№ 001 · Jun 5, 2026
Introducing ryvl: your competitors’ reviews, turned into the ad to run and the ticket to build
I built ryvl because I kept watching good local businesses lose to worse ones and not know why.
// § 01 — rambles, served fresh
Surbhi Karn's ramblings
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№ 002 · Mar 21, 2026
Sephora x F1: Why Does a Beauty Brand Belong at a Racetrack?
When a Beauty brand walks into a racetrack, it isn’t an accident.Let’s talk about the recently announced Sephora and F1 academy global partnership for the 2026 season. It…
№ 003 · Oct 28, 2025
“POV: You at halftime.” Duolingo’s masterclass in topical marketing
A month ago, this push lit up my screen.Odd. Since I wasn’t learning Spanish. Then it clicked: fresh buzz about Bad Bunny at next year’s Super Bowl halftime.…
№ 004 · Oct 5, 2025
Why Food Apps Are Red and Banks Are Blue: The Consumer Psychology of App Color Design
Ever opened your phone when you’re hungry and noticed something strange? Almost every food delivery app, DoorDash, OpenTable, Zomato, McDonald’s, glows in red or orange. (Uber Eats is…
№ 005 · Oct 4, 2025
Bvlgari’s Mangalsutra and India’s Moment of Cultural Luxe
For Indian women, mangalsutra is not new. It is one of the most sacred symbols of marriage, an ornament dedicated to continuity and the institution. But when Bvlgari,…
№ 006 · Oct 4, 2025
Apple Watch vs. Oura Ring: Why Less is the New More in Wearables?
Okay the title is a giveaway! In the battle of wearables, Apple Watch has the features, but Oura has the focus. And in today’s world of endless notifications…
№ 007 · Sep 24, 2025
Diet Coke Is the New Fridge Cigarette, And Gen Z Owns It
Maiden Voyage Kicking things off with an easy one. Not macroeconomics. Not marketing frameworks. Just a beverage and the cultural moment it’s having. Because sometimes, the unserious stuff…
№ 008 · Feb 2, 2025
Stan Smiths are not a personality. But they help.
I own three pairs of Stan Smiths. They are not my personality. They are also not evidence of having no personality. They’re a signal — and pretending signals don’t matter is a kind of dishonesty I refuse to participate in.
№ 009 · Jan 26, 2025
Strength training fixes more KPIs than dashboards do.
In the year I went from a 165-pound deadlift to 285, the quality of my marketing work doubled. That’s not a coincidence. The cheapest cognitive upgrade you can buy is a barbell. The Looker license isn’t what you’re missing.
№ 010 · Jan 19, 2025
Dutch Bros > Starbucks. The lesson is in the loyalty.
I have a Dutch Bros ten minutes away and a Starbucks ninety seconds away. I drive past the Starbucks twice a week to get to the Dutch Bros. That’s not a marketing observation. That’s a marketing diagnosis.