Starbucks is a great example of how to create a positive buzz around a brand and goodwill with consumers by aligning themselves with an eco-friendly cause. Starbucks announced recently that it's phasing out plastic straws in all its 28,000 stores by 2020. The company plans to replace the straws with cold-cup plastic lids that can be recycled, unlike the current straws, which are too small and light.

If I had a dollar for every time "bringing the brand to life" appeared in an experiential marketing presentation, I could retire early.

Social media is a crucial channel for beverage brands to reach customers. A Facebook IQ study showed that more than one in three people use Facebook or Instagram at bars and also share photos of their #cocktail and #craftbeers on the platforms.

They can achieve bigger and better sales across your business.

With the deaths last month of American fashion designer Kate Spade, 55, and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, 61, media outlets, ranging from Hollywood tabloids to national news have been shedding light on the rising suicide rates across the nation. What you won't find in the headlines of Hollywood magazines: the highly stigmatized issue of mental illness among minority populations.

Following the abrupt retirement of Campbell CEO Denise Morrison in May, much has been made of the impending doom of large food and beverage manufacturers. Reports indicating that "their business models and pricing power are crumbling" abound. One could be forgiven for assuming that these manufacturers are simply scrambling to delay the inevitable, and that, eventually, the music will stop.

Millennials. It seems every business, journalist and pundit is trying to figure out this up-and-coming generation. Research abounds on their attitudes and preferences for work, play, family and home. One of the most common observations is the innate fluency these 18-to-34-year-olds have with technology.

We're all still recovering from one of the most exciting World Cups in history. While the U.S. Men's soccer team was sorely missed from this year's games, we sat back and marveled as fandom drove sales for Mexico's team jersey through the roof, making it the number 1 jersey sold across 23 states.

The month-long tournament is over with France as the victor, and that means it's time to reflect on what the World Cup and certain advertisers have taught us this year.

Recent data on Gen Z digital consumption by social platform tells a concerning story for Facebook. A new report from the Pew Research Center the study showed YouTube leads the pack of internet platforms for Gen Z. About 85% of kids 13 to 17 say they use the video service, followed by Instagram (72%), Snapchat (69%), Facebook(51%) and Twitter (32%).Another survey from Pipar Jaffray has only has 9% of teens saying Facebook is their preferred platform, while Snapchat paces ahead.