This week, I had the chance to catch up with Phil Mershon while he was in London – it’s amazing to think that it has probably been 15 years since we last connected in person! The photo from this weeks newsletter was taken together after a wonderful lunch at The Ivy Tower Bridge. It was fantastic to reconnect and get my signed copy of Phil’s book Unforgettable: The Art and Science of Creating Memorable Experiences. Get your copy here!

Also, a big thank you to Mark Masters for giving my newsletter a shout out in his newsletter, You Are The Media. What a wonderful mention to see while I sipped my morning coffee. If you’re in the UK, he has a number of great events coming up including one on creativity in London on February 6 featuring my friends Jon Burkhart and Jason Miller, among many other inspiring professionals. RSVP here.

Now, let’s get into the latest marketing stories – from CES 2025’s most innovative (and wacky) tech to how brands are responding to crisis moments, plus major shifts in AI, influencer marketing, and diversity initiatives at top tech firms.

This Week’s Marketing Stories

A curated mix of insights and trends, each with actionable takeaways to inspire your brand storytelling.

1. CES 2025: The Biggest Announcements and Wildest Tech

CES 2025 was a wild ride, packed with game-changing innovation and some truly bizarre gadgets. The Verge has a good roundup covering everything from Sony and Honda’s first car to some of the show’s strangest creations – like a robotic pet that clings to your purse and a robovac with interchangeable heads. Read more | Weirdest Tech Roundup

A few standout innovations I’d personally love to try:

• L’Oréal’s Cell BioPrint: An AI-powered skincare tool that customizes routines based on your skin’s needs. I am such a beauty and skincare geek and would love to try this. Read more
• Nike x Hyperice Recovery Shoes: Footwear designed to soothe sore feet with warmth and compression – perfect for anyone who walks or runs a lot (like me!). Read more
• LeafyPod AI-Powered Planter: A smart planter that teaches you how to care for your plants and lets them ‘ask’ for water or sunlight. I am already seeing if I can buy this in London. Read more
• Withings Omnia Smart Mirror: A high-tech mirror that monitors health data and offers wellness advice. I am also super passionate about health tech and this looks so cool and helpful. Read more

Key takeaway: CES 2025 reaffirmed that AI is transforming daily life – from beauty and wellness to smart home tech. The brands that integrate AI seamlessly will lead the charge.

2. Burberry CEO on Why Brands Must Stay True to Their Roots

Speaking at NRF’s Big Show, Burberry CEO Joshua Shulman shared insights into how the brand is getting back to its heritage – by focusing on outerwear, luxury pricing, and brand authenticity. Read more

Key takeaway: Successful reinvention isn’t about chasing trends – it’s about evolving in a way that feels authentic to your brand’s legacy. Burberry lost me for awhile while trying to chase trends – I found myself looking for pre-loved heritage items. I’m personally excited to see how to brand comes back to its heritage.

3. How Brands Are Responding to the LA Wildfires

Airbnb, Uber, Rhode, and other companies are stepping up with free rides, emergency accommodations, and donations for wildfire victims. Read more

Key takeaway: The LA wildfires are incredibly shocking and tragic. From insurance companies not covering people to those that lost everything to the sheer anxiety of wondering if you will be evacuated / affected next, so many people are going through so much. Brands that show up during crises build long-term consumer trust. The same goes for how companies treat their employees during a crisis. For example, TikTok / ByteDance generated a lot of negative press and social media feedback for telling their staffers to use personal or vacation time if they were impacted by the fires.

4. Marketers’ 2025 Priorities: AI, Social Listening, and Creator Partnerships

Marketers are shifting away from AI hype and focusing on practical applications, deeper social listening, and long-term creator partnerships. Read more

Key takeaway: The most effective marketing in 2025 will be data-driven, highly personalized, and based on real audience insights.

5. Meta and Amazon Scale Back Diversity Initiatives

Meta and Amazon are rolling back DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs, citing legal and political risks. Read more

Key takeaway: As corporate America steps back from DEI, brands that maintain genuine commitments to DEI will have a competitive edge, as consumers want to support companies that align with their values.

