Starbucks Offers Double Shot of Holiday Cups
Remember “Cupgate” a few years ago? When Starbucks tried to go minimalist on their traditional holiday-themed cups, some people were fighting mad. Then there was last year’s cups, which invited customers to draw on them in order to “to create a culture of belonging, inclusion and diversity…” Once again, fury erupted in some quarters, leaving Starbucks to defend their aesthetic choices. While that upset passed quickly each time, leaving a general feeling of silliness about the whole episode, Starbucks has clearly not forgotten.
Read MoreWhite Castle teams up with Wu-Tang Clan to promote its new slider
In it’s new promotional stunt, White Castle has teamed up with hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan to create a four-part online series called “Wu Tang in Space Eating Impossible Sliders”. The series is an attempt to promote the fast-food chain’s new addition to its menu – the Impossible Slider, a plant-based burger.
Read MoreConners Debut Sends Mixed Signals to ABC
Ever since it was announced that “The Conners” would replace long-running and recently revived sitcom, “Roseanne,” with the forced departure of the show’s creator and star, opinions have been lining up on both sides of the “Roseanne” divide to see what would happen when the first episode aired. Now, that question has been answered, and it seems to have given narrative ammunition to both sides of the argument. On the side of ABC, which fired Roseanne and banished her from her own show after the comedian published a tweet many found racist, you have people touting 10.5 million viewers tuning in to see the show. Those ratings are more than “pretty good.” In fact, those numbers made “The Conners” the…
Read MoreNCAA and Big 12 Address with Ongoing Scandal
Another pre-season for NCAA basketball begins with yet another scandal in the headlines. A corruption scandal rocked the league last year, costing iconic coaches their jobs and muddying the reputations of some of the NCAA’s top hoops programs. 2018 is off to a similar start. Recently, it was announced that star Kansas forward Silvio De Sousa will ride the pine “indefinitely” while the top-ranked Jayhawks wait to see what the consequences for his actions will be. De Sousa has been “connected” to the longstanding scandal in a way that may damage his eligibility. Some are already saying he may miss most or all of the season. It is considered certain he will miss the big season opener against Michigan State…
Read MoreCoffee Competition is Heating Up
Move over Cola Wars, this is the decade of the Coffee Wars. Starbucks is the clear leader, with brand saturation coast to coast, but the former “Dunkin Donuts” brand is retooled and ready for battle. Slowly, over the past few years, Dunkin’ has been increasing its breakfast menu of quick to-go items and expanding its coffee and beverage offerings, both in the stores and on grocery shelves. There were rumors that the brand might be setting itself up to go toe-to-toe with Starbucks, but, until now, that was mostly speculation.
Read MoreAnother Ace for Serena Williams’ PR team
Serena Williams is used to controversy, but this past summer was emotionally charged even by her standards. The tennis world was rocked during the 2018 US Open when Williams, inarguably the world’s greatest female athlete, accused a male umpire of making a harsh call- on account of, according to Williams, her being a woman.
Read MoreTime to Address the Elephant in the City
Stopping just short of launching a stampede through London streets, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) this week released an elephant out the front of St Paul’s Cathedral- a life-sized hologram elephant,that is. The hologram, reaching more than 16 feet in length, is part of the organisation’s Stop Wildlife Trafficking Campaign, aiming to collect more than 100,000 signatures as part of a call on the British government to end illegal wildlife trafficking. According to the WWF, 90 percent of African elephants have been lost in the last century, amounting to 20,000 of the animals killed for their ivory each year. The figure outpaces the species’ birth rate by a country mile.
Read MoreNo More Dunkin’ Your Donuts
While you might still be inclined to dip your donuts in your coffee, you will no longer be enticed to do so by the sign on the door. The rumors that have persisted for these past many months have come to pass. Dunkin’ Donuts is now, officially, only “Dunkin’.” Customers will not see the complete changeover until this coming January, when the new logo will appear on signs, boxes, cups, and napkins, but Dunkin’ is focused on getting the message out. While donuts will still be on the menu, the brand hopes that consumers will get a different, broader message from the new moniker. Dunkin’s message is that “we serve more than just pastries,” and they hope to focus more…
Read MoreSingapore court rules against Uber in a blow to the firm’s re-branding
Uber’s road to a branding overhaul got even rockier this week, with a Singapore court slapping fines and finalised restrictions on the firm- catching recent merger partner Grab in the same net. The merger of the two firms in March this year, the court ruled, has served to drive up prices throughout the city. Uber Technologies Inc. sold its Southeast Asian branch to regional rival Grab in March earlier this year, in exchange for a 27.5 percent stake in the firm. The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore found fares on Grab to have risen 10 to 15 percent in the wake of the deal, with the ride-hailing firm securing a Singaporean market share upwards of 80 percent.
Read MoreMattel Responds to Criticism Over Diversity Toys
If you’re going to be in the public square, you learn quickly that not every criticism is going to be fair, legitimate, or sensible. Most folks say they understand that, but when they’re confronted with something entirely ridiculous but presented with credulity, they freeze up, unsure how to respond. Toy brand Mattel recently found itself in that position after a pundit ridiculed the “Thomas & Friends” TV program by placing KKK hoods on the eponymous trains.
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