![\"Collage](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_04c60a5bd17c46e9a0014c6ae389c8a1~mv2.jpeg\")
Rain, shine, whatever the forecast says, Minneapolis shows up. And last night, you proved it.
\n\nAt Belle & Grey at Hotel Landing, the table was full of marketing leaders ready to share what’s working, challenge assumptions, and get real about what’s not.
\nExactly the kind of room we want to build.
\n\nA few ideas we’re still thinking about:
\n→ Outcomes over activity. Clicks are one thing. Customers, meetings, and purchases move the business.
\n→ Search is bigger than acquisition. Awareness, reputation, and brand building are all part of the game.
\n→ Creators need more than reach. The right audience, credible storytelling, and real measurement matter.
\n→ Lead with the benefit. People want better service and less friction, not another “AI-powered” promise.
\n→ Pressure-test the proof. A promising pilot is just that. Scale is the test.
\n\nBut the best part? The candor. The questions. The willingness to put it all on the table.
\n\nA special thank you to Jeff Alderman & AdMedia for helping make the evening happen. We’re grateful for the continued partnership and for Jeff’s expertise at the table, helping marketers think differently about reach, performance, and the constantly evolving marketing landscape.
\n\nSafe to say, there’s plenty more to come from CMORoom Minneapolis.
\n\nNext up: Mara. Date dropping soon.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/4d1dfabd-6c10-419c-841c-34312824f1ff.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "4d1dfabd-6c10-419c-841c-34312824f1ff", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/minneapolis-cmoroom-recap-september-29-2026-belle-grey", "memberId": "e215aade-5b80-43fc-9a13-0800fae33ef0", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 0 } }, { "wixId": "b023cbf7-bac6-46e9-97bf-d7f42070785c", "slug": "atlanta-cmoroom-recap-september-24-2026-the-third-space", "title": "Atlanta CMORoom Recap (September 24, 2026) @ The Third Space", "deck": "Atlanta, we’re still savoring this one. Last week at The Third Space, we sat down with a seriously impressive group of marketing leaders, and the caliber of the conversation was clear from the first course. Real challenges. Real tradeoffs. Real ideas. We talked changing consumer behavior, what value really means, the tension between short-term performance and long-term brand building, the growing influence of creators, and where AI actually belongs in the mix. In other words: plenty to chew...", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "Sep 28", "publishedAt": "2026-09-28 16:05:47.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/b023cbf7-bac6-46e9-97bf-d7f42070785c.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/b023cbf7-bac6-46e9-97bf-d7f42070785c.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_e0a916a0b6204ecb936465b4f6252f35~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "Atlanta, we’re still savoring this one.
\n\nLast week at The Third Space, we sat down with a seriously impressive group of marketing leaders, and the caliber of the conversation was clear from the first course.
\nReal challenges. Real tradeoffs. Real ideas.
\n\nWe talked changing consumer behavior, what value really means, the tension between short-term performance and long-term brand building, the growing influence of creators, and where AI actually belongs in the mix.
\n\nIn other words: plenty to chew on.
\n\nAnd then there was Chef Shai Levy.
\n\nThe meal was incredible, but his farm-to-table story was just as memorable. Working directly with farmers, thinking seasons ahead, and putting real intention behind every ingredient. There’s something about that mindset that feels very familiar to us as marketers: knowing your audience, finding the right ingredients, and being intentional about what you create.
\n\nWe left inspired, but more importantly, we left smarter.
\n\nA special thank you to David Ruiz & AdMedia for helping make the evening happen, and for bringing David’s expertise to the table as we think about reach, performance, and the constantly evolving marketing landscape.
\n\nAtlanta, you brought the appetite for ideas, and we’re already hungry for the next one!
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/b023cbf7-bac6-46e9-97bf-d7f42070785c.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "b023cbf7-bac6-46e9-97bf-d7f42070785c", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/atlanta-cmoroom-recap-september-24-2026-the-third-space", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 1 } }, { "wixId": "b474151e-967e-47f4-83cf-8ad495374bf1", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-september-13-september-19-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (September 13 -September 19, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. Island AdFest is Where Media Moves Forward This week in Puerto Rico, AdMedia’s AdFest brought together a curated group of senior marketing, advertising and media leaders for four days of ideas, connection and perspective on where the industry is headed. From AI and emerging technology to media innovation, consumer behavior and growth, the conversations are designed to move beyond the obvious and explore...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Sep 17", "publishedAt": "2026-09-17 16:09:07.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/b474151e-967e-47f4-83cf-8ad495374bf1.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/b474151e-967e-47f4-83cf-8ad495374bf1.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_9c22619092994ae1b1547d21c96b26d6~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nThis week in Puerto Rico, AdMedia’s AdFest brought together a curated group of senior marketing, advertising and media leaders for four days of ideas, connection and perspective on where the industry is headed. From AI and emerging technology to media innovation, consumer behavior and growth, the conversations are designed to move beyond the obvious and explore what’s actually changing how brands get attention, build influence and drive growth.
\n(AdMedia)
\n\nTarget has named Mark Weinstein its new Chief Marketing and Guest Experience Officer, bringing in the former Hilton Global CMO to lead a remit that extends well beyond traditional marketing. His responsibilities include brand, guest experience, culture and community, as well as Roundel, Target’s retail media business, and Target+, putting brand, customer experience and commerce under one senior leader. The appointment is another example of how the CMO role continues to expand as brands look to connect marketing more directly to the complete customer journey.
\n(Brand Innovators)
\n\nJCPenney is taking on one of fashion's biggest traditions with “The Other September Issue,” a campaign featuring five real teachers rather than professional models. The idea extends the retailer's broader “Yes, JCPenney” platform while challenging the industry's traditional definition of who gets to influence fashion and culture. JCPenney is also expanding the idea beyond the campaign through an affiliate initiative designed to give everyday voices a larger role in the brand, turning a creative concept into a broader statement about influence.
\n(AdWeek)
\n\nLowe’s has expanded CMO Jen Wilson’s responsibilities to include digital commerce, adding another major business function to a portfolio that already spans marketing, retail media, loyalty and personalization. The move reflects a broader evolution in how large brands are organizing around the customer, with marketing leaders increasingly expected to influence not just awareness and consideration, but also the digital experience that ultimately drives conversion. It also puts brand, data, retail media and commerce increasingly close together inside one marketing organization.
\n(Marketing Dive)
\n\nSonos is making a major shift in how it tells its brand story, moving beyond product specifications and technical performance to focus on the emotional role sound plays in people's lives. Its new global campaign, developed under CMO Colleen DeCourcy, positions the entire Sonos system as an experience rather than simply a collection of premium speakers. The repositioning comes as the company works to rebuild consumer connection and demonstrates how established brands can use a change in creative strategy to rethink what they want consumers to feel, not just what they want consumers to know.
\n(Marketing Dive)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/b474151e-967e-47f4-83cf-8ad495374bf1.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "b474151e-967e-47f4-83cf-8ad495374bf1", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-september-13-september-19-2026", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 2 } }, { "wixId": "6ec2d600-db72-4a7a-9890-2231d3dc3d34", "slug": "vaseline-consumer-led-innovation-strategy", "title": "Vaseline’s Consumer-Led Innovation Strategy: Lessons for Modern Marketers", "deck": "Vaseline’s recent marketing strategy offers a powerful lesson in consumer-led innovation: the future of brand growth may come from understanding what consumers are already creating, sharing, and adapting around a product.", "category": "brand spotlight", "categoryLabel": "Brand Spotlight", "categories": [ "brand spotlight" ], "dateLabel": "Sep 16", "publishedAt": "2026-09-16 13:19:11.000", "readTimeLabel": "5 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/6ec2d600-db72-4a7a-9890-2231d3dc3d34.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/6ec2d600-db72-4a7a-9890-2231d3dc3d34.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_04c60a5bd17c46e9a0014c6ae389c8a1~mv2.jpeg", "heroAlt": "Collage of diverse faces, dog, flamingo and Vaseline products around a blue checkmark on blue background, with HACKS verified Vaseline", "bodyHtml": "Vaseline’s recent marketing strategy offers a powerful lesson in consumer-led innovation: the future of brand growth may come from understanding what consumers are already creating, sharing, and adapting around a product.
\n\nFor decades, the relationship between brands and consumers was straightforward. Brands created products, campaigns, and stories, while consumers decided whether they connected with them. Social media changed that relationship. Consumers now experiment publicly, create their own product use cases, influence one another, and increasingly shape the direction brands take next.
\n\nVaseline is one of the clearest examples of what happens when a brand stops treating consumer behavior as background noise and starts treating it as intelligence. As Case Studied reported, more than 3.5 million Vaseline hack-related posts exist online, turning a familiar household product into an unofficial innovation platform.
\n\nInstead of trying to manufacture another trend, Vaseline began asking a more interesting question: What if the best ideas were already being created by consumers? That question became the foundation for one of the most interesting examples of consumer-led innovation in modern marketing.
\n\nVaseline’s first major move was to listen. In 2025, the brand launched Vaseline Verified, taking viral beauty and lifestyle hacks circulating online and putting them through scientific testing with Unilever researchers. Hacks that worked received a verification seal, creating a bridge between the experimentation happening online and the scientific credibility of the brand.
\nThe approach was remarkably effective. The campaign drove double-digit growth, earned a Titanium Lion at Cannes and became one of Unilever’s most awarded campaigns. Unilever: How Vaseline turned verified hacks into new products and partnerships
\nThe important part, however, was not simply that Vaseline found a successful TikTok strategy. It built a system for identifying which consumer behaviors had genuine potential instead of treating every viral moment as equally valuable.
\nThat distinction matters because the role of social listening is changing. The most valuable signal may not be what people are saying about a brand, but what they are doing with it.
\n\n![\"Airport](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_b4831eecd910430985c45ff264968d1a~mv2.jpg\")
Vaseline Verified proved that consumer behavior could be identified and validated. Vaseline Originals took the idea one step further: what happens when the people behind those behaviors actually become part of product development?
\n\nWorking with Ogilvy Singapore, Vaseline went back to the origins of some of the beauty hacks that had circulated online for years. Among them were ideas from Jen Chae, who shared a Vaseline brow-taming technique on her blog in 2008, and Lauren Luke, one of YouTube’s earliest beauty creators, who posted a Vaseline primer hack around the same time.
\n\nNearly two decades later, those original ideas became products. Vaseline Originals launched a Brow Tamer Jelly and an All-In-One Primer & Highlighter Jelly, with the creators behind the original hacks recognized as the brand’s “Vaseline OGs” and given a share of resulting sales. The products launched through TikTok Live and TikTok Shop in Thailand, selling out within minutes before a second release sold out again.
\nThe campaign effectively turned attribution into innovation. Rather than simply crediting creators after the fact, Vaseline traced an idea back to its source, developed it into something commercial and gave the original creator a stake in the outcome. That is a fundamentally different model of influence.
\n\nFor marketers, this may be the most important part of the story. Creators are often evaluated through reach, engagement, audience size and content production. Vaseline suggests a more interesting role: creators can function as an early-warning system for consumer behavior.
\n\nThey can reveal how people are using products in ways that formal research may not uncover. They can surface emerging rituals before they become mainstream. They can show brands where cultural relevance is developing organically rather than where a marketing calendar says it should.
\nUnilever’s 2026 CAGNY presentation illustrates the scale of this shift, showing Vaseline’s verified-hacks program growing from 75,000 to more than 180,000 content creators, alongside a 700% increase in assets and a doubling of posting frequency. Unilever CAGNY 2026 presentation
\nThe lesson is not that brands should simply produce more creator content. It is that brands should become better at learning from the people already creating culture around them.
\n\nThere is something particularly instructive about the fact that this is Vaseline.
\nThe brand does not have the advantages of being new, mysterious or culturally undiscovered. It has been around for more than a century. Its product is familiar. Its category is mature. Yet its recent growth has come partly from behaving like a challenger brand: listening closely, moving quickly and allowing culture to influence how the product is positioned and developed. Unilever reported double-digit volume growth for Vaseline in the first quarter of 2026, while its broader strategy has focused on combining product superiority with cultural relevance and consumer recommendation. Unilever Q1 2026 Full Announcement
\nIndependent reporting has reinforced the momentum. Reuters reported that Unilever delivered its strongest quarterly volume growth in more than a decade in Q2 2026, with marketing investment concentrated on its Power Brands.
\n\nThe larger takeaway is simple: age does not determine whether a brand can behave like a modern brand. Organizational willingness does.
\n\nFor CMOs, the Vaseline story raises a bigger question than whether a particular TikTok trend is worth following.
\nWhat if consumer behavior itself became part of the innovation pipeline?
\nSearch queries, creator conversations, comments, product reviews, social posts and emerging usage patterns can all reveal what consumers are trying to accomplish before they ever articulate it through traditional research. The challenge is building an organization capable of connecting those signals, determining which ones matter and turning them into action without losing the brand’s strategic center. That requires marketers to think beyond individual channels. A consumer might discover a product through a creator, search for it later, encounter it again through an ad, compare it through reviews and eventually purchase it through social commerce. Those interactions are increasingly connected, even when marketing organizations still treat them as separate activities.
\nThis is where the broader media ecosystem becomes important. AdMedia operates across search, contextual, native, display and other performance channels, with a particular focus on using audience and intent signals to connect brands with relevant consumers.
\nThe connection to the Vaseline story is subtle but significant: listening is only valuable when insight can eventually become action.
\nA brand can identify an emerging behavior, but the real competitive advantage comes from understanding who is exhibiting that behavior, where they are encountering the brand, what signals indicate intent and how those insights can inform everything from product development and creative to media and performance.
\n\nThat would be the easiest takeaway from Vaseline, and probably the least useful one. The real lesson is about relinquishing a little control. The strongest brands increasingly understand that consumers are not simply waiting for the next campaign to tell them what to think. They are already experimenting, remixing, reviewing, demonstrating and recommending. The smartest marketers are learning to observe that activity with the same seriousness they would give to a focus group, market report or product test. Vaseline didn’t invent the beauty hacks that made the campaign successful. It did something more valuable: it recognized that its consumers were already innovating around the brand and built a system to listen, validate, credit and commercialize those ideas.
\nFor a 150-year-old brand, that may be one of the most modern marketing moves of all. And for today’s CMO, the question is no longer simply, What should we create next?
\nIt may be: What are our consumers already creating that we haven’t learned how to see yet?
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "Vaseline’s Consumer-Led Innovation Strategy: Lessons for Marketers", "metaDescription": "Discover how Vaseline transformed consumer behavior, creator insights, and social listening into a powerful consumer-led innovation strategy, and what CMOs can learn.", "metaKeywords": "Consumer-led innovation", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/6ec2d600-db72-4a7a-9890-2231d3dc3d34.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "6ec2d600-db72-4a7a-9890-2231d3dc3d34", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/vaseline-consumer-led-innovation-strategy", "memberId": "87aedccc-3992-4657-9baa-bccbe75ee68e", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 3 } }, { "wixId": "d43319fa-70a5-4cdc-ba04-050e332141a9", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-september-6-september-12-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (September 6 -September 12, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. The Vitamin Shoppe Puts Growth at the Heart of Marketing The Vitamin Shoppe appointed Kimberley Gardiner as EVP, Chief Marketing and Growth Officer, bringing the former Tractor Supply marketing leader into the retailer’s C-suite. Her expanded remit brings marketing and growth under one leader, reflecting the continued convergence of brand, customer acquisition, digital commerce and business performance....", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Sep 10", "publishedAt": "2026-09-10 19:17:39.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/d43319fa-70a5-4cdc-ba04-050e332141a9.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/d43319fa-70a5-4cdc-ba04-050e332141a9.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_7b62bb113a7f441a868411b37ebdbb34~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nThe Vitamin Shoppe appointed Kimberley Gardiner as EVP, Chief Marketing and Growth Officer, bringing the former Tractor Supply marketing leader into the retailer’s C-suite. Her expanded remit brings marketing and growth under one leader, reflecting the continued convergence of brand, customer acquisition, digital commerce and business performance. Gardiner will help drive a more connected approach to how the brand builds awareness, engages customers and delivers growth.
\n(Media Post)
\n\nJeep is leaning heavily into its American heritage with its new “This Is Jeep Country” campaign, celebrating 85 years of the brand’s connection to the U.S. and the values of freedom, capability and resilience. The campaign is a broader brand play than a product push, using Jeep’s history and cultural identity as a way to reinforce what makes the brand distinctive at a time when automotive marketers are competing for relevance beyond the vehicle itself.
\n(Brand Innovators)
\n\nAllison Stransky, Samsung U.S.’s marketing chief, is joining The Boston Beer Company as CMO, effective October 12. She will oversee brand, shopper marketing, digital/social, media, sponsorships, experiential and consumer insights across Samuel Adams, Truly, Twisted Tea and the company’s broader portfolio. The move brings her data-driven, technology-focused marketing background into CPG as Boston Beer continues to evolve how it connects with consumers.
\n(Marketing Dive)
\n\nDunkin’ is leaning into ’90s nostalgia to launch its latest pumpkin spice push, bringing together Spice Girls Emma Bunton and Geri Halliwell-Horner with comedian Rachel Dratch to reveal the mystery of the “sixth Spice Girl.” The campaign turns a familiar pop-culture conversation into a brand-owned joke, using nostalgia, humor and celebrity talent to generate buzz while keeping pumpkin spice at the center of the story. It’s a playful example of Dunkin’ making a seasonal product feel like a broader cultural moment.
\n(AdWeek)
\n\nPandora is shifting its marketing strategy beyond its historically TV-heavy approach to connect with Gen Z through creators, fashion, cultural moments and experiential marketing. Under CMO Jennie Farmer, the brand is leaning into collaborations, immersive activations and personalized storytelling to make Pandora feel more culturally relevant and connected to how younger consumers discover and engage with brands, while still protecting its global identity and recognition.
\n(Vogue)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/d43319fa-70a5-4cdc-ba04-050e332141a9.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "d43319fa-70a5-4cdc-ba04-050e332141a9", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-september-6-september-12-2026", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 4 } }, { "wixId": "c1c09203-e95f-4fba-994a-fe49b524f1e8", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-august-30-september-5-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (August 30-September 5, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. PepsiCo Hands Global Media to Publicis Without a Pitch PepsiCo has appointed Publicis Groupe as its exclusive global media partner, ending Omnicom’s more-than-25-year relationship with the CPG giant. The move is notable not only for its scale, but because Publicis won the business without a competitive pitch and will build a new AI- and data-powered model spanning strategy, planning, activation, identity...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Sep 3", "publishedAt": "2026-09-03 18:03:04.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/c1c09203-e95f-4fba-994a-fe49b524f1e8.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/c1c09203-e95f-4fba-994a-fe49b524f1e8.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_4978a1ae230d4a13add90868af86fd3d~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nPepsiCo has appointed Publicis Groupe as its exclusive global media partner, ending Omnicom’s more-than-25-year relationship with the CPG giant. The move is notable not only for its scale, but because Publicis won the business without a competitive pitch and will build a new AI- and data-powered model spanning strategy, planning, activation, identity and technology across PepsiCo’s portfolio. Publicis will also withdraw from Coca-Cola’s ongoing global media review as it takes on the PepsiCo account.
\n(AdWeek)
\n\nFor his first campaign at Chipotle, new CMO Fernando Machado is putting creators in the driver’s seat, sending 100 creators into 50 restaurant kitchens to experience and document how the brand prepares its food. The campaign builds on Chipotle’s “Behind the Foil” platform while taking a more creator-first approach, giving talent unprecedented access to turn the brand’s food and transparency story into content that feels native to social.
\n(Marketing Dive)
\n\nFormer Hyundai Motor America CMO Angela Zepeda has joined Lucid Group as Vice President of Global Marketing, returning to the automotive industry after an 18-month stint leading marketing at X. Zepeda brings more than 25 years of experience across automotive and technology, and will work under newly appointed Chief Customer Officer Billy Hayes as Lucid looks to deepen customer engagement, build brand awareness and drive commercial momentum.
\n(Media Post)
\n\nDomino’s is taking aim at fast-food icons like the Big Mac, Whopper and Crunchwrap Supreme with a new campaign for its customizable Detroit-style “Domino” pizza. The campaign uses exaggerated, darkly comedic storytelling to position Domino’s beyond the pizza category, while a $1 million giveaway tied to receipts from rival fast-food chains turns competitive marketing into a real-world acquisition play. CMO Kate Trumbull is using the campaign to give Domino’s a stronger cultural voice—and compete for the entire meal, not just pizza.
\n(Marketing Dive)
\n\nJust two months after exiting bankruptcy, Exemplar Luxury Group is giving Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus a fresh marketing direction with new fall campaigns designed to move past recent brand challenges. Saks is pairing its campaign with a new concept shop at its NYC flagship, while Neiman Marcus is spotlighting individuality through its “Signature Style” campaign featuring tastemakers like Cleo Wade and Jessica de Ruiter.
\n(Media Post)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/c1c09203-e95f-4fba-994a-fe49b524f1e8.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "c1c09203-e95f-4fba-994a-fe49b524f1e8", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-august-30-september-5-2026", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 5 } }, { "wixId": "55b4a09b-ea9f-482d-9412-fd36b4c5aaa8", "slug": "from-country-club-to-tiktok-the-ralph-lauren-comeback", "title": "From Country Club to TikTok: The Ralph Lauren Comeback", "deck": "Ralph Lauren’s comeback isn’t simply about nostalgia. As Gen Z discovers vintage Polo, the Polo Pony and the brand’s iconic Americana codes, Ralph Lauren has found a way to make its heritage feel relevant again—without reinventing who it is. From cultural relevance to increased marketing investment, the strategy offers a powerful lesson for CMOs: sometimes the strongest path forward isn’t changing the brand, but giving a new generation a reason to see it differently.", "category": "brand spotlight", "categoryLabel": "Brand Spotlight", "categories": [ "brand spotlight" ], "dateLabel": "Sep 1", "publishedAt": "2026-09-01 11:15:33.000", "readTimeLabel": "3 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/55b4a09b-ea9f-482d-9412-fd36b4c5aaa8.webp", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/55b4a09b-ea9f-482d-9412-fd36b4c5aaa8.webp", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_d730cbc0acf74e8fa9360e72b308eb77~mv2.webp", "heroAlt": "The Ralph Lauren Comeback", "bodyHtml": "![\"Ralph](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_d730cbc0acf74e8fa9360e72b308eb77~mv2.webp\")
There is something fascinating happening with Ralph Lauren right now. A brand that has spent decades representing polished American style, country clubs, preppy wardrobes and a very particular idea of aspiration has found itself back in the middle of youth culture, with Gen Z embracing the Polo Pony, vintage Ralph Lauren and the aesthetic that once seemed tied to their parents' generation. What makes the resurgence particularly interesting is that Ralph Lauren did not have to become a different brand to make it happen; instead, it found a way to make what it has always stood for feel relevant again.
\n\nThat is where the marketing story really begins.
\n\nRalph Lauren has spent nearly six decades building more than a fashion label. It created an entire world around Americana, aspiration, sport and timeless style, with the Polo Pony, rugby shirts, Oxford shirts, equestrian references and Americana-inspired campaigns becoming instantly recognizable brand assets. Today, Gen Z is discovering those same codes through TikTok, Instagram, resale platforms and vintage fashion, often interpreting Ralph Lauren in ways that would have been difficult to predict when the products were first created.
\nA vintage Polo shirt is no longer simply an old piece of clothing; it can become part of a contemporary streetwear look, while an old Ralph Lauren campaign can inspire a new aesthetic. The brand's history, rather than making it feel dated, has become part of what makes it desirable.
\n\nAs The Wall Street Journal put it in its headline, “Ralph Lauren Was Always Cool. Now Gen Z Knows Why.” The publication highlighted the brand's push toward younger consumers, along with the role of TikTok, vintage shopping and cultural moments such as Taylor Swift in bringing Ralph Lauren back into the spotlight.
\nThe result is a particularly valuable kind of marketing: one where consumers feel as though they have discovered the brand themselves rather than having it pushed toward them.
\n![\"Ralph](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_cb16b4dd5154416891305462b6ff8bbd~mv2.jpg\")
That may be the smartest part of the strategy. Instead of dramatically changing its identity to look younger, Ralph Lauren has kept its core codes intact while allowing consumers to reinterpret them. The same Polo shirt that once represented a very traditional version of American style can now be oversized, paired with sneakers or mixed with vintage and streetwear. The brand remains recognizable, but the meaning around it can change.
\nThat is difficult to manufacture because it comes from years of accumulated brand equity.
\n\nThe company's recent performance suggests that the cultural momentum is translating into real consumer demand. In the first quarter of fiscal 2027, Ralph Lauren reported $2.0 billion in revenue, up 14% year over year, while Asia revenue increased 24%. The company also recruited 1.5 million new consumers through its direct-to-consumer businesses and grew its social following to more than 70 million.
\n\nMarketing is clearly part of that growth equation. According to FashionNetwork, Ralph Lauren increased its marketing spend by 21% over the previous year, bringing marketing investment to 7.9% of sales, as the company worked to attract younger consumers while strengthening its luxury positioning.
\n\nRalph Lauren's comeback isn't simply being powered by nostalgia, the company is actively investing in keeping the brand culturally relevant. For marketing leaders, this reflects a broader shift in how brands build relevance today: by showing up in the moments and environments where culture is actually being shaped, not just through traditional advertising. That's the kind of connection AdMedia helps brands make, linking search and digital media to reach consumers where culture happens.
\n\nRalph Lauren's current strategy, which the company calls its “Next Great Chapter: Drive,” is focused on expanding its relationship with consumers, growing internationally and building its broader lifestyle ecosystem without losing the identity that made the brand distinctive.
\n\nThe company's approach is essentially to protect the DNA while changing the context in which people encounter it. Fashion remains at the center, but Ralph Lauren has extended its world into home, restaurants, hospitality, sport and experiences, giving consumers multiple ways to engage with the brand while still encountering the same underlying point of view.
\n\nThat balance is what makes the comeback so interesting for marketers. Heritage does not necessarily have to compete with relevance. When a brand has built strong enough distinctive assets, its past can become a source of new content, new conversations and even new customers. For CMOs, the lesson isn't to make every heritage brand look younger. It is to ask whether the brand has enough meaning for a new generation to discover and reinterpret it. Ralph Lauren spent decades building the world. Gen Z has now found it, remixed it and made it relevant in its own language.
