OK, I’ll bite. I’m usually good at resisting the urge to pile onto the Brand pop culture news of the day (Cracker Barrel, Jaguar, Bud Light, et al) but this week’s Tylenol controversy is different. It’s not just a case of clumsy messaging or social media fallout - it’s a moment that could reshape consumer trust in one of the world’s most ubiquitous health brands.
There is a very real possibility that Tylenol enters the weekend ‘winning the argument’ about acetaminophen and autism but still losing because consumers (pregnant or otherwise) now think twice before using the brand. Bear with me as I wade through the politically charged factors to share 3 steps the Tylenol brand could take here.
As the clock ticked down to :00 this past Sunday, the Super Bowl season ended for most of this year’s 59 advertisers (and hundreds of tag-along brands). But it didn’t have to be that way.
When the NFL extended their season by a week, they created a golden opportunity for marketers - 2 of the year’s biggest PR moments are now within a week of each other. In 2026, the Super Bowl and Valentine's Day even fall on the same day!
The worst part of waking up for a Brand Manager leading a ‘legacy brand’ is replaying negative consumer feedback in the mind. Enter Folgers. The brand has been a staple in US households for over 170 years with an iconic jingle and a history of innovation. But with the rise of Starbucks/Nespresso and the demonization of instant coffee, the glory days are long gone. Folgers dropped a new Anthem ad that people are talking about. Why don’t you watch it - and then we’ll talk.
The new book, Quantum Marketing, by Mastercard CMO, Raja Rajamannar, quickly joined the WSJ best-seller list after its release 2 months ago. Its the best synthesis I’ve seen of the emerging technology that leaves many Marketers in a cold sweat. I’m convinced that the book will go down as one of the cornerstone assessments of this time of rapid change and felt compelled to capture 4 key reactions about the implications for Marketing practitioners, students & educators. If you consider yourself a Marketer and haven’t read this book yet, drop everything and read it now. I’ll wait.
Recently, brand mascots like Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben have disappeared - and for good reasons - but they’re emblematic of a much bigger shift, as 5 cultural trends converge. So, are many of America's most well-known mascots on their way out – or might some quick thinking from marketers help them live another day? For many brand managers, hopes of sustaining relevance lies in the balance.
Review of advertising trends and brand winners & losers in the 2021 Super Bowl. We break down the 3 types of ads that appeared in this year's big game.
