Need a boost of creative inspiration this week? Catch up on the latest innovative campaigns and strategies from brands like Samsung and McDonald’s in our Weekly Must Reads.

McDonald’s Celebrates Their Pop Culture Cameos

In their latest campaign, McDonald’s is highlighting their long history of tie-ins with popular TV shows, movies, and other pop culture phenomena. Their new line of “As Featured In” meals showcase the McDonald’s orders featured in shows like “Seinfield,” “The Office,” and the upcoming season of “Loki” on Disney+. The meals will be available to order at McDonald’s locations in more than 100 countries as a continuation of the brand’s Famous Orders campaign.

As part of their tie-in with “Loki,” customers who order Sweet N’ Sour Sauce can scan a code on the packet to access exclusive Marvel content via Snapchat. In addition, McDonald’s also plans to roll out a line of streetwear as a collaboration between the two brands. Find out more about McDonald’s long pop culture promotional history here: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/mcdonalds-nostalgia-pop-culture-Seinfeld-meal-order/690354/

Billie Creates an Unwinnable Board Game

Women’s razor brand Billie has made waves in recent years by celebrating women’s empowerment and tackling taboo topics. Now, Billie is shedding light on the impossible standards women are often held to with a snarky board game. The game, called “No Worries If Not!,” leads players on a path to “Everyone’s Happy, No One’s Mad Land,” while frequently prompting them to draw from a deck of cards that highlight double standards women face in their day-to-day life. As the game goes on, players will realize it’s impossible to reach this perfect land. The game’s design is meant to reflect how unobtainable society’s standards for women can be.

To promote the game, Billie created a satirical infomercial with comedian Ruby McCollister. Within one week of release, the board game had already sold out on Billie’s website. All sales of the product benefit women’s organizations like Every Mother Counts and Black Girls Code. Learn more details about the brand’s mission to uplift women here: https://adage.com/creativity/work/billie-made-board-game-about-impossible-expectations-women-face-every-day/2509366=

Samsung Flips into New OOH Ads

Samsung is officially bringing back the flip phone. The tech brand’s two newest smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Flip5, both use a foldable design, which offers increased flexibility and the ability to use multiple apps at once. To promote the phones’ launch last week, Samsung utilized billboards and other out-of-home ads to display 3D versions of their grown-up flip phones. The ads feature the products’ tagline – “Nothing unfolds like Galaxy Z Fold5” – along with a large replica of the phone folded around the bottom of the billboard.

According to brand ambassadors, the billboards reflect both the innovation and joy customers will experience with Samsung’s new smartphones. You can see the ads and also learn more about Samsung’s newest products here: https://www.thedrum.com/news/2023/08/07/samsung-attaches-huge-3d-flip-phone-digital-billboard

Taco Bell Celebrates Taco Tuesdays

To celebrate the end of the Taco Tuesday trademark previously owned by Taco John’s, Taco Bell is giving away free tacos every Tuesday in August. Starting August 15, Taco Bell locations across the US will offer a free Doritos Locos Taco to every customer, no purchase necessary. In addition, on September 12, Taco Bell will culminate its Taco Tuesday celebration by opening a $5 million “taco tab” on DoorDash that customers can use to order tacos from any participating vendor.

According to the brand’s statement, Taco Bell felt they needed to do something big to celebrate the occasion, “because now that Taco Tuesday is free, your tacos should be, too.” Check out all the details of the upcoming Taco Tuesdays here: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/taco-bell-will-help-pay-for-your-taco-tuesday-celebration–even-if-its-not-at-taco-bell-301895338.html