\n\nThe brand didn't need to reinvent itself. It needed to give a new generation a reason to see it differently.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "Ralph Lauren’s Marketing Comeback: How Heritage Got Cool Again | CMORoom", "metaDescription": "Discover how Ralph Lauren’s marketing strategy, heritage and cultural relevance are driving a Gen Z comeback and shaping the brand’s next chapter.", "metaKeywords": "Ralph Lauren", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/55b4a09b-ea9f-482d-9412-fd36b4c5aaa8.webp", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "55b4a09b-ea9f-482d-9412-fd36b4c5aaa8", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/from-country-club-to-tiktok-the-ralph-lauren-comeback", "memberId": "87aedccc-3992-4657-9baa-bccbe75ee68e", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 6 } }, { "wixId": "c206753a-cccc-4968-9abc-e4d107d0b8f9", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-august-23-august-29-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (August 23-August 29, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. Pizza Hut Turns Its Own Name Into the Campaign Pizza Hut is becoming simply “Hut” through Aug. 31, tying the stunt to football season and the quarterback cadence “hut, hut, hike.” The campaign stars Josh Allen and uses the brand’s name itself as the creative idea, giving Pizza Hut a simple hook that can travel across advertising, social and sports culture. It’s another example of brands using...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Aug 27", "publishedAt": "2026-08-27 16:55:57.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/c206753a-cccc-4968-9abc-e4d107d0b8f9.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/c206753a-cccc-4968-9abc-e4d107d0b8f9.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_ee90a4328a3b443c9bda1286fad1af90~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nPizza Hut is becoming simply “Hut” through Aug. 31, tying the stunt to football season and the quarterback cadence “hut, hut, hike.” The campaign stars Josh Allen and uses the brand’s name itself as the creative idea, giving Pizza Hut a simple hook that can travel across advertising, social and sports culture. It’s another example of brands using short-lived, highly recognizable cultural moments to generate attention and conversation rather than relying solely on traditional product advertising.
\n(Marketing Dive)
\n\nUnited and ESPN took branded entertainment literally, broadcasting a live fantasy football draft from a United flight using Starlink Wi-Fi. Rather than simply placing its logo around an existing sports property, United became part of the experience itself, turning the flight into a piece of live entertainment and content. The activation shows how brands are looking for more inventive ways to integrate into sports culture, creating moments that can generate both real-world engagement and social content.
\n(ESPN Press Room)
\n\nWendy’s has hired Tariq Hassan, formerly McDonald’s U.S. CMO, as its new Chief Marketing and Customer Growth Officer. He’ll succeed Lindsay Radkoski as the chain works through a broader turnaround, bringing together marketing and customer growth under one leader. The move is notable given Hassan’s experience at McDonald’s and highlights how major brands are increasingly looking for CMOs who can connect brand, customer strategy and business growth.
\n(Brand Innovators)
\n\nKohl’s is creating a new Chief Customer Officer role for Arianne Parisi, bringing marketing, brand, creative, loyalty, personalization, media and digital commerce under one umbrella. Longtime CMO Christie Raymond is departing, marking a notable shift in how the retailer is structuring its customer-facing functions. The move reflects a broader trend toward connecting marketing more closely with the full customer journey, from brand and media through loyalty and digital commerce.
\n(Kohl's News)
\n\nAthleta launched its “My World. My Rules.” fall campaign with cinematic creative, a bigger social-first strategy and an activation around Olivia Rodrigo’s inaugural Daisy Chain Fields Festival. The move expands the brand beyond performance apparel into music, culture and experiences, with Athleta serving as the festival’s official athletic apparel sponsor. The campaign is part of a broader effort to make Athleta’s brand purpose feel more contemporary and culturally relevant while strengthening its connection with a younger generation of women.
\n(Marketing Dive)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/c206753a-cccc-4968-9abc-e4d107d0b8f9.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "c206753a-cccc-4968-9abc-e4d107d0b8f9", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-august-23-august-29-2026", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 7 } }, { "wixId": "b604be6d-5694-4af0-923e-41d423fba7db", "slug": "chicago-cmoroom-recap-august-26-2026-tetto-rooftop", "title": "Chicago CMORoom Recap (August 26, 2026) @ Tetto Rooftop", "deck": "Last night, CMORoom Chicago went rooftop. Tetto Rooftop, a warm summer night, Chicago views, and a roof full of marketing leaders ready to get into the real stuff. A few of the highlights: → Finding incremental media spend while budgets get tighter → Keeping strategy at the center of marketing → Balancing efficiency with growth → And, somehow, why going back to school suddenly sounds pretty appealing. That’s the kind of room CMORoom is built for: smart people, interesting perspectives, and...", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "Aug 27", "publishedAt": "2026-08-27 16:02:00.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/b604be6d-5694-4af0-923e-41d423fba7db.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/b604be6d-5694-4af0-923e-41d423fba7db.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_5fcab2da1bc441df96a26aa36df45361~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "Last night, CMORoom Chicago went rooftop.
\n\nTetto Rooftop, a warm summer night, Chicago views, and a roof full of marketing leaders ready to get into the real stuff.
\n\nA few of the highlights:
\n\n→ Finding incremental media spend while budgets get tighter
\n→ Keeping strategy at the center of marketing
\n→ Balancing efficiency with growth
\n→ And, somehow, why going back to school suddenly sounds pretty appealing.
\n\nThat’s the kind of room CMORoom is built for: smart people, interesting perspectives, and conversations that keep going long after the first round.
\n\nBig thank you to David Ruiz, Ryan Sands, Melissa Anderson, and AdMedia for helping make the night happen—and to everyone who joined us at Tetto.
\n\nGreat night. Great people. Great rooftop.
\n\nChicago, we’ll see you again soon.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/b604be6d-5694-4af0-923e-41d423fba7db.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "b604be6d-5694-4af0-923e-41d423fba7db", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/chicago-cmoroom-recap-august-26-2026-tetto-rooftop", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 8 } }, { "wixId": "fa249942-cb30-401e-ad21-eb5d071cae97", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-august-16-august-22-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (August 16-August 22, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. Vuori’s New Growth Playbook Vuori has tapped Carey Collins Krug, formerly CMO of Abercrombie & Fitch, to lead its marketing as the rapidly growing activewear brand looks to expand its lifestyle footprint. Krug arrives after helping oversee one of retail’s most notable brand transformations, making her appointment particularly interesting as Vuori works to become more than a performance apparel company....", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Aug 20", "publishedAt": "2026-08-20 18:31:35.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/fa249942-cb30-401e-ad21-eb5d071cae97.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/fa249942-cb30-401e-ad21-eb5d071cae97.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_c805c7427cc14248bfb884bc5f1bdd83~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nVuori has tapped Carey Collins Krug, formerly CMO of Abercrombie & Fitch, to lead its marketing as the rapidly growing activewear brand looks to expand its lifestyle footprint. Krug arrives after helping oversee one of retail’s most notable brand transformations, making her appointment particularly interesting as Vuori works to become more than a performance apparel company. Her mandate spans brand, creative, digital, retail, wholesale and consumer engagement, putting the CMO squarely at the center of the company’s growth strategy.
\n(Media Post)
\n\nForget the traditional fashion campaign. Marc Jacobs is turning a handbag mix-up into a New York-set mystery featuring Rowan Blanchard and Jemima Kirke, unfolding through a series of short-form “microdramas.” The campaign extends the brand’s Question Marc platform and reflects a broader shift in fashion marketing toward entertainment-driven storytelling, creating content audiences can follow, discuss and share rather than simply scroll past.
\n(AdWeek)
\n\nTravis Kelce is partnering with Publicis Sports on Tekta, an initiative designed to help brands navigate the increasingly complex college NIL landscape as athlete partnerships become a bigger part of the marketing mix. More than a celebrity play, the venture aims to bring greater structure to how brands identify, manage and evaluate athlete relationships, reflecting a broader shift as athletes increasingly operate as creators, media properties and businesses in their own right.
\n(AdWeek)
\n\nGenesis Motor America is taking branded entertainment beyond the traditional ad with Flesh Impact, a 17-minute film directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal and starring Dakota Johnson and Ellen Burstyn as Marilyn Monroe. Alongside its Venice Film Festival premiere, Genesis is bringing the story to life through an immersive New York City exhibition, extending the campaign from screen to real-world experience and putting culture, storytelling and immersion at the center of the brand.
\n(Marketing Brew)
\n\nJo Malone London is making its gaming debut with a Fortnite experience inspired by its Sea Salt & Bergamot fragrance, creating an immersive world amplified by gaming creators, livestreams and social content. The move marks a notable shift for the luxury brand, bringing its distinctive aesthetic into a completely new cultural space and showing how brands can translate their identity into experiences that feel native to the platforms and audiences they want to reach.
\n(Marketing Dive)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/fa249942-cb30-401e-ad21-eb5d071cae97.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "fa249942-cb30-401e-ad21-eb5d071cae97", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-august-16-august-22-2026", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 9 } }, { "wixId": "5cd71e8a-6a1d-45ec-b69c-274e79a21ba0", "slug": "san-francisco-cmoroom-recap-august-18-2026-casa-sofia", "title": "San Francisco CMORoom Recap (August 18, 2026) @ Casa Sofia", "deck": "What happens when you put a room full of exceptional marketing leaders around one table? Tuesday night at Casa Sofia: big ideas, unexpected connections, new opportunities, great stories, plenty of laughs, and a few harmless scandals that will be staying in the room. “Conversation” can feel like a trite word in event marketing, but these conversations were real, candid, smart, generous, and genuinely fun. The kind that sparks new ideas, partnerships, and friendships long after the night ends....", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "Aug 20", "publishedAt": "2026-08-20 14:16:42.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/5cd71e8a-6a1d-45ec-b69c-274e79a21ba0.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/5cd71e8a-6a1d-45ec-b69c-274e79a21ba0.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_91c65917dce0482caae1c97ca3607857~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "What happens when you put a room full of exceptional marketing leaders around one table?
\n\nTuesday night at Casa Sofia: big ideas, unexpected connections, new opportunities, great stories, plenty of laughs, and a few harmless scandals that will be staying in the room.
\n\n“Conversation” can feel like a trite word in event marketing, but these conversations were real, candid, smart, generous, and genuinely fun. The kind that sparks new ideas, partnerships, and friendships long after the night ends.
\n\nA big thank you to our Guest of Honor, Hayden Owens of BridgeBio, for sharing his incredible story and perspective with the room, and to Andy Cotten and the entire AdMedia team for helping make nights like this happen.
\n\nThe setting was beautiful. The food was incredible. The people around the table were even better.
\n\nIf you weren’t there, here’s a little look at what you missed.
\n\nSan Francisco, we'll be back soon!
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/5cd71e8a-6a1d-45ec-b69c-274e79a21ba0.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "5cd71e8a-6a1d-45ec-b69c-274e79a21ba0", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/san-francisco-cmoroom-recap-august-18-2026-casa-sofia", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 10 } }, { "wixId": "e96516ec-e9d4-48d4-8b69-c9868d4652e5", "slug": "kenvue-gets-it-five-moves-every-brand-should-steal", "title": "Kenvue Gets It: Five moves every brand should steal.", "deck": "Discover how Kenvue is transforming consumer health marketing through science, innovation, trusted brands, consumer insights, and everyday care.", "category": "brand spotlight", "categoryLabel": "Brand Spotlight", "categories": [ "brand spotlight" ], "dateLabel": "Aug 20", "publishedAt": "2026-08-20 14:00:46.000", "readTimeLabel": "4 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/e96516ec-e9d4-48d4-8b69-c9868d4652e5.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/e96516ec-e9d4-48d4-8b69-c9868d4652e5.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_9d2bb1a24cfb4b2db068807d5ada8814~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "The products of Kenvue", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_9d2bb1a24cfb4b2db068807d5ada8814~mv2.png\")
Consumer health has a marketing problem: more science, more choice, and less clarity.
\n\nConsumers aren’t simply looking for products that work. They want brands they can trust, understand and confidently bring into the most personal parts of their lives. A headache before a major meeting. A child’s first bath. A new skincare concern. Seasonal allergies. The nightly rituals performed almost without thinking. These moments may be ordinary, but the stakes are not.
\n\nThat’s what makes Kenvue so interesting. With brands including Tylenol, Neutrogena, Aveeno, Listerine, Johnson’s, BAND-AID and Zyrtec, Kenvue reaches approximately 1.2 billion people globally. Its challenge is bigger than selling products. It must keep some of the world’s most familiar brands trusted, relevant and impossible to overlook.
\n\n1. Science No One Understands Is Just Noise
\n\nConsumer health brands love talking about ingredients, formulations, clinical research and efficacy.
\nConsumers don’t.
\nThey want to know one thing: What will this do for me?
\nKenvue’s strongest brands connect scientific credibility to recognizable human needs. Neutrogena and Aveeno don’t simply market formulations; they address acne, sun protection, sensitive skin, hydration and healthy aging. Tylenol isn’t selling an active ingredient. It is selling the ability to get through the day with less pain.
\nIn 2026, Neutrogena, Aveeno and Rogaine presented new dermatology research and clinical innovations at the American Academy of Dermatology meeting. Science matters—but only if consumers can understand why it matters to them.
\nThe takeaway: Science builds authority. Translation builds demand.
\nThe smartest brands don’t dilute the evidence. They turn it into a story people can immediately connect to their own lives.
\n\nTrust takes decades to build, and one generation to lose. Kenvue owns brands that have lived in medicine cabinets, bathrooms and family routines for years. That familiarity is an extraordinary advantage. It can also become a trap. Consumers may recognize a brand without considering it relevant. They may trust what it was without understanding what it offers now.
\nToday’s discovery journey looks nothing like it did 20 years ago. Consumers move between creators, search, social media, retailers, healthcare professionals, online communities and AI-generated recommendations before ever reaching the shelf.
\nKenvue’s opportunity is to protect what makes its brands trusted while refusing to let them become predictable. Neutrogena’s 2026 “Break the Rules” brand mission reflects that tension: preserve the science, but give the brand a sharper, more contemporary cultural voice.
\nThe takeaway: Heritage earns attention. Relevance earns the next purchase.
\nLegacy should be a launchpad, not a museum.
\n\nMarketers love the word “innovation.” Consumers love things that make their lives better.
\nThere is a difference. A new ingredient, formulation, package or technology may look impressive in a presentation. But consumers rarely reward innovation for its own sake. They reward solutions that make an everyday experience easier, safer, faster or more effective. Kenvue has a powerful advantage: its brands participate in millions of daily routines. That gives the company a front-row seat to the small frustrations consumers experience across skincare, pain relief, oral health, baby care, allergies and wound care.
\nThose friction points are where meaningful innovation begins. It may be better packaging. A more effective skincare solution. A clearer way to understand a health concern. A product that fits more naturally into a routine. None of it needs to feel futuristic. It simply needs to feel useful.
\nThe takeaway: Innovation doesn’t need to be flashy. It needs to remove friction.
\nIf consumers can’t quickly explain why an innovation improves their lives, it probably isn’t ready for the campaign.
\n\nIn consumer health, the journey often begins long before someone searches for a brand.
\nThe brand that provides clear, credible and useful information earns more than traffic. It earns consideration.
\nKenvue’s digital ecosystem extends across topics such as acne, sensitive skin, sun protection, hair regrowth, pain, allergies and oral care. That content isn’t simply filling a publishing calendar. It can shape the moment when a consumer moves from uncertainty to action. This becomes even more valuable as AI changes how people search. Consumers increasingly expect direct, useful answers, not a maze of product pages and promotional claims.
\nThe takeaway: In a trust-driven category, usefulness is a growth strategy.
\nThe best content doesn’t immediately push a product. It helps consumers understand the problem, evaluate their options and feel more confident about what to do next.
\n\nKenvue may organize its portfolio around categories, but consumers experience its brands through moments.
\nA child’s scraped knee.
\nA headache in the middle of a demanding day.
\nA first skincare routine.
\nAn allergy flare-up before an important event.
\nA family’s nightly oral care ritual.
\nThese are not “consumer health occasions.” They are pieces of real life.
\nThat distinction matters. Category-first marketing asks, How do we sell more skincare, pain relief or oral care? Moment-first marketing asks, What is happening in this person’s life, and how can our brand help?
\nKenvue’s breadth gives it the ability to show up across an extraordinary range of needs, routines and life stages. But the real opportunity isn’t simply cross-selling a broad portfolio. It is understanding the emotional and practical context surrounding each interaction.
\nThe takeaway: Products occupy shelves. Great brands occupy moments.
\nThat is where familiarity becomes meaning, and where everyday use becomes long-term loyalty.
\n\nThe future of consumer health marketing will be shaped by one central tension: trust versus transformation.
\nConsumers have access to more information than ever, but that hasn’t necessarily given them more clarity. They can compare ingredients, watch creator reviews, consult healthcare professionals, search online communities and ask AI for recommendations, sometimes within the same five minutes. The brands that win will not be the ones making the most noise. They will be the ones that make complex information feel simple, innovation feel useful and trusted names feel unmistakably current.
\n\nKenvue’s playbook comes down to five rules:
\nConsumer health marketing isn’t ultimately about selling another bottle, tube, patch or package.
\nIt is about being the brand people reach for when they decide to take better care of themselves, or someone they love. And that is one of the most powerful positions any brand can own.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "How Kenvue Is Redefining Consumer Health Marketing | CMORoom", "metaDescription": "Discover how Kenvue is transforming consumer health marketing through science, innovation, trusted brands, consumer insights, and everyday care.", "metaKeywords": "Kenvue", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/e96516ec-e9d4-48d4-8b69-c9868d4652e5.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "e96516ec-e9d4-48d4-8b69-c9868d4652e5", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/kenvue-gets-it-five-moves-every-brand-should-steal", "memberId": "87aedccc-3992-4657-9baa-bccbe75ee68e", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 11 } }, { "wixId": "e4bc5076-afc7-4b33-97d8-8085c5520feb", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-august-9-august-15-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (August 9-August 15, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. Dove, Polo Ralph Lauren & Lacoste Serve Up New US Open Activations Dove, Polo Ralph Lauren and Lacoste are each finding different ways to turn the US Open into a broader cultural moment. From Dove’s “Don’t Sweat It. Make A Racket.” campaign and Re[set] Club to fashion-driven experiences and hospitality, the brands are looking beyond traditional sponsorship to create reasons for consumers to engage. The...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Aug 13", "publishedAt": "2026-08-13 16:18:05.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/e4bc5076-afc7-4b33-97d8-8085c5520feb.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/e4bc5076-afc7-4b33-97d8-8085c5520feb.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_8eb973d75ab24f50a2c1a7de13a00ec5~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nDove, Polo Ralph Lauren and Lacoste are each finding different ways to turn the US Open into a broader cultural moment. From Dove’s “Don’t Sweat It. Make A Racket.” campaign and Re[set] Club to fashion-driven experiences and hospitality, the brands are looking beyond traditional sponsorship to create reasons for consumers to engage. The bigger takeaway: the most effective sports marketing increasingly lives in the culture surrounding the event, not just on the court.
\n(Media Post)
\n\nMaya Bowie has joined Walgreens as SVP of Marketing after serving as VP of Marketing at Walmart. Her appointment comes as Walgreens continues reshaping its commercial organization, putting an experienced retail marketer at the center of the brand’s next chapter. For a legacy brand navigating major shifts in retail and healthcare, the move highlights the growing role marketing leaders play in driving broader business transformation — not just campaigns.
\n(Mass Market Retailers)
\n\nZillow is taking its housing-intent data beyond its own platform through a new partnership with Pinterest, giving marketers a way to reach consumers based on real behaviors and signals rather than broad demographic profiles. The approach could be a glimpse into where media targeting is headed: using first-party intent data to find consumers at the moment they are actively considering a move, renovation or major purchase. An early Kohler pilot delivered 82% more incremental reach and a 23.54% engagement rate.
\n(Zillow News)
\n\nPanera has appointed Andrew Rebhun as CMO, bringing the former CAVA Chief Marketing and Experience Officer into a brand undergoing significant change. His arrival follows Panera’s announcement that it will relocate its headquarters from St. Louis to the Boston area, making the timing particularly notable as the company looks to evolve its brand, customer experience and growth strategy.
\n(Marketing Dive)
\n\nChevrolet and Nike are teaming up with NBA star Devin Booker on a four-sneaker collection inspired by his vintage Chevrolet Impala collection. Rather than a traditional celebrity endorsement, the collaboration taps into something genuinely personal: his passion for classic cars and sneakers. It’s a smart example of how authentic interests, unexpected brand pairings and cultural credibility can turn a partnership into something consumers want to talk about.
\n(Media Post)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/e4bc5076-afc7-4b33-97d8-8085c5520feb.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "e4bc5076-afc7-4b33-97d8-8085c5520feb", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-august-9-august-15-2026", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 12 } }, { "wixId": "544e77a1-8b79-4a69-91c7-c7c430265687", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-august-2-august-8-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (August 2-August 8, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. Shark Week Proves the Power of Building Marketing Moments More than three decades after its debut, Shark Week remains one of television's most successful branded entertainment platforms. Discovery has transformed the annual event into a cultural marketing moment, bringing together advertisers, celebrity partnerships, immersive brand activations, and cross-platform experiences that extend well beyond...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Aug 6", "publishedAt": "2026-08-06 19:55:47.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/544e77a1-8b79-4a69-91c7-c7c430265687.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/544e77a1-8b79-4a69-91c7-c7c430265687.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_8d66905f5c294bb8add3ea05c473d66f~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nMore than three decades after its debut, Shark Week remains one of television's most successful branded entertainment platforms. Discovery has transformed the annual event into a cultural marketing moment, bringing together advertisers, celebrity partnerships, immersive brand activations, and cross-platform experiences that extend well beyond traditional TV. Its continued success is a testament to the power of building a brand property that audiences—and marketers—look forward to year after year.
\n(AdWeek)
\n\nDisney has launched a first-of-its-kind partnership with TikTok that allows creators to legally incorporate clips from Disney films into their content. Select creator videos may also be featured across Disney-owned channels, signaling a major evolution in how entertainment brands collaborate with the creator economy. The initiative reflects a growing shift toward empowering fans to become storytellers, expanding brand reach through authentic, creator-led content.
\n(The Walt Disney Company)
\n\nCoca-Cola's latest campaign invites people to put their phones away and reconnect over a shared meal, reminding consumers that some of life's best moments happen offline. Centered around human connection rather than product features, the initiative reinforces Coca-Cola's longstanding position as a brand that brings people together. It's a timely example of purpose-driven storytelling that taps into a growing desire for meaningful, real-world experiences.
\n(Brand Innovators)
\n\nAudi of America has named Esther Francis as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Brand Marketing & Communications. A nearly two-decade Audi and Volkswagen Group veteran, Francis will lead the brand's U.S. marketing strategy and communications with a mandate to \"reignite the brand\" and remind consumers \"what makes Audi, Audi\" as the automaker looks to strengthen its presence in a highly competitive market.
\n(Brand Innovators)
\n\nStellantis is embracing cutting-edge drone cinematography to create more immersive automotive storytelling across its portfolio of brands. The approach reflects a broader shift toward cinematic, creator inspired content that captures attention across digital and social platforms, demonstrating how production innovation is becoming part of the brand experience itself and helping brands stand out in today's crowded content landscape.
\n(AdWeek)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/544e77a1-8b79-4a69-91c7-c7c430265687.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "544e77a1-8b79-4a69-91c7-c7c430265687", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-august-2-august-8-2026", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 13 } }, { "wixId": "22cdd06b-ce2d-4977-974a-28331a1ef17d", "slug": "nyc-cmoroom-recap-august-5-2026-beauty-essex", "title": "NYC CMORoom Recap (August 5, 2026) @ Beauty & Essex", "deck": "Brilliant leaders. Smart conversations. Honest takes. Shared experiences. Real human fun. A special thank you to David Ruiz and AdMedia for helping make nights like this possible. This team of experts are a top resource in providing brand leaders and Full-funnel Media Solutions. It’s hard to capture what happens when the cities wealth of marketing intelligence is in one room. Conversations spilled across courses, moved between tables, and somehow everyone became part of the same conversation....", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "Aug 6", "publishedAt": "2026-08-06 17:41:06.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/22cdd06b-ce2d-4977-974a-28331a1ef17d.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/22cdd06b-ce2d-4977-974a-28331a1ef17d.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_4c555dc74e2b45d7a1310190c99bb7c1~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "Brilliant leaders. Smart conversations. Honest takes. Shared experiences. Real human fun.
\n\nA special thank you to David Ruiz and AdMedia for helping make nights like this possible. This team of experts are a top resource in providing brand leaders and Full-funnel Media Solutions.
\n\nIt’s hard to capture what happens when the cities wealth of marketing intelligence is in one room. Conversations spilled across courses, moved between tables, and somehow everyone became part of the same conversation.
\n\nBeauty & Essex ... the hidden entrance, the beautiful space, the incredible courses. It was perfection.
\n\nAnd the conversation? Exactly what you’d expect from this group: everywhere.
\n\nSearch. AI. LLMs. The future of how we work. Everyone is using LLM tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. And no two people are using them the same way.
\n\nSome have created personas. Some have assigned personalities. Some have even named them.
\n\nAnd then there are the chat histories…the completely unhinged collection of our previous prompts that makes everyone question who they’ve become. It captures exactly where we are.
\n\nAI is no longer just a tool we’re experimenting with. It’s becoming part of how we work, create, and make decisions.
\n\nWhich brought us to the question of the night:
\n\nHas anyone actually threatened to break up with their LLM for another one? And if so… how did it take the news?
\n\nThank you, NYC, for an unforgettable evening. We'll be back soon!
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/22cdd06b-ce2d-4977-974a-28331a1ef17d.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "22cdd06b-ce2d-4977-974a-28331a1ef17d", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/nyc-cmoroom-recap-august-5-2026-beauty-essex", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 14 } }, { "wixId": "4dcfa7f9-36ed-4094-8897-45ddd9edf6c5", "slug": "beyond-the-data-why-marketing-leaders-must-question-the-source", "title": "Beyond the Data: Why marketing leaders must question the source?", "deck": "In this CMORoom Spotlight, Kate Pietrini speaks with Adam Kmiec about balancing brand creativity with data and leading with confidence in a rapidly evolving marketing landscape.", "category": "cmo spotlight", "categoryLabel": "CMO Spotlight", "categories": [ "cmo spotlight" ], "dateLabel": "Aug 4", "publishedAt": "2026-08-04 14:29:18.000", "readTimeLabel": "4 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/4dcfa7f9-36ed-4094-8897-45ddd9edf6c5.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/4dcfa7f9-36ed-4094-8897-45ddd9edf6c5.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_6bad8de137394dbd947ebc30196307dc~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "A quote by Adam Kmiec, SVP, Brand Management, United Health Group", "bodyHtml": "![\"Smiling](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_6bad8de137394dbd947ebc30196307dc~mv2.jpg\")
Marketing has always been a discipline of balancing intuition with evidence. But as artificial intelligence, algorithmic decision-making, and an endless stream of data reshape the industry, the challenge is no longer finding information, it's determining whether that information deserves your trust.
\nKate Pietrini, CMO of CMORoom, sits down with Adam Kmiec for a thought-provoking CMORoom Spotlight conversation exploring one of the biggest leadership questions facing marketers today: How do you preserve what makes a brand distinctive while making decisions in an era where data is abundant, but not always reliable?
\nDrawing on nearly three decades of experience in brand marketing, Adam shares his perspective on balancing creativity with analytics, building enduring brands, and leading with confidence in an increasingly data-driven world.
\nThe growing complexity of the world around us. Organizations have access to more data, more tools, and more opportunities than ever before. At the same time, expectations are higher, decisions are more visible, and the margin for error is smaller. A single moment can shape how a brand is perceived, for better or worse. That combination of unprecedented opportunity and increased responsibility is what makes this era so fascinating. Marketing has never been more dynamic, or more consequential.
