During the past week, there were news stories that reflected brand experiences, brand identity, brand storytelling, branded merchandise, co-branding, industry firsts, personal branding, and more.
THE FILM "FREAKIER FRIDAY"
Due to a cult following, 22 years after the film FREAKY FRIDAY starring actresses Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, the sequel (FREAKIER FRIDAY) arrived in movie theaters. In the process, a new word has been coined: the term FREAKQUEL has been used instead of SEQUEL.
According to Maureen Lee Lenker's review in Entertainment Week, "What makes Freakier Friday so special is that amid the laugh-out-loud humor and welcome fan service, there's also a beautiful film here about parenting, coming-of-age, loneliness, grief, loss, and sacrifice. To be human is to experience the highs and lows of all that life has to offer, and to be a parent is to do so tenfold, with your heart beating outside your own body. Freakier Friday celebrates that and literalizes it, acknowledging the challenges acute to any age, as well as the foibles and perks of life's different seasons. If the original film is about a mother and daughter coming to better understand each other, Freakier Friday throws its arms open to wrap them around the notion of family as a whole — the ways in which we show up for each other, make being together and being at home one and the same, and how to know that we're exactly where we belong. It's a heart-on-its-sleeve ode to strengthening and forging bonds, the power of deep and unconditional love, and the warmth and safety of one's chosen family, most especially when it's at its freakiest."
FREAKIER FRIDAY MERCH
The only movie theater chain that will offer a special popcorn bucket is Marcus Theaters. As described by SuperHeroHype, "The novelty here is that it will be offering two items that mimic the body-swapping trope of the film: a Freakier Friday Switcheroo Popcorn Bucket that has a lid to make it look like a soda with ice and a Freakier Friday Fake-Out Cup that has a lid to make it look like a bucket of popcorn. They’re actually pretty nifty as items inspired by the movie’s core concept. The officially-licensed 85-oz. popcorn bucket costs $22.99, which is just a few dollars more than the 32-oz. drink cup that is priced at $18.99."
The Regal Theaters chain is featuring something called a Swapcorn bucket, popcorn in a divided bucket with one half filled with classic buttered popcorn and the other half with caramel. In addition, "Those lucky enough to attend the Fan First Screening for the movie on August 6 at Regal will also receive a friendship bracelet set, one that has beads which say "FREAKIER" and another that says "FRIDAY."
AMC Theaters is also offering a Freakier Friday Fan First Screening on August 6 where theatergoers can get the same complimentary friendship bracelets.
And lastly, Cinemark also has the friendship-bracelet offer plus a guitar pick keychain for anyone who can score a ticket to the movie’s first showing at Cinemark XD on August 7. The metal keychain comes with a string of links to a green and purple guitar pick that has the Freakier Friday logo emblazoned on it.
KAHLUA AND DUNKIN'
According to a joint press release, "Kahlúa, the No. 1 coffee liqueur, is teaming up with Dunkin’, America’s largest coffee and donuts brand, to introduce Kahlúa Dunkin’ Caramel Swirl Cream Liqueur. This is the latest addition to Kahlúa’s permanent line of thoughtfully crafted liqueurs, marking Kahlúa’s largest investment in the cream liqueur category and Dunkin’s very first foray into cream liqueur. Featuring one of Dunkin’s bestselling flavor swirls, Kahlúa Dunkin' Caramel Swirl Cream Liqueur offers a luscious pour with caramel notes like toffee, vanilla, and dulce de leche, blended with hints of coffee and chocolate. The finish is smooth and creamy with a sweet ending that combines Dunkin’s Caramel Swirl with Kahlúa’s rum and 100 percent Arabica coffee from Veracruz, Mexico."
According to Caroline Begley, Vice President of Marketing, Kahlúa, "Kahlúa is famous for great-tasting Espresso Martinis, and now we’re stirring up everyday occasions with Dunkin’ for something special. We’re proud to partner with this iconic coffee brand and continue the partnership in exciting ways."
