Marketing Currents is a weekly current events news service that highlights unique and relevant business and marketing campaigns throughout the school year. The questions provided for student discussion will help to create a bridge between industry strategies/trends and the topics you are covering in class.
Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte (and related fall products) hit stores August 25. If that felt especially early, you’re not stuck in a COVID-19 time warp. The date marked the earliest recorded release day in Starbucks’ history of the famed PSL, which dates back 17 years. And still, it lagged Dunkin’s pumpkin-centric Read more…
Halloween is just around the corner, and the Covid-19 pandemic has spooked the bid candy-making companies, which are worried that sales will see a downturn similar to Easter if they do not ramp up their marketing strategies to address the changed circumstances. Click here to read the story from industryleadersmagazine.com. Questions for Read more…
This week the retail giant started to roll out ads for the program, which is set to debut on September 15th and seen as Walmart’s answer to rival Amazon’s long-running membership program Prime. Click here to read the story from digiday.com. Questions for Classroom Discussion Why do you think Walmart introduced a Read more…
TikTok’s series of livestreams aims to highlight the social video app as a hub for showing off fashions, which has been the domain of rival app Instagram for the past decade. By offering exclusive programming with brands like Louis Vuitton and Puma, TikTok can build its audience of fashion buffs Read more…
A year after Ferrero Group acquired the Keebler brand, Ernie the Elf is spreading the word about “real” cookie ingredients combined with magical family moments. It’s a multi-faceted campaign that seeks to modernize Ernie by immersing him in various digital settings—including shoppable ads on Hulu. Click here to read the story from mediapost.com. Read more…
The end of summer is usually the time for back-to-school shopping. While everything about this year is very different — as parents and school districts grapple with the prospects of remote learning or socially distant classrooms, and the potential of yet another lockdown — children’s apparel companies are hopeful that Read more…
The fast food chain Dairy Queen announced a line of dessert-inspired candles on Twitter that sold out within an hour. On Thursday, the company launched its “Fall Blizzard Treat Candle Collection,” and as the name suggests, the lineup of six candles is inspired by flavors of its popular blizzard dessert. Click here to Read more…
As TikTok’s most followed star, Charli D’Amelio is known around the world for her iconic dance moves … and her self-professed love for Dunkin’. Now, Charli and Dunkin’ are taking their long-brewing mutual crush to the next level, making their relationship official and delivering the duet her fans have been Read more…
KFC’s chicken may be finger lickin’ good, but since licking your fingers might not be the best idea during a global pandemic, the company has decided to temporarily suspend using its famous tagline. On Monday, KFC, which is owned by Yum! Brands, announced that it is “pressing pause” on its Read more…
When Bernard Acoca was named CEO of El Pollo Loco in 2018, the restaurant chain was still spending 98% of its media budget on TV and print media — years after digital media had disrupted the marketing landscape. With a strong marketing background, including years at Starbucks, Pizza Hut and Read more…