Summer gives brands a bigger playground.

Maybe it is the heat. Maybe it is the longer days. Maybe it is the fact that everyone is suddenly a little more willing to romanticize a beverage, a lip balm, a beach towel, a tiny little treat from the gas station, or the exact right pair of sunglasses.

Whatever it is, all of a sudden, a product becomes a personality trait. A color feels louder. A flavor feels nostalgic. A campaign feels more alive because the season is already doing half the work. People are outside more, staying out later, craving colder things, brighter things, easier things, and anything that makes the day feel a little more cinematic.

So, naturally, we asked each ENC lady to bring one summer brand they cannot stop thinking about.

Six women. Six brands. Six tiny case studies in why some things just land harder when the temperature hits “are we okay?” and the group chat starts planning around pools, patios, road trips, beach bags, airport outfits, and the sacred 3 p.m. little treat.

For Jessica, it is OLIPOP. Specifically, Cherry Vanilla

There is something about cracking open a crisp soda in the middle of a hot day that feels like a full personality reset. It is cold, nostalgic, a little playful, and just sweet enough to feel like a treat without sending you into full gas station fountain soda chaos. It gives post-errand reward, the “I deserve something fun, but I would also like to remain a person with functioning digestion.”

For Elizabeth, it is Fishwife Tinned Fish

After visiting a dear client of ours (Amara) and getting to taste her signature Tableside Tin Fish, I've been on a kick. Love a big bowl of fresh farmer's market greens, crisp sugar snap peas, and there is nothing I am a sucker for more than a beautifully packaged tin of fish. Fishwife is no exception - they are colorful, funky, fresh, and tasty in all the right ways. Their artwork is stellar, their website is optimized .. I have no notes!

For Channing, it is Good Weather Skin‍

SPF in the Summer? Important. Beautiful brand execution? Arguably even more important:) I'm a sucker for brands that make everyday routines feel a little more elevated, and GWS does exactly that. The colors, the packaging, the whole vibe feels bright, fresh, and like summer in the best way. It somehow makes something as practical as sunscreen feel fun!

For Marly, it is Cure Hydration

I'm always on the hunt for helpful ways to stay hydrated, especialllly in the summer. This brand is the one I reach for every time in the Whole Foods aisle. Out of all the other options, this one catches my eye first without a doubt. Maybe it's the color, maybe it's the imagery on the packaging itself, maybe it's the flavor options themselves, it's the or maybe it's the story and vision behind the brand... but honestly it's probably all of those reasons! A dream product is something that not only works and tastes good, but looks just as good, too!

For Ellyse, it is Bimba y Lola

If summer jewelry had a brand, well here she is. The brand was birthed in Spain by two sisters with impeccable taste. Their collections are fresh and bold and feel truly out of the box. In a world of so much sameness, this one has really caught my eye (and heart).

For Lanya, it is Flamingo Estate‍

I meannn if we want to talk about a summer brand we have to talk Flamingo Estate. Not only do they have a curated collection of products that make me feel like im living a euro summer, they're also all beautifully designed and intentionally packaged. I personally love their tomato candle and their olive oil as they live all summer long in my kitchen. P.S. You can customize the olive oil label with a little note for the sweetest personalized gift! Im telling you, they get it!

‍

That is what makes summer branding so interesting. You do not always need a full rebrand to feel newly relevant. Sometimes you just need to understand the season your audience is living in and shift the way your brand shows up inside of it.

More mood. More texture. More context. More reasons to be reached for right now.

‍