The spirit of capitalism Christmas is in the air. And while the holiday season has traditionally been peddled as a time to buy shiny, new gifts, the recommerce industry seems optimistic about its prospects this year.

Companies like thredUP, Poshmark, and Recurate are rolling out holiday campaigns encouraging people to shop their used and upcycled collections, citing affordability and sustainability as reasons why consumers should choose to buy secondhand.

Lerzan Aksoy, interim dean and professor of marketing at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, told Marketing Brew that with inflation this holiday season, “getting more affordable, recycled, reused products will be one way to alleviate that pain that people are experiencing in terms of affordability.”

But with other retailers unveiling holiday deals for new products and a possible stigma around gifting used items, how is the recommerce industry getting its message across?

Click here to keep reading.—KH

In recent months, two celebrities—Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) and Kyrie Irving—have seen their brand deals take a hit after antisemitic public statements and actions. Adidas and Nike were two of those brands, having made lucrative deals with the rapper and Brooklyn Nets player, respectively.

Experts told us the manner and speed with which each brand responded could impact their image going forward.

To recap the Ye saga:

• In early October, Ye made a series of anti-Black and antisemitic statements on podcasts, TV, and social media that led to his Twitter and Instagram accounts being temporarily locked.
• Balenciaga cut ties with Ye on October 21.
• On October 25, Gap said it was “taking immediate steps” to remove all Yeezy Gap products from its shelves and shutter the Yeezy Gap website. (In September, Ye said he had ended his partnership with the retailer.)
• That same day, Adidas announced it too had officially severed ties with Ye, whose partnership was valued at around $1.5 billion according to Forbes, following weeks of public pressure to do so.

Mark DiMassimo, founder and creative chief of creative agency DiGo, told Marketing Brew it was a mistake for Adidas to wait as long as it did to announce it would no longer be working with Ye while working out the details internally.

“They could have said immediately that this is unacceptable to us,” DiMassimo said. “Of course, there would have been a cost, but it was a foregone conclusion.”

Continue reading here.—KH

Retail Brew’s latest series, Package Deal, will look at how iconic packages took shape. First up? The honey bear. Read an excerpt below or click here for the full piece.

It all began in 1946, when Ralph Gamber, an Armour meat salesman in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, returned home with three beehives he bought for $27 at an auction. Not an ideal scenario, perhaps, for his wife, Luella, who was allergic to bee stings and bee pollen, but she still signed on with their plan to start a modest side business: Dutch Gold Honey.

By 1957, the honey business was ticking along, although not so well that Ralph didn’t keep working as a meat salesman. One evening they had another couple over to dinner, Rita and Woodrow Miller, also beekeepers, who were visiting from California. The conversation turned to the topic of whether there was a honey package that might get more—what else?—buzz.

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Break it down: Which platform performs best for each industry? This infographic has some ideas.

Behind the mic: What’s the current state of diversity in podcasting? Get the scoop on the representation convos happening at Advertising Week—and how brand safety comes into play—in our latest article, sponsored by MNTN.*

^{*This is sponsored advertising content.}

2022 marks 25 years since Starbucks first debuted its annual holiday cups. The (often) red cups are an iconic brand symbol and have become their own pop culture phenomenon, signaling the arrival of the holiday season (and Chestnut Praline Lattes).

We’re celebrating this branding legend with a gift card giveaway. Simply click below and enter for the chance to win one of five $50 Starbucks gift cards—and keep the Peppermint Mochas flowing all winter long!

Do you kick off your Thanksgiving with soup? That’s the pitch Campbell was trying to make in 1922.

Catch up on a few Marketing Brew stories you might have missed.

• Our takeaways from Marketing Brew’s first annual summit
• World Cup’s US ad sales reach records in an unusual year
• Advertiser fallout at Twitter continues