\nEvery brand faces a constant tension between protecting its heritage and embracing change. The things that strengthen an organization's spine are often the safe decisions. They rely on proven frameworks, established processes, and best practices that reduce risk. But if every decision is driven by safety, you eventually remove the very qualities that made the brand memorable in the first place. Years ago at The Campbell Soup Co., we often said our responsibility as brand marketers was to protect the past from the future, and the future from the past.
\nThat balance is where art and science collide. And I still believe it's true today. Some brands have a rich heritage worth preserving. Others need meaningful reinvention. The challenge isn't choosing one or the other. It's knowing how much of each is required, and having the courage to act on it.
\nEvery industry wrestles with the same question. Whether you look at retailers, automotive companies, or restaurant brands, they're all asking some version of the same thing:
\nHow much of our history should we protect? How much should we reinvent?
\nIn many ways, it's no different from the questions people ask themselves throughout their own careers and lives:
\nWho am I today?
\nWho am I becoming?
\nThe answer isn't found in history alone, and it isn't found in the latest data point either. It requires understanding both where you've come from and where you're going. And if there was ever a time to go beyond the data and interrogate the source and the messenger, this is it.
\nI think we're asking the wrong question. Every leadership meeting eventually arrives at: \"What does the data say?\" The better question is: \"What's the source of the data?\"
\nWe have access to more insights than ever before, but we don't spend nearly enough time understanding where those insights originate. Context changes everything. Knowing the source often changes how you interpret the conclusion. Data can tell you what is happening. Understanding the source helps you understand why you should believe it.
\nEvery large language model is trained on data collected from somewhere. Every dataset reflects the perspectives, assumptions, and limitations of the people and information that created it.
\nSo the important questions aren't simply whether AI produced an answer. They're questions like:
\nIf you don't understand the source, you can't fully evaluate the recommendation. AI can accelerate an answer. It can't eliminate the need for judgment.
\nA colleague of mine worked at a large organization that had been around for more than 50 years. They were in the middle of a rebrand, and the rebrand generated significant negative external feedback. Internally, leadership believed the online backlash represented widespread customer sentiment. When the data was examined more closely, they discovered that a significant portion of the conversation wasn't coming from actual customers at all. Much of the activity originated from automated accounts operating across multiple countries. Bots, if you will. News aggregators. Not real people. Imagine making significant brand decisions based on conversations that don't actually represent your customers. That's why understanding where data comes from is just as important as the data itself.
\n\nEvery recommendation deserves context. Whether it's media planning, platform strategy, or brand positioning, it's important to understand the incentives behind the advice. Holding companies have commercial relationships. Platforms have business objectives. Consultants bring their own experiences and perspectives. None of that is inherently problematic, but leadership requires asking better questions before accepting recommendations at face value. Follow the incentives. Follow the relationships. Follow the source.
\nThe next decade of marketing won't be defined by who has access to the most data. It will be defined by who asks the best questions. As AI accelerates decision-making and data becomes even more abundant, the competitive advantage will belong to leaders who look beyond dashboards and headlines to examine the quality, context, and origin of the information in front of them.
\n\nIn a world where every metric can shape a multimillion-dollar decision, curiosity may become the most valuable leadership skill of all. For modern marketers, the future isn't simply about following the data. It's about understanding where the story begins.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/4dcfa7f9-36ed-4094-8897-45ddd9edf6c5.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "4dcfa7f9-36ed-4094-8897-45ddd9edf6c5", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/beyond-the-data-why-marketing-leaders-must-question-the-source", "memberId": "87aedccc-3992-4657-9baa-bccbe75ee68e", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 15 } }, { "wixId": "e64e3226-4b87-4e5d-9e31-9a00e12e4dab", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-july-26-august-1-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (July 26-August 1, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. Retail Media's Next Battle: Walmart vs. Amazon The competition between Walmart and Amazon is expanding far beyond retail and into connected TV advertising. As both companies strengthen their retail media ecosystems, marketers have more opportunities to connect streaming campaigns directly to shopping behavior and sales, bringing performance measurement closer to the living room. The battle underscores...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jul 30", "publishedAt": "2026-07-30 17:40:33.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/e64e3226-4b87-4e5d-9e31-9a00e12e4dab.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/e64e3226-4b87-4e5d-9e31-9a00e12e4dab.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_fb16f481aba0405e8f6ec162a9c4f7b8~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nThe competition between Walmart and Amazon is expanding far beyond retail and into connected TV advertising. As both companies strengthen their retail media ecosystems, marketers have more opportunities to connect streaming campaigns directly to shopping behavior and sales, bringing performance measurement closer to the living room. The battle underscores how commerce, media, and advertising are rapidly converging, and why retail media continues to command a growing share of marketing budgets.
\n(AdWeek)
\n\nApple and Ford are expanding their partnership to create a more seamless in-car navigation experience, signaling the continued evolution of the connected vehicle. As cars become increasingly integrated with digital ecosystems, marketers are watching the dashboard emerge as a new channel for personalized experiences, commerce, and customer engagement. The partnership is another step toward a future where the car becomes an extension of the digital customer journey.
\n(Media Post)
\n\nLive Nation is expanding beyond physical events by bringing immersive music festival experiences to Roblox, giving fans new ways to engage before, during, and after live shows. Through interactive virtual worlds and branded activations, the entertainment giant is extending the festival experience beyond the venue itself. The move reflects a broader shift toward meeting audiences where they already spend their time and transforming entertainment into year-round digital communities.
\n(Brand Innovators)
\n\nBubble Skincare has appointed its first Chief Marketing Officer, bringing in a former Sol de Janeiro marketing executive to lead the brand’s next phase of growth. The move reflects the continued momentum of beauty brands investing in experienced marketing leadership to build stronger brand identities, deepen consumer connections, and scale in an increasingly competitive category. As beauty continues to be shaped by community, storytelling, and cultural relevance, Bubble’s investment signals the growing importance of brand strategy as a key driver of growth.
\n(Brand Innovators)
\n\nBMW's latest campaign takes an unexpected approach by putting winding roads on trial rather than showcasing vehicle features or performance specs. The cinematic, storytelling-first concept has earned attention for breaking category conventions and reinforcing that originality remains one of the strongest differentiators in an increasingly AI-powered creative landscape. It's a reminder that the best advertising doesn't just sell a product, it creates a conversation.
\n(AdWeek)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/e64e3226-4b87-4e5d-9e31-9a00e12e4dab.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "e64e3226-4b87-4e5d-9e31-9a00e12e4dab", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-july-26-august-1-2026", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 16 } }, { "wixId": "e8743b06-a9d5-47fb-b24c-a9a1b3130503", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-july-12-july-18-2026-1", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (July 19-July 25, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. Samsung Teams Up With Marvel for New Spider-Man Campaign Samsung is entering the Marvel universe with a new campaign that positions its Galaxy devices as Spider-Man's newest must-have gadget. By blending entertainment with product storytelling, the collaboration taps into one of the world's biggest franchises to capture fan attention. The campaign highlights how brands continue to leverage blockbuster IP...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jul 23", "publishedAt": "2026-07-23 22:09:17.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/e8743b06-a9d5-47fb-b24c-a9a1b3130503.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/e8743b06-a9d5-47fb-b24c-a9a1b3130503.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_ea2690546165410eb02a0120eb335fbe~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nSamsung is entering the Marvel universe with a new campaign that positions its Galaxy devices as Spider-Man's newest must-have gadget. By blending entertainment with product storytelling, the collaboration taps into one of the world's biggest franchises to capture fan attention. The campaign highlights how brands continue to leverage blockbuster IP to build cultural relevance and drive deeper consumer engagement.
\n(AdWeek)
\n\nKraft Heinz has signed a multiyear partnership with Disney that will bring its products to Disney parks, resorts, and cruise lines while introducing Disney characters across iconic brands like Heinz, Philadelphia, and Kraft Mac & Cheese. The deal highlights how marketers are increasingly blending entertainment, retail, and experiential marketing to create memorable brand experiences that extend far beyond the grocery aisle.
\n(Wall Street Journal)
\n\nGeneral Motors has hired Allyson Witherspoon, formerly Nissan's Chief Marketing Officer, to oversee marketing for both Buick and GMC. The high-profile leadership move comes as GM continues investing in the growth of its premium SUV and truck brands, signaling a renewed focus on brand transformation, customer experience, and modern marketing as the automaker navigates its EV future.
\n(AdAge)
\n\nHanes launched its new \"Get Comfortable\" campaign, shifting from product-focused messaging to a more expressive, confidence-driven brand platform. Created by Special U.S., the campaign uses humor and cultural storytelling to modernize the heritage brand, signaling a broader trend of legacy companies evolving their creative to build stronger emotional connections with today's consumers.
\n(AdWeek)
\n\nSummer Fridays is expanding beyond its viral skincare roots with new body care and fragrance launches, while prioritizing repeat purchases, retail excellence, and global growth over chasing the next trend. The strategy reflects a broader shift in beauty as founder-led brands focus on long-term brand equity, operational strength, and customer loyalty instead of short-lived social media buzz.
\n(Vogue)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/e8743b06-a9d5-47fb-b24c-a9a1b3130503.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "e8743b06-a9d5-47fb-b24c-a9a1b3130503", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-july-12-july-18-2026-1", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 17 } }, { "wixId": "24c6e39e-f379-4ee0-9e52-dc83440ed722", "slug": "ai-is-rewriting-the-rules-of-growth-are-brands-ready", "title": "AI Is Rewriting the Rules of Growth. Are Brands Ready?", "deck": "Consumers are spending less time conducting extensive research; they're asking AI platforms for recommendations and then validating those recommendations through trusted communities. For years, search was the gateway to discovery. Consumers typed a question into Google, compared options, and made decisions on their own terms. Today, that journey is changing faster than most brands realize. As AI-powered search becomes a primary source of information, marketers are being challenged to rethink...", "category": "cmo spotlight", "categoryLabel": "CMO Spotlight", "categories": [ "cmo spotlight" ], "dateLabel": "Jul 22", "publishedAt": "2026-07-22 15:30:35.000", "readTimeLabel": "4 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/24c6e39e-f379-4ee0-9e52-dc83440ed722.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/24c6e39e-f379-4ee0-9e52-dc83440ed722.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_2d9f022ca9b84121a3dc402c94276004~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"Smiling](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_2d9f022ca9b84121a3dc402c94276004~mv2.jpg\")
Consumers are spending less time conducting extensive research; they're asking AI platforms for recommendations and then validating those recommendations through trusted communities.\n\n
For years, search was the gateway to discovery. Consumers typed a question into Google, compared options, and made decisions on their own terms. Today, that journey is changing faster than most brands realize.
\nAs AI-powered search becomes a primary source of information, marketers are being challenged to rethink visibility, customer journeys, and what growth looks like in an increasingly connected world. Success is no longer about optimizing individual channels, it's about building an ecosystem where creativity, media, data, CRM, and technology work together seamlessly.
\n\nIn this edition of CMORoom Spotlight, Kate Pietrini, Chief Marketing Officer at CMORoom, speaks with Will Ferguson, Chief Growth Officer at Razorfish, about navigating today's marketing landscape, the evolution of AI search, why the middle of the sales funnel is changing, and what brands must do to stay ahead.
\n\n\n\nMarketing leaders are facing more pressure than ever. How has your role evolved as Chief Growth Officer?
\nThere's certainly more pressure to perform, but the bigger challenge is staying ahead of change. Our focus isn't simply on winning new business, it's on evolving faster than the market itself. We spend a tremendous amount of time listening to what clients need today while anticipating what they'll need tomorrow. Whether it's AI, LLM search, or the changing media landscape, our goal is to lead those conversations rather than simply respond to them.
\n\nThe biggest mistake is thinking about channels individually. Today's customer doesn't experience media, CRM, loyalty, creative, or technology as separate functions. They experience one brand. That means agencies have to think in connected ecosystems rather than disconnected disciplines.
\nIf your data, technology, media, and CRM aren't already connected, adopting AI effectively becomes significantly more difficult. That foundational work is becoming one of the biggest competitive advantages brands can build.
\n\nAbsolutely. Clients are more informed than ever before. They're asking smarter questions, and that creates better conversations. Rather than agencies simply educating clients, today's partnerships are much more collaborative. Both sides are learning together as AI reshapes marketing, making strategy discussions more thoughtful and ultimately more valuable.
\n\nFor a long time, search was the front door to the internet. Now we're asking a very different question: What is the role of LLM search?
\nConsumers are increasingly relying on AI platforms for discovery and recommendations. If your brand isn't visible in those environments, you're not just missing today's customers, you're potentially missing future audiences as well. Visibility is no longer limited to traditional SEO. Brands have to think about how they're represented across AI-powered experiences.
\n\nMany organizations still aren't tracking AI visibility. Why is that?
\nWe're seeing that only a small percentage of brands consistently measure how they appear in AI-generated results. It's not because organizations don't recognize the opportunity. It's because implementation is difficult. Every major technological shift follows a similar pattern. Initial excitement is easy. Building the infrastructure to support meaningful adoption takes much longer. The brands investing now in measurement and visibility will be much better positioned as AI becomes central to consumer discovery.
\n\nI don't think the funnel is dead. We tend to declare it dead every few years, but what's really happened is that it's been hollowed out. The biggest shift is happening in the middle of the customer journey. Consumers are spending less time conducting extensive research themselves. Instead, they're asking AI platforms for recommendations and then validating those recommendations through trusted communities or people they know. That changes how brands need to influence consideration.
\n\nWithout question, the middle. Consumers still validate decisions, but they're arriving at those decisions differently. AI is accelerating discovery, while community, creators, reviews, and trusted recommendations continue to influence confidence before purchase. Brands need to understand both parts of that journey.
\n\nThere's enormous pressure to deliver immediate business results. But brands still need to invest in brand building.The organizations that succeed will balance short-term performance with long-term equity, supported by measurement frameworks that demonstrate the value of both. Growth isn't created by optimization alone, it comes from building lasting customer relationships.
\n\nConsumer loyalty looks different today, particularly among younger audiences. People aren't necessarily loyal to brands in the way they once were. They're often loyal to products or experiences instead. That means brands have to continuously earn attention while remaining authentic. Chasing every trend isn't the answer. The brands that stand out know where they genuinely belong in culture and where they can create meaningful relevance.
\n\nBuild connected foundations. AI will continue changing how consumers discover, evaluate, and engage with brands, but technology alone won't solve those challenges. Organizations that connect creativity, media, customer data, CRM, loyalty, and measurement into one cohesive strategy will be best positioned for sustainable growth. The future belongs to brands that think holistically rather than channel by channel.
\n\nAI isn't replacing great marketing, it's raising the standard for it. As search evolves, customer journeys compress, and consumer expectations continue to shift, success will depend less on reacting to change and more on building systems that are ready for it. For marketing leaders, the opportunity isn't simply to adopt new technology. It's to rethink how every part of the customer experience connects together. Because in the age of AI, growth belongs to brands that are visible, connected, and prepared for what's next.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/24c6e39e-f379-4ee0-9e52-dc83440ed722.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "24c6e39e-f379-4ee0-9e52-dc83440ed722", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/ai-is-rewriting-the-rules-of-growth-are-brands-ready", "memberId": "87aedccc-3992-4657-9baa-bccbe75ee68e", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 18 } }, { "wixId": "83b7597f-e105-4592-b7a4-234eda31e586", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-july-12-july-18-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (July 12-July 18, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. Best Buy Unveils New Executive Team to Accelerate Growth Best Buy announced a sweeping executive leadership realignment ahead of Jason Bonfig's transition to CEO, creating new roles focused on strategy, revenue, retail, operations and its growing advertising business. Notably, Lisa Valentino was promoted to Chief Ads & Media Officer, underscoring the retailer's continued investment in retail media as a...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jul 16", "publishedAt": "2026-07-16 20:35:35.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/83b7597f-e105-4592-b7a4-234eda31e586.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/83b7597f-e105-4592-b7a4-234eda31e586.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_2745048156f9449289e4e197d8d8d81e~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nBest Buy announced a sweeping executive leadership realignment ahead of Jason Bonfig's transition to CEO, creating new roles focused on strategy, revenue, retail, operations and its growing advertising business. Notably, Lisa Valentino was promoted to Chief Ads & Media Officer, underscoring the retailer's continued investment in retail media as a key growth engine, while the broader leadership changes are designed to drive innovation, strengthen customer experiences and position the company for its next phase of growth
\n(Best Buy)
\n\nNeutrogena launched its new \"Break the Rules\" brand platform, encouraging consumers to prioritize dermatologist-backed science over viral skincare trends and social media hacks. Spanning TV, social, creators and experiential activations, the campaign positions the brand around trust and efficacy, signaling a broader shift toward credibility as a competitive advantage in today's beauty landscape.
\n(Marketing Dive)
\n\nAT&T announced an immersive experiential activation during WNBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago, giving fans new ways to engage with the brand beyond the game through interactive experiences and on-site programming. The activation reflects marketers' continued investment in live experiences that deepen fan connections, create memorable brand moments, and capitalize on the growing momentum and cultural influence of women's sports.
\n(Brand Innovators)
\n\nGap tapped Hailey Bieber to headline its latest denim campaign, blending '90s nostalgia with a fresh, modern aesthetic designed to resonate with younger consumers. The partnership leverages Bieber's cultural influence to reinvigorate one of the brand's most iconic categories while reinforcing Gap's broader strategy of modernizing its heritage, driving relevance, and introducing the brand to a new generation of shoppers.
\n(AdWeek)
\n\nInstead of ignoring negative TikTok comments, travel brand BÉIS embraced customer criticism to improve future products. By openly engaging with feedback and incorporating consumer suggestions into product development, the brand transformed social media complaints into a powerful example of community-led innovation.
\n(Business Insider)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/83b7597f-e105-4592-b7a4-234eda31e586.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "83b7597f-e105-4592-b7a4-234eda31e586", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-july-12-july-18-2026", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 19 } }, { "wixId": "de257508-3984-4fcf-9d6f-e0bd2a5bd23a", "slug": "dallas-world-cup-watch-party-cmoroom-recap-july-9-2026-happiest-hour", "title": "Dallas World Cup Watch Party CMORoom Recap (July 9, 2026) @ Happiest Hour", "deck": "What a match. What a room. ⚽ Watching two of the world's best teams battle it out on the World Cup stage was even better surrounded by some of the best marketing minds in the industry. From the energy of France vs. Morocco to standout food and nonstop conversation at The Happiest Hour, Dallas showed up. The room was filled with brand leaders, marketers, and conversations that carried well beyond the final whistle. Thank you to everyone who joined us. Your ideas, conversations, and energy are...", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "Jul 13", "publishedAt": "2026-07-13 17:05:45.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/de257508-3984-4fcf-9d6f-e0bd2a5bd23a.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/de257508-3984-4fcf-9d6f-e0bd2a5bd23a.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_da868e3108cf40bb8b103c89693dcda3~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "What a match. What a room. ⚽
\n\nWatching two of the world's best teams battle it out on the World Cup stage was even better surrounded by some of the best marketing minds in the industry.
\n\nFrom the energy of France vs. Morocco to standout food and nonstop conversation at The Happiest Hour, Dallas showed up. The room was filled with brand leaders, marketers, and conversations that carried well beyond the final whistle.
\n\nThank you to everyone who joined us. Your ideas, conversations, and energy are what make CMORoom more than just a dinner—they're what make every gathering worth looking forward to.
\n\nA special thank you to our partners at AdMedia for making the evening possible.
\n\nDallas, we can’t wait to see you at the next CMORoom.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/de257508-3984-4fcf-9d6f-e0bd2a5bd23a.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "de257508-3984-4fcf-9d6f-e0bd2a5bd23a", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/dallas-world-cup-watch-party-cmoroom-recap-july-9-2026-happiest-hour", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 20 } }, { "wixId": "2e1d1746-4aa2-4358-ace6-e5faa4e424cb", "slug": "cmoroom-spotlight-carter-s-brandi-stone-watkins", "title": "CMORoom Spotlight: Carter’s, Brandi Stone-Watkins", "deck": "The strongest marketing teams don't think in terms of brand versus performance, they bring both together to create a unified, full-funnel approach. Marketing for the Next Generation: A Conversation on Growth, Gen Z Parents, and Modern Brand Building. The role of a marketing leader has never been more dynamic. Consumer expectations shift faster than ever, channels continue to evolve, and today's brands must balance immediate business performance with long-term brand equity. For marketing...", "category": "cmo spotlight", "categoryLabel": "CMO Spotlight", "categories": [ "cmo spotlight" ], "dateLabel": "Jul 13", "publishedAt": "2026-07-13 16:42:26.000", "readTimeLabel": "3 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/2e1d1746-4aa2-4358-ace6-e5faa4e424cb.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/2e1d1746-4aa2-4358-ace6-e5faa4e424cb.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_d237311735074a67917cb616db4fbd1d~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"Smiling](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_d237311735074a67917cb616db4fbd1d~mv2.jpg\")
The strongest marketing teams don't think in terms of brand versus performance, they bring both together to create a unified, full-funnel approach.\n\n
Marketing for the Next Generation: A Conversation on Growth, Gen Z Parents, and Modern Brand Building. The role of a marketing leader has never been more dynamic. Consumer expectations shift faster than ever, channels continue to evolve, and today's brands must balance immediate business performance with long-term brand equity.
\nFor marketing leaders in categories shaped by life stages, staying relevant means understanding not just how people shop, but how they live, connect, and make decisions.
\n\nIn this CMORoom spotlight, Katy Pietrini, CMO of CMORoom sits down with Brandi Stone-Watkins, Senior Director, Media at Carter’s to discuss what it takes to build modern brands, lead high-performing teams, measure meaningful growth, and connect with a new generation of parents.
\n\nYou've been with Carter's for nearly five years. What continues to excite you most about your role?
\n\nI think it's the constant evolution of the business. Joining during COVID meant stepping into one of the most transformative periods the industry has experienced. Since then, we've continued to evolve how we go to market and how we connect with today's parents.
\nThe modern Gen Z parent is different from previous generations, and understanding how they think, shop, and approach parenthood is an ongoing journey. Being part of that evolution and helping shape where the brand goes next, is what makes the role so rewarding.
\n\nHow do you approach annual planning and defining your team's priorities?
\n\nEverything starts with understanding the customer. Gen Z parents are redefining what parenting looks like. They have different expectations, different values, and different ways of engaging with brands.
\n\nFor us, parenthood is made up of meaningful milestones. Our responsibility is to be present during those moments and communicate in ways that genuinely resonate with today's families.
\nLearning who these consumers are and adapting alongside them is central to our growth strategy.
\n\nWhat qualities define a high-performing marketing team?
\n\nStrong marketing teams stay focused on shared business outcomes. It's easy for organizations to operate in silos, but the best results happen when everyone is working toward the same growth objectives.
\nIt's also important to avoid thinking in terms of brand versus performance marketing. Those disciplines aren't competing priorities, they're complementary. Together they create a unified, full-funnel strategy that delivers stronger business results.
\n\nHow do you measure marketing success in such a complex environment?
\n\nSuccess requires looking at multiple dimensions of performance. Incrementality is incredibly important because it helps us understand the net-new growth our marketing is generating beyond what would have happened naturally.
\nBeyond that, we rely on marketing mix modeling (MMM), incrementality testing, brand sentiment, brand health, and other measurement frameworks. Each metric tells part of the story, and together they provide a comprehensive view of how the business is performing.
\nAnd prioritization is essential. Marketing leaders have to balance short-term revenue goals with long-term brand growth. Maintaining that balance, and knowing when to optimize for each, is one of the most important parts of the job.
\n\nWhat trends in marketing are inspiring you right now?
\n\nI'm especially fascinated by the growth of social commerce and the creator ecosystem. Watching that space evolve over time has been incredibly interesting. The way consumers discover products, engage with creators, and ultimately make purchasing decisions continues to reshape how brands build relationships.
\n\nLooking back on your career, what's the most valuable lesson you've learned?
\n\nI still feel like I'm on a continuous journey, and I'm proud of what I've accomplished so far.
\nIf I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be this: invest just as much in building relationships and influence as you do in mastering the craft. I've always loved the craft of marketing and worked hard to perfect it. But leadership isn't only about expertise, it's also about influence, collaboration, and the relationships you build along the way.
\n\nMarketing today demands far more than great campaigns. It requires a deep understanding of changing consumers, cross-functional leadership, disciplined measurement, and the ability to balance immediate business performance with lasting brand value.
\nAs new generations reshape industries and emerging channels redefine engagement, the marketers who thrive will be those who remain curious, collaborative, and relentlessly focused on the customer. That mindset, not any single tactic, is what drives enduring growth.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/2e1d1746-4aa2-4358-ace6-e5faa4e424cb.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "2e1d1746-4aa2-4358-ace6-e5faa4e424cb", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-spotlight-carter-s-brandi-stone-watkins", "memberId": "87aedccc-3992-4657-9baa-bccbe75ee68e", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 21 } }, { "wixId": "6bfc2862-1136-4cb2-af6a-9b8bd0c2f13c", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-july-5-july-11-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (July 5-July 11 , 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. Pet Brands Continue Winning with Experience-Led Marketing Purina's Chief Snuggle Officer campaign puts participation at the center of its marketing strategy, replacing traditional promotions with an experience that invites pet owners to celebrate everyday moments with their animals. In doing so, the campaign builds emotional engagement while generating organic social content. The approach highlights the...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jul 10", "publishedAt": "2026-07-10 14:06:22.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/6bfc2862-1136-4cb2-af6a-9b8bd0c2f13c.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/6bfc2862-1136-4cb2-af6a-9b8bd0c2f13c.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_aaac7fd8c59f4adbafac9027f7782692~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nPurina's Chief Snuggle Officer campaign puts participation at the center of its marketing strategy, replacing traditional promotions with an experience that invites pet owners to celebrate everyday moments with their animals. In doing so, the campaign builds emotional engagement while generating organic social content. The approach highlights the growing shift toward consumer-led storytelling over traditional promotional campaigns.
\n(MediaPost)
\n\nWith consumers holding onto TVs longer, Best Buy is launching a campaign designed to reignite the replacement cycle. The retailer is positioning its stores as destinations where customers can experience RGB LED technology in person, arguing that the leap in picture quality is something advertising alone can't fully convey. By turning stores into experiential environments, Best Buy is using physical retail as a key advantage in helping consumers understand new technology.
\n(MediaPost)
\n\nWearable technology brand WHOOP has hired former Nike CMO Nicole Graham to lead its global marketing organization. The appointment signals the company's ambition to elevate its brand, accelerate international growth and strengthen its position as competition in the fitness wearable category intensifies. Her appointment brings brand-building expertise that could help WHOOP expand beyond performance tracking and strengthen its connection with a broader consumer audience.
\n(AdWeek)
\n\nKohl's is making affordability the centerpiece of its back-to-school campaign, highlighting sharp pricing across apparel, backpacks and classroom essentials. The retailer is betting that value messaging will resonate with budget-conscious families navigating continued economic pressures ahead of the new school year. The strategy reinforces Kohl’s position as a retailer focused on meeting shoppers’ practical needs during high-spend seasonal moments.
