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.

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Let's Celebrate Zoo Lovers Day!

Today's the day to be a zoo lover, zoophile, wildlife enthusiast, wildlife lover, or conservationist. Take the day off from work and share your passion for wildlife by visiting a zoo.

Animals are, without a doubt, the heroes today, however, since I always look at the world through "marketing-tinted" glasses, I'd like to share some memorable zoo logos:

LONDON ZOO

This zoo is located in London, England. It's one of the world's oldest zoos and opened its doors in 1847. The words in the logo are green to symbolize nature, and several animals are hidden inside the words' letters: a snake, monkey, and penguin.

KOLNER ZOO

This zoo is located in Cologne, German, and is one of the three oldest zoos in the world. It opened its doors for visitors in 1860. At first glance, its logo is an elephant. However, a closer look reveals a rhinoceros and giraffe - plus to create the elephant's back legs, the spires of the famous Cologne Cathedral provide a reference to the zoo's city.

PITTSBURGH ZOO & PPG AQUARIUM

This zoo and aquarium are located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A quick glance at the logo reveals a tree with two birds flying above it. But a closer second look reveals a gorilla and lioness standing face to face toward each other. Pittsburgh Zoo is the largest zoo in the United States and features more than 20 species of animals that are on the verge of extinction.

WOODLAND PARK ZOO

This zoo is located in Seattle, Washington. In its logo, several animals are featured: a lion, deer, zebra and flamingo. The animals are looking in different directions - toward the past or toward the future.

Do you know the world's oldest zoo? It's Schonbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria. In 1752, Emperor Franz I had a menagerie built around a central pavilion. Originally, his menagerie of rare animals was reserved for the imperial family and noble guests, however, beginning in 1765, it was made available to the public. Today, Schonbrunn Zoo welcomes more than 2 million visitors annually.

Monday, April 6, 2026

Email Marketing Secrets from World Wildlife Fund!

Awhile ago, I received an email from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) asking me to help choose a cover for the nonprofit's 2027 calendar. As a lifelong supporter of wildlife conservation and also a donor to this particular nonprofit, I looked at the choices and made my selection. Then, I forgot about the email.

What a surprise to receive an email several weeks later with this message:

Hi Debbie,
Over 30,000 WWF supporters - including YOU - recently voted for their favorite wildlife photo for WWF's 2027 calendar. We've counted all the votes...thank you for voting and for everything you do for nature.
Then, an image of a large question mark appeared with a message: CLICK TO SEE THE WINNING PHOTO.

Once I clicked on the link, here was the message:

AND THE WINNER IS...
With over 15,000 votes, the winner is the photo of the sea otter mother and pup! Thanks to all of the supporters who recently voted for their favorite wildlife photo for WWF's 2027 calendar. As a special thank you for going the extra mile, you can choose to receive WWF's 2026 calendar AND our 2027 calendar when it's ready later this year.
(And of course, there was a donation request included.)
Will you help protect vulnerable wildlife and their habitats with your generous donation today?

Since everyone's email box and texts are overwhelmed with "noise" and useless content, it's incredibly challenging to stand out AND BE READ. So, when an organization, especially a nonprofit, stands out by engaging its fans/followers/stakeholders, it's a noteworthy accomplishment. Big applause to WWF for this campaign!

What can your brand learn and apply from this brand's effective email marketing campaign?

Friday, April 3, 2026

Best Social Media Post of the Month of March 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 (hard to believe I've been writing these posts for more than a year!) appearing during the first week of each month, I share 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 recognition as the best social media post of the month from March 2026 was a post on March 8th by TasteAtlas, an encyclopedia of flavors, a world atlas of traditional dishes, local ingredients, and authentic restaurants, that appeared on Twitter/X.

The post stated:
"Happy International Women's Day! Throughout culinary history, women have shaped global gastronomy not only as brilliant cooks but as the ultimate muses for the world's most enduring recipes. Today, we celebrate the queens, artists, and everyday innovators whose names became a permanent part of our global culinary vocabulary."

The image that accompanied the post featured nine famous "Dishes Named after Women." Here were my favorites from the list:

(1) Pizza Margherita was named after Queen Margherita of Savoy to represent Italy's flag.