6. Meta Ends Fact-Checking as Silicon Valley Prepares for Trump 2.0

Meta is stopping third-party fact-checking partnerships, a move critics say will increase misinformation ahead of Trump’s second term. Read more

Key takeaway: The shift in content moderation and free speech policies will have a major impact on social media and brand marketing strategies. Companies historically do not want to be on platforms where content does not align with their brand values. For example, many brands stopped advertising on X. Back in 2020 many companies also stopped advertising on Facebook amid growing hate speech. If you’re at a big brand, this will be one to watch closely – and likely something you will need to provide a point of view on should the content on Meta take a wrong turn as a result of these changes.

7. Microsoft Is Making Bing Look Like Google

Microsoft has received negative feedback after redesigning Bing’s search results to mimic Google, in an effort to stop users from switching. Read more

Key takeaway: A strong product and user experience is always better than misleading tactics to retain people. Misleading tactics also have a way of generating negative press coverage and a reduction in customer trust.

8. Toyota’s ‘Woven City’ Brings Smart Living to Mount Fuji

Toyota’s Woven City, a futuristic AI-powered town, is welcoming its first residents as a real-world testbed for smart city innovation. Read more

Key takeaway: The future of urban living will be AI-driven, sustainable, and designed around real human needs. I personally would like to visit Toyota’s Woven City and experience the technologies – anyone with me?

9. White Castle’s Valentine’s Day ‘Love Castle’ Experience Returns

White Castle is bringing back its quirky, romantic Valentine’s Day dinner experience, complete with table service and themed décor. Read more

Key takeaway: Unexpected brand experiences can create strong emotional connections with customers. I love this initiative – it hits on so many levels. For super fans of the brand, it’s a unique brand experience. Plus, it’s affordable in a time where eating out in the United States has become increasingly expensive.

10. Sonos CEO Resigns After Major App Debacle

After the botched rollout of its overhauled app, Sonos CEO Patrick Spence has stepped down. How bad was it? Forbes called out that, “The botched rollout of its new app isn’t just a technical failure—it’s a full-blown App-ocalypse.” The company’s response to the app issues was also deemed poor, coming months after its release, de-railing customer and investor trust, and resulting in layoffs. Read more

Key takeaway: Bad UX and poor crisis management can damage even the most loyal customer relationships. However, the CEO’s resignation gives Sonos an opportunity to tell its story of re-building amid the crisis. If the company can transparently show how they are fixing the issues with the app while listening to feedback, they have an opportunity to win back trust and deepen customer relationships. A letter to employees by interim CEO Tom Conrad is a great start – and a nice letter to bookmark if you’re like me and save examples…you know, just in case ;).

11. TikTok Creators Fight US Ban as Supreme Court Weighs In

With TikTok facing a potential nationwide ban by January 19, creators and legal teams are arguing that the move violates free speech. Read more

Key takeaway: TikTok’s future hangs in the balance, and brands should prepare for potential shifts in influencer marketing and platform strategy.

My Stories

While I have not created new content this week, I thought I would share my top two performing blog posts of 2024 on JessicaGioglio.com:

15 Awesome April Fool’s Day Pranks From Brands – there’s no time like the present to start brainstorming an epic April Fool’s joke. I’ve compiled some rather hilarious ones to inspire you. Read more.

How Lean Cuisine’s #WeighThis is Measuring What Really Matters – this one really hits as we enter a new year. This brand storytelling campaign took a powerful stance on why women should focus on their accomplishments and what they value most in life, as opposed to measuring our worth via weight or body image. Read more.

Unlock More of My Stories

🌍 Website: JessicaGioglio.com Your one-stop shop for all my books, speaking engagements, and blog posts on marketing and storytelling.

📚 Books:

• The Power of Visual Storytelling: Learn how to shape a visual story around your brand using images, videos, GIFs, infographics, and more. Get your copy here.
• The Laws of Brand Storytelling: The definitive guide to using storytelling to win over customers’ hearts, minds, and loyalty. Grab it here.

📱 Social Media:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter/X
• Instagram
• YouTube

Let’s connect and keep the conversation going!

Until Next Time

Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you’re here for marketing trends, storytelling inspiration, or both, I’m so grateful to have you along for the ride.

Keep telling the stories that matter, Jessica