Top Ten Marketing Highlights of 2024

With 2024 now history, it's time for my annual "Top 10" marketing highlights post – incredible that this is my 15th post featuring annual marketing highlights – and a traditional January 1st blog post.

What do you remember from the 2024 marketing reel? What stood out as marketing innovation, and what will go down in history that was as memorable as Apple's 1984 Super Bowl ad? Without further ado, let's get to it!

With a nod and thank you to David Letterman for the format, here's my list:

NUMBER 10: Effective January 1, 2024, an early version of the Walt Disney Company's internationally-recognized mascot, Mickey Mouse, that was featured in the 1928 short film, "Steamboat Willie," entered the public domain for the first time. According to CNN, "The good-humored rodent, which has been synonymous with the Disney brand for nearly a century, has grown into one of the most iconic characters in American pop culture. But since U.S. copyright law, last updated by Congress in 1998, allows copyright to be held for 95 years, Disney’s sole claim to the character has officially ended. A Disney spokesperson explained to CNN, 'More modern versions of Mickey will remain unaffected by the expiration of the Steamboat Willie copyright, and Mickey will continue to play a leading role as a global ambassador for the Walt Disney Company in our storytelling, theme park attractions, and merchandise.'"

NUMBER 9: In May, Cartier, the expensive international jewelry brand, made a mistake and listed gold-and-diamond earrings for 237 pesos ($14 USD) instead of the correct price of 237,000 pesos ($14,000 USD). A doctor in Mexico, who was doing his medical residency, ordered two sets. After months of back and forth discussions between the customer and the company, the customer received the earrings for the advertised price. According to Mexico's Consumer Protection Agency known as Profeco, "Companies have to respect the published price. If there's a mistake, it's not the consumer's fault."

NUMBER 8: In November, a federal judge ordered the Port of Oakland to stop using "San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport" as its airport's new name, agreeing with San Francisco's claim of trademark infringement. The judge explained that, over the last 97 years, San Francisco had spent millions to develop its brand, and as a result, ordered Oakland's airport to remove any signs with the new name.

NUMBER 7: After six seasons as a co-host of the popular ABC morning talk-show made famous by Regis Philbin and many co-hosts over the years, Ryan Seacrest said goodbye to the show in April. Kelly Ripa welcomed her husband, Mark Consuelos, to join the show, and the promotional tagline became "From Co-Stars in Life to Co-Hosts on Live." The show's name changed from "Live with Kelly and Ryan" to "Live with Kelly and Mark." Time will tell if viewers tire of the married couple's stories. In addition, Seacrest left the morning show to take over from retiring TV show host Pat Sajak of the nearly 50-year-old evening game show, "Wheel of Fortune," for which he served as host for 43 years.

NUMBER 6: On April Fools' Day, Oreo posted the best joke of the year after changing its brief description to: "We're done." 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."

Then, "Follow @just_the_water and @just_the_creme on Instagram for more."

The message was signed: "Wafer and Creme."

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 stated: "Just the Creme and Just the Wafer hit shelves 4/31."

However, April has only 30 days, so if fans didn't realize that this content was an April Fools' Day joke, that final post provided the gotcha!

NUMBER 5: In late-October, after a decade of division wins and great season-ending records, the Los Angeles Dodgers finally won a World Series Championship! And against the rival New York Yankees to boot! The two franchises have clashed on the Fall Classic stage 12 times, five more than any other matchup in World Series history. This was the Dodgers' eighth World Series title in franchise history and first since the 2020 pandemic-shortened season. As a lifelong Dodgers fan, this championship was very sweet!

NUMBER 4: Two terms appeared during 2024 as a result of singer-songwriter-entrepreneur Taylor Swift's international fame: "Visitor Economy" and "Economic Fairy Dust." These terms reflect the impact on local economies where she performs because visitors flock to each location's airports, hotels, restaurants, and more - and Swift dusts the cities with an economic boom.

NUMBER 3: After years of filming plus delays caused by the Covid pandemic and the SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild strikes, the movie that is based on the 20-year-old musical "Wicked" opened in movie theaters on November 22nd. According to NBC, "Grammy-winning pop sensation Ariana Grande brings her huge vocal talents to the young witch's musical role, playing Galinda in her pre-Good Witch days as she befriends the picked-on Elphaba after the two first meet as students. Where Elphaba is unpopular at school, Galinda is just the opposite. Everyone thinks she's pretty (and POPULAR), yet she forms an unlikely friendship with Elphaba that has sweeping implications for the musical's bigger story." During the movie's opening weekend, it broke a record with an estimated $114 million at the domestic box office, marking the highest cinematic opening for a Broadway adaptation. That's a lot of popcorn!

While two summer blockbusters from last year created a new portmanteau (a word formed by combining the sounds and meanings of other words), "Barbenheimer" derived from BARBIE THE MOVIE and OPPENHEIMER, this year's pre-Thanksgiving weekend saw the arrival of "Glicked" to promote WICKED and GLADIATOR II. According to CNN, "A lesson learned is that two very high-profile movies can go head-to-head, and both can thrive in the theatrical marketplace." And according to Yahoo Entertainment, fans were asked to "Celebrate Glicked by watching both movies either as a double feature or over the course of a weekend and dress the part donning something earthy and Romanesque for Gladiator II and either Galinda pink or Elphaba green for Wicked."

While the movie's story was the main attraction, countless brands jumped on the co-branding bandwagon to cash in on Wicked's buzz. Some of the brand partnerships and/or co-branding campaigns included Starbucks, Lego, Ulta Beauty Stores, Vera Bradley, Croc's sandals, Hasbro's Monopoly, Kellogg Company's Rice Krispies Treats, and Lexus.

NUMBER 2: During the summer of 2024, the eyes of the world were on Paris, France, and the Summer Olympics (also referred to as Paris 2024) did not disappoint! Here were some highlights:

Was that a boat parade, or was that a boat parade? Despite months, if not years, of naysayers saying it couldn't be done, the parade of athletes in the Opening Ceremony took place along the Seine River in an incredible manner. No host country will ever match the originality, creativity, and artistry of that opening arrival of athletes.

The Olympic cauldron shone brightly in a large balloon and hung high in the sky (via a tether) each night so that Parisians could see and enjoy it.

According to the Olympics, "The LOGO for Paris 2024 combines three separate symbols – the gold medal, the flame, and Marianne, the personification of the French Republic. Each of these symbols reflects a part of the French identity and values. It is also the first time in history that the same emblem has been used for both the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games. The MOTTO of the Olympic Phryge and Paralympic Phryge is: "Alone we go faster, but together we go further," representing the ways in which the mascots, and the people of the world, can make each other better by working side-by-side."

Which athletes stood out to you? To me, American gymnast Simone Biles with her four medals, American swimmer Katie Ledecky with her four medals, and Swedish and American-born pole vaulter Armand "Mondo" Duplantis with his gold medal and world record. Duplantis summed up his experience eloquently, "If I don't beat this moment in my career, I'm pretty ok with that. I don't think you can really get much better than what happened."

For the Paris 2024 Olympics, 206 countries participated. Of those countries, 11,000 athletes participated. The United States, France, and Australia had the largest country representations – each between 450-600. And the least represented countries were Belize, Liechtenstein, Nauru, and Somalia – each sent only one athlete to compete. Russian and Belarusian athletes competed as "Individual Neutral Athletes" – because the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to suspend both countries from competition due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. And finally, for the first time, the IOC announced that an equal number of men and women athletes competed at the Olympics.

This Paris Games hosted Olympians of a wide range of ages. The youngest competitor was skateboarder Zheng Haohao of China at 11-years-old; and the oldest was 65-year-old Juan Antonio Jimenez Cobo, an equestrian from Spain. Zeng Zhiying (age 58) competed at table top tennis and made her Olympic debut almost four decades after she missed out on being selected to represent China in Los Angeles in 1984. Zeng represented Chile and is affectionately called "The Table Tennis Grandma."

The number of medal events was 329. The United States won total 126 medals (40 Gold, 44 Silver, and 42 Bronze), China won 91 total medals (40 Gold, 27 Silver, and 24 Bronze), and host country France came in fifth with 64 total medals. According to NBC, "Medalists at the Paris Olympics will get to own a piece of the one of the world's most iconic structures. An original piece of the Eiffel Tower is included at the heart of each Olympic and Paralympic medal this year as host nation France puts its own stamp on the 2024 medals...Approximately 5,084 medals were created: 2,600 for the Olympics and 2,400 for the Paralympics."

Unfortunately, a disappointing asterisk will forever tarnish the Paris Olympics. American gymnast Jordan Chiles won the bronze medal for floor exercise, however, there was an appeal of the score. The dispute may be a months-long or even years-long battle over the gymnastics scores, and time will tell as to how this drama unfolds. Another reason why this is sad is that the photo from that floor exercise medal/victory ceremony will forever be etched into all viewers' minds as one of the highlights from the Paris Olympics. America's two gymnasts (Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles) bowed down to Brazil's gold medal winner.

And, regarding medals, did you know that medals can equate to a financial reward other than advertising endorsements? According to Business Insider, "US athletes receive $37,500 for a gold medal, $22,500 for a silver medal, and $15,000 for a bronze medal. Hong Kong offers the highest reward of $768,000 for gold medalists."

What products stood out due to their co-branding with the Olympics? Some of my favorites included the Minions from their mini-movie integrated into the Opening Ceremony and inclusion on athletes' attire, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts with their "Go USA" collection "to fuel your dreams and sweeten your victories," Chipotle (meals aligned with various athletes), designer Ralph Lauren (Team USA's Opening and Closing Ceremonies apparel), GK Elite (Team USA's Women Gymnasts' apparel), Visa, and Samsung. And let's not forget that each day during the competition, there was a unique Google Doodle!

