Agency

The National Retail Federation said it expects holiday retail sales during November and December to increase between 3.8 percent and 4.2 percent over 2018 to a total of between $727.9 billion and $730.7 billion. The numbers, which exclude automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants, compare with an average holiday sales increase of 3.7 percent over the previous five years.

Get highlights from day one of the 2019 ANA Masters of Marketing Conference in one minute.

Get the highlights from industry leaders in one minute at day two of the 2019 ANA Masters of Marketing Conference.

Get highlights from day three of the 2019 ANA Masters of Marketing Conference in one minute.

Advertisers will spend more on social media platforms than on print for the first time this year, according to Zenith’s Advertising Expenditure Forecasts. Advertising expenditure on social media will grow 20% this year to reach US$84bn, while advertisers’ combined expenditure on newspapers and magazines will fall 6% to US$69bn.

For years, the business world has been enraptured by the concept of big data. But the era of big data will not last forever. In fact, the replacement knocking on the door is one that might sound counter-intuitive: small da

With a growing population and a strong attachment to their roots, Hispanics are asserting their cultural influence and carving a space for themselves in the U.S. For many years, advertisers were given a binary choice on how to best reach Hispanic audiences. Either you reach them culturally through Spanish language media or pray that your general market message resonates enough to engage them through traditional media outlets.  By Mike Reid / Pandora

I have long been convinced that our basic, human motivations are changing far less slowly than the means to satisfy them; witness this post from 2014. Maybe that is why I enjoyed John Sills’ far more extensive exploration of the subject in a recent WARC article.  by Nigel Hollis

With more content today than most of us know what to do with, what defines a hit is undoubtedly different than 20 or 30 years ago. But HOW we define a hit is perhaps more important.

By Gonzalo López Martí – Creative director, etc. / LMMiami.com

• As I pointed out last week, not too long ago coffee was a stale, passé, commoditized product.
• To add a definitive nail to its coffin, some scientists in the late 80s found evidence indicating a potential correlation, if not causality, between coffee and certain forms of cancer.
• In the early 90s the thing was regarded as little more than liquid tobacco.
• A teeth-staining carcinogenic.
• Not unlike red wine, which was was headed in the same direction of discredit among consumers and public opinion.
• Wait!

There is a well-documented, persistent, and growing racial wealth gap between African American families and white families in the United States. Studies indicate the median white family in the United States holds more than ten times the wealth of the median African American family.

A first for our Multicultural Industry, the Association National Advertisers (ANA) began their conference with Bob Liodice / Chief Executive Office of the ANA bringing forth one of the main pillars of growth in marketing is the inclusion of effective Multicultural practices that ensure sustainability.

Hispanics are currently the fastest-growing demographic in the nation, and already make up 18 percent of the total U.S. population. And yet, despite these numbers, marketers have been slow to connect with U.S Hispanics as consumers. For a long time, advertisers lacked definitive data that could justify investment in reaching Hispanic consumers, particularly through Spanish-language TV. Until now.  By Carrie Stimmel – EVP, Lifestyle & Hispanic Advertising Sales, NBCUniversal

Smartphone-wielding consumers willing and able to switch brands at a moment’s notice. Rampant distrust in institutions, corporations, and even information itself amidst an increasingly fragmented media environment. An “Attention Economy” that strains cognitive capacity and prevents establishing authentic, deep brand connections. These are just a few of the elements that make it such a Herculean challenge to create and maintain a brand that will resonate with today’s modern consumers.

Whether you’re selling an innovative new razor, a new season of a television series or a provocative message for an established sporting goods brand, it’s all about the launch. Making a big splash—the right kind of splash—plays an increasingly critical role for long-term success in consumer markets.

Hennessy and global artist Maluma announced a new formal partnership in time for Hispanic Heritage Month, bringing to life the spirit of the brand’s “Never stop. Never settle.” mantra for Latinx audiences.

Newlink has been named the communications agency of record for The Fives Hotels & Residences luxury properties in Playa del Carmen and Puerto Morelos.

Raúl Alarcón, Chairman and CEO of Spanish Broadcasting System (“SBS”) (OCTQX: SBSAA) received the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s (USHCC) 2019 Hispanic Businessperson of the Year Award. Hundreds of Hispanic business, corporate and community leaders from across the U.S. attended the awards’ gala event, which took place at the USHCC’s 40th Anniversary National Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The award was presented by international top-selling artist Prince Royce who dedicated emotional words to the media mogul.

DTC businesses are flourishing these days, promising to disrupt categories that have been at a standstill for years. Recently I spent some time with Dr. Emmanuel Probst, author of the book “Brand Hacks”, who suggests that DTC companies might be missing a crucial ingredient that will ensure their long-term success.  by Nigel Hollis

A National Pork Board report shows U.S. Latinos’ affinity for pork and growing purchasing power make it a critical audience for the industry, but as Hispanics acculturate, their pork consumption declines. The new report, Time to Tango: Latinos are Pork’s Future, reveals steps food retailers and packers must take to connect with these influential consumers who represent the biggest growth opportunity of the next several decades.