1. Bluesky CEO T-Shirt Mocks Mark Zuckerberg
Imitation has been said to be the sincerest form of flattery. But that isn’t always the intention. And sometimes imitation can also turn out to be profitable.
Bluesky CEO Jay Graber walked on stage at SXSW wearing a T-shirt that threw shade at Mark Zuckerberg and, amazingly, sales of those shirts in one day topped the amount earned by the company’s custom domain sales in two years. The newcomer social media company – now with more than 33 million users – sold out of the first batch and continued selling them through March 25.
Graber’s black T-shirt with black text was a lookalike for the one the Meta CEO wore onstage in September 2024. Zuckerberg’s tee, which he wore at a Meta event, read “Aut Zuck aut nihil,” a personal rework of the Latin phrase “Aut Caesar aut nihil,” which means “Either Caesar or nothing.” Graber’s not-so-subtle tee proclaimed, “Mundus sine caesaribus” or “a world without Caesars.”
Haters (and most likely some lovers) of the Meta (formerly Facebook) founder quickly noticed the shirts. Smartly, Bluesky jumped on the opportunity and started selling the now-sold-out oversize-fit tees for $40. Bluesky noted on the T-shirt product page that all proceeds benefit the AT Protocol developer ecosystem, the open network Bluesky is built on.
2. Starbucks Brews Up Global Merch Collab With ‘Peanuts’
Starbucks stores in more than 80% of the coffee chain’s worldwide market introduced an exclusive line of Peanuts-inspired merchandise, beverages and food items. This fun collaboration featured the beloved comic strip characters and Joe Kind Snoopy, a Snoopy persona only available at Starbucks that encourages people to connect through simple, everyday acts of kindness.
For a limited time in participating stores across the U.S. and Canada, fans grabbed mugs, stainless steel tumblers and cold cups featuring the Peanuts gang retailing for $17.95 to $29.95.
- The 24 oz. Peanuts Love Cold Cup, with double-wall construction and a flat lid with a straw, sports Joe Kind Snoopy listening to his best bird friend Woodstock relate a story in bird language.
- The 14-oz. Peanuts Friendship Ceramic Mug, with a light matte finish, features the entire Peanuts gang having fun together.
- The 16 oz. Peanuts Joe Kind Snoopy Stainless Steel Tumbler showcases Joe Kind Snoopy and Woodstock soaking up all the good vibes and love surrounding them. The mattefinish tumbler, which keeps drinks hot for 90 minutes and cold for four hours, has doublewall vacuum insulation, a spill-resistant flip lid and a tapered body for a comfortable grip.
You don’t need to be as big as Starbucks to utilize the power of promotional products to make a big brand impression. Contact APTCO today to get started.
Favorite Quotations
All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.~ Charles M. Schulz