According to Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024, "The most difficult part of any love affair is saying goodbye. And at the Closing Ceremony, we are all in love with the Games. The feelings of hope, inspiration, and love will remain. And when the time comes, we will be reunited in Los Angeles in 2028."

And finally, drum roll please...

NUMBER 1: Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic Party's nominee for President after President Joe Biden pulled out of the race. The 2024 Presidential campaign was littered with negative language, some terms stood out and became battle cries: "Childless Cat Ladies," "Felines Versus Felons," and more.

As Hillary Clinton said following her November 2016 Presidential election loss, "We still have not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling. But some day, someone will." Who could have forecast that another educated and talented woman would run for President so soon? With VP Harris' foray into the race as the first woman of color and first woman of South Asian heritage, the election contained many firsts. Hopefully, the third time that a woman participates in the U.S. Presidential race, the female candidate will be victorious.

In the meantime, let's remember what Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren said, "Remember, every step toward progress in American history came after darkness of defeat. Abolitionists, suffragettes, Dreamers, and marchers for civil rights and marriage equality all faced impossible odds, but they persisted. Now it is our turn to pull up our socks and get back in the fight."

Lastly, let's always remember what VP Harris said, "While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign. The fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness and the dignity of all people. A fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation. The ideals that reflect America at our best. That is a fight I will never give up."

What would you add to this list? Here's to 2025 and another year of marketing highlights. Happy New Year!

Image Credits: iStock, Wicked the Movie/Universal, Paris 2024 Olympic Organizing Committee, and Harris Walz Campaign.

Marketing News of the Month of November: Presidential Election, Wicked, and More

During the month of November, there were many news stories that reflected brand identity, brand naming and nicknames, brand storytelling, brand strategy, co-branding, pricing, product packaging, personal branding, and more.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

On November 5th, the Presidential Election took place, and the outcome surprised many. Polls indicated that the race was close, but few expected a loss by Vice President Kamala Harris. And during this election, words played a huge part: We will all long remember the references made to "childless cat ladies," "felines versus felons," as well as "racist, fascist, and misogynistic." In addition, this election was a stark contrast in personal brands.

According to Lyn Chamberlin, a brand consultant, "Branding is supposed to be about truth, or at least a piece of it. At its best, branding is storytelling, the kind that resonates, inspires, and speaks to who we are. But what happens when a brand warps into something sinister, built on lies, misinformation, and manipulation? What happens when a brand betrays not only our trust but our institutions?

Donald Trump created a brand that made him more than a businessman or even a politician. It was a brand so powerful, so relentlessly crafted, that it enabled him to shape reality for his supporters and make bold moves that, for anyone else, would seem absurd or laughable. It became a brand that bulldozed its way into the American psyche, in part because it was built on the very foundations branding experts understand: repetition, narrative, and consistency. But unlike the brands we aim to build on values, Trump's brand was anchored in something far more dangerous: a disregard for truth...Trump's brand isn't just a lesson in how to build an indelible image. It's a cautionary tale — a reminder that without honesty and accountability - brand can become a weapon that betrays us all."

WICKED THE MOVIE

After years of filming plus delays caused by the Covid pandemic and the SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild strikes, the movie that is based on the 20-year-old musical opened in movie theaters on November 22nd. According to NBC, "In Wicked, Grammy-winning pop sensation Ariana Grande brings her huge vocal talents to the young witch's musical role, playing Galinda Upland (in her pre-Good Witch days) as she befriends the picked-on Elphaba after the two first meet as students. Where Elphaba is unpopular at school, Galinda is just the opposite. Everyone thinks she's pretty (and POPULAR), yet she forms an unlikely friendship with Elphaba that has sweeping implications for the musical's bigger story."

During the movie's opening weekend, it broke a record with an estimated $114 million at the domestic box office, marking the highest cinematic opening for a Broadway adaptation. That's a lot of popcorn!

WICKED SING-ALONGS

AMC movie theaters have warned fans NOT to sing during the WICKED movie. All of the movie showings will begin with a 30-second advisory reminding moviegoers that "silence is golden." According to ABC7, "Fans will be able to channel their inner Elphaba and Glinda next month when sing-along screenings will be featured in 1,000 theaters starting Christmas Day."

WICKED CO-BRANDING

While the movie's story is the main attraction, countless brands have jumped on the co-branding bandwagon to cash in on the buzz surrounding the movie. Here are some of the brand partnerships and/or co-branding campaigns: Starbucks, Lego, Ulta Beauty Stores, Vera Bradley, Croc's sandals, Hasbro's Monopoly, Kellogg Company's Rice Krispies Treats, Lexus, and many more.

GLICKED ENTERS THE LEXICON

While two summer blockbusters from last year created a new portmanteau (a word formed by combining the sounds and meanings of other words), "Barbenheimer" derived from BARBIE THE MOVIE and OPPENHEIMER, this year's pre-Thanksgiving weekend saw the arrival of "Glicked" to promote WICKED and GLADIATOR II. According to CNN, "A lesson learned is that two very high-profile movies can go head-to-head, and both can thrive in the theatrical marketplace."

According to Yahoo Entertainment, "Celebrate "Glicked" by watching both movies either as a double feature or over the course of a weekend and dress the part donning something earthy and Romanesque for Gladiator II and either Galinda pink or Elphaba green for Wicked."

MATTEL AND WICKED

Toy maker Mattel went into crisis mode once shoppers noticed that the packaging for its WICKED dolls included a website for pornography rather than the movie's correct website. Mattel said in a statement, "We were made aware of a misprint on the packaging of the Mattel Wicked collection dolls, primarily sold in the U.S., which intended to direct consumers to the official WickedMovie.com landing page. We deeply regret this unfortunate error and are taking immediate action to remedy this. The listed website is not appropriate for children. For consumers who have bought the dolls, discard the product packaging or obscure the link." However, some consumers are trying to make Mattel's loss their gain: Multiple sellers have listed the toys on eBay for as much as $500 (rather than the $40 regular price), some advertising "RARE URL ERROR MISPRINT."

AMAZONPRIME AND GASOLINE SAVINGS

Amazon introduced a new benefit of its prime membership, the ability to save on gasoline purchased at participating BP and Amoco stations. According to ABC7, "Prime members can now add fuel discounts to their ever-growing list of benefits. The newest perk from e-commerce giant Amazon will allow members to save ten cents per gallon at the gas pump at around 7,000 participating BP, Amoco, and AM/PM stations across the US. Members can avail themselves of the discount by linking their Amazon account to Earnify, a loyalty program app by BP. The fuel discount offering is Prime's latest addition to its laundry list of member benefits which span music and video streaming services, food and grocery delivery, and even medical care and prescription drug savings...[But] Amazon's attempt to position itself as the "everything company" comes with its own set of challenges."

KFC CANDLES

KFC (formerly Kentucky Fried Chicken) has teamed up with Homesick Candles to launch two candles for the holiday season: a bucket of chicken candle and a buttery biscuit candle. According to Nation's Restaurant News, "The Bucket of Chicken Candle is inspired by KFC's Original Recipe, with notes of chicken and browned flour paired with peppercorn and celery, and a base of oregano, sage, and garlic. The Buttery Biscuit Candle features notes of honey and baked flour with hints of caramel, butter, and salt, as well as buttermilk and toasted vanilla. This isn't the first time KFC has embraced scent marketing. The chain launched fried chicken-scented sunscreen in 2016 to promote its Extra Crispy Chicken; and introduced fried chicken-scented fire logs for the holiday season in 2018. In early 2020, KFC teamed up with Crocs to introduce bucket-themed shoes with Jibbitz embellishments that smelled like fried chicken."

BASEBALL'S NATIONAL LEAGUE MVP

To add more excitement to the LA Dodgers 2024 season, superstar Shohei Ohtani won the National League's MVP (most valuable player) award. According to MLB.com, "Ohtani, the two-way wonder who was relegated by elbow surgery to designated hitter duties in his first season with the World Series champion Dodgers, claimed his third MVP and his first in the NL with a 50-homer, 50-steal season that was truly one of a kind. He joined Hall of Famer Frank Robinson as the only players to win MVP in both leagues." With a World Championship title and league MVP, perhaps, Ohtani is worth his 10-year $700 million salary?

CALIFORNIA REMOVES THE WORD "SQUAW"

The state of California is removing the word "squaw," a derogatory term for indigenous women, from dozens of place names across 15 counties. According to CNN, "For decades, the names of more than 100 of the state's parks, buildings, streets, bridges, and other geographic features and locations have included the term, which is considered racist and offensive toward Native American women, according to a bill signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom in 2022. The updated place names are expected to go in effect by January 1, 2025. The upcoming changes are part of nationwide efforts to examine and replace derogatory terms on geographic features." 

TESLA EV SUPERCHARGERS

Tesla's Supercharger network is available in every state and offers about 30,000 high-speed chargers. Other automakers have smaller networks with fewer ports and inconsistent charging speeds. What to do? All other EV makers in the United States have agreed to switch to Tesla's technology because it gives EV drivers access to Tesla's industry-leading charging network. Now, the transition begins and may take years.

