or 16-count Minis at regular price from July 2nd through July 5th.
(6) Firehouse Subs: from June 29th through July 4th, customers who bought one small or medium sub could get a second for just $2.50.
(7) Ford's Garage: The automobile-themed chain with locations in eight states had a special $17.76 meal deal from July 1st to July 4th.
(8) Checkers & Rally's: On July 4th, customers were able to get an All-American Duo with an All-American Hamburger and warm Apple Pie for $2.50.
(9) Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard: the Italian ice chain offered customers a special "4th of Gelati" dessert made with blue and red Italian Ice, layered with creamy Vanilla Frozen Custard, topped with Firecracker Glitter, available through July 5th.
(10) Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard: The burger chain rolled back prices on July 4th to $2.50 for several menu items, including frozen custard pints, root beer floats, single scoops, fried ice cream, and small custard treats.
NATIONAL DRIVE-THRU DAY
According to TastingTable, "July 24th was recognized by participating parties as National Drive-Thru Day. It all started in 1951, when Jack in the Box opened its first drive-thru chain. This San Diego chain restaurant was "drive-thru only," and it helped popularize the two-way intercom ordering system and served burgers for just $0.18. Fast-forward to 2002, and the California-based chain turned the concept into a holiday when it issued an official press release calling for July 28th to be recognized as National Drive-Thru Day. The idea received a special commendation from then-California Governor Gray Davis, and in 2006, the observation date changed to July 24th, where it has remained since." Many fast-food chains offer discounts or special deals to celebrate the day.
CHICK-FIL-A MODERNIZES ITS PLAYGROUNDS
Nation's Restaurant News reported, "Chick-fil-A's playgrounds are getting a makeover. The company announced that more than 200 of its playgrounds across the U.S. will be reimaged by the end of 2026, featuring new multi-sensory designs and interactive games. The company doesn't publicly disclose how many playgrounds it has within its approximately 3,300-unit system, but it has designed several different play spaces to fit a diverse portfolio of restaurants, and most new builds will include some variation. The objective is to create "a place of connection" for families and the community. The upgrades come amid a rise in sensory play practices, driven by the need to counteract a reduction in outdoor free play associated with digital media consumption. The playground makeovers are just part of Chick-fil-A's efforts to cultivate a third-place environment for families. Beyond its restaurants, Chick-fil-A launched a Play app in 2024 to encourage family connection. The app has evolved to include a Cow Squad animated series and Cowz World, an immersive digital game — both of which are new this summer. And Chick-fil-A also launched a new collection of Kids' Meal toys, including 3D playsets, activity books, and custom Hasbro games."
BURGER KING'S ONGOING BRAND ELEVATION JOURNEY
According to the fast-food brand's website, "Burger King is launching the next chapter in its brand transformation, acting on feedback shared by thousands of Guests across the U.S. Just four months after inviting Guests to share honest feedback through its "Listening Initiative" that gave out President Tom Curtis' phone number, the brand is continuing to make changes inspired by the thousands of calls and texts received. Burger King is introducing two new initiatives designed to improve the moments Guests told the brand matter most — providing a consistent, accurate and welcoming in-restaurant experience — by introducing "Your Way Champions" and the "Whopper Guarantee."
One thing Burger King heard consistently from Guests was that they wanted someone in the restaurant who could quickly make things right when needed. In response, the brand is introducing the "Your Way Champion," a re-imagined restaurant manager role designed to empower restaurant leaders and put the Guest experience first. More than overseeing restaurant operations, Your Way Champions will serve as a dedicated point person, clearly identifiable in a Your Way Champion uniform, who welcomes Guests, ensures orders are prepared the way they are requested, and is available to make things right whenever needed.
To further reinforce the commitment to getting things right, Burger King is also introducing a Whopper Guarantee. The Whopper is the brand's most beloved item, and Guests expect to have it served hot, and exactly the way they ordered it. That's why, if a Whopper doesn't meet a Guest's expectations, the brand will not only continue to remake it on the spot, but they'll offer the Guest's next Whopper for free."
CARL JR.'S 85TH ANNIVERSARY
According to a brand press release on July 20th, "After 85 years of charbroiling and advertising as breakthrough as its burgers, Carl's Jr. is doing what it does best: going bold. The iconic chain is launching an $85,000 video contest that puts its fans' creativity, and their love for bold and craveable flavors, front and center. From July 20th to August 7th, participants are invited to create and submit an original 30- to 60- second video showing their spin on an iconic Carl's Jr ad. Submissions should infuse the brand's bold personality and craveable menu items using their own authentic style to be considered for the $85,000 grand prize. Entrants are encouraged to create social media videos, jingles, or even the next iconic ad. Entries must be posted publicly, tagged with Carl's Jr.'s social media handle, and include the dedicated hashtags #MyCarlsJrAd and #Carls85th. Finalists will be announced on or around August 23th, and seeded into The Carl's Creative Bracket, a head-to-head voting experience hosted on Carl's Jr.'s social channels. The public will be able to vote, comment, and engage with their favorite entries — with the final winner determined by a combination of audience engagement and Carl's Jr. selection committee scores. The grand prize winner will be announced on or around August 28th, and awarded $85,000."
