During the last week, okay couple of weeks, there were many news stories that reflected brand strategy, brand changes, brand storytelling, personal branding, and more. And while the Olympics took center stage in Paris with its amazing images and inspiring athletes, don't forget to swing by this blog on August 13th for a recap of the 33rd Olympiad and on August 14th for five business lessons learned from the Paris Olympics. Now, let's direct our attention to other marketing news.
BARBIE NEWS
Mattel unveiled its first blind Barbie doll, and alongside the blind Barbie, Mattel also released a Black Barbie with Down syndrome to further diversify its line and "allow even more children to find a doll that represents them and inspire all children to tell more stories through play." According to company press release, "We recognize that Barbie is much more than just a doll; she represents self-expression and can create a sense of belonging. We proudly introduce a new blind Barbie doll and Black doll with Down syndrome to our Barbie Fashionistas line, reinforcing our commitment to creating products that represent global belonging and inclusivity in the doll aisle."
"Mattel partnered with the American Foundation for the Blind, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a world of endless possibilities for individuals with blindness and low vision, to ensure that details of the blind Barbie, including face sculpt, fashion, accessories, packaging experience, and e-commerce communication, accurately depict individuals with blindness or low vision."
"In 2023, Mattel introduced the first-ever Barbie doll with Down syndrome, which won the Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year award presented by the Toy Association. This year, Barbie once again partnered with the National Down Syndrome Society to introduce its next doll with Down syndrome to the Barbie Fashionistas 2024 lineup."
CNN.COM'S OPINION SECTION SAYS GOODBYE
CNN.com will permanently shut down its standalone opinion section on its website. According to The Media Mix, "The move is part of a wider cost-cutting measure announced by CEO Mark Thompson who unveiled a broad global restructure of CNN's content output across digital, video, and TV." According to The Hill, "The opinion section served as a platform for diverse voices and recently featured a variety of pieces about the 2024 Presidential election, as well as buzzy topics like the Olympics and Generation Z social media influencer trends."
CBS EVENING NEWS
Norah O'Donnell, who has been the anchor of the evening broadcast for nearly five years, announced that she will transition to a new role as senior correspondent after the 2024 Presidential election. She explained, "I have spent 12 years in the anchor chair here at CBS News, tied to a daily broadcast and the rigors of a relentless news cycle. It's time to do something different. This presidential election will be my seventh as a journalist, and for many of us in this business, we tend to look at our careers in terms of these milestone events. I made a "long-term commitment" to stay with CBS News and will continue to do the same storytelling and big interviews that have been our hallmark." Time will tell as to how this transition will impact O'Donnell's personal brand and fan base.
MOVIE NEWS
According to Forbes, with sales of $1.5+ billion, "Inside Out 2" became the highest-grossing animated film of all time - and will be a top contender for the 2024 box office crown. For that recognition, we'll have to wait until holiday films including "Mufasa: The Lion King" and "Wicked" are released.
PANDAS ARRIVE ON DISPLAY AT SAN DIEGO ZOO
While many folks travel to San Diego for their summer get-aways, two giant pandas, who arrived from China, go on public display at the San Diego Zoo on August 8th. These two pandas are the first pair to enter the United States in 21 years. According to the San Diego Zoo, "Since arriving in late June, the pair has been acclimating to their home in the newly reimagined Panda Ridge. This innovative space is four times larger than the San Diego Zoo's previous panda habitat and is inspired by famous geological formations in China, emulating mountains, canyons, and cliffs. It features new shade trees for climbing, a diverse array of plants, and rolling hillsides that allow Yun Chuan and Xin Bao to navigate and explore vertically."
According to Paul Baribault, President and CEO of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance since 2019, "We are delighted to introduce Yun Chuan and Xin Bao to our San Diego Zoo community. Our newest residents will bring joy to our visitors and symbolize the enduring spirit of international conservation efforts. Together with our partners, we continue to make significant strides in ensuring a hopeful future for this iconic species."
PHILADELPHIA ZOO CELEBRATES 150 YEARS
Speaking of zoos, do you know which zoo is the oldest in the United States? If you answered with the Philadelphia Zoo, then you're correct. During July, the Philadelphia Zoo celebrated its 150th anniversary. According to Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman, President and CEO of America's first zoo since October 2023, "On July 1, 1874, the Zoo held its grand opening. On that day, more than 3,000 guests experienced the first zoo in America. Since then, we've welcomed nearly 100 million guests from our city, region, country, and around the world, connecting them to the wonders of wildlife and inspiring action to protect what is precious on our planet. If you're a regular visitor, a member, someone who visited many years ago, or a traveler to Philly this summer, we invite you to celebrate with us as we mark this milestone in our story."
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES' SEATS
Breaking a 50-year tradition, Southwest Airlines announced that it will begin selling assigned seats. Previously, customers would board planes by section rather than by specific seats. Will this damage the brand? Time will tell.
DENMARK FREE TOURIST PERKS
Copenhagen, Denmark's capital city, has announced that it will offer free perks to tourists who make sustainability choices, such as walking, biking, taking public transportation, or picking up litter. Tourists could get a free kayak rental, free cup of coffee, or free ice cream. Want to visit the city of spires?
CARVEL ICE CREAM
Carvel Ice Cream announced that on August 15th, it would kick off the fall season with the re-introduction of its Pumpkin Cheesecake menu items. Initially offered in 2023, pumpkin lovers can rejoice. Here are the limited time items: Pumpkin Cheesecake Soft Serve, Pumpkin Cheesecake Scooped, Pumpkin Cheesecake Shake, Pumpkin Cheesecake Sundae Dasher, Pumpkin Cheesecake Flying Saucer, and Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream Pop. Ready for pumpkin cheesecake yet?
What other recent marketing buzz caught your attention? There's always something happening that impacts marketing, so tune in to #DebbieLaskeysBlog for the scoop!
Image Credits: Mattel and DiscoverPhl via TikTok.
Meet the San Diego Zoo's Pandas:
https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/giant-pandas
and
Harmony in Black and White: 30 Years of Hope, Friendship, and Collaboration for Giant Panda Conservation:
https://stories.sandiegozoo.org/2024/06/26/harmony-in-black-and-white/
Watch the Timeline of the Philadelphia Zoo's First 150 Years:
https://www.philadelphiazoo.org/150anniversary/
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comment!