‘Grimace shake’ TikTok trend boosts McDonald’s sales
June 30, 2023
A TikTok trend that shows people posting videos of themselves playing dead and covered in McDonald’s purple “Grimace shakes” has led to a surge in sales for the new beverage. “If I were a marketer trying to create a viral campaign, I don’t know that I would’ve said, ‘Hey, drink my milkshake and die,’” said Wendy Zajack, faculty director of marketing at Georgetown University. “But it connects to a generation. And at the end of the day, it’s boosting sales. It’s getting people to try a purple milkshake.”
Grimace McDonalds Shake is Shaking Things Up
The new Grimace McDonalds shake has boosted sales for the brand in ways the company did not plan for.
We’ve already seen the benefits of the McDonald’s streetwear Happy Meal collaboration, and now the strangest viral video is going around TikTok.
This new set of Grimace McDonalds videos is not the result of a McDonald’s marketing team, rather, some random kids decided to do what many users of TikTok do; create a seemingly funny short video with the potential to go viral.
In this case, the video gained traction, and more users decided to copy the video and do their own versions, resulting in a chain-reaction of Grimace McDonalds videos making their rounds.
McDonald’s is a company fortunate for unintended viral marketing, as a similar event occurred for the brand in 2020 with one of their previous happy meal collaborations.
Recent News
Media Giants Depend on Sports As Content Shortages Rise
As Hollywood emerges from last year’s strikes, major media companies are turning to live sports to attract audiences and advertisers. This trend was evident during this year’s Upfront presentations, where media giants showcased their upcoming content and advertising opportunities.
New Trader Joe’s Opens in SF After 10 Years
San Francisco’s Hayes Valley neighborhood welcomed a highly anticipated new addition on May 17, 2024, with the grand opening of a Trader Joe’s at 555 Fulton St., on the corner of Laguna Street. This event marks the end of a decade-long wait for residents who have been eagerly looking forward to a new grocery store in their area.
China’s Property Market Boost: Stocks Surge, Copper Hits Highs
The Chinese government unveiled a comprehensive support package that has sent ripples through financial markets. This initiative includes a slew of measures aimed at stimulating housing demand and addressing the excess inventory burdening developers. The immediate impact was a significant rally in Chinese stocks and a surge in commodity prices, notably copper, which hit record highs.
Mercedes-Benz Workers in Alabama Reject Union
In a pivotal moment for autoworkers in the southern United States, employees at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama have voted against joining the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. The outcome, with 56% of workers voting against unionization and 44% in favor, comes as a significant setback for the UAW’s efforts to expand its influence in the region.