Welcome to The Shoppe ! In this week’s edition, we’re sharing new Instagram features, Super Bowl ad planning, Mamba Mentality, and Halloween in the wake of COVID-19. Tune in every week to see what made headlines.

Instagram Announces Replacement of Nametag Feature with QR Codes

Instagram has announced the launch of QR codes allowing users to open profiles through any capable camera app. Unlike the previous “nametag” feature that offered users codes only scannable through the Instagram app, QR codes can now be printed and scanned with any external camera. Businesses can now display their QR codes to easily direct customers to their profiles. To generate your QR code, go to the settings menu and select QR code.

Super Bowl LV 30-Second Ad Spots Expected To Cost $5.5M

30-second commercial spots in the 2021 Super Bowl are now estimated to cost $5.5M, with an additional cost of $200k to appear in the event’s online stream. The total ad revenue of the 2020 Super Bowl was $525.4M, reaching over 100M viewers, costing advertisers $5.6M for a 30-second appearance. While experts still predict massive reach and high ratings this year, marketers are cautious of their advertising investments due to the prevailing uncertainty of the fall football season.

Nike Honors Kobe Bryant Legacy with “Mamba Week”

Bryant’s long-standing partner has launched a week of programming and product launches to honor his legacy, beginning on what would have been his 42nd birthday. Featuring a variety of Nike’s top athletes, the brand released a 90-second ad spot, narrated by Kendrick Lamar, paying tribute to Bryant’s Mamba Mentality. Nike also launched a landing page showcasing Mamba Mentors and what they’ve learned from Kobe, as well as live streams, virtual events and challenges for visitors to participate in. In addition to this, the brand made a $1M donation to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, an organization that focuses on providing equal sports opportunities to girls and empowering underserved communities through youth sports. 

Mars Wrigley Announces Virtual Trick-Or-Treating Platform

In an effort to combat the impact of the COVID-19 on seasonal sales, Mars Wrigley has announced plans to launch “Treat Town,” a digital platform for virtual trick-or-treating. The interactive platform will go live on October 1st, allowing customers to redeem credits for candy in stores across the country. From M&M’s and Snickers, to Skittles and Twix, consumers can expect to see all of their favorite Halloween treats featured!

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