You know when you get a haircut and no one notices?

That's kinda what Walmart's going through right now.

Most people can't see what's special about the company's first rebrand in almost 20 years. But most of those who've spotted the difference aren't loving it (at least for now).

When you look at Walmart's new symbols for a while, they start to feel happier and brighter than the old ones. That's why we think some cheeky marketing psychology might have a role here.

In today's newsletter:

• Walmart's rebrand is a big deal (if you can spot the difference)

• When brands and people swap faces (find out the risks that come in when people want to be a brand & brands want to be humanised)

• Trend plug - What are you doing?

• Ask the Editor - Should I start a podcast? 

-Devin, Copywriter

Walmart just had its first rebrand in almost 20 years.

And if you look really close and squint your eyes, you'll see that their logo has, in fact, changed.

But if not for the announcement on Walmart's corporate site, most people would've missed the slight adjustments to the company's branding.

Now, Walmart lives in the same camp as PayPal and Jaguar as the latest target for memes and harassment following a poorly-received rebrand.

Though the retailer's redesign isn't nearly as dramatic, it's perhaps the lack of change (and Walmart making a big deal of it) that's got people so worked up.

Hang on - are you sure they actually redid the logo?

None of the changes are that obvious, but some are slightly more noticeable than others.

The most significant change might be the separation of Walmart's yellow "spark" logo from its wordmark (its written name logo). Both logos are still in use.

Social media users certainly had some thoughts on the new logo - or rather, how not-new they thought it was.

Despite Walmart's intentions for a fresh start, most people were unimpressed with the changes. The public wasted no time making memes about the rebrand, many internet dwellers comparing the change to Japan's flag redesign in 1999.

[Keep reading]

-Devin, Copywriter

When Brands and People Swap Faces

In the great race for relevance, brands are acting like people, and people are acting like brands.

It’s kind of like the Spider-Man meme, except everyone’s pointing fingers and trying to sell you something.

On the surface, it makes sense. Relatability is gold in every market.

But what happens when the lines blur so much that you can’t tell where the person ends, and the brand begins?

And is this trend really a win for “authenticity,” or just another performance in the endless theatre of marketing?

Unfortunately, the answer isn’t as clear as your fave influencer's skin. But we can still unpack the good, the bad and the plain weird of this growing phenomenon.

The good.

When it works, it works. There’s no denying that some examples of personal and corporate branding fusion are pure gold.

For example:

MrBeast

Jimmy Donaldson, aka MrBeast, is a case study in flawless brand integration. His personal brand—generous, innovative, fearless—is seamlessly tied to everything he touches.

Whether he’s giving away millions in wild stunts or launching ventures like Feastables, his authenticity shines through. It’s not just marketing; it’s who he is. And because of that, people don’t just buy his chocolate bars; they buy into his values.

[Keep reading]

-Sophie, Writer

Trend Plug - What Are You Doing?

Today's trend is a fun improv-comedy-style game you can do with your colleagues, manager, or anyone willing to have a little fun.

Starting from the "Eh Kaw" game, this trend is about seeing who can be the most imaginative for the longest and capturing the fun you have along the way.

Here's how to play:

• The first person performs an action and then describes it. For example, running because you're late for a meeting.

• The next person copies the action but gives it a new description.

• And the game continues until someone repeats an idea or simply can't think of a new one.

How you can jump on this trend:

Grab someone you want to have a laugh with, set up your camera, and launch into the game. Once you start, you can't really control where the game ends up.

But the best part is capturing those hilarious moments when something particularly ridiculous happens. And that's what people really want to see!

A few ideas to get you started:

• Making a coffee

• Celebrating going viral

• Closing your laptop at the end of the day

-Maggie, Copywriter

Today on the YAP podcast…

Want even more ‘YAP’ing? Check out the full podcast here.

Ask the Editor

Q - My business partner and I are thinking about starting a podcast for our makeup brand. Do you think it's worth doing? -Sam

Hey Sam!

Creating a podcast is a great way to create content for your brand. Because not only will you have the longform version, but you can also cut that up into shorts to post on your social channels. It's also a cool way to get to know other people in your industry by bringing them on as guests.

The thing about podcasts, though, is a lot of people start them and very few make more than a few episodes. So if I were you, I'd start recording your first few episodes ASAP.

Then just keep getting your reps in, learning as you go. Don't spend too long in the planning phase—otherwise you may never actually start!

[You also might want to check out Your dummy-proof guide to (finally) starting a podcast]

- Charlotte, Editor ♡

For the group chat

😲WTF: TikTok plans immediate SHUTDOWN?!
❤How wholesome: Their reaction was gold
😊Soooo satisfying: Random restocks
🍝What you should make for dinner tonight: Vege fried rice

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