Marketing

Swatch’s Slanted-Eye Blunder: A Costly Lesson in Cultural Blindness

By The Malketeer Over the weekend, the Swiss watchmaker issued a rare global apology after pulling campaign images featuring an Asian male model tugging at his eyes in the stereotypical “slanted eye” gesture. For Chinese consumers, the gesture isn’t just tone-deaf—it recalls decades of racial taunts. The backlash on Weibo

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The NexGen Show Episode 27: Are Influencers Necessary?

How do you go from crunching research data to shaping beauty campaigns that resonate? In Episode 27 of The NexGen Show, Demi Tan shares how her passion for consumer-facing work led her to marketing for the cosmetics industry, but she still finds relevance in her research roots. “We’re heavily involved

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Hermes to Handcuffs: Branding Lessons from a $3 Billion Scandal

By The Malketeer When 460 luxury goods, 58 gold bars, and properties worth $3 Billion become part of a national clean-up operation, the headlines naturally focus on the scandal. Yet, for the branding and marketing industry, Singapore’s largest money laundering case offers a cautionary masterclass on the fragility — and

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Brand Malaysia is Winning Hearts Through Culture, Tech, and Purpose

By The Malketeer Malaysia’s advantage is more than geography or GDP growth. It lies in the rich interplay of its diversity, digital fluency, and a fast-rising, purpose-driven consumer base. The brands that master this trifecta won’t just win market share — they’ll set the regional benchmark for excellence. Culture Beyond

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American Brands Boycott Fever Hits India

By The Malketeer From McDonald’s fries to Apple’s sleek gadgets, American brands have long been symbols of aspiration in India. They’ve tapped into a swelling middle class hungry for international labels. But a new storm is brewing — and it’s not on Wall Street. In the wake of President Donald

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