(2) Madeleines were allegedly named for Madeleine Paulmier by a cook for the Duke of Lorraine.

(3) Peach Melba was created by Auguste Escoffier in honor of opera singer Nellie Melba.

Many brands shared inspirational posts to recognize International Women's Day on March 8th, however, this post was exceptional. As a reminder, International Women's Day is a global holiday celebrated annually to commemorate the cultural, political, and socio-economic achievements of women. The seeds were planted in 1908 when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter work hours, better pay, and the right to vote. First celebrated in 1909 in New York City as "Women's Day," Clara Zetkin posed the idea for the day to become internationally recognized in 1910. The holiday was celebrated in 1911 by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland; and the United Nations adopted International Women's Day as a global holiday in 1977.

According to the United Nations, "Women of the world want and deserve an equal future free from stigma, stereotypes, and violence, a future that's sustainable, peaceful, with equal rights, and opportunities for all. To get there, the world needs women at every table where decisions are being made."

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

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

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

These Three Brands Definitely Understood April Fools' Day!

Today is an acceptable day for brands to add some humor to their advertising and storytelling. While some brands don't take advantage and tweak their identity - name, color, or packaging - the brands that do can be memorable.

According to History.com, "April Fools' Day is an annual custom on the 1st of April consisting of practical jokes, hoaxes, and pranks. Jokesters often expose their actions by shouting "April Fools" at the recipient. Mass media can be involved with these pranks, which may be revealed as such the following day. Some historians speculate that April Fools' Day dates back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. In the Julian Calendar, the new year began with the spring equinox around April 1. People who were slow to get the news or failed to recognize that the start of the new year had moved to January 1 and continued to celebrate it during the last week of March through April 1 became the butt of jokes and hoaxes and were called April fools."

Here are three memorable brands that understood how to stand out on April Fools' Day:

GOOGLE

In 2010, when people visited the Google homepage to conduct a search, they didn't see the familiar Google logo and search box. Instead, Google was replaced with the word Topeka. So instead of saying "Google it" when wanting to find an answer that day, users were forced to say "Topeka it." The Kansas capital city unofficially changed its name to Google as part of an effort to convince the search engine giant to select it as a test site for its planned super-fast, fiber-optic network.

TIFFANY & CO.

In 2021, global jewelry brand Tiffany & Co. abruptly changed its iconic robin-egg blue color (of its boxes and stores) to yellow. The famous blue, known in the color world as Pantone 1837 was named after the year the company was founded; and the company had the color trademarked in 1998. The company announced the change on Instagram with a new hashtag #TiffanyYellow, but many followers were quick to point out a key detail: the announcement was made on April First, aka, April Fools' Day.

OREO

In 2024, cookie brand Oreo posted the following message on Twitter/X:

"After time and consideration, we have made the decision to separate the cookie and the creme duo that you all know to be as OREO cookies. There are no secrets or anyone to blame, we are just two best friends who met at a very young age and have grown over the past 112 years in our own ways. We appreciate your continuous support as we enter this new chapter, separately."

On Instagram, @just_the_creme described itself as: "Better off alone."

On Instagram, @just_the_wafer described itself as: "This cookie won't crumble."

A follow-up post explained: "Just the Creme and Just the Wafer hit shelves 4/31."

However, April has only 30 days. So, if you had not realized that this content was an April Fools' Day joke, that final post provided the gotcha!

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Let's Celebrate Eiffel Tower Day!

Do you know which is the most visited monument in the world? Here's a hint, it's in the "City of Light" also known as the "City of Love," and it celebrates its unveiling today.

Observed annually on this date, Eiffel Tower Day commemorates the completion and unveiling of the iconic structure, which took place on March 31st, 1889. It celebrates the 324-meter (1,063 feet) tall wrought-iron lattice tower that has become a symbol of Paris and French culture.

Construction of the Eiffel Tower took two years, two months, and five days. It was initially built for the 1889 World's Fair during the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution and only intended to last 20 years. In fact, it was initially criticized by many intellectuals of the era who feared that the tallest structure in Paris would leave an unappealing effect on the city. But it was saved by the scientific experiments that principal engineer Gustave Eiffel encouraged. It served as a military radio post in 1903, and transmitted the first public radio program in 1925. According to the Tower's website, "As France's symbol in the world, and the showcase of Paris, today it welcomes almost 7 million visitors a year (around 75 percent of whom are foreigners), making it the most visited monument in the world. In fact, almost 300 million visitors regardless of age or origin have come from all over the planet to see it since its opening in 1889."