\n(MediaPost)
\n\nKickstarter has unveiled its new \"Power of Belief\" campaign, celebrating the creators, innovators and communities that bring ambitious ideas to life. The campaign reinforces the platform's mission to back creativity while highlighting the collective optimism that fuels crowdfunding beyond simply raising capital. The initiative further positions Kickstarter as a community-driven platform where creativity, support and innovation come together to bring new ideas forward.
\n(Brand Innovators)
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There was a time when you could walk down any supermarket aisle, glance at a shelf, and know exactly what you were looking at without reading a single label.
\n\nBanks looked trustworthy.
\nInsurance companies looked corporate.
\nProtein brands looked aggressive.
\nWater brands looked pure.
\nLuxury brands looked expensive.
\n\nThese weren't coincidences. They were category codes, the visual, verbal, and emotional shortcuts industries spent decades refining to help consumers instantly decode what they were buying. Marketing teams obsessed over these playbooks because, for a long time, they worked beautifully.
\nUntil they didn't.
\nToday, some of the fastest-growing brands in the world are thriving for the exact opposite reason. They aren't fitting in; they are deliberately smashing the visual rules of their category. And in doing so, they’re exposing one of the biggest seismic shifts in modern marketing.
\n\nEvery industry develops its own design language. Walk through almost any airport and you'll notice airlines communicate safety through conservative shades of blue. Financial institutions rely on restrained, traditional typography. For decades, protein powders favored neon accents, muscular imagery, and hyper-aggressive messaging, while bottled water followed a strict script of pristine mountains and minimalist white caps.
\nNone of these choices are accidental. They exist because repetition creates familiarity, and familiarity builds trust. For generations, following category conventions wasn't just safe, it was considered good branding. But conventions carry a hidden, compounding cost.
\nWhen every competitor adopts the exact same visual vocabulary, consumers stop noticing individual brands. They recognize the category, but they blind-spot the company. In a marketplace overflowing with choice, familiarity quietly mutates into invisibility.
\n\nAttention is the new competitive advantage
\n\nFor years, marketers assumed differentiation was something that happened after a customer noticed the product. Today's reality is far harsher.
\nBefore a brand can differentiate, it has to earn the right to be seen. Discovery no longer happens exclusively on a physical retail shelf, it happens while scrolling through chaotic social feeds, creator videos, and algorithmic recommendations.
\nThis fundamentally changes the role of design. The first job of a brand is no longer to reassure. It is to interrupt. This disruption doesn't require louder advertising or bigger budgets. It requires radical distinctiveness.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_e438c72421c0439589975f4025a47717~mv2.png\")
The brands redefining the rules
\n\nYou can see this rebellion happening simultaneously across completely unrelated industries:
\nThese companies aren't breaking rules just to be edgy. They are asking a much more profitable question: What if the fastest way to be remembered is to stop looking like everyone else?
\nTRADITIONAL BRANDING
\nMODERN DISRUPTION
\nFollow the Code
\nBuilds Familiarity
\nBlends Into Shelf
\nSmashes the Code
\nEarns Attention
\nCommands the Shelf
\nThe rise of generative AI tools and LLM search engines is making visual and conceptual distinctiveness even more valuable.
\nConsumers increasingly ask AI assistants for recommendations instead of browsing endless pages of Google search results. They ask for \"the best new protein brand,\" \"an innovative beverage company,\" or \"emerging wellness products worth trying.\"
\nAI systems don't recommend brands because they successfully blend into their category. They surface brands that possess sharp positioning, hyper-consistent messaging, and enough organic public conversation to establish authority.
\nThe New Reality: Being memorable isn't just important for human consumers anymore. It’s becoming mandatory for machines. Distinctive brands naturally generate more cultural commentary, more editorial coverage, and more creator mentions across the web. Those clean, unique signals make them incredibly easy for AI systems to crawl, understand, and ultimately recommend. Ironically, the exact same qualities that capture human attention are what make brands visible to algorithms.
\n\nFor years, marketers have treated category codes like a safety checklist:
\nBut credibility without memorability has become an incredibly expensive trade-off. A brand that perfectly matches its category may successfully communicate trust, but it will also disappear into a sea of competitors making the exact same safe choices. The most successful brands today recognize that the objective isn't simply to inhabit a category. It's to redefine it.
\n\nInstead of asking, \"Does our brand look like the market leader?\" marketing leaders must cross-examine their identity with three different questions:
\n\nDistinctive assets matter more than ever. Color palettes, typography, packaging architecture, and tone of voice should be instantly recognizable even without a brand name attached.
\nNot every convention deserves to survive. Some build necessary trust (e.g., safety in banking), but most simply create corporate sameness.
\nAttention is the prerequisite for consideration. Brands that fail to earn it will never get the chance to compete on product quality alone.
\n\nOne of the biggest misconceptions in modern branding is that differentiation comes strictly from saying something different. In reality, it almost always begins with looking different.
\nCategory codes helped brands navigate an era when consumer trust was scarce and discovery was limited to brick-and-mortar shelves. Today's challenge is entirely different. Consumers are overwhelmed with choices, attention is fragmented, and AI is fundamentally rewriting how recommendations are made.
\n\nIn this new landscape, the brands that thrive won't be the ones that follow the rules most precisely. They'll be the ones confident enough to write their own.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/1521d31a-ca5d-46f8-a00a-c0445002119f.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "1521d31a-ca5d-46f8-a00a-c0445002119f", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/the-death-of-category-codes-why-the-best-brands-no-longer-look-like-their-competitors", "memberId": "87aedccc-3992-4657-9baa-bccbe75ee68e", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 23 } }, { "wixId": "317582bb-1429-4c0a-9d4a-66acc765a69f", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-june-28-july-4-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (June 28-July 4, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. Brands reshape Pride marketing playbook with authenticity Major brands including Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas, Nike, Tinder, Diesel, Sephora, and many more moved beyond surface-level rainbow branding during Pride Month toward deeper cultural collaboration. Campaigns centered on authentic storytelling, community investment, and long-term partnerships — signaling a clear evolution in purpose-driven...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jul 2", "publishedAt": "2026-07-02 19:08:24.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/317582bb-1429-4c0a-9d4a-66acc765a69f.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/317582bb-1429-4c0a-9d4a-66acc765a69f.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_b7e584c232144c889a78cd0fb77081fd~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nMajor brands including Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas, Nike, Tinder, Diesel, Sephora, and many more moved beyond surface-level rainbow branding during Pride Month toward deeper cultural collaboration. Campaigns centered on authentic storytelling, community investment, and long-term partnerships — signaling a clear evolution in purpose-driven marketing toward credibility, accountability, and sustained impact.
\n(Vogue)
\n\nThis week’s marketing news reflects how advertisers are anchoring campaigns to shared national moments, using cultural relevance as a growth lever rather than a backdrop. U.S. automakers led the charge, tying America’s 250th anniversary and the 2026 FIFA World Cup into patriotic storytelling — from Jeep giveaways to Chevrolet reviving its iconic “Heartbeat of America” messaging — signaling a broader shift toward emotionally resonant, moment-driven brand building during the holiday window.
\n(Reuters)
\n\nSenior marketing leaders from Coach, American Eagle, Comcast and others shared how their media strategies are evolving toward discovery-first platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Pinterest. The takeaway: reaching Gen Z and Gen Alpha requires contextual relevance, creator-led storytelling, and content that meets consumers in moments of curiosity rather than traditional funnel-based targeting.
\n(Business Insider)
\n\nUber Eats’ “Build Your Own Super Bowl Commercial” campaign earned the Media Grand Prix at Cannes Lions 2026, one of the festival’s top honors, for its innovative blend of creativity and consumer engagement. The idea, developed by Special US and PHD NY, let users build their own Super Bowl ad inside the Uber Eats app, turning media placements into interactive creative experiences and driving record engagement and measurable business impact. Industry leaders highlighted how the work reengineered the “rules of media” by making the execution itself part of the creative idea, not just a delivery mechanism.
\n(AdWeek)
\n\nTropicana unveiled a sweeping brand repositioning anchored in an immersive new creative platform designed to celebrate everyday vitality and optimism. The campaign unifies Tropicana’s full portfolio under a single masterbrand idea, pairing vibrant tropical visuals with a cinematic brand anthem to modernize the brand while reinforcing its role in daily routines.
\n(PR Newswire)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/317582bb-1429-4c0a-9d4a-66acc765a69f.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "317582bb-1429-4c0a-9d4a-66acc765a69f", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-june-28-july-4-2026", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 24 } }, { "wixId": "218ecc28-7c20-4f45-900e-b4a78142a628", "slug": "minneapolis-cmoroom-recap-july-1-2026-porzana", "title": "Minneapolis CMORoom Recap (July 1, 2026) @ Porzana", "deck": "Everyone is talking about AI. Last night at CMORoom at Porzana in Minneapolis, Adam Kmiec reminded us that’s not the real story. The real story is judgment. AI can generate answers. Data can generate insights. Dashboards can generate confidence. But none of them replace asking one simple question: What’s the source? That idea sparked nearly two hours of conversation with some of the sharpest marketing leaders in Minneapolis. We talked about bias. Legacy brands. Modern growth. Search. PR....", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "Jul 2", "publishedAt": "2026-07-02 18:39:26.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/218ecc28-7c20-4f45-900e-b4a78142a628.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/218ecc28-7c20-4f45-900e-b4a78142a628.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_cac6956e7f75477988ca3b5d8c890735~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "Everyone is talking about AI.
\nLast night at CMORoom at Porzana in Minneapolis, Adam Kmiec reminded us that’s not the real story.
\nThe real story is judgment. AI can generate answers. Data can generate insights. Dashboards can generate confidence.
\n\nBut none of them replace asking one simple question:
\n\nWhat’s the source?
\nThat idea sparked nearly two hours of conversation with some of the sharpest marketing leaders in Minneapolis.
\nWe talked about bias. Legacy brands. Modern growth. Search. PR. Consumer trust. Smaller teams with bigger expectations.
\n\nAnd why the best marketers today aren’t just data-driven—they’re context-driven.
\nThis is exactly why CMORoom exists. Not to tell people what to think, but to create a room where the right people challenge each other to think better.
\n\nA special thank you to Adam Kmiec for bringing the kind of perspective that stays with you long after the last plate is cleared.
\n\nAnd thank you to our partner David Ruiz, AdMedia, for making this night possible.
\n\nWatching Team USA advance in the World Cup together certainly added to the energy, but it was what happened around the table that made the night truly memorable. 🇺🇸⚽
\n\nThank you to everyone who joined us and made the evening what it was.
\nMinneapolis, we'll be back soon!
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/218ecc28-7c20-4f45-900e-b4a78142a628.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "218ecc28-7c20-4f45-900e-b4a78142a628", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/minneapolis-cmoroom-recap-july-1-2026-porzana", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 25 } }, { "wixId": "e7235aea-5367-46e2-95f5-6caee4738748", "slug": "nyc-admedia-cmoroom-recap-june-17-2026-hide-rooftop", "title": "NYC AdMedia + CMORoom Recap (June 17, 2026) @ Hide Rooftop", "deck": "The other week in New York City, we hosted some of the smartest, funniest, and most engaging Agency Leaders we've had the pleasure of bringing together—truly second to none. The talent, creativity, and energy gathered at Hide Rooftop were, bar none, among the most dynamic in the industry. There’s nothing better than filling a room with people who aren't trying to impress each other. It was a ridiculously good time. Great conversations. Real insights. Nonstop laughs. And a few dance moves....", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "Jul 2", "publishedAt": "2026-07-02 18:39:05.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/e7235aea-5367-46e2-95f5-6caee4738748.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/e7235aea-5367-46e2-95f5-6caee4738748.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_24eb9030fbfa46ee878d1ab0f666f681~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "The other week in New York City, we hosted some of the smartest, funniest, and most engaging Agency Leaders we've had the pleasure of bringing together—truly second to none. The talent, creativity, and energy gathered at Hide Rooftop were, bar none, among the most dynamic in the industry.
\n\nThere’s nothing better than filling a room with people who aren't trying to impress each other. It was a ridiculously good time. Great conversations. Real insights. Nonstop laughs. And a few dance moves.
\n\nHuge thanks to AdMedia for bringing this community together and trusting CMORoom to help make it happen. We're proud to be your partner.
\n\nShout out to Will Ferguson and Maria Matulskaya for being our CMORoom Spotlights - two of the top leaders in the city and an incredible part of this community.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/e7235aea-5367-46e2-95f5-6caee4738748.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "e7235aea-5367-46e2-95f5-6caee4738748", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/nyc-admedia-cmoroom-recap-june-17-2026-hide-rooftop", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 26 } }, { "wixId": "3befd706-a24e-4957-af98-e118300ac9c7", "slug": "cmoroom-spotlight-apco-worldwide-s-mike-woods", "title": "CMORoom Spotlight: Apco Worldwide's Mike Woods", "deck": "Why Media Belongs at the Strategy Table? The media landscape is evolving faster than ever. New platforms emerge constantly, consumer attention shifts by the minute, and marketers are under increasing pressure to connect every campaign to measurable business impact. In this edition of CMORoom Spotlight, we sat down with Mike Woods of APCO Worldwide to discuss why media deserves a seat at the strategy table, how audience-first thinking is reshaping the industry, and the leadership lessons that...", "category": "cmo spotlight", "categoryLabel": "CMO Spotlight", "categories": [ "cmo spotlight" ], "dateLabel": "Jul 1", "publishedAt": "2026-07-01 12:47:18.000", "readTimeLabel": "3 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/3befd706-a24e-4957-af98-e118300ac9c7.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/3befd706-a24e-4957-af98-e118300ac9c7.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_14bac47de45746d091a9fc335fdfd6f9~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"Smiling](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_14bac47de45746d091a9fc335fdfd6f9~mv2.jpg\")
The media landscape is evolving faster than ever. New platforms emerge constantly, consumer attention shifts by the minute, and marketers are under increasing pressure to connect every campaign to measurable business impact. In this edition of CMORoom Spotlight, we sat down with Mike Woods of APCO Worldwide to discuss why media deserves a seat at the strategy table, how audience-first thinking is reshaping the industry, and the leadership lessons that continue to guide his career.
\n\nWhat originally drew me into advertising was the ability to influence outcomes. Early on, I saw how the placements I made across TV, radio, and out-of-home could directly impact results.
\nWatching that happen at scale and working with major brands opened my eyes to the broader possibilities within paid media. Today at APCO, I oversee paid media buying, planning, and strategy, but our work often goes beyond traditional awareness campaigns. We're helping organizations build recognition, shape conversations, and influence larger outcomes.
\n\nWe work with a wide range of clients across different parts of the business, and while every engagement is unique, the goal remains the same: connecting media efforts to actual business outcomes.
\n\nOne of the strengths of an integrated firm like APCO is our ability to bring strategy, communications, creative, paid media, and earned media together. When all of those pieces work cohesively, we're able to create stronger campaigns and demonstrate clearer impact.
\n\nI think it's largely a structural issue. In many organizations, strategy and execution operate separately, and media often falls into the execution side of the equation. When those groups aren't aligned from the beginning, opportunities can be missed.
\nWhen media is brought into the process early, it helps inform better business decisions, creates stronger collaboration between departments, and ensures everyone is working toward the same objective from day one.
\n\nOver the next five years, I think we'll move away from thinking primarily in terms of channels.
\nToday, marketers still categorize efforts by TV, digital, social, or out-of-home. But consumers don't think that way. Marketing is becoming increasingly audience-focused and attention-focused.
\nThe brands that succeed will be the ones that can reach people wherever they are, rather than relying on channel-specific strategies.
\n\nConnected TV (CTV) continues to be incredibly effective and efficient. We're seeing more advertisers shift investment into that space as viewing habits evolve.
\nI'm also excited about digital out-of-home. It's growing rapidly across markets and has become far more experiential than many people realize. Whether it's office buildings, elevators, retail environments, airports, or malls, digital out-of-home is creating new opportunities to engage audiences in meaningful ways.
\n\nThe pace of change.
\nMedia evolves every day, and keeping up with new technologies, platforms, and consumer behaviors is a constant challenge. At the same time, our clients are affected by what's happening globally, and those external factors often influence business priorities and decision-making.
\nStaying informed and adaptable has become essential.
\n\nFor me, the biggest lesson has been learning to lead with empathy.
\nIn our industry, we're often expected to provide answers immediately. But I've learned the value of listening first and understanding where people are coming from.
\nEvery role I've held has given me a different perspective. Today, I use those experiences to better understand the challenges others are facing and offer guidance based on both where I've been and where I am now.
\n\nLead with empathy. The more you understand the perspectives of your colleagues, clients, and partners, the better equipped you are to make decisions, build trust, and create meaningful impact.
\nAnd in a business built around people, that makes all the difference.
\n\nAs marketing continues to evolve, Mike's perspective offers a reminder that successful campaigns aren't built by channels alone. They're built through collaboration.
\n\nWhen strategy, creative, communications, earned media, and paid media work together from the outset, brands are better equipped to make smarter decisions, create stronger customer experiences, and deliver measurable business impact.
\nAnd in a world where attention is constantly shifting, that integrated approach may be the biggest competitive advantage of all.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/3befd706-a24e-4957-af98-e118300ac9c7.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "3befd706-a24e-4957-af98-e118300ac9c7", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-spotlight-apco-worldwide-s-mike-woods", "memberId": "87aedccc-3992-4657-9baa-bccbe75ee68e", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 27 } }, { "wixId": "75be1c01-3ee3-4594-a2f7-94bf82890722", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-june-21-june-26-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (June 21-June 26, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. Cannes Lions 2026 Opens, AI & Creativity Dominate Industry Conversations The 73rd Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity kicked off on June 22, drawing global leaders across media, marketing, technology, and culture. This year’s dialogue is heavily centered on AI’s expanding role in creative development, brand storytelling, and future monetization models—alongside high-profile cultural...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jun 25", "publishedAt": "2026-06-25 20:07:17.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/75be1c01-3ee3-4594-a2f7-94bf82890722.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/75be1c01-3ee3-4594-a2f7-94bf82890722.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_04f50b9d724b4a86b8f328a80b376af5~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nThe 73rd Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity kicked off on June 22, drawing global leaders across media, marketing, technology, and culture. This year’s dialogue is heavily centered on AI’s expanding role in creative development, brand storytelling, and future monetization models—alongside high-profile cultural activations, immersive brand experiences, and experiential campaigns that showcase how creativity continues to evolve at the intersection of tech and human insight.
\n(NY Post)
\n\nSephora launched a new “Beautiful Deliveries” campaign that transforms routine fulfillment into a personality-led brand moment. Beauty founders like Molly Sims (YSE Beauty), Claudia Sulewski (Cyklar), and Danessa Myricks deliver orders to customers on camera, while the brand promotes free same-day delivery plus surprise gifts, turning logistics into a storytelling vehicle across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube Shorts. The work, created with Digitas and Le Truc (Publicis), aims to make delivery part of the Sephora experience and connect founder authenticity with customer excitement.
\n(Media Post)
\n\nA new award series, The Palmas, was announced to recognize top marketing agencies and standout brand partnerships, spotlighting the creative leadership, strategic thinking, and collaborative excellence driving today’s most effective work. The launch signals a growing industry focus on elevating agencies not just for execution, but for their role as true growth partners, as brands increasingly rely on strong, idea-led relationships to break through crowded markets and deliver measurable impact.
\n(PR Newswire)
\n\nFerrari named Massimiliano Di Silvestre, former BMW Italy president & CEO, as its new Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer, positioning him to lead brand strategy after the mixed reception to its first EV, the Luce. The leadership shift signals Ferrari’s intention to balance heritage with future-facing product narratives.
\n(Reuters)
\n\nMeta introduced a new line of AI smart glasses inspired by Kylie Jenner, signaling a push to make wearable AI feel more fashion-forward and culturally relevant. Beyond hands-free AI capabilities, the launch underscores how style, pop culture, and celebrity influence are becoming powerful drivers of adoption, positioning emerging tech not just as functional, but aspirational and lifestyle-led.
\n(Media Post)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/75be1c01-3ee3-4594-a2f7-94bf82890722.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "75be1c01-3ee3-4594-a2f7-94bf82890722", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-june-21-june-26-2026", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 28 } }, { "wixId": "13950f05-8225-4822-a436-3003712126db", "slug": "from-star-trek-to-sports-marketing-inside-modern-streaming", "title": "From Star Trek to Sports: Marketing Inside Modern Streaming", "deck": "The entertainment industry is evolving in real time. Between streaming competition, audience fragmentation, AI disruption, and nonstop content cycles, marketing leaders are being asked to do more than drive growth, they’re being asked to lead through uncertainty. For Katinka Soto Lucy, that challenge sits at the center of her role. Leading marketing campaigns within the streaming business means balancing fandoms, acquisitions, brand storytelling, performance marketing, and team morale all at...", "category": "cmo spotlight", "categoryLabel": "CMO Spotlight", "categories": [ "cmo spotlight" ], "dateLabel": "Jun 24", "publishedAt": "2026-06-24 18:22:18.000", "readTimeLabel": "3 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/13950f05-8225-4822-a436-3003712126db.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/13950f05-8225-4822-a436-3003712126db.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_025531e7adae4866ad5d0da8cd8e3055~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"Smiling](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_025531e7adae4866ad5d0da8cd8e3055~mv2.jpg\")
The entertainment industry is evolving in real time. Between streaming competition, audience fragmentation, AI disruption, and nonstop content cycles, marketing leaders are being asked to do more than drive growth, they’re being asked to lead through uncertainty.
\n\nFor Katinka Soto Lucy, that challenge sits at the center of her role. Leading marketing campaigns within the streaming business means balancing fandoms, acquisitions, brand storytelling, performance marketing, and team morale all at once.
\n\nIn this conversation, Katinka opens up about the realities of leading inside a constantly shifting media landscape, the pressure of managing multiple audience identities, and why great content still remains the strongest growth driver in streaming.
\n\nQ: What does your role at Paramount look like today?
\nI lead a team within the direct-to-consumer division at Paramount, and we’re essentially tasked with driving growth for the streaming service and the business overall, especially around subscriptions.
\nWhat’s interesting about streaming marketing is that you’re constantly shifting between different audience mindsets and fan communities. One day you’re speaking to Star Trek fans, the next day it’s sports audiences or another entertainment franchise entirely. There’s an element of constantly adapting your voice and perspective depending on the content and the fandom you’re serving.
\n\nQ: What are some of the biggest challenges facing entertainment marketers right now?
\nThere’s a lot happening all at once. The industry is evolving quickly, and there are broader conversations around AI, the future of entertainment, and how technology changes the way audiences consume content.
\nAt the same time, companies are going through constant shifts, restructures, and operational changes. That creates uncertainty internally while the business still expects growth externally. As leaders, we have to help teams navigate all of that in real time.
\n\nQ: Streaming platforms invest heavily in both content and acquisition. How do you balance the two?
\nIn my experience, content is absolutely what drives acquisition.
\nPeople subscribe because they care deeply about specific content, whether that’s Star Trek, sports, UFC, or another franchise they’re passionate about. Fandom is incredibly powerful.
\nBut at the same time, brand still matters because audiences need awareness first. They need to know something exists before they can become invested in it.
\nI’ve always believed there needs to be a balance between brand storytelling and performance marketing. Even when people talk about creating “cultural moments,” I still want measurable impact behind it.
\n\nQ: How do you personally think about modern marketing leadership?
\nFor me, it starts with people and mindset. Leadership today is really about helping teams stay engaged and adaptable, building something meaningful and learning along the way, even as the environment changes around them.
\nEspecially in entertainment and streaming, you can’t lead with a fixed mindset anymore, because the landscape shifts too quickly.
\n\nQ: What do you believe separates the marketing leaders who will thrive from the ones who will struggle to keep up?
\nWhat really separates leaders now is how they operate under constant change. To me, success is about managing constant evolution, keeping teams motivated through uncertainty, and understanding that fandom remains one of the most powerful forces in entertainment.
\nStreaming has always been a fast-moving business, but today’s media landscape demands an entirely different level of adaptability.
\n\nAs the industry continues to shift, the marketers who succeed will be the ones who can balance performance, culture, leadership, and storytelling all at once.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/13950f05-8225-4822-a436-3003712126db.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "13950f05-8225-4822-a436-3003712126db", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/from-star-trek-to-sports-marketing-inside-modern-streaming", "memberId": "87aedccc-3992-4657-9baa-bccbe75ee68e", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 29 } }, { "wixId": "fba0c886-55c6-460f-ae39-9b586d854fc0", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-june-12-june-19-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (June 12-June 19, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. This year’s Juneteenth brand movement isn’t loud, it’s embedded. Along with CMORoom, from a digital marketing lens, Nike, Target, and Netflix leaned into owned channels, platforms, and merchandising signals already in motion. Nike amplified Black creators and athletes across social and owned media, Target increased visibility for Black-owned brands across digital shelves and in-store touchpoints, and...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jun 18", "publishedAt": "2026-06-18 17:38:24.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/fba0c886-55c6-460f-ae39-9b586d854fc0.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/fba0c886-55c6-460f-ae39-9b586d854fc0.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_45654b9dfb4c452987a803145306a2af~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nAlong with CMORoom, from a digital marketing lens, Nike, Target, and Netflix leaned into owned channels, platforms, and merchandising signals already in motion. Nike amplified Black creators and athletes across social and owned media, Target increased visibility for Black-owned brands across digital shelves and in-store touchpoints, and Netflix saw renewed engagement with Black-led films and documentaries—showing how cultural moments can drive discovery, performance, and long-term brand equity without net-new campaigns.
\n\ne.l.f. Beauty entered the haircare category with e.l.f. Hair, supported by a Bigfoot-themed campaign designed to break through across social and gaming platforms. The launch reflects the brand’s ability to use community insight and emerging platforms like Roblox to drive awareness and engagement. The result: a category expansion built for digital-native audiences, not traditional beauty playbooks.
\n(Brand Innovators)
\n\nCoors Light unveiled an oversized 18-inch “Tallerboy” can as part of its World Cup activation, leaning into fan celebration culture and matchday energy at a global sports moment. The campaign features iconic announcer Andrés Cantor, pairing his legendary goal calls with social-first creative and a prize-driven contest designed to boost engagement and participation. The activation blends limited-edition packaging with humor and cultural storytelling, turning a product drop into a shareable moment built to drive buzz around the tournament.
\n(Houston Chronicles)
\n\nFollowing the New York Knicks’ first NBA title in 53 years, brands quickly activated around the cultural moment in NYC. Nike released a short film following a young fan through the city set to New York State of Mind, while Pepsi launched a “We Outside” OOH campaign near Madison Square Garden. Starbucks added parade-route billboards and a themed drink, Delta engaged fans with rally towels and parade participation, and brands like Michelob Ultra and Spotify extended the celebration across digital and physical touchpoints, turning the win into a multi-brand cultural moment.
