Why Madison Avenue Should Care About DOJ/FTC’s Antitrust Investigation
According to a story in the Wall Street Journal, the Justice Department (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have settled their turf war and initiated an antitrust review into companies in e-commerce, online retail and search. The purpose of the probe is to examine whether or not companies such as Amazon, Apple, Facebook or Google’s parent, Alphabet, have unfairly stifled competition and innovation and, therefore, negatively impacted consumers.
I recently had the opportunity to interview Chris Shumaker, former CMO of the Martin Agency, FCB Worldwide, Publicis USA, and Grey NA. Chris has a wealth of knowledge about the RFP and RFI process, which he’s generously shared with us here. by Mark Duval – The Duval Partnership
Relationships with agency partners can be complex. Marketers are not just buying widgets — they have a unique and constantly evolving need to build brands and communicate messages to an intended target audience. Agency partners must be able to adapt to meet those shifting needs while delivering a constant level of quality and service.
In today’s “quantum age of marketing,” the advances of technology are rapidly evolving, impacting every area of our lives at a rate never before seen in human history.
Produced jointly by GfK and the National Retail Federation, the white paper, “Decoding the Personalization Paradox,” helps retailers and brands apply personalization at scale. Download the report to learn more about consumers’ needs, desires and concerns about targeting and personalization and how marketers can use this information to guide smarter decision-making as they ramp up one-to-one marketing.
When I read “Managing In-House Agency Creative Content and Legal Concerns,” the Association of National Advertisers’ new study with Boston Consulting Group and Reed Smith, one thought kept crossing my mind: Partnership is key. by Marla Kaplowitz – president and CEO of the 4A’s
With a spending power of $1.2 trillion, the African American audience is one of the most essential markets for advertisers to reach. This group of consumers is at the forefront of innovation—full of trendsetters, tastemakers, and cultural expression.
As a growing population Hispanics are a vital audience for more brands than ever before. Our quarter-year data set provides the very latest view on how to reach them with impact.
After last year’s Cannes Lions, I opined that there was not enough talk about what we were there to celebrate: great creativity. I’m pleased to report that this year there was much more talk of how to create winning content. But I was shocked – and maybe I shouldn’t have been – to learn that creative award-winning ads have never been less effective. by Daren Poole – Global Head of Creative / Kantar
As consumers continue to evolve their shopping behavior, redefine trends, and move their shopping activity online, the retail industry has been challenged to adjust to a landscape that’s constantly shifting. Store closures, bankruptcies, mergers, and consolidations are the new normal in today’s retail environment.
Despite current global economic growth, expansion and opportunity, millennials and Generation Z are expressing uneasiness and pessimism—about their careers, their lives and the world around them, according to Deloitte’s eighth annual Millennial Survey.
Stories have the power to transfer information and knowledge and create ideological frameworks that determine how we see and relate to the world around us. Using stories to sell products and services is as old as advertising itself. Who is telling the story and what stories are being told are a constant battle for resources and attention. In this new frontier, brands and marketers are facing a challenging environment in which to connect with consumers. 
Shrinking media budgets, aggressive growth goals and ever-complex marketing needs are causing a shift in the brand-agency relationship. In their bid for self-preservation, brands are streamlining spending and in-housing capabilities.
Marketing’s big opportunity is here. CEOs are turning to marketing to drive their company’s growth agenda, and they’re giving CMOs the runway and support to do so.
The past decade has seen rapid transformation in the role and purview of the chief marketing officer. Several dynamics have triggered this shift, including mounting-yet-fluid expectations from the CEO and the digitization of everything, which demands brands now provide a seemingly 24/7 omnipresence. In short: a tough job has gotten tougher.
Chief Marketing Officers are suffering from an intense case of FOMO – the Fear of Missed Opportunities – as customers seek more localized, personalized experiences that are relevant to their own cultural context and situation. There is ample reason to understand the anxiety: Only 10 percent of brand leaders are feeling exceedingly confident they will be able to reach their customer engagement and revenue goals.