According to Brian Gilbert, Vice President Retail Business Development, Dunkin’, "This collaboration blends premium indulgence with everyday coffee culture. Kahlúa Dunkin’ Caramel Swirl is a bold step in the cream liqueur category for both brands and a delicious new treat for coffee and cocktail enthusiasts alike."
NEW CHAIR FOR LA 2028 OLYMPICS
As reported by the LA Times, "In past Olympic Games held on American soil, sitting presidents have served in passive, ceremonial roles. President Trump [has] other plans. An executive order signed by Trump on August 5th names him chair of a White House task force for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. At the White House, speaking in front of banners adding the presidential seal to the logo for LA28, Trump said he would send the military back to Los Angeles if he so chose in order to protect the Games. In June, Trump sent the National Guard and U.S. Marines to the city amid widespread immigration enforcement actions, despite widespread condemnation from Mayor Karen Bass and other local officials."
According to the executive order, "The task force, to be housed within the Department of Homeland Security, will assist in the planning and implementation of visa processing and credentialing programs for foreign athletes, coaches, officials, and media personnel."
According to The Conversation, "There are concerns from some Los Angeles officials that the administration’s immigration policies could deter tourists and complicate the issuing of visas for Olympic teams. In an address early in 2025 to the International Olympic Committee in Greece, Casey Wasserman (the man in charge of the LA 2028 Olympics), said that he had received assurances from Trump that he did not anticipate any problems from any country to come and participate and have their delegations in full force."
The LA Times reported that, "Presidents have long played a role in the Games. In 1984, Ronald Reagan formally opened the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, becoming the first American president to do so. The Olympic Charter requires the host country’s head of state to officially open the Games, but before Reagan, the duty had been fulfilled by local political leaders or vice presidents representing the president."
DORITOS GOLDEN SRIRACHA CHIPS
As reported by CNN, "The PepsiCo-owned tortilla chips maker thinks it’s found the next big flavor with "Golden Sriracha" — a newly released permanent addition that the brand hopes emulates the popularity of Cool Ranch and Nacho Cheese. Doritos is releasing its next "mega flavor," as the brand calls it, developed by its culinary team that’s constantly searching for trending flavors that could be transformed into a popular salty snack. The team landed on Sriracha, a chili sauce commonly associated with Thai and Vietnamese food that has become a grocery store staple. Red Sriracha is the most well-known and most popular version of the sauce, especially with Gen Z eaters. Despite the upheaval in the snacking industry over the past few years, Doritos is leaning into what makes it so unique: bold flavors."
According to James Wade, senior marketing director for Doritos. "The landscape is different. But it’s a product that remains distinct and differentiated. When we talk to consumers, there’s just not a lot of alternatives that are like Doritos."
BREAST MILK-INSPIRED ICE CREAM
As reported by Deseret, "The Breast Milk Ice Cream that’s making a splash nationally is "inspired by" but does not contain actual human breast milk. The concept is a marketing ploy. OddFellows Ice Cream Co. and Frida, a baby product company, teamed up for the confection to boost interest in Frida’s new 2-in-1 manual breast pump, according to ABC News...According to Frida, the Breast Milk Ice Cream has a sweet and salty flavor and will be available for a limited time and also available for shipping nationwide on Frida's website...As for actual breast milk, it’s hard to beat for baby’s well-being. Healthline said it provides the best in nutrition, strengthens baby’s immune system and reduces risk of illnesses. Moms benefit, too. Breastfeeding bolsters recovery after giving birth, may aid weight loss and has been linked to less risk of certain cancers. That’s something no ice cream has been able to claim."
COLORADO STOVE WARNINGS
As reported by CPR, "Anyone shopping for a gas stove in Colorado might soon notice a yellow label warning them of the air quality risks. That’s after a new first-in-the-nation state law took effect on August 6th. Signed by Governor Jared Polis in May, the law requires retailers to display labels, in Spanish and English, encouraging potential buyers to investigate the health impacts of owning an indoor gas stove. The label must include a URL or QR code leading to a state webpage with information about the risks associated with the appliances. Colorado is the first state to require a health warning label on gas stoves and cooktops, according to Nick Torres, an advocacy director for the American Lung Association covering Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. He said the labels will help shoppers make an informed decision."