\n(Brand Innovators)
\n\nBrands including Nike, Pepsi, and McDonald’s are shifting from product-led ads to cinematic, entertainment-first storytelling built for cultural impact and social sharing. Campaigns like Nike’s “Rip the Script” and fan-driven activations from Pepsi and McDonald’s reflect a move toward mini-movie style content that prioritizes entertainment over direct selling. This signals a broader shift where brands compete less on media spend and more on cultural relevance, turning World Cup marketing into an entertainment ecosystem rather than traditional ads.
\n(BBC)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/fba0c886-55c6-460f-ae39-9b586d854fc0.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "fba0c886-55c6-460f-ae39-9b586d854fc0", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-june-12-june-19-2026", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 30 } }, { "wixId": "27921c06-59b4-4239-b76b-596a8e067a56", "slug": "when-purpose-becomes-the-product-what-marketers-can-learn-from-tony-s-chocolonely", "title": "When Purpose Becomes the Product: What Marketers Can Learn from Tony’s Chocolonely", "deck": "What if your most powerful marketing channel wasn't advertising? What if it was the product itself? That’s the question Tony’s Chocolonely answers better than almost any modern brand. Founded with a mission to eradicate exploitation in the cocoa industry, Tony’s has built a global powerhouse by turning purpose into a core competitive advantage. Its packaging tells a story. Its product design sparks conversation. Its radical transparency builds bulletproof trust. The result? A level of brand...", "category": "brand spotlight", "categoryLabel": "Brand Spotlight", "categories": [ "brand spotlight" ], "dateLabel": "Jun 15", "publishedAt": "2026-06-15 19:01:23.000", "readTimeLabel": "3 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/27921c06-59b4-4239-b76b-596a8e067a56.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/27921c06-59b4-4239-b76b-596a8e067a56.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_3d2f36b75961477d95b062858a5e9007~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_3d2f36b75961477d95b062858a5e9007~mv2.jpg\")
What if your most powerful marketing channel wasn't advertising? What if it was the product itself?
\nThat’s the question Tony’s Chocolonely answers better than almost any modern brand. Founded with a mission to eradicate exploitation in the cocoa industry, Tony’s has built a global powerhouse by turning purpose into a core competitive advantage. Its packaging tells a story. Its product design sparks conversation. Its radical transparency builds bulletproof trust. The result? A level of brand loyalty that extends far beyond the chocolate aisle.
\n\nHere is how marketing leaders can extract the essence of Tony's playbook to transform their own brand strategies.
\n\nMany brands treat purpose as a cosmetic layer applied after the product has been developed. Tony’s took the exact opposite approach: the company was founded specifically to solve a supply chain crisis. Every operational decision, from sourcing and pricing to packaging and distribution, flows from that mission.
\n\nThis distinction matters. Today’s consumers possess highly sensitive \"performative purpose\" radars. While legacy brands launch fleeting sustainability campaigns, Tony’s built its entire infrastructure around a social issue long before it was fashionable.
\n\nThe CMO Takeaway: Authenticity saves ad dollars. When a company's existence is the evidence of its commitment, marketing doesn't have to spend millions convincing consumers that the brand cares. Purpose becomes powerful when it dictates business decisions, not just communication strategies.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_00fa3825099044e79291107a2641c92b~mv2.webp\")
One of Tony’s most brilliant marketing assets isn't an advertisement at all. It’s the physical chocolate bar. Unlike traditional bars, Tony’s chocolate is divided into uneven, irregular pieces. This isn't an aesthetic quirk; the design symbolizes the unequal distribution of profits and power within the global cocoa supply chain.
\n\nThis is the ultimate example of embedded storytelling, when the physical product experience reinforces the brand narrative. Consumers don't need to read a manifesto or watch a brand video; they absorb the mission the moment they break a piece of chocolate. Too often, companies rely on advertising to communicate values that aren't visible anywhere else. Tony's demonstrates how product design can become a dominant marketing channel in its own right.
\n\nWalk down a confectionery aisle and Tony’s is impossible to miss. In a category dominated by predictable, elegant, or understated \"premium\" aesthetics, Tony's chose aggressive distinctiveness. They utilize bright, clashing primary colors, oversized, retro typography, and intentionally imperfect layouts to command the shelf.
\n\nThe packaging doubles as a media channel. Messages about cocoa sourcing, industry inequality, and systemic solutions are integrated directly into the unboxing experience. With digital acquisition costs skyrocketing, Tony's serves as a masterclass in maximizing owned media. Every customer touchpoint is an opportunity to communicate, provided it is designed intentionally.
\n\nTraditional marketing instincts dictate that brands must project flawless certainty. Tony’s embraces complexity. The company openly acknowledges that exploitation still exists within the cocoa industry and explicitly states that it cannot guarantee a 100% slave-free supply chain today. Instead, they focus on absolute traceability and continuous improvement.
\n\nIronically, admitting limitations has been their greatest trust-builder. By publishing detailed supply chain audits and openly discussing operational failures, Tony’s disarms skeptics. In a low-trust marketplace, vulnerability is a powerful differentiator.
\n\nPerhaps Tony's greatest achievement is shifting consumers from buyers to active participants. By launching initiatives like Open Chain, where they actively invite competitors to adopt their proprietary ethical sourcing models, Tony's does the unthinkable: they share their competitive advantage. They understand that you cannot claim to want to change an industry if you keep the solution to yourself.
\n\nThese are the exact brand-building paradoxes we frequently unpack inside the CMORoom community. As marketing leaders face mounting pressure to deliver both short-term business results and long-term differentiation, Tony’s Chocolonely offers a definitive blueprint: When purpose becomes the product, growth takes care of itself.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/27921c06-59b4-4239-b76b-596a8e067a56.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "27921c06-59b4-4239-b76b-596a8e067a56", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/when-purpose-becomes-the-product-what-marketers-can-learn-from-tony-s-chocolonely", "memberId": "87aedccc-3992-4657-9baa-bccbe75ee68e", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 31 } }, { "wixId": "f3f2a415-dcad-43e1-8362-900934a43e9a", "slug": "detroit-cmoroom-recap-june-11-2026-le-supreme", "title": "Detroit CMORoom Recap (June 11, 2026) @ Le Suprême", "deck": "Last Thursday, Detroit showed up in the best way possible. Our first Detroit CMORoom was everything we hoped it would be and more. From rooftop views overlooking the city to conversations that stretched well past sunset (and into the weekend), the night was defined by energy, candor, and genuine connection. What stood out most wasn’t just the caliber of leaders in the room—it was the shared pride in Detroit itself. Throughout the evening, we heard stories of family roots, career pivots,...", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "Jun 15", "publishedAt": "2026-06-15 14:05:20.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/f3f2a415-dcad-43e1-8362-900934a43e9a.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/f3f2a415-dcad-43e1-8362-900934a43e9a.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_630aa35061c446f9af393372c511ef7e~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "Last Thursday, Detroit showed up in the best way possible.
\n\nOur first Detroit CMORoom was everything we hoped it would be and more. From rooftop views overlooking the city to conversations that stretched well past sunset (and into the weekend), the night was defined by energy, candor, and genuine connection.
\n\nWhat stood out most wasn’t just the caliber of leaders in the room—it was the shared pride in Detroit itself. Throughout the evening, we heard stories of family roots, career pivots, resilience, reinvention, and the deep sense of ownership that comes with building and growing in this city.
\n\nA few themes stayed with us:
\n\nInnovation started here.
\nLong before innovation became synonymous with Silicon Valley, Detroit was building, creating, and reinventing industries. That legacy is alive in the leaders and companies shaping the city today.
\n\nCommunity isn’t a buzzword here—it’s a behavior.
\nPeople show up. They follow through. They invest in relationships. That sense of mutual support was felt throughout the room.
\n\nGreat careers are rarely linear.
\nFrom agency beginnings and automotive roots to startups, global brands, and executive leadership, many journeys reinforced that growth often comes from embracing uncertainty and learning as you go.
\n\nThe fundamentals still matter.
\nAcross conversations about retail, brand building, customer experience, and leadership, there was a shared belief that understanding people—and creating meaningful connections—remains at the heart of great marketing.
\n\nExperience creates connection.
\nBringing the right people together, in the right room, at the right moment still matters. Community doesn’t happen by accident—it’s built.
\n\nA special thank you to our Guest of Honor, Casey Hurbis, for sharing his journey and perspective. His stories, leadership lessons, and deep connection to Detroit set the tone for an evening that was equal parts insightful and energizing.
\n\nAnd thank you as well to Andy Cotten, AdMedia, for making nights like this possible.
\n\nTo everyone who joined us: thank you for helping us launch CMORoom Detroit in such a meaningful way. We couldn’t have asked for a better group of leaders to start this community, and we’re just getting started.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/f3f2a415-dcad-43e1-8362-900934a43e9a.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "f3f2a415-dcad-43e1-8362-900934a43e9a", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/detroit-cmoroom-recap-june-11-2026-le-supreme", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 32 } }, { "wixId": "01d92a96-7fc7-482d-942f-a742b25e8fd0", "slug": "cmoroom-st-cecilia-june-10-2026", "title": "Atlanta CMORoom @ St. Cecilia (June 10, 2026)", "deck": "It was so great getting everyone together yesterday! Thank you for dedicating your evening to being with us. A huge thank you to Andy Cotten, and AdMedia for making nights like this possible. Andy is a paid media expert and a valuable resource for helping brands expand reach and drive performance. We hope you enjoyed the conversations and connections, and left with a few new perspectives. → Depth of reach is becoming more important than reach alone. Marketers are looking beyond impressions...", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "Jun 11", "publishedAt": "2026-06-11 21:06:29.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/01d92a96-7fc7-482d-942f-a742b25e8fd0.jpeg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/01d92a96-7fc7-482d-942f-a742b25e8fd0.jpeg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_0207c27d8df243a0a439ffa984f70a77~mv2.jpeg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "It was so great getting everyone together yesterday! Thank you for dedicating your evening to being with us. A huge thank you to Andy Cotten, and AdMedia for making nights like this possible. Andy is a paid media expert and a valuable resource for helping brands expand reach and drive performance.
\n\nWe hope you enjoyed the conversations and connections, and left with a few new perspectives.
\n\n→ Depth of reach is becoming more important than reach alone. Marketers are looking beyond impressions and scale, focusing instead on how effectively they are connecting with the audiences that matter most.
\n→ Focus is a growth strategy. Whether discussing campaigns, measurement, product launches, or organizational priorities, the leaders making the biggest impact are often the ones disciplined enough to focus on what truly moves the business.
\n→ Performance marketing continues to face new realities. Whether discussing platform changes, privacy regulations, NFL sponsorship rules, or the rapid rise in athlete compensation and NIL-driven economics, one thing was clear: success requires adaptability, transparency, and a relentless focus on proving value.
\n→ Transparency remains non-negotiable. The ability to clearly understand performance, attribution, investment, and outcomes is becoming increasingly important across organizations.
\n→ Diminishing returns. More budget doesn't always mean more growth. The conversation centered on identifying where investment creates incremental value and where it simply creates more activity.
\n\nCommunity, experience, and brand affinity often drive performance long before someone enters the funnel.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/01d92a96-7fc7-482d-942f-a742b25e8fd0.jpeg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "01d92a96-7fc7-482d-942f-a742b25e8fd0", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-st-cecilia-june-10-2026", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 33 } }, { "wixId": "c6c47877-a5da-47f2-935d-03bbce327210", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-june-1-june-6-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (June 1-June 6, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. The Coca‑Cola Company Appoints New Senior Director of Frontline Marketing Bineet Jain joins Coca-Cola as Senior Director, Frontline Marketing, bringing 18 years of FMCG brand experience to lead local and community-centric brand efforts that support Coke’s global positioning. This move reflects a continued emphasis on connecting with consumers at the retail and regional level. (Media Brief) One...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jun 5", "publishedAt": "2026-06-05 13:55:07.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/c6c47877-a5da-47f2-935d-03bbce327210.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/c6c47877-a5da-47f2-935d-03bbce327210.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_3997c4ef33d549bfb83d03fadb22bc6b~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nBineet Jain joins Coca-Cola as Senior Director, Frontline Marketing, bringing 18 years of FMCG brand experience to lead local and community-centric brand efforts that support Coke’s global positioning. This move reflects a continued emphasis on connecting with consumers at the retail and regional level.
\n(Media Brief)
\n\nLionel Messi appeared in one in four World Cup ads, cementing his status as the most dominant commercial figure of the tournament. Brands leaned into Messi’s global appeal, authenticity, and legacy narrative to cut through the clutter of World Cup marketing. The result: near-ubiquitous presence that blurred the line between sports icon and advertising megabrand.
\n(AdWeek)
\n\nNBCUniversal says 21 brands, including M&M’s, CeraVe, Coffee Mate, Maybelline, Poppi, Motorola, and Tropical Smoothie Cafe, have signed on for Love Island USA Season 8. While several partners are integrated directly into the villa experience, others are activating through custom segments, sponsorships, and off-villa extensions beyond traditional ad breaks. The strong demand underscores how culturally relevant, live-moment programming has become a must-buy for brands seeking scale, engagement, and real-time social impact.
\n(Axios)
\n\nFord Motor Company has hired Shannon Blakely, former CMO of Whirlpool as Executive Director of Global Brand. The appointment reflects Ford’s push to sharpen its brand identity worldwide as it balances legacy automotive strengths with innovation in EVs and mobility. The move signals a renewed focus on cohesive global storytelling and brand consistency across markets.
\n(Media Post)
\n\nUber Eats’s “Football Is For Food” campaign won the Grand Effie, the highest honor recognizing marketing effectiveness. The campaign successfully tied food delivery to football fandom, demonstrating how culturally fluent creative paired with strategic timing can drive both brand relevance and measurable business impact. The win reinforces Uber Eats’ position as a leader in entertainment-driven, results-oriented marketing.
\n(Media Post)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/c6c47877-a5da-47f2-935d-03bbce327210.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "c6c47877-a5da-47f2-935d-03bbce327210", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-june-1-june-6-2026", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 34 } }, { "wixId": "93d5250d-9b46-4598-a76f-063f6de9108d", "slug": "ai-human-insight-the-future-of-strategy-what-leading-brands-need-to-get-right", "title": "Courtney Register (Group Director @ WPP Media) AI, Human Insight & the Future of Strategy: What Leading Brands Need to Get Right", "deck": "The future belongs to brands willing to test, learn, and adapt early. AI may power the future, but human insight is still the real competitive advantage. In this CMORoom Spotlight, we had the opportunity to sit down with Courtney Register, Group Director at WPP Media, to discuss how AI is transforming media agencies, redefining the role of strategists, and forcing brands to rethink authority, measurement, and digital reputation in an AI-first world. Artificial intelligence is reshaping...", "category": "cmo spotlight", "categoryLabel": "CMO Spotlight", "categories": [ "cmo spotlight" ], "dateLabel": "May 28", "publishedAt": "2026-05-28 06:30:11.000", "readTimeLabel": "4 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/93d5250d-9b46-4598-a76f-063f6de9108d.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/93d5250d-9b46-4598-a76f-063f6de9108d.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_d1c7e6c873e344b190c3c251cd34edd4~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"Smiling](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_d1c7e6c873e344b190c3c251cd34edd4~mv2.jpg\")
The future belongs to brands willing to test, learn, and adapt early.\n
AI may power the future, but human insight is still the real competitive advantage.\n
In this CMORoom Spotlight, we had the opportunity to sit down with Courtney Register, Group Director at WPP Media, to discuss how AI is transforming media agencies, redefining the role of strategists, and forcing brands to rethink authority, measurement, and digital reputation in an AI-first world.
\nArtificial intelligence is reshaping marketing at every level, from how consumers search and discover information to how brands build authority online. But while AI is accelerating change, the real competitive advantage still comes down to strategy, adaptability, and human insight. From the evolution of multimodal search to the growing importance of digital PR and holistic measurement, the conversation explores what brands need to embrace now in order to stay ahead over the next several years.
\n\nQ: From your perspective, how are large language models fundamentally changing the role of a strategist inside agencies today?
\n\nAI as a whole has really dissolved the traditional channel silos that existed previously. Agencies and marketing departments alike are redefining their role because what it takes to succeed today looks very different than it did even a year ago.
\n\nA lot of strategists are flexing into new roles and responsibilities, and everyone across organizations is actively upskilling. My background is in paid search, and even that space has evolved dramatically. Search is now multimodal, image-to-search, text-to-search, and it’s blending social, organic, and paid strategies together.
\nBecause of that, teams are being encouraged to work much more collaboratively. Ultimately, everyone is working toward a more cohesive AI strategy for clients and businesses overall. In fact, AI is accelerating a broader rethink of agency business models and even the competitive landscape itself. As AI reshapes how ads are created, bought, and measured, agencies are evolving toward more platform-like operating models that unify creative, media, and production through shared technology and data infrastructure. We’re already seeing this direction take shape across the industry, including efforts like WPP Open, which is designed to bring AI capabilities across teams into a more connected system for building and optimizing work.
\n\nQ: What’s one misconception marketers still have about LLMs, and what should they focus on instead?
\n\nOne of the biggest misconceptions is that AI is here to take everyone’s jobs. I don’t agree with that at all. AI is only going to replace you if you refuse to evolve with it. The challenge today is learning how to better ourselves and improve our client work using AI. The people who avoid it are the ones most likely to fall behind.
\nWhat really matters is building a human-led strategy around AI. AI still requires a tremendous amount of oversight and strategic thinking. You have to understand the data powering your overall approach and stay rooted in the client’s business objectives. AI should enhance your strategy, not replace the thinking behind it.
\n\nQ: Trust is everything in education and many other industries. How is AI influencing credibility and brand authority today?
\n\nTrust and authority are becoming even more critical because large language models are sourcing information from everywhere across the internet almost instantly. Brands no longer have complete control over their narrative. What other people say about your brand has never mattered more than it does now because AI systems pull from user-generated content, third-party websites, reviews, forums, and countless other sources.
\nThat means brands need to think much more strategically about their digital PR efforts and their overall web footprint. You have to ensure the information available online accurately reflects your brand message and values.
\nAnd if inaccurate information exists, brands need to actively address it and build a trustworthy, authoritative voice across the web.
\n\nQ: It’s no longer just about optimizing for keywords, now brands also have to think about what AI is saying about them. How does that shift content strategy?
\n\nWe still have to build content for humans first because that’s ultimately our job. But now we’re also creating content for the systems and AI models reading and interpreting that information.
\nBrands have to think about how their content is being sourced, summarized, and represented across AI-powered experiences. The challenge is making sure the narrative remains accurate and aligned with the voice the brand wants to project.
\n\nQ: Looking ahead, what will differentiate brands that successfully embrace AI from those that fall behind?
\n\nThe biggest differentiator will be a willingness to test and learn. Brands that stay locked into “what works today” are the ones most at risk of falling behind. The landscape is evolving so quickly that companies need to stay agile and continuously experiment.
\nYou never want to be testing from a place of panic because you waited too long. The brands ahead of the curve are the ones embracing experimentation from a position of strength. The second major differentiator is measurement. Many brands hesitate to fully embrace AI because they don’t have the right measurement framework in place.
\nConsumers interact with brands across countless platforms before making a purchase, and much of that journey is invisible to traditional last-click attribution models. Without a more holistic measurement strategy, brands will struggle to understand the true impact of their efforts and won’t have a complete picture of what’s driving growth.
\n\nAs AI continues to redefine marketing, the brands that succeed won’t simply be the ones using the newest tools, they’ll be the ones building smarter, more agile strategies around them. This conversation with Courtney Register highlights a growing reality across the industry: AI may power the future, but human insight, experimentation, and trust will remain at the center of meaningful brand growth.
\n\nStay tuned for more conversations from CMORoom Spotlight as we continue spotlighting the leaders shaping the future of marketing, media, and innovation.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/93d5250d-9b46-4598-a76f-063f6de9108d.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "93d5250d-9b46-4598-a76f-063f6de9108d", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/ai-human-insight-the-future-of-strategy-what-leading-brands-need-to-get-right", "memberId": "87aedccc-3992-4657-9baa-bccbe75ee68e", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 35 } }, { "wixId": "f007a853-2de7-4a74-9e8b-5b0059a5a12f", "slug": "clarity-strategy-and-the-future-of-innovation-a-conversation-with-kimberly-clark-s-shermika-dunne", "title": "Clarity, Strategy, and the Future of Innovation: A Conversation with Kimberly-Clark’s Shermika Dunner", "deck": "Customers want as much clarity as possible, less confusion, more clarity. At CMORoom, some of the most valuable conversations happen before the dinner even begins. Ahead of our Atlanta gathering at Little Sparrow, we sat down with Shermika Dunner, Innovation Leader, Brand and Insights, Kimberly-Clarks, to discuss the evolving role of marketing leadership, the balance between creativity and data, and why simplicity is becoming one of the most powerful tools in modern marketing. From...", "category": "cmo spotlight", "categoryLabel": "CMO Spotlight", "categories": [ "cmo spotlight" ], "dateLabel": "May 26", "publishedAt": "2026-05-26 11:46:44.000", "readTimeLabel": "3 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/f007a853-2de7-4a74-9e8b-5b0059a5a12f.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/f007a853-2de7-4a74-9e8b-5b0059a5a12f.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_8eb2645a28934fec8a29d883932cb1f8~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"Smiling](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_8eb2645a28934fec8a29d883932cb1f8~mv2.jpg\")
Customers want as much clarity as possible, less confusion, more clarity.\n
At CMORoom, some of the most valuable conversations happen before the dinner even begins. Ahead of our Atlanta gathering at Little Sparrow, we sat down with Shermika Dunner, Innovation Leader, Brand and Insights, Kimberly-Clarks, to discuss the evolving role of marketing leadership, the balance between creativity and data, and why simplicity is becoming one of the most powerful tools in modern marketing.
\n\nFrom innovation pipelines to executive storytelling, Shermika shared a perspective grounded in both strategic thinking and consumer understanding, a reminder that great marketing is no longer just about execution, but about business impact at every level.
\n\nOne of the biggest insights that surprised me is that customers want as much clarity as possible, less confusion, more clarity. Through customer insights work, I realized people don’t want brands to overcomplicate messaging or experiences. That understanding has influenced how we think about innovation pipelines, packaging, value propositions, and even our go-to-market strategies. The clearer and more direct we are, the stronger the connection with the consumer.
\n\nA good marketer is focused on execution. A great marketer is focused on strategy and understanding how everything ties back to the business. Great marketers think beyond campaigns. They consider how decisions affect supply chain operations, product development, assets, and long-term business growth. It’s about seeing the bigger picture and understanding the broader business impact behind every marketing decision.
\n\nI love data, but you can’t fall into analysis paralysis. Data should inform marketers on what they need to do, especially creatively, but it shouldn’t completely dictate the work.
\nThe intersection happens when data strategically informs creative thinking while still leaving room for creativity and execution. They influence one another. The strongest marketing happens when insight and imagination work together instead of competing.
\n\nMarketing should act as a thought leader while keeping the consumer at the center of everything.
\nInnovation is about understanding where the market is heading three to five years from now and using consumer insights to help shape that strategy. But innovation also requires understanding the operational side of the business, capital governance, stakeholder alignment, supply chain implications, and scalability.
\nA great idea alone isn’t enough. You have to understand how innovation fits into the broader business ecosystem and build relationships across teams to make it successful.
\n\nLearn how to tell a great, succinct story, especially when presenting to the C-suite. Time is limited, so clarity and trust become critical.
\nKnow your data, but simplify the message. The ability to communicate complex ideas clearly is one of the most valuable skills marketers can develop.
\nI’d also say building trust is incredibly important. Develop strong one-on-one relationships and invest in your personal brand. People need to know who you are and trust your perspective.
\n\nOne of the most valuable parts is the sense of community. Marketing is actually a very small world, many people know each other, but many don’t. CMORoom creates opportunities to build genuine relationships beyond transactional networking. It becomes a cohort of people you can rely on, whether you’re discussing performance marketing, retail media, brand building, or broader business challenges.
\n\nThat’s what makes the community special.
\n\nThroughout the conversation, one theme consistently surfaced: modern marketing leadership is becoming increasingly cross-functional, strategic, and human-centered. Whether discussing innovation, data, or executive influence, Shermika emphasized the importance of clarity, collaboration, and long-term thinking.
\nAs brands continue navigating faster consumer shifts and growing operational complexity, the marketers who stand out will be the ones who can simplify the message, connect strategy to business outcomes, and build trust across every level of the organization. That’s exactly the kind of thinking CMORoom aims to bring together around the table.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/f007a853-2de7-4a74-9e8b-5b0059a5a12f.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "f007a853-2de7-4a74-9e8b-5b0059a5a12f", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/clarity-strategy-and-the-future-of-innovation-a-conversation-with-kimberly-clark-s-shermika-dunne", "memberId": "87aedccc-3992-4657-9baa-bccbe75ee68e", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 36 } }, { "wixId": "aea10d63-0a82-4247-9eb1-63f0583c0a0a", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-may-18-may-23-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (May 18-May 23, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. L’Oréal advances “agentic AI commerce” strategy L’Oréal is accelerating its shift into agentic AI, building systems that don’t just assist consumers but actively guide purchase decisions across digital commerce journeys. Its Beauty Genius platform uses AI agents to personalize skincare routines, product recommendations, and consumer education in real time. Executives describe this as a transition from...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "May 22", "publishedAt": "2026-05-22 13:58:22.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/aea10d63-0a82-4247-9eb1-63f0583c0a0a.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/aea10d63-0a82-4247-9eb1-63f0583c0a0a.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_fd9b8acc4dc54a6996f99a10fae0c0e7~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nL’Oréal is accelerating its shift into agentic AI, building systems that don’t just assist consumers but actively guide purchase decisions across digital commerce journeys. Its Beauty Genius platform uses AI agents to personalize skincare routines, product recommendations, and consumer education in real time. Executives describe this as a transition from “beauty for all” to “beauty for each,” enabled by proprietary data and AI orchestration layers. The strategy positions AI agents, not search engines, as the next front door to commerce.
\n(Brand Innovators)
\n\nDoorDash has named former Amazon marketing leader Tim Castree as its new Chief Marketing Officer, replacing Kofi Amoo-Gottfried as the company scales beyond food delivery into broader local commerce. Castree brings deep experience from Amazon and WPP, where he led global performance and brand marketing across multiple markets. The hire signals DoorDash’s intent to sharpen its brand storytelling while expanding retail media and commerce capabilities. Leadership sees him as key to building more “locally resonant” global marketing.
\n(AdWeek)
\n\nASICS launched a creator-led campaign positioning the beauty industry, not rival sportswear brands, as its new competitive set. The campaign argues that 15 minutes of movement can replace complex skincare routines by delivering a natural “post-exercise glow,” blending wellness and beauty positioning. It taps beauty influencers to reframe fitness as a beauty enhancer driven by mental and physical wellbeing. The move reflects how performance brands are expanding into cultural territory traditionally owned by beauty.
\n(MediaPost)
\n\nJeep continues to lean into long-standing brand equity by reinforcing its identity as America’s “most patriotic” automotive brand for the 25th consecutive year. The positioning is supported through ongoing cultural storytelling tied to freedom, adventure, and national identity, rather than product-specific messaging. This consistency highlights how legacy brands are doubling down on emotional branding amid fragmented media environments. Jeep’s strategy reflects endurance marketing, owning a symbolic category space rather than competing on features alone.