BARNES & NOBLE'S COMEBACK

According to CNN, "In a move that's perhaps more symbolic than business-minded, Barnes & Noble, America's largest retail bookseller, has reclaimed the flagship store it vacated in 2013. It's just one of over 60 new locations opening this year as part of an ambitious expansion plan that seemed impossible before CEO James Daunt took over in 2018... But more than that, the rebirth of Barnes & Noble's stores confirms the company's belief that there remains a consumer appetite for physical books. Like most bookstores, Barnes & Noble's main source of revenue is physical books as well as limited editions of books exclusive to the retailer." As a bibliophile, this is wonderful news!

RETURN OF SELF-SERVE MILK AND SUGAR AT STARBUCKS

According to CNN, "The return of milk and sugar stations is a small step for Starbucks, but it represents something much bigger for the world's largest coffee chain. It's an acknowledgment that Starbucks went too far in overloading its baristas with endless ways to prepare drinks. David Garfield, the global head of industries at consulting firm AlixPartners, explained, "When Starbucks closed condiment bars during Covid, the customization work shifted to the baristas behind the counter. This caused delays." Starbucks will now push some of that work back on to customers.

COST OF KING CHARLES III'S CORONATION

The May 2023 coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla cost British taxpayers $91 million, an amount that some described as excessive. The coronation was the first in the United Kingdom since Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne in 1953. While royal fans believe that the monarchy offers value because it boosts tourism and consumer spending, particularly during big events, others believe that the event, which included a gold carriage procession and a display of the monarchy's jewels, was an insensitive extravagance when millions around the country were struggling financially.

According to the UK's Department of Culture, Media, and Sport, "The 2023 coronation provided an occasion for the entire country to come together in celebration, and offered a unique opportunity to celebrate and strengthen our national identity and showcase the UK to the world." The event reached an estimated audience of two billion people across 125 countries.

WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE SHOPPING STREET

Say goodbye to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and Fifth Avenue in New York City. The Via Monte Napoleone in Milan, Italy has become the world's most expensive shopping street, marking the first time a European city has topped the rankings (a Cushman & Wakefield report has tracked rents in 138 leading retail destinations globally for 34 years). According to real estate group, Cushman & Wakefield, rent per square foot is $2,047 on Via Monte Napoleone. By comparison, rent remained at $2,000 per square foot on Upper Fifth Avenue in New York City. According to Thomas Casolo, Cushman & Wakefield's head of retail for Italy, "Via Monte Napoleone is very short compared to Fifth Avenue, New Bond Street in London or Champs-Elysees in Paris, helping to drive rents higher."

BLUESKY'S GROWING USER BASE

During October and November, the Twitter/X competitor known as Bluesky has doubled its user base. Following the Presidential Election, many users of Elon Musk's platform chose to leave Twitter/X due to his role in the election. According to CNN, "More than 115,000 US X users deactivated their accounts the day after the election, the largest single-day exit since Musk assumed control of the platform, according to digital intelligence platform Similarweb."

According to David Carr, Similarweb editor of insights, news, and research, "Whether there will be a measurable decrease in the audience for X as the result of politics remains to be seen, but X's recent daily peak in US traffic doesn't make up for the erosion in audience that the service has seen over the past couple of years since Musk took ownership." 

MATTEL UNVEILS RITA MORENO DOLL

The Barbie Tribute Collection celebrates visionaries whose incredible contributions have helped shape and impact culture. According to Mattel, "This collectible Barbie doll honors award-winning actress, singer, dancer, and activist Rita Moreno. She is a rare recipient and the first Latina and Puerto-Rican to win the coveted EGOT – America’s most prestigious awards in television, music, film, and theater. The Mattel Rita Moreno doll wears an elegant black and gold boatneck gown reminiscent of her iconic outfit that she's worn twice on the red carpet, once in 1962 and again in 2018. Opera length gloves and classic heels complete her elegant ensemble."

GIBSON GUITARS AND TRADEMARK LAWSUIT

President-Elect Donald Trump has endorsed a Gibson guitar, however, Gibson has issued a cease and desist order for the use of a look-alike electric guitar in the style of Les Paul, "as the design infringes upon Gibson's exclusive trademarks, particularly the iconic Les Paul body shape."

FOUR-YEAR CRUISE

The residential cruise line Villa Vie Residences has launched a program that will allow travelers to join its ship, the Odyssey, at any port as it traverses around the world for the next several years. According to a company statement, "The trip is expected to travel to 425 ports across 140 countries, and the program will cost less than $40,000 a year. The program is being offered in one-, two-, three-, and four-year packages. The one-year package is called "Escape From Reality," the two-year package is called "Mid-Term Selection," the three-year package is called "Anywhere But Home, and the four-year package is called "Skip Forward."

Villa Vie's CEO Mikael Petterson explained that the program was created before the results of the presidential election were announced, but the cruise package could be a good option for those who were unhappy with the results, "We may have differing political views, but our community comes together through our passion for exploring the world in a way that goes far beyond politics."

ACCESSIBLE FLIGHT MAPS ON DELTA

Delta is bringing a new, more accessible flight map to most of its 165,000 seatback screens - the most in the industry — making the beloved moving map experience more accessible than ever. According to a company statement, "The new flight map prioritizes accessibility while continuing to provide the key features customers know, love, and expect. Its high-contrast display and features are designed specifically with travelers with low-vision disabilities in mind. The enhanced product ensures that even more customers are empowered to experience the flight map effortlessly and independently...Delta's commitment to accessibility is rooted in its belief that travel is for everyone. Already an industry leader with 100 percent closed-captioning on all movies and series content and a 40 percent increase in audio descriptive content in the last year, Delta continues to seek ways to make travel more accessible."

According to Ekrem Dimbiloglu, Managing Director of Customer Experience, In-Flight Entertainment, Delta Studio and Wi-Fi, "No one better connects the world than Delta. To truly fulfill that promise, we must ensure every customer can connect with their journey in a way that enhances their experience and makes them feel valued and cared for. We are proud to be the first airline to launch this technology, setting the standard for inclusive travel experiences across the industry."

COMCAST SPIN OFF

Comcast has announced that it plans to spin off most of its cable television networks including MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Oxygen, E!, Syfy, and the Golf Channel into a separate company. Comcast's NBCUniversal is keeping Bravo, the NBC broadcast network, the Peacock streaming service, NBC Sports, and the Universal theme parks. Buyers, anyone?

JAGUAR'S NEW LOGO

Jaguar has unveiled its new logo combining upper and lower case letters into one word as it promises its future will be fully electric. According to CarDealerMagazine, "Utilizing a new font, designed especially for the manufacturer, the logo spells the word JaGUar. The car maker has also unveiled "Strikethrough," a barcode-like 16 horizontal lines of equal weight - which will be used across its brand image. There's also more exuberant colors and a reimagined Jaguar leaping car (the leaper) and a monogram JR to be stamped across its cars and advertising." According to the company, "New Jaguar is a brand built around Exuberant Modernism. It is imaginative, bold, and artistic at every touchpoint. It is unique and fearless. We are creating Jaguar for the future, restoring its status as a brand that enriches the lives of the Jaguar community."

NYC CONGESTION TOLL

The New York Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) Board voted to pass the congestion pricing plan in New York City, setting the base toll at $9 through 2027. This fee would be imposed on most vehicles driving into Manhattan neighborhoods south of 60th Street and collected via license plate readers. This toll would be in addition to other tolls that drivers pay to enter the island borough via some bridges and tunnels. According to ABC7, "Congestion pricing is aimed at reducing traffic and pollution while encouraging use of public transit. It has long existed in other cities including London, Stockholm, Milan, and Singapore, but not in the United States."

YALE UNIVERSITY COURSE ON BEYONCE

With a record 99 Grammy nominations and acclaim as one of the most influential artists in musical history, Beyonce and her legacy will be the subject of a new course that will be offered for one unit at Yale University in 2025. Beyonce follows in the footsteps of other musicians as the subject of college courses including Bob Dylan and Taylor Swift.

DEATH OF QUINCY JONES

Legendary record producer and 28-time Grammy winner Quincy Jones died at the age of 91 in November. According to Pennlive, "The music titan earned the title of one of the most celebrated musicians and producers in history throughout his decades-long career, thanks to his collaborations with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, and Ray Charles. His work with Jackson saw him produce the star's "Thriller" album, considered one of the bestselling albums of all time. Jones also produced and conducted the 1995 charity track, "We Are the World," which went on to become one of the bestselling singles of all time."

COLLINS DICTIONARY'S WORD OF THE YEAR

Collins Dictionary has named "brat" as its 2024 word of the year for 2024, defining it as someone "characterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude." The dictionary credited British singer Charli XCX with making "brat" one of the most talked-about words in 2024. According to CNN Style, "Accompanied by a virulent shade of lime green, the sights and sounds of brat were everywhere to be found this year – including in US Vice President Kamala Harris' election campaign. In July, Charli XCX gave Harris her seal of approval, proclaiming on X: "kamala IS brat." Memes and t-shirts with Harris' name in the "brat" style followed."

NBC MORNING PROGRAM NAMECHANGE

Once broadcaster Hoda Kotb announced her departure from NBC's morning line-up of "The Today Show" and "Today with Hoda and Jenna," the fourth hour needed a new name and will be temporarily called "Jenna & Friends" until a permanent co-host is named. 

According to CinemaBlend.com, "As previously revealed, Hoda Kotb's final day behind the TODAY desk will be on Friday, January 10, with the new iteration of the news hour starting the following Monday. Craig Melvin will officially step up to join Savannah Guthrie as a co-anchor. Melvin, who's been a mainstay since 2018, will also be joining Jenna Bush Hager in the fourth hour but won't be the only new face. Fans will watch as a revolving door of talented familiars come and go for the foreseeable future." Time will tell as to what the show's name will eventually become.

