 |
|
|
|||||
The concept of menu hacking, or modifying an existing fast-food menu item with a few ingredient tweaks, has been around for years. But with the rise of food-based content creators on TikTok, #menuhack has become its own genre of content, spawning trends from a McDonalds ice cream dipped in coffee to a Starbucks Frappuccino inspired by the Barbie movie. Amid this flurry of custom orders, few menus have been hacked more than Taco Bells. Now, Taco Bell is formalizing menu hacking with a new feature called Fan Style. The tool, which is currently available via Taco Bells app for the brands Rewards members, lets fans design their own custom orders, name them, and earn extra Rewards points when other fans order them. Later this year, Taco Bell plans to select some of the most popular Fan Styles to appear on its national menu. [Photo: Taco Bell] Taco Bell isnt the first fast-food giant to land on the bright idea of turning menu-hacking culture into an actual product offering. In 2022, McDonalds launched its own limited-time Menu Hacks menu. In 2023, Chipotle launched a fajita quesadilla inspired by a TikTok trend. And early this month, Starbucks turned its iconic secret menu into an actual rotating menu inspired by online drink creations. As digital ordering becomes increasingly popular and social media powers a constant food trend cycle, fast-food hacks are no longer reserved for fans in the know. Now, theyre an integrated part of the ordering experience. [Photo: Taco Bell] Taco Bell menu hacks take off According to Dane Mathews, Taco Bells chief digital and technology officer, the companys digital salesincluding via the app, kiosks, and third-party deliveryhave grown 37% year over year. Now, 42% of Taco Bells total sales come through digital channels. Alongside the move away from in-person ordering has come a spike in customizations: Today, 66% of all Taco Bell app orders contain at least one customized product. Over the past few months, Taco Bell fans on TikTok have found countless ways to remix the brands relatively limited ingredient profile into custom creations, whether that be to score a better deal, make the chains classic offerings a bit healthier, or to boost the flavor profile of a plain bean-and-cheese burrito. While Mathews says that having a personal go-to order has been a status symbol of true Taco Bell fandom for decades, its certainly becoming a more mainstream concept. Fan Style elevates menu hacks out of the comment sections and gives the biggest fans an opportunity to earn points, ad placements, and even a spot on the national menu, he adds. How to use Taco Bell “Fan Style” Feature To create a Fan Style order, users can navigate to the Fan Style section of the app and build an item as they see fit, adding and subtracting ingredients until it matches their preferences. Then, theyll need to save the custom order to their profile by clicking the share button and giving it a personalized name. Imagine Dan Made This Style: a Cheesy Gordita Crunch that removes the Spicy Ranch and adds Creamy Jalapeo Sauce and jalapeos for extra spice, a Taco Bell press release suggests. [Photo: Taco Bell] From there, users can share their menu hack order on social media, which will allow them to receive Rewards points anytime someone else orders their Fan Styleturning the feature into whats essentially a free marketing blitz for Taco Bell. [Screenshot: courtesy of the author] Unfortunately, the app itself doesn’t currently display others’ Fan Styles, so fans have to find them on social media or through Taco Bell’s out-of-home ad campaign in order to actually try someone else’s creation. Sometime later this year (the company didn’t provide specifics), Taco Bell will select a few Fan Styles to appear on the national menu for a limited time. When it comes to potential logistical challenges associated with giving fans free rein to hack the menu, Mathews says that isnt a major concern, considering that employees have become pretty familiar with assembling customizations in recent years. [Photo: Taco Bell] Whether it be swapping protein choices, adding craveable sauces [like the all-new Sweet Chipotle BBQ], or hacking a rendition to emulate a retired favorite itemour team members have always helped bring these customizations to life, he says. Like with Starbucks’s new secret menu feature, Fan Style gives Taco Bell a simple way to tap into viral trends without actually creating those trends in-house; essentially outsourcing the ideation process to the creators who already do it best. As fast-food giants catch on to fans desire for individualized orders, its safe to say that the “secret menu” is not so secret anymore.