\n(Media Post)
\n\nOscar Mayer is expanding its “Wienie 500” activation following a significant sales uplift of more than 500,000 units tied to the campaign’s cultural momentum. The initiative blends humor, sports-style spectacle, and experiential marketing to turn a packaged meat product into a shareable entertainment property. The brand is doubling down on event-style marketing that lives across social media and IRL activations. It reflects a broader trend of CPG brands building franchise-like recurring cultural moments.
\n(AdWeek)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/aea10d63-0a82-4247-9eb1-63f0583c0a0a.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "aea10d63-0a82-4247-9eb1-63f0583c0a0a", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-may-18-may-23-2026", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 37 } }, { "wixId": "b4984222-e24c-4e0a-8f4c-a90a3a3828db", "slug": "why-oatly-became-one-of-the-most-influential-brands-in-modern-marketing", "title": "Why Oatly Became One of the Most Influential Brands in Modern Marketing?", "deck": "Very few consumer brands completely change how an entire category communicates. Oatly did exactly that. Before Oatly became a global brand, plant-based milk was largely marketed through functional messaging focused on health benefits and dietary alternatives. Most brands in the category looked and sounded interchangeable. Oatly recognized consumers were not just looking for another product. They were looking for brands with personality, perspective, and cultural relevance. Instead of...", "category": "brand spotlight", "categoryLabel": "Brand Spotlight", "categories": [ "brand spotlight" ], "dateLabel": "May 21", "publishedAt": "2026-05-21 19:01:56.000", "readTimeLabel": "3 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/b4984222-e24c-4e0a-8f4c-a90a3a3828db.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/b4984222-e24c-4e0a-8f4c-a90a3a3828db.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_8bf9e8b99e1047c9961213266c6ea7b8~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_8bf9e8b99e1047c9961213266c6ea7b8~mv2.jpg\")
Very few consumer brands completely change how an entire category communicates. Oatly did exactly that.
\n\nBefore Oatly became a global brand, plant-based milk was largely marketed through functional messaging focused on health benefits and dietary alternatives. Most brands in the category looked and sounded interchangeable.
\nOatly recognized consumers were not just looking for another product. They were looking for brands with personality, perspective, and cultural relevance.
\n\nInstead of marketing oat milk like a traditional food company, Oatly built a brand that felt conversational, self-aware, and impossible to ignore.
\nIts packaging looked different. Its ads sounded different. Its tone felt intentionally human in a world where most corporate communication sounded overly polished and safe.
\nThat distinction became one of its biggest competitive advantages.
\n\nOatly’s Biggest Marketing Strength Was Its Brand Voice and Visibility
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_30de76e17b2b4bb09b8918f396622146~mv2.webp\")
Oatly understood something many brands still struggle with today: people remember brands that sound recognizable.
\nThe company used humor, long-form packaging copy, awkward honesty, and conversational language to create a voice consumers could instantly identify.
\n\nWhether it was a billboard, social post, or product carton, the tone remained consistent.
\nMore importantly, Oatly was comfortable being polarizing. Some people loved the brand’s personality, while others found it irritating. From a marketing perspective, that actually helped. Memorable brands are rarely built by trying to appeal to everyone.
\n\nA major reason marketers continue studying Oatly is because the company understood cultural positioning better than most traditional consumer brands.
\nOatly was never just selling sustainability, nutrition, or dairy alternatives. It was selling participation in a certain lifestyle and worldview.
\nThe brand positioned itself at the intersection of:
\nThat combination made the brand feel current in a way many legacy food companies struggled to replicate. Its campaigns often blurred the line between advertising and social commentary. Some of its messaging intentionally provoked debate around the dairy industry, environmental impact, and consumer habits. While controversial at times, those campaigns generated visibility far beyond paid media reach.
\nThe company understood an important principle of modern branding: if nobody reacts emotionally to your marketing, they probably will not remember it either.
\nThat does not mean every brand should try to be controversial. But it does mean that strong brands usually have a recognizable perspective.
\nOatly consistently communicated one.
\n\nThe rise of Oatly says a lot about how branding has changed over the last decade.
\n\nConsumers are exposed to enormous amounts of content every day. Functional superiority alone is rarely enough to create long-term differentiation because competitors can quickly replicate features, pricing, and convenience.
\n\nWhat becomes far more difficult to replicate is identity, cultural relevance, and recognizability.
\nModern brands are no longer competing only on product quality. They are competing for attention, discoverability, conversation, and emotional connection.
\nThe brands pulling ahead understand that creative, media, community, distribution, and amplification now work together as part of the same ecosystem.
\n\nFor CMOs and marketing leaders, this is where the conversation becomes especially relevant.
\nInside communities like CMORoom sponsored by Admedia, these are the kinds of brand questions increasingly shaping executive discussions:
\nOatly succeeded because it treated brand as a strategic business advantage rather than a layer added after the product was built.
\nEvery touchpoint reinforced the same identity. Every campaign strengthened recognizability. Every interaction deepened cultural relevance.
\n\nThat distinction matters more than ever in today’s marketing landscape.
\nBecause the brands pulling ahead are not necessarily the loudest. They are the ones building ecosystems where brand, visibility, distribution, and audience engagement work together seamlessly.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/b4984222-e24c-4e0a-8f4c-a90a3a3828db.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "b4984222-e24c-4e0a-8f4c-a90a3a3828db", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/why-oatly-became-one-of-the-most-influential-brands-in-modern-marketing", "memberId": "87aedccc-3992-4657-9baa-bccbe75ee68e", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 38 } }, { "wixId": "5d4d8159-f477-45df-805d-7e6fa0cd856b", "slug": "san-francisco-cmoroom-recap-may-14-2026-a-16", "title": "San Francisco CMORoom Recap (May 14, 2026) @ A 16", "deck": "“Without emotion, loyalty is just a transaction.” That line stayed with the table all night. At CMORoom San Francisco, the conversation covered everything from AI and changing search behavior to influencer marketing, attribution, content fatigue, live experiences, and what actually earns consumer attention today. One thing kept coming up: the brands building real loyalty are creating connection, not just visibility. There was a lot of conversation around how community and in-person...", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "May 15", "publishedAt": "2026-05-15 18:32:20.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/5d4d8159-f477-45df-805d-7e6fa0cd856b.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/5d4d8159-f477-45df-805d-7e6fa0cd856b.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_54a3b5dd3f3c4c65be969de757ed50f4~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "“Without emotion, loyalty is just a transaction.”
\n\nThat line stayed with the table all night.
\n\nAt CMORoom San Francisco, the conversation covered everything from AI and changing search behavior to influencer marketing, attribution, content fatigue, live experiences, and what actually earns consumer attention today.
\n\nOne thing kept coming up: the brands building real loyalty are creating connection, not just visibility.
\n\nThere was a lot of conversation around how community and in-person experiences are outperforming purely digital engagement, why “human” content still cuts through the most, and how everyone is trying to navigate a landscape where discovery is changing faster than measurement can keep up.
\n\nExactly why rooms like this exist.
\n\nNot for surface-level networking or polished talking points, but for the kind of candid conversations, perspective shifts, and unexpected connections that happen when the right people are in the room together.
\n\nThank you to everyone who made San Francisco such a good one.
\nUntil next time, San Francisco!
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/5d4d8159-f477-45df-805d-7e6fa0cd856b.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "5d4d8159-f477-45df-805d-7e6fa0cd856b", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/san-francisco-cmoroom-recap-may-14-2026-a-16", "memberId": "87aedccc-3992-4657-9baa-bccbe75ee68e", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 39 } }, { "wixId": "4ad9b7c0-8c83-43f0-9ae0-89e692c0dd7b", "slug": "ai-trust-the-death-of-the-linear-funnel-what-modern-brands-need-to-get-right", "title": "AI, Trust & the Death of the Linear Funnel: What Modern Brands Need to Get Right", "deck": "What AI says about your brand is becoming just as important as what your brand says about itself. The future belongs to brands willing to test, learn, and adapt early. There was a moment during CMORoom’s dinner at Funke in Los Angeles when the conversation around the table shifted from casual observations into something much bigger. Somewhere between the cocktails, squash blossoms, and nonstop side conversations happening across every corner of the table, the group collectively landed on the...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "May 14", "publishedAt": "2026-05-14 14:16:31.000", "readTimeLabel": "4 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/4ad9b7c0-8c83-43f0-9ae0-89e692c0dd7b.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/4ad9b7c0-8c83-43f0-9ae0-89e692c0dd7b.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_d5cd607952ea4247a6f17f077fad5ef3~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "What AI says about your brand is becoming just as important as what your brand says about itself.\n
The future belongs to brands willing to test, learn, and adapt early.\n\n
There was a moment during CMORoom’s dinner at Funke in Los Angeles when the conversation around the table shifted from casual observations into something much bigger. Somewhere between the cocktails, squash blossoms, and nonstop side conversations happening across every corner of the table, the group collectively landed on the same realization: the traditional sales funnel no longer reflects how people actually discover, trust, and buy from brands today.
\n\nThe topic of the night quickly became “the death of the funnel.” Or more accurately, the death of the idea that consumer journeys are clean, predictable, and linear.
\n\nAt one point, a guest joked that the modern sales funnel now looks “like a four-year-old took a crayon to it.” The room erupted because everyone immediately understood the reference. That chaos is exactly what modern marketing feels like right now.
\n\nFor years, brands operated within a familiar framework. Consumers moved from awareness to consideration to conversion in a relatively orderly sequence. Marketing teams built campaigns around guiding buyers down that path step by step. But today, discovery happens everywhere and all at once. A consumer may hear about a brand through a TikTok clip, forget about it for six months, hear it referenced on a podcast, ask ChatGPT about competitors, see a creator mention it on Instagram, get referred by a friend in a group chat, and then suddenly convert immediately. There is no straight line anymore.
\n\nThat shift came up repeatedly throughout the night. One attendee explained how younger audiences are increasingly beginning discovery journeys on TikTok instead of traditional search engines, while another spoke about how engagement metrics like shares, saves, and bookmarks are becoming far more meaningful than follower counts because they signal actual intent and influence rather than vanity.
\n\nThe conversation naturally evolved into AI and the growing influence of large language models on how brands are discovered and perceived online. In a recent CMORoom Spotlight conversation, Courtney Register, Director at WPP Media, discussed how AI is fundamentally dissolving the traditional silos that once separated channels, teams, and strategies. Search is no longer just search. Discovery is now multimodal, conversational, visual, and increasingly powered by AI systems synthesizing information from thousands of sources at once.
\n\nThat evolution has enormous implications for marketers because brands no longer fully control their own narratives. AI models are pulling information from reviews, forums, Reddit threads, creator content, earned media, customer commentary, and countless third-party sources across the web. What people say about your brand is becoming just as important as what your brand says about itself.
\n\nTrust, authority, and digital reputation are now deeply interconnected. Several executives around the table emphasized that the future of brand building will depend less on polished corporate messaging and more on ecosystem validation. Community conversations, creator advocacy, and peer recommendations increasingly shape perception long before a consumer ever visits a website or fills out a lead form.
\n\nThat reality is also reshaping how brands think about content. Historically, marketers optimized content primarily for humans and search engines. Today, brands are also creating content for AI systems that summarize, interpret, and surface information back to consumers. The challenge is no longer simply ranking for keywords. It is ensuring that your brand narrative remains accurate, trusted, and contextually strong within AI-generated environments.
\n\nThe conversation repeatedly returned to the idea of human connection and how relationship-driven ecosystems are becoming more powerful than rigid funnel mechanics. One guest shared how revitalizing a legacy fashion brand came less from traditional advertising and more from relationships, community influence, and conversations happening organically inside executive and creator networks. Another spoke about how modern creator ecosystems often outperform tightly controlled brand campaigns because audiences trust people more than polished messaging.
\n\nThat idea feels increasingly true across every industry. The strongest-performing brands today are often growing through referrals, communities, founder visibility, executive presence, events, creator relationships, and word of mouth rather than through perfectly optimized conversion paths alone. Much of the influence shaping buying decisions now happens inside “dark social” environments that traditional attribution models cannot properly track — private Slack groups, group chats, executive dinners, forwarded links, podcasts, and AI-generated recommendations all influence decision-making in ways that rarely appear in dashboards.
\n\nAt the same time, the room acknowledged that performance marketing still matters. Funnels still exist operationally inside organizations. Companies still need ways to measure awareness, engagement, pipeline, conversion, and retention. But the visual simplicity of the traditional funnel no longer reflects the complexity of modern buyer behavior.
\n\nThe smartest brands are adapting by blending performance with emotion, brand with demand generation, and technology with human insight. They understand that short-term conversion tactics alone are not enough to build long-term relevance. As several executives pointed out during the discussion, many younger companies are becoming overly transactional, focusing so aggressively on performance marketing that they fail to establish foundational positioning, emotional resonance, and trust.
\n\nThat may ultimately become one of the greatest risks of the AI era. As automation accelerates and content becomes increasingly commoditized, the brands that stand out will likely be the ones that feel the most human.
\n\nThe future will belong to companies willing to test, learn, adapt, and evolve early rather than protect outdated systems for too long. Because while AI may be reshaping the mechanics of marketing, human insight, emotion, trust, and community remain the real competitive advantage.
\n\nAnd if the conversations around the table at Funke proved anything, it’s that the future of growth may look far less like a funnel — and far more like a living ecosystem built through influence, relationships, shared experiences, and trust.
\n\nNo panels. No presentations. Just conversations shaping where marketing goes next.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/4ad9b7c0-8c83-43f0-9ae0-89e692c0dd7b.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "4ad9b7c0-8c83-43f0-9ae0-89e692c0dd7b", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/ai-trust-the-death-of-the-linear-funnel-what-modern-brands-need-to-get-right", "memberId": "87aedccc-3992-4657-9baa-bccbe75ee68e", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 40 } }, { "wixId": "8dacc3e6-a52b-4fd1-bbc0-5495926df01b", "slug": "beverly-hills-cmoroom-recap-may-12-2026-funke", "title": "Beverly Hills CMORoom Recap (May 12, 2026) @ Funke", "deck": "LA, you’re the kind of brilliance we love. From the squash blossoms (TDF) to the cocktails, conversations, and perspectives shared around the table, the night quickly took on a life of its own — exactly the kind of energy we aim to curate at CMORoom. A few themes that surfaced throughout the evening: → The traditional funnel is broken. → Creators are leading modern brand storytelling. → Brands are prioritizing content velocity and cultural relevance. → The strongest marketing balances both...", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "May 13", "publishedAt": "2026-05-13 22:37:11.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/8dacc3e6-a52b-4fd1-bbc0-5495926df01b.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/8dacc3e6-a52b-4fd1-bbc0-5495926df01b.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_e5bf0792019b4d548b0f7fc48c28e8e7~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "LA, you’re the kind of brilliance we love.
\n\nFrom the squash blossoms (TDF) to the cocktails, conversations, and perspectives shared around the table, the night quickly took on a life of its own — exactly the kind of energy we aim to curate at CMORoom.
\n\nA few themes that surfaced throughout the evening:
\n\n→ The traditional funnel is broken.
\n\n→ Creators are leading modern brand storytelling.
\n\n→ Brands are prioritizing content velocity and cultural relevance.
\n\n→ The strongest marketing balances both science and art.
\n\nMost importantly, the room was filled with people shaping what’s next in real time.
\n\nThank you for making the night what it was. LA always shows up and gets right to it.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/8dacc3e6-a52b-4fd1-bbc0-5495926df01b.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "8dacc3e6-a52b-4fd1-bbc0-5495926df01b", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/beverly-hills-cmoroom-recap-may-12-2026-funke", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 41 } }, { "wixId": "89fea441-c9a2-4ab8-a98e-ba3b455657f2", "slug": "are-you-growing-revenue-or-undermining-your-brand-the-trade-off-every-cmo-faces", "title": "Casey Terrell (CMO @ Blaze Pizza) Are You Growing Revenue or Undermining Your Brand? The Trade-Off Every CMO Faces", "deck": "Marketing gets them in the door. The brand is what brings them back. In today’s marketing landscape, especially in the restaurant industry, there’s no such thing as a clean, linear strategy. Every decision sits at the intersection of competing priorities: immediate revenue versus long-term brand equity, performance marketing versus emotional connection, data versus instinct. For CMOs, the role has evolved far beyond campaigns and channels. It’s about stewardship, of the brand, of customer...", "category": "cmo spotlight", "categoryLabel": "CMO Spotlight", "categories": [ "cmo spotlight" ], "dateLabel": "May 13", "publishedAt": "2026-05-13 11:15:47.000", "readTimeLabel": "3 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/89fea441-c9a2-4ab8-a98e-ba3b455657f2.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/89fea441-c9a2-4ab8-a98e-ba3b455657f2.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_0dbca67d181a45a49c67ad4f6824ca7b~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"Smiling](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_0dbca67d181a45a49c67ad4f6824ca7b~mv2.jpg\")
Marketing gets them in the door. The brand is what brings them back.\n
In today’s marketing landscape, especially in the restaurant industry, there’s no such thing as a clean, linear strategy. Every decision sits at the intersection of competing priorities: immediate revenue versus long-term brand equity, performance marketing versus emotional connection, data versus instinct.
\n\nFor CMOs, the role has evolved far beyond campaigns and channels. It’s about stewardship, of the brand, of customer trust, and often, of entire ecosystems of franchise partners whose livelihoods depend on those decisions. The real challenge isn’t choosing one path over another. It’s learning how to operate in the tension between them without compromising what matters most.
\n\nIn this conversation, we sat down with Casey Terrell to explore what that tension looks like in practice, how it shapes leadership and decision-making, and what it takes to build a brand that drives results today while remaining meaningful tomorrow.
\n\nThere’s a constant tension in restaurant marketing between driving immediate traffic and building the brand for the long term. That push and pull never disappears. On one hand, there’s the short-term impact of promotions, offers that bring people in right now. On the other, there’s the slower, more deliberate work of building a brand people actually care about. What becomes clear over time is that value isn’t always about lowering prices. It’s about helping customers understand why your brand is worth choosing in the first place. And navigating that tension, especially in environments with short-term pressures, is where real leadership shows up.
\n\nIt starts with being a steward. Not just of the brand, but of the people who have invested in it. Franchisees, in particular, are deeply tied to the success of every decision. So every investment has to stand up to scrutiny. If it’s difficult to explain or justify, it’s probably not the right move. That’s why guest experience and brand sit at the top of the priority list. Short-term wins matter, but not at the expense of long-term trust. Cheapening the brand or compromising the experience might drive a spike, but it rarely builds something sustainable.
\n\nPerformance marketing has become indispensable. The shift from traditional channels to digital has made it possible to track, measure, and optimize in ways that simply weren’t possible before. You can see where every dollar goes. You can prove your return. You can localize efforts down to a specific trade area. But it comes with a limitation, it doesn’t build emotional connection. It’s incredibly effective at driving action, at getting someone through the door. But what happens next, that’s where brand and experience take over.
\n\nAccountability has to be built into the system. Today, that means leaning heavily on data, analytics, and attribution models that connect marketing efforts to real-world results. Especially in a business where most transactions still happen in-store, proving that someone actually showed up matters. The expectation is simple: if a dollar is invested, there should be a clear return. Without that visibility, decision-making becomes guesswork, and that’s no longer acceptable.
\n\nAnalytics would come first, but not just reporting. The real value lies in interpretation. Understanding what the data means and what action it should drive. From there, strong media expertise becomes essential. Someone who understands how paid, earned, shared, and owned channels work together, not in silos, but as a system.
\nAnd finally, brand leadership. Because without a clear, consistent brand, even the best execution falls flat.
\nEverything else can be supported. But those three capabilities form the core.
\n\nIt comes down to the quality of conversation. There’s something different about being in a room where people aren’t trying to sell, perform, or posture. The discussions feel natural, grounded, and genuinely useful.
\nIt’s not just about who’s in the room, it’s how they show up. Open, curious, and willing to engage in a way that feels real. And that’s increasingly rare. Modern marketing isn’t about choosing between performance and brand. It’s about learning how to hold both at once.
\n\nDriving results today while building something meaningful for tomorrow isn’t a clean equation, it’s a constant negotiation. One that requires clarity, discipline, and a willingness to make decisions that won’t always pay off immediately. Because in the end, the brands that last aren’t the ones that chase attention.They’re the ones that earn it.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/89fea441-c9a2-4ab8-a98e-ba3b455657f2.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "89fea441-c9a2-4ab8-a98e-ba3b455657f2", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/are-you-growing-revenue-or-undermining-your-brand-the-trade-off-every-cmo-faces", "memberId": "87aedccc-3992-4657-9baa-bccbe75ee68e", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 42 } }, { "wixId": "cec6bb1b-5461-48af-8a14-f946f7038043", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-may-3-may-10-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (May 3-May 10, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. Adidas Launches Star-Studded World Cup Campaign Film Adidas dropped its new FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign film featuring Lionel Messi, Bad Bunny, Timothée Chalamet, and rising global soccer stars, blending sports, music, and entertainment culture into one cinematic brand moment. The campaign reflects how major brands are increasingly building cultural relevance through crossover storytelling rather than...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "May 8", "publishedAt": "2026-05-08 14:11:28.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/cec6bb1b-5461-48af-8a14-f946f7038043.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/cec6bb1b-5461-48af-8a14-f946f7038043.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_fd9b8acc4dc54a6996f99a10fae0c0e7~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nAdidas dropped its new FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign film featuring Lionel Messi, Bad Bunny, Timothée Chalamet, and rising global soccer stars, blending sports, music, and entertainment culture into one cinematic brand moment. The campaign reflects how major brands are increasingly building cultural relevance through crossover storytelling rather than traditional athlete sponsorships alone.
\n(Brand Innovators)
\n\nToyota launched a broad new EV push featuring multiple creative tracks tailored to different demographics, including skeptics, small business owners, Hispanic audiences, and Asian American consumers. The campaign underscores how major brands are leaning into segmented storytelling rather than one-size-fits-all messaging.
\n(Marketing Dive)
\n\nNaomi Osaka stars in Olly’s new “Do What Serves You” campaign, encouraging women to prioritize their mental and physical wellbeing without guilt. Timed to Mental Health Awareness Month, the campaign blends purpose-driven storytelling with celebrity authenticity, tying Osaka’s wellness journey to larger conversations around burnout, boundaries, and self-care. For marketers, it’s another example of brands building emotional relevance through values, vulnerability, and cultural resonance.
\n(Media Post)
\n\nPapa Johns continued its push toward culture-led marketing with a new “Toy Story” collaboration while also expanding AI initiatives with Google Cloud. The brand’s marketing strategy highlights how entertainment partnerships and operational AI are increasingly being developed in parallel.
\n(Marketing Dive)
\n\nEstée Lauder is doubling down on science-backed skincare, taking a minority stake in luxury clinical skincare brand 111Skin as part of a broader portfolio evolution strategy. The move reflects where prestige beauty is heading: toward efficacy, treatment-inspired products, and “skin longevity” positioning that blends luxury with clinical credibility. For marketers, it’s another sign that proof, performance, and expertise are becoming just as important as aspiration in modern beauty branding.
\n(Media Post)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/cec6bb1b-5461-48af-8a14-f946f7038043.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "cec6bb1b-5461-48af-8a14-f946f7038043", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-may-3-may-10-2026", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 43 } }, { "wixId": "029e6d18-f4b2-4dd3-b4e0-2b6b0d9420df", "slug": "building-real-connections-in-the-age-of-ai", "title": "Building Real Connections in the Age of AI with Robyn Streisand (CEO & Founder @ The Mixx)", "deck": "Strong partnerships rarely begin with a polished pitch, they begin with authenticity. What started as a simple introduction through a mutual connection quickly evolved into a meaningful friendship and powerful professional partnership between Robyn Streisand, Founder and CEO of The Mixx, and Melissa Anderson, President of Search.com, a division of Public Good. Rooted in honesty, shared ambition, and a deep belief in human connection, their relationship has grown alongside their work, spanning...", "category": "cmo spotlight", "categoryLabel": "CMO Spotlight", "categories": [ "cmo spotlight" ], "dateLabel": "May 7", "publishedAt": "2026-05-07 14:56:40.000", "readTimeLabel": "4 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/029e6d18-f4b2-4dd3-b4e0-2b6b0d9420df.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/029e6d18-f4b2-4dd3-b4e0-2b6b0d9420df.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_e8b91a46844d49a79fc9063ccceebf9d~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_e8b91a46844d49a79fc9063ccceebf9d~mv2.jpg\")
Strong partnerships rarely begin with a polished pitch, they begin with authenticity.
\n\nWhat started as a simple introduction through a mutual connection quickly evolved into a meaningful friendship and powerful professional partnership between Robyn Streisand, Founder and CEO of The Mixx, and Melissa Anderson, President of Search.com, a division of Public Good. Rooted in honesty, shared ambition, and a deep belief in human connection, their relationship has grown alongside their work, spanning transformative opportunities, bold ideas around AI, and a shared commitment to building communities that truly matter.
\n\nIn this conversation, Melissa sits down with Robyn to reflect on where it all began, what they’ve built together, and why human connection remains the most important currency in a tech-driven world.
\n\nAbsolutely. It was through Tricia Benn, CEO of C-Suite Network. She introduced us, and I remember immediately feeling your energy. You came in ready with your professional story, but I was more interested in who you really were, not the version anyone could find online. That authenticity stood out right away.
\n\nYou were polished, prepared, but I wanted something deeper. When you shifted and started sharing your personal story, everything changed. That’s when the real connection began.
\nFor me, relationships aren’t built on credentials, they’re built on truth.
\n\nI saw a light.
\nLater, watching you at an event, moving through the room, connecting effortlessly, I was reminded of myself years ago. That kind of presence is rare. It brought me back to my own “why” and reminded me how powerful it is to create space for others.
\n\nNot fully, but that’s the beauty of it.
\nSometimes when you’re lifting someone else up, you don’t realize they’re also giving something back to you. That exchange, that mutual inspiration, is what makes these relationships so powerful.
\n\nIt comes down to authenticity. It’s about having someone you can call when things are messy, when things are incredible, and everything in between. Real relationships aren’t filtered, they’re honest. That’s what builds trust, and that’s what lasts.
\n\nI feel like I’m stepping into something bigger. I’ve always trusted that instinct, the one that tells you when it’s time to evolve. The Mix House is rooted in three ideas: learning through difference, meaningful human connection, and creating spaces where people feel like they belong. That’s what people are craving right now, something real.
\n\nIt’s not one or the other, it’s both. Technology should enhance how we connect, not replace it. The goal is to use AI to create access, opportunity, and efficiency, while still preserving the human experience at the center.
\n\nFear is natural, especially with change. But we’re all navigating this together.
\nWhat won’t change is the human element, emotion, trust, empathy. That’s irreplaceable. I remember similar fears when digital first emerged, and what mattered then still matters now: caring about people.
\nWe can’t let everything become transactional.