Did you know? While Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi designed the Statue of Liberty that was gifted from France to the United States in 1885, the iron framework was engineered by Gustave Eiffel.

And from a marketing perspective, how often does the "Eiffel Tower" or "Paris" or "France" appear in branding? According to Pagai, "Many of us have experienced that inexplicable surge of excitement when we encounter the word "Paris" in a brand name. It's like a Pavlovian response – our expectations elevate, and we anticipate something special...It's evident that numerous brands leverage the cachet of Paris to enhance their credentials while capitalizing on France's esteemed legacy."

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT 10 BRANDS:

AIR FRANCE: Air France is the main airline of France and merged with KLM to form Air France-KLM in 2003. It operates passenger and cargo services to 201 destinations in 78 countries. The airline's international hub is at Charles de Gaulle Airport (also known as Roissy Airport and located 15-20 miles northeast of central Paris), with Orly Airport as the primary domestic hub (located 8-12 miles south of central Paris). While the airline can trace its origin back to the 1910s, Air France was formed on August 30th, 1933, due to the merger of five existing airlines in France. During World War II, Air France moved its operations to Casablanca, Morocco. On June 26th, 1945, all of France's air transport companies were nationalized; and on December 29th, 1945, a decree of the French Government granted Air France the management of the entire French air transport network. The airline welcomed its first flight attendants in 1946.

PARIS LAS VEGAS: The Paris Las Vegas is a casino hotel on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, that opened on September 1st, 1999. According to Wikipedia, "The property features include a 95,263-square-foot casino, 3,672 hotel rooms, a 1,400-seat theater, and various restaurants. The Paris-themed resort also includes a half scale replica of the Eiffel Tower, rising 540 feet. Replicas of other Paris landmarks are also featured including the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, the Paris Opera House, and the Musée d'Orsay.

The resort's half-scale Eiffel Tower replica rises 540 feet with an observation deck at 460 feet, capable of holding up to 96 people. The tower also includes a restaurant, situated 11 stories above ground. The tower's legs measure 27 suare feet at their base, and three of them rest within the casino floor. Upon the resort's opening, the three interior legs contained a sports book, a casino host area, and a bar, respectively. The fourth leg rests outside the resort along the Strip, and initially served as a ticket booth for guests to visit the observation deck.

Project architect Joel Bergman consulted Gustave Eiffel's blueprints for the original Eiffel Tower. His firm created the replica's architectural design, while its structural design came from the Las Vegas-based Martin & Peltyn. It was built by Schuff Steel, based in Phoenix, using 5,000 tons of steel. Although the replica tower was created with welded steel, it also includes faux rivets to match the design of the original. The interior was inspired by the Paris street scene of the 1920s, and includes restaurants and shops located in a recreation of the Rue de la Paix shopping district (in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris). The casino floor also features a replica of the Pont Alexandre III bridge."

Fellow architect Paul Steelman, Bergman's friend and former employee, said, "Bergman is what we consider the originator of the modern-day casino.There's probably no other architect in the world who affected tourism as much as Joel did. He was as much of a legend (to architecture) as Elvis was to music. There's approximately 30 casino sites on the Strip...and Joel designed more than one-third of them."

AMI PARIS: "Established in Paris in 2011, inspired by the city ever since, AMI is a luxury apparel house for men and women. Like Alexandre Mattiussi, its founder and creative director, AMI approaches fashion in a relaxed and authentic way, with stylish and comprehensive wardrobes composed of timeless basics. Capturing its hometown’s unique, effortless elegance, AMI blurs the boundaries between casual and chic. Its values celebrate love and friendship, inclusion and diversity. Alexandre Mattiussi founded AMI at age 30, after formative years in renowned Parisian couture houses, where he perfected his skills and knowledge of men’s tailoring, and learned the excellence of French sartorial savoir-faire, now a distinctive feature of AMI. His multi-faceted inspiration stems from the world around him, the arts, Paris, and the diversity and style of its inhabitants, as well as from his lifelong passion for ballet and cinema."

