The hottest Brand Strategy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

Cultural methodology

The Sociology of Business • 319 implied HN points • 07 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Brand Strategy
  1. There are two important steps in cultural research: first, discover and inform by understanding a company's business goals and existing materials. This helps create a clear strategy based on culture.
  2. The '4Cs' analysis looks at culture, category, company, and consumer to identify areas for growth and opportunity. It involves diving deep into market trends and understanding customer values.
  3. To effectively communicate a brand's purpose, businesses need to align their strategy with cultural influences and ensure it resonates with their audience.

How brands make culture

The Sociology of Business • 1315 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
💼 Business Brand Strategy
  1. Brand marketing has shifted from promoting products to making noise and cultural impact.
  2. Modern brand marketing focuses on entertainment, providing constant content and unique campaigns.
  3. Brands should engage existing fans, prioritize collaborations, and emphasize emotional connections over traditional promotion.

The menswear playbook

The Sociology of Business • 1136 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Brand Strategy
  1. Menswear has experienced significant growth and innovation in the past decade, focusing on sophistication, luxury leisurewear, and reimagined workwear.
  2. The global men's apparel market generated $555.3 billion revenue in 2023, with casualwear like knitwear and sneakers driving much of the growth.
  3. Developing a strong menswear strategy involves aligning with brand vision, defining wear scenarios, and owning specific aesthetic pillars for the brand.

Are Super Bowl Commercials Actually Worth The Price?

Huddle Up • 28 implied HN points • 06 Feb 26
💼 Business Brand Strategy
  1. A single Super Bowl spot can transform a brand overnight, driving massive sales and wide cultural attention even from just one airing.
  2. Ad rates and total campaign costs have exploded — a 30‑second spot costs millions and, with required network buys, production, talent, and digital amplification, top campaigns can reach $20–30M or more; because ad inventory is limited and demand is huge, networks earn hundreds of millions each year.
  3. Those price tags make Super Bowl ads practical mainly for very large marketers, and measuring success is complex, requiring companies to weigh immediate sales against brand lift, earned media, and long‑term ROI.
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Resilience Series Part 2: Lotus Bakeries

Business Breakdowns • 334 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
💼 Business Brand Strategy
  1. Lotus Bakeries started in 1932 with a caramelized cookie named after the flower which stands for purity.
  2. They gained popularity by branding Biscoff as a perfect snack to complement coffee on airplanes.
  3. Lotus Bakeries expanded into healthier snacks and acquisitions to ensure resilience and steady growth.

Steph Curry is too Big for Any Brand

House of Strauss • 26 implied HN points • 15 Nov 25
💼 Business Brand Strategy
  1. Steph Curry has left Under Armour after a long partnership, indicating he is open to new brand opportunities. This change is significant given his previously strong connection with UA.
  2. Curry's move to wear Kobe Nikes during a game is a signal that he may be exploring options with other brands, including Nike. It's a surprising turn, especially since he previously signed a long-term deal with Under Armour.
  3. The story of Curry's brand journey highlights how he has grown beyond just a basketball player. His influence now reaches into the business world, making him a big name in sports branding.

How Allison Stadd 🥁 Is Jazzing Up Workplace Culture as SVP of Brand, Culture & Media at Shipt (Target)

the case for brand 💼 • 72 implied HN points • 20 Jun 25
💼 Business Brand Strategy
  1. Creating a strong brand involves more than just marketing; it connects to culture and fosters a sense of community within the workplace. It's important to bring personal touch and meaningful connections into business.
  2. A successful team needs good structure but also room for creativity and energy. It's crucial to find a balance between having clear goals and being able to adapt and flow with changes.
  3. Leadership should inspire everyone to take initiative, and it can come from unexpected places. Anyone can be a leader by bringing fresh ideas and energy into their work.

The Tour de France: How The World's Most Challenging Race Became A $150 Million Business

Huddle Up • 59 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
💼 Business Brand Strategy
  1. The Tour de France is a grueling race where cyclists push themselves to the limit, burning a lot of calories over its 21 stages. It's known for the tough challenges it presents to the competitors.
  2. Despite being a free event for fans, the Tour de France generates huge profits, around $150 million, mainly through sponsorships and team investments.
  3. Teams can spend over $50 million each for a chance to compete, showing how serious and competitive the sport is, as well as the financial commitment it requires.

Christmas marketing is Wicked, Media brands fight for trust, and the rest is marketing on steroids.

The Social Juice • 14 implied HN points • 07 Nov 25
💼 Business Brand Strategy
  1. Christmas marketing is everywhere right now, with brands launching festive campaigns to grab attention during the holiday season. They need to stand out and connect with consumers really well.
  2. Media brands are focusing on rebuilding trust with their audiences, especially as accountability becomes more important in today's fast-paced digital world. This is crucial for their survival and growth.
  3. Many brands are taking big risks with their advertising to prove their value and effectiveness. They want to showcase results that go beyond just reaching a large audience, aiming for a positive impact instead.

☕️ How Starbucks Plans to Return to its Coffeehouse Roots with Free Coffee, a Brand-Led Strategy, and a Superbowl Adjacent campaign 📈

the case for brand 💼 • 72 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
💼 Business Brand Strategy
  1. Starbucks is focusing on its employees to create a better work environment. They are improving benefits and promoting from within to ensure happier staff.
  2. The company wants to bring back its community coffeehouse vibe. This means enhancing in-store experiences, like using ceramic mugs and offering free refills.
  3. Starbucks aims to clarify its identity and mission as a coffee brand. They are emphasizing their roots and what they stand for in their marketing and overall brand message.

Winning isn't for Everyone

The Carousel • 54 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
💼 Business Brand Strategy
  1. Nike used to be the main brand for running shoes but is now losing its edge. Other brands are becoming popular because people want variety and innovation.
  2. Nike's marketing strategies are not connecting with today's runners and they're failing to engage with the running community. They used to focus on meaningful campaigns but now seem out of touch.
  3. The company's recent struggles show that they are in danger of becoming irrelevant. Instead of adapting to modern trends, they have been more focused on image rather than performance and community connections.

Customer Misbehavior

Fish Food for Thought • 10 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
💼 Business Brand Strategy
  1. Once you share something, people will use it in ways you never expected. You can’t control how they see or interact with it.
  2. Customers often misuse products in creative ways that reveal their true needs. This can help companies discover new features or markets.
  3. Allowing customers to express their identity through products can build stronger connections and loyalty. Embracing this openness helps brands evolve with their users.

Email go brrp 📧😵

Mehdeeka • 1 implied HN point • 04 Oct 23
💼 Business Brand Strategy
  1. Emails take a lot of effort to put together, from content to design.
  2. Product-focused emails should include new releases, roadmap announcements, customer use cases, and more.
  3. Product update emails should focus on value propositions, use cases, include a call to action, and can be repurposed as evergreen content.

You know what really shits me

Mehdeeka • 0 implied HN points • 12 Apr 23
💼 Business Brand Strategy
  1. Starting a marketing strategy based only on what successful large brands do may not work for smaller businesses.
  2. Investing in SEO and organic search may not always bring in customers as expected, especially for companies with less than $10M ARR.
  3. To improve marketing effectiveness, consider looking at the strategy evolution of companies a step ahead and collecting feedback directly from customer-facing teams.