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From $5,000 to over $1 billion revenue business - with no advertising spend. In the scorching Florida heat, 27-year-old Sara sold fax machines door-to-door, following a strict dress code that required pantyhose - She did not like how uncomfortable they made her feel, and she wasn't fond of how the lines and seams looked on her clothes. So, she decided to find a solution that worked better for her. She snipped the feet off a pair of pantyhose and wore them under her pants to create a smooth, line-free look. And that's when the idea for Spanx came about in 1998. With a small $5,000 investment and an unconventional idea, Sara set out to revolutionize fashion, despite no retail experience. Facing rejections from manufacturers and investors, she kept going. She handled her own marketing. In pitch meetings, she personally modeled the shapewear. She reached out to journalists for coverage. One day, after a cold call reminiscent of her fax machine-selling days, Neiman Marcus became her first account in 2000. With Neiman Marcus on board, Bloomingdales, Saks, and Bergdorf Goodman soon followed suit. When the first Spanx batch arrived, Sara sent some to Oprah Winfrey. This became Sara's breakthrough: Oprah featured Spanx as her "Favorite Things" product of the year. Spanx then reached its $1 billion valuation in 2012 without spending a penny on advertising. It didn’t need it. And now? Even Sir Richard Branson wears Spanx! Sara's secret to success is simple: make a product that meets people's needs so well that once they try it, they cannot imagine their life without it. Sara was not afraid of all the unknowns that come with an entrepreneurial endeavor. She instead saw them as chances to stand out. “Don’t let what you don’t know scare you, because it can become your greatest asset. And if you do things without knowing how they have always been done, you’re guaranteed to do them differently.” – Sara Blakely #IWD2024 #WomenAtWork #WomensHistoryMonth #WomensLeadership #SheInspiresMe

Ever wondered what happened to the retail legends who once ruled the headlines? Let's take a stroll down memory lane and catch up with five retail game-changers who once dominated headlines. Here's where they are now: ✅ Jenna Lyons - From J. Crew to Beauty and Beyond: Lyons, a Parsons grad, climbed the ranks at J. Crew, becoming its president and leaving a lasting style imprint. Post-J. Crew, she ventured into TV and beauty, launching LoveSeen, a false eyelash brand now featured at Target. Recently, she's taken a creative leap, joining FundamentalCo as an executive creative director. ✅ Ye (Kanye West) - A Trailblazer in Fashion and Music: Ye's collaborations with Adidas and Gap brought fresh vibes to retail, especially with his Yeezy brand. Despite a successful run, Adidas ended their partnership in 2022 amid controversy. Ye continues to innovate in fashion and music, recently named Billboard’s Top Gospel Artist of 2023. ✅ Andy Dunn - The Bonobos Success Story: Dunn co-founded Bonobos, a pioneer in the direct-to-consumer world, later scooped up by Walmart for a cool $310 million. Now, he's a mental health advocate and has returned to Bonobos in an advisory role, blending business acumen with personal passion. ✅ Rachel Shechtman - Reinventing Retail with Story: Shechtman's Story, a unique NYC retail concept, caught Macy’s eye, leading to an acquisition. Post-Macy, she's back to consulting and now spices up the visitor experience as The Brooklyn Museum’s first Entrepreneur in Residence. ✅ Mickey Drexler, The Man Behind Gap and J. Crew: Drexler transformed Gap and founded Old Navy, leaving a significant mark in retail. After a stint at J. Crew, he's now guiding his son's business, Alex Mill, infusing it with his legendary retail wisdom. These trailblazers not only shaped their companies but also influenced how we shop and dress. Their current paths show that innovation and adaptability are always in style in the retail world. Discover the changing landscape of e-commerce with Irina Poddubnaia and TrackMage. #advertisingandmarketing #ecommerce #sustainability #analytics #businessanalytics #dtc #retail #dropshipping