LITTLE CAESARS AND ROBOT DELIVERY
As reported by Nation's Restaurant News, "Little Caesars is getting into autonomous delivery for the first time. The third-largest pizza chain announced a new partnership with Serve Robotics and Uber Eats to offer robotic sidewalk delivery to select customers in the Los Angeles area. Serve Robotics boasts that its third-generation robots have a cargo bin that can fit up to four 16-inch pizzas, plus an order of wings, Italian cheese bread, and beverages. Serve robots can also maintain proper food temperature and quality while they are en route to a customer’s delivery address."
According to Trish Heusel, vice president of innovation at Little Caesars, "Little Caesars is always looking for ways to be innovative in the restaurant industry, and we are proud to partner with Serve Robotics and Uber Eats to deliver our delicious pizzas to our customers in Los Angeles. Partnering with Serve allows us to deliver a solution that aligns with our commitment to better service and technology-forward solutions while reducing our environmental footprint."
KENNEDY CENTER'S NAME
According to NBC News, "House Republican proposals to name the Kennedy Center after President Donald Trump and its opera house after first lady Melania Trump would violate the law by which the Kennedy Center was created."
According to U.S. Code, "After December 2, 1983, no additional memorials or plaques in the nature of memorials shall be designated or installed in the public areas of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts."
Rep. Bob Onder, R-Mo., introduced the "Make Entertainment Great Again Act" to rename the entire Kennedy Center the "Donald J. Trump Center for Performing Arts." As reported by NBC News, "Three former board members for the Kennedy Center told NBC News that the law creating the center prohibited any of the facilities from being renamed, other than the Eisenhower Theater, after the president whose administration first authorized its construction in 1958. The project stalled and was revived under President John F. Kennedy, whose family led an effort to get the center built and named in his honor following his assassination. Two months later, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the legislation making it a living memorial to Kennedy."
On social media, John F. Kennedy's grandson Jack Scholossberg responded to moves to rename the institution, posting: "The Trump Administration stands for freedom of oppression, not expression. He uses his awesome powers to suppress free expression and instill fear. But this isn't about the arts. Trump is obsessed with being bigger than JFK, with minimizing the many heroes of our past, as if that elevates him. It doesn't. But there's hope — art lasts forever, and no one can change what JFK and our shared history stand for."
As reported by NPR, "The Make Entertainment Great Again Act is expected to struggle to find enough votes in Congress to pass." Let's hope so.
RETURN OF NEW YORK'S WALDORF ASTORIA
One of New York City's grandest hotels, the Waldorf Astoria, closed for renovations in 2017, and almost 8 years and billions of dollars later, the hotel re-opened. Historian David Freeland explained, "The Waldorf has always been a reflection of New York. I'd like to think that its reopening symbolizes the return of a great public space within the life of the city."
Brand name note: The hyphen in the hotel's name (Waldorf-Astoria) was dropped in 2009.
RETURN OF BED BATH & BEYOND
Nearly two years after this retail store known for its coupons closed all of its stores, Bed Bath & Beyond has returned from the retail grave.
As reported by ABC7, "The first new Bed Bath & Beyond has opened more than two years after the company went bankrupt and shut down all its stores. The Brand House Collective, which now owns the company, opened a new store on August 8th in Nashville, Tennessee. As part of the grand opening celebration, the company said it would bring back the popular Bed Bath & Beyond coupon. That means old coupons will be accepted, and customers will also be given a new one at the door. Brand House's CEO said, "This isn't just a store, it's a fresh start for a brand that means something special to so many families." It's not clear if or when other stores might open.