LAKE COMO IN A CAN

According to NBC News, "Tourists visiting the picturesque and posh Italian lakeside town of Como have always been spoiled for choice when it comes to souvenirs, from fridge magnets and keyrings to snow globes and ornaments. Now there's a new item they can take home that is turning heads and raising eyebrows: sealed cans of "Lake Como air." The cans, sold by the communications company ItalyComunica, are priced at $11 with each can containing 13.5 ounces of "pure air from the most beautiful lake in the world," according to the product's website. Lake Como Air encourages visitors to open it whenever you need a moment of escape, tranquility, or simply beauty."

"This is not the first time that Italian air has been canned and sold. Shortly after World War II, Italian businessman Gennaro Ciaravolo started selling canned air from Naples. Ciaravolo used empty food aid cans left by U.S. troops after the liberation and claimed to fill them with air, calling it "Aria di Napoli." And canned air is not unique to Europe. Canadian brand Vitality Air captures and bottles air from The Rocky Mountains, selling it around the world."

THANKSGIVING WEEK 

According to Nation's Restaurant News, "Thanksgiving Eve, also referred to as "Drinksgiving" or "Blackout Wednesday," has become one of the busiest nights of the year for bars and restaurants. According to Toast data, there were 11 percent more transactions on Thanksgiving Eve last year versus the average Wednesday. The average ticket size was about 10 percent higher. Alcohol sales compared to an average Wednesday were 70 percent higher (hence the "Drinksgiving" moniker). Further, catering sales were 35 percent higher and takeout sales were 10 percent higher."

Popmenu's chief executive officer and co-founder Brendan Sweeney said, "According to new Popmenu data, 42 percent of consumers plan to order from or dine at a restaurant on Thanksgiving day. Ordering in or dining out for Thanksgiving is becoming a new tradition for consumers who just want to relax and enjoy a meal versus serving as the family chef for the day. Restaurants have seen $10,000 or even $50,000 in Thanksgiving pre-orders. Although it's tougher to book something the week of Thanksgiving, there are still restaurants out there who are taking orders and reservations."

And lastly, two food brands are doing something unique for the holiday: 

*Krispy Kreme unveiled four doughnuts inspired by Thanksgiving pies, including the Chocolate Silk Pie Doughnut, Lemon Creme Pie Doughnut, Blueberry Crispy Doughnut, and Apple Crumble Doughnut. 

*Cold Stone Creamery has launched a Pumpkin Pie in the Sky Creation plus Pumpkin Pie ice cream. 

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: Wicked the Movie, NBC/Today with Hoda and Jenna, Spectrum SportsNet LA, and Township of Ramara/Ontario/Canada.

Read "Co-Branding and WICKED" on my blog (November 22, 2024):

https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/11/co-branding-and-wicked.html

Marketing News of the Month of October: Mexican HERstory, LA Dodgers, and More

During the month of October, there were many news stories that reflected brand identity, brand naming and nicknames, brand storytelling, brand strategy, personal branding, product packaging, and more. Excuse the delay in this recap, but the November election intervened.

MEXICO MAKES HERSTORY WITH FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT

In October, Claudia Sheinbaum took office as Mexico's first female president in the nation's more than 200 years of independence. According to Business Standard, "The 62-year-old former Mexico City mayor and lifelong leftist campaigned on a promise of continuity, of protecting and expanding the signature initiatives of her mentor, former President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador. Sheinbaum is also the first president with a Jewish background in the largely Catholic country. Sheinbaum's victory came 70 years after women won the right to vote in Mexico. And just days before she took office, Sheinbaum stood with Lpez Obrador in his long-running diplomatic spat with Spain. She defended her decision to not invite Spain's King Felipe VI to her inauguration, saying in part that the king had failed to apologize for Spain's conquest of Mexico.

Since 2018, Mexico's Congress has had a 50-50 gender split, in part due to gender quotas set for party candidates. Still, Sheinbaum inherits a country with soaring levels of violence against women. There are also still many parts of the country, especially rural Indigenous areas where men hold all the power. And some 2.5 million women toil in domestic work where despite reforms they continue to face low pay, abuse by employers, long hours and unstable working conditions. Mexico's Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that national laws prohibiting abortions are unconstitutional and violate women's rights. Although the Mexican ruling orders the removal of abortion from the federal penal code and requires federal health institutions to offer the procedure to anyone who requests it, further state-by-state legal work is pending to remove all penalties."

According to Gustavo Flores-Macias, professor of government at Cornell University and an expert in Latin American politics, despite Sheinbaum's clear electoral mandate, "Her new government faces several major challenges. Sheinbaum will also have to navigate not only the hostile rhetoric toward Mexico that characterizes campaigns in the U.S., but especially the review and potential renegotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement scheduled for 2026 in the context of an emerging bipartisan protectionist consensus in the United States.” 

MATTEL UNVEILS DIWALI DOLL

Mattel unveiled a new Diwali Barbie doll dressed by Indian courtier Anita Dongre. According to Mattel, "In a continued commitment to promoting celebrations of heritage, Barbie is unveiling its first ever Barbie Diwali doll collaboration with globally recognized Indian fashion designer Anita Dongre. Blending tradition with Barbie's place in global fashion, the Barbie Diwali doll celebrates India's cultural richness with a worldwide audience. The limited-edition Barbie doll wears a Moonlight Bloom set with a choli top, floral Koti vest and lehenga skirt adorned with dahlias, jasmine and Indian lotus — symbols of strength and beauty. The outfit has been accessorized with gold bangles and shimmering earrings to complete the look and reflect the radiant lights of the festival."

MATTEL UNVEILS DIA DE LOS MUERTOS DOLLS

Mattel launched a special edition Día de Muertos Barbie doll created by Mexican fashion designer Kris Goyri. According to ABC7, "This doll is a tribute to the Mexican celebration in honor of deceased loved ones. This special edition Day of the Dead doll wears a pure white dress inspired by indigenous Oaxaca styles and adorned with papier-mâché cempasúchil flowers (marigolds) that symbolize the path to the afterlife. Goyri emphasizes the importance of connecting with pre-Hispanic roots and traditional crafts, such as those seen in the sash at the waist, representing a typical weaving of Mexican artisans. Goyri hand-designed the makeup, ensuring it captured the essence of the "Catrina," a dapper skull or skeleton character associated with Día de Muertos, and created the hairstyle to achieve authentic Mexican accents. This collaboration not only honors a much-loved tradition but also reflects Barbie's effort to celebrate cultural diversity. This limited-edition doll shows the importance of representation in the toy industry and the need to understand different cultures."

In addition, Mattel launched its 2024 Día de Muertos Collection designed by Javier Maebe. According to Mattel, "The Barbie doll looks luminous wearing a long, black ruffled gown with intricate, colorful detailing and embroidered sugar skulls. Her orange headband highlights her updo and evokes the festival's iconic marigold flowers. Calavera face paint and bright pink accessories complete her festive look. While sold separately, both Barbie and Ken dolls wear complimentary patterns."

SIMONE BILES NEWS

It is not uncommon for Olympic-gold medalist (and GOAT) Simone Biles to make news wherever she goes. To demonstrate the power of personal branding, the latest news about this inspiring gymnast is that she has lent her name to a restaurant in the Houston airport. Will customers have to perform flips, twists, and somersaults before ordering food?

LOS ANGELES DODGERS WIN 2024 WORLD SERIES

After a decade of division wins and great season-ending records, the Los Angeles Dodgers finally won a World Series Championship! And against the rival New York Yankees to boot! The two franchises have clashed on the Fall Classic stage 12 times, five more than any other matchup in World Series history. This was the Dodgers' eighth World Series title in franchise history and first since the 2020 pandemic shortened season. According to MLB.com, "In this 7-6 victory, the Dodgers ushered in their champagne celebration the hard way, becoming the first team in a World Series-clinching win to come back from down five or more runs. They also became the first team in MLB postseason history to fall behind by five-plus runs, erase that deficit, fall behind again and yet still win the game." As a lifelong Dodgers fan, this championship was very sweet!

DEATH OF FERNANDO VALENZUELA

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar pitcher passed away before the Dodgers won the World Series. The team and fans celebrated his legacy throughout the World Series with an arm patch featuring his number (34) and afterward during the victory parade in Los Angeles. According to Wikipedia, "Valenzuela enjoyed his breakout year in 1981, when "Fernandomania" rapidly catapulted him from relative obscurity to stardom. He won his first eight starts, five of them shutouts, and finished with a win–loss record of 13–7 and had a 2.48 earned run average (ERA) in a season that was shortened by a player's strike. He became the first, and as of 2024, only player to win both the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season. (And) the Dodgers won the World Series that year."

DEATH OF PETE ROSE

Pete Rose, whose nickname was "Charlie Hustle" for the way he played the game of baseball, died in October. According to Wikipedia, "He played in Major League Baseball from 1963 to 1986, most prominently as a member of the Cincinnati Reds lineup known as the Big Red Machine for their dominance of the National League in the 1970's. He also played for the Philadelphia Phillies, where he won his third World Series championship in 1980, and had a brief stint with the Montreal Expos. He managed the Reds from 1984 to 1989. In August 1989 (his last year as a manager and three years after retiring as a player), Rose was penalized with permanent ineligibility from baseball amid accusations that he gambled on baseball games while he played for and managed the Reds; the charges of wrongdoing included claims that he bet on his own team. In 1991, the Baseball Hall of Fame formally voted to ban those on the "permanently ineligible" list from induction, after previously excluding such players by informal agreement among voters. After years of public denial, he admitted in 2004 that he bet on baseball and on the Reds. The issue of his election to the Hall of Fame remains contentious." There is no denying that Rose's legacy is that he tarnished the sport of baseball.

