Flamingos, Raccoons, and a Rebrand That Sticks

Introduction

Welcome to another exciting week!

Table of Contents

• Best Ad of the Week

• Latest Trends and News

• Weekly Tip

• Weekly Challenge

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Ad Case Study: Skoda’s Flamingos & Raccoons

What they did:
Skoda launched an unconventional rebranding campaign at Cannes Lions 2025, plastering images of flamingos and raccoons across European cities. The intent wasn’t to show cars or specs—it was to evoke uniqueness, adaptability, and modernity, signaling a shift in brand identity.

Key Marketing Lessons

• Symbolism over features: Instead of telling consumers what Skoda’s cars can do, this campaign shows who Skoda wants to be. The animal imagery becomes a metaphor for qualities—standing out (flamingos) and adapting (raccoons)—which stick emotionally more than listing specs.

• Transforming perception requires surprise: An automotive brand using animals instead of cars shocks expectations—in a good way. It captures attention and signals change, helping the audience see the brand differently before they even see the product.

• Consistency matters across touchpoints: The campaign was visible across multiple European cities, ensuring people see these symbols over and over. Repetition of the symbol + message helps rewire brand perception gradually.

• Risk + boldness = high reward (when aligned): This kind of campaign can alienate traditionalists who expect car ads to show cars, but by being bold, Skoda traded safe for memorable. The payoff: stronger recall and media conversation about their repositioning.

• Let visuals communicate identity: Without much text or verbal messaging, visuals alone carried the identity shift. It’s a reminder that strong visual ideas can do heavy lifting—if they’re well conceived and consistently used.

Takeaway:
Skoda shows that rebranding doesn’t always need a product overhaul—sometimes it needs a narrative shift. By using visual metaphor and bold symbolism, brands can move beyond expected messaging and invite audiences to see them in an entirely new light.

Latest Trends and News

Google Fined by EU Over AdTech Antitrust

The European Commission has fined Google €2.95 billion (~US$3.4-3.5B) for abusing its dominant position in the ad tech space. The ruling targets “self-preferencing” behaviour — favouring its own ad services (AdX, DFP, etc.) over rivals. Google has been ordered to stop those practices and may face further action if it doesn’t comply.

HubSpot Unveils Major AI & Data Push at Inbound 2025

At its recent conference, HubSpot introduced “The Loop,” a new framework focused on dynamic messaging, deeper data integration, and scaling human + AI collaboration. Over 200 product updates were announced—including enhancements to CRM, analytics, and content tools—to help brands personalize at scale.

H&M Leverages Cultural Events to Elevate Brand Image

To boost relevance and counter pressure from fast-fashion competitors, H&M kicked off London Fashion Week 2025 with “H&M&180: The London Issue,” a major public event featuring runway shows, music, panels, and performance. The move signals H&M’s strategy to shift toward cultural connection and premium perception.

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Weekly Tip

Reuse Your Hooks

A strong opening line or hook is too valuable to use once. Reframe and reuse it across channels.

• Adapt a winning headline into a video intro
• Turn a social post hook into an email subject line
• Test variations of the same idea to see where it performs best

Good hooks are timeless—they can carry your message further with only small adjustments.

Weekly Challenge

Template Test

This week, design one simple graphic template for your posts:

• Create a reusable layout (colors, fonts, style) that matches your brand
• Post three pieces of content using that same template
• Track if consistency improves recognition and engagement
• Save the template for future use if results are positive

A clean, recognizable design makes your content stand out in busy feeds.

Submissions + Feedback

Hope you enjoyed today’s post, if you know someone who may be interested, feel free to send it to them.

Also, if you want me to cover any specific subject on the next issue or share some feedback, feel free to reply to this email.