As 2025 comes to an end, we’re looking back at the top #LongStoryShort newsletters of the year. Thanks for reading, and happy holidays from the Braithwaite team!
Color(s) of the Year
Picks for 2026 color of the year reveal as much about the brands promoting them as the color trends and design landscape.
Spotify Wrapped Dials Up Coverage
There’s one new data point in the annual Spotify Wrapped feature that’s getting more attention in coverage and on social media – listening age.
The Beatles Tell Their Story
It’s a band that broke up more than 50 years ago that got different generations to agree on what to watch on TV.
The Marketing Origins of Friendsgiving
Where did Friendsgiving come from? Not surprisingly, it was a brand campaign that pushed Friendsgiving into the mainstream.
What Does the End of the Penny Mean for Marketing?
Eliminating the coin will have broader implications for brands and how they price and market their offerings.
Branding an Apple
In the late 90s, Honeycrisp apples kicked the popularity of U.S. name-brand varieties into high gear, joining the ranks of Galas and Pink Ladies.
Pre-flight Safety Stories
Pre-flight safety messages have become a defining brand feature for many airlines, reflecting an opportunity to infuse storytelling into otherwise mundane moments.
Paranormal Marketing Activity
Paranormal Activity used a smart rollout strategy and new digital tools to build buzz, leveraging social media to create demand for more screenings in more places.
IKEA’s Meatball Milestone
An iconic part of the IKEA experience is celebrating 40 years — the meatballs.
Maxwell House Rightsizes
There’s power in using recognized trends and data points to reinforce your value prop and the benefits you can deliver to your audience.
Jane Goodall and Scientific Storytelling
Jane Goodall is credited with changing how we think about chimpanzees – and making scientific research more relatable. Her use of emotion and narrative in presenting her research underscores the power of story in compelling audiences to think differently about a topic.
Social Listening Done Right
When social listening meets fast execution, even small brands can steal the spotlight.
Mary Kay Gets Real
“Is Mary Kay still around?” The direct-selling skin care and cosmetics marketer, is answering questions like this and more in its new campaign titled “Miss Conceptions.”
The Summer the NFL Turned Pretty
Even if you haven’t seen “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” you may have heard about it if you follow your favorite NFL team on TikTok.
Bombas and the Story of Socks
Bombas socks are far from the cheapest option. But the brand’s founders saw a need for more and better socks, and they built a value prop around making that matter.
AOL Hangs Up Dial Up
AOL has discontinued its dial-up offering, signaling the end of an era in internet history – and one of the most successful direct marketing campaigns of all time.
Taylor Swift and the Life of an Announcement
For the announcement of her 12th studio album, Taylor Swift did what no fan thought she would – she went on a podcast. For marketers, the strategy is a reminder that there are other mediums and platforms to share news beyond a traditional press release.