END OF BEAUTY BRAND AMI COLE
As reported by 19thNews, "Next month, beauty brand Ami Colé will shutter, marking an unfortunate reality for many Black-owned businesses — what happens when financial interest dries up? Founder Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye’s July announcement shocked many across the beauty space. In the piece, N’Diaye-Mbaye outlined the journey of starting her business, from growing up in her mother’s Harlem braiding salon to pitching Ami Colé — known for their innovation in lip oils and shade-inclusive makeup — to over 150 investors in 2019. After a surge in support for Black entrepreneurship following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020, N’Diaye-Mbaye said she received more interest in the brand, becoming one of 30 Black women to raise $1 million for her start-up within months. But four years after her official launch, N’Diaye-Mbaye said growth at Sephora couldn’t compete with corporate brands, and scaling up production to meet potential demand came at a steep cost when online influence fluctuated.
Nationally, there has been a societal swing — in tandem with pressure from President Trump’s administration — against intentional incorporation of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in creators’ paths, with waning urgency to support these businesses en masse. And the amount of money flowing to Black-founded companies has hit a multiyear low, according to the business publication Crunchbase News. Only $730 million — 0.4 percent of all funding — went to startups with a Black founder or co-founder last year, down more than two-thirds from 2021. The startups that did receive funding were mostly in the tech or health spaces."
Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye wrote, "Instead of focusing on the healthy, sustainable future of the company and meeting the needs of our loyal fan base, I rode a temperamental wave of appraising investors — some of whom seemed to have an attitude toward equity and ‘betting big on inclusivity’ that changed its tune a lot, to my ears, from what it sounded like in 2020."
According to Javon Ford, a cosmetic chemist and entrepreneur, "The issue is money. It’s capital. Operating in a retailer like Sephora is expensive. That’s how cutthroat retail is when you scale to a certain extent — and it’s really hard to keep up with legacy brands.”
DEATH OF DAME STELLA RIMINGTON
You may not recognize her name — but you will definitely know her legacy if you're a James Bond fan.
As reported by the BBC, "Dame Stella Rimington, MI5's first female director general, has died at the age of 90. Dame Stella, who headed the security service from 1992 to 1996, was widely credited as being the model for Dame Judi Dench's character "M" in the James Bond films. Rimington joined MI5 full time in 1969, and served as deputy director general in 1991 before being promoted to director general a year later."
Current MI5 director general Sir Ken McCallum said of his predecessor, "As the first publicly stated female head of any intelligence agency in the world, she broke through long-standing barriers and was a visible example of the importance of diversity in leadership. Her leadership ushered in a new era of openness and transparency about the work MI5 does to keep this country safe, a legacy that continues to this day."
"Born in 1935 in South Norwood, south London, Dame Stella got her first role at MI5 as a part-time clerk typist in India, where she had accompanied her husband on a diplomatic posting four years earlier. She was the first director general to be publicly identified when appointed - and when a newspaper published a photo of her house, she and her family had to move to a covert location for their own protection. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour in 1999, Dame Stella said she had thoroughly approved of the decision to make her name public when she became director general, but added that she hadn't really guessed quite how much interest there was going to be and the great level of press attention there was. She retired from the service in 1996, and went on to publish her autobiography, Open Secret, in 2001, and a number of spy novels. In 2007, she said that spy writers created 'a totally glamorous world around the profession of spying that bears very little relation to reality.'"
DEATH OF LONI ANDERSON
As reported by Newsweek, "Actress Loni Anderson, who starred as receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on WKRP in Cincinnati, died on August 3rd at the age of 79. Her role on CBS' WKRP in Cincinnati catapulted her to stardom. The sitcom, which aired from 1978 until 1982, earned her two Emmy nominations and three Golden Globe nominations."
According to The Guardian, "She gained her greatest recognition on screen in the American sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati playing Jennifer Marlowe, the intelligent, cool, and collected receptionist at a flagging Ohio radio station. Hugh Wilson, the former Atlanta advertising executive who created the programme, which ran for four series (seasons) between 1978 and 1982, said he picked Anderson for her looks. But, he added, she insisted she would not portray Jennifer as a dumb blonde."
