diff --git a/src/app/manufacturers/[slug]/BackLink.tsx b/src/app/manufacturers/[slug]/BackLink.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc6e733
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/manufacturers/[slug]/BackLink.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+"use client";
+
+/**
+ * Smart back link for the manufacturer profile page.
+ *
+ * Renders as a server-rendered <a> linking to the directory so search
+ * engines and no-JS users still get a sensible href. Client-side it
+ * intercepts the click and calls `router.back()` — if the user arrived
+ * here from anywhere on the BB site (homepage Content Partners hover,
+ * an article body link, the directory itself) we'll return them there.
+ * Falls through to the directory only when there is no in-app history.
+ */
+import Link from "next/link";
+import { useRouter } from "next/navigation";
+import type { MouseEvent } from "react";
+
+export default function BackLink() {
+  const router = useRouter();
+  function onClick(e: MouseEvent<HTMLAnchorElement>) {
+    if (typeof window === "undefined") return;
+    // Same-origin Referer means we have somewhere to go back to. The
+    // browser history length > 1 check catches the case where the user
+    // opened the profile in a new tab — in that case we leave the default
+    // navigation (to /manufacturers) alone.
+    const sameOrigin = !!document.referrer && new URL(document.referrer).origin === window.location.origin;
+    if (sameOrigin && window.history.length > 1) {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      router.back();
+    }
+  }
+  return (
+    <Link href="/manufacturers" onClick={onClick} className="hover:text-[#3b82f6]">
+      ← Back
+    </Link>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/app/manufacturers/[slug]/page.tsx b/src/app/manufacturers/[slug]/page.tsx
index e0a93a8..e9f9052 100644
--- a/src/app/manufacturers/[slug]/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/manufacturers/[slug]/page.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import Link from "next/link";
 import Header from "@/components/Header";
 import Footer from "@/components/Footer";
 import { createClient } from "@/lib/supabase/server";
+import BackLink from "./BackLink";
 
 export const revalidate = 1800;
 
@@ -166,9 +167,7 @@ export default async function ManufacturerProfile({
       />
       <article className="max-w-4xl mx-auto px-4 py-10">
         <nav className="text-xs text-[#888] mb-6">
-          <Link href="/manufacturers" className="hover:text-[#3b82f6]">
-            ← Production Industry Manufacturers
-          </Link>
+          <BackLink />
         </nav>
 