EMILY IN PARIS: "Emily in Paris" is an American romantic comedy drama television series created by Darren Star for Netflix. According to Wikipedia, "The series stars Lily Collins as aspiring marketing executive Emily Cooper, an American who moves to Paris to provide an American point of view to a French marketing firm. In Paris, she tries to overcome challenges in her work, love life, and friendships. Filming takes place in Paris and its suburbs. "Emily in Paris" premiered on October 2nd, 2020, to mixed reviews in the United States and criticism in France for negatively stereotyping Parisians and the French. However, in January 2026, the series was renewed for a sixth season."

PARIS BAGUETTE: Paris Baguette or Paris Croissant, is a South Korean multinational chain of bakery-cafes, owned by the SPC Group and headquartered in Seoul. Locations have expanded to the United States, United Kingdom, France, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Mongolia. The U.S. Paris Baguette franchises concentrate on selling cakes, pastries, and croissants.

EIFFEL TOWER CHOCOLATES: "Established in 1976, Eiffel Tower Chocolates is an Australian-owned company located near Melbourne, and sells its high-quality goods and products direct to the public from its Tullamarine premises. Since its inception, the family business has satisfied the traditional customs of the old country, Italy, for the many festivities celebrated on a regular basis, including christenings, communions, confirmations, birthdays, engagements, and weddings."

DAMMANN FRERES TOUR EIFFEL COLLECTION: Dammann Frères crafted two blends of tea inspired by the Eiffel Tower and its gardens for an exclusive and gourmet collection:

(1) "La Tour Eiffel" is a black tea with flowery notes of vanilla, almond, and rose, as a tribute to the savoir-faire of Parisian pastry chefs and perfumers.

(2) "Jardin du Trocadéro" is a green, fruity tea with delicious hints of rhubarb, strawberry, and wild strawberry, evoking teatime at the Tower overlooking a dreamlike Paris.

HERMES PARIS: "Since 1837, Hermès has remained faithful to its artisanal model and human values. The freedom to create, the constant quest for beautiful materials, the transmission of exceptional know-how, right down to details designed with use in mind – or the aesthetics of function – all forge the uniqueness of the house, creator of objects designed to last. An independent, family-owned company that encompasses sixteen métiers, Hermès is committed to retaining the majority of its production in France through its 60 production and training sites, while developing its network of almost 300 stores in 45 countries. The group employs nearly 26,000 people around the world, including 14,300 in France, of which more than 7,300 are craftsmen and women. Since 2013, Hermès has been led by Axel Dumas, a sixth-generation family member."

LANCOME PARIS: "Lancome Paris was founded in 1935 as a fragrance house by Guillaume d'Ornano and his business partner Armand Petitjean in France. The name "Lancome" was inspired by the forest of Lancosme in the region of Brenne, which lies in the Indre valley in the heart of France. The name was chosen by Guillaume's wife Elisabeth d'Ornano. The roses in the area inspired the company's brand symbol of the single golden rose. Lancome launched its first five fragrances in 1935 at the World's Fair in Brussels: Tendre Nuit, Bocages, Conquete, Kypre, and Tropiques. Petitjean entered into the skincare market, launching Nutrix, his first "all-purpose repair cream" in 1936, followed by make-up, cosmetics, and skincare products. Lancome was acquired by L'Oréal in 1964, and became part of its luxury products division...Despite founder Armand Petijean's assertion that Lancome should never advertise, today Lancome is one of the top advertisers in the beauty industry, and its ads can be seen in publications worldwide. One of Lancome's longest-running partnerships was with actress Isabella Rossellini, who was the international face of Lancome for 14 years. In 2016, Rossellini returned for a collaboration, more than 30 years after she became its first face."

KARL LAGERFELD PARIS: "The house of KARL LAGERFELD PARIS shares the iconic vision and design aesthetic of its founder, Karl Lagerfeld, fused with a contemporary, forward-looking spirit. As one of the world's most prominent fashion designers, Karl Lagerfeld was renowned for his creative and visionary designs. KARL LAGERFELD PARIS creates collections that blend beautifully tailored French classics with a signature Parisian rock-chic attitude across ready-to-wear accessories, shoes. and handbags."