Category:
E-Commerce
Sextech has always operated without the safety nets most industries take for granted, and because of this, entrepreneurs in the space have become experts at navigating structural barriers. Whether in the face of ad bans, payment processor restrictions, social taboos, regulatory gray areas, or even economic downturns, sexual wellness brands have continued to innovate and expand the market, which was estimated at $42.6 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $82 billion by 2030. But in 2025, with President Trumps ongoing trade war with China creating economic whiplash, sextech brands are scrambling to adapt. Its incredibly difficult to create a strategy during times of economic volatility because its impossible to predict what will happen next, says Polly Rodriguez, cofounder and CEO of sexual wellness brand Unbound, whose products are manufactured in China. Any long-term strategy is null and void. So instead, weve stayed . . . nimble, working closely with our manufacturers and freight forwarders to respond to daily changes in trade policy. Polly Rodriguez [Photo: courtesy Unbound] To help absorb the cost increases that tariffs have levied on her business, Rodriguez says shes started bundling freight costs, cutting back on packaging, and sending goods via slower carrier methods. Right now, tariffs on Chinese-made goods stand at 51%, but that could balloon to 145% if a trade deal is not reached by August 12. Either way, Rodriguez says there wont be any going back to business as usual. If the first 100 days of this administration have taught me anything, it’s to expect nothing but sheer chaos, she says. I’m not expecting any long-term stability anytime soon. [Photo: courtesy Unbound] Todays political and economic climate has become even more challenging by the global reality of manufacturing: Most of it happens overseas. An estimated 70% to 80% of the world’s sex toys are made in China. That includes the raw materials sourced from mainland China, not to mention the custom molds, which are too heavy to transport stateside. Currently, there is just nowhere else in the world that can manufacture the goods we make anywhere close to the level that China can, Rodriguez says. It does not make financial or economic sense to move our manufacturing out of China, and I think anyone worth their salt in the adult industry would agree with me. [Photo: courtesy Unbound] Still, she insists this crisis has only strengthened her relationships with suppliers. Over the last nine years, we’ve developed lasting relationships with the individuals who run these manufacturing facilities, Rodriguez says. They are an extension of our company, and there would be no Unbound without them. We share holiday greeting cards, baby and vacation photos, and look forward to visiting them every year in Shenzhen. We care not only about their businesses but about them as individuals, as our partners and friends. [Photo: courtesy Unbound] An industry under attack While founders like Rodriguez are weathering the economic turbulence, a broader conservative resurgence, particularly in the U.S., is impacting sexual wellness brands as well. Were seeing brands in this space really struggle right now, says Bryony Cole, sextech founder and global trends expert. Whether its Sephora pulling back from their sexual wellness section or investors becoming more cautious, anything tied to sexuality or bodily autonomy feels under attack right now. For an industry that was finally gaining mainstream legitimacy, breaking into national retailers and riding the tailwinds of the MeToo movement, todays cultural climate feels like a sharp reversal to the progress made over the past decade. There was this influx of optimism and innovation 10 years ago, Cole recalls. We thought female-founded brands were finally going to make it. But today, its more like were operating in the shadows, just trying to withstand the storm. And though Cole notes that sextech has never operated in a truly stable environment, the difference now is the scale and intensity of that volatility. Cole, who founded Sextech School, a pre-accelerator designed for entrepreneurs, job seekers, and investors entering the sextech market, points to a wave of diversification as founders explore digital education, alternative revenue streams, and community-based funding strategies. /p> At Sextech School, we think a lot about how to move beyond just delivering physical products, Cole says, noting that there are online programs and new verticals available. People are getting smarter by necessity and fostering more support for one another within our community. But lean operations are only part of the survival equation. So is faith in the long arc of cultural progress and the staying power of sexual wellness. In 1970, only 1% of women used vibrators, Rodriguez says. Today, its over 65%. That trajectory doesnt reverse just because a bunch of old white men are uncomfortable with us enjoying our bodies. Still, neither Cole nor Rodriguez is naive about what lies ahead. Cole worries that many small businesses wont survive the combined pressures of economic chaos and social regression. Its tough to predict, she says. But I always talk about through-topia, the idea that even amid dystopia and utopia, some incredible things can still emerge. . . . We just have to hold the line and keep going.
Category:
E-Commerce
This year alone, companies have announced over 740,000 job cuts so far, a high since 2020. And thats just in the US. But for a growing number of professionals (even before 2025), the solution hasn’t been in polishing their résumés, but in building personal brands that create true job security for them. Building a personal brand can let you: Showcase your talents Create an audience/network Get people to know who you are, what you do, and what to come to you for When done well, a strong personal brand attracts job offers before roles are even posted, leads to consulting or speaking opportunities, and opens the door to new networks that cant be accessed with a résumé alone. For me, building my personal brand over the past 10+ years has meant creating content online (mostly on LinkedIn & Twitter), and writing for publications like Entrepreneur, Inc., The Next Web, and many others. All these efforts have opened a lot of doorsfrom starting out as a freelance writer to running a six-figure content marketing agency, and then eventually becoming the cofounder of Leaps (an AI platform that helps people and teams turn their raw expertise and experience into content that builds their personal brands). For this article, I spoke with four professionals whove used their personal brands to turn their careers around. Andres Vourakis, a data scientist, built a safety net of opportunities and extra income after layoffs