Homepage
Open in app
Sign in
Get started
Krispy Kreme Found a Way to Make Vaccine FOMO Even Worse
Krispy Kreme Found a Way to Make Vaccine FOMO Even Worse
Brands rush in to help end the pandemic with vaccine doughnuts and other marketing stunts
Rob Walker
Mar 22, 2021
Why Are We Picking Vaccines Like They’re Toothpastes?
Why Are We Picking Vaccines Like They’re Toothpastes?
An angsty public is turning the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines into a dangerous brand battleground
Rob Walker
Mar 10, 2021
Here’s the Real Scandal With Voting Machines
Here’s the Real Scandal With Voting Machines
Why one of the most important technological objects in a democracy has been such a sleepy industry
Rob Walker
Mar 1, 2021
How Beloved Texas Grocer H-E-B Became the Ultimate Catastrophe Brand
How Beloved Texas Grocer H-E-B Became the Ultimate Catastrophe Brand
The chain continues to deliver in hurricanes, pandemics — and now energy grid disasters
Rob Walker
Feb 23, 2021
The Winner of the Robinhood Backlash Is — Robinhood?
The Winner of the Robinhood Backlash Is — Robinhood?
In recent weeks the stock trading app has been in reputational free fall. So why is it more popular than ever?
Rob Walker
Feb 16, 2021
How Oatly Outsmarted the Super Bowl by Being as Annoying as Possible
How Oatly Outsmarted the Super Bowl by Being as Annoying as Possible
The oat milk brand played meta-level advertising jujitsu
Rob Walker
Feb 9, 2021
How Clubhouse Won the Elon Musk vs. Robinhood Faceoff
How Clubhouse Won the Elon Musk vs. Robinhood Faceoff
Silicon Valley’s new favorite social platform just had a breakthrough moment
Rob Walker
Feb 2, 2021
What This Year’s Super Bowl Ads Reveal About Our Wacky Economy
What This Year’s Super Bowl Ads Reveal About Our Wacky Economy
DoorDash, Triller, and Robinhood are taking the field, while Budweiser and Pepsi sit it out
Rob Walker
Feb 1, 2021
How Dr. Martens Became the Most Surprising IPO of the Pandemic
How Dr. Martens Became the Most Surprising IPO of the Pandemic
The rebel boot persisted — even when no one was wearing shoes
Rob Walker
Jan 31, 2021
The Real Reason So Many Companies Are Ditching Trump
The Real Reason So Many Companies Are Ditching Trump
Corporate America’s sudden change of heart has less to do with politics and more to do with chaos
Rob Walker
Jan 11, 2021
Actually, That Absurd Axe Tweet Is Important
Actually, That Absurd Axe Tweet Is Important
Trump has finally pushed companies to pick a side
Rob Walker
Jan 8, 2021
Slack’s Outage Was the Best Thing That Could Have Happened to the Company
Slack’s Outage Was the Best Thing That Could Have Happened to the Company
When it comes to accidental branding moments, this one will go down in the books
Rob Walker
Jan 5, 2021
One Company’s Pandemic Shortage Is Another’s Golden Opportunity
One Company’s Pandemic Shortage Is Another’s Golden Opportunity
How companies like Canon are cashing in on the shortage boom
Rob Walker
Nov 8, 2020
Walmart Fooled Us Into Believing It’s an Underdog
Walmart Fooled Us Into Believing It’s an Underdog
The retail behemoth actually sold $523 billion last year — way more than Amazon
Rob Walker
Oct 7, 2020
How Slack Became Boring
How Slack Became Boring
In the war for the remote office, why isn’t the hyped messaging app pulling a Zoom?
Rob Walker
Sep 15, 2020
The Pandemic Was the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Wayfair
The Pandemic Was the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Wayfair
But what happens to the online furniture retailer as the world opens back up?
Rob Walker
Aug 24, 2020
Why TJ Maxx Doesn’t Need E-Commerce to Survive the Pandemic
Why TJ Maxx Doesn’t Need E-Commerce to Survive the Pandemic
Forget contagion, bargain shoppers want the thrill of the in-person treasure hunt.
Rob Walker
Aug 5, 2020
Why Investors Are Still Betting on Carnival Cruise Lines
Why Investors Are Still Betting on Carnival Cruise Lines
What’s driving the irrational optimism for an industry least likely to survive a pandemic?
Rob Walker
Jul 20, 2020
How the Roomba Became the Pandemic’s Unlikeliest Winner
How the Roomba Became the Pandemic’s Unlikeliest Winner
In the midst of a recession, even the company was surprised by the increased demand for a $1,000 vacuum
Rob Walker
Jun 24, 2020
Companies Are Trying to Plan for 2 Different Futures Right Now
Companies Are Trying to Plan for 2 Different Futures Right Now
And it’s impossible
Rob Walker
May 20, 2020
Nascar Races to Save Live Sports — and Its Own Reputation
Nascar Races to Save Live Sports — and Its Own Reputation
The fading sport’s last shot for relevance is in the form of a splashy post-pandemic televised return
Rob Walker
May 14, 2020
Why Most Post-Pandemic Predictions Will Be Totally Wrong
Why Most Post-Pandemic Predictions Will Be Totally Wrong
Just examine all the predictions we made during 9/11 and the Great Recession
Rob Walker
Apr 19, 2020
The Recession’s Calling Bullshit on “Mission-Driven” Companies Like Everlane
The Recession’s Calling Bullshit on “Mission-Driven” Companies Like Everlane
If you can’t uphold that mission when it really counts, how much of a strategic misfire was declaring it in the first place?
Rob Walker
Apr 12, 2020
Nike’s Secret for Surviving the Retail Apocalypse
Nike’s Secret for Surviving the Retail Apocalypse
Why struggling retailers should be studying Nike’s pandemic strategy in China
Rob Walker
Apr 6, 2020
When a Pandemic Becomes a Company’s Ultimate Branding Opportunity
When a Pandemic Becomes a Company’s Ultimate Branding Opportunity
Zoom, GoNoodle and Domino’s are treading carefully as the coronavirus hands them a rush of captive, willing new customers
Rob Walker
Mar 26, 2020
About Marker
Latest Stories
Archive
About Medium
Terms
Privacy
Teams