Hi all,
Welcome back to our weekly companion podcast to the Sunday letter. Hit the links to skip to what strikes your fancy!
This week, we also have two fun things added to the mix. 1) Friend of the letter and CPG expert Fred Hart joined us to discuss what he saw at Expo West and what brands should be thinking about 2) Kirsten gives us an awesome insight-packed take on what she saw at SxSW. Takeaway-heavy this week!
As always, this pod dives into the biggest trends, shifts, and brands.
THIS WEEK’S PODCAST EPISODE:
TikTok commands single-minded audiences. Your content should match.
Brands at trade shows are misbehaving—and standing out because of it.
The no-spritz summer is coming. Booze brands, who’s ready to take the crown?
Luxury fine dining is wooing toddlers. They aren’t alone.
Experiential retail isn’t a trend—it’s an arms race.
AI is changing shopping. Most brands aren’t ready, but they could be.
Running is in. Outdoor? Not so much.
Injectables are the new manicure. And it’s changing what we like.
The fake jewelry economy is booming.
SxSW had some winners. And some losers. And a deep desire for connection.
Enjoy!
What we get into:
CULTURE
01:02 — ONE TRACK MIND // TikTok rewards brands that niche down. We dive into why hyper-specialized content is winning.
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
DRUGS & BOOZE
05:28 — THE NO-SPRITZ SUMMER // Aperol Spritz dominated for years, but now tariffs and shifting trends could open the door for a new “drink of the summer.” Who’s positioned to take over?
SILVERS, ALPHAS & ZS
08:23 — FINE DINING FOR BABES // Per Se is inviting kids. And they aren’t alone. Lamborgini partners with Silver Cross on a super high-end stroller. We discuss why brands are all in on kids.
RETAIL
12:25 — EXPERIENCE OVERDRIVE // Creating immersive experiences isn’t just a trend—it’s table stakes. And the stakes are getting higher. Full list of examples here.
F&B
13:33 — BIG BUTTS ATTRACT CROWDS // We chat with Fred Hart about everything Expo West. Including 80g protein-infused pasta sauce to probiotic sodas, to viral line-inducing pink puffy bags, to giant butts and an industry is obsessed with “healthy” versions of indulgences.
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
TECH
26:22 — AI IS CHANGING BEHAVIORS // Google's new AI-powered vision match will change how people shop. And AI search behavior already is. The question is: are brands ready? They could be.
SPORT
29:45 — RUNNING IN, OUTDOOR OUT // Running is booming, while outdoor brands are struggling. Why? Price, accessibility, and culture. But there’s one safe haven.
WELLNESS & BEAUTY
32:59 — SEXY INJECTIONS // Botox and injectables, in general, are no longer taboo. The needle is officially mainstream. And impacting brands.
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
TRAVEL
36:36 — THE FAKE RING ECONOMY // Travelers are buying dupes of their engagement rings. Smart brands are catching on by reading the comment section.
FUN FOR THE WEEK
41:55 — SxSW TAKEWAY BONANZA // Kirsten did us a solid and went to Austin for the weekend. She shares insights into what everyone was talking about at SxSW. But more importantly, she shares what to takeway from it all. Plus some fun activations and some that made us question things *cough: Amazon*.
Some stand out quotes:
“Our next project is in the comments section” James Kuczynski, DuoLingo
“AI used to be the CIOs job, it no longer is….now it’s centered around business transformation” - Ashley Haynes Gaspar @ the Fast Co’s AI panel
“Athletes endorsing brands is behind us. the athletes are the brand. now need to ask as a brand how do i fit into this athlete story? -Tony Box @ SheMedia’s Athletes as Brands panel.
“Have a question and ask it to multiple chats. They have different personalities.” - Jo Cronk
“Media and marketing needs to catch up with how we talk. we’re not afraid to say it.” - Kara Egan @ the Founder’s House Women’s Health talk, re: periods and peri/menopause.
And now for the experiences:
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
Missing the letter this all ties back to? This way:
That’s all folx.
-Chris
If you read this and liked it, that little heart is there for that. The algo and I appreciate it.
PS. If you prefer Apple, Spotify, or YouTube you can listen there too.
Share this post