shook his early career. Ana Calin left a 15-year executive role and became the creator of one of Substacks fastest-growing newsletters, giving her complete freedom and a thriving business. Paul O’Brien, a veteran marketer, leveraged his reputation to evolve from the SEO guy into a thought leader on startup economics and public policy. And Joei Chan, once a content marketing leader, turned unemployment into a creative rebrand that now draws clients who want her to tell their truth, show up fully, and build their brand with authenticity. We got into fears, breakthroughs, identity work, and how building a personal brand is transforming not just their careers, but their lives. From layoffs to lightbulbs What made you realize you needed a personal brand, and how did that moment spark your journey? Andres Vourakis: I was unfortunately laid off early in my career, and that experience opened my eyes to the real meaning of job security. I realized that job security wasn’t about working hard to become an essential worker, because at any moment, a business could decide to let you go. And over the past few years, I’ve seen many talented friends become victims of massive layoffs in tech. Thats when it really clicked for me: real job security is staying future-proof. Building my personal brand is not only allowing me to grow, share my data science expertise, and connect with lots of great people, but its also helping me generate extra income. It helps me sleep better at night knowing that my livelihood wont be decided by a business that may no longer find my work valuable tomorrow. Ana Calin: I didnt set out to “build a personal brand.” I just wanted freedom. I had just left my 15-year executive role; big title, global travel, the whole you made it package. And yet, I felt done, ready for something that felt mine. I remember staring at a blank LinkedIn post, wondering what to say. I had no niche, no strategy, no idea what people would care about. But I wrote anyway, about quitting, about reinvention, about starting from scratch. And people listened and responded. That was the spark. From that one post came DMs, leads, and ultimately a real business. The first step: finding the confidence to show up What was your very first step in building your personal brand, and what gave you the courage to share it publicly? Joei Chan: The first real step was launching Brand New, my Substack newsletter. I was freshly unemployed, creatively raw, unsure of my next chapter. But I had this deep urge to tell the truth. To turn my mess into a message. So I started writing. When I started posting online after being fired, there was definitely hesitation. I worried about looking unprofessional, scaring off future employers, or being labeled as emotional or difficult. But now I see vulnerability as a creative strategy. Its not oversharing, its storytelling that names the deeper truth and helps others feel less alone. From there, I started a video series called “Rebranding My Life After Losing My 9 to 5.” It was scrappy and personal, just me, documenting the messy middle. Paul O’Brien: Having come from Yahoo! and then helping HP take advantage of search engine optimization (SEO) and Google, it just clicked and made sense to kick off my personal brand and start sharing my expertise in public. What gave me confidence was that in 2002, very few people knew how to do SEO. Confidence to put yourself out there often comes from knowing that people will find value in what you have to offer. Ana Calin: I stopped trying to sound smart and started sounding like myself. I didnt have a niche, and I wasnt selling anything. But I had real stories about quitting, reinventing, and failing forward. I wrote a post on LinkedIn about walking away from my executive role. And it wasnt the highlight reel; the actual messy version. No strategy or call to action, but just truth. That one post brought in over 50,000 views. And that gave me the nudge I needed. The unexpected rewards of showing up authentically Looking back, whats one surprising way your life or career has improved because of your personal brand? Ana Calin: I thought I was building a brand. Turns out, I was building a life. One with no boss, no Sunday scaries, no pretending. I found my voice, the one I had buried under professionalism for 15 years. And when you find your voice, everything shifts. And you stop chasing opportunities, you start choosing the ones to accept as they come, thanks to your personal brand. Joei Chan: I feel more me than I have in years. What began as a career crisis became the greatest rebrand of my life. It led me back to my voice, my creativity, and a deeper truth: The branding and creative work I love isnt just strategic, its spiritual. And unexpectedly, this is the work people now come to me for: helping them reclaim their own story and show up fully as themselves. Paul OBrien: Being out there lets you evolve over time, as we all do. I started out known for SEO; I even leaned int it with the nickname SEOBrien, thanks to my early work at Yahoo! and HP. But as I kept writing and sharing, my interests shifted toward startups, economic development, and innovation. Over time, the content I created followed that shift, and so did my audience. Now, instead of being known for search, Im sought out for my work as a startup economist and my perspectives on public policy for entrepreneurs. That evolution wouldnt have happened without a personal brand that allowed me to grow in public. Andres Vourakis: Its improved my confidence, my ability to communicate ideas, and even how effectively I do my work as a data scientist. Ive spent so much time reflecting on what I do and why I do it, especially when creating content, that I now have way more clarity in how I approach problems and explain my thinking. Your story is your safety net Traditional job security is fading away fast. I cant count how many top performers Ive seen with impressive résumés who are finding themselves out of work with little warning. But what does exist, and is increasingly powerful, is the ability to position your skills and experience in a way that makes people want to work with you. Thats what a personal brand does. It makes you visible, builds trust, and shows not just what you do, but how you think. And that combination attracts new opportunities (job offers, clients, collaborators, even investors) often before roles are ever publicly posted. Personal brands are the new, real job securitythe safety net that ensures people know who you are, what you bring to the table, and why youre worth betting on. So start now. Start sharing your expertise, your story, your perspective. The earlier you build your brand, the more protected, and in demand, youll be.
Category:
E-Commerce
All news |
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||