In a world in which digital marketing continues to grow, a new brand is still mailing a catalog for the first time every month. That’s not the strange part, however. What is strange is WHO is mailing these catalogs: e-commerce retailers. Amazon, Wayfair, One King’s Lane and Everlane are just a few examples of formerly online-only brands that took the leap into the catalog sphere. Ironically, one such catalog I received in the mail is called “OnlineShoes.com”! Furthermore, brands which have traditionally sold through brick-and-mortar stores are increasingly adding catalogs to drive traffic to both their website and stores. In many cases, these brands have discovered that by adding a catalog to the marketing mix, customer value increases fourfold! According to the Direct Marketing Association, close to 90 million Americans currently purchase from a catalog. Interestingly, nearly 60 percent of them are women. So why do catalogs still work in a digital world? Check out our recent blog to learn more at: https://www.jschmid.com/blog/designed-for-growth-the-catalogs-resurgence/

U.S. chains dominate an annual ranking of the world’s most valuable restaurant brands. With its brand value up 5% to $42.6 billion, McDonald’s has reclaimed the top spot in Brand Finance’s annual report of the 25 most valuable and strongest restaurant brands in the world. Together, the brands had a combined value of $190.1 billion. Only five international companies cracked the list. Starbucks fell to second place from the top spot last year. Its brand value fell 4% to $37 billion as tougher competition in key markets, including China, limits the impact of its improving store performance. Rounding out the top five were KFC (brand value up 8% to %16.5 billion, Subway (brand value up 18% to $9.5 billion) and Chick-fil-A (brand value up a whopping 44% to $8.1 billion.) Here are the top 10 brands in Brand Finance's 2026 Restaurants ranking.  McDonald’s (brand value: $42.6 billion) Starbucks ($37 billion) KFC ($16.5 billion) Subway ($9.5 billion) Chick-fil-A ($8.1 billion) Tim Horton’s ($7.4 billion) Domino’s Pizza ($7.1 billon) Taco Bell  ($6.9 billion) Wendy’s ($4.9 billion) Pizza Hut ($4.9 billion) The remaining 25 brands are listed below. 11. Dunkin’ 12. Mixue (China) 13. Haidilao. (China) 14. Burger King 15. Chipotle 16. Olive Garden 17. Texas Roadhouse 18. Jollibee (Philippines) 19. Luckin Coffee (China) 20. Popeyes 21. Greene King (U.K.) 22. Chili’s 23. Greggs  24. Longhorn Steakhouse 25. Dutch Bros

After the first seven days of FIFA World Cup action, through 24 matches, viewership is now more than double the total for the 2022 event in Qatar. Viewing for the event is now up 116%, averaging 5.7 million average minute viewers on Fox Television Network, FS1 and Tubi, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel and Adobe Analytics. Through sixteen games so far on Telemundo, Peacock, and Telemundo digital platforms, these matches with Spanish-language commentators have averaged 5.3 million. The highest-rated match so far was Mexico-South Africa, with 10.1 million viewers.