         <header className="flex flex-col sm:flex-row gap-6 mb-8 pb-8 border-b border-[#252525]">
diff --git a/src/components/CompanyMentionsHover.tsx b/src/components/CompanyMentionsHover.tsx
index f08c82b..46e2f18 100644
--- a/src/components/CompanyMentionsHover.tsx
+++ b/src/components/CompanyMentionsHover.tsx
@@ -99,68 +99,68 @@ export default function CompanyMentionsHover() {
       role="dialog"
       aria-label={preview?.name ? `${preview.name} preview` : "Company preview"}
       style={{ position: "absolute", top: pos.top, left: pos.left, width: 360, zIndex: 999 }}
-      className="bg-white text-ink border border-ink/10 rounded-xl shadow-2xl p-4 text-sm"
+      className="bg-[#111827] text-[#e8e8e8] border border-[#2a3a50] rounded-xl shadow-2xl p-4 text-sm backdrop-blur-sm"
       onMouseEnter={() => { if (hideTimer.current) { window.clearTimeout(hideTimer.current); hideTimer.current = null; } }}
       onMouseLeave={() => { hideTimer.current = window.setTimeout(() => { setAnchor(null); setPreview(null); setPos(null); }, 180); }}
     >
       {loading || !preview ? (
-        <div className="text-ink/50 text-xs py-2">Loading…</div>
+        <div className="text-[#888] text-xs py-2">Loading…</div>
       ) : (
         <>
           <div className="flex items-start gap-3 mb-2">
             {preview.logoUrl ? (
               /* eslint-disable-next-line @next/next/no-img-element */
-              <img src={preview.logoUrl} alt="" className="w-12 h-12 rounded bg-ink/5 object-contain flex-shrink-0" loading="lazy" />
+              <img src={preview.logoUrl} alt="" className="w-12 h-12 rounded bg-white p-1 object-contain flex-shrink-0" loading="lazy" />
             ) : (
-              <div className="w-12 h-12 rounded bg-ink/5 flex items-center justify-center text-ink/40 font-bold flex-shrink-0">
+              <div className="w-12 h-12 rounded bg-[#1a2535] flex items-center justify-center text-[#3b82f6] font-bold flex-shrink-0">
                 {(preview.name || "?").trim().charAt(0).toUpperCase()}
               </div>
             )}
             <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
-              <Link href={`/manufacturers/${preview.slug}`} className="font-semibold text-ink hover:text-brand-primary block truncate">
+              <Link href={`/manufacturers/${preview.slug}`} className="font-semibold text-white hover:text-[#3b82f6] block truncate">
                 {preview.name}
               </Link>
-              <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 mt-0.5 flex-wrap text-[10px]">
+              <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 mt-1 flex-wrap text-[10px]">
                 {preview.isActiveAdvertiser && (
-                  <span className="bg-emerald-50 text-emerald-700 px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider">Sponsor</span>
+                  <span className="bg-emerald-500/15 text-emerald-300 border border-emerald-500/30 px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider">Sponsor</span>
                 )}
                 {preview.exhibitsNab && (
-                  <span className="bg-amber-50 text-amber-700 px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider">2026 NAB Show</span>
+                  <span className="bg-amber-500/15 text-amber-300 border border-amber-500/30 px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider">2026 NAB Show</span>
                 )}
                 {preview.exhibitsIbc && (
-                  <span className="bg-blue-50 text-blue-700 px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider">IBC 2026</span>
+                  <span className="bg-blue-500/15 text-blue-300 border border-blue-500/30 px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider">IBC 2026</span>
                 )}
-                {preview.hq && <span className="text-ink/60">{preview.hq}</span>}
+                {preview.hq && <span className="text-[#888]">{preview.hq}</span>}
               </div>
             </div>
           </div>
 
           {preview.bio && (
-            <p className="text-ink/70 text-xs leading-snug mb-3 line-clamp-4">{preview.bio}</p>
+            <p className="text-[#cbd5e1] text-xs leading-snug mb-3 line-clamp-4">{preview.bio}</p>
           )}
 
           {preview.stories.length > 0 && (
-            <div className="border-t border-ink/10 pt-2">
-              <div className="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-widest text-ink/50 font-bold mb-1.5">Recent coverage</div>
+            <div className="border-t border-[#2a3a50] pt-2">
+              <div className="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-widest text-[#888] font-bold mb-1.5">Recent coverage</div>
               <ul className="space-y-1">
                 {preview.stories.slice(0, 3).map((s) => (
                   <li key={s.slug}>
-                    <Link href={`/news/${s.slug}`} className="text-xs text-brand-primary hover:underline line-clamp-2">
+                    <Link href={`/news/${s.slug}`} className="text-xs text-[#60a5fa] hover:text-[#93c5fd] hover:underline line-clamp-2">
                       {s.title}
                     </Link>
-                    {s.date && <span className="text-[10px] text-ink/40 ml-1">· {new Date(s.date).toISOString().slice(0, 10)}</span>}
+                    {s.date && <span className="text-[10px] text-[#666] ml-1">· {new Date(s.date).toISOString().slice(0, 10)}</span>}
                   </li>
                 ))}
               </ul>
             </div>
           )}
 
-          <div className="border-t border-ink/10 mt-3 pt-2 flex items-center justify-between">
-            <Link href={`/manufacturers/${preview.slug}`} className="text-xs font-semibold text-brand-primary hover:underline">
+          <div className="border-t border-[#2a3a50] mt-3 pt-2 flex items-center justify-between">
+            <Link href={`/manufacturers/${preview.slug}`} className="text-xs font-semibold text-[#60a5fa] hover:text-[#93c5fd] hover:underline">
               Full profile →
             </Link>
             {preview.website && (
-              <a href={preview.website} target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" className="text-[10px] text-ink/50 hover:text-brand-primary">
+              <a href={preview.website} target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" className="text-[10px] text-[#888] hover:text-[#3b82f6]">
                 {preview.website.replace(/^https?:\/\//, "").replace(/\/$/, "")} ↗
               </a>
             )}