Another exciting update from Misty Muscatel Davis (she/her) on what Circana has been up to this week! #circana #marketresearch #data #wearecircana

planarian behaviours #8 💄 Glossier: A Decade from Blog to Beauty Empire 💄 Glossier's journey from a personal blog to a $1.6 billion business in just ten years is a testament to visionary leadership and innovation. Founded by Emily Weiss, the brand originated from her blog, 'Into the Gloss,' a space where she shared her preference for a natural, minimal makeup look while working as a fashion assistant at Vogue. Recognising the potential of her growing audience, Weiss leveraged her blog's popularity to launch Glossier, a beauty brand dedicated to the “no makeup” aesthetic, bucking the conventions of the category at the time. Securing venture capital funding was a pivotal moment, transforming 'Into the Gloss' into a direct-to-consumer beauty powerhouse. Launching with just four products, Glossier quickly became a sensation. The brand's success was propelled by its unique approach to community involvement in product development, creating a strong sense of brand advocacy among its users. However, like any story of rapid growth and innovation, Glossier faced its challenges. Weiss's departure amid controversies around workplace culture and product inclusivity marked a turning point for the company. Stepping into the CEO role in May 2022, Kyle Leahy, previously Glossier’s chief commercial officer, embarked on a strategic pivot. Her leadership heralded a new chapter through a significant partnership with Sephora, marking Glossier's entrance into retail stores across the U.S. Additionally, Leahy's decision to expand the brand’s physical presence underscores a commitment to growth and accessibility. Despite fears that retail partnerships might dilute direct customer engagement, community feedback remains at the heart of Glossier’s ethos. A notable example is the reformulation of a key product to a plant-based alternative, a change driven by customer demand, which saw over 1 million sales in its launch week. Glossier's story is a brilliant showcase of how innovative thinking, a deep understanding of consumer desires, and adaptability in leadership can steer a brand through highs and lows. As Glossier embarks on this next phase of growth, it underscores the enduring power of community and the importance of listening to customer feedback in shaping product development. Let's discuss: How can other brands learn from Glossier's journey in terms of community engagement and adapting to challenges? #Glossier #CustomerCentricity #Innovation #Leadership #CommunityEngagement #planarianvoices

Claire’s was in trouble. Big trouble. Mall traffic was declining, its core customer was aging out of its offerings, and it was in a financial mess. It filed for bankruptcy in 2018. After a nearly 50-year run, many thought the business had run its course and was destined to join an ever growing retail graveyard. But, they weren’t ready to give up. I’m 2021 they convinced a hotshot CMO from Pepsi to join the company, and they quickly learned the power of branding done well. Within a a few short years the business has recovered. Its revenues and relevance are increasing. Smarter distribution, product, and marketing strategies are working in concert to make meaningful improvements. I love to witness successful turnarounds. They are usually the exception, not the rule, so when they work, we should all take notice, and take notes, to see what principles and practices may apply to our situation as well. https://lnkd.in/d-cHcFry

𝐖𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐌𝐎𝐋𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐎𝐑𝐒. The company that gained exposure by giving their brand less visibility. Let's make it make sense. +++ On March 5th, Molson Coors Beverage Company and PWHL announced a partnership to launch Molson’s “See My Name” campaign. Typically, the last name of an athlete is placed on the back of their jersey, across the shoulder blades. For many women hockey players (and women athletes in general), this means their name is covered by their long hair. Think about jersey sales for a second. Most Lakers fans don’t buy Los Angeles Lakers jerseys - they buy Kobe and LeBron jerseys. Swifties don’t buy Kansas City Chiefs jerseys - they buy Travis Kelce jerseys. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘫𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥. The “See My Name” campaign counters traditional jersey structure, placing Molson’s logo across the shoulder blades and a player’s name beneath the number, ensuring a PWHL player's last name is unobstructed. That means the Molson logo is now difficult to see on the jersey. For most companies, logo visibility is the primary reason to sponsor a professional #sports team. Why did Molson pay money to sacrifice that opportunity? 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐅 𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒. On March 9th, Molson was mentioned 2.8K times across #socialmedia and traditional news sources as the world caught wind of the PWHL collaboration. That’s the most mentions Molson has received in a single day over the past year (11.2% more than the previous high). The campaign launch helped generate 4.7x more mentions than the beverage company’s average daily mentions. User sentiment has been overwhelmingly positive. The partnership has been labeled “the best marketing play” and “simple yet so meaningful” as many, particularly women in sports, celebrate a company taking tangible action to center the women representing its brand. +++ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐘? In a corporate world focused on #WomensHistoryMonth and #DEI initiatives, so many corporations will talk about gender equity but perceive institutional efforts to make the concept a reality as burdens. Molson just improved its brand reputation by putting women first at the expense of the company’s logo. It's no surprise that Molson's commercial strategy is led by a woman, CCO Michelle St. Jacques, and Molson's C-suite is 33% female (higher than the 25% average, per Korn Ferry). “We covered our name so hers could be seen.” Promoting equity isn’t a cost of doing good business. Promoting equity IS good business. #digitalstrategy #marketing #womenempowerment #HERstory

Why brands need to look at masculinity differently. Our specialist male division #NewMacho, headed up by MD Fernando Desouches is devoted to looking at new ways of presenting the male experience in advertising and marketing. Seb Hill, ECD talked to Rebecca Fulleylove at Creative Review about how far we've come but also how far brands still have to go. Together they also discuss our recent work in this space with the likes of Dove Men+Care and Ruffles Mexico PepsiCo. “There’s that same initial resistance, but you have to reassure them it’s the right thing to do. And with our reports, the work we’ve done and the commercial success of that work, we’re proving that point.” Read more via the link below. #Creativity #GenderEquality #CreativeReview #ThoughtLeadership

Embracing inclusion is a well-established brand strategy that can help fuel growth, tap into new markets, and promote brand advocacy. Brands such as Savage X Fenty and Sephora are leading the way in inclusive marketing by embracing diversity in their products, models, and in-store experiences. Discover how your brand can unlock new sources of business value by embracing inclusion. #InclusiveMarketing #DiversityandInclusion

Super Bowl LVIII is the perfect example of Fancom, says Managing Partner Jenny Mitton. "What’s the dominating conversation around Super Bowl LV111?   Is it Kansas City's pursuit of a third victory in five years, the formidable defence of the 49ers, or the enduring presence of the iconic Patrick Mahomes?   Actually, it’s none of the above. It’s the power of the female economy.   Taylor Swift driving Gen-Z girls to tune in, cosmetic brands Elf and NYX booking their first Super Bowl ads and Kim Kardashian’s shapewear line SKIMS collaborating with Usher are all examples of how female empowerment is reshaping commercial opportunities within a traditionally male-dominated sport. Quite a revelation.   And proof that, this year, the Super Bowl audience isn’t confined to just ‘sports fans’. If the run up is anything to go by, its going to be a much bigger audience made up of coalescing communities with intersectional passions… and Swifties! These communities will likely, for once, watch the whole game rather than just the Half-Time Show.   This coming together of communities around a blend of passions is what we call Fancom and, in our opinion, it’s the future of brand marketing. Come 11.30pm on Sunday, social buzz around the game could look a little different this year, and that's a brilliant thing." #mcsaatchisportandentertainment #thepassionsagency #mcse20

Social media and cultural trends have sparked a revolution in brand communication. Today, consumers crave more than just products; they seek connections with brands that share their values and disrupt the status quo. Join us in the #EqualityLounge at #CannesLions2024 as we dive deep into how iconic brands Delta and Mattel are transcending their industries and disrupting expectations to connect with women, Gen Z, and beyond. • Shelley Zalis, CEO, The Female Quotient • Lisa McKnight, Chief Brand Officer, Mattel, Inc. • Alicia Tillman, Chief Marketing Officer, Delta Air Lines