Burge Diemer, chief marketing officer at Carl's Jr. explained, "For 85 years, our fans have been the real stars. As we celebrate this milestone, we wanted to give back in a way that puts our fans and their bold ideas at the center of the moment. This contest is designed to celebrate the people who have helped shape Carl's Jr. into what it is today."
RISE OF ON-SITE DINING AT HOTEL RESTAURANTS
Nation's Restaurant News reported, "More travelers are choosing hotels based on dining options, according to new data from OpenTable. But it's not only hotel guests who are patronizing those restaurants — 92 percent of consumers have dined at a hotel restaurant when they weren't even staying at the hotel. Reservation platform OpenTable released the consumer research to coincide with the launch of its 2026 Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in America. The data show that hotel restaurants are playing a larger role in how people plan where to go, where to stay, and what to book before they arrive.
Three highlights from the data include:
(1) 50 percent of travelers this summer have booked a hotel specifically because of its restaurant.
(2) Hotel restaurant dining by travelers is up 13 percent from last year.
(3) Nearly half of Americans (48 percent) spend more time researching where to eat than any other part of a trip."
SHARE THIS: Restaurants aren't just an itinerary line item anymore, they're the anchor. ~Matt Davis, head of North America Hotels at @OpenTable #RestaurantDining #BrandExperience #DebbieLaskeysBlog
INSIDE GENERAL MILLS' BRAND ARCHIVE
Marketing Brew reported, "Brand archives have been getting a workout in recent years, with new creative work regularly referencing older efforts and major anniversaries." Therefore, it should come as no surprise that, since General Mills is celebrating 160 years amid the 250th anniversary of America, it has also maintained a company archive for many decades. Marketing Brew asked Natasha Bruns, senior corporate archivist at General Mills to explain what a brand archive for a consumer packaged goods company includes and how the company's brand marketing team taps into it.
According to Bruns, "Our collection is very broad. It spans so much great innovation from General Mills over our last 160 years, and that's everything from letters written to Betty Crocker to original packaging for Bisquick, cookbooks from Betty, and original packaging for Wheaties and Nature Valley. Different brands will reach out with historical questions, wanting to know the history of their brands, the context for when something like Bisquick was created, or they'll want to understand the history of how Betty evolved over time."
Brands interested in creating archives may be inspired to do so around a big anniversary or milestone. When establishing an archive, according to Bruns, "It's important to talk to different experts who know the brand history, and get the facts down on paper...We try to keep a collection of a little bit of everything, which can be pretty complicated. [Here are some questions to consider:] What were the overall themes for a brand at a particular time? And how are we capturing that?"
SHARE THIS: Betty Crocker was the second most-recognized woman in America among homemakers behind Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1940s. ~General Mills #FunFact #PersonalBranding #BrandArchives #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: Sanrio/Hello Kitty Chicago Cafe and Shark Week/Discovery Channel via Instagram and Twitter/X.
Check out 10 Fun Facts of The Girl with a Pearl Earring by Vermeer:
https://www.johannesvermeer.org/the-girl-with-a-pearl-earring.jsp
Read more about The Great Wave of Kanagawa:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Wave_off_Kanagawa
Read "When Art Meets Marketing: The Rise of Brand Collaborations with Cultural Institutions" (October 2024):
https://www.globalleadersinstitute.org/blog-post/when-art-meets-marketing-the-rise-of-brand-collaborations-with-cultural-institutions/
Read more about people and culture in the workplace:
https://www.aihr.com/blog/people-and-culture/
and
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rise-chief-people-officer-redefining-leadership-2025-whittlesey-zjupe
Check out the EIU's Global Liveability Index 2026:
https://www.eiu.com/n/global-themes/report/global-liveability-index-2026/
Read about 10 Fourth of July celebrations:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/from-a-sea-turtle-rescue-to-an-outhouse-race-these-ten-fourth-of-july-traditions-celebrate-america-like-no-other-180989044/
Read Inside General Mills's brand archive:
https://www.marketingbrew.com/stories/10-000-items-5-000-square-feet-160-years-of-history-inside-general-millss-brand-archive
