PIGEONS AND PANDAS ARE RUNNING THE WORLD🐼
FT. PURELY ELIZBETH'S FOUNDER ON THEIR NEW LINE AND MAMAN COLLAB
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CAMPAIGNS:



The Year of the Drag-…Pigeon: The morning GQ announced Barry Keoghan as their February cover star, our world was completely, utterly, rocked. (And NOT just because of those photos.) One of our friends, Madison Kennedy, reminded us that pigeons are EVERYWHERE these days, including Emma Chamberlain’s shoot with Warby Parker, and SJP’s iconic JW Anderson pigeon bag. Not really sure how we got here, but here for the Pigeonaissance nonetheless.
Warby Parker’s Star-Studded Collection: Speaking of Warby Parker, they just dropped their Spring 2024 collection featuring Jemima Kirke, Malik McIntyre, Brandon Flynn, Erica Ha, Connie Korenovsky, and Antonia Gentry. The frames in this collection celebrate the intersection of design and cinematography. Is this part of a larger design trend, or does the drop just make sense given we’re knee-deep in film award season?



Kosas’ Shade Matching TikTok Filter: As part of their new Reveleaer Concealer campaign, Kosas dropped a find-your-undertone filter on TikTok. (It’s worth noting that Fenty Beauty launched the OG shade-matching filter last summer.) Regardless, we will see more beauty brands invest in similar technologies in the future. An example is Merit who promoted their online “Find Your Shade” tool this week. Interesting timing…
PARTNERSHIPS:
Kung Fu Panda Takes Food and Beauty: The movie partnered with Tower 28 Beauty and Fly by Jing this week to kick off the Lunar New Year. Products aside, this partnership was a smart way for both Tower 28 and Fly by Jing to highlight their Asian heritage in a climate where founders are moving away from being the face of their brands.
LAUNCHES:
TRUFF’S Hot New Green Sauce: Meet Jalapeño Lime Hot Sauce, TRUFF’s first-ever green sauce, which launched yesterday. The product blends their iconic truffle recipe with “the colorful spirit of Latin cuisine.” Curious to see where the brand will go post-SKKY investment.
Purely Elizabeth’s Dessert-Inspired Line: There is nothing better than a nice big bowl of yogurt and granola. Oh wait, there is: Purely Elizabeth’s NEW Cookie Granola.



In classic PEOPLE BRANDS AND THINGS style, we had to chat with Elizabeth Stein and get a firsthand account of this launch. Why does she think dessert-food mashups are so successful? Why cookies? What is PE’s approach to collabs? Here’s everything she shared:
PEOPLE BRANDS AND THINGS: Why do you think dessert-food mashups are so popular? (See: L’Appartement 4F’s viral croissant cereal.) Why cookies for this line?
Elizabeth Stein: I think consumers love mashups because they like the idea of familiar with a twist and the sense of joyfulness that comes out of it. I think people are seeking more joy in their lives and that extends to food. Joy is the key to wellness!
We chose cookies for the Cookie Granola mashup as it’s the sweet snack I always wished I had a healthier version of. Cookie mix was actually one of our first products back in 2010. This was certainly inspired by that!
PBT: What is your approach to launching new products today and how has that changed since you started the brand?
ES: We actually haven’t changed our approach to innovation. Over the last 14 years, our focus has always been on bringing something incremental to the category, never a me-too item, utilizing the most nutrient-rich ingredients while making the product taste absolutely delicious whether you are health conscious or not. It's something we've been really proud of, and I've loved seeing how it resonates with our customers.
PBT: We’re big fans of your past collaborations, namely with Deux and Tinx’s Erewhon smoothie. What is your approach to collabs and can we expect anything soon related to this launch or beyond?
ES: We love a great collab and have been selective of only doing them with the right partners that feel authentic to the brand. We just launched a collab with one of my favorite cafes, maman, on two limited-edition menu items inspired by our Cookie Granola! For the month of January, you can get a Chocolate Chip Cookie Granola Latte or Cookie at all of their locations in the US.
We're also doing a special gift bundle filled with the collab cookie, a diner mug, apron, and of course cookie granola that is available to ship nationwide if you can't make it to the store. We also have some other exciting collabs in the future I can't wait to share!
Anything you want to see here? Any feedback? All comments welcome! Email (or DM) us: PeopleBrandsAndThings@gmail.com.