The Contender

Signals From the Edge

Stories from the frontlines of rebellion.Insights, ideas, and playbooks for brands that break from the pack - and build what’s next.
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Website images of Poshmark, ThredUp and Depop
February 20, 2025

Poshmark: Clarity on personas & pain points is crucial to growth

Every brand – especially as it scales – hits a moment where things feel off. Learn the signs of a brand identity crisis and how to get un-stuck.
Takeaways from the Edelman Trust Barometer including "The Rise of Zero Sum" and "People value empathy over power"
February 19, 2025

Trust is in crisis: Edelman Trust Barometer

We read the 78-page Edelman Trust Barometer (a survey of 33,000 people in 28 countries), so you don’t have to.
February 13, 2025

Valentine’s Day paid ads we love!

A love letter to the Challenger Brands making us swoon this Valentine’s Day with cheeky and oh-so-shareable paid ads.
Collage of Superbowl ads
February 10, 2025

Superbowl 2025 ads on our “silly spectrum”

We ranked 61 Superbowl 2025 Ads on a scale from 0 (serious) to 10 (ridiculous). Because when incumbents zig, challengers zag.
January 31, 2025

14 welcome emails from Challenger Brands

We signed up for 100 Challenger Brand newsletters to find out.
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