Marketing Excuses*
FEB
1

Sunday

February 1, 2026SEVERE

Problem

Super Bowl brand spend is inflating CPMs.

Excuse

1 / 40

Every advertiser suddenly thinks they're Nike.

Brand awareness budgets appear once a year, all at the same auction.

Sports

Also in effect on this date

The full docket. Any of these would hold up in a Monday standup.

  • The Super Bowl has consumed the entire concept of brand awareness.

    Sports · in effect Super Bowl (7d before through 2d after)

  • Every flower, chocolate, and jewelry brand in America is in the auction right now.

    Holidays · in effect Valentine's Day (13d before)

  • The national snack procurement economy has absorbed all discretionary spending.

    Sports · in effect Super Bowl (7d before)

  • Your creative is being benchmarked against ads that cost seven million dollars.

    Sports · in effect Super Bowl (7d before through 2d after)

  • Anyone planning to buy a TV this quarter bought it this week.

    Sports · in effect Super Bowl (7d before)

  • Every group chat in America is planning a party with a line-item budget.

    Sports · in effect Super Bowl (7d before)

  • Consumers are only buying things that can arrive by the fourteenth.

    Holidays · in effect Valentine's Day (13d before)

  • Nothing that cannot be gift-wrapped is selling this week.

    Holidays · in effect Valentine's Day (13d before)