The world of marketing is constantly evolving and changing. Catch up on the top news you need to know this week with our Weekly Must Reads!

Chipotle is “For Real”

Over the past month, Chipotle launched their “For Real” campaign focusing on their clean food preparation techniques. Now through mid-November, the fast-casual chain will run a series of TV ads for the campaign on Turner’s networks. Turner has “guaranteed” Chipotle that the commercials will generate a sales lift. In addition to the commercials, the campaign has included outdoor, digital and social ads to boost their national visibility.

The campaign’s food safety theme is still a hot topic for Chipotle as they continue to rebuild their reputation after their e.coli outbreak in 2015. Turner seems certain, but would you guarantee a successful outcome for this campaign? https://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/chipotle-month-ad-campaign-paying/315403/

Snapchat’s Struggles Continue

Snapchat announced last week that their number of daily active users has fallen for the second quarter in a row. The photo sharing app is down to 186 million daily active users, while competitor Instagram recently reached 400 million daily Story viewers. Snapchat has dealt with high employee and executive turnover, as well as a drastic redesign earlier this year that received criticism from users and advertisers alike.

To add to their problems, the Android version of Snapchat has had development issues, creating problems for a significant portion of their user base. Are you still a loyal Snapchatter, or have you made the switch to Instagram Stories? https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-25/snapchat-lost-users-in-quarter-and-says-decline-will-continue

Patagonia Gets Political

Outdoor clothing company Patagonia recently publicly endorsed two political candidates ahead of next week’s midterm election. The brand endorsed two Democratic Senate nominees and included messaging about the endorsements on their website and social media channels. The nominees, who represent Nevada and Montana, are notable advocates of conservation efforts, which is a cause Patagonia has supported for years.

Aligning your brand with one political party is certainly a risk, but it’s one that audiences are responding to. Sprout Social reports two-thirds of consumers think brands should take a public stance on political issues. Do you agree, or should companies maintain a more neutral stance? Check out the full story here. https://www.marketingdive.com/news/patagonia-endorses-2-political-candidates-in-its-brand-marketing/540320/

Starbucks’ Signing Store

Starbucks has developed its first “Signing Store” in the United States. One Starbucks location in Washington, D.C. has been redesigned to create a better store experience for the deaf and hard of hearing. All employees at this store are fluent in American Sign Language, their green aprons spell out Starbucks in ASL, and signs throughout the store show the ASL signs for coffee-related terms. They even released special signing store mugs designed by deaf artist Jena Floyd. Find out more about the signing store here: https://www.thedrum.com/news/2018/10/24/starbucks-develops-american-sign-language-branding-first-signing-store