It's been another weird week in retail. Crocs teamed up with Hidden Valley Ranch for a tasty collab, Dunkin' partnered with DTC paint brand Backdrop to bring its signature colors to life and Michelob announced it will award consumers free beer for working out.
This, and more, in this week's retail therapy.
Crocs, Hidden Valley Ranch team up for the coolest collab of the year
With summertime right around the corner, it's time to light up the grill and dust off everyone's favorite clogs.
To make getting in the spirit even easier this year, Crocs came together with the maker of the ~coolest~ condiment at the barbecue: Hidden Valley Ranch.
The collaboration was first announced on the NTWRK app Wednesday during "Family Style To Go," a two-day virtual festival launched in partnership with streetwear brand The Hundreds to help support local restaurants, according to details emailed to Retail Dive.
The Crocs come in an off-white color featuring green flecks reminiscent of Hidden Valley's famous ranch dressing. The collab also features Jibbitz charms inspired by the best foods to dip into ranch dressing, like french fries, chicken nuggets, veggies and pizza.
Through the NTWRK app, fans had the chance to pre-order a pair of the Hidden Valley x Crocs shoes, which will be released later this year. Unfortunately, the company said the pre-sale products have since sold out.
But don't fret, Crocs said the shoes will be available for purchase on its website by the end of 2021.
Dunkin' makes a splash with latest collab
The home sector of retail has experienced exponential growth this past year as more consumers took on projects to help make their "new normals" a little more comfortable.
From desk chairs to refrigerators to outdoor patio heaters, it appeared there wasn't a room in the house consumers didn't touch this year.
And it appears Dunkin' is trying to capitalize on the trend as well.
In collaboration with DTC paint brand Backdrop, the coffee chain introduced a limited-edition collection of paints inspired by its signature pink and orange color palette. The paint will be available in half gallons for $39 and sold exclusively on Backdrop's website.
"With home improvements on the rise this year, we're thrilled to team up with Backdrop to give Dunkin' devotees the opportunity to really bring home their love for our brand with a fresh coat of paint for the ultimate home décor," Jamie Kelly, associate manager of strategic partnerships at Dunkin', said in a statement.
The collection, which marks the first time the DTC is making its paint available in half gallon sizes, will be limited in number, so the companies encourage both devoted coffee lovers and designers alike to shop the products early.
This isn't Dunkin's first foray into merchandise, though. The coffee chain has previously partnered with Saucony to release a pair of sneakers in honor of the Boston Marathon and introduced nail polish colors inspired by its signature drinks.
The workout motivation we've been looking for
When the pandemic took hold, many consumers became even more conscious about their health. Sales of at-home gym equipment shot up and the pandemic accelerated the shift of consumers seeking out more natural products and ingredients.
But to help make getting in your daily exercise even more enticing, Michelob Ultra wants to reward individuals who work out with free beer.
The beer brand is encouraging people to get outdoors and get active, whether through running, push-ups, yoga — you name it — and in return, will provide them with some post-workout drinks.
To take advantage of this offer, individuals must download the MyCooler app and upload proof that they worked out through a post-workout selfie or screenshot of a workout summary page, the company said. Then, Michelob Ultra will email participants a $5 digital pre-paid card to buy beer.
"Workouts that end with a 'cheers' are the best kind! As the world begins to safely reopen, Michelob ULTRA's Beer Run looks forward to people being active together and rewarding them for doing so with a refreshing beer after a run or workout," Ricardo Marques, vice president of marketing, said in a statement.