ADDITIONS TO MERRIAM-WEBSTER

During October, Merriam-Webster announced the addition of 200 new words and definitions. Some of the additions include: beach read, true crime, heat index, For You Page, nepo baby, far right, far left, and MAGA. According to Peter Sokolowski, Editor at Large for Merriam-Webster, "Our lexicographers monitor a huge range of sources to select which words and definitions to add. From academic journals to social media, these give us a very thorough view of the English language." And according to Gregory Barlow, President of Merriam-Webster, "The one constant of a vibrant living language is change. We continuously encounter new ways of describing the world around us, and the dictionary is a record of those changes."

VOTING FROM SPACE

Did you know that there is a voting booth in space? Well, not exactly a voting booth, but astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) can vote from space. They cast encrypted ballots from the ISS. Since most astronauts live in Texas, that state passed a "vote-from-space" law.

RAO FLOAT IN MACY'S DAY PARADE

According to the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade website, "Rao's is an Italian-American restaurant founded in East Harlem, New York City in 1896 by Joshua Anthony Rao, who moved with his parents from Italy to the United States. In December 2006, Rao's opened a second restaurant in Las Vegas. In 2024, it was announced that Rao's Homemade would sponsor a float called "Pasta Knight" in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The float will display a scene made entirely of food and other kitchenware depicting a knight on horseback with a white flag that says "Rao's Homemade" in a battle against a dragon."

MINNIE MOUSE BALLOON IN MACY'S DAY PARADE

According to the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade website, "Minnie Mouse will make her debut as a giant balloon in the 2024 Parade as she approaches her 100th anniversary. The balloon features Minnie, at 60 feet long, striking a pose and dazzling New York City in her signature dress and high-heels. Minnie Mouse is the lifelong sweetheart of Mickey Mouse, debuting alongside him in Walt Disney's Steamboat Willie on November 18, 1928. She is known for her sweet and stylish disposition and iconic polka-dotted dress and bow. She has become one of the most recognizable characters in the world since her revitalization in the 1980's and has been lauded as a fashion icon."

DEATH OF LILLY LEDBETTER

Lilly Ledbetter, whose gender pay equity legal fight was the inspiration for the Fair Pay Act of 2009, died at age 86 in October.

According to CNN, "In the 1990's, after 19 years of working for Goodyear, Ledbetter learned she had been making thousands of dollars less each month than male managers. She sued Goodyear in 1999 for gender discrimination. She initially won in federal court in 2003 and was awarded $3.8 million in backpay and damages. The decision was later overturned after the tire giant appealed. The case eventually made its way to the Supreme Court in 2007, which upheld the lower court's ruling. In a 5-4 decision, the justices ruled Ledbetter should have filed suit within 180 days of the very first time Goodyear paid her less than her peers. Having missed that window, Ledbetter had no grounds to sue, according to the court."

When Barack Obama became President, the first bill he signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Ledbetter said in 2018, "That was the most awesome emotion I think that I have ever had. I'll put it behind having a son and a daughter." In retirement Ledbetter became an activist and advocate for gender equity.

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) described her: "Lilly Ledbetter simply wanted to be paid the same as her male Goodyear coworkers – and her fight took her to the Supreme Court, Congress, and the White House to sign the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. She was a true hero."

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff said on social media that Ledbetter's simple phrase "equal pay for equal work" had changed his understanding. He said, "It's shocking that, as a CEO, I witnessed firsthand how wide the pay disparities were – not just in my own company, but across so many others we acquired. Lilly taught me the fight for equality starts with pay equity. There can be no true equality without it."

As of 2024, for every dollar a man earns, a woman is paid 84 cents, according to the National Committee on Pay Equity and the Equal Pay Today campaign. That's based on earnings data for full-time, year-round workers from the US Census in 2022, which was the most recent full-year data set available. 

DEATH OF ETHEL KENNEDY

Ethel Kennedy of the Kennedy family died in late October at the age of 96. She was was an American human rights advocate, wife of U.S. senator Robert F. Kennedy, a sister-in-law of U.S. president John F. Kennedy, and a daughter of businessman George Skakel. At her funeral, one of her children said, "She deeded to each of her 11 children her love of good stories, her athleticism, her competitive spirit, and the deep curiosity about the world, and the intense interest in people of all backgrounds, which caused her to pepper everyone she met — from cab drivers to presidents — with a relentless cascade of questions about their lives."

DEATH OF TERI GARR

Oscar-nominated actress Teri Garr known for her work in films like "Young Frankenstein" with Gene Wilder and "Tootsie" with Dustin Hoffman died at age 79 during October. She lived more than 20 years after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and she shared her diagnosis publicly in a 2002 interview with CNN in an effort raise awareness for others living with MS.

GOLDFISH NAMECHANGE TO CHILEAN SEA BASS

According to CNN, "The Pepperidge Farm snack brand is tweaking its name for a limited time to "Chilean Sea Bass," a more grown-up title. It's part of a strategy to attract adults and re-establish its relevance amid a decline in snacking following a pandemic peak. But the Chilean Sea Bass snacks won't appear on shelves: Bags featuring the unique branding are only being sold online for one week the last week of October. Goldfish reminds people that the traditionally branded bags are still available at retailers nationwide. Fun Fact: The tweaked name is a nod to the snack's roots. Pepperidge Farm launched Goldfish in the United States in 1962 initially aimed at adults as a bar snack. Since the 1990's, however, Goldfish has been sold as a snack for kids with playful packaging."

Danielle Brown, vice president of Goldfish, explained, "We know Goldfish are a lunchbox icon, but the truth is, they're loved by snackers of all ages. So, as a playful reminder, we went ahead and gave our iconic cheddar cracker a new, fun, grown-up name." 

SUBWAY'S FOOTLONG COOKIE GETS DRESSED FOR HOLIDAYS

According to Restaurant Business, "Subway is getting a jump on the winter holiday season with its launch of the Double Chocolate Peppermint Footlong Cookie. It has a 12-inch-long base of double chocolate cookie dough that's packed with chocolate and white chocolate chips, swirled with peppermint extract, and topped with red and white candy cane pieces. It's served warm and comes packaged in a holiday gift box."

RETURN OF MOUNTAIN IN MOUNTAIN DEW

Mountain Dew is getting a makeover with the word MOUNTAIN reappearing on cans and bottles following a nearly two-decade-long hiatus. According to CNN, "The PepsiCo-owned beverage is unveiling a new logo and packaging design that drops its sharply angular font and abbreviated title for imagery that evokes its rustic roots, as well as bringing back its namesake title to cans and bottles. Consumers will see the new look roll out beginning in May 2025. According to Duane Stanford, edutor and publisher of Beverage Digest, "Mountain Dew appears ready to shake off the adrenaline rush that has defined the brand's marketing for almost two decades, when a key strategy was to market Dew like an energy drink to an energy drink crowd." Soda seems to be on the rise, thus Mountain Dew's interest in the change.

LA CLIPPERS CONFUSED BY NEW LOGO

According to the NBA, "The LA Clippers unveiled their new brand, establishing a set of marks that blend the team's past, present, and focus on the future in a familiar but elevated colorway of naval blue, ember red, and Pacific blue. The new logo features a Clippers "C" that surrounds the points of a compass and an oncoming ship with basketball seams on the hull, a nod to the organization's maritime roots and a symbol of its direction. The team will wear uniforms and merchandise displaying the new logo and colors in the 2024-2025 NBA season as the Clippers begin play in their new home, the Intuit Dome."

NAMECHANGE FOR KING'S CHARITY

King Charles III established the Prince's Trust nearly 50 years ago when he was the Prince of Wales. Now it will be known as the King's Trust. He launched the trust to help disadvantaged youth overcome challenging circumstances, get employment, or launch their own businesses. It has become one of the United Kingdom's leading youth organizations, and to date, has helped more than 1.3 million young people. The King's Trust has also launched a new logo and new tagline "Working for young people."

FORD GIFT TO EV CUSTOMERS

According to Axios, "Ford plans to give new EV buyers a free charging unit and free installation in an industry first. EV sales have been lagging behind expectations as many consumers remain wary of the unknowns and inconveniences around regularly charging their vehicles at home and on the road. So Ford announced that anyone who buys or leases a new Ford EV during the fourth quarter 2024 will qualify for a free EV charging unit and home installation through the Ford Power Promise program. According to Ford CEO Jim Farley, if the offer is well received, the company will likely extend it, "I obviously never had the chance to talk to Henry Ford, but I can imagine that when he launched the Model T, he would have loved to have included a gas station for every customer."

AMERICA250

According to America250's website, "America250 is a nonpartisan initiative working to engage every American in commemorating the 250th anniversary of our country. This multi-year effort, from now through July 4, 2026, is an opportunity to pause and reflect on our nation's past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead toward the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond. In addition, a multi-year contest has been unveiled that invites students in grades 3-12 to submit artwork and essays to answer the question, "What does America mean to you?" for the chance to win unique experiences at iconic American historical and cultural sites."

ATLANTIC MAGAZINE INCREASES PRINT

The Atlantic is doing something unusual for a magazine in 2024: increasing the number of issues it prints. The 167-year-old magazine, once known as The Atlantic Monthly, is increasing its pace of publication from 10 issues to 12, returning to a monthly publication for the first time since 2002.

