It’s a very spook-tacular version of our Weekly Must Reads! Check out how some of the top brands are positioning themselves in order to win their audience this Halloween.

Burger King’s Ghostly New Menu

Sandwiches in your city might be getting a little spookier this week. Burger King has released a limited-edition Ghost Whopper at ten select locations across the country, from Philadelphia to San Diego. The burger is nearly identical to their classic Whopper with the exception of a white sesame seed bun. Burger King created video and social media ads to support the limited time offering, featuring a taste test for judgmental spirits. Accordingly, the sandwich is touted as “only burger approved by 11 out of 10 people.”

Burger King often introduces variations of their Whopper, including the “Nightmare King” last year which included bright green sandwich buns. Do you think consumers will fall under the burger’s spell? Watch the ad and learn more here: https://people.com/food/burger-king-is-selling-a-haunting-new-ghost-whopper-for-halloween/

Drink Wiser on Halloween

Since last year, Budweiser has been promoting their “Drink Wiser” campaign, encouraging customers to drink responsibly and take care of themselves. In a new series of ads, the beer brand has aimed their focus on Halloween partiers. They feature costumed mugshots of real people arrested for public intoxication on the holiday. Culprits include a very sad-looking cat and disheveled man still wearing a chicken suit. The campaign, called “Don’t Let Halloween Haunt You Forever,” is currently running on social and out-of-home media.

Budweiser is further supporting their responsible drinking mission by providing $5 Lyft gift cards to customers who purchase their beer through Drizly, an alcohol e-commerce site. Social media users can also follow Budweiser’s Twitter account to receive regularly reminders to hydrate between drinks. Do you think this dark-humor campaign will resonate with Budweiser’s audience? Check it out here: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/budweiser-reimagines-halloween-mugshots-for-drink-wiser-campaign/565742/

Annoy the Rainbow, Taste the Rainbow

Parents chasing around their trick-or-treaters aren’t the only ones feeling exasperated this Halloween. Skittles’ first Halloween ad in five years tells the not-so-scary story of a teen lured into a witch’s house at the promise of Skittles. Like many of their other ads, the commercial is unexpected, untraditional and just a little bit odd. Flipping the typical Halloween witch story on its head, we see a boy sits comfortably in a big pot, pestering a witch for more Skittles while she begs him to please leave her house.

In addition to the new ad, Skittles also recently released a new product named Zombie Skittles ahead of the holiday. They are a mix of fruity and rotten flavors, and Skittles is encouraging brave souls to “#daretherainbow” and videotape themselves trying the new candies. Find out more about the campaigns here: https://www.thedrum.com/news/2019/10/07/skittles-first-halloween-spot-five-years-features-witch-trying-get-rid-annoying-teen

Stay Scary with Spotify

Musicians and pop stars are some of the most popular Halloween costumes, and this year Spotify is helping music fans in New York dress up as their favorite artists. As part of their new “Stay Scary” campaign, Spotify set up a pop-up shop in New York last Saturday to celebrate notable singers’ famous costumes and music videos. Costume items included an Old Town Road jacket patch, a Madonna-inspired “Boy Toy” belt and Bad Bunny sunglasses. Visitors could try on the accessories and even take some home to use on Halloween this week.

Spotify designed the pop-up shop to connect fans and artists in an immersive experience. They also released a Halloween themed playlist to engage fans who weren’t able to attend the pop-up, along without-of-home ads throughout New York City. Read on here: https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/going-to-a-halloween-party-as-lil-nas-x-spotify-has-your-costume-covered/