The WNBA Revolution: Unprecedented Growth in 2024 Season

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This past season, the WNBA saw unprecedented growth in viewership, attendance, and player endorsements. The league’s regular season viewership soared to an average of 1.19 million viewers across ESPN platforms, marking a staggering 170% increase from the previous year. This surge in popularity was reflected in attendance figures, with the league averaging 9,807 fans per game, up 48% from the 2023 season.

The increased visibility has translated into more lucrative endorsement deals for players. Angel Reese, for instance, recently signed a multi-year contract extension with Reebok, including plans for a signature shoe in 2026. This deal places her among an elite group of only six active WNBA players with signature shoe contracts, compared to over 30 active players in the NBA.

The WNBA also partnered with Kim Kardashian’s brand SKIMS as the “official underwear of the WNBA.” The campaign included basketball legends like Candace Parker and Cameron Brink, as well as DiJonai Carrington, Kelsey Plum, and Skylar Diggins-Smith.  

Despite the league’s growth, player salaries remain a point of contention. The current collective bargaining agreement provides for a rookie minimum salary of $64,154 and a veteran supermax of $241,984. In response to the league’s success, the WNBA Players Association has opted out of the current CBA, aiming to negotiate better compensation and benefits that reflect the sport’s growth. To further underscore its upward trajectory, the league’s expansion plans include increasing the number of regular season games to 44, and adding new teams including the Golden State Valkyries in San Francisco in 2025, and two others coming to Toronto and Portland in 2026. With record-breaking social media engagement and a 413% increase in WNBA social media interactions in addition to the increases in viewership and game attendance, the stage is set for continued growth in the 2025 season.

Disney Parks’ Holiday Transformation Drives Year-End Success

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Every year, Disney’s theme parks undergo a six-week transformation as they transition from Halloween to the winter holiday season. This change, planned over 12 months, begins about two weeks before Halloween with crews working overnight to maintain the parks’ magical atmosphere during operating hours.

The seasonal shift from autumn-themed decorations to holiday adornments has proven to be a significant revenue driver for Disney. The experiences division, which includes parks, cruises, hotels, and consumer products, reported revenue of $9.13 billion for October – December 2023, which was notably higher than other quarters’ earnings of $7-8.3 billion.

Both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort offer unique holiday experiences while maintaining their distinct character. Walt Disney World features Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and the new Jollywood Nights, while Disneyland is known for its extensive holiday ride overlays, including “it’s a small world” Holiday. Both destinations showcase sparkling ornamented trees, festive character costumes, limited-time food and beverage options, exclusive merchandise, and special entertainment by mid-November.

Over time, the transformation has evolved to include light shows and projection mappings. The parks have also embraced cultural inclusivity through events like EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays. Disney’s sustainability efforts have intensified in recent years with energy-efficient lighting and eco-friendly decorations. This combination of tradition and innovation has been successful in encouraging visitors to make annual traditions and repeat visits. Particularly from local parkgoers, the holiday season typically sees increased attendance which helps makes it one of Disney’s most successful periods.

Mountain Dew Joins the Retro Revolution

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A wave of nostalgia is sweeping through corporate America as major brands return to their roots, with Mountain Dew becoming the latest to embrace retro-inspired design. The beverage giant announced its first major brand refresh since 2009, planning to “reclaim the mountain” with a visual identity that harkens back to its 76-year heritage.

This strategic pivot to vintage-inspired branding reflects a broader industry trend. Pepsi recently ditched its modern logo for a simplified design that echoes its past, while Burger King recently made headlines by eliminating the blue swoop it added in 1999 in favor of a more classic look. Coca-Cola has been consistently leveraging its heritage, featuring its iconic script logo and vintage-inspired packaging across campaigns. Even in the fashion sector, Levi’s has amplified its historical appeal, while sportswear giants Adidas and Nike regularly release retro-inspired collections that capitalize on decades-old designs.

The attraction to vintage aesthetics isn’t just about looking backward. According to Umi Patel, VP of consumer insights and analytics at PepsiCo Beverages North America, the nostalgic approach has tested particularly well with Generation Z and millennial consumers. Mountain Dew’s new design incorporates elements from its past, including the reintegration of the word “mountain” and a nod to its founding date of 1948, when it was created as a mixer in the Tennessee Smoky Mountains. The updated logo also hints at this and utilizes vintage travel poster-inspired mountain imagery, and citrus-themed colors evocative of the brand’s outdoor heritage.

This trend toward heritage-inspired branding reflects consumers’ desire for authenticity and familiarity in an increasingly digital world. As brands compete for attention in a crowded marketplace, the strategic use of nostalgia has emerged as a powerful tool for creating emotional connections with consumers while maintaining brand relevance for future generations.

FTC Takes New Steps to Protect Consumers and Fair Competition

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The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has implemented a new rule to protect consumers and promote fair competition. Now in effect, the rule bans the sale and purchase of deceptive reviews, granting the FTC authority to impose civil penalties against knowing violators.

Customer reviews are essential for small businesses to build credibility and increase sales and reviews that aren’t real erode consumer trust, harm businesses dependent on authentic feedback, and leave small businesses vulnerable to unfair negative reviews from bad actors.

According to FTC Chair Lina Khan, such reviews harm consumers by misleading them and unfairly disadvantaging honest competitors. She noted that the regulation seeks to enhance transparency and promote a fair, trustworthy marketplace.

This new rule by the FTC specifically prohibits reviews and testimonials attributed to non-existent individuals, generated by artificial intelligence, or written by people with no real experience using the product or service. It also bars businesses from creating or purchasing fake reviews and prevents employees or insiders from posting misleading testimonials.

Companies caught engaging in these practices—whether by buying fake reviews, issuing baseless legal threats, or using intimidation tactics—will face penalties. This move aims to deter unethical businesses from manipulating public perception while leveling the playing field for legitimate competitors.

Consumers can report suspicious activity and violations directly to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

This regulation reflects the FTC’s ongoing efforts to enhance accountability and restore consumer trust in the online marketplace, ensuring businesses compete fairly and honestly.

From Spooky to Merry: Spirit Halloween’s Festive Transformation into Spirit Christmas

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Spirit Halloween, the seasonal retailer famous for its Halloween pop-up stores, is now moving into the Christmas market with a pilot program of 10 “Spirit Christmas” stores. This strategic expansion aims to capitalize on the lucrative holiday shopping season, which saw an estimated $964 billion in consumer spending last year. The company started with a flagship store in Mays Landing, New Jersey which opened on October 18 and will be opening additional stores in November across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

By transforming vacant storefronts and applying their successful pop-up store model, Spirit aims to create a distinctive holiday shopping destination that stands out in the competitive Christmas market. The company stated, “we’re hopeful it will resonate with our customers. Our goal is to create a festive retail experience that captures the spirit of the season, much like we do for Halloween.”

The new Spirit Christmas stores will offer a wide range of holiday merchandise including decorations, apparel, inflatables, stocking stuffers, and gifts. To enhance the customer experience, the stores will also incorporate unique, immersive elements such as a life-sized gingerbread village, a North Pole letter-writing station, and photo opportunities with Santa Claus.

This venture marks a significant opportunity for Spirit Halloween to diversify its revenue streams and extend its operational calendar beyond the Halloween season. By leveraging its expertise in temporary retail spaces and seasonal merchandising, the company is well-positioned to compete in the crowded holiday market. The success of this pilot program could potentially lead to a broader rollout in future years, marking Spirit Halloween as a major player in the seasonal retail industry.