The expansion plan – perhaps counterintuitive in the Internet age, when so many other magazines and newspapers are printing less often or folding altogether – is a testament to "the excellent journalism our team makes, and the enduring power of a beautifully designed, well produced magazine," explained editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, "We want to meet our readers where they are, and our readers love the print magazine. Print publications have some timeless qualities, and some unique attributes in a world dizzy with screens. The greatness of print and especially a print magazine is that it sits still for you. It doesn't beep and flash and demand that you do things. It's there to be read and enjoyed. People still derive intellectual and aesthetic pleasure from print."

NIKE STORYTELLING

Nike has announced that the company plans to invest in "bigger, bolder brand storytelling" and "re-energize brand momentum through sport." An interesting announcement followed that the company known for its footwear has been "intentionally reducing " the proportion of its business driven by footwear franchises Air Force 1, Air Jordan 1, and Dunk. Time will tell as to this iconic brand's new direction.

How many times since the 1980's has the word MANIA been added to a word or phrase to create a marketing buzz?

What other recent marketing news caught your attention? There's always something happening that impacts marketing, so tune in to #DebbieLaskeysBlog for the scoop!

Image Credits: Major League Baseball, Mattel, America250, and Cornell University/President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Marketing News of the Week: Product Naming, Product Pricing, and More

During the past week, there were news stories that reflected producing naming, product pricing, product launches, brand purchases, personal branding, brand identity, philanthropy, and more.

MANHATTANHENGE

According to Headout, "Manhattanhenge is a nod to Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument in England where the sun aligns with the stones on the summer solstice. New York astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson re-coined the term for New York! Manhattanhenge is a twice-yearly natural phenomenon in which the setting sun aligns perfectly with the Manhattan street grid...where the sun and the city's skyline come together for a breathtaking spectacle." This year, the event occurred May 30th and will also occur on July 11th.

According to the Farmers Almanac, "The colloquial usage of 'henge' refers to any place where the rising or setting sun lines up with the surrounding architecture."

DOLLAR TREE AND 99 CENTS ONLY STORES

Dollar Tree has confirmed that it acquired the rights to 170 99 Cents Only store locations in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas. The announcement followed news that 99 Cents Only would close more than 300 store locations and would file for bankruptcy.

T-MOBILE AND US CELLULAR

T-Mobile announced that it will acquire most of US Cellular's wireless customers and stores. According to Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile, "With this deal, T-Mobile can extend the superior Un-carrier value and experiences that we're famous for to millions of UScellular customers and deliver them lower-priced, value-packed plans and better connectivity on our best-in-class nationwide 5G network." According to Laurent Therivel, CEO of UScellular, "T-Mobile's purchase and integration of UScellular's wireless operations will provide best-in-class connectivity to rural Americans through enhanced nationwide coverage and service offerings at more compelling price points."

DR PEPPER NEWS

After years of slowly gaining market share, Dr Pepper inched ahead of Pepsi as the number two soda brand in the United States, according to Beverage Digest. FYI, Coca-Cola leads the sector by a comfortable margin. Founded in 1885 in Waco, Texas, Dr Pepper established a small but devoted following in the American South. Today, Dr Pepper experiments with new flavors including Strawberries & Cream and Creamy Coconut.

COSTCO'S HOT DOG PRICE

Costco announced that the price of its hot dog will remain at $1.50. Costco has been selling its hot-dog-and-soda combo for $1.50 since it first hit menus in the mid-1980s. The price tag has held steady over the years despite inflation — otherwise it would be closer to $4.40 today.

According to Jamie Loftus, author of Ray Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs, "It's a good PR move for Costco to not change the price...it's like a PR slam dunk for them, it's like, 'No, we're not going to change the price. We've got your back.'"

According to NPR, "The $1.50 hot dog and the $4.99 rotisserie chicken are what experts have called an example of loss-leader pricing - a strategy in which companies sell certain products below their market cost in order to get customers in the door and, ideally, putting more profitable goods in their carts."

TRUMP'S FELONY CONVICTION

In a historic decision on May 30, a New York jury found former President Donald Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records, marking the first criminal conviction of a United States President. While the legal repercussions are still to be determined, so, too, is the impact on his personal brand.

According to AdWeek: "On February 17, as former President Donald Trump prepared to face 34 felony counts in his hush money trial in New York, he found time to head to Philadelphia to attend Sneaker Con. And there, standing at the podium, he announced the launch of his new Trump-branded sneakers. Price: $399. The Never Surrender hightop in gold lamé — a limited edition of 1,000 pairs — sold out almost immediately. Weird? Not really. Having licensed his name for everything from condo towers to mail-order steaks over the years, Trump has long fashioned himself as a commercial brand. He is also a presidential brand, as is current President Joe Biden.

But will last week's ruling against Trump in federal court hurt his personal brand? Experts say it may do the opposite. Ever since Trump's famous escalator ride into presidential politics nine years ago this month, he has built his brand around the image of an anti-politician who promised to drain Washington's swamp and give the working man a voice. But after the four criminal indictments filed last year, "He positioned himself as a victim and does a remarkable job of trying to turn his victimhood into a strength," said Kate deGruyter for think tank Third Way. In that context, these most recent guilty verdicts may have strengthened Trump's brand positioning."

Time will tell on November 5th!

UKRAINE'S OREO PRODUCTION

Ukraine's Oreo production is back in business after snack maker Mondelez repaired its war-damaged factory (in Trostyanets) that was badly damaged during Russia's invasion two years ago. According to CNN, Oreos, chocolate wafers with a creme vanilla filling, are one of Mondelez's biggest brands. The company said that products made in the Trostyanets factory are exported to Eurasian countries such as Georgia and Kazakhstan in addition to being sold in the domestic Ukrainian market.

JEEP ELECTRIC VEHICLE UNVEILED

Jeep unveiled its first electric SUV and joined the congested segment already featuring GM, Honda, Kia, and Hyundai. Jeep's new Wagoneer S, will go on sale this fall, and shares little with its gas-powered namesake. The EV utilizes the same architecture as the upcoming Dodge Charger EV, and its starting price tag will be $72,000.

SPECIAL K'S LATEST PACKAGING

In an amazing first, Special K features a pregnant woman on its cereal box. The box, which shows Molly Baz with an exposed pregnant belly, is available for purchase on the Kellogg website. It's part of the brand's "Special for a Reason" marketing campaign, which features "inspiring individuals."

MEXICO'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum won a landslide victory to become the country's first female president and the country's first Jewish head of state. According to Reuters, "Victory for Sheinbaum is a major step for Mexico, a country known for its macho culture and home to the world's second largest Roman Catholic population, which for years pushed more traditional values and roles for women." Women have only voted in Mexico since 1953. "Sheinbaum has a complicated path ahead. She must balance promises to increase popular welfare policies while inheriting a hefty budget and low economic growth...And among the new President's challenges will be tense negotiations with the United States over the huge flows of US-bound migrants crossing Mexico and security cooperation over drug trafficking at a time when the US fentanyl epidemic rages."

WOMEN PHILANTHROPISTS

Melinda French Gates is following in the steps of MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, who has chosen to disburse money from her divorce as fast as she can. French Gates revealed in a New York Times essay that her first project, after leaving the foundation that she co-founded with her ex-husband Bill Gates, would focus on advancing women's rights around the world. According to Amy Pasic, the dean of the Indiana University School of Philanthropy, citing research from the Women's Philanthropy Institute, "Women tend to be more social in the way that they approach giving, and they're more collaborative."

BRITISH BANKNOTES WITH KING CHARLES III

Banknotes featuring King Charles III entered circulation in the United Kingdom this week. This marked the first time that the Bank of England changed the monarch on its notes, and this is only the second time that the monarch has appeared on banknotes issued by the Bank of England - the first was Charles' mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Charles' portrait appears on the 5, 10, 20, and 50 pound notes; and the rest of the design remains the same as the current notes that feature the late Queen Elizabeth II on their fronts. The Bank of England expects the new notes "to enter circulation very gradually."

According to the British Retail Consortium, "Fewer Brits use cash. In 2023, there was an increase in cash usage for the first time in a decade, making up about 19 percent of total transactions. Cards still make up the overwhelming proportion of money spent, at 85 percent."

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: CNN/Lucy North/PA/AP and Business Insider.

Read more about Manhattanhenge:

https://www.amnh.org/research/hayden-planetarium/manhattanhenge

Read more about Trump's conviction:

https://www.bu.edu/articles/2024/trump-convicted-felon-what-does-that-mean/

Read: 22 Experts Predict What the Trump Conviction Will Mean for 2024 and Beyond 

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/05/31/trump-trial-verdict-conviction-consequences-00160933

Best Brand Post of the Month!

From a brand strategy or brand marketing perspective, what post do you recall during the month of April? Keep in mind, April First was April Fools' Day, which means that brands had an opportunity to stand out from their competition in a unique or memorable way. Whether the platform was Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, LinkedIn, an email blast, a specially-created web page, or another form of messaging, April First was the day for brands to shine!

This year, on April Fools' Day, Oreo posted the best post after changing its brief description to: "We're done."

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."

Then, "Follow @just_the_water and @just_the_creme on Instagram for more."

The message was signed: "Wafer and Creme."

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 stated: "Just the Creme and Just the Wafer hit shelves 4/31."

However, note that, 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!

