By Mark Mathews – Executive Director, Research Last week, the Census Bureau released a strong set of retail sales figures. Total retail sales were up 1.4% over February and 4.6% higher than March last year. Of course, this came as no surprise to NRF, as our Retail Monitor data predicted this positive result. This is … Read more
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) consumers are driving major shifts in digital commerce, sports engagement, and beauty trends, according to Nielsen’s latest 2025 report – Breakthrough ROI: Investing in Asian American audiences and media. AANHPI adults are more digitally connected, spending 9 hours and 6 minutes a week logged on to their … Read more
By Cliff Ettridge We all hate feeling like we’re being sold to (younger generations more than anyone). So, why do studies show that when asked if advertising influences our own decisions, most of us say no—but when asked if advertising influences other people’s decisions, we overwhelmingly say yes? To read more CLICK HERE.
Most teens credit social media with feeling more connected to friends. Still, roughly 1 in 5 say social media sites hurt their mental health, and growing shares think they harm people their age Rising rates of poor mental health among youth have been called a national crisis. While this is often linked to factors like … Read more
At the WFA’s Global Marketer Week, Ruben Schreurs, Ebiquity’s Group CEO, sat down with Adweek to discuss the growing role of AI in advertising. Below we bring you the edited highlights from its subsequent article: Adweek’s Guide to AI. Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept in advertising — it’s a present-day reality that’s … Read more
By Anne Field With the popularity of women’s sports soaring, teaming up with female sports organizations is an increasingly winning formula for brands that want to expand their audiences and spike consumer engagement. Just ask Maria Heskin, senior director of marketing and partnerships at the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF), a nonprofit that empowers girls and … Read more
By Lizzy Bilasano – Head of Creative Strategy // Creative Brand Marketer. Social Culture + Creator Economy Nerd. People-First Servant Leader. We say influencer marketing has evolved from Sponsorship 1.0 to Influence 2.0 to what we now call the Community 3.0 era. But tbh, most brands have just rebranded their audience as a “community” while … Read more
By Marci Orr – Public Ed School Comms | Public School Advocate | Former School Board Member | Accredited in Public Relations PR, Communications, and Marketing walk into a school… PR invites the local newspaper to cover the district’s big win at the ballot box, shares a student success story, and turns a regular school … Read more
Canela Media announced the launch of Club Canela, the first fully integrated in-app streaming rewards program of its kind, designed to create a deeper connection with Canela.TV users and bring forth new and innovative opportunities for brands to engage with these audiences. Launching in April 2025, Club Canela will allow registered Canela.TV viewers to earn … Read more
By Gonzalo López Martí – Creative Director www.LopezMartiMiami.com/ I never thought I’d say this: super productions are losing steam. I love explosions, car chases, and CGI as much as the next guy. Problem is, blockbusting, thrill-seeking, pulsating acrobatics &/or sophisticated special effects have become a tired trope. Think Red Bull. Think Mr. Beast. Think OK … Read more
Written by: Kristie Wilder and Paul Mackun The population of U.S. metro areas collectively continued to increase in 2024, growing slightly faster than the nation, according to recent U.S. Census Bureau population estimates. While the population in some metro areas has grown steadily this decade, others experienced a turnaround, as some metro areas that were … Read more
More companies are filling their top marketing role with part-time hires By Chuck Kapelke What do a plumbing company in Texas, a construction firm in Colorado, and HVAC and roofing companies in South Carolina have in common? All four have the same CMO or, more accurately, “fractional CMO,” who reports to each firm’s CEO and … Read more
Just released: IAB/PwC Internet Advertising Revenue Report: Full Year 2024. The digital advertising industry reached a record $259 billion in revenue in 2024—a 15% year-over-year increase, highlighting its ability to adapt to changing technologies and consumer behaviors. Now in its 29th year, this highly anticipated report is considered the industry benchmark for U.S. advertising revenue … Read more
This was inspired by a conversation with Dominique Monet and others in the 4As Jr. Strategy Collective about what it really takes to be a strategist creatives trust—and want in the room. It’s a distillation of what I’ve seen work—and not work—when trying to build real partnerships. 1. They’re not the intimidating beings you think … Read more
The National Retail Federation today announced the 2025 Top 50 Global Retailers. Conducted by Kantar, the list ranks the leading international retailers based on their revenue throughout 2024. “The retail industry experienced continued growth in 2024 as consumer spending remained high despite numerous market uncertainties throughout the year,” NRF Executive Director of Research Mark Mathews … Read more
Despite the U.S. being home to the second-largest Spanish-speaking population in the world, investment in multicultural marketing, particularly Hispanic marketing, remains disproportionately low, representing just 6–7% of total ad spend. This is a missed opportunity and a risk for brands looking to stay relevant in an increasingly diverse marketplace. Ignoring this reality isn’t just shortsighted, … Read more
Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau showed retail sales grew in March even though consumers continued to worry about the impact of rising tariffs. “Retail sales strengthened in March, supported by continued solid growth in income, lower energy costs and bigger-than-usual tax refunds that all helped support household budgets,” Kleinhenz said. “However, there is … Read more
The rise of digital platforms and streaming services like Netflix, YouTube, and TikTok has revolutionized content consumption by offering on-demand entertainment that fits our mobile lifestyles. While this digital surge has significantly impacted viewing habits, traditional media has proven resilient—especially broadcast television, which continues to draw substantial audiences for live sports, popular series, and local … Read more
Strategic Sourcing teams (aka “procurement”) play a vital and often misunderstood role in many companies vis-à-vis the relationships with marketing services firms. Let’s fix that! I was honored to recently moderate a panel of Strategic Sourcing pros on behalf of a group of senior agency executives. The discussion was lively and covered a great deal … Read more
By Pierre Bouvard Over the last six years, the Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group has commissioned Advertiser Perceptions annually to survey brands and media agencies on the sales contribution of five advertising effectiveness factors: Brand Creative Reach Recency Targeting How would you answer? What percent of sales are driven by each element? … Read more