\n\nIt’s everything. Technology can create distance, but that’s exactly why intentional spaces matter more than ever. When people come together, face-to-face, fully present, that’s where real connection happens.
\nThat balance between innovation and intimacy is what helps people truly thrive.
\n\nIt means showing up fully, not just with support, but with honesty. Real support goes beyond encouragement, it’s accountability. It’s being willing to have the hard conversations that help someone grow. When women truly champion each other in that way, it becomes incredibly powerful.
\nThere’s also so much momentum right now, especially in spaces like sports. Watching women’s sports continue to grow has been incredibly inspiring because it reflects what’s possible when visibility and opportunity expand together. The opportunity now is to keep building those bridges, creating more access, and encouraging women to step into rooms and roles they may not feel perfectly qualified for yet, but absolutely have the vision, talent, and leadership to thrive in.
\n\nThe next generation. I think about my granddaughters and the world they’ll grow into. The possibilities for them are limitless, but only if we continue to show up, create opportunities, and push things forward.
\nAnd it’s not just individuals, brands play a role too. The ones willing to take risks, lead boldly, and shape what’s next are the ones that will drive real change.
\n\nAt a time when technology is evolving faster than ever, this conversation is a reminder of what remains constant: human connection. Robyn and Melissa’s journey reflects something deeper than partnership, it’s about trust, shared growth, and the willingness to show up authentically for one another. As AI reshapes industries and communities, the real opportunity lies not in choosing between technology and humanity, but in bringing them together with intention. Because in the end, it’s not just about building smarter systems, it’s about building stronger, more meaningful connections.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/029e6d18-f4b2-4dd3-b4e0-2b6b0d9420df.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "029e6d18-f4b2-4dd3-b4e0-2b6b0d9420df", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/building-real-connections-in-the-age-of-ai", "memberId": "87aedccc-3992-4657-9baa-bccbe75ee68e", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 44 } }, { "wixId": "1382f01e-9805-42d8-a39b-8aadf16fae7e", "slug": "chicago-cmoroom-recap-may-5-2026-alla-vita", "title": "Chicago CMORoom Recap (May 5, 2026) @ Alla Vita", "deck": "Marketing loves to say “emotion sells.” Last night proved it. Between the incredible food, espresso martinis, and nonstop conversations, from emojis we love to what we professionally flirt with, it wasn’t just a great dinner. It was watching incredibly smart, accomplished people come together and genuinely connect. And then Kevin Boehm joined the table. Having Kevin with us as Guest of Honor brought a different level of perspective. His take on building iconic brands, creating experiences...", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "May 6", "publishedAt": "2026-05-06 18:08:33.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/1382f01e-9805-42d8-a39b-8aadf16fae7e.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/1382f01e-9805-42d8-a39b-8aadf16fae7e.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_8a4af401a51742e2bf490454cbeff0f5~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "Marketing loves to say “emotion sells.” Last night proved it.
\n\nBetween the incredible food, espresso martinis, and nonstop conversations, from emojis we love to what we professionally flirt with, it wasn’t just a great dinner. It was watching incredibly smart, accomplished people come together and genuinely connect.
\nAnd then Kevin Boehm joined the table.
\n\nHaving Kevin with us as Guest of Honor brought a different level of perspective. His take on building iconic brands, creating experiences people truly feel, and leading with humility and intention reframed the conversation in real time.
\n\nAs Kevin put it:
\n“We landed at the intersection of artistry and financial responsibility and proved it could be repeatable.”
\n\nThat idea will stick with us.
\nWe talk about emotion like it’s a tactic.Last night was a reminder: it’s not.
\n\nIt’s what happens when the experience, the people, the intention, and the environment all align in a way people can genuinely feel.
\n\nThat’s the magic of CMORoom.
\nThank you to everyone who joined us for making it such a special one.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/1382f01e-9805-42d8-a39b-8aadf16fae7e.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "1382f01e-9805-42d8-a39b-8aadf16fae7e", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/chicago-cmoroom-recap-may-5-2026-alla-vita", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 45 } }, { "wixId": "d400d01e-bccb-4f5b-a470-ba42f1c12f7d", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-april-26-may-1-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (April 26-May 1, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. Devil Wears Prada 2 Builds a Shoppable Brand World The Devil Wears Prada 2 is turning movie marketing into a fully integrated fashion and retail moment, partnering with brands to co-create products inspired by the film rather than relying on traditional licensing. The campaign blurs the line between costume and commerce, allowing audiences to engage with—and purchase—the world of the movie in real time....", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "May 1", "publishedAt": "2026-05-01 15:47:57.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/d400d01e-bccb-4f5b-a470-ba42f1c12f7d.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/d400d01e-bccb-4f5b-a470-ba42f1c12f7d.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_036f4d68729c489e8ee5f87548b48c9d~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nThe Devil Wears Prada 2 is turning movie marketing into a fully integrated fashion and retail moment, partnering with brands to co-create products inspired by the film rather than relying on traditional licensing. The campaign blurs the line between costume and commerce, allowing audiences to engage with—and purchase—the world of the movie in real time. For marketing leaders, it signals a shift toward entertainment as a platform for product ecosystems, not just promotion.
\n(Marketing Dive)
\n\nAt POSSIBLE 2026, leaders called for marketing to move beyond intuition toward codified, evidence-based frameworks, arguing that current practices are inefficient. The takeaway for CMOs: competitive advantage will come from applying proven marketing science consistently, not just creative instinct.
\n(AdWeek)
\n\nChipotle has appointed Fernando Machado as Chief Brand Officer, bringing in one of the industry’s most influential creative leaders to oversee global brand strategy, marketing, and customer engagement. Known for culture-shaping work at Burger King, Machado’s hire signals Chipotle’s intent to double down on distinctive, creativity-led growth as it expands globally. especially in crowded categories where differentiation drives long-term value.
\n(Marketing Dive)
\n\nAt Milan Design Week, top brands used immersive installations to create experiential brand worlds, not just product showcases. The takeaway: high-end brands are investing in memory-making experiences to drive deeper emotional connection and earned media.
\n(Vogue)
\n\nNestlé is bringing structure to creator marketing by using AI to identify and elevate top-performing content into paid media. By evaluating posts for brand alignment, storytelling, and performance, the company ensures only the strongest assets are amplified. The approach turns a traditionally fragmented space into a more repeatable, systemized growth channel, integrating creator content directly into broader media strategy.
\n(Marketing Dive)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/d400d01e-bccb-4f5b-a470-ba42f1c12f7d.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "d400d01e-bccb-4f5b-a470-ba42f1c12f7d", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-april-26-may-1-2026", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 46 } }, { "wixId": "9f445aa2-8349-4acb-bb58-55051858a655", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-april-19-25-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (April 19-25, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. Pinterest Emerges as a High-Intent Performance Channel for CPG New research from Pinterest shows that CPG campaigns on the platform are delivering strong, measurable returns, with the majority driving positive incremental ROI and many outperforming broader social benchmarks. Unlike passive social environments, Pinterest functions as a high-intent discovery engine where users are actively planning...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Apr 24", "publishedAt": "2026-04-24 17:11:30.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/9f445aa2-8349-4acb-bb58-55051858a655.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/9f445aa2-8349-4acb-bb58-55051858a655.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_340c511c60a545e6bc2585364a608f60~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nNew research from Pinterest shows that CPG campaigns on the platform are delivering strong, measurable returns, with the majority driving positive incremental ROI and many outperforming broader social benchmarks. Unlike passive social environments, Pinterest functions as a high-intent discovery engine where users are actively planning purchases, giving brands earlier influence in the decision-making process. This positions the platform as a bridge between upper-funnel inspiration and lower-funnel conversion. For marketing leaders, the takeaway is clear: platforms that combine intent with discovery are becoming increasingly valuable as pressure to prove media effectiveness grows.
\n(Marketing Dive)
\n\nE.l.f. Beauty promoted its longtime CMO to president while appointing a new chief marketing officer and creating a chief technology and AI officer role. The leadership shift reflects the company’s continued investment in marketing as a core growth engine, alongside deeper integration of AI into its operations. E.l.f. has built momentum through bold, purpose-driven campaigns, and this move signals a desire to scale that playbook further. It underscores how high-growth brands are structuring teams around marketing, technology, and brand as interconnected drivers.
\nMarketing Dive
\n\nU.S. lawmakers and the FDA are increasing scrutiny on pharmaceutical advertising, particularly around misleading claims and lack of risk transparency in social and digital ads. With potential new regulatory authority on the table, brands in the category may face stricter requirements around balance and disclosure. The outcome could significantly reshape one of the largest ad-spending industries, forcing a shift toward more responsible, transparent marketing practices.
\n(Axios)
\n\nApple announced that Tim Cook will step down as CEO and become executive chairman, with John Ternus stepping into the role. The shift signals a move toward a more product- and engineering-led future following Cook’s operations-focused tenure. For marketers, it points to a renewed emphasis on innovation and product storytelling as Apple enters its next chapter.
\n(Apple)
\n\nMountain Dew is leaning into its nearly 80-year history with a new campaign that ties its 1948 origins to America’s upcoming 250th birthday, blending brand heritage with a broader cultural moment. The effort includes a nostalgic, time-travel themed ad, limited-edition “American Dew” packaging, and a nationwide sweepstakes, turning storytelling into an interactive experience. Rather than relying on nostalgia alone, the brand is activating its history across media, retail, and consumer engagement. For marketers, it’s a strong example of how heritage can be transformed into a modern, participation-driven platform that drives both relevance and action.
\n(Brand Innovators)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/9f445aa2-8349-4acb-bb58-55051858a655.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "9f445aa2-8349-4acb-bb58-55051858a655", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-april-19-25-2026", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 47 } }, { "wixId": "521b747d-b3ff-44bf-958c-d6f4fddd014b", "slug": "scaling-retail-growth-in-a-saturated-digital-world", "title": "Scaling Retail Growth in a Saturated Digital World", "deck": "In this conversation, David Lorango, Fractional CMO to global retail brands, shares a candid look at what it really takes to drive performance today, from navigating lower-funnel saturation to leveraging agentic AI and redefining how fashion brands build awareness. Drawing from experience across enterprise retailers and high-growth startups, he breaks down where the real opportunities lie and where many brands are still getting it wrong.", "category": "cmo spotlight", "categoryLabel": "CMO Spotlight", "categories": [ "cmo spotlight" ], "dateLabel": "Apr 24", "publishedAt": "2026-04-24 15:27:28.000", "readTimeLabel": "4 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/521b747d-b3ff-44bf-958c-d6f4fddd014b.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/521b747d-b3ff-44bf-958c-d6f4fddd014b.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_9072226c4c25438fad7179cbba93013c~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b77225_9072226c4c25438fad7179cbba93013c~mv2.jpg\")
Author: David Lorango, Fractional CMO, Global Retail Brands
\n\n“On the forefront, it’s about engaging with the consumer, understanding the feedback loop, and giving our customers a differentiated buyer experience.\"\n
\"Challenges are around awareness and the lower funnel. Channels can reach a saturation point and then over‑saturation, eventually you’re just bidding against yourself if you remain on the same channel. So we’re looking across the board at brand awareness and digital specifically.\"\n
In today’s retail landscape, growth isn’t just about scale, it’s about precision. As digital channels mature and consumer expectations evolve, brands are being pushed to rethink how they show up, convert, and stay relevant.
\n\nIn this conversation, David Lorango, Fractional CMO to global retail brands, shares a candid look at what it really takes to drive performance today, from navigating lower-funnel saturation to leveraging agentic AI and redefining how fashion brands build awareness. Drawing from experience across enterprise retailers and high-growth startups, he breaks down where the real opportunities lie and where many brands are still getting it wrong.
\n\nQ: What metrics are you targeting from the digital channel, and how do you use AI to drive growth?
\n\nAt one of the largest fashion retailers with a global footprint, our core KPIs are standard e‑commerce metrics: click‑through rate, CPG, and conversion. We’re exploring agentic AI tools to analyze on‑site behavior, to understand how consumers engage and where conversion opportunities exist. Our major initiative is agentic AI and search: how do we show up where consumers already are? Examples include chat and platforms like Claude. We haven’t fully systematized workflows yet, but we’re using AI primarily to model consumer behavior.
\n\nQ: What is the history of the company and its growth? Who are your competitors?
\n\nThe brand has grown rapidly and internationally. Founded in Asia, it now operates across the UK, Australia, Europe, Canada, Korea, China, and the U.S. In the U.S., we focus on core basics customers can style to express their identity — tees, denim, and wardrobe essentials. Primary competitors include H&M, Gap, and Zara. I also see Quince as an emerging competitor: they’re gaining traction with Gen Z on search platforms and scaling quickly, even if their social creative isn’t yet top tier. We position the company as a quality brand, not a value or discount label. We deliver consistent, high‑quality products at accessible prices. Basics remain our core strength, and winterwear is a growing segment, seasonal but expanding in demand and assortment. We aim to keep winning on quality. Some peers like H&M and Zara have dipped; Gap appears to be recovering. Consumers choose us because they know what to expect.
\n\nQ: What is your biggest challenge right now?
\n\nFinding ways to scale the lower funnel. Although I work across brand and performance, the hardest part is overcoming diminishing returns and continuing to drive efficient, high‑performing conversions at scale.
\n\nQ: From a digital perspective, what platforms or products are you hoping to bring in that are new or innovative?
\n\nIt’s less about a single platform and more about presence and content. Fashion brands win when influencer and user‑generated content saturate channels. When I joined, we weren’t doing much on TikTok, now we are, but we still need more. We have a large opportunity to grow reach; closing that gap versus competitors means being everywhere with compelling content. The consumer should tell the story for us. Fashion scales when consumers share the brand experience, not just the brand itself. Brands can rise or fall quickly, look at recent rapid exits in CPG. Longevity is possible, but the speed of change is real.
\n\nQ: Are you considering a membership model or category expansion?
\n\nI don’t have full visibility into roadmap decisions, but I see significant emphasis on awareness and category growth. Examples like major naming‑rights investments show a push to raise brand profile.
\n\nQ: What’s your background and story?
\n\nI started building internal digital programs early in my career, then led e‑commerce at Forever 21 and scaled a specialty brand from $30k to ~$30M in three years before exiting after Series B. I’ve served as a fractional head of growth for large brands, consulted for growth‑stage companies, and founded an agency and coaching business. My work spans enterprise‑level consultancy and emerging e‑commerce brands, about 15 years of experience condensed.
\n\nQ: What motivated you to join the company?
\n\nAs a consultant, I joined because of the growth opportunity. The brand has relatively low awareness but high revenue, a clear opportunity to scale. The fundamentals are strong; the digital discipline needed focus. Since I joined, e‑commerce and retail performance have improved substantially.
\n\nQ: From a U.S. perspective, where is growth happening and where are you focused?
\n\nWe have 75 U.S. stores (and hundreds in Asia). The Northeast remains strong, and major cities are key. Texas is a strategic priority, winning there would unlock broader national growth. We’re thoughtful about store openings to ensure the right strategic fit.
\n\nWhat emerges is a clear tension shaping modern retail: the balance between scale and efficiency, awareness and conversion, brand and performance. As channels crowd and consumer behavior shifts, the advantage no longer comes from simply doing more but from doing it smarter.
\nFor David, the path forward is rooted in understanding the consumer more deeply, showing up where they already are, and building a brand experience that people want to share on their own. In a space where trends move fast and competition moves faster, the brands that endure will be the ones that stay consistent in quality, sharp in strategy, and relentless in adapting to change.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/521b747d-b3ff-44bf-958c-d6f4fddd014b.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "521b747d-b3ff-44bf-958c-d6f4fddd014b", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/scaling-retail-growth-in-a-saturated-digital-world", "memberId": "87aedccc-3992-4657-9baa-bccbe75ee68e", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 48 } }, { "wixId": "bba291dc-17b1-41a5-bcf8-cbc96fde74d3", "slug": "new-york-cmoroom-recap-april-22-2026-quality-meats", "title": "New York CMORoom Recap (April 22, 2026) @ Quality Meats", "deck": "Let’s talk about last night at Quality Meats… because something happened in that room. People showed up present.Real energy, real curiosity, and to-the-point conversations that kept building… they could have gone on forever. And that’s rare. This says everything about the NYC CMORoom community: intelligent, intentional, and deeply aware that the right connection at the right time can change everything. That’s what CMORoom is about. Not scale. Purpose-driven. Just putting the right people in...", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "Apr 23", "publishedAt": "2026-04-23 20:50:46.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/bba291dc-17b1-41a5-bcf8-cbc96fde74d3.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/bba291dc-17b1-41a5-bcf8-cbc96fde74d3.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_71ec85ff1f6b4349b02370febddede15~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "Let’s talk about last night at Quality Meats… because something happened in that room.
\n\nPeople showed up present.Real energy, real curiosity, and to-the-point conversations that kept building… they could have gone on forever. And that’s rare.
\n\nThis says everything about the NYC CMORoom community: intelligent, intentional, and deeply aware that the right connection at the right time can change everything.
\n\nThat’s what CMORoom is about. Not scale. Purpose-driven.
\n\nJust putting the right people in the right room and letting it happen. Thank you to everyone who brought that energy, and a special thank you to David Lorango for being our Guest of Honor. We appreciate the perspective and honesty you brought to the room!
\n\nThanks to our strategic partners from AdMedia, Tim and David, for providing the space for our community to grow.
\n\nNew York, we'll be back soon.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/bba291dc-17b1-41a5-bcf8-cbc96fde74d3.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "bba291dc-17b1-41a5-bcf8-cbc96fde74d3", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/new-york-cmoroom-recap-april-22-2026-quality-meats", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 49 } }, { "wixId": "58306ed5-5bb1-4a32-be21-6b25af5a469e", "slug": "liquid-death-didn-t-disrupt-water-it-disrupted-attention", "title": "Liquid Death Marketing Strategy: The Branding Case Study Every CMO Should Study", "deck": "Why did Liquid Death become one of the most talked-about brands in modern marketing? When most bottled water brands compete by communicating purity, health, and nature, Liquid Death chose a completely different path. Instead of blue labels and mountain imagery, it introduced tallboy cans, heavy metal-inspired branding, and a voice that felt more like an entertainment company than a beverage brand. At first glance, it looked like a gimmick. In reality, it became one of the most discussed...", "category": "brand spotlight", "categoryLabel": "Brand Spotlight", "categories": [ "brand spotlight" ], "dateLabel": "Apr 20", "publishedAt": "2026-04-20 16:37:02.000", "readTimeLabel": "3 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/58306ed5-5bb1-4a32-be21-6b25af5a469e.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/58306ed5-5bb1-4a32-be21-6b25af5a469e.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_bdc0c33ce47f493396c26ae1ec59b4b5~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_bdc0c33ce47f493396c26ae1ec59b4b5~mv2.jpg\")
When most bottled water brands compete by communicating purity, health, and nature, Liquid Death chose a completely different path.
\n\nInstead of blue labels and mountain imagery, it introduced tallboy cans, heavy metal-inspired branding, and a voice that felt more like an entertainment company than a beverage brand.
\n\nAt first glance, it looked like a gimmick.
\n\nIn reality, it became one of the most discussed branding strategies of the last decade.
\nThe biggest lesson isn't that Liquid Death sells water differently. It's that it solved one of marketing's biggest challenges.
\n\nHow do you get people to notice your brand in a category where everything looks the same?
\n\nWho Is Liquid Death?
\n\nLiquid Death is a canned water brand that launched with a simple idea: package water like beer and build a personality that people actually want to talk about.
\n\nRather than positioning itself as another premium water company, it built its identity around entertainment, humor, and cultural relevance.
\n\nThe result?
\n\nA brand that generated enormous earned media, social conversation, and consumer curiosity despite competing in one of the world's most commoditized product categories.
\n\nThe Problem With Modern Brand Categories
\n\nWalk into almost any supermarket and look at the bottled water aisle.
\n\nMost brands communicate the same things:
\nNone of these choices are wrong. The problem is that everyone makes the same choices. Eventually, best practices become industry conventions. Those conventions become invisible. The shelf becomes filled with products that are professionally designed but difficult to remember. That's the trap many categories fall into.
\nBrands optimize for fitting in instead of standing out.
\n\nLiquid Death Didn't Disrupt Water. It Disrupted Attention.
\n\nThis is where Liquid Death's marketing strategy becomes fascinating.
\n\nInstead of asking,
\n\"How can we design a better water brand?\"
\nthey asked,
\n\"How can we become impossible to ignore?\"
\n\nEverything, from the name and packaging to the tone of voice, was designed to interrupt expectations.
\nThe black can.
\nThe gothic typography.
\nThe outrageous campaigns.
\nNone of these decisions were random.
\nThey were all working toward a single objective: Earn attention before asking for preference. That's an important distinction. Consumers can't choose a brand they never notice.
\n\nGreat branding starts before advertising
\n\nMany marketing teams spend enormous effort optimizing:
\nAll important. But these only work after someone notices the brand. Liquid Death made the product itself the advertisement. The packaging creates curiosity before a single paid impression is served. That's a powerful reminder that sometimes the best marketing asset isn't an ad. It's the product experience itself.
\n\nBuilding a brand people want to share
\n\nAnother reason Liquid Death stands out is that it behaves more like a media company than a beverage company. Its campaigns are designed to entertain. Its social content invites participation. Its collaborations generate conversation. The product becomes something people enjoy posting, not just consuming.
\n\nIn today's attention economy, that distinction matters. People don't simply buy products. They share stories that say something about who they are.
\n\nConsistency builds brand memory
\n\nMany brands soften their identity as they grow. Liquid Death has largely resisted that temptation.
\nIts tone.
\nIts visual identity.
\nIts humor.
\nIts creative direction.
\nAll remain remarkably consistent. That consistency reinforces recognition and strengthens memory over time. Being different once creates curiosity. Being consistently different creates a brand.
\n\nWhat CMOs can learn from Liquid Death?
\n\nEvery industry has unwritten rules. The question is whether those rules actually help customers or simply help brands look similar. Liquid Death reminds us that category conventions aren't always competitive advantages. Sometimes they're limitations.
\n\nThree lessons every marketing leader can apply:
\n\n1. Distinctiveness matters before differentiation.
\nConsumers must notice your brand before they evaluate it.
\n\n2. Your product can become your best marketing channel.
\nPackaging, design, and experience often create stronger conversations than advertising alone.
\n\n3. Consistency compounds over time.
\nMemorable brands don't constantly reinvent themselves. They reinforce the same distinctive identity again and again.
\n\nLiquid Death didn't succeed because it sold better water. It succeeded because it challenged assumptions about how water should be marketed. That's a valuable lesson for every CMO.
\nWhen every competitor follows the same playbook, incremental improvements rarely create memorable brands. Sometimes the biggest competitive advantage isn't having a better product. It's having a point of view that's impossible to ignore.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/58306ed5-5bb1-4a32-be21-6b25af5a469e.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "58306ed5-5bb1-4a32-be21-6b25af5a469e", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/liquid-death-didn-t-disrupt-water-it-disrupted-attention", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 50 } }, { "wixId": "c63237d6-50c2-43b8-ae3c-b10b160a25e6", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-april-12-18-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (April 12-18, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. Sydney Sweeney x American Eagle: From Viral to Lasting Cultural Play American Eagle is extending its Sydney Sweeney partnership with “Syd for Short,” shifting from last year’s viral, controversy-driven moment to a more emotionally grounded message. By tapping into Gen Z’s desire to “turn down the noise,” the brand is evolving from one-off buzz to sustained cultural storytelling that blends relevance,...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Apr 17", "publishedAt": "2026-04-17 15:41:01.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/c63237d6-50c2-43b8-ae3c-b10b160a25e6.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/c63237d6-50c2-43b8-ae3c-b10b160a25e6.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_025bd8e08c3249a5837aad12fd050a59~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nAmerican Eagle is extending its Sydney Sweeney partnership with “Syd for Short,” shifting from last year’s viral, controversy-driven moment to a more emotionally grounded message. By tapping into Gen Z’s desire to “turn down the noise,” the brand is evolving from one-off buzz to sustained cultural storytelling that blends relevance, celebrity, and full-funnel impact.
\n(Marketing Dive)
\n\nWPP hired Anne-Isabelle Choueiri from Estée Lauder as Chief Transformation Officer, with responsibility tied to its Elevate28 turnaround plan. Adweek says she will help design and embed the operations behind WPP’s three-year growth strategy, with AI and tech integration central to the role.
\n(AdWeek)
\n\nLeading organizations, including those highlighted by IBM and Forbes, are moving away from traditional quarterly campaign planning in favor of continuous, autonomous marketing systems. These systems use AI to adjust messaging and offers in real time based on live buying signals, effectively creating a \"perpetual motion\" growth engine. Marketing executives are being urged to \"remove the engines\" of their legacy processes and rebuild them as living systems that are directly accountable for immediate revenue acceleration rather than just brand awareness.
\n(Forbes)
\n\nOn April 16, Bud Light and Post Malone announced the \"Bud Light x Posty Co. Minis\" (7-oz bottles), celebrating a decade-long partnership. The launch highlights a shift toward \"portion-control\" marketing and cold-retention packaging as brands look for physical product innovations to combat tightening consumer budgets.
\n(USA Today)
\n\nRunning from April 12–18, Dollar General’s massive beauty event with L’Oréal and Procter & Gamble underscores a dominant 2026 trend: the \"functional but fragile\" consumer. Marketing leaders are watching this closely as value-based pricing becomes the primary driver for brand loyalty in the current economic climate.
\n(Retail Dive)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/c63237d6-50c2-43b8-ae3c-b10b160a25e6.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "c63237d6-50c2-43b8-ae3c-b10b160a25e6", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-april-12-18-2026", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 51 } }, { "wixId": "65d3ec98-70eb-4e2e-9d32-ea17d91c9366", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-april-5-11-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (April 5-11, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. Live Events Become Marketing Goldmine as Experiences Scale From Coachella to global tours, entertainment events are increasingly monetized through brand partnerships and immersive experiences. Marketers are investing heavily in culture-driven moments to build deeper audience connection. (LA Times) Media Mega-Deal Signals More Consolidation Ahead Paramount Skydance is nearing a $24B funding deal tied to a...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Apr 10", "publishedAt": "2026-04-10 19:17:47.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/65d3ec98-70eb-4e2e-9d32-ea17d91c9366.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/65d3ec98-70eb-4e2e-9d32-ea17d91c9366.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_ee5d2f3abbac494db7cf6fb5a3bf72de~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nFrom Coachella to global tours, entertainment events are increasingly monetized through brand partnerships and immersive experiences. Marketers are investing heavily in culture-driven moments to build deeper audience connection.
\n(LA Times)
\n\nParamount Skydance is nearing a $24B funding deal tied to a major acquisition, highlighting continued consolidation across media and entertainment. For marketers, this signals fewer, more powerful platforms controlling content and distribution.
\n(New York Post)
\n\nVerizon is pushing beyond traditional advertising with a cinematic short film starring Connor Storrie and directed by Nia DaCosta, using horror-style storytelling and a comedic twist to showcase its network reliability. The nearly five-minute spot has quickly gained traction online, signaling a broader shift toward “brand as content,” where culturally relevant storytelling drives engagement and shareability over standard ad formats.