Loni said, “Let’s make her look like Lana Turner and be the smartest person in the room." In 2011, she said, "I think women loved the fact I was sexy and smart. I know it sounds crazy to people today, but in 1978, not many women were doing both in comedy.”
DID YOU CELEBRATE GREAT AMERICAN OUTDOORS DAY?
As reported by National Parks, "On August 4, 2020, the Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law, helping address deferred maintenance projects in our national parks and public lands. [Since] National parks host more than 325 million visitors a year, significant repairs to roads, trails, water treatment systems, visitor facilities, and more, are needed. The Great American Outdoors Act helps protect our parks so they can be enjoyed for generations to come." August 4th is one of the six fee-free days designated by the National Park Service each year (others include January 20 (MLK Day), April 19 (First Day of National Park Week), June 19 (Juneteenth), September 27 (National Public Lands Day), and November 11 (Veterans Day).
FIRST WOMAN UMPIRE IN MLB
As reported by NPR, "For the first time in history [let's be real: HERstory!], a woman is set to umpire a Major League Baseball game this weekend. Jen Pawol is a former softballer who also played on the USA Baseball women's national team in 2001. And when she works Saturday's doubleheader in Atlanta between the Braves and Miami Marlins, she'll shatter one of the most durable gender barriers in professional sports."
According to Keith Law, who covers MLB for The Athletic, "it's a little ironic to me to see MLB celebrating this so much when we're so far behind. There are a lot of structural barriers within Major League Baseball for women and for minorities of all sorts. Baseball has just generally been pretty retrograde on these fronts. And also, it takes a long time for - just speaking specifically of women in umpiring, it takes a very long time for those biases to work their way out of the system. Pawol had to spend many years working from the lowest levels of the minors, starting in the Complex League, to get all the way up to AAA where she was umpiring this year when she got the call. And that is - I do think that makes baseball different from other sports. We have this extensive minor league system that doesn't just apply to players. It applies to umpires and coaches."
As reported by ESPN on August 10th, "Jen Pawol breezed through today's Marlins-Braves game as if breaking a gender barrier was just another day on the job. Considering Pawol became the first female umpire to work behind the plate in the majors, making unprecedented history appear to be routine was especially impressive. It was an impressive cap to a memorable weekend for Pawol. She made history in Saturday's doubleheader as the first female umpire to work a regular-season game in the majors. She called the bases in the doubleheader before moving behind the plate on Sunday, placing her in the brightest spotlight for an umpire. Pawol never showed any indication of being affected by the attention, even while knowing every call would be closely watched."
Miami manager Clayton McCullough said after Atlanta's 7-1 win over the Marlins, "I think Jen did a really nice job. She handled and managed the game very well. And big day for her. Big day for Major League Baseball. I congratulated her again on that because it's quite the accomplishment."
The 48-year-old Pawol was called up as a rover umpire, so her next assignment in the majors has not been announced. Her work in the minor leagues began in 2016 when she was assigned to the Gulf Coast League. She worked in the Triple-A championship game in 2023 and in spring training games in 2024 and again this year.
According to Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr., "This historic accomplishment in baseball is a reflection of Jen's hard work, dedication, and love of the game. She has earned this opportunity, and we are proud of the strong example she has set, particularly for all the women and young girls who aspire to roles on the field. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my congratulations to Jen and her family on this milestone."
According to the Major League Baseball Umpires Association (MLBUA), "This moment represents more than a personal milestone for Jen; it is a groundbreaking step for our profession and for the continued advancement of women in sports. Jen's achievement is a testament to her skill, dedication, and perseverance. We are proud to stand with Jen as she breaks this barrier and we look forward to welcoming more women into the umpiring profession."
Pawol spoke to reporters on Saturday when she said, "The dream actually came true today. I'm still living in it. I'm so grateful to my family and Major League Baseball for creating such an incredible work environment."
What other recent marketing buzz caught your attention? Since there's always something happening that impacts marketing, read #DebbieLaskeysBlog for the scoop!
Image Credits: Freakier Friday/Walt Disney Pictures, Dunkin' and Kahlua, and Doritos.
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