Brands react to the Budget, Female Founders Fund returns, and the scariest ads of all time
Issue #31
Weekly Exhale
After an oddly long wait following the election, the UK Budget dropped just in time for Halloween—perhaps explaining why spooky ad campaigns turned into a bit of a graveyard this year. A shame, considering we’ll spend around three-quarters of a billion on sweets, pumpkins, fake cobwebs, and jump-scare lawn decor. Last night, my porch light glimmered expectantly, a badly carved pumpkin in full view. Only one visitor showed. Another community moment lost to cost-of-living and the algorithm?
Luckily, over on TikTok, my feed was alive with livestreams from ThrillerNYC. For 20 years, hundreds of people—pros and complete beginners alike—have gathered on 6th Avenue to perform the “zombie dance.” That song is a lot funkier than you realise. Even fewer know this iconic choreography was the work of Michael Peters, the “Balanchine of MTV,” who worked with legends from Donna Summer to Dreamgirls. Of Black and Jewish heritage, Peters broke barriers and endured stigma, passing away at just 46 from AIDS-related complications. If today’s anti-retroviral technology existed then, he might still be with us today, just as Thriller’s unforgettable moves are.
So maybe Halloween needs a rebrand: Michael Peters Day, celebrating not just zombies but art, courage, and community. Take to the streets and dance together. Michael, we thank you, and Happy Michael Peters Day, everyone.
Let’s rise together with every issue. ♡
Market Movements
Budget poses a new challenge for public finances | Financial Times
UK businesses warn Labour government | CNBC
Reeves doesn't mind if you don't like her budget | BBC
Brand Beat
FMCG shares crash as investors stress over budget pressure | The Grocer
EY rolls out future-focused ads and slogan | Wall Street Journal
AI found the scariest Halloween ads of all time | The Drum
Whistles owner buys White Stuff for around £50m | The Independent
Yankee Candle goes first on Christmas ads | Marketing Beat
Charlotte Tilbury becomes one of the most duped brands ever | Daily Mail
Brian Cox in the first-ever campaign for Uber One for Students | LBB
#FinTok: Gen Z goldmine or finance brand's desperate play for relevance | The Drum
Brands need to respect not appropriate youth culture | LBB Online
Creators weigh content decisions and cost of election-driven marketing blackout | Digiday
The denim brands of the 2010s grow up | Business of Fashion
Modash flips the script, connecting brands to the long tail of creators | TechCrunch
AB InBev and Carlsberg fail to drive increased demand for brands | Marketing Week
Havas wins race for €75m Nomad Foods (Birds Eye) across Europe | Nomad Foods
As agency bosses talk tough over lack of transparency | The Media Leader
Poul Weihrauch, the Mars boss eating up snack brands | Financial Times
Trustpilot CEO: Here's why we support the FTC crackdown on fake reviews | Fortune
Trending: Tandy makes gummy focus and energy supplements in sweet bags | Thingtesting
Starting Up
Are media for equity deals a 'false economy'? | Sifted
Food Thoughts acquires Doisy & Dam from Nurture Brands | The Grocer
The seven funniest Temu product fails | Startups
How to court and retain Gen Z workers | TechCrunch
Tech Tidbits
Do UK tech folk need to stop being 'whiny'? | Sifted
Six pieces of AI news not to miss this week | Nate B
How vintage Nike Airs exposed a flaw in a $700m carbon market | Yahoo! Finance
AI slop writing is flooding Medium | Wired
Mark Zuckerberg's four steps approach to life | Big Think
Venture Vibes
What can a founder expect from working with a Venture Capital Trust | Maddyness
Female Founders Fund returns its Fund I | TechCrunch
Ryan Renolds and Rob McElhenney acquire stake in U.K. brewery | Hollywood Reporter
VCs on how to raise in 2025 if you've taken a flat or down round | TechCrunch
Design Driven
Hello Kitty turns 50: Here's how she became a global moneymaker | Fast Company
Upwork's new identity shows the importance of motion in branding | Creative Bloq
The new analogue tool book for graphic designers | It's Nice That
Hello, Happiness
Updated Saturday: Video from ThrillerNYC 2024 | TikTok
The Thriller dance: Remembering choreographer Michael Peters | YouTube
Unmasking joy through career challenges | Forbes
Employee happiness is bouncing back after a 4-year-low | Inc
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Stay gold 🙏🏻
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