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.
When Hormel says, “Everything is better wrapped in bacon,” it means it. While asparagus, dates, and even steaks are often wrapped in these savory slices of pork, Hormel Foods is hoping fans will also enjoy gifts wrapped in its new bacon-scented wrapping paper. Click here to read the story at Read more…
Lots of brands put their employees in ads, but this one stands a tad above the rest, buoyed by understated performances that are positively priceless. Cute quips include: “There’a a lot of Nicks in this town” and “This is Alaska. There’s a lot of guys with beards.” Click here to Read more…
With more Americans taking advantage of deals offered earlier, online spending on Black Friday declined for the first time, to $8.9 billion, according to Adobe Analytics data. Click here to read the story at abcnews.go.com. Discussion Questions: What is promotion? Why do you think promotion is so important around the Read more…
While the holiday season is full of many traditions like spending time with loved ones, baking sweet treats and decorating, buying gifts is among the most popular, and possibly most important for retailers. Click here to read the story at retaildive.com. Discussion Questions: What is direct marketing? What is a Read more…
It just got that much easier to hear from Santa Claus this year. Coca-Cola has teamed up with Cameo to offer fans a variety of experiences with Kris Kringle this holiday season, starting with the ability to get a personalized video from Jolly Old St. Nick himself. Click here to read the story Read more…
With vaccines (and boosters) widely available, and more people feeling comfortable with holiday gatherings, “Friendsgiving” celebrations appear to be back in full force this year—at least judging by the wide variety of restaurant deals themed to the informal holiday. Click here to read the story at restaurantbusinessonline.com. Discussion Questions: What Read more…
It’s not just raw materials, transportation and labor expenses that are rising. Retailers are also facing climbing digital ad costs. The challenge is: Will it be worth the extra money? Click here to read the story at cnbc.com. Discussion Questions: Why are transportation and labor expenses rising? What is digital Read more…
Papa’s got a brand new look. Papa John’s Pizza released a new logo and renderings of planned changes to its restaurants Tuesday morning, the latest step as the company works to distance itself from founder and former CEO John Schnatter. Click here to read the story at usatoday.com. Discussion Questions: What is Read more…
TJ Maxx’s stores have been popular in the pandemic with shoppers looking to score bargains on designer brands — but it’s been raising prices on some of those upscale products. Click here to read the story at cnn.com. Discussion Questions: What is pricing? Why is pricing an important component of Read more…
As the two-year mark since the world’s first COVID-19-related travel bans draws nearer, some holiday shoppers may be aching to travel freely again. Some may even wish to transport themselves to the scenic landscapes often depicted on TV screens seen in catalogs. Click here to read the story at marketingdive.com. Read more…