Starbucks is testing a new reusable cup program in Seattle this spring. The Borrow a Cup program started at five stores on March 30 and will last through May 31. For an extra dollar, Starbucks customers can get their beverage in a reusable cup, and then return it next time they come in by scanning it at a kiosk or through a local Seattle pickup service…
Read MoreAuthor: Brendan Menapace
The Best 2021 Masters Merchandise: Pimento Cheese Sandwich Tees, Garden Gnomes and More
The Masters Tournament will allow a limited number of fans to watch in person at Augusta this year, meaning the patrons-only merchandise tent will be open. But, since it won’t be at full capacity, the online shop is still up for folks watching from home. And this year’s merchandise is pretty wild…
Read MoreXinjiang Cotton (and the International Politics Around It) Is Becoming a Big Problem for Apparel Brands
The International Olympic Committee is drawing criticism this week after it was revealed that its staff uniforms for the Tokyo games are made by an apparel company that uses Xinjiang cotton. On the opposite end, H&M and other major apparel brands are facing intense backlash in China for moving away from Xinjiang cotton…
Read MorePeople Are Loving Their COVID Vaccination Stickers: Here Are the Best Ones We’ve Seen
From a marketing standpoint, COVID vaccination stickers might be the most share-worthy items in the world right now, as everyone is eager to post their newly-immunized status. It’s been fun to look at the variety of stickers posted online from all over the world, so we thought we’d run down some of our favorites…
Read MoreFiat Introduces Google Co-Branded Line of Cars (That Come With Branded ‘Welcome Kits’)
Fiat debuted a special edition of cars that include Google Assistant technology, complete with Google branding throughout and a promotional “welcome kit” for buyers. The Fiat 500 “Hey Google” line of vehicles feature Google technology throughout, like a dashboard touchscreen and Bluetooth connectivity for things like…
Read MoreBiden Administration Introduces Mask Design Challenge with $500K in Prize Money
The Department of Health and Human Services launched the “Mask Innovation Challenge,” complete with $500,000 in cash prizes, looking for a new face mask design that can be mass produced and low-cost-per use for the general public.
Read MoreMLB Opening Day Promos Were Mostly Boring (But Safe)—and What Teams Have In Store for 2021
What did MLB teams do for giveaways to celebrate Opening Day with fans back in the stands? Despite all the hype (and the thousands of unused 2020 promo items sitting in warehouses and players’ garages) some of the first giveaways were kind of boring, though there was probably good reason for that. And there are more exciting ones to come…
Read MoreAkron, Ohio Goes All Out for Month-Long Branded Campaign to Vote Devo Into Rock Hall of Fame
Starting today, which has been dubbed “Devo Day” in Akron, the month-long #DeVOTE campaign will include 50 giant recreations of the band’s signature “energy dome” hats made of recycled tires and placed around the city. Each sculpture will also include a printed sign that says “A vote for Devo is a vote for Akron” with a QR code…
Read MoreThe Hottest Consumer Drinkware Trend Is the Gallon-Sized Water Bottle
After a few celebrities like Dakota Johnson were spotted with gallon-sized water bottles, people started taking their hydration a little more seriously. And now, much like S’well bottles and Nalgene bottles before it, the gallon-sized water bottle is getting write-ups from pop culture sites like Pop Sugar ranking the best ones…
Read More‘Local Flavor’: Sonic Is Selling Different Branded T-shirts for All 46 States It Operates In
Sonic might be a nationwide chain, but people still treat it like a piece of their local culture. Everyone has their Sonic they like to go to, and the ones in the next state over just aren’t the same. To celebrate that geographic diversity, Sonic released a line of 46 individually designed T-shirts—one for each state with a Sonic restaurant…
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