Welcome to The Weekly Starter.
If you've already started thinking about the weekend, you're right on schedule.
Here's a free 5 minutes of productivity.
We've rounded up the week's best marketing campaigns, biggest business moves, and one more ace to add to your deck before Monday rolls around.
🥣 Simple Mills — Announcing Absolutely Nothing
Why It Worked: Rather than promoting something "new," Simple Mills launched a campaign celebrating the fact that nothing changed—their products were already made without ultra-processed ingredients. It's a refreshing example of building trust through transparency instead of hype.
💡 Steal This Idea: Great marketing doesn't always require a new product—sometimes credibility is the campaign.
🐔 Mighty Spark — Astoundingly Delicious Chicken
Why It Worked: Mighty Spark combined connected TV, Costco expansion, and real-world sampling at pickleball tournaments and youth soccer events into one coordinated campaign. Instead of trying to reach everyone, they showed up where their ideal customers were already spending time.
💡 Steal This Idea: You don't need a viral stunt if you can consistently show up where your customers already are.
🥨 PRETZELIZED × Crayola — Back-to-School Snackers
Why It Worked: PRETZELIZED partnered with Crayola to create packaging kids can color, complete with crayons inside every multipack. Instead of relying on a massive media budget, the product itself became the marketing.
💡 Steal This Idea: When you can't outspend the competition, create a product experience people want to talk about.
🧰 Stanley — All Build. No Bull.
Courtesy of Stanley Black & Decker
Why It Worked: Stanley introduced "Stan," a wisecracking talking toolbox that pokes fun at industry buzzwords and overcomplicated tools. The campaign proves that even traditional industries can stand out by showing personality and speaking their customers' language.
💡 Steal This Idea: The fastest way to earn attention is to sound like a human—not another corporate brand.
🥣 South Block
Why You Should Care: PE-backed acai and juice chain South Block just opened its 27th location and is on track to more than double its footprint across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. With aggressive expansion plans backed by Savory Fund, expect increased spending on local marketing, grand opening campaigns, and customer acquisition as each new market comes online.
Decision Makers:
Amir Mostafavi – CEO & Founder
Andrew Smith – Managing Partner, Savory Fund
🍕 Mellow Mushroom
Why You Should Care: Mellow Mushroom signed six new franchise deals during the first half of 2026, is entering Montana for the first time, and introduced a new smaller-footprint prototype designed to accelerate expansion. Leadership expects even more franchise agreements before year-end, creating ongoing opportunities for local advertising around new openings.
Decision Makers:
Jamie Cecil – VP of Franchise Development
🔥 Timber Pizza Co.
Why You Should Care: Timber Pizza Co. announced multi-unit expansion into Georgia and additional Mid-Atlantic markets while rolling out a new customer loyalty platform. As the brand grows beyond its regional footprint, expect heavier investment in awareness campaigns, grand openings, and customer retention marketing.
Decision Makers:
Luke Watson – CEO
Chris Brady – Co-Founder
🥧 The Peach Cobbler Factory
Why You Should Care: One of the country's fastest-growing dessert franchises continues expanding with another Michigan opening, bringing its footprint to more than 135 locations across 26+ states. Rapid franchise growth means a steady stream of local marketing campaigns and grand opening promotions in new communities.
Decision Makers:
Larry Johnston – Chairman & CEO
🏢 Vast Coworking Group
Why You Should Care: Following its acquisition by New State Capital Partners, Vast Coworking Group appointed Chris Baszto as Chief Marketing Officer to lead marketing across its portfolio of flexible workspace brands. A new CMO combined with private equity backing is often a strong indicator of increased investment in branding, demand generation, and franchise marketing.
Decision Makers:
Chris Baszto – Chief Marketing Officer
Jason Anderson – Chief Executive Officer
🃏 Ace #1: Check Their Careers Page
Before sending your next prospecting email, spend 30 seconds on the company's Careers page.
Hiring for:
Marketing? They're investing in growth.
Sales? They need more demand.
Multiple locations? Expansion is likely underway.
Mentioning one of those observations instantly makes your outreach feel more relevant.
🃏 Ace #2: Comment Before You Post
Instead of creating another LinkedIn post today, leave one thoughtful comment on someone else's.
The best comments teach, challenge, or add perspective—not just "Great post!" You'll often get more visibility (and conversations) from a strong comment than from your own post.
🃏 Ace #3: Use the "Congratulations + Question" Formula
When a company announces funding, an expansion, or a new hire, don't immediately pitch them.
Start with:
"Congrats on the expansion! Curious—what's been the biggest challenge getting the word out?"
Questions start conversations. Pitches usually end them.
The companies that win next year aren't waiting for next year. They're hiring, expanding, testing, and launching today.
Keep paying attention. Opportunity rarely announces itself twice.
Have a great weekend.
Cheers!
