Blog
Drops can be messy—fans get wild, hype goes off the rails, and things don't always go as planned. Welcome to our unfiltered take on what works, what doesn't, and why we're all still obsessed
From $85 to $10,500: How Labubu Turned a Blind Box into a Blockbuster
A toothy little monster just sold for 123x its retail price on eBay. Discover how Labubu's blind box drops created a new investment class where emotional attachment plus engineered scarcity equals massive financial upside.
Fanfare Team
8/6/2025
Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans and American Eagle Has Its Wings Back
Sydney Sweeney's latest drop with American Eagle isn't just selling denim—it's moving stock prices. Learn how this celebrity collaboration lifted AE's stock 16% and created a blueprint for fandom-driven commerce that scales from screens to balance sheets.
Fanfare Team
7/24/2025
When Hype Backfires: Why Bad Drops Spawn Bad Blood and Chargebacks
Bad drops don't just lose sales—they create viral backlash and expensive chargebacks. Learn how bot-ridden queues and crashed checkouts turn loyal fans into bitter critics, and discover the five moves to bulletproof your next launch.
Fanfare Team
7/8/2025
Hype + Loyalty: The Ultimate Power Couple
How to fuse high-heat drops with modern loyalty programs to create fan obsession and drive revenue. With U.S. consumers belonging to 16.6 loyalty programs but actively using less than half, it's time to make yours matter. We break down how to integrate velvet-rope exclusivity with points-based rewards to boost LTV, kill bot traffic, and turn casual shoppers into devoted fans.
Fanfare Team
6/25/2025
Making Waves in the Bathtub: Inside Sydney Sweeney's Viral Soap Drop
Start with one part internet-favorite actress, add a dash of bathwater-themed absurdity, and drop it on a fandom hungry for a moment. The result? A crashed server, a sold-out product, and a lesson in how modern hype is made. This is the story of how Dr. Squatch and Sydney Sweeney traded hygiene for history.
Fanfare Team
6/11/2025
Why Every “Can’t-Miss” Drop Feels Like Déjà Vu
High-heat launches like the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders often result in website crashes, broken queues, and frustrated fans. This article explores the systemic issues behind these failures, the brand fallout, and how a fan-centric approach with fairness, transparency, predictability, and reward can turn chaos into a competitive edge.
Michael Dodsworth
4/29/2025
Ticket Bots vs Real Fans
The live events industry is facing a growing problem of bots outpacing real fans in ticket sales. In this post, we explore the reasons behind the bot problem and discuss potential solutions to restore fairness in ticketing.
Michael Dodsworth
2/9/2025
Elements of Scarcity - Limited Time
Time-based scarcity is a powerful marketing strategy that creates urgency and drives consumer action. In this final post of our scarcity series, we explore how limited-time offers and seasonal availability can enhance product desirability and influence purchasing decisions.
Adam Stone
12/12/2024
Beyond Black Friday
Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2024 saw record-breaking sales—but the real opportunity lies beyond the holiday rush and into the heart of December shopping. Discover how to transform these high-intent BFCM shoppers into loyal, year-round customers using strategic drops, personalized engagement, and data-driven retention techniques.
Michael Dodsworth
12/3/2024
Elements of Scarcity - High Demand
Explore how excess demand can be leveraged in marketing to create social proof and drive consumer interest, as part of our series on scarcity.
Adam Stone
11/28/2024
Elements of Scarcity - Limited Supply
Scarcity is a powerful marketing tool that can drive consumer desire and create excitement around your products. In this first post of our series, we dive into the concept of limited supply—whether through small production runs or exclusive releases—and how it impacts purchasing decisions.
Adam Stone
11/21/2024