During the past week, there were news stories that reflected advertising, brand experiences, brand identity, brand storytelling, co-branding sometimes called brand collaborations or "brand collabs" for short, crisis communications, customer experience marketing, personal branding, product pricing, and more.
KAMALA HARRIS NEWS
On July 29, former Vice President and Presidential candidate Kamala Harris announced that she would NOT be running for Governor of California. This announcement opened up the race for countless other candidates on both sides of the aisle. According to The19thNews, "The Democrats already in the race include Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis; Secretary of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond; Xavier Becerra, who led the Department of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden; former Rep. Katie Porter; Toni Atkins, who served as both California Senate president pro tempore and California House speaker; former State Comptroller Betty Yee; and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. In California, candidates compete in all-party primary elections, and the top two finishers, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the general election."
In Harris' July 29 announcement, she wrote, "For now, my leadership — and public service — will not be in elected office. I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans.”
Then, the next day, on July 30, Harris announced that she had written a book about her 2024 presidential campaign, entitled "107 Days," available on September 23rd. She said in a video shared on social media, "It was intense, high stakes and deeply personal for me and for so many of you. Since leaving office, I've spent a lot of time reflecting on those days, talking with my team, my family, my friends, and pulling my thoughts together. In essence, writing a journal that is this book, "107 Days." With candor and reflection, I've written a behind-the-scenes account of that journey. I believe there's value in sharing what I saw, what I learned, and what I know it will take to move forward."
Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp praised Harris as "a singular American leader," and added that the book "captures the drama of running for president better than just about anything I've read. It's one of the best works of political non-fiction we've ever published."
According to Glynda Carr, president of Higher Heights for America, which works to elect Black women and has supported Harris' numerous political campaigns, "Part of Harris' ability to run, win, and govern from a local level all the way up to executive office is because she has been very strategic about how she navigates her elected leadership."
Donna Brazile, Democratic strategist who served as former Vice President Al Gore's campaign manager when he ran for president in 2000, said, "In the modern vice presidency, these individuals don't go into obscurity; they continue their public life, whether it's academia, the public sector, public speaking, serving in advisory capacities for corporations or nonprofits, launching their own personal advocacy, writing a memoir, or returning to public office. There are so many gaps the former vice president can fill, so many roles she can play whether it's as a private citizen or a public official. This is just one of the many decisions she will make over the course of her lifetime."
KRISPY KREME AND CROCS
According to Krispy Kreme, "Step into the spotlight and walk like you're the hottest item on the menu with the Krispy Kreme x Crocs collaboration — where bold style meets irresistible flavor. To celebrate the launch of the limited-edition Krispy Kreme Crocs Classic Clog shoes, this specialty doughnut dozen brings the same playful energy and iconic flair. This collaboration is more than just a treat — it's a delicious statement from two icons who know how to bring the heat."
According to a Krispy Kreme press release: "In what might be THE colossal collab of the year, Krispy Kreme and Crocs announced the introduction of limited-edition Krispy Kreme x Crocs Classic Clogs. Comfort meets crave in Krispy Kreme Crocs Classic Clog, inspired by iconic Original Glazed and other Krispy Kreme doughnuts. More than a year in the making, comfort meets crave in this icon for an icon collaboration of two true global originals – Krispy Kreme's Original Glazed Doughnut and Crocs' Classic Clog. Hot now and being served beginning August 5 in adult sizes at Crocs stores, crocs.com, and select channels, the Krispy Kreme x Crocs Classic Clogs' design features a fresh out-of-the-glazer treatment, along with oversized Jibbitz charms of the Original Glazed doughnut and Krispy Kreme Hot Light. The Clogs also include two interchangeable toe caps – chocolate and strawberry icing with sprinkles – that you can swap out depending on your favorite flavor, and the Clogs' pivoting heel strap features the Krispy Kreme logo. Krispy Kreme is also offering guests who come in wearing their Crocs on August 9th a free Original Glazed Doughnut."
Alison Holder, Krispy Kreme Chief Brand and Product Officer, said, "It's been so much fun working with Crocs to create what might be the sweetest Classic Clogs yet. Fans of both of our brands expect the unexpected, and this collab certainly is next-level."
