Happy Lunar New Year 2025!

Gung Hay Fat Choy, or translated into Cantonese: "Wishing you prosperity."

2025 is the Year of the Snake and is celebrated around the world beginning today. It is an annual 15-day festival around the world that begins with the new moon that occurs sometime between January 21st and February 20th according to Western calendars - and festivities last until the following full moon.

According to the Calgary Herald, "Loathe them or love them, snakes are slithering into the spotlight this year. The snake brings with it wisdom, transformation, calmness, and creativity. These limbless reptiles, of course, have a less-than-stellar reputation in many societal references. A sneaky individual might be said to be as slippery as a snake or a snake in the grass. A slick salesperson can be called a snake oil salesman. And of course, we can’t forget the serpent's role in the Garden of Eden, as it tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. Snakes are so despised by some people that there’s even a special word for the phobia associated with the creatures — ophidiophobia (ophis is Greek for snake.) It's one of the most commonly found animal phobias.

On the flip side, snakes also have their admirers. And a scroll through some snake owners' Instagram accounts shows some people even take to dressing up their pet snakes in cute little outfits. While animal experts say the brain structure of snakes doesn’t allow them to experience emotion, they can begin to recognize their owners and wrap around them, mostly for warmth.

It's also worth noting snakes have been important to ecosystems and a myriad of cultures over the centuries. Ancient Greeks used snakes to ward off evil and other cultures around the world have associated snakes with wisdom and healing. It's many of those positive beliefs that influence predictions for the year of snake in 2025. For those born in a Year of the Snake, the world often sees them as alluring, astute, charming and thoughtful. Celebrities born in years of the snake include Audrey Hepburn, Mahatma Gandhi and Pablo Picasso."

According to Travel+Leisure, here's how the holiday is celebrated throughout Asia:

"Celebrations around China primarily take place on New Year's Eve, with families coming together to mark the occasion. It's custom to wear new clothes to ring in the new year, usually in the lucky colors, red and gold. In northern China, traditional food eaten during Lunar New Year is made using flour, like baos, pancakes, noodles, and dumplings. Families often make these dishes from scratch. The dumplings are usually served with fish, as it symbolizes abundance for the year ahead, and sometimes contain a lucky coin that kids eagerly search for. Throughout China, family members give each other red envelopes with money as well."

"In Korea, the Lunar New Year is a three-day event offering a chance to pay respect to ancestors and elders. In Korean culture, people have an official age based on their birthday, but they also historically had a Korean age, which started at one on the day they were born and increased every first day of the year after that. Children show their respect to elders with deep bows (aka seh bae). As part of the celebration, children also receive money and words of wisdom for the forthcoming year."

"In Vietnam, Lunar New Year is spent with family. Just like other countries, Vietnam has its own traditional attire, a silk tunic with slits on either side that's worn over pants by both men and women for the New Year. Most families go to the temple together to pray for good luck, health, and fortune. Some superstitions include paying off all your debts and cleaning your house before the new year, as well as not throwing anything away on New Year's Day, as it's considered to be getting rid of good luck. Children receive red envelopes with money from their older relatives, too."

"In Singapore, where the population is approximately 75 percent Chinese, red envelopes that display the phrase "Fú" (meaning good luck) are distributed. It's also custom to pay respect to ancestors by going to a temple and lighting incense. The annual Chingay Parade is an extravagant celebration that includes everything from giant floats to lion dancers. Meanwhile, the largest Chinese New Year festival in Singapore is the River Hongbao, which is hosted at different locations across the country."

"In Malaysia, Lunar New Year welcomes spring. It lasts for 15 days, ending with a grand finale day called Chap Goh Mei. Red pocket envelopes (known as ang pow) are given to children and unmarried family members. Many Buddhist families invite lion dancers to their homes to bless their altars and ward off bad spirits. People in Malaysia don traditional outfits, called cheongsam (also known as qipao). They say that if you're celebrating your zodiac year, you should wear the color gold to attract even more abundance."

"Taiwan is another country that strongly associates the holiday with food. Dumplings are the most popular dish, closely followed by pineapple. It's considered good luck to not eat all the fish and keep some leftovers from your holiday meals. Most Taiwanese people spend time with family and their elders in their homes. They exchange red envelopes, and many neighborhoods set off fireworks."

"When the clock strikes midnight in the Philippines, children and adults jump for joy, as it's thought to make them grow taller. The most traditional celebration is called Media Noche, a midnight feast to summon a year of prosperity. The table is usually full of round-shaped fruits — a tradition that originates from China — as the shape represents family unity. One of the most unique superstitions is that wearing polka dots will bring prosperity, money, and good fortune, because of their round shape. Fireworks are also set off to create loud noises that scare away bad spirits, while lights are turned on and windows and doors are left open. Many people avoid spending money on the first day of the year to encourage better finances."  

Will your brand add a snake or the color red (because the Chinese believe red brings good luck, prosperity, and wards off evil) into your logo, mascot, promotions, or communications? Here are ten brands that are participating in the festive celebrations:

MATTEL'S BARBIE

Mattel unveiled its 2025 Lunar New Year Barbie doll. According to Mattel, "As the firecrackers ignite, Barbie steps into the Lunar New Year celebration in a lucky red qipao (which symbolizes empowerment and beauty). She steals the scene in this quintessential dress with a modern mermaid gown silhouette, traditional mandarin collar, meihua plum blossom prints, and sheer bell sleeves that flutter as she claps to a festive lion dance. Her dress features a plum blossom floral print, a flower that symbolizes prosperity and resilience, because it can bloom in the cold of winter. To complete her look, Chinese knots, a symbol of good fortune, appear at the collar and adorn her belt. Golden drop earrings, matching the knot color, are also meant to bring good luck. The doll was designed by Joyce Chen."  

According to Barbie doll designer Joyce Chen, "Being able to design the Lunar New Year Barbie series has felt really impactful for both me as a designer and to the consumer market that has always been yearning for more representation in the doll category. Growing up as an Asian American, I feel like it was rare to find toys or dolls that I could connect with. Being able to design the Lunar New Year dolls has been so meaningful for me because I can get in touch with and be inspired by my own culture. I also see how important it is for others when they have a doll that they can relate to. It makes me happy to create such a special Barbie for a holiday that is celebrated by many...I love seeing the continued growth of diversity and representation in dolls, and hope that one day every person in the world can find a doll they connect with."

BACCARAT

According to the brand's website, "2025 will be the Year of the Snake, one of the most enigmatic Chinese zodiac signs. Baccarat celebrates this mysterious beauty with an original creation, the Zodiaque Snake 2025, designed by animal sculptor Allison Hawkes. Crafted in the purity of crystal, this exceptional piece captures the very essence of the serpent. With a stately demeanor, the reptile appears to observe the world with discernment, a reminder of the intelligence and profound intuition characteristic of this sign. This exceptional talisman, a bearer of light, promises to illuminate the twelve months to come." The cost of the artwork is $450. 

ESTEE LAUDER

Estee Lauder created an intricately designed, exquisitely crafted, one-of-a-kind Year of the Snake Compact with Perfecting Setting Powder. According to the brand's website, "The Year of the Snake brings a year full of good luck and prosperity. People born in this year are known to be very intelligent and flexible, the perfect 'blend' for success."

SANRIO'S HELLO KITTY

According to Sanrio's website, "Celebrate the enchanting 2025 Lunar New Year with Hello Kitty in her vibrant green and pink Wood Snake costume! Embrace the spirit of friendship and forge meaningful connections this Year of the Snake. Hello Kitty features 2025 on her foot, commemorating the New Year, and she adds a green and pink flair to the wood snake costume, complete with a classic pink bow ready to ring in the new year! Limited edition to 3,000."

PRADA

According to Women's Wear Daily, "Prada’s campaign for Lunar New Year 2025 celebrates the start of the Year of the Snake, with images that reinterpret the coils of the animal that is much respected in Chinese culture. Photographed by Oliver Hadlee Pearch, under the creative direction of Ferdinando Verderi, the "We, The Snake" campaign features brand ambassadors Jia Ling, Li Xian, Ma Long, Ma Yili and Yang Shuyu; art historian Wu Hung; artists Peng Wei and Zhang Enli; architect Rossana Hu, and models Du Juan, Ju Xiaowen and Zhao Lei and a snake-like chain of human silhouettes. Prada said the curves of the coils trace twisting spirals and become a visual representation of the concept of community, documented as a winding row of people from a variety of disciplines who interact and bring to life this sign of the Chinese zodiac. The campaign transforms the snake — typically perceived as an archetype of individualism — into a figure devoted to sharing."

SEE'S CANDIES

See's Candies created festive packaging in shades of red and gold to celebrate the Year of the Snake.

GODIVA

Godiva created an elegantly festive collection that was adorned in bright ruby reds and dazzling golds with delicate imagery inspired by the Year of the Snake.

SUGARFINA

Sugarfina created a Lunar New Year 2025 9 Piece Mini Trunk. According to the brand's website, "Sweeten the Year of the Snake with our Lunar New Year Candy Trunk! Discover nine candies from around the world tucked inside this keepsake gift. Flavors include: Lucky Mandarins, Prosperous Pineapples, Sweet Mangos, Yuzu Caramels, Lychee Blossoms, Peach Blossoms, Peach Jellies, Happy Tangerines, and Coconut Toffee Macadamias."

SWAROVSKI

According to the jewelry brand's website, "With an endless vibration of energy and light, this Swarovski pendant celebrates the Year of the Snake in colorful style. Suspended from a delicate chain, the central motif features a mesmerizing snake, crafted from Swarovski Zirconia, with a red dancing stone at the center for good luck. Infinite light reflections are created in the rose gold-tone plated design, adding vitality and unique beauty to the look. Gift it to someone special as a meaningful symbol of rebirth."

LEGO

LEGO announced three sets to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival, which were released on January 1st: Trotting Lantern with 1,295 pieces; Good Fortune with 585 pieces; and Lucky Cat with 280 pieces. The Trotting Lantern was a build-together set, a great way for the entire family to celebrate the Year of the Snake - and also included five minifigures: two adults, two children, and a character in a Year of the Snake costume.

According to ChinaHighlights.com, do not give a clock or watch as a Chinese New Year gift. "Clocks and watches symbolize running out of time. This is especially an uncomfortable reminder for seniors. Giving a clock or watch as a gift is the biggest no-no in Chinese culture."

Next year, the Year of the Horse will begin on February 17, 2026. So, all of you brands who plan to integrate Lunar New Year into your marketing campaigns or brand identity, start counting the days!

Image Credits: iStock, Mattel, Sanrio, Estée Lauder, and See's Candies.

If you need red envelopes to give family members money, check these out:

https://buddhastoneshop.com/collections/year-of-the-snake-2025/products/buddha-stones-6pcs-chinese-red-envelope-year-of-the-snake-lucky-money-envelopes-2025-new-year

Read more about the history of the Chinese zodiac:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chinese-zodiac

A Look Back at 2024 through the Lens of Krispy Kreme

Many brands are successful at telling and sharing their stories or their brand purpose. Some brands excel at this form of marketing, also known as brand storytelling. However, there are few that rival the effectiveness of Krispy Kreme. Here's a look back at 2024 through the lens of this clever food brand.

But first, some history. According to Wikipedia, "Krispy Kreme, Inc. (previously Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc.) is an American multinational doughnut company and coffeehouse chain. The company was founded by Vernon Rudolph, who bought a yeast-raised recipe from a New Orleans chef, rented a building in 1937 in North Carolina, and began selling to local grocery stores. Steady growth preceded an ambitious expansion as a public company in the period from 2000 to 2016, which ultimately proved unprofitable. In 2016, the company returned to private ownership under JAB Holding Company, a private Luxembourg-based firm. In July 2021, Krispy Kreme became publicly traded again on the Nasdaq. The brand name is a deliberate non-standard spelling of 'crispy cream,' for marketing effect."

Although initially based on informal advertising, such as word-of-mouth, in 2006, Krispy Kreme began using television and radio advertisements. On a personal note, when my aunt first heard that a Krispy Kreme store was moving into her Southern California suburb, she could hardly contain her excitement and was one of the first to purchase a dozen.

In March 2021, Krispy Kreme announced that they were providing a free Original Glazed doughnut every day (except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day) for the rest of that year to customers in the United States who could prove that they had received a COVID-19 vaccine.

Truly an international company, Krispy Kreme operates in Canada, Egypt, France, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Lebanon, Turkey, India, Dominican Republic, Iceland, Ireland, Kuwait, Guatemala, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Russia, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Morocco.

And now, how does Krispy Kreme align its brand with the important dates on the calendar to stay relevant and in consumers' minds? It's simple while simultaneously imaginative: the brand celebrates holidays!

Doughnuts are decorated to celebrate many holidays, and in the process, stays top of mind with customers and fans:

* DECEMBER 29-31, 2023: To celebrate the new year, two dozen doughnuts cost $20.24

* FEBRUARY: Valentine's Day Heart-Shaped Collection: You Color My World!, You're Berry Sweet!, Without You, I'd Crumble!, and I Love You A-Choco-Lot!

* FEBRUARY: Super Bowl Chocolate Iced Kreme filled football doughnuts

* MARCH: St. Patrick's Day Collection

* MARCH 17: Free Original Glazed GREEN doughnut by walking into a store wearing green

* MARCH: Spring Minis Collection for Easter

* APRIL: Total Solar Eclipse Day Collection

* APRIL: Show a friendship bracelet for a free Original Glazed Doughnut due to the success of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour

* APRIL 15: Pay only sales tax for an Original Glazed Dozen Doughnuts

* MAY 12: Mini Doughnut Collection for Mother's Day

* MAY: Dolly Parton's Southern Sweets Doughnut Collection: Dolly Dazzler Doughnut, Peachy Keen Cobbler Doughnut, Banana Puddin' Pie Doughnut, and Chocolate Creme Pie Doughnut

* JUNE 7: National Doughnut Day (of course!)

* JULY 4: Fourth of July Collection

* JULY/AUGUST: Go USA Olympics Collection

* JULY/AUGUST: Passport to Paris Collection: Creme Brulee Doughnut, Double Chocolate Eclair Doughnut, and Raspberry & Vanille Creme Doughnut

* AUGUST: Pumpkin Spice Essentials Collection

* SEPTEMBER: Barbie 65th Birthday Collection: Barbie Pink Doughnut, Barbie Berries 'n Kreme Doughnut, Malibu Dream Party Doughnut, and Barbie Sweet 65th Doughnut

* OCTOBER: Super Moon Super Doughnut

* OCTOBER: Halloween Ghostbusters Collection

* NOVEMBER 5: Show your "I Voted" sticker and receive a free Original Glazed Doughnut

* NOVEMBER: Thanksgiving Pies Collection: Chocolate Silk Pie Doughnut, Lemon Creme Pie Doughnut, Blueberry Crisp Doughnut, and Apple Crumble Doughnut

* DECEMBER: Merry Grinchmas Collection: Grinch Doughnut, Grinchy Claus Doughnut, Cindy Lou Who Merry Berry Tree Doughnut, and Santa Belly Doughnut

With all these themed doughnuts, there is no doubt as to why Krispy Kreme is one of the most beloved and well-known sweet treat brands in the world. This effective brand storytelling may be the secret ingredient.

SHARE THIS: A great salesperson knows how to tell a story in which the product is the hero. ~Peter Guber #BrandStorytelling #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Image Credits: Krispy Kreme.

Food Branding News of 2024

While there were countless brands that made news during 2024 due to name changes, logo changes, and entire brand refreshes, how many FOOD brands can you recall that transformed themselves and made news?

Here's a recap of the memorable food industry brands that made marketing news during 2024:

FLAVOR OF THE YEAR (January)

McCormick & Company, the top-selling maker or seasonings and spices, named Tamarind as its "2024 Flavor of the Year." Tamarind comes from a tree that commonly grows throughout Africa, Mexico, Asia, and India, and produces pods containing the acidic and tangy-sweet flavor that can be added to a number of foods, such as potato chips, ice cream, and coffee. According to CNN, "McCormick partnered with Black Tap Craft Burgers, a restaurant with seven US locations and known for its over-the-top foods, to feature tamarind in milkshakes, burgers, and fries beginning on February 1, 2024, for a limited time."

TROPICANA'S LIMITED EDITION PACKAGING (January)

While Artificial Intelligence, also known as AI, was on everyone's mind at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, one company did not want it anywhere near its brand. Tropicana, the top-selling orange juice brand, released limited-edition bottles with a slight change to its name. On the bottles, the letters "A" and "I" were removed from the name so that it showed as "TROPCN." According to the company, the marketing campaign highlighted "the fact that there is nothing artificial, and never has been anything artificial" in the orange juice.

SUBWAY'S SIDEKICKS (January)

What goes best with a foot-long sandwich? How about a foot-long cookie? Subway announced that its new Sidekicks menu would feature "a collection of three new foot-long snacks: a foot-long cookie, a foot-long churro, and a foot-long pretzel, all costing between $2-$3." The company partnered with Auntie Anne's to create the pretzel and Cinnabon to create the churro.

APPLEBEE'S DATE NIGHTS (January)

Applebee's offered a limited number of subscription date night passes for $200. The pass covered a year of weekly date nights starting on February 1 and ending on January 31, 2025. The pass was valid 52 times and covered up to $30 of food and non-alcoholic beverages.

THE SOUR TASTE OF SELF-CHECKOUT (February)

Do you use self-checkout? According to a study by researchers at Drexler University published in the Journal of Business Research, "Regular checkout featuring a human cashier makes customers more loyal to a store and more likely to revisit in the future than self-checkout. The study comes as some companies remove self-checkout machines and others adjust their self-checkout operations. Customers feel more rewarded by a store and feel like they were treated more valuably when using regular checkout because it involves less effort and cashiers handle the scanning, bagging, and payment process, the researchers found. Regular checkout also makes people feel that they are receiving the service they are entitled to as customers, the study found."

In addition, a survey from hospitality product provider Tensator revealed that 33 percent of retail shoppers chose not to complete a purchase because of a bad experience with a self-service kiosk. Consider how these negative experiences - where customers would like to pay and complete transactions - can - and do - affect a brand experience.

COCA-COLA'S NEW FLAVOR (February)

Coca-Cola launched its newest flavor, Coca-Cola Spiced, to cater to America's changing demographics. The company explained that the new Spiced flavor blended the traditional Coke flavor with raspberry and spiced flavors.

BEVERAGES AND SUBWAY (March)

PepsiCo, Inc. reached a 10-year agreement to become the exclusive provider of beverages at all Subway sandwich shops in the United States replacing rival Coca-Cola.

OREO'S JOKE ON APRIL FOOLS' DAY (April)

On April Fools' Day, Oreo shared 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."

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

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

MCDONALD'S AND KRISPY KREME (April)

Beginning in 2024, Krispy Kreme's doughnuts would be available at McDonald's restaurants. Will you order a Big Mac, French fries, and a Krispy Kreme doughnut?

McDONALD'S BILLBOARD AD (April)

Have you ever smelled a billboard? McDonald's created a scented billboard in the Netherlands. The company installed a tray of French Fries into the billboard and then used ventilators to suck and diffuse the scent. The billboard was also placed within 2,000 feet of a McDonald's restaurant so that customers could follow the scent.

MCDONALD'S GRANDMA MCFLURRY (May)

On May 21st, McDonald's released its newest McFlurry flavor for a limited time, the Grandma McFlurry, a sweet treat that mixed syrup, vanilla ice cream, and crunchy candy pieces. According to McDonald's, it's "like grandma's favorite treat that she hid in her purse. Grandmas have always held a special place in our hearts, and today, they're having a major moment influencing culture - inspiring trends in fashion, decor, and now, even food with our newest McFlurry." 

SPECIAL K'S LATEST PACKAGING (June)

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

DR PEPPER'S MARKET SHARE NEWS (June)

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 (June)

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

SCRUB DADDY AND DUNKIN' DONUT (June)

To celebrate this year's National Donut Day on June 7th, Dunkin' teamed up with Scrub Daddy to create a limited-edition Scrub Daddy and Scrub Mommy. According to Scrub Daddy's website, "This delicious duo is perfect for scrubbing away donut crumbs and wiping up iced coffee spills...Despite appearing good enough to eat, these scrubbers are not for consumption...and edible donuts are not included."

COLD STONE CREAMERY AND MINIONS (June)

Known for its customizable ice cream options, Cold Stone Creamery announced its partnership with Illumination's "Despicable Me 4" film with the release of its Despicamallow Ice Cream. According to a press release, "The new creation, called Mega Minion Marshmallow Meltdown, features Despicamallow Ice Cream, Chocolate Chips, Marshmallows, and Yellow & Blue Sprinkles, inspired by the mischievous antics of the Minions. Cold Stone will also feature Heist Cream Cake with layers of moist Yellow Cake and Despicamallow Ice Cream with Yellow & Blue Sprinkles and wrapped in fluffy White Frosting featuring the Mega Jerry Minion. Guests can dive into these limited-time offerings at participating Cold Stone Creamery locations nationwide from June 12 through July 30."

S'MORES ANYONE? (July)

Ramen is not the first food when thinking about dessert. However, Cup Noodles launched a new limited-edition s'mores-flavored instant ramen. Ready to eat via microwave, the product came with a sauce-based flavor blend of chocolate, marshmallow, and graham crackers. According to Nissin Foods USA Senior VP of Marketing Priscilla Stanton, the limited-edition offerings of Cup Noodles were an effort to expand beyond a "pantry staple." The line-up of flavors included Pumpkin Spice, Everything Bagel, and Breakfast (which is a mixture of the classic breakfast combination of maple syrup pancakes, sausage, and eggs).

STARBUCKS AND PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE (August)

Nothing says fall better than pumpkin drinks or Starbucks' Pumpkin Spiced Latte, but the coffee giant announced that its Pumpkin Spice Latte would return to stores on August 22nd, earlier than ever. 

CARVEL ICE CREAM (August)

Carvel Ice Cream announced that on August 15th, it would kick off the fall season with the re-introduction of its Pumpkin Cheesecake menu items. Initially offered in 2023, pumpkin lovers rejoiced with these limited-time items: Pumpkin Cheesecake Soft Serve, Pumpkin Cheesecake Scooped, Pumpkin Cheesecake Shake, Pumpkin Cheesecake Sundae Dasher, Pumpkin Cheesecake Flying Saucer, and Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream Pop.

PIZZA HUT'S TABLE (August)

Pizza Hut offered customers who were moving to a few cities something extra. The pizza chain offered a special pizza box that turned into a miniature table with an order of a large regular-priced pizza in Dallas, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Orlando, Florida. Pizza Hut explained that it chose those cities based on a Penske Truck Rental list that ranked those cities among the country's top moving destinations. The table box's corrugated structure folded into a base that could support a pizza box - and the table was only available through take-out. According to Pizza Hut's Chief Marketing Officer, "Many can relate to the chaos that comes with moving, and the last thing you want to worry about is unpacking to enjoy a hard-earned meal at the end of a long day."

COCA-COLA AND OREO (September)

Coca-Cola and Oreo announced their partnership with two limited-edition products: Oreo Coca-Cola Sandwich Cookies and Coca-Cola Oreo Zero Sugar limited-edition soda.

KRISPY KREME AND BARBIE DOUGHNUTS (September)

To celebrate the 65th birthday of Mattel's Barbie doll, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts partnered with Mattel and launched the limited-edition Barbie Collection featuring four doughnuts: the Barbie Pink Doughnut, the Barbie Berries ‘n Kreme Doughnut, the Malibu Dream Party Doughnut, and the Barbie Sweet 65th Doughnut.

CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY NAMECHANGE (September)

Remember when Dunkin' Doughnuts dropped the word "doughnuts" from its name? Or when Kentucky Fried Chicken became KFC to move away from the "fried chicken" emphasis in its name? Well, the 155-year-old Campbell Soup Company announced that it would drop the word "Soup" from its name and rebrand as The Campbell's Company. The company owns snack brands including Goldfish, Snyder's of Hanover, Cape Cod, Pepperidge Farm, and others. Therefore, the brand wishes to move away from the idea that it's only soup.

HERSHEY'S FORAY INTO FITNESS MARKET (October)

While everyone associates the Hershey brand with chocolate and its own town in Pennsylvania, the company is now expanding into the fitness market with a new product line of energy drinks and protein powders. Will the flavors be chocolate? Time will tell if this will be a successful line extension or a bad idea.

GOLDFISH NAMECHANGE TO CHILEAN SEA BASS (October)

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."

SUBWAY'S FOOTLONG COOKIE GETS DRESSED FOR HOLIDAYS (October)

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."

RAO FLOAT APPEARS IN MACY'S DAY PARADE (October)

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."

KFC CANDLES (November)

KFC (formerly Kentucky Fried Chicken) teamed up with Homesick Candles to launch two candles for the holiday season: a bucket of chicken candle and a buttery biscuit candle.

RETURN OF SELF-SERVE MILK AND SUGAR AT STARBUCKS (November)

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."

Did these changes cause you to purchase more or less? Did these changes stand out in your mind? Were they good strategic decisions? What food brands will stand out during 2025. Tune in next January for a recap.

Image Credits: Oreo and Tropicana. 

2024 Was the Year of #BrandIdentity Changes

Was your brand in the news during 2024? If not, don’t despair. There were many other brands that made headlines during 2024.

Here's a recap of interesting brands that either rebranded, changed their logo, changed their name, co-branded, formed an interesting partnership, created a unique hashtag to match a campaign, changed iconic packaging, or in some other way made branding or brand marketing news during 2024. What stood out as memorable to YOU?

BRAND IDENTITY:

1. Chrismukkah is a pop-culture portmanteau (a word formed by combining the sounds and meanings of other words) referring to the merging of the holidays of Christianity's Christmas and Judaism's Hanukkah. It was first seen in the 19th century, and after World War II, Chrismukkah became popular in the United States - but is also celebrated in other countries. The term has been used when the two holidays occur on the same day, as on December 25th, 2024. The first day of Hanukkah and Christmas have only coincided a handful of times since 1900, according to the Jewish Federations of North America. The holidays started on the same day in 1910, 1921, 1959, 2005, and 2024. (December)

2. While known as the ultra-low fare leader, Frontier Airlines introduced a suite of new products ranging from luxurious first-class seating and complimentary seat upgrades to unlimited companion travel and enhanced rewards. (December)

3. Kraft Mac & Cheese launched a new "Everything Bagel Mac & Cheese" flavor in response to "Zillennials," aka, a mix of Gen Z and Millennials, consumer behavior. (December)

4. A new term was coined due to the arrival of two films at the box office: "GLICKED" was a portmanteau (a word formed by combining the sounds and meanings of other words) to promote WICKED and GLADIATOR II. (November)

5. Comcast announced that it would 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. (November)

6. 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." (November)

7. Mountain Dew got 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. (October)

8. The Los Angeles Clippers basketball team unveiled their new brand, establishing a set of marks that blend the team's past, present, and focus on the future with 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. (October)

9. Breaking a 50-year tradition, Southwest Airlines announced that it will begin selling assigned seats. Previously, customers would board planes by section rather than by specific seats. (August)

10. Copenhagen, Denmark's capital city, announced that it would offer free perks to tourists who make sustainability choices, such as walking, biking, taking public transportation, or picking up litter. Tourists could get a free kayak rental, free cup of coffee, or free ice cream. (August)

11. The Philadelphia Zoo celebrated its 150th anniversary. According to Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman, President and CEO of America's first zoo since October 2023, "On July 1, 1874, the Zoo held its grand opening. On that day, more than 3,000 guests experienced the first zoo in America. Since then, we've welcomed nearly 100 million guests from our city, region, country, and around the world, connecting them to the wonders of wildlife and inspiring action to protect what is precious on our planet." (July)

12. 2024 Paris Summer Olympics took place during two weeks in July and August. Here were some ways that the Paris Olympics brand stood out:

• 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!

13. Netflix announced that it will open two massive venues with experiences and shops themed to its shows. The experiential complexes called "Netflix Houses" would open in empty retail space in Dallas and Philadelphia. According to ABC, "For Netflix, it's just the latest move in a series of efforts to broaden its profile and income beyond standard streaming, even though the bulk of its profits come from its core business." (June)

14. 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. (June)

15. The Rubik’s Cube, invented in 1974 by Hungarian architect Ernő Rubik, celebrated its 50th anniversary. Originally called the "Magic Cube," this iconic puzzle sold over 500 million units worldwide and remains a beloved tool for teaching geometry, problem-solving, and cognitive skills. Naturally, to commemorate its 50th anniversary, a special edition Rubik’s Cube was released and featured classic boxy edges, slower turning, and traditional stickers, along with a gold side and an anniversary logo. (May)

16. McDonald's created a scented billboard in the Netherlands. It installed a tray of French Fries into the billboard and then used ventilators to suck and diffuse the scent. The billboard was also placed within 2,000 feet of a McDonald's restaurant so customers could follow the scent. (April)

17. Delta Airlines offered a special flight from Austin to Detroit on April 8,, specifically for umbraphiles (people who are passionate about eclipses, especially solar eclipses). Delta flight 1218 operated on an A220-300 and featured premium viewing due to the aircraft’s extra-large windows. The flight departed from Austin at 12:15 p.m. CT and landed in Detroit at 4:20 p.m. ET – timed to give those on board the best chance of safely viewing the solar eclipse at its peak. The April 8 eclipse was the last total eclipse over North America until 2044, according to Warren Weston, Delta Air Lines Lead Meteorologist.”

According to Eric Beck, Managing Director of Domestic Network Planning at Delta, “This flight was the result of significant collaboration and exemplifies the close teamwork Delta is known for – from selecting an aircraft with larger windows to determining the exact departure time from Austin. Thanks to teams across the company, the idea of viewing a total eclipse from the air became a reality for our customers. And once at their seats, customers were greeted with co-branded goodie bags filled with items like ISO-certified eclipse viewing glasses from Warby Parker, limited-edition Sun Chips – which were on sale to the general public for only four minutes – and Delta-branded swag including special-edition solar eclipse socks.” (April)

18. Can you believe Facebook celebrated its 20th anniversary? It counts over three billion active monthly users – a third of the world’s population. But Facebook’s age is starting to show. According to Euronews, "Scroll through Facebook today and you'll find less posts from your actual friends and more sponsored ads harassing you to purchase things you searched for once, fake news articles with comments from conspiracy theorists, and old family friends documenting every aspect of their lives." (February)

19. 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. (January)

20. Hello Kitty brand announced the celebration of its 50th anniversary during 2024. (January)

PERSONAL BRANDING:

1. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a longtime theater lover, made her Broadway debut in a one-night-only walk-on role in the Tony-nominated romantic comedy musical "& Juliet," a modern take on Shakespeare's tragedy that imagines what would have happened if the female protagonist survived and took control of her own life. (December)

2. 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. (November)

3. Claudia Sheinbaum was elected and took office as Mexico's first female president in the nation's more than 200 years of independence. (October)

4. Within minutes of the first and only Presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on September 10th, singer-songwriter-businesswoman Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris. (September)

5. Norah O'Donnell, who has been the anchor of the evening broadcast for nearly five years, announced that she will transition to a new role as senior correspondent after the 2024 Presidential election. (August)

6. History was made when President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 Presidential race. His decision affected Vice President Kamala Harris' future and her personal brand - as well as former President Donald Trump. (July)

7. Two terms appeared as a result of singer Taylor Swift's international fame: "Visitor Economy" and "Economic Fairy Dust," translated to mean 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. (June)

8. 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. (May)

9. Since baseball phenomenon Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers deferred much of his $700 million salary toward the end of his ten-year contract, he needed other ways to earn money. So, he did what many other professional athletes do, he signed endorsement deals. He also created his own logo with New Balance – the design depicts Ohtani rounding first base – with plans to use it on future projects around the world. (March)

10. Catherine, Princess of Wales, disappeared from January through March of 2024, and many British Royal watchers wondered why. There was so much conjecture that the Princess explained her cancer diagnosis and treatment in a recorded video message. (March)

11. Are you familiar with the rapper known as Snoop Dogg? He has evolved his personal brand from a hip-hop icon to a mainstream personality. He’s best buddies with lifestyle guru Martha Stewart, has been a "special correspondent" for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, and most recently, served as a judge for NBC’s TV show, “The Voice.” According to Huffington Post, "Snoop has undergone a transition over the years from 1990's gangsta rapper to a family-friendly face who has co-starred in a variety show with Martha Stewart, made his own cereal, and partnered with dozens of recognizable brands." (January)

NAME CHANGES:

1. Taco Bell tested a new restaurant that was not focused on tacos. Instead, the newly-opened cafe concept in San Diego was called the Live Más Café, and featured a beverage-centric menu with milkshakes, coffee drinks, and fruity iced drinks. (December)

2. 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. (November)

3. A federal judge ordered Oakland airport officials to stop using "San Francisco Bay" in its name, amid a trademark dispute with San Francisco officials. U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Hixson issued a preliminary injunction against the Port of Oakland, which operates the airport, from using the name at its facilities and in advertising. San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu released a statement after the injunction was issued, "For months, we have tried reasoning with Oakland officials to avoid litigation and come up with alternative names that would work for all of us. Unfortunately, those efforts were not productive, and we had no choice but to ask the court to step in and protect our trademark. San Francisco has invested millions in making San Francisco International Airport the world class airport it is today. We have built an incredible brand, and we are happy the Court agreed that brand should be legally protected from trademark infringement." (November)

4. 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." (October)

5. 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. 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." (October)

6. The 155-year-old Campbell Soup Company announced that it would drop the word "Soup" from its name and rebrand as The Campbell's Company. The company owns snack brands including Goldfish, Snyders of Hanover, Cape Cod, Pepperidge Farm, and others. Therefore, the brand wishes to move away from the idea that it only sells soup. (September)

7. The diner chain Perkins Restaurant and Bakery changed its name after 66 years to Perkins American Food Co. This means that the word "bakery," which had been part of its brand identity for five decades, disappeared, but actual bakeries will remain in the restaurants. According to Toni Ronayne, Perkins President, "The refreshed name really speaks to our American values and the American comfort food we deliver." In addition to the new name, the logo will feature an updated green color, and restaurants will be remodeled featuring brighter flooring plus new tables, silverware, and uniforms. (June)

8. Banknotes featuring King Charles III finally entered circulation in the United Kingdom. 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." (June)

9. Jaguar Land Rover rebranded and changed its name to JLR, but despite the new corporate identity, the Land Rover models (Defender, Discovery, and Range Rover) will continue to include the Land Rover badges due to the 75 years of history in the Land Rover brand. (June)

10. Beginning in February 2025, the Boy Scouts of America will officially become Scouting America. The new name displays a clear emphasis on inclusion. (May)

11. The city of San Francisco has 42 cable cars and dedicated Car 53 to singer Tony Bennett, whose iconic song, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” featured a line about “the city where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars.” (March)

12. While Artificial Intelligence, also known as AI, has been on everyone's mind these days, one company did not want it anywhere near its brand. Tropicana, the top-selling orange juice brand, released limited-edition bottles with a slight change to its name. On the bottles, the letters "A" and "I" were removed from the name so that it showed as "TROPCN." According to a company press release, the marketing campaign highlighted "the fact that there is nothing artificial, and never has been anything artificial" in the orange juice. (January)

LOGO RE-DESIGNS:

1. Jaguar 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." (November)

2. According to Fast Company, "Verizon announced a new logo and updated brand system. Gone is the Verizon electricity-inspired checkmark, which has been with the brand in some permutation for more than 20 years. The new red wordmark features a glowing ribbon "V" that is strikingly similar to Netflix's signature N...Verizon will turn the V into signage for stores and other installations. They also imagine the V in physical spaces, shaping an entryway as the brand, and as abstract designs on newly designed employee uniforms, a collection of casual, mix-and-match tees, totes, and cross-body bags." (July)

PACKAGING RE-DESIGN AND/OR NEW PRODUCT PACKAGING:

1. 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. Some consumers tried to make Mattel's loss their gain: Multiple sellers listed the toys on eBay for as much as $500 rather than the $40 regular price. (November)

2. 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. (November)

3. 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." (October)

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

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

6. Venice, Italy, became the first city in the world to charge an entry fee for day-trippers. Anyone visiting Venice as a tourist for the day - except those who live in the local region - must pay the five Euro fee ($5.40 USD) if they arrive between 8am and 4pm. Tourists who stay overnight will not have to pay since an overnight tax is already added to their hotel bills. (April)

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

However, since April has only 30 days, that final post provided the gotcha! (April)

STRATEGIC BRANDING CAMPAIGNS:

1. WICKED the musical film partnered with dozens of other brands in a promotional blitz very similar to the BARBIE film in 2023. Some notable 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, and Lexus. (November)

2. To celebrate the 65th birthday of Barbie, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts partnered with Mattel and launched the limited-edition Barbie Collection featuring four doughnuts: the Barbie Pink Doughnut, the Barbie Berries 'n Kreme Doughnut, the Malibu Dream Party Doughnut, and the Barbie Sweet 65th Doughnut. (September)

3. Adidas sneakers brand partnered with jewelry brand Swarovski to launch a Swarovski-crystal covered edition of its Impact baseball cleat with a retail price of $440. The shoe was available in two choices, either Light Purple or Ice Lavender. Despite the crystals, the shoe featured cushioning and support for on-field performance. But who would wear these shoes anywhere other than on a red carpet? (September)

4. Known for its customizable ice cream options, Cold Stone Creamery announced its partnership with Illumination's "Despicable Me 4" film with the release of its Despicamallow Ice Cream. According to a press release, "The new creation, called Mega Minion Marshmallow Meltdown, features Despicamallow Ice Cream, Chocolate Chips, Marshmallows, and Yellow & Blue Sprinkles, inspired by the mischievous antics of the Minions. Cold Stone will also feature Heist Cream Cake with layers of moist Yellow Cake and Despicamallow Ice Cream with Yellow & Blue Sprinkles and wrapped in fluffy White Frosting featuring the Mega Jerry Minion. Guests can dive into these limited-time offerings at participating Cold Stone Creamery locations nationwide June 12 through July 30." (June/July)

5. Hello Kitty partnered with Nordstrom to celebrate Hello Kitty’s 50th anniversary. Nordstrom unveiled a pop-up shop featuring women’s and men’s apparel, accessories, home and entertainment, beauty, plush and toys, and pantry items – all inspired by the global icon. According to Nordstrom, “We are excited to partner with Sanrio to celebrate Hello Kitty’s milestone anniversary with this special shop and bring her world to life through immersive in-store and online experiences. Hello Kitty has been a beloved pop culture icon for the last 50 years as a powerful symbol of friendship, kindness, and inclusivity, and we look forward to offering our customers a unique and nostalgic product assortment across categories to celebrate this momentous occasion.” (June-August)

6. New Balance partnered with Archive, a resale company, to launch its in-store trade-in program in nearly 100 participating U.S. retail locations. When customers bring in gently worn footwear, they will receive a voucher for their next purchase. Interesting fact: According to New Balance, secondhand products supplied by customers sell 2.6 times faster than its new products. (June)

7. Did you see the solar eclipse on April 7th? Some brands made news with their promotions including Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Vermont Teddy Bear, Doritos, and the Empire State Building. (April)

8. McDonald’s and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts formed a partnership to sell Krispy Kreme Doughnuts at McDonald’s locations starting in late 2024. (March)

9. In celebration of the new chapter in DreamWorks Animation’s action-comedy franchise, Kung Fu Panda 4, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and DreamWorks Animation partnered to raise awareness about the plight of the real wildlife depicted in the film. According to WWF, “To connect viewers with what they see on screen and the real world, WWF has created several resources to educate, inspire, and motivate audiences to take action to protect species such as the giant panda. Educators and parents alike can explore WWF Wild Classroom resources such as toolkits, worksheets, videos, and learning activities to keep the momentum about conservation going after the film is over. WWF also has symbolic adoptions of some of the species featured in the film, which can serve as a meaningful contribution to helping protect wildlife. Partnerships like this are critical in helping to meet the general public where they are, such as in movie theaters, to stress the importance of taking steps to help protect our planet. Click here to learn more about the characteristics of each species featured in the film and access the full suite of resources.” (March)

10. Burt's Bees teamed up with Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing to create a lip balm with the flavor of ranch dressing and buffalo wings. According to CNN, the lip balm sold out immediately. (January)

With all these changes, one wonders if brands that don’t make changes have staying power. Do logos need to be refreshed every so often? Do brand names need to change every so often? How do these changes impact brand equity and customer/fan/stakeholder recognition? These are important questions before considering, planning, and executing strategic branding changes.

What brand will make news during 2025? Swing by #DebbieLaskeysBlog in January 2026 for a comprehensive recap!

Image Credit: Bright Pink Agency.

Check out more about WWF's partnership with DreamWorks Animation:

https://www.worldwildlife.org/blogs/sustainability-works/posts/dreamworks-and-wwf-team-up-for-wildlife-conservation-with-kung-fu-panda-4

Let's Celebrate M&M Day!

M&M's have been around since 1941, but do you know how they started? As you think about which color - or plain or peanut on the inside - you favor, let's take a walk down memory lane.

According to company history, after seeing soldiers carrying Smarties, chocolate pellets protected by a shell from keeping them from melting, during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930's, Forrest Mars Senior, son of the Mars Company founder, pitched the idea of the candy we know today as M&M's. Manufacturing of the candy began at a factory in New Jersey in 1941. Mars sourced chocolate with the help of Bruce Murrie, the son of a Hershey executive, and as a result, the name of the candy came from both men's names: Mars and Murrie.

Initially, the candy was only sold to the U.S. Army, and after World War II ended and soldiers returned home, they were well acquainted with M&M's, which helped make the candy a popular snack in the post-war years. 

In 1949, the famous tagline, "Melts in your mouth, not in your hand" was released. In 1950, a black "M" was printed onto M&M's to give them a unique look, and this was changed to a white "M" in 1954. And during the 1980's, M&M's went on sale in Canada, Europe, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom.

Here's an interesting fact: Since it's very easy to eat M&M's, the are the most consumed chocolate in outer space. Astronauts love M&M's!

And here's another interesting fact: M&M's were the official snack of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

M&M's may be such a popular sweet snack due to its marketing and advertising humor. Many of the colors have recognizable personalities, and some even appear during expensive Super Bowl ads.

And in 2023, the world seemed to go crazy with M&M news. Prior to the game, the brand announced that actress Maya Rudolph would take over for the colored spokescandies, who were taking a break from their duties, which included participating in an ad during the Super Bowl. In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, the name of the candy was changed, the inside of the candy was changed, and to be honest, it was hard to keep up with all the drama. But then, at the end of the Super Bowl, the spokescandies held a news conference, and all was right with the world: The candies/characters/brand ambassadors announced their return.

Image Credit: M&M's.

Food Branding News of 2023

While there were countless brands that made news during 2023 due to name changes, logo changes, and entire brand refreshes, how many FOOD brands can you recall that transformed themselves?

Here's a recap of the memorable food industry brands that made marketing news during 2023:

1. Ronzoni announced that it would discontinue its star-shaped pasta. (January)

2. Pepsi announced that it would discontinue Sierra Mist, a lemon-lime flavored soda that had been available for 24 years, in favor of a newer drink to compete against rival Sprite. (January)

3. Dunkin' announced that it would discontinue a popular drink, the "Dunkaccino," a mixture of coffee and hot chocolate. (March)

4. Kraft Singles got a major makeover that featured a refreshed logo and new packaging. The redesign was to address the number one complaint from customers: "the inability to easily open the clear wrapper." (May)

5. Oscar Mayer's Wienermobile got a new name: the "Frankmobile." (May)

6. Burger King went "Hollywood" with the launch of the "Spider-Verse" Whopper on a RED bun. (May)

7. Pepsi launched its first-ever condiment called Pepsi "Colachup." (June)

8. To celebrate National Mustard Day on August 5, Skittles candy partnered with French's Mustard to create a limited-edition mustard-flavored fusion of candy called "Mustard Skittles." (July)

9. The battle for the "Taco Tuesday" trademark ended as Taco John's ended its dispute with Taco Bell. (July)

10. Rao's Homemade may be synonymous with Italian food and products, but the brand turned its attention to fashion and created limited-edition, luxury leather handbags in two styles: The Marinara and The Vodka Arrabbiata. (July)

11. Starbucks' pumpkin spice latter beverage celebrated its 20th anniversary. (August)

12. Music group Metallica launced the first-ever, guitar-shaped ice cream bar with a portion of the sales allocated toward the band's charitable foundation, All Within My Hands. (September)

13. Pringles announced a new collaboration with The Caviar Company, which paired the iconic chips with high-end caviar. The limited edition partnership was created due to the popular TikTok trend, which saw users adding a dollop of caviar onto Pringles. According to Mauricio Jenkins of Pringles, "From TikTok reviews to reality TV housewives, the nation is craving Pringles and caviar. Our partnership with The Caviar Company not only embraces the trending snacking behavior in an approachable manner, but expertly curates our beloved crisp flavors with this seafood delicacy for a Pringles tasting experience unlike one you’ve ever had before." (September)

14. Red Lobster's "Endless Shrimp" deal was so popular that it was forced to end. (November)

15. Kraft's Mac & Cheese launched a new dairy-free alternative called "Kraft NotMac&Cheese." Kraft partnered with NotCo, a company that makes plant-based foods to create the mac and cheese alternative, which was in response to the growing hunger for "better for you" products from American consumers. (November)

16. Denny's opened its first drive-thru in California. The first 100 customers received a custom mug and free coffee for a month. (November)

17. China, a nation of tea drinkers, now has more branded coffee shops than the United States, according to a report by World Coffee Portal. (December)

18. For National Cookie Day, Subway restaurants unveiled a "footlong cookie" in advance of the national launch of the oversized cookie in January 2024, when it will occupy a permanent spot on the chain's menu in all U.S. locations. (December)

And for those of you who are ice cream fans, let's not forget the pink Barbie-themed ice cream creations launched by both Cold Stone Creamery and Pinkberry to coincide with (and to promote) the summer's blockbuster!

Did these changes cause you to purchase more or less? Did these changes stand out in your mind? Were they good strategic decisions? What other food brands stood out as a result of their branding changes during 2023?


Image Credits: McCormick and Co. and PepsiCo Beverages North America.

2023 Was the Year of #BrandIdentity Changes

 

Was your brand in the news during 2023? If not, don’t despair. There were many other brands that made headlines during 2023.

Here’s a recap of interesting brands that either rebranded, changed their logo, changed their name, co-branded, formed an interesting partnership, created a unique hashtag to match a campaign, changed iconic packaging, or in some other way made branding news during 2023. What stood out as memorable to YOU?

BRAND IDENTITY AND PERSONAL BRANDING:

1. Museums began to re-brand ancient Egyptian remains. According to CNN, "They are among the most popular exhibits in museums worldwide, with a name so resonant, that blockbuster films have been built on it. But some museums in Britain are now using words other than 'mummy' to describe their displays of ancient Egyptian human remains. Instead, they are adopting terms such as "mummified person" or the individual's name to emphasize that they were one living people." Who says words and language don't have power? (January)

2. In January 2023, a little-known football player made news. After the nation watched Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin collapse on the field during a Monday Night Football game between Buffalo and Cincinnati, everyone held their breath. In an unprecedented sight, players on both teams kneeled and prayed together. Broadcasters were speechless, fans on the stands and watching on television knew something terrible had happened, and the game eventually was stopped. Hamlin recovered, but while everyone waited for news, all teams changed their Twitter profiles to Damar's name and number, and the hashtag #PrayersforDamar trended. Fans made donations to show their support, and the amount raised was $9 million. This event was even bigger than the Super Bowl. (January)

3. Queen Elizabeth's fourth child and third son, Edward, received a new title from his brother, King Charles III: the title of Duke of Edinburgh - which had been his father's title. (March)

4. In less than four months, Damar Hamlin was fully cleared to return to football. During his recovery, he visited Congress to advocate for better access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools. His survival is widely credited to the rapid use of CPR a defibrillator on the field. Damar became an ambassador for heart health and a symbol of a united nation. (April)

5. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the "Keep it Fresh" marketing campaign for Michigan. The campaign's goal was to show that her state offered businesses an opportunity for growth, visitors a "Fresh Take" on life, and people a home to build a rewarding life and career. (April)

6. King Charles III officially became the British monarch due to his coronation. It was anticipated that his wife would be known as Queen Consort, however, her official title became Queen Camilla. (May)

7. Johnson & Johnson's Kenvue spinoff hit the IPO market; formerly the Consumer Healthcare Division and proprietor of brands such as Band-Aid, Tylenol, Listerine, Neutrogena, and more. (May)

8. During the summer, a new name was coined from the two titles of much-anticipated movies, BARBIE and OPPENHEIMER. According to Wikipedia, "BARBENHEIMER was a cultural phenomenon preceding and surrounding the simultaneous theatrical release of two films, Barbie and Oppenheimer, in July and August of 2023. The word is a portmanteau of the films' titles. The strong contrast between Barbie, a fantasy comedy by Greta Gerwig about the fashion doll Barbie, and Oppenheimer, an epic biographical thriller by Christopher Nolan about physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, scientific director of the Manhattan Project, prompted a comedic response from Internet users, including memes and merchandise. Polygon described the two films as "extreme opposites," and Variety called the phenomenon "the movie event of the year." Due to the marketing buzz for both, movie-goers purchased tickets to attend both movies on the same day, something not seen with such interest in the past. (July)

9. The Twitter brand continued to evolve under the ownership of Elon Musk, and in July, the social platform's name became a single letter, X. Also, users no longer Tweeted, but instead, posted. Unfortunately, most media professionals continued to refer to the platform as "X, formerly Twitter." (July)

10. Two new terms appeared following the tragic implosion of the Titan submersible: extreme travel and dark travel. (July)

11. In a year known unofficially as the "the year of the strike," President Joe Biden joined striking auto workers on the picket line. (September)

12. By law, support animals are allowed in hotels, restaurants, shops, and more, however, "Support Alligator Wally" was denied entry into the Philadelphia Phillies baseball stadium. (September)

13. A survey by VISIT SWEDEN, a tourist agency, found that 50 percent of respondents could not tell the difference between Sweden and Switzerland, therefore, both countries decided to make a joint PSA to showcase their differences. (November)

14. The Trump International Hotel Waikiki announced that it would join Hilton and no longer have the former President's name attached to it. In February 2024, the 38-floor hotel will be called the Wakea Waikiki Beach, as part of the Hilton LXR collection of high-end resorts. (November)

15. US Steel, once the world's largest corporation, agreed to sell itself to a Japanese company. (December)

16. A painting of Oprah Winfrey was unveiled at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. (December)

LOGO REDESIGNS:

1. Nokia refreshed its logo to remind the world that it is no longer a phone company. The new logo built on the heritage of the old logo but made it contemporary and digital to reflect the new brand identity. (February)

2. Pepsi launched a new logo. (April)

3. LG refreshed its logo and will continue to use its tagline of "Life's Good." (April)

4. Smirnoff, the world's number one vodka brand, launched new positioning by championing its global campaign called "WE DO WE," to celebrate "the magic of WE that's created when different people, ingredients, and flavors come together." (June)

5. Following the Twitter rebrand to X, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) used the rebrand as a force for good in a memorable post: "Protect our wildlife, before it's too late" and included the evolution of the Twitter birds (from 2006,2007, 2009, 2010, and 2012) and ended with the letter X. (August)

6. Johnson & Johnson changed its logo. (September)

7. The NHL banned pride tape from being placed on hockey sticks, which set off a backlash from players and fans. (October)

PACKAGING REDESIGN:

1. Online giant, Amazon, shuttered its philanthropic arm, AmazonSmile. Customers could no longer designate a charity to receive a small portion of sales. (February)

2. Toblerone bars, which are sold in over 100 countries, can no longer be called Swiss chocolate because the brand's US owner moved some production out of Switzerland. Therefore, the Matterhorn mountain has been removed from its packaging. (March)

3. A Harriet Tubman Monument replaced a Christopher Columbus Statue in New Jersey. (March)

4. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the end of the global Covid health emergency three years after it was first declared. (May)

5. Want to travel to the European Union? A new Europe visa will be required in 2025, called the ETIAS. (July)

6. During all the hype leading up to the Barbie movie and after the movie's release, the color pink led a cultural rally cry for women's empowerment. In addition, the large use of the color in the movie's set designs led to a global shortage of Rosco's signature shade. (July)

7. The Situation Room inside the White House was renovated. (September)

8. Amazon's Prime Video announced that it would begin including ads but would charge users to avoid them. (September)

9. In response to #4 above, the CDC announced that it would no longer distribute COVID-19 vaccine cards. Does this mean that they will become valuable collector items? (October)

10. Netflix announced that it would open brick and mortar locations. Will visitors purchase merchandise to promote its programming or simply sit on couches and watch its programs? (October)

STRATEGIC BRANDING CAMPAIGNS:

1. Post-pandemic consumers are different. They want to do business with companies that align with their values. According to Wharton marketing professor Americus Reed, "The biggest message is to not make the mistake of thinking the brand is just simply the tagline, the logo, the colors on the website...After three years of disruption, anxiety, and worry, shoppers are no longer content to buy on price, style, or convenience. They want a deeper connection with companies." (Throughout 2023)

2. Several news organizations, such as NPR, stopped using Twitter/X due to lack of "Fake News" safeguards. And several large brands stopped advertising on Twitter/X due to owner Elon Musk's politics, handling of Twitter/X employees, and lack of content controls. (Throughout 2023)

3. GM became the top-selling car in America, retaking the title from Toyota. (January)

4. Frontier Airlines offered free flights to adopters of adorable kittens from Las Vegas. (January)

5. Hillary Rodham Clinton joined Columbia University as global affairs professor at the School of International and Public Affairs. (January)

6. As a result of the Covid pandemic, urgent care centers popped up all over. (January)

7. Leading up to Super Bowl 57, the M&M's brand made a big deal that actress Maya Rudolph would take over for the colored spokescandies, who were taking a break from their promotional duties, which always included participating in a memorable ad during the Super Bowl. In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, the name of the candy was changed, the inside of the candy was changed, and to be honest, it was hard to keep up with all the drama, But then, at the end of the Super Bowl, the spokescandies held a news conference, and all was right with the world: The candies/characters/brand ambassadors announced their return. (According to MarketingWeek: "Research has shown that, done well, there is evidence to suggest mascot characters are more likely to attract new customers, grow market share and even reduce price sensitivity.") (February)

8. Finland, the world's happiest country for the last six years, hosted a four-day happiness masterclass in June. (promoted in March)

9. Finland joined NATO, dealing a blow to Russia over the Ukraine war. (April)

10. Mattel unveiled a Barbie doll with Down syndrome. (April)

11. Tesla announced that it would advertise for the first time. (May)

12. The FinanceBuzz insurance company offered a new job with a salary of $1,000: "the official Fast and Furious Claims Adjuster." The objective was to keep track of all damages from every car crash during all 10 movies in the series. (May)

13. Mattel honored Hollywood icon Anna May Wong with a Barbie doll in its "Barbie Inspiring Women Series." (May)

14. TV game show host Pat Sajak announced his retirement will be effective following the conclusion of his 41st year on the show mid-2024. Ryan Seacrest was introduced as his replacement with letter-turner Vanna White continuing on the show until 2026. (June)

15. Meta's competitor to Twitter/X was called Threads and launched to record-setting numbers of users, alas, to Mark Zuckerberg's disappointment, the usage numbers have declined since launching, because, according to BusinessInsider, "Twitter became popular as a place to stay informed and get access to critical information. Meta wants Threads to be a hangout space for lifestyle brands and influencers instead of a newstand." (July)

16. Due to the Maui wildfires, a Hawaii tourism official said, "If you want to help,. keep your trip and travel to Maui to spend money to help fuel the recovery." (August)

17. First-of-its-kind law in Illinois enacted to penalize libraries that banned books. (August)

18. Small supermarket chain Trader Joe's announced that it would not add self-checkout lines to its stores because "they were not consistent with the store's brand culture." (August)

19. Football pro Tom Brady became a strategic advisor to Delta Airlines. (September)

20. The U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission agency filed a trademark application for "America 250." Guess who will have a big party on July 4, 2026? (Answer: everyone in the USA!) This means big marketing opportunities for all brands. According to Rosie Rios, Commission Chair, "America’s 250th anniversary is about more than reflecting on our past, it’s about honoring the contributions of individuals who built this country, the innovations that put this country on the map and a man on the moon, and imagining what the next 250 years might look like for our children and the generations to come." (September)

21. Crayola, the crayon company that began in 1903, a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, announced the launch of Crayola Flowers, an online flower shop that will sell bouquets and boxed flowers. In addition, there will be a fundraising component whereby 10-50 percent of every sale will be donated to a participating charity chosen by the customer. Nonprofit organizations will also be able to use the floral storefront as part of their own fundraising campaigns. According to Warren Schorr of Crayola, "The idea is to extend the Crayola brand into the flower industry in a slightly different way. Instead of just selling flowers when they're needed, why not unite this idea of color and creativity with spreading kindness." (September)

22. The U.S. Supreme Court finally adopted an ethics code. How effective will it be? Time will tell. (November)

23. The Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team hoped to create a dynasty by signing two legendary players: Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. (December)

24. Tesla recalled two million vehicles to limit use of Autopilot feature after nearly 1,000 crashes. (December)


With all these changes, one wonders if brands that don’t make changes have staying power. Do logos need to be refreshed every so often? Do brand names need to change every so often? How do these changes impact brand equity and customer/fan/stakeholder recognition? These are important questions before considering, planning, and executing strategic branding changes.

What brand will make news during 2024? Another recap will appear here on this blog in January 2025!


Image Credit: Bright Pink Agency.

Marketing News of the Week: Packaging, No More Red Carpet, Barbie (Again), and More

This week, there were many news stories that impacted marketing messages and brand storytelling.

TOBLERONE
How important is packaging? In case you didn't think so, it turns out very important, especially if you create a product manufactured in Switzerland.

According to Food reporter Allen Foster of Denver, Colorado, "When someone mentions Toblerone, you immediately envision the iconic shape: a long triangular stick of chocolate packaged in a pale yellow wrapper and emblazoned with bold red print. It’s so recognizable that the candy often appears in TV and film...However, due to ​​the Swissness Act, which was approved on September 2, 2015, and went into effect on January 1, 2017, Toblerone must change its iconic packaging."

Foster explained that if a service or product does not originate in Switzerland, there are packaging and advertising restrictions. Since Mondelez International (an American multinational confectionery, food, holding and beverage and snack food company based in Chicago that markets Toblerone) has outsourced some of the production to Slovakia to save on costs, by law, Toblerone packaging can no longer feature words, phrases, or images that might lead consumers to believe that the product was manufactured in Switzerland.

While the new design of the Toblerone packaging has yet to be revealed, there are a few things that have been shared. The words “of Switzerland” are being replaced by the words “Established in Switzerland,” and the packaging will feature a mountain logo that continues to reference the chocolate’s iconic shape without being specific to the Matterhorn. Additionally, the Swiss flag will be removed from any versions of the packaging where it currently appears.

NO MORE RED CARPET AT THE OSCARS
The Academy Awards are coming, and with them, the famous red carpet where celebrities show off their extravagant fashion. But wait, what color carpet was installed outside The Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California?

According to ABC7, "For the first time in six decades, Hollywood's biggest night is not rolling out the red carpet. The celebrated carpet will be a champagne color this year...The idea came from creative consultants." One explained, "We chose this beautiful sienna saffron color that evokes the sunset, because this is the sunset before the golden hour."

Actually, the champagne carpet probably was chosen to match the gold Oscar statuettes that winners receive.

BARBIE
On March 9, 1959, the Barbie doll made her debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York City. And the rest is history, or better stated, HERstory.

In 1956, the Ruth and Elliot Handlers took their two teenage children, Barbara and Ken, on a trip to Europe, and during the trip, they saw a doll that looked like an adult woman. This doll was much different from the baby dolls that most little girls played with back in America.

Ruth was inspired, and three years later, Mattel’s version of the adult doll, which she named after her daughter, debuted and became a big success. The Barbie doll also had a wardrobe of outfits that could be purchased separately. In 1960, the Handlers took their company, Mattel, public, and Barbie quickly became an icon, with a wardrobe and career options that mirrored women’s changing goals.

Ruth Handler said in a 1977 interview with The New York Times, “Every little girl needed a doll through which to project herself into her dream of her future. If she was going to do role-playing of what she would be like when she was 16 or 17, it was a little stupid to play with a doll that had a flat chest. So I gave the doll beautiful breasts. And Barbie kept pace with the times. During Camelot, she sported a Jacqueline Kennedy hairdo. During the 1970’s, her career choices and outfits begin to change to include a doctor, astronaut and veterinarian, among others. My whole philosophy of Barbie was that through the doll, a girl could be anything she wanted to be. Barbie always represented the fact that a woman has choices.”

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
March is Women's History Month, or better stated, Women's HERstory Month, and March 8th is celebrated all over the world as International Women's Day. First recognized by the United Nations in 1975, the day has also been a major part of the women’s rights movement and helped to create conversations about gender biases.

The International Women’s Day website announced that this year’s theme was #EmbraceEquity: "a focus on gender equity needs to be part of every society’s DNA." The website also highlighted the difference between equity and equality by explaining that the former means "creating an inclusive world, through acts like challenging gender stereotypes, calling out discrimination, drawing attention to bias, and embracing diversity. Another goal was to get the world talking about Why equal opportunities aren not enough."

Read more at: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/EquityEquality.

To read more inspiring posts about International Women's Day and Women's Equality, check out the following links on my blog:

Celebrate International Women's Day with a Convo with Nadine Epstein
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2023/03/celebrate-international-womens-day-with.html

Tips to Create Gender Equality in Your Workplace
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/03/tips-to-create-gender-equality-in-your.html

Good Leadership Is NOT Defined By Your Gender
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/03/good-leadership-is-not-defined-by-gender.html

Personal Branding Tips from Madeleine Albright
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/03/personal-branding-tips-from-madeleine.html

Three Books to Celebrate Women's Equality Day
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/08/three-books-to-celebrate-womens.html

Is Your Brand Ready for International Women's Day
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/03/is-your-brand-ready-for-international.html

What other marketing news stood out to you this week?

What will be the marketing buzz next week? Tune in to read all about it.


Image Credits: Mattel, Yahoo Finance, and Toblerone.