Brands in the News
Seems fitting that Victoria’s Secret cancelled its annual fashion show in the very same week body-positive plus-size singer Lizzo dominated Grammy nominations. Signs of the times. (via The Curvy Fashionista)
This is promising: Amazon, UPS and DHL are testing “cargo bikes” in the most congested parts of Manhattan. (via CNBC)
Toys R Us is baaaack and better than–well, let’s see how it goes. (via Adweek)
Unilever has an annual marketing budget in the region of $8 billion. Which is why it’s front-page news that they just named a new Chief Digital and Marketing Officer. (via The Drum)
Ford is taking waste from McDonald’s coffee beans and turning it into car parts. No, we’re not kidding. (via CNBC)
It’s the end of an era at Google as its co-founders have stepped down. Some are left asking: where is the company’s culture headed? (via CNET)
Burger King turned into “Burger Town” to help promote Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. (via Adweek)
A c-suite/board tug-of-war at Expedia has ended with their CEO and CFO stepping down. (via Bloomberg)
The Craft of Marketing
“I like when brands target me.” Gen Z kids hate TV commercials but like targeted ads. Which is like hating coffee but loving, you know, coffee. (via Adweek)
Smell ya later: from shopping malls and hotels to Starbucks and beyond, scent marketing is a big deal. Interesting piece on the science of smell. (via Fortune)
Sage advice on developing a top-shelf influencer program from a woman who herself influences CMOs. (via Forbes)
Feel free to file this under “The Sky is Falling” or “Things I Already Knew”–your call. Article making the case that “traditional” marketing is dying. (via Entrepreneur)
What media trends could shape the next decade? Let’s start with esports, smart speakers and streaming wars, shall we? (via The Drum)
That’s it for now. See you next week.
