Hi! Happy Sunday ◡̈
Coming to you a little later than usual, three brands I actually feel indifferent towards. They still teach good lessons, nonetheless.
Every week I go behind my favourite brands, unpicking things I love or maybe don’t love so much, all in an effort to give you the necessary insights to help build your brand. So many brands exist for you to follow by example. So maybe you should x
I wanted to talk about this brand because it provides a good lesson on crisis management. You may have seen these aesthetic Alumnimum bottles or heard about their gorgeous scents on TikTok. Model and influencer, Iskra Lawrence, noticed the body care aisles were as exciting as watching paint dry. Expensive, exclusive, and inaccessible—body care needed a shake-up. So, she created Saltair, a brand that puts body wash and lotion on the same pedestal as face wash and moisturiser, all at wallet-friendly prices.
The bottles are admittedly super pretty, however, customers quickly complained about dents in Saltair’s aluminium canisters. Instead of sending replacements, Saltair flipped the script with hashtags like #BottlePositivity and #ShowUsYourDimples, encouraging customers to embrace the dents for sustainability’s sake. Super smart, right?By encouraging customers to embrace the imperfections, Saltair stayed true to their eco-friendly mission and reinforced a message close to Iskra’s heart: love your body, dents and all.
In just three years, this small, independent farm and wellness brand has teamed up with an eclectic mix of artists, celebrities, athletes, humanitarians, authors, designers, and even the Dalai Lama. Yes, you read that right—the Dalai Lama. Their collaborations are as unexpected as they are perfect.
Founder Richard Christiansen has a background in luxury marketing, and it shows. Flamingo Estate treats its products—everything from soaps and candles to snacks—as luxury items, highlighting the beauty of nature in every detail. Their approach to collaboration is refreshing. Each partnership feels genuine and well-aligned with the brand's ethos, making Flamingo Estate a standout in the wellness space.
I was on their site recently and loved everything about it. Copy read: “Have your dirtiest summer yet” and "Get dirty, stay clean." I think they nail it with their playful yet straightforward messaging.
Despite a recent huccup, where fans of the brand were left waiting in a queue for hours and then sent home by police, Coucoo stands out for their creativity. Besides making super cute going out outfits, I love their website, especially the PLP.
I also loved the lookbook images for their latest campaign, Everywhere and Nowhere.
Weekly musings:
More brands are turning to Pinterest for its Gen-Z audience and organic growth potential: Pinterest is ageing down because we LOVE it. It’s social media without the social part. What’s not to love?
At Rhode’s First-Ever Pop-Up, Demand Exceeds Supply: Oh, Hailey Bieber and her legion of devoted fans! Picture this: swarms of young women in NYC, braving the summer heat dome (yes, it’s as bad as it sounds), just for a chance to swipe a blush the size of a chicken nugget on their cheeks. It’s a testament to the power of Hailey’s influence.
Why Influencers Want You in Their Group Chats: Influencers are now sliding into your DMs with broadcast channels, giving you the VIP backstage pass to their oh-so-glamorous lives. It’s a marketing goldmine, cleverly disguised as a casual chat. It’s a great way to build deeper connections, test new ideas, and reward their biggest supporters, though some wish it allowed for two-way chats.
How TikTok Shop Killed the MLM Model: TikTok Shop is shaking up the sales world, giving creators a new way to make money by recommending products, which is bad news for multi-level marketing (MLM) companies like Rodan + Fields and Beautycounter. These companies relied on people selling to friends and family, but now TikTok Shop and Amazon storefronts offer easier and quicker ways to earn commissions without the awkward cold calls. It's like going from door-to-door sales to having your own TV shopping channel, and honestly, who wouldn't prefer that? Plus, no one misses the awkward pyramid scheme pitches.
EGC is outperforming branded content: If you own a brand in 2024, watch this.
Revolution Beauty eyes makeover as it draws line under "challenging two years": Revolution Beauty has bounced back with a yearly profit of £11.4 million after a rocky couple of years filled with leadership disputes and financial woes. With a new CEO at the helm, they're ditching the clutter and zeroing in on what they do best - simplifying the brand and cutting down on excessive product launches to focus on core cosmetics.
How the WNBA Tunnel Walk Became a Fashion Marketing Gold Mine: The WNBA tunnel walk is now the place to see and be seen. With players sporting high-end fashion, it's clear that style and sports are a perfect match. The increased spotlight on the WNBA has brands lining up to be part of the action, proving that these athletes aren't just game changers on the court, but also in the fashion world.
The Row Relaxes at the Beach: so cute. I expect nothing less from the Olsens.
Gen Z vs Gen Alpha: who’s the most annoying? This was super cute to read. I know what my younger brother would say about me, lol.
It’s the Summer of Pop Girl Reconciliation: Pop music is having a major girl-power moment, and I am here for it! Pop girls today are sort of like the way boy bands were in 2012–13 and K-pop was in 2018.
Glossier and Project Blackboard have teamed up to give New York's Tompkins Square Park basketball court a revamp: Glossier is back on track with their Balm Dotcom, and it’s a sweet comeback! They’ve restored the original formula, and now their Balm DotWorld pop-ups are giving fans the ultimate summer treat. Customise your balm, snap some pics, and enjoy a free scoop of Van Leeuwen ice cream. It’s the perfect blend of nostalgia and fun—like a skincare carnival! Don’t miss out on this stylish, summery celebration.
Publishers test new TikTok feature that adds links to organic videos: TikTok’s new link feature for organic videos sounds promising, but let's be real—getting people to leave TikTok is like trying to get a cat to take a bath. Publishers are hoping to turn those endless scrolls into clicks on their websites, but TikTok users are more likely to keep swiping than follow a link. Will this work??
PrettyLittleThing deactivates customer accounts over high returns: If PLT could just nail their sizing, maybe customers wouldn't need to send half their haul back…
Amelia Dimoldenberg's date night jeans are from one of our fave denim brands: Here for this. Who knew plain toast could look so chic? Levi's picked the perfect partner in Amelia to remind us that sometimes, the simplest outfits make the biggest impact.
What are we all running from? Great question Dazed.
Thanks for reading! Find more here. If you like, you can share here.