Starbucks CEO flies to work, back-to-school dominates TikTok, and LEGO x Nike

Weekly Exhale

The new Starbucks CEO will enjoy a company jet to supercommute 1,000 miles from California to Seattle three days a week. If all targets are met, he’ll be paid over $100 million—roughly 10,000 times the median salary of a barista. He’ll also need a supply of fresh white shirts: Starbucks takeaway Grande coffees are filled-to-spill on you every time.?

Besides, who needs a jet when you have a Tesla, a suite at the Malmaison and tickets to the Birmingham 2024 Rubik’s Seedcubing Open? In his debut competitive event, my son clocked the slowest time, ranked 174th. He figured if you can’t come first, then be last—no one ever remembers anyone in the middle.?

The venue had a Costa Coffee, the only thing worse than Starbucks. But nothing matters when a Dad and son are on the road. He hung out with his tribe and clocked a new personal record. I was his Americano-wielding cubing Dad. It was a weekend to treasure—not for the perks or the coffee, but for the luck of bonding in the most unlikely of places.

Let’s rise together with every issue. ??

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Market Movements

UK energy prices to rise 10% in October | BBC

FTSE 100 falls, reliance on Shell and BP a factor | Independent

U.S. economic soft landing or Rockies letdown? | NY Times

Brand Beat

Back-to-school hauls are flooding TikTok. Where do brands fit in? | Vogue Business

Gap’s revival of its old-style ads is in full swing; here’s the latest | Gap

Google to become title sponsor of Netflix's Emily in Paris | Hollywood Reporter ?

As Netflix announces 150% increase in ad media conglomerate upfront sales | Netflix

New Starbucks CEO 1,000-mile corporate jet super-commute | New York Times

Just Eat junk food ads are banned | The Guardian

Nestlé CEO to step down amid poor share performance | Le Monde

Victoria’s Secret hires former CEO of Rhianna’s lingerie brand for $18m | Black Enterprise

LEGO and Nike announce multi-year partnership | Hypebeast

Ferrero debuts Nutella ice cream | The Grocer

How brands from Walmart to L'Oreal are stepping up their game in Roblox | Digiday

Luxury brands have a strict hierarchy. Burberry found out the hard way. | Wall Street Journal

System 1's ad of the week is for NHS Charities Together x ITV | System 1

Trending: Shake Your Plants, functional plant-powdered drinks | Thingtesting

Startup Spotlight

Founders of RXBAR sold to Kellogg's, raise $10m for new protein bar David | PR Newswire

Booby Biome shares ￡1.6m in funding for infant milk synbiotic | Booby Biome ?

AI creative advertising start-up Creatopy, raises a $10m series A | TechCrunch

Tech Tidbits

UK tech tycoon dies after superyacht sinking, his daughter still missing | Telegraph

Condé Nast signs deal with OpenAI | Wired

SpaceTech brands turn to lifestyle merch | Sifted

It's not us, it's you. Why women don't join Web3 | Maddyness

Venture Vibes

Conversation with the guy who wants to put $250m of 'marketing capital' in Bolt | Eric Newcomer

Former a16z partner buys private island for "techno-capitalist" school | TechCrunch

Carta’s inaugural VC funds Q1 2024? data is fascinating | Carta

The Craftory invests in cause-related consumer brands; check out this feature | Forbes

Design Driven

Dive into Transport for London Museum’s new identity | It’s nice that ?

Seven students design projects exploring women's health | Dezeen

A new ad delicately reframes death | Creative Review

Hello, Happiness

After the ecstasy, the laundry: The most important idea in Zen Buddhism. | Big Thing

Retrospective and heartwarming: Meet characters of the Route 31 London bus | iPlayer ?

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