Industry
Six ways to lead in an age of debossification
Companies, brands, and individuals which succeed are ones that differentiate themselves. By Rishad Tobaccowala
Celebrating agency leaders: When Advertising and Theater connect for the Culture.
We all agree we are in the business of storytelling. Well, here’s a story that has a lot to do with our culture and that rich language many of our consumers speak —Spanish, the language of Cervantes, with all its many different accents. “Repertorio Español,” a cradle of great storytelling in Spanish, is celebrating two movers and shakers from our industry: Daisy Expósito-Ulla and Jorge Ulla, the founders of d expósito & Partners (dex). Considered the premier institution historically emblematic of great theater from Spain, Latin America as well as emerging Latinx playwrights, “Repertorio” has made a good choice of honorees on their 57th Anniversary. Yet the two honorees don’t want the celebration to be about them but rather about 20,000 young Latin students that each of us can help access “teatro en español” by helping with a donation to NYC’s “Repertorio Español”
Is Branding the Missing Link for SMB Marketers?
Marcelo Kertész, CMO at MANSCAPED, says SMB marketers need to create content for venues in which their customers want to engage, not just convert. "Diversify your acquisition mix [and] don't rely solely on Meta and Google," he says. "Test into partnerships, affiliates, influencers, and even retail or experiential pop-ups if it makes sense for your brand."
2025 Hispanic Market Overview Report – DOWNLOAD for FREE
HispanicAd in association with Adam R Jacobson are proud to announce the availability of the 2025 Hispanic Market Overview – titled “VOZ of The American Influencer”
RACE AND ETHNICITY IN COMMUNICATION [REPORT]
The DAA report shows a six-point increase in overall racial diversity among participants, rising to 28% in 2023 from 22% in 2019—driven largely by a three-point gain in Latino representation. With nearly 20% of the U.S. population identifying as Hispanic or Latino, improved representation supports deeper market reach, especially considering that Spanish is the nation's most common non-English language. Still, the modest gains highlight persistent disparities, particularly in leadership, and reinforce the urgent need for structural change to address the all-too-common experience of people of color being 'the only' or 'few' among colleagues. By 2045, more than 50% of the U.S. population will be people of color, a demographic that has driven 100% of the U.S. population growth.
Strategy and the Perils of Implementation.
What is strategy? Strategy is Future Competitive Advantage. By Rishad Tobaccowala
DEI and Multicultural Marketing: Where Do We Go From Here?
We live in serious times. DEI programs are being gutted. At Harvard, DEI offices have been renamed, affinity celebrations canceled, and visible signs of inclusion quietly removed. In Florida and Texas, public universities have been ordered to dismantle equity programs. Teachers are being monitored for uttering words like identity. Libraries are pulling books. And in state after state, lawmakers aren’t just targeting trans rights—they’re erasing the existence of LGBTQ+ families like mine. By David Morse - Chief Insights Officer, New American Dimensions
Financial Structure and Metrics for Agencies: Evolving with Size
I’ve been working with creative agencies for over a decade, and it’s pretty cool to see the patterns of how these creative businesses evolve as they get larger. In fact, the financial structure of an agency has to evolve as you grow, or you’ll hit a wall. Call it a growth ceiling or a scaling plateau, but if you don’t plan for it the org will bog down and stop working. In this article, we’ll go over the outworking of what the financial metrics look like for agencies at different sizes, and how to work around these various sizes so you don’t slow down your growth. By Jason M Blumer - CPA, CEO of Blumer & Associates, CPAs
The Story of Lapiz, the Little ad Agency that Became a Worldwide Sensation – A Pencil and a Deam [DOWNLOAD]
Lápiz, a Leo Burnett Co. multicultural subsidiary, started as a division, and later earned its own identity and independence. With very limited resources and a small group of talent from Latin America, Europe, and the U.S., the agency grew fast and turned into a creative powerhouse, earning awards and recognition all over the world. This book is fully illustrated with Lápiz's best work, and case studies. It's highly motivating for anyone working in advertising, from students to entrepreneurs struggling to win through creativity. By Laurence Klinger
A Love Letter to Our Roots: Buena Vista Social Club on Broadway
There are rare, sacred moments in life when art leaps beyond the stage and cradles your soul. Last night, Buena Vista Social Club on Broadway gifted me one of those moments—a celebration of Cuban culture so tender, so profound, that it moved me to tears and filled my heart with an indescribable pride. By Luis Miguel Messianu
Lopez-Negrete joins AAF’s Hall of Fame.
On Thursday, April 24, 2025, The American Advertising Federation inducted its yearly class and among them was a Hispanic Advertising leader, Alex Lopez Negrete, of Houston's Lopez Negrete Communications. A company he co-founded with his wife and partner Cathy.
Homeownership slips further out of reach for all California ethnic groups amid rising mortgage costs
Buying a home in California became less affordable for all ethnic groups last year, as interest rates remained elevated and the typical monthly mortgage payment for a median-priced detached home rose 6 percent compared to the previous year, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.).
Are CMOs Now Entering the Gig Economy? [PODCAST]
On Scope host Mike Berberich and show producer Ryan Dinger react to a story in ANA Magazine on the rise of fractional CMOs. The duo outlined the pros and cons of this new development and speculate on if CMOs will now be entering the gig economy.
What’s behind March’s retail sales spike? [REPORT]
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.
We’ve commercialized connection.
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 maintaining the same extractive consumer relationship. By Lizzy Bilasano - Head of Creative Strategy // Creative Brand Marketer. Social Culture + Creator Economy Nerd. People-First Servant Leader.
2025 Top 50 Global Retailers
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.
Retail Sales Grew in March But Consumers Are ‘Not Feeling Great’ as Tariffs Rise
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.
The 2025 U.S. Latino GDP Report [REPORT]
The 2025 U.S. Latino GDP Report represents the 8th vintage of an annual series of reports which document the large and rapidly growing economic contribution of Latinos living in the United States. It is also the 29th full-length report that the Latino GDP team has produced as part of an ambitious research initiative which analyzes the contributions of Hispanic males and females across various geographies, including targeted states and major metropolitan areas.
Owned Media Strategy in 2025: Tips, Trends & Tactics
Owned media channels have always offered excellent opportunities for public relations (PR) professionals to connect with their audiences. But as traditional advertising costs rise, consumer behaviors change and third-party data access shrinks, your owned media strategy matters more than ever. Let's explore how you can build an owned media program that drives real business results.
Latinas in advertising: The untapped powerhouse agencies can’t afford to ignore [REPORT]
As a Latina who has worked in the Hispanic marketing industry for over 20 years, I have spent my career uncovering the potential of our market. And let me be clear—the opportunity is massive. The U.S. Hispanic market represents a $2.7 trillion economic force. Latinos account for 51% of the country’s population growth, and we are one of the most influential and affluent consumer groups. Even more striking? We are young—58% of U.S. Hispanics are under the age of 34.
