Wondering what the biggest marketing and advertising stories are this week? We’ve compiled the must-read news and top trends to help keep you in the know.

They Just Did It: Nike & Colin Kaepernick

This week, Nike launched a series of advertisements to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their “Just Do It” campaign. The face of their campaign is none other than Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL star best known for being the first to take a knee during the national anthem to protest racial inequality. The ad shows a close-up of Kaepernick’s face with the message, “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” Unsurprisingly, the brand is already facing backlash: #NikeBoycott was a top trend on Twitter this morning, and people are posting videos of themselves destroying Nike apparel. It’s important to note, though, that Kaepernick’s jersey is one of the league’s top-sellers, despite not playing since 2016. Is Nike simply taking a stance on something they believe in, or is it a smart business decision? Dive into the issue here: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/03/sports/kaepernick-nike.html

Häagen-Dazs’ Insta-Worthy Redesign

Self-described “luxury” ice cream brand Häagen-Dazs has undergone a brand refresh in an attempt to connect more with millennials. They’ve debuted lighter and more colorful packaging, a new communications strategy and modernized store interiors. The Häagen-Dazs team focused on making the brand more “Instagrammable” and appealing to a younger audience, as opposed to the unapproachable image they had in the past. Will the new Häagen-Dazs ice cream pints be making an appearance on your social media? Check them out here: https://www.marketingweek.com/2018/08/23/haagen-dazs-brand-revival/

Burger King Takes on the Pink Tax

In a new advertisement, Burger King is making a statement to raise awareness for the “pink tax,” or the price mark-ups on women’s clothing, toiletries and feminine products. In the satirical video, the fast food chain promotes their chicken fries for $1.69 and “Chick Fries” sold in a pink box for $3.09, saying “it’s the same chicken fries you love, but for way more – because girls like pink.” Earlier this year, Burger King released a similar ad in support of net neutrality. Do fast-food brands have a place in these political conversations, or do you think they should stick to burgers and fries? Watch the full advertisement here: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/317437

PSL Season Gets an Early Start

Starbucks put their famous Pumpkin Spice Latte back on menus last week, which marks the drink’s earliest launch date ever. The move follows a poor year thus far for the coffee giant, whose reputation and sales took a hit following a viral video of two black men being arrested in a Starbucks store for trying to use the restroom. The PSL is Starbucks’ powerhouse, despite its notoriety as a “basic” drink. Do you think the Pumpkin Spice hype can help save Starbucks’ reputation? Read more here: https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-pumpkin-spice-latte-release-date-reveals-issues-2018-8

Hut, Hut, Hike!

Back in February, Pizza Hut was named the new official pizza sponsor of the NFL, replacing Papa John’s after eight years. Pizza Hut’s campaign is centered on “making fans happy,” from a new digital platform to their $7.99 price point. Perhaps their most interesting campaign feature comes from the most unlikely source: the actual pizza boxes. Customers will be able to use Pizza Hut’s boxes to play an augmented reality version of cornhole, a popular tailgating game, via their smartphone. Find out more about the new campaign here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/aliciakelso/2018/09/04/pizza-hut-ready-to-take-over-nfl-sponsorship-with-fan-centric-campaign/#6823a40e15d1