Nike's new CEO, what it takes to grow and brand in 2024, John Lewis's awkward new ad
Issue #25
Rise Up is a weekly curation of can’t-miss headlines on brands, marketing, startups, tech, and happiness.
Weekly Exhale
Before I started an ad agency, three friends—Ben, Ailana, and I—had an idea: an ethical sneaker company. Ben and I were ad execs, and Ailana, part of the innocent Drinks founding team, was our secret weapon. We'd meet in Soho on Saturdays, fueled by dreams of taking down Nike sweatshops. I found the notes from one of our sessions this week. The big takeaway? Ailana reminding us that success boils down to one thing—the product.
We never did launch an ethical sneaker company. Years later, Allbirds showed up—a glimpse of what might have been. Here's the thing: It doesn't matter. The three of us stayed great friends. I had lunch with Ben at Gloria on Great Eastern Street last week.
But Ailana...we're coming up to a year since she passed pretty much out of the blue. Cancer. Aged 46, she left behind a husband, two kids and a legacy of inspiration. We mostly laughed when we saw each other last summer—we had no idea how little time was left.
So you know what? F*ck the products. Make friends instead.
Let’s rise together with every issue. 🧡
Market Movements
Breaking: UK Government borrowing rises to £32.7bn in August | BBC
Stocks hit record high after US Fed's big interest rate cut | New York Times
UK consumer confidence tumbles ahead of budget | Financial Times
Brand Beat
Nike gets a new CEO | Fast Company
Junk food TV ads banned pre-watershed | The Guardian
Tupperware's bankruptcy should remind us what marketing does | The Drum
John Lewis's first of three-part 'Never Knowingly Undersold' campaign | JLP
H&M's London party doubled as Charli XCX concert | Paper
Typhoo re-launches as fear-free tea | Grocery Trader
Sipsmith lost its way focussing on flavoured gin | The Grocer
Deliciously Ella is acquired by Hero Group | City A.M.
ITV warns advertisers over ISBA plan | The Media Leader
Hotel Chocolat promotes CMO to UK chief executive | Marketing Week
What has it taken to grow a brand in 2024? | Thingtesting
MrBeast's leaked employee guide on how to make videos | MrBeast
In brand building, it's the little things that count | MarketingWeek
The Paris Fashion Week cheat sheet | Vogue Business
New rules to stop fashion brands from greenwashing | UK Gov
How THC drinks brands can go mainstream | The Drinks Business
Startup
Meet Disco, hoping to transform music listening | Forbes
Low-fi weather channel soothes climate fears | Wired
JP Morgan's head of startups says 'Founder Mode' won't get you a unicorn | TechCrunch
Erectile dysfunction to Wegovy: Men's healthcare provider Manual raises £29m | Sifted
Antifungal drugs, haptics and carbon accounting make investment news | Maddyness
Tech Tidbits
Amazon CEO forces workforce back 5 days a week from Jan | Amazon
Open AI's new model Strawberry—here's a breakdown | Askcatgpt
Walmart will let you 'Shop with Friends' from home | Fast Company
Sequoia's VIP of talent Zoe Hewitt on getting a job | Sifted
Venture Vibes
Meet the VCs who raised $250m to back women-led startups | Forbes
Meet Creative Capital Ventures—investment plus venture studio | Business Insider
Ex-Gamers raise $100m new consumer VC fund | Bloomberg
Design Driven
Bezi takes on everyone's favourite Mediterranean dip | Creative Bloom
New exhibition celebrates most worshipped sports brand—Nike | It's Nice That
BMW hires Polestar's design boss. Is it done with being polarising? | Top Gear
Hello, Happiness
New essay on sleep and creativity | Ness Labs
The healing power of your touch | Dr. Kristin Neff
Long lunches inspire deep thought | Financial Times
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Stay gold. 🙏🏻
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