Once again, this week is full of Covid- and cause-friendly marketing campaigns from some of the biggest brands. Dive in to our Weekly Must Reads for the latest news and updates you need to know.

A New Way to Place Your Burger King Order

Wearing a mask can save lives…and place your Burger King order. The fast food chain recently launched a new line of masks with various menu items printed on the front to address the problem of masks muffling customers’ orders. The campaign is starting exclusively in Belgium, but Burger King will promote the masks on their social media channels globally. Users can comment on BK’s social posts with their favorite orders, and the top choices may end up as one of the menu items printed on the masks.

According to the campaign’s creative director Tristan Daltroff, they came up with the idea of “safe order masks” to tell a serious message in a light and funny way. Find out more about the campaign here: https://wersm.com/these-face-masks-can-place-your-burger-king-order-for-you/

Blockbuster’s Airbnb Sleepover

The video store of every 90s kid’s childhood is back. The last remaining Blockbuster store, located in Bend, Oregon, has listed its space on Airbnb for three nights in September for just $4 per night – barely more than the cost of a movie rental. For its three groups of guests, Blockbuster will turn their store into a 90s-themed living room, decked out with snacks and unlimited movies from their collection.

Some bad news for nostalgic fans across the country: this promotion is only available for Bend residents, as a thank you for helping keep the store open throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Airbnb and Blockbuster will also further help out the community with a donation to the Humane Society of Central Oregon, a longtime partner of the Blockbuster store. For more details on Blockbuster’s sleepover, keep reading here: https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/airbnb-is-renting-out-blockbusters-last-location-for-a-heavy-dose-of-90s-nostalgia/

TikTok Teams Up with the Yankees

After a tumultuous few weeks, TikTok has signed up for a three-year deal with the New York Yankees and its TV network YES. The social media network will pay $10 million over the next three years in exchange for promotional spots and signs at Yankee Stadium, while also helping the Yankees produce branded content on its platform.

The deal comes at a prime time for both parties. The Yankees, along with the other major league baseball teams, have been looking for ways to engage audiences in lieu of in-person attendees, while TikTok has been in need of good news after facing a potential US ban. As the Yankees’ newest sponsor, TikTok has the opportunity to reach an even larger audience of US sports fans and increase its value for potential buyer Microsoft. Check out more details of the partnership here: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/tiktok-inks-3-year-deal-with-new-york-yankees/583450/

Subaru’s New Cause Marketing Ad

It may seem like the pandemic has taken over all aspects of the news, but in reality, the problems we were facing before it started are still here. That includes climate change. In support of its partnership with the National Forest Foundation, Subaru has launched a new ad showing live footage of destructive California wildfires. The videos come from photojournalist Stuart Palley, who drove his own Subaru into the fires to capture the footage and spread awareness.

The ad ultimately promotes Subaru’s new Re-Foresting Project, which aims to replant 500,000 trees in the destroyed Califrornia forests over the next four years. Do you think Subaru uses the fire footage appropriately to highlight a real issue, or does the ad ring overly promotional to you? Take a look and let us know your opinion here: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/subaru-shows-real-california-wildfire-footage-in-new-cause-marketing-ad/583199/