\n(Harper's Bazaar)
\n\nIn a multi-screen, sound-off world, ad performance increasingly depends on clarity and accessibility—think captions, overlays, and fast comprehension. Human-centered design is becoming a measurable driver of engagement and ROI.
\n(Equaity)
\n\nParamount+ is rolling out a major slate of original content and bundling with Showtime to strengthen its position in the streaming battle. The move reflects a broader industry push toward content volume, bundled value, and diversified audience targeting.
\n(Decider)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/65d3ec98-70eb-4e2e-9d32-ea17d91c9366.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "65d3ec98-70eb-4e2e-9d32-ea17d91c9366", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-april-5-11-2026", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 52 } }, { "wixId": "149a76e2-9a65-437f-90f7-43391651fffb", "slug": "minneapolis-cmoroom-recap-april-7-2026-spoon-stable", "title": "Minneapolis CMORoom Recap (April 7, 2026) @ Spoon & Stable", "deck": "A Night That Reminded Us Why We Do This Last night was a blast. To everyone who showed up, brought the energy, and fully owned the room, thank you. You’re exactly why we love Minneapolis. The level of talent, the diversity of industries, and the depth of perspective in the room made one thing clear: the impact of what we do in marketing is real, and it’s felt. What stood out most wasn’t just the conversations, but how honest they were. The kind of unfiltered takes and new connections that...", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "Apr 8", "publishedAt": "2026-04-08 19:42:14.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/149a76e2-9a65-437f-90f7-43391651fffb.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/149a76e2-9a65-437f-90f7-43391651fffb.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3f6999_71ec85ff1f6b4349b02370febddede15~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "A Night That Reminded Us Why We Do This
\n\nLast night was a blast.
\n\nTo everyone who showed up, brought the energy, and fully owned the room, thank you. You’re exactly why we love Minneapolis. The level of talent, the diversity of industries, and the depth of perspective in the room made one thing clear: the impact of what we do in marketing is real, and it’s felt.
\n\nWhat stood out most wasn’t just the conversations, but how honest they were. The kind of unfiltered takes and new connections that remind you why you chose this industry in the first place, and why getting in a room together still matters.
\n\nA few themes carried throughout the night:
\nThat’s the purpose of CMORoom. Creating a space where marketing leaders can step out of the day-to-day, speak candidly, and walk away feeling more equipped than when they walked in.
\n\nA special thank you to David Ruiz and AdMedia for sponsoring the evening. Their expertise in driving incremental paid search revenue and supporting brand growth continues to make a meaningful impact for the brands they partner with.
\n\nIf you were there, you felt it.
\n\nIf you weren’t, we hope to see you next time.
\n\nFollow along on LinkedIn to stay updated on upcoming CMORoom events, check out the recap post (photos included), and share with others who should be in the room.
\n\nWe’ll see you soon.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/149a76e2-9a65-437f-90f7-43391651fffb.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "149a76e2-9a65-437f-90f7-43391651fffb", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/minneapolis-cmoroom-recap-april-7-2026-spoon-stable", "memberId": "5c30618d-5159-4def-9f18-d5f5e47f4e61", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 53 } }, { "wixId": "012d8849-fe37-4707-b1a5-86ada40159eb", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-march-22-28-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (March 22-28, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. AI Search Reshapes Visibility and Ad Inventory Google continues pushing AI-first search experiences, accelerating zero-click behavior and compressing traditional ad inventory. As discovery shifts into AI-generated results, marketers will need to rethink how intent is captured—and where value is created. (Search Engine Land / The Information) Meta Leans Further Into Fully Automated Advertising Meta...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Mar 27", "publishedAt": "2026-03-27 15:42:52.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/012d8849-fe37-4707-b1a5-86ada40159eb.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/012d8849-fe37-4707-b1a5-86ada40159eb.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_679862c1ce954a0f80cc295f6c159cc8~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\nGoogle continues pushing AI-first search experiences, accelerating zero-click behavior and compressing traditional ad inventory. As discovery shifts into AI-generated results, marketers will need to rethink how intent is captured—and where value is created. (Search Engine Land / The Information)
\n\nMeta expanded its Advantage+ suite with deeper automation across creative and targeting, signaling a continued move toward input-driven performance where algorithmic optimization replaces manual campaign control. (Adweek / Meta)
\n\nAmazon’s latest DSP enhancements allow advertisers to activate shopper data across the open web, expanding retail media beyond owned properties and increasing competition with traditional programmatic channels. (Digiday / Ad Age)
\n\nYouTube introduced new shoppable ad experiences on connected TV, tightening the loop between awareness and conversion within streaming environments and reinforcing its position in performance-driven video. (Variety / YouTube Ads)
\n\nU.S. and EU regulators are signaling increased scrutiny on AI deployment and data practices across major platforms, pointing to potential changes in how advertisers approach targeting, compliance, and measurement. (Reuters / Financial Times)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/012d8849-fe37-4707-b1a5-86ada40159eb.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "012d8849-fe37-4707-b1a5-86ada40159eb", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-march-22-28-2026", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 54 } }, { "wixId": "647c1215-8927-4b36-b252-ae86cae49dbd", "slug": "boston-cmoroom-recap-march-10-2026-ostra", "title": "Boston CMORoom Recap (March 10, 2026) @ Ostra", "deck": "It was so inspiring bringing together such a forward thinking group of marketing leaders from all industries together last night. A few themes consistently surfaced in our conversation: the importance of identifying recurring revenue opportunities through thoughtful cross-sell and upsell strategies, and the role CRM data mining plays in uncovering those opportunities. We also discussed how the most effective organizations treat brand and performance marketing as complementary forces rather...", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "Mar 11", "publishedAt": "2026-03-11 19:41:46.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/647c1215-8927-4b36-b252-ae86cae49dbd.jpeg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/647c1215-8927-4b36-b252-ae86cae49dbd.jpeg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_c9aaac849dec490895b2177ed298278a~mv2.jpeg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "It was so inspiring bringing together such a forward thinking group of marketing leaders from all industries together last night. A few themes consistently surfaced in our conversation: the importance of identifying recurring revenue opportunities through thoughtful cross-sell and upsell strategies, and the role CRM data mining plays in uncovering those opportunities. We also discussed how the most effective organizations treat brand and performance marketing as complementary forces rather than separate efforts, using both to drive sustained growth. Several leaders emphasized the need to truly analyze customer data—not just look for a transaction, but understand behavior and intent—so first-party data can be maximized to deepen relationships and expand lifetime value. protein and vitamin-based products continue to dominate industry momentum.
\n\nFollow us on LinkedIn to stay in touch about upcoming CMORoom gatherings and stay connected with others in the group. if you haven't already, share and like our Boston post. A link to all the photos are also in the post.
\n\nLast but not least, a special thanks to Andy Cotten and David R. Ruiz who represented AdMedia last night. As you saw by those that applauded them, they are true experts at uncovering incremental growth through paid search. Pls save their emails, follow-up to learn more. They will reach out as well to discuss opportunities to support your brands.
\n\nBoston, we will be back. I’m already counting down the days. I look forward to seeing you all again soon when we're back!
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/647c1215-8927-4b36-b252-ae86cae49dbd.jpeg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "647c1215-8927-4b36-b252-ae86cae49dbd", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/boston-cmoroom-recap-march-10-2026-ostra", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 55 } }, { "wixId": "81a47928-525b-4d73-a52d-4960b1010639", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-2026-feb-22-28-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup (Feb 22-28, 2026)", "deck": "One news brief. One weekly dose. Essential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next. 🤖 AI-Driven Advertising Tests Expand with Retail and Enterprise Partners OpenAI has begun testing advertising inside ChatGPT in the United States with major retail partners including Target, Adobe, Williams-Sonoma, and Albertsons. These early pilots aim to explore how contextually relevant ads can appear alongside AI responses during product discovery moments. (PYMNTS) 🔎 Google Accelerates AI-Powered...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Feb 27", "publishedAt": "2026-02-27 20:49:51.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/81a47928-525b-4d73-a52d-4960b1010639.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/81a47928-525b-4d73-a52d-4960b1010639.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_6caac21855e4443e9826ed70eea0f6ab~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "One news brief. One weekly dose.
\nEssential news that makes a mark and shapes what’s next.
\n\n🤖 AI-Driven Advertising Tests Expand with Retail and Enterprise Partners
\nOpenAI has begun testing advertising inside ChatGPT in the United States with major retail partners including Target, Adobe, Williams-Sonoma, and Albertsons. These early pilots aim to explore how contextually relevant ads can appear alongside AI responses during product discovery moments. (PYMNTS)
\n\n🔎 Google Accelerates AI-Powered Commerce and Conversational Ad Formats
\nGoogle is pushing its agent-driven future for search and commerce that embeds advertising deeper into AI-mediated experiences. New formats within AI Mode and support for seamless shopping journeys reflect a shift toward AI-assisted discovery and conversion across Search and YouTube. (Search Engine Land)
\n\n💬 AI Advertising Inside Chat and Trust Signals Take Center Stage
\nAs AI platforms explore ad integration inside chat interfaces, industry analysis highlights the challenge of balancing monetization with user trust. Experts warn that blending ads into conversational experiences could impact user behavior and brand perception. (MarTech.org)
\n\n💰 Big Tech’s AI Investment Surge Continues
\nInvestments from major tech firms — including Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Alphabet — are expected to total roughly $650 billion in AI infrastructure and tools this year, underscoring broad confidence in AI as a core driver of future marketing technology and consumer engagement. (Campaign)
\n\n🛍️ AI-Mediated Discovery Alters Search Behavior
\nGoogle has introduced conversational shopping ads inside AI Mode that reach tens of millions of daily users, signaling that AI modes of search and discovery are becoming key channels where marketers must adapt creative formats and measurement strategies. (MarketingProfs)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/81a47928-525b-4d73-a52d-4960b1010639.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "81a47928-525b-4d73-a52d-4960b1010639", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-2026-feb-22-28-2026", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 56 } }, { "wixId": "ec257c12-36c6-404a-a2b7-d117edeaf175", "slug": "cmoroom-los-angeles-recap-feb-26-2026-redbird", "title": "CMORoom Los Angeles Recap (Feb 26, 2026) @ Redbird", "deck": "Los Angeles CMORoom delivered! The LA community is truly one of a kind. Every leader in that room brings perspective, candor, and real-world experience — and that’s what makes this community authentic and powerful. Between bites and beverages, the conversations covered everything from CFO/CMO budget alignment to athlete influencers and reaching new audiences, to the rapid shifts in consumer behavior reshaping strategy. MANSCAPED’s Lawn Mower trimmers came up. Fortnite (yes, including the Kim...", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "Feb 27", "publishedAt": "2026-02-27 20:10:14.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/ec257c12-36c6-404a-a2b7-d117edeaf175.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/ec257c12-36c6-404a-a2b7-d117edeaf175.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_ff21bfd85bcc4b8ca0d8ec8992aba0f3~mv2.jpeg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "Los Angeles CMORoom delivered!
\n\nThe LA community is truly one of a kind. Every leader in that room brings perspective, candor, and real-world experience — and that’s what makes this community authentic and powerful.
\n\nBetween bites and beverages, the conversations covered everything from CFO/CMO budget alignment to athlete influencers and reaching new audiences, to the rapid shifts in consumer behavior reshaping strategy. MANSCAPED’s Lawn Mower trimmers came up. Fortnite (yes, including the Kim Kardashian skin) sparked debate. Brands like Apple and Zillow made their way into the dialogue. Nothing was off-limits — and that’s what made it meaningful.
\n\nA special thank you to our co-host and CMORoom champion of the night, Sarah, who has a way of naturally elevating the room and bringing energy to every exchange.
\n\nIt was a powerful night of connection and conversation. I hope everyone left feeling challenged, inspired, and reminded of why being in the room matters.
\n\nMissed this one? Join us in a city near you.
\n\n#LosAngeles #LA #CMORoom #CMO #MarketingLeaders #BrandLeaders #MarketingCommunity
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/ec257c12-36c6-404a-a2b7-d117edeaf175.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "ec257c12-36c6-404a-a2b7-d117edeaf175", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-los-angeles-recap-feb-26-2026-redbird", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [ "losangeles", "la", "cmoroom", "cmo", "marketingleaders", "brandleaders", "marketingcommunity" ], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 57 } }, { "wixId": "2803798a-4170-4185-9204-458576b57577", "slug": "cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-2026-feb-15-21-2026", "title": "CMORoom Weekly News Roundup 2026 (Feb 15-21, 2026)", "deck": "OpenAI and Microsoft deepen AI commercialization push across enterprise tools Microsoft expanded AI copilots across Dynamics, Power Platform, and Ads, while OpenAI rolled out new enterprise features focused on workflow automation and data security—signaling faster AI adoption inside marketing, sales, and performance teams. (Microsoft / OpenAI) Retail media heats up as Amazon, Walmart, and Target roll out new measurement tools Amazon Ads and Walmart Connect introduced expanded closed-loop...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Feb 20", "publishedAt": "2026-02-20 22:43:17.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/2803798a-4170-4185-9204-458576b57577.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/2803798a-4170-4185-9204-458576b57577.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_a455d8f6d5cc4774a79c530391703d69~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "OpenAI and Microsoft deepen AI commercialization push across enterprise tools
\nMicrosoft expanded AI copilots across Dynamics, Power Platform, and Ads, while OpenAI rolled out new enterprise features focused on workflow automation and data security—signaling faster AI adoption inside marketing, sales, and performance teams. (Microsoft / OpenAI)
\n\nRetail media heats up as Amazon, Walmart, and Target roll out new measurement tools
\nAmazon Ads and Walmart Connect introduced expanded closed-loop attribution and in-store + online measurement upgrades, while Target sharpened Roundel’s data partnerships—raising the bar for performance transparency in retail media buys. (Ad Age / Digiday)
\n\nGoogle tests AI-powered search ads placements inside conversational results
\nGoogle began limited tests of ads embedded within AI-generated search experiences, creating new inventory for performance marketers while raising questions around intent signals, placement control, and attribution. (Search Engine Land / The Information)
\n\nNetflix accelerates ad tier expansion with new targeting and formats
\nNetflix added new interactive ad formats and expanded first-party targeting options tied to viewing behavior, giving advertisers more performance-oriented ways to activate within premium streaming inventory. (Variety / Adweek)
\n\nApple tightens privacy rules again, reshaping attribution for mobile advertisers
\nApple previewed additional SKAdNetwork and privacy sandbox changes that further restrict cross-app tracking—forcing mobile growth teams to lean harder into modeled conversion data, creative testing velocity, and first-party signals. (TechCrunch / The Verge)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/2803798a-4170-4185-9204-458576b57577.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "2803798a-4170-4185-9204-458576b57577", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-weekly-news-roundup-2026-feb-15-21-2026", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 58 } }, { "wixId": "70a0a9ad-aff2-41b6-b5bb-dd5a5afba144", "slug": "cmoroom-dallas-bistro31-feb-17-2026", "title": "CMORoom Dallas @ Bistro31 (Feb 17, 2026) Recap", "deck": "Dallas showed up! Bistro 31 set the backdrop, but the room drove the night. Thank you to everyone who made time for real conversation and real connection. The perspectives were thoughtful, the dialogue was candid, and the relationships felt intentional — exactly what CMORoom is built for. This dinner was a reminder of the value of getting out of inboxes and into the same room. When leaders can pressure-test ideas face-to-face, the takeaways hit different. “Marry, Kiss, Kill” sparked some of...", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "Feb 19", "publishedAt": "2026-02-19 22:09:14.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/70a0a9ad-aff2-41b6-b5bb-dd5a5afba144.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/70a0a9ad-aff2-41b6-b5bb-dd5a5afba144.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_28042814d31746e3a7efb7857453075e~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "Dallas showed up!
\n\nBistro 31 set the backdrop, but the room drove the night. Thank you to everyone who made time for real conversation and real connection. The perspectives were thoughtful, the dialogue was candid, and the relationships felt intentional — exactly what CMORoom is built for.
\n\nThis dinner was a reminder of the value of getting out of inboxes and into the same room. When leaders can pressure-test ideas face-to-face, the takeaways hit different.
\n\n“Marry, Kiss, Kill” sparked some of the best moments of the night — killing vanity metrics and AI fakes, kissing smart AI experiments, and marrying consumer behaviors that actually convert.
\n\nAppreciate everyone who helped make Dallas CMORoom a meaningful night of ideas, insight, and connection.
\n\nMissed this one? See where we’re headed next:
\nhttps://www.cmoroom.com/events
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/70a0a9ad-aff2-41b6-b5bb-dd5a5afba144.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "70a0a9ad-aff2-41b6-b5bb-dd5a5afba144", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-dallas-bistro31-feb-17-2026", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 59 } }, { "wixId": "67705d86-5558-4cbc-b091-ca0c72b6eb6c", "slug": "cmoroom-little-sparrow-feb-17-2026-recap", "title": "CMORoom Atlanta @ Little Sparrow (Feb 17, 2026) Recap", "deck": "Thank you all for stepping away from the daily noise and changing up your routine to join us for the evening. It never ceases to amaze me how connections surface in every CMORoom—some of you uncovered ties that went back years, and others more recent, yet overlapped in the wildest way. Everyone made new connections last night. That's what we love about the CMORoom - the power of networking is real. Playing Marry, Kiss, Kill from a marketing and digital lens was so. much. It's not shocking...", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "Feb 18", "publishedAt": "2026-02-18 21:32:57.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/67705d86-5558-4cbc-b091-ca0c72b6eb6c.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/67705d86-5558-4cbc-b091-ca0c72b6eb6c.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_cccc02ca9955474bb08d78bb56225869~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "Thank you all for stepping away from the daily noise and changing up your routine to join us for the evening. It never ceases to amaze me how connections surface in every CMORoom—some of you uncovered ties that went back years, and others more recent, yet overlapped in the wildest way.
\n\nEveryone made new connections last night. That's what we love about the CMORoom - the power of networking is real.
\n\nPlaying Marry, Kiss, Kill from a marketing and digital lens was so. much. It's not shocking that AI was on everyones list as one of the three. Melissa Humphrey nailed it: “Before performance marketing was the hype, companies were actually focused on building strong brands.” Her point left us all thinking.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/67705d86-5558-4cbc-b091-ca0c72b6eb6c.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "67705d86-5558-4cbc-b091-ca0c72b6eb6c", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-little-sparrow-feb-17-2026-recap", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 60 } }, { "wixId": "644e8e13-99ec-4d0d-99bd-38909d1b7452", "slug": "san-francisco-2026-recap", "title": "CMORoom San Francisco @ Prospect (February 12, 2026) Recap", "deck": "San Francisco showed up — and delivered! We went around the table sharing favorite Super Bowl ads, real takes on AI, and where things are heading across data, design, and marketing. The conversation was open, honest, and actually useful. From how teams are using AI to grow smarter, to how brands are handling performance in a more complicated landscape, there were plenty of practical insights to take back to the office. Even better? Real connections happen when CMOs and senior leaders can talk...", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "Feb 13", "publishedAt": "2026-02-13 19:34:03.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/644e8e13-99ec-4d0d-99bd-38909d1b7452.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/644e8e13-99ec-4d0d-99bd-38909d1b7452.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_ce33d6c208e94fdf9f6e7469c6e01753~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "San Francisco showed up — and delivered!
\n\nWe went around the table sharing favorite Super Bowl ads, real takes on AI, and where things are heading across data, design, and marketing. The conversation was open, honest, and actually useful.
\n\nFrom how teams are using AI to grow smarter, to how brands are handling performance in a more complicated landscape, there were plenty of practical insights to take back to the office. Even better? Real connections happen when CMOs and senior leaders can talk openly — no panels, no pitches.
\n\nBig thanks to everyone who joined us at Prospect for the great energy and thoughtful conversation.
\n\nMissed this one? More CMORoom dinners are coming up.
\nCheck out upcoming events: https://www.cmoroom.com/events
\n\n#CMORoom #CMO #MarketingLeaders #SanFrancisco #MarketingLeadership #AIinMarketing #BrandStrategy #Networking
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/644e8e13-99ec-4d0d-99bd-38909d1b7452.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "644e8e13-99ec-4d0d-99bd-38909d1b7452", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/san-francisco-2026-recap", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [ "cmoroom", "cmo", "marketingleaders", "sanfrancisco", "marketingleadership", "aiinmarketing", "brandstrategy", "networking" ], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 61 } }, { "wixId": "9bba8eb5-bbd6-4d31-98a2-9f6b9a001418", "slug": "cmoroom-manhatta-jan-10-2026", "title": "CMORoom @ Manhatta (Jan 10, 2026) Recap", "deck": "What an incredible evening at CMORoom in NYC! To our longtime champions and first-time guests: the night was special because you showed up ready to connect, share real perspectives, and enjoy great conversation over dinner. Thank you for being part of it. And yes — Manhatta absolutely delivered on the views and the vibe. A special thank you to Robyn for joining us as our VIP guest and for the powerful reminder that community matters. We all need spaces where we can bring our authentic selves,...", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "Feb 11", "publishedAt": "2026-02-11 19:09:32.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/9bba8eb5-bbd6-4d31-98a2-9f6b9a001418.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/9bba8eb5-bbd6-4d31-98a2-9f6b9a001418.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_a120ec394a2d4b428f9e2689ac1c44dd~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "What an incredible evening at CMORoom in NYC!
\n\nTo our longtime champions and first-time guests: the night was special because you showed up ready to connect, share real perspectives, and enjoy great conversation over dinner. Thank you for being part of it. And yes — Manhatta absolutely delivered on the views and the vibe.
\n\nA special thank you to Robyn for joining us as our VIP guest and for the powerful reminder that community matters. We all need spaces where we can bring our authentic selves, lean in, and learn from one another. That’s exactly what CMORoom is here to create.
\n\n• Super Bowl ads & media plays — favorites included Manscaped, Instacart, and Novartis
\n• AI in organizations — how teams are using it internally and externally (and how to keep it from becoming the “monster at the table”)
\n• 2026 goals — unique priorities, with a shared focus on growth, clarity, and impact
\n\nHuge thanks to Melissa Anderson, President of Search.com, and Cameron MacMillan of AdMedia for representing last night. As the room made clear, they’re experts at uncovering incremental paid search revenue — we’ll be following up with brands to explore opportunities to support your growth.
\n\nWant more visibility in the CMORoom Spotlight? We’re launching CMORoom Live (our podcast) in April and publishing Q&A editorials featuring members of our community. If you’re interested in being featured, request an interview here:
\nhttps://www.cmoroom.com/spotlights
\n\nDrop your photos from last night in the comments 👇
\nSee upcoming CMORoom dinners and events:
\nhttps://www.cmoroom.com/events
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/9bba8eb5-bbd6-4d31-98a2-9f6b9a001418.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "9bba8eb5-bbd6-4d31-98a2-9f6b9a001418", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-manhatta-jan-10-2026", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 62 } }, { "wixId": "b86e6087-4409-4fc9-a205-863328f22b71", "slug": "cmoroom-proudly-welcomes-vip-guest-speaker-robyn-streisand", "title": "CMORoom Proudly Welcomes VIP Guest Speaker, Robyn Streisand", "deck": "CMORoom is excited to share that Robyn Streisand , Founder, CEO, and die-hard entrepreneur, will open the evening with special welcome remarks as our VIP guest. Robyn is an award-winning visionary, leader, and catalyst for powerful connection and growth. At this event, Robyn is putting it all on the table—from the bold strategies behind building Fortune-level brands to the real-world lessons, breakthroughs, and challenges that have defined her journey. Don’t miss this opportunity to be in...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Feb 9", "publishedAt": "2026-02-09 16:08:05.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/b86e6087-4409-4fc9-a205-863328f22b71.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/b86e6087-4409-4fc9-a205-863328f22b71.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_7721bea3a2104bc2ac483e1f5730ff65~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "CMORoom is excited to share that Robyn Streisand, Founder, CEO, and die-hard entrepreneur, will open the evening with special welcome remarks as our VIP guest. Robyn is an award-winning visionary, leader, and catalyst for powerful connection and growth.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_7721bea3a2104bc2ac483e1f5730ff65~mv2.png\")
At this event, Robyn is putting it all on the table—from the bold strategies behind building Fortune-level brands to the real-world lessons, breakthroughs, and challenges that have defined her journey.
\n\nDon’t miss this opportunity to be in the CMORoom tomorrow, Feb. 10 @ Manhatta - 6-9 PM EST
\n\nSeats are limited, and the table is filling fast!
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/b86e6087-4409-4fc9-a205-863328f22b71.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "b86e6087-4409-4fc9-a205-863328f22b71", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-proudly-welcomes-vip-guest-speaker-robyn-streisand", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 63 } }, { "wixId": "b3cf6b17-a654-4f3e-b025-a85f17f1bc93", "slug": "cmoroom-news-roundup-week-of-january-25-2026", "title": "CMORoom News Roundup (Week of January 25, 2026)", "deck": "Meta’s ad machine keeps accelerating while AI spend explodes Meta reported $59.89B in Q4 2025 revenue, including $58.14B in ad revenue (+24% YoY), and is guiding to $115B–$135B in 2026 capex—signaling even more AI-fueled changes to targeting, measurement, and creative workflows. (The Wall Street Journal / Business Insider) TikTok’s U.S. ownership reset is now official—and advertisers should expect changes TikTok finalized a new U.S.-based joint venture structure: Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jan 30", "publishedAt": "2026-01-30 18:42:54.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/b3cf6b17-a654-4f3e-b025-a85f17f1bc93.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/b3cf6b17-a654-4f3e-b025-a85f17f1bc93.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_89ca189e23a1471583572d9aa288aeb9~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "🥂 CMORoom Chicago kicked off 2026 in a big way.
\n\nLast night’s CMORoom dinner at Adalina Prime was one of our most well-attended gatherings yet—and a powerful reminder of why this community exists.
\n\nA defining moment came from Clive Sirkin, who perfectly captured the spirit of the room: “The highest return on investment is investing in relationships.”
\n\nThe conversation flowed exactly how CMORoom is meant to—honest, executive-level, and forward-looking:
\n\n→ AI truths vs. myths—and where leaders should actually be paying attention
\n→ The reality of transformation amid shifting macro and consumer pressures
\n→ How modern search strategy has evolved beyond keywords into systems, signals, and sophistication
\n→ Why community, trust, and shared insight still outperform tactics alone
\n\nGrateful for the perspectives, the energy, and the relationships built. Chicago set the tone—2026 is officially underway.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/15dcdc3b-9c8a-4c6f-a6a0-5e8bab426681.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "15dcdc3b-9c8a-4c6f-a6a0-5e8bab426681", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/photos-recap-from-cmoroom-adalina-prime-jan-29-2026", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 65 } }, { "wixId": "4b9f7700-511f-4ade-af0f-25c76a7bce79", "slug": "cmoroom-news-insider-1-26-26", "title": "CMORoom News Insider; 1.26.26", "deck": "1. Get ready for the AI ad-pocalypse Generative AI is rapidly reshaping advertising, lowering production costs and flooding feeds with AