A 200-year-old global investment company based in Edinburgh, Scotland came to the realization after four years that vowels aren’t so bad, as Abrdn has once again rebranded as aberdeen. The company was founded in 1825 and became Standard Life Aberdeen in 2017, following a merger between two asset managers, according to the BBC, noting that…
In case you missed it, Nike is betting big on Kim Kardashian’s Skims. The pair have just announced a collaboration: NikeSkims, an activewear brand for women that will launch this spring. Like most things Kardashian touches, the news created a big buzz. Within 24 hours of the announcement, Nike’s share price rose 6.2%, adding $6.7…
After a challenging few years for Starbucks, there’s been another change at the top of its marketing department. The coffee chain has hired Verizon Value’s chief marketing officer (CMO), Cheryl Gresham, as its svp, North America marketing. Gresham announced the news on LinkedIn, saying she would now be responsible for finding “innovative ways for marketing…
Founded in 1998 in Los Angeles, the fitness brand Barry’s now has 89 studios open in 15 countries. Jackie Lamping became the company’s CMO in September, with the task of enhancing the company’s global marketing strategy and managing digital marketing and community outreach inside the brand’s studios. Lamping herself is a longtime Barry’s customer and…
As is the case with many startup success stories, YouTube’s original value proposition didn’t turn out to be its true superpower. Befitting its launch on February 14, 2005, the company actually began as an online dating service–“Tune in, Hook up”–before its founders uncovered its broader potential as a video platform. Twenty years on, that potential…
2024 was undoubtedly Kendrick Lamar’s year–both musically and culturally. The rapper didn’t just dominate the charts; he took the entire entertainment landscape by storm. From his highly publicized rap spat with Drake to a surprise album drop, viral moments, and a Grammy sweep, Lamar’s last 12 months have been a master class in marketing and…
Since the poet Geoffrey Chaucer linked St. Valentine’s Day with the beginning of birds’ mating season, the holiday has been synonymous with love, romance, and sex. National Retail Federation data shows that 56% of consumers will buy some sort of gift for a loved one on February 14, and 61% of couples report that the…
Duolingo has killed off its unhinged green owl mascot, Duo. The brand confirmed his unexpected demise on social, stating: “Authorities are currently investigating his cause of death and we are cooperating fully. We’re aware he had many enemies, but we kindly ask that you refrain from sharing why you hate him in the comments.” On…
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a very meta TV comedy requires very meta marketing. And that’s why Tubi is taking so much pride in the ad campaign for its ad world satire, The Z-Suite. Premiering Feb. 6, the show stars Lauren Graham as the head of a fictional advertising agency that gets into…
For football fans curious to know the history of New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome–which will host Super Bowl 59 on Sunday–its homepage features an interactive timeline brimming with trivia. Beyonce, the Rolling Stones, and Taylor Swift have packed the Superdome’s seats. Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard have boxed beneath its dome. The 50-year-old venue has…
Retail is no longer just about selling products–it’s about creating experiences that are relevant and resonate emotionally. In this episode of The Speed of Culture podcast, Matt Britton sits down with Elizabeth Preis, global chief marketing officer at Anthropologie Group, to explore how Anthropologie has built lasting brand love, embraced digital discovery, and redefined customer…
Seventeen years ago, a multimillion-dollar brand was born before the eyes of 1.13 million TV viewers, and none of them knew it. It began during the first season of The Real Housewives of New York. In episode six (“Girl’s Night Out”), Bethenny Frankel and Luann de Lesseps are ordering cocktails. “I only drink one drink,…
In a consumer culture replete with brand names, only a relative handful of companies can get away with the intrepid move of leaving out their names and relying on their logos alone. Nike’s swoosh and McDonald’s golden arches can stand on their own, for instance. So can Apple’s apple and Target’s target. And, at some…
It was the poet John Lydgate who’s believed to have said that you can’t please all people all of the time. Does it matter that he uttered those words in the 15th century? Not at all. The maxim is as true today as ever. Faced with seemingly intractable problems including climate change, economic disparities, racial…
In the long list of cherished holiday traditions, few are as enduring as parents taking their kids to see Santa at the local mall or retail store. Every year, over 18 million children call on Santa, according to the cultural blog Atkins Bookshelf, and 70% of malls and shopping centers employ one, as per NationalSanta.com….
When Quicken Loans rebranded as Rocket Mortgage in July 2021, it sought to align the product with its parent company’s (Rocket Companies) brand while showcasing its use of technology throughout the home buying process. Now that it’s built some awareness with the new name, Rocket Mortgage is giving its brand a refresh. In partnership with…
This post was created in partnership with AARP Authentic portrayals of aging will help marketers tap the huge spending power of older consumers. And by subverting stereotypes, brand leaders can also change how our culture views old age, AARP chief brand officer Barbara Shipley told a New York audience this month. At a “Brand Genius”…
Puma is giving Manchester City fans the chance to design the team’s third kit for the 2026 season, using artificial intelligence to bring their creative visions to life. The initiative lets fans generate custom designs, with the final kit selected through a mix of fan votes and expert judging. The winning design will be worn…
Of all the creative assets in a brand marketer’s toolkit, few are as humble (or essential) as the lifestyle photo–those stills and videos that feature a smiling model appearing alongside the product. Scores of agencies stand at the ready to book talent for jobs like this–often slender younglings who’ll pair their good looks with a…
Alex Cooper, the popular podcast host of Call Her Daddy is ready for her next act: entering the beverage space. Cooper unveiled the launch of her hydration drink, called Unwell Hydration, on Dec. 4 at The New York Times’ DealBook conference. The name is a nod to the podcast network she also runs called Unwell…
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