Seems like Everyone's Rebranding. Should you be, too?

Walmart. Amazon. KIND. Range Rover. Eventbrite. Cracker Barrel...

2025 seems to be the year of the redesign.

Have you noticed?

Big brands are quietly (and sometimes not-so-quietly) updating their identities with new logos, new campaigns, and new messaging. Some changes are subtle; others spark internet chaos. While it’s easy to scroll past them like just another visual update, these rebrands actually say a lot about where branding is headed, and what smaller businesses can learn from it.

Let’s talk about what’s happening, and why it matters more than you might think.

Who’s Rebranded So Far in 2025?

Just a few names you might recognize:

• Range Rover introduced a mirrored “R/R” motif and tweaked wordmark.

• Eventbrite rolled out a monogram called The Path.

• MSNBC renamed itself 'MS NOW' and dropped the NBC Peacock.

• Walmart did their first brand refresh in 20 years: new font, new "True Blue."

• Cracker Barrel – Well... we all saw how that went.*

• Amazon, Adobe, RE/MAX, OpenAI, Uber, Spotify, La-Z-Boy, Mindbody... and the list goes on.

If you rewind to 2024, Jaguar rolled out a sleek, minimalist redesign, and that one was controversial, too. It was a clean break from heritage in favor of a forward-facing identity that left the Internet divided.

So, yes. The rebrand train is moving. Fast.

But why now?

For most of these companies, rebranding is tied to strategy: shifting perceptions, modernizing for new platforms, and staying relevant in a hyper-digital world. That could mean dropping the frills (like Walmart and Jaguar), building a stronger digital-first presence (like Eventbrite), or resetting public narrative (like MS NOW).

On the surface, a rebrand can look like a design update, but behind the scenes, these changes are almost always driven by bigger shifts... in the business, in the market, or in the wider world. Today’s consumers look different, shop differently, and make decisions based on different values than they did even five years ago. Rebranding becomes a way to visually align with where the business is going. It's often a way to say, “Hey, we still see you, and we’re evolving with you.”

Branding has to do more heavy lifting now. Logos need to scale from giant signage to a social media avatar. Fonts need to read well on a phone screen. A brand’s whole vibe has to translate across platforms, content formats, packaging, email footers, YouTube thumbnails... you name it. Clean, flexible, responsive design isn’t optional anymore.

We’re in a visual economy. Your audience is exposed to hundreds of brands a day, just from scrolling. If your visual identity feels generic, dated, or confusing, people skip right past you. Brands are rebranding now, not just to look “fresh,” but to get noticed, and stay memorable in a crowded space.

Then there's cultural relevance. This one is trickier, but it’s real. Consumers expect brands to feel current and tuned in. That doesn’t mean jumping on every meme or viral trend**, but it does mean regularly asking, “Does our brand still reflect the world our customers live in?” A rebrand becomes a signal of cultural awareness, and a subtle way to say you’re paying attention.

So... what’s this got to do with you?

You’re not Walmart.

You’re not Jaguar.

You probably don’t have millions to invest in a rebrand (if you do, call me 👀) or a room full of consultants analyzing your font choices.

But, if all these global brands are rethinking how they show up… maybe it’s worth asking yourself the same.

Does your brand still feel like you? Is your logo actually working for the platforms you use now? Have your audience or offerings evolved since you last updated anything? Are people seeing your business the way you want to be seen?

You don’t have to throw everything out and start fresh. In fact, many rebrands aren’t full overhauls but slight refinements like a cleaner typeface, a more flexible color system, or a tagline that finally says what you do instead of trying to sound clever.

The point is: brands are meant to evolve, and waiting until your brand feels outdated to do something about it usually means you’re already behind.

What These Rebrands Really Teach Us

Here’s what I’d take from all of this as a small(er) business owner:

Simple works... if it's strategic. The best rebrands are clear. Clarity beats cleverness every time.

Flexibility matters. Your brand has to work across social media, websites, invoices, email footers, packaging, and who knows what else might pop up tomorrow. If your current identity only works on a business card, it’s time to rethink.

Emotional connection still matters. Cracker Barrel’s backlash proves this: people FEEL and EXPERIENCE your brand. So if you’re going to change something, be thoughtful. Tell your story. Make the shift make sense... and take your audience along the journey. Ask questions, have discussions, and do the necessary groundwork before dropping a bomb on the people that have helped you grow.

Your brand isn’t frozen in time. You’re allowed to grow. You’re supposed to. Your brand should reflect that growth. You don’t need to wait for a crisis or a rebrand trend to take your brand seriously.

Final Thoughts:

Maybe it feels like “everyone’s doing it.”

But, the important question is,

Are you still showing up the way you want to be remembered?

Also, remember that branding goes way beyond aesthetics. What else about your brand may be more important to upgrade than your visuals?

• Is your messaging memorable?

• Is your client experience positive?

• Are your systems making your customer flow easier or more difficult?

You don’t need to have a million-dollar budget to look like you’ve got your act together (but seriously, if you do, call me 👀).

You need vision, strategy, a little courage, and the right creative partners.

If you're tempted to change your logo "just because," hit pause. You might not need a rebrand at all.

But if you do, now’s not a bad time.

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*See our article on Cracker Barrel's rebrand disaster here.

**Learn about Common Branding Mistakes and how to avoid them here.