Does this content rival previous April Fools' Day jokes, such as, the Google to Topeka name change in 2010, the BMW lunar paint color to charge electric vehicles in 2019, the Tiffany & Co. color change from iconic blue to yellow in 2021, or the Volkswagen to Voltswagen name change in 2021?

My answer is a definite YES!

Now, the big question is, which brand will WOW us next April Fools' Day?

Image Credits: Oreo.

Review of REEL MARKETING

I "met" Julia Carcamo on Twitter (now X) back in 2012. Since we were both marketing professionals with a passion for brand-building, marketing communications, and advertising, we decided to collaborate in a "She Said, She Said" format discussion about the 2012 Super Bowl's ads in posts that appeared on each other's blogs the Monday following the game. We followed that initial collaboration with several others throughout the years.

Recently, Julia published a book called REEL MARKETING, THE ART OF BUILDING A CASINO BRAND. As she explained, "After years of building and refining casino brands, I've been able to codify the process under five pillars for casino branding. This quick read is a valuable primer for anyone responsible for developing casino brands that will resonate with guests, team members, and stakeholders today and into the future. My wish is that you fall in love with branding in the same way I did."

Julia began her analysis of brand marketing by providing a checklist that will look familiar to most marketers:
(1) Start with WHY.
(2) Research your target audience.
(3) Develop your positioning.
(4) Create your brand identity.
(5) Develop your online and offline messaging.

However, Julia elaborated with what she referred to as "Jules Rules of Branding," that can actually be applied to brands in any industry:
(1) Know your audience/target/market.
(2) Brands are built from the bottom up - how well does the team member journey mirror the brand experience for customers/guests/stakeholders.
(3) Operationalize your brand - create a culture for your internal stakeholders, your employees, who need to understand your brand promise in order to be effective brand ambassadors.
(4) True brand programs share DNA - be selective and only offer the things that make sense to your brand.
(5) Make your brand iconic - iconic brands become symbolic of something more than a mere product.

"Your brand is what the world - outside of the four walls of your casino - thinks of you. Brands tell the world what you stand for with every color, word, and image you use. Effective branding makes you memorable, so guests can easily find you...But branding takes time. It takes effort. Creating an engaging brand can assist you in reaching your business's highest potential, but it takes strategy and vision. Thinking that slapping a logo everywhere and calling it a day is the opposite of strategic branding."

For brands, such as, casinos and others in the leisure, hospitality, and entertainment industries, the brand experience is critical for building successful brands. This is why employees and team members (also referred to as cast members in Disney-speak at Disney theme parks) must combine their culture and brand into a single set of values. Successful brands in these industries create a memorable and positive brand experience, also referred to as a customer experience.

"When team members are engaged with the brand, they will think and act "on brand." Team members become your best brand ambassadors because their belief in the brand promise is deep and emotional. They make decisions by thinking of what is right for the brand in the long-term rather than choosing what will produce short-term results...Internal branding is less about a logo an colors and more about a philosophy that will focus team members and your operations. It is centered on the company culture and promises to guests, team members, and partners, creating a passionate army of ambassadors. Although it has a slightly different focus, it is still an integral part of your external branding."

And lastly, how important is sound when creating a brand? Think about the "dun-dun" sound heard in the introduction to television's Law & Order franchise shows. You immediately know that "it's time for a story ripped from the headlines." The sound is reminiscent of a jail door slamming and is legally protected by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

What is the most recognizable sound in the casino industry? If you answered "the sound of slot machine coins falling into the tray" to signify winning, then you're correct. However, the industry transitioned to coinless machines. So, since customers/guests wanted to HEAR a winning sound, the sound of "winning" was engineered into slot machines.

According to Charles Taylor, the John A. Murphy Professor of Marketing at the Villanova School of Business and Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Marketing and Consumer Insights in Pennsylvania, "Sonic branding can be defined broadly as the strategic use of sound as a part of a brand identity."

Other examples of memorable audio or sonic logos include:
(1) "I wish I were an Oscar Mayer Wiener"
(2) State Farm: "Like a good neighbor"
(3) Folgers: "The best part of waking up"
(4) Netflix: "Ta-dum"
(5) T-Mobile: series of notes
(6) MGM films and television: lion roar
(7) THX: "The Audience Is Listening" with sound

My applause to Julia for capturing the key elements in building a memorable brand and for sharing them in a concise manner. My advice: read her book and take lots of notes!

SHARE THIS: When team members are engaged with the brand, they will think and act "on brand." ~@jccarcamo #brandbuilding #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Read Julia's and my original collaboration (February 6, 2012):
Which of the Super Bowl Ads Do You Remember?
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2012/02/which-of-super-bowl-ads-do-you-remember.html

Read about Brand Experiences and Customer Experiences:
Want Your Brand to Soar Above the Competition? Learn from 6 Amazing #BrandExperiences (April 2, 2018)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2018/04/want-your-brand-to-soar-above.html

Read "The Need To Be Heard: Why Sonic Branding Is Growing In Importance" on Forbes:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/charlesrtaylor/2023/07/31/the-need-to-be-heard-why-sonic-branding-is-growing-in-importance/?sh=59b11c27673a

Connect with Julia at these links:
Website: www.jcarcamoassociates.com
Twitter/X: @jccarcamo
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/j-carcamo-&-associates
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jcarcamoassociates


Image Credit: Julia Carcamo.

Review of ORGANIC SOCIAL MEDIA

I "met" Jenny Li Fowler on Twitter (now X) a few years back. Fast forward to the present. The covid happened, of course, I had to mention that since the pandemic impacted life for all individuals and marketing communications for all brands. Jenny appeared on my blog in a Q&A in April 2022, and recently, she became a published author. Jenny's commentary is always enlightening, so when I heard about her new book, I knew I had to read it. But first, a few words about social media.

In many of my previous roles as marketing manager, marketing director, and marketing consultant, I've also served double-duty as social media manager for nonprofits, large for-profit companies, and emerging brands. While responsible for social media posts, I have been the voice of strategy for my brands, meaning that I have always explained to senior leadership teams, boards of directors, and sales teams that the voice for all posts must be consistent with the brand, the theme of the posts must be consistent with all other marketing messaging, and above all, a social media strategy must be in alignment with the overall brand marketing plan.

With that in mind, what social media posts or campaigns stand out? To me, the most memorable posts took place during the Super Bowl on February 4, 2013, when there was a power outage at the beginning of the game's third quarter. The following Tweets, that appeared on Twitter, were posted soon after the power went off and demonstrated that these social media teams understood social media, marketing, and their brand positioning:

Oreo:
Power out? No problem. [Photo: You can still dunk in the dark.]

Lowe’s:
Hey dome operators at the Big Game, there are a few Lowe’s nearby if you need some generators.

PBS:
This might be a good time to think about alternative programing. #SuperBowlBlackOut

Now, let's talk about Jenny Li Fowler's book, ORGANIC SOCIAL MEDIA - HOW TO BUILD FLOURISHING ONLINE COMMUNITIES. First, a little about Jenny Li Fowler. She is the director of social media strategy at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is in charge of developing and executing Institute-wide social media initiatives and campaigns. She provides social media consultation and direction for more than 200 departments, labs, and centers; and manages the Institute’s flagship Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn accounts.

Jenny explained in the book's preface, "This book is for both rookie social media managers as well as seasoned social media professionals. It gives new managers a structure to build a social media strategy and tips to succeed in the position, and veteran professionals a unique perspective on navigating the challenges of the job and steps to advance the position."

Here were (what I considered to be) the stand-out questions posed by and written by Jenny:

What's the difference between strategy and tactics?

Why should your brand define your lane?

What are some reasons that people follow social media accounts?

What are Jenny's "Six M's of Social Media?"

Is your audience currently on that new platform?

Listening is a form of engagement.

Always explain the WHY behind your brand.

Don't plan content too far in advance.

Do you conduct a competitive analysis of your competitors' social platforms?

Since every member of the C-Suite wants to talk about metrics, Jenny wrote, "Numbers can't speak for themselves; it's the stories we build around them that are compelling or misleading...Just because a metric is large doesn't necessarily mean it's impressive or positive. The opposite is also true - just because a number is small doesn't mean it's not impressive."

An important section of the book explained the many roles comprising a social media team - since these roles are no longer performed by only one person: "Director of strategy; Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn specialist; writer; photographer; videographer; graphic designer; animator; and data scientist."

And Jenny reminded readers that when mainstream news stories become the buzz on social media, before your brand enters the discussion, ask yourself these important questions. If not, your brand may find itself in an unexpected crisis:
(1) Does it fit your brand's voice or tone?
(2) Does this content support your social media strategy?
(3) Have you posted similar content before? If yes, how did it perform?
(4) Is it related to your brand or organization in any way? Is it a stretch?

SHARE THIS: Good content will always attract an audience. Content that entertains, is relatable, or adds value. ~@TheJennyLi #SocialMediaTip #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: Social media is not always the most effective mode of communication for the audience you're targeting. ~@TheJennyLi #SocialMediaTip #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: Social media is not a one-size-fits-all communication tool. ~@TheJennyLi #SocialMediaTip #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Jenny ended her book, "As long as social media exists, there will be a need for people to manage it and, like all professions, it will evolve...It will be interesting to see what social managers go on to do. There have been a lot of articles written on how social media managers are the next CMOs, but I think there are also many opportunities for social media strategists in the internal and strategic communications space."

