Marketing's Latest 12/1/25

Ashley Morrison
Dec 1
2 min read

Black Friday: How It Has Changed Today

Everyone knows Black Friday, the beloved day after Thanksgiving when stores roll out their biggest sales. However, with increasing technology, AI development, and social media promotion, Black Friday shopping has changed significantly. First, as AI has expanded, stores have begun incorporating it into their operations, with AI-driven traffic to U.S. retail websites rising 805% in the past year. Additionally, with social media revealing widespread discount rates, stores have opted to extend sales far beyond just one day in order to appeal to online shoppers. As technology continues to increase and AI continues to develop, we are left to wonder: How will Black Friday change in the future?

Brands Capitalize on Wicked: For Good

The long-awaited film “Wicked: For Good:” has recently hit theaters, prompting many popular brands to capitalize on its success. While the movie has partnered with theaters to create exclusive snacks, discounts and popcorn buckets, brands ranging from Owala to Build-a-Bear have adopted pink and green to match the film’s iconic aesthetic. Popular collaborations include toys like Wicked-themed LEGOs, Barbies, Squishmallows, and American Girl dolls; beauty products such as Lush soaps, Bubble lip balms, and Ulta fragrances; and even limited-edition foods like Dunkin’ munchkins and refreshers.

How The Grinch Stole McDonalds

Beloved fast food chain McDonalds has teamed up with Dr. Seuss Enterprises’ character the Grinch to demonstrate holiday spirit. The new meal, “The Grinch Meal”, includes a choice of Big Mac or McNuggets paired with dill-pickle-flavored french fries. McDonalds reveals that a commercial featuring the Grinch will debut starting Dec. 2, in addition to decorative cups featuring fan-favorite characters from the movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. The brand also plans on placing ads on Times Square billboards with “more chaotic content” throughout the holiday season.

-Ashley Morrison