SHARE THIS: Paris is always a good idea. ~Audrey Hepburn #EiffelTowerDay #BrandStorytelling #BrandExperience #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness. ~Frank Gehry #EiffelTowerDay #BrandStorytelling #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: People come to Las Vegas to be entertained, not educated. They don't want to look at buildings like they're museum pieces. ~Joel Bergman #EiffelTowerDay #BrandStorytelling #DebbieLaskeysBlog

And do you remember this insensitive advertising from January of 2025? According to EuroNews, "Pakistan's national airline has said that an ad campaign showing a plane heading toward the Eiffel Tower was never intended to evoke the memories of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York. The illustration shows a plane superimposed over the French flag and tilted toward the Paris landmark, with the words "Paris, we're coming today." The ad was posted on X by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on January 10th, the day the company resumed flights to European Union countries after a four-year ban by the bloc's aviation safety agency. PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez said, "We want to make it clear that we had no intention to hurt the feelings of anyone. The Eiffel Tower was shown in the ad because it's one of the best places in the world.""

So, will you be eating a croissant, reading a book about France, visiting the Paris Las Vegas hotel, or taking a nonstop flight on Air France today? Whatever you do to celebrate the Eiffel Tower, Vive la France!

Image Credits: Pinterest, "Champagne and Strawberries" by Liudmila Kondakova/Martin Lawrence Gallery (2018), and Pinterest.

Monday, March 30, 2026

Let's Celebrate National Doctors' Day!

National Doctors' Day is a nationwide observance dedicated to honoring physicians for their continued commitment to patient care. Observed annually on March 30th, it provides a day to recognize doctors for the important role they play in the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities, often during critical and life-changing moments.

According to AMN Healthcare, "The first observance took place on March 30th, 1933, in Winder, Georgia. Eudora Brown Almond, the wife of a prominent doctor, believed that her husband and other physicians deserved recognition for their tireless efforts. She chose March 30th because it marked the anniversary of Dr. Crawford W. Long’s first use of general anesthesia in surgery on that date in 1842, a pivotal moment that revolutionized medicine. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed a resolution officially designating March 30th as National Doctors' Day across the United States - and today, the red carnation serves as the symbolic flower of the holiday."

Get Ready for Coloring Crayola Day!

Since tomorrow is Coloring Crayola Day, I thought I'd give everyone (myself included!) two days to celebrate this brand.

Who can forget the box of multi-color crayons from childhood? It was always fun to choose a crayon fresh out of the box when all were new. My favorite colors were aquamarine and turquoise blue! And did you notice that the logo has a colorful smile in it?!

According to the website, "Crayola has inspired creativity since the first box of Crayola crayons rolled off the assembly line in 1903; and the brand has grown into a portfolio of innovative art tools, crafting activities, and creative toys that inspire kids to explore, discover, play, pretend, and dream.

The company began when cousins Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith took over Edwin's father's pigment business in 1885. Early products included red oxide pigment used as barn paint and carbon black used in car tires. After noticing a need for safe, high-quality, affordable wax crayons, in 1903, Crayola produced the first box of eight crayons and sold them for 5 cents...Crayola has been a business of Hallmark Cards since 1984 and has offices in Canada, Mexico, Italy, Australia, Asia, and the United Kingdom...The Company carried the name of its founders, Binney & Smith, until 2007 when it changed its name to Crayola to reflect its number one brand."

The iconic (and timeless) art supplies are made at a factory in Easton, Pennsylvania, with a total production of up to 13 million crayons per day in 400 different colors.

And did you know that in July 2024, the US Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent to the arts and crafts brand for the SMELL of its crayons. The smell was described in the trademark application as "a slightly earthy soap with pungent, leather-like clay undertones."

Crayola sells 30 percent of its products online at Amazon.com with the other 70 percent from brick-and-mortar retailers including Walmart, Target, and Staples.

According to Cheri Sterman, director of Crayola's education division, "Creativity is a lifelong skill that helps everyone reach their full potential. Teachers who bring creative experiences to their classroom say it really transforms the way they teach. Kids get that sparkle in their eye."