Two points that Jenny discussed toward the end of the book have remained with me because they have dramatically changed the world of social media. When I added social media marketing to my resume in 2009 (by creating personal accounts on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and a blog on Google's Blogger before working on accounts as part of my professional marketing roles), I can personally say that these two issues were not part of the social media landscape. However, fast forward to today, and it seems that everywhere you look, there is hate-speak, trolls, bullies, and misinformation. In addition, when HR professionals promote "work-life balance," they are definitely NOT talking about the lives of people who work in social media. The Internet never sleeps, and the news cycle is 24/7/365.

What do you think? Is a social media manager who lives and breathes a brand's promise and handles its digital communications ripe for becoming a future Chief Marketing Officer? Or, is the person in this role destined for a lifetime of brief posts on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, etc.? The future of any social media manager is defined by what he/she/they achieve/s for their brand - and the tools found in Jenny Li Fowler's book will, without a doubt, assist in the individual's success. My advice: read the book and be inspired!


Read Jenny's Q&A on this blog (April 11, 2022):
Social Media Campaigns and Storytelling
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/04/social-media-campaigns-and-storytelling.html

Connect with Jenny at these links:
Twitter/X: @TheJennyLi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennylifowler

Image Credit: Amazon.

Highlights of My #FallBacktoReadingSeries

Last fall, because reading has been my lifelong hobby, and I wanted to know what books other people considered life-changing, I featured a series with the same questions posed to 30 marketing, leadership, and customer experience experts. The series was inspirational, informational, and amazing. If you missed any of the posts, two lists of the experts and their reading recommendations follows below. Also, something to note, which books appeared more than once during the #FallBacktoReadingSeries?

First, though, let's recall my two fave quotes about reading:

"If you give a person a book, you give him the world." ~Kristin Harmel

"For you unlock magic that is hidden within, and opening the cover is how you begin. Oh, all the worlds and the places you'll see; when you hold a book, you hold the key." ~Caroline Derlatka

QUESTION: WHICH TWO OR THREE BUSINESS BOOKS HAVE MADE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOUR CAREER?

Eric Jacobson:
*Compassionate Leadership: How to Do Hard Things in a Human Way by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter
*The Leadership Test by Timothy R. Clark, Ph.D.

Dennis Geelen:
*The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
*The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
*Built To Sell by John Warrillow

Mitch Pisik:
*The Seven Secrets of Influence by Elaina Zuker
*The Art of War by Sun Zu
*The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

Shep Hyken:
*The Experience Economy by Joe Pine and Jim Gilmore
*In Search of Excellence by Tom Peters and Robert Waterman
*Moments of Truth by Jan Carlzon

Joseph Michelli, Ph.D., C.S.P.:
*The Experience Economy by Joe Pine and Jim Gilmore
*The Fred Factor by Mark Sanborn
*Dare to Lead by Brené Brown

Erika Andersen:
*Good to Great by Jim Collins
*Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
*The Speed of Trust by Stephen M. R Covey

Susan Friesen:
*The Code of the Extraordinary Mind: 10 Unconventional Laws to Redefine Your Life and Succeed on Your Own Terms by Vishen Lakhiani (for mental health)
*Dressing Your Truth: Discover Your Type of Beauty by Carol Tuttle (for personal branding)
*The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber (for business systems)

Rebecca Herold:
*How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
*The U.S. federal NSA/NCSC Rainbow collection of manuals on evaluating "Trusted Computer Systems"
*The Cuckoo’s Egg by Clifford Stoll

James Strock:
*The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker
*Dynamic Administration: The Collected Papers of Mary Parker Follett
*Collected Essays and Lectures by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Gail Robertson:
*The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton  
*The Tao of Twitter by Mark Schaefer
*High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way by Brendon Burchard

Leanne M. Dzubinski:
*If You’ve Raised Kids, You Can Manage Anything by Ann Crittenden
*Sex and the Office by Kim Elsesser
*Switch by Chip and Dan Heath

David Beaumont:
*Grit by Angela Duckworth
*Mindset by Carol Dweck
*Everybody Matters by Bob Chapman

Katherine Spinney:
*Quiet by Susan Cain
*First Break All the Rules by Curt Coffman and Marcus Buckingham
*The Renaissance Soul by Margaret Lobenstine

Stacey Danheiser:
*Strengthsfinder by Tom Rath
*Everybody Writes by Ann Handley
*The Challenger Sale by Brent Adamson and Matt Dixon

Dr. Natalie Petouhoff:
*Cluetrain Manifesto by Christopher Locke, David Searls, and David Weinberger
*The Experience Economy by Joe Pine and Jim Gilmore
*When More is Not Better by Roger Martin
*Bold by Peter Diamandis (threw in an extra!)

Suzanne Huber:
*Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins
*Super Attractor by Gabrielle Berstein
*Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott

Deborah Connors:
*Building The Bridge As You Walk On It: A Guide for Leading Change by Dr. Robert Quinn
*Conversations Worth Having: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Fuel Productive and Meaningful Engagement by Jackie Stavros and Cheri Torres
*The Truth About Burnout: How Organizations Cause Personal Stress and What To Do About It by Christina Maslach and Michael P. Leiter

Michelle Redfern:
*No Ceiling No Walls by Susan Colantuono
*Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
*Stop Fixing Women: Why Building Fairer Workplaces Is Everybody's Business by Catherine Fox

Gregory Kennedy:
*Art of War by Sun Tzu
*Ogilvy on Advertising by David Ogilvy
*Only the Paranoid Survive by Andy Grove

Michael McKinney:
*The Unconscious Conspiracy: Why Leaders Can’t Lead by Warren Bennis
*The Age of Discontinuity by Peter Drucker

Joni M. Fisher:
*Create Your Writer Platform by Chuck Sambuchino
*Publicize Your Book: An Insider's Guide to Getting Your Book the Attention It Deserves
*Guerrilla Marketing for Writers: 100 Weapons for Selling Your Work by Jay Conrad Levinson, Rick Frishman, and Jay Larsen

Kim Scaravelli:
*Secrets of Closing the Sale: For Anyone Who Must Get Others to Say Yes! by Zig Ziglar
*You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment by Thick Nhat Hanh
*Atomic Habits by James Clear

Joseph Lalonde:
*How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie
*48 Days To The Work You Love by Dan Miller
*Platform by Michael Hyatt

Doug Dickerson:
*Full Steam Ahead: Unleash The Power Of Vision In Your Work And Your Life by Ken Blanchard and Jesse Lyn Stone
*The Ideal Team Player: How To Recognize And Cultivate The Three Essential Virtues by Patrick Lencioni
*The 360 Leader: Developing Your Influence From Anywhere In The Organization by John C. Maxwell

Lee Goldberg:
*Telling Lies for Fun and Profit by Lawrence Block
*Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman
*Storytellers to the Nation by Tom Stempel

Russel Lolacher:
*Start With Why by Simon Sinek
*The New Rules of Marketing and PR by David Meerman Scott
*How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Ludmila Praslova:
*How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
*Out of the Crisis by Edwards Deming
*Winning with Underdogs: How Hiring the Least Likely Candidates Can Spark Creativity, Improve Service, and Boost Profits for Your Business by Gil Winch

Rosye Cloud:
*Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
*Deep Work by Cal Newport
*Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Kevin Eikenberry:
*Flawless Consulting by Peter Block
*In Search of Excellence by Tom Peters and Bob Waterman
*The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

Debbie Laskey:
*Built to Last by Jim Collins
*Managing Brand Equity by David A. Aaker
*In Search of Excellence by Tom Peters and Robert Waterman

QUESTION: WHAT BOOK DID YOU READ IN HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE THAT, TO THIS DAY, YOU STILL REMEMBER VIVIDLY?

Eric Jacobson:
*The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
*The World According to Garp by John Irving

Dennis Geelen:
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Mitch Pisik:
*The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

Shep Hyken:
*The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

Joseph Michelli, Ph.D., C.S.P.:
*A Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl

Erika Andersen:
*To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Susan Friesen:
*Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

Rebecca Herold:
*The Call of the Wild by Jack London
*White Fang by Jack London

James Strock:
*Selected Poetry and Prose by Samuel Johnson

Gail Robertson:
*The Diviners by Canadian author Margaret Laurence.

Leanne M. Dzubinski:
*Native Son by Richard Wright

Katherine Spinney:
*The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
*All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren

Stacey Danheiser:
*7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

Dr. Natalie Petouhoff:
*To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Suzanne Huber:
*The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Deborah Connors:
*Mindfulness by Helen J. Langer

Michelle Redfern:
*Lucky by Jackie Collins

Gregory Kennedy:
*The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling

Michael McKinney:
*Reilly’s Luck and Sitka by Louis L'Amour

Joni M. Fisher:
*Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

Kim Scaravelli:
*Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

Joseph Lalonde:
*Star Wars books
*The Bible

Doug Dickerson:
*The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Lee Goldberg:
*Fletch by Gregory MacDonald

Russel Lolacher:
*Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Ludmila Praslova:
*The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
*poetry of Robert Burns and Mikhail Lermontov
*The Soul Enchanted by Romain Rolland

Rosye Cloud:
*The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Kevin Eikenberry:
*See You at the Top by Zig Ziglar

Debbie Laskey:
*The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
*An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen
*The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

Which books have you read from these lists? And which books are you going to check out? Much gratitude to all the participants in my #FallBacktoReadingSeries!

I enjoyed this series so much - and hope you did also - that it planted a seed for a future series. Thanks to one of this series' participants, Joseph Lalonde, who sparked the initial idea, my #SpringLeadershipSeries will begin on March 20th and continue until June 20th. Tune into #DebbieLaskeysBlog and on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Threads for details.

And in the meantime, as I like to say, happy reading!

Image Credit: Debbie Laskey.