It's been another weird week in retail. Oreos got a Supreme-ly ridiculous makeover, McDonald's designed more merch and Puma leaned on tech in a new marketing campaign.
This, and more, in this week's retail therapy.
Supreme goes after consumers' pantries
Sometimes a brand has such a powerful following, consumers are willing to shell out absurd amounts of cash for products that are likely already in their home. Supreme is one of those brands.
The fashion label has sold everything from a brick, to a pack of Hane's T-shirts, to a porcelain baby cupid figurine (OK, maybe you don't have that last one lying around the house).
Well, Supreme is back at it again, but this time with a popular snack brand. Oreo teamed up with the fashion label to release a co-branded red cookie, the New York Post reports.
Supreme x @Oreo
— The Supreme Saint (@TheSupremeSaint) February 17, 2020
Coming Soon. pic.twitter.com/I6vlUpOBq5
And in true Supreme fashion, the double stuffed red cookie is severely overpriced. The products have already hit NYC Supreme stores, but will be made available online next week.
And while spending over $2.65 per cookie may seem ridiculous for something that usually costs about 8 cents, it's one of the more affordable options Supreme has released. But fans better act fast. The cookies are reportedly being resold on eBay for up to $4,000.
We're not here to tell you where to spend your money. We're just here to judge those decisions.
Yankee Candle's got some new competition
It seems as though fast-food companies are churning out more merchandise than fast-fashion companies. We've seen everything from a Popeyes streetwear drop, which seemingly was inspired by Queen Bey, to Taco Bell-branded ugly holiday sweaters.
And McDonald's, which has released a few questionable products in the past (remember the McDelivery Couch, which featured a built-in McFlurry cooler?), blessed consumers with a new wave of merchandise geared toward those who love the Quarter Pounder. Among the most questionable? A set of scented candles inspired by the burger.
The set, which isn't yet available for purchase, includes six candles of differing scents: bun, ketchup, pickle, cheese, onion and 100% fresh beef.
But unusual candle scents have been cropping up more and more lately. Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop lifestyle brand released a candle earlier this year that raised a couple of eyebrows, Dairy Queen unveiled a collection inspired by its famous frozen treat and the Delaware History Museum is selling a candle that smells like a certain presidential candidate.
Though a fast-food chain selling candles seems unusual, it may actually prove to be a smart move. According to Grand View Research, the global candle market (yes, people are researching this) is projected to reach upwards of $6 billion in the next five years.
So even though a Quarter Pounder-inspired candle set is something straight out of our fast-food nightmares, McDonald's will rest easy on its pile of cash.
Puma's futuristic promotion
Innovative marketing and tech advancements help set apart players in the retail space. So forcing the two together equals even more success, right? Well, not quite.
Puma, in partnership with Havas Media Group, used holographic activation to promote the release of its Sky Dreamer sneakers. During the 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago, the digital advertisements were seen on the roofs of parked cars near prominent landmarks in the city.
"We have to move beyond media planning and into building great media experiences for consumers and audiences," Greg James, Havas Media Group's global chief strategy officer, said in a statement. "With this innovative technology, we're able to deliver a great media experience to PUMA's audience - it's 2020!"
It's different. It's the future. It's also freakin' weird. But hey, at least the sneaker brand is trying new things. That's more than we can say for a good chunk of the industry.
Let the wedding bells ring, even for the dogs
We're in that time of the year where holiday cards are replaced with save-the-dates. Though it's hard to picture the warm wedding-filled days of June while suffering from February's latest frigid blast, they'll be here before we know it.
Pets are becoming increasingly important members of the family, especially as people delay traditional timelines, like getting married or having kids. But when you do decide to tie the knot, make sure you include your trusty pooch in the celebrations.
To help with that, dog apparel brand Sebastian Says created custom bridalwear so your day one friend will be ready for the big day. Crisp white blouses with pearl accents will turn every head as your dog makes its way down the aisle. And for $100, this may be one of the least expensive items on your wedding day checklist.
We all know someone out there who's going to dress up their dog no matter how hard it protests. So instead of forcing your furry pal into some tacky tuxedo garment, as least dress them in something a bit more luxe.
