August Marketing Rundown: 6 Must-Know Stories That Shaped the Month

The landscape of August marketing was set already due to back-to-school and back-to-college campaigns. However, there were other players in the same set of markets ready to steal the attention.  

Right, we are talking about attention whether it is deserving or not. Attention is the market’s new currency and we have deep dived in our articles.  

Without any further ado, we are going to read six major news stories that have shaped August marketing, and you must know what they are.  

Apple’s ‘No Frame Missed’ Puts Parkinson’s Patients at the Center of Accessibility 

Apple has put Parkinson’s patients at the center of the stage through its new ad campaign, ‘No Frame Missed’. We have been seeing this for a long time, that Apple never ceased to surprise its audience with unique takes on marketing.  

Now, the new campaign has made a statement on accessibility. The ad highlights how iPhone’s advanced camera stabilization supports people living with Parkinson’s, capturing steady, blur-free moments that were once hard to hold on to. 

In the spot, real patients are shown filming everyday life, and the result is striking: technology becomes less about specs and more about empowerment.  

It’s also a clever brand move. While competitors race to push AI and flashy filters, Apple is quietly reminding the world that accessibility is a necessity. Be it privacy, camera, music; Apple doesn’t let its magic falter for a second. 

Serena Williams Under Fire for Promoting DTC Weight-Loss Drug 

Serena Williams is no stranger to headlines, but this time, she is facing backlash due to the promotion of DTC GLP-1, a weight loss drug.  

The campaign was supposed to position her as a health-forward icon, but instead it sparked a storm of criticism. Noting that her husband is also an investor in the company.  

Fans and medical professionals alike are questioning the decision. On one hand, critics argue that Williams, celebrated for her strength and athleticism, risks undermining her legacy by promoting a product linked to quick fixes and body-image pressures. On the other hand, some supporters see it as a business move in a booming DTC health market. 

The backlash also reflects a larger conversation: celebrity endorsements in wellness aren’t always received, and neither are sneakers or skincare. Whether this blows over or reshapes her brand image depends on how Williams responds.  

WPP COO Andrew Scott to Retire at Year-End, Big Shakeups Ahead 

Andrew Scott, WPP’s long-serving Chief Operating Officer, is set to retire at the end of 2025, marking a major leadership shift at one of the world’s biggest ad firms. 

Scott’s journey began in 1999 as Director of Corporate Development and saw him rise to Global COO in 2018.  

Along the way, he led nearly every major acquisition and divestiture that transformed WPP, including purchases like Satalia and InfoSum and strategic exits like the sale of Kantar and FGS Global. 

In the meantime, he’ll stay on as a senior advisor to smooth the transition and support strategy execution. 

It’s a moment of high drama and high stakes for WPP. Between reshuffling the C-suite and grappling with AI-driven shifts and growing client self-sufficiency, the company faces big questions and new leadership answers to come. 

Cracker Barrel’s Logo Redesign Sparks Culture War 

Cracker Barrel was between a rock and a hard place after redesigning its ‘old timer’ logo.  

They tried modernizing its brand—ditching its 1977 “Old Timer” logo (a man leaning on a barrel) for a sleek, text-only design. But what felt like a simple refresh exploded into a full-blown controversy. 

Logos get changed. Branding gets tweaked. But, brands must not heed to political controversy and that’s what happened in the Cracker Barrel case. Right-wing voices, led by Trump Jr. and Don Sr., seized the opportunity, slamming the change as an attack on tradition and “woke” culture. 

From creative and strategic points, there could be arguments against the logo redesign, but what’s with right-wing big names fueling a simple logo debate? The answer is all about grabbing power, establishing authority, and bending people under pressure.  

However, Backlash wasn’t just online noise. A YouGov poll found 76% preferred the old logo, and the brand saw a near $100 million drop in stock value, before reversing course within days. 

e.l.f. Cosmetics Gaslights Consumers with Matt Rife in a New Campaign  

e.l.f. Cosmetics tried a tongue-in-cheek move with its latest “e.l.f.ino & Schmarnes” campaign, portraying drag icon Heidi N Closet and comedian Matt Rife as “beauty attorneys” prosecuting overpriced cosmetics.  

But the plot twist? Rife, still infamous for a 2023 domestic-violence joke, triggered a wave of outrage online. Just days earlier, the brand raised prices, by $1 across the board. Fans saw it as a slap in the face disguised as satire. “You didn’t have the budget for a comedian who doesn’t joke about abuse?” became a recurring question. 

e.l.f. responded—apologizing publicly through Instagram posts and admitting they “missed the mark.” Their CMO called the backlash surprising and emphasized they intended humor, not harm. 

Gap’s KATSEYE Ad Is a Viral Denim Refresh 

Gap just dropped a denim ad that’s not about genetics but about vibe. Their “Better in Denim” campaign features global pop group KATSEYE dancing to Kelis’s Milkshake in a high-energy, Y2K-inspired throwback.  

Each member brings their own flair: Low-rise flares, corseted jackets, undone jeans—it’s individuality in motion. Sophia even demonstrates just how stretchy Gap jeans are by doing splits on camera. 

Launched amid fallout from a rival denim campaign, Gap’s move is strikingly strategic. Users are calling it “denim as you define it.”