Terence Reilly, Crocs, Inc. Chief Brand Officer, said, "At Crocs, we've always believed in comfort you can customize, and now, with Krispy Kreme, we're serving up style that's glazed with personality and sprinkled with style. Because when it comes to self-expression, we 'doughnut' hold back."
P.F. CHANG'S AND "FREAKIER FRIDAY"
Coming to movie theaters on August 8 will be the continuation of the movie "Freaky Friday" that starred Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis in 2003. This movie called FREAKIER FRIDAY features those two returning stars and others from the original movie. Restaurant P.F. Chang's joined in the freaky fun with its collaboration. Check out the items inspired by the movie:
* Introducing the new Color Changing Refreshers: Flavor-packed drinks that bring the fun and the unexpected to your night out. The Switcheroo Refresher blends mango and orange lemonade in a vibrant, citrusy mix that shifts shades before your eyes. Or try the Crystal Ball, a sparkling combination of desert pear, lemonade, Sprite, and club soda that's as mystical as it is refreshing.
* House Dinner Specials bring bold flavor and a little Freaky Friday flair to your plate. Choose from fan favorites like House of Chang's Spicy Chicken, served with white rice and a fresh house side salad, or the "You're Not My Mother" Mongolian Beef, paired with a comforting cup of egg drop soup.
* Make Good Choices Specials let you build your perfect plate without sacrificing flavor or fun. Start with your choice of a fresh salad, savory soup, or crispy egg or spring roll, then pick your base: white rice, brown rice, fried rice, or lo mein. Top it off with one of 12 delicious entrées, including classics like Orange Chicken and Mongolian Beef, or new favorites like Korean Fried Chicken and Teriyaki Beef.
* End your Freakier Friday feast on a magically sweet note with our all-new Pink Slip Ube Cheesecake. This dreamy dessert layers creamy ube — made from real purple sweet potatoes — over rich vanilla cheesecake, finished with a strawberry-vanilla sauce, a sprinkle of edible pink glitter, and freeze-dried dragon fruit for a little extra flair.
SCHWARZKOPF AND "FREAKIER FRIDAY"
As reported by American Salon, "In a first for the hair-care giant, Schwarzkopf is partnering with Walt Disney Studios to become the official hair brand of "Freakier Friday," the much-anticipated sequel to 2003's "Freaky Friday." As a tie-in with the film's body-switching plot, Schwarzkopf has launched a "Switch Your Story" campaign featuring hair color transformations. The brand will also share professional salon formulas and at-home shade suggestions inspired by the bold hair colors in "Freakier Friday." This movie collaboration makes sense, because earlier this year, Schwarzkopf named Lohan, who is starring in the sequel, its newest Brand Ambassador."
Teresa Cordova, head of Schwarzkopf Masterbrand U.S., said, "The movie "Freakier Friday" reminds us how powerful it can be to switch things up, and at Schwarzkopf, we believe that every hair color change marks the start of a new chapter in your story."
OREO AND REESE'S
As reported by CNN, "Oreo, owned by Mondelez International, and Reese's, part of the Hershey Company, are introducing two new treats that combine flavors from both snacks. Team ups between rival companies are rare, and this marks a notable alliance following Mondelez's failed takeover attempt of Hershey last year. But both companies could use a boost as consumer demand for indulgent food has been trending lower for some time. The first creation is a Reese's Oreo Cup, which replaces the typical chocolate on a Reese's cup for Oreo's milk chocolate and white creme. It's then filled with peanut butter and Oreo cookie crumbs. This treat hits US shelves in September with presale beginning August 18 on Hershey's website. On the Oreo side, the brand is re-releasing a version of a 2014 cookie that used Reese's peanut butter with Oreo cookie crumbs in the filling. The Oreo Reese's cookies roll out in September while supplies last, then returning permanently in January 2026. A presale begins August 18 on Oreo's website."
CHEESECAKE FACTORY AND PRICING
Known as a brand with large food portions and dozens of choices of cheesecake, the casual-dining chain is introducing two new menu categories: bowls and bites ranging in price from under $10 to $16. The six bowls include a Teriyaki Salmon Bowl, Orange Cauliflower Bowl, and the Peruvian Chicken Bowl, while the eight bites include New Orleans Cajun Shrimp and Chicken and Biscuits. CFO Matthew Clark told Restaurant Business, "When we look at what we're doing from a value perspective and pricing, we're driving significant value for the consumer."
On an unrelated note, according to Restaurant Business, "The chain continues to see promising results from its loyalty program, Cheesecake Rewards. After testing blanket offers for all members, the company has begun tailoring its rewards to individual users."
While the new pricing model may not be successful, the customization of its rewards program certainly is, because "The redemption rate has increased from 1 percent to 4 percent using the more targeted strategy."
AMERICAN EAGLE AD BACKLASH
As reported by AP, "U.S. fashion retailer American Eagle Outfitters wanted to make a splash with its new advertising campaign starring 27-year-old actress Sydney Sweeney. Titled "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans," the campaign sparked a debate about race, Western beauty standards, and the backlash to "woke" American politics and culture. Most of the negative reception focused on videos that used the word "genes" instead of "jeans" when discussing the blonde-haired, blue-eyed actress known for her two HBO series. Some critics saw the wordplay as a nod, either unintentional or deliberate, to eugenics, a discredited theory that held humanity could be improved through selective breeding for certain traits...Eugenics gained popularity in early 20th century America, and Nazi Germany embraced it to carry out Adolf Hitler's plan for an Aryan master race."
Some marketers observe a shift in advertising since President Trump returned to office and moved to abolish all federal DEI programs and policies.
Jazmin Burrell, founder of brand consulting agency Lizzie Della Creative Strategies, remarked that she has seen more ads that prominently feature white models, "[Unfortunately,] I can see us going back to a world where diversity is not the standard expectation in advertising."
Marcus Collins, an assistant professor of marketing at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, said, "The criticism could have been avoided if the ads showed models of various races making the "genes" pun. You can either say this was ignorance, laziness, or intentional. Either one of the three isn't good."
Shalini Shankar, a cultural and linguistic anthropologist at Northwestern University in Illinois, said she had problems with American Eagle's "genes" versus "jeans" because it exacerbates a limited concept of beauty, "American Eagle wants to rebrand itself for a particular kind of white privileged American."
Miles Worthington, founder and CEO of marketing and creative agency WORTHI, said, "They were probably thinking that this is going to be their moment. But this [buzz] is doing the opposite and deeply distorting their brand. It's so clear that they didn't have anybody in the room that poked and prodded at this ad. I would bet all the dollars in the world that it was a very white, very privileged room [full of] people who didn't ask the right questions."
As reported in Marketing Brew, Seth Horowitz, president of Horowitz Agency, a marketing services group, said, "I'm particularly interested to see how American Eagle's campaign impacts its other brand, Aerie, which was built on body positivity and inclusion."
A final note, American Eagle defended the ad on Instagram in an attempt to stop the criticism: "[The] Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans" [campaign] is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We'll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone."
Who will want to wear AE jeans now?
CPB ANNOUNCEMENT
On August 1st, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced that it will begin an orderly wind-down of its "operations following the passage of a federal rescissions package and the release of the Senate Appropriations Committee's FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-H) appropriations bill, which excludes funding for CPB for the first time in more than five decades. For nearly 60 years, CPB has carried out its Congressional mission to build and sustain a trusted public media system that informs, educates, and serves communities across the country. Through partnerships with local stations and producers, CPB has supported educational content, locally relevant journalism, emergency communications, cultural programming, and essential services for Americans in every community."
CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison said, "Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations. CPB remains committed to fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities and supporting our partners through this transition with transparency and care. Public media has been one of the most trusted institutions in American life, providing educational opportunity, emergency alerts, civil discourse, and cultural connection to every corner of the country. We are deeply grateful to our partners across the system for their resilience, leadership, and unwavering dedication to serving the American people."
TRUMP'S WHITE HOUSE LEGACY
As reported by CNN, "President Donald Trump has been envisioning a new ballroom on the White House campus for a decade and a half. His dream is about to become a reality. Construction will begin in September on a $200 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom, fulfilling a 15-year ambition by the president to construct an event space on the White House grounds that expands the building's entertaining capacity — but also resembles the gilded spaces of his private clubs. Renderings depict a vast space with gold and crystal chandeliers, gilded Corinthian columns, a coffered ceiling with gold inlays, gold floor lamps, and a checkered marble floor. Three walls of arched windows look out over the White House's south grounds — including a massive new flagpole that was another of Trump's additions to the historic compound. The gold-and-white style closely mimics the Louis XIV-style main event room at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's estate in Palm Beach. The new ballroom — which will maintain the theme and architectural heritage of the neoclassical executive mansion — will have a seated capacity of 650 people, more than three times the space in the East Room, currently the largest event space in the White House."
A July 31st post indicated that the project would be "fully funded by President Trump and other private donors — not taxpayers."
Doesn't it seem ironic that CPB is ending, but a White House ballroom designed by Trump is in the planning - and soon-to-be construction - stages?
STARBUCKS NEWS
CEO Brian Niccol announced this past week that, "Starbucks will be doing away with its pickup-only store model in 2026. We found this format to be overly transactional and lacking the warmth and human connection that defines our brand."
According to USA Today, "Introduced in New York in 2019, "Starbucks Pick Up" was designed to simplify coffee runs. Customers would place mobile orders, pick them up, and move on with their day. The pick-up only stores encouraged customers to order via their mobile app and wasn't meant to be a place to linger, like a traditional location with seating. Although some have a small indoor area, others have only pick-up windows. Approximately 80 to 90 Starbucks "Pick Up" stores in more than 20 states will be impacted, with some locations facing permanent closure while others will be converted into traditional coffeehouses at a later date."
SMITHSONIAN AND TRUMP'S TWO IMPEACHMENTS
According to NPR, "The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., has removed references to President Trump's two first-term impeachments from an exhibit. The Smithsonian said the references will be restored once the exhibit is updated, but did not provide a timeline. The exhibit, entitled "The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden" includes reference to the impeachments of Presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton and the Watergate scandal that engulfed President Richard Nixon, who resigned rather than face certain impeachment. A temporary label was added in 2021 to include President Trump's impeachments in 2019 and again in 2021, just days before the end of his first term. But the reference to Trump's impeachments was removed last month. The Smithsonian said in a statement to NPR that after a recent review of the museum's "legacy content," it was decided to pull the reference to Trump's impeachments – which were placed on the exhibit in September 2021 – pending a more substantial overhaul of the exhibit."
VIRGIN AIRLINES AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES
As reported by Marketing Week, "Former global CMO of design agency AKQA Sam Kelly will step into the role of Chief Experience Officer at Virgin Group (the brand's first in this new role) to lead brand and marketing, while focusing on customer experience. Virgin continues to expand and innovate - and prioritize customer experience.
An interesting note about Virgin's website, every time you visit a page (or refresh a page), a different quote from Richard Branson appears. Here are three of my favorites:
"Finding the spotlight isn't about standing in it. There's so much to be gained from working with people who support each other to achieve great things."
"Don't ever let anyone prevent you from dreaming. Imagination is one of our greatest gifts."
"If your eyes are fixed on the rear-view mirror, you'll miss that important turn coming up."
What other recent marketing buzz caught your attention? Since there's always something happening that impacts marketing, read #DebbieLaskeysBlog for the scoop!
Image Credits: Krispy Kreme, PF Chang's Amazon, and Oreo.
Travel back through history:
What is public media?
https://cpb.org/aboutpb/what-public-media
Read about Eugenics:
https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/Eugenics-and-Scientific-Racism
Read about Racial Hygiene in the German context:
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/eugenics
Check out the book BRANDSPLAINING:
"In Brandsplaining, Jane Cunningham and Philippa Roberts expose the monumental gap that exists between the women that appear in the media around us and the women we really are. Their research reveals how our experiences, wants and needs - in all forms - are ignored and misrepresented by an industry that fails to understand us."
https://www.amazon.com/Brandsplaining-Why-Marketing-Still-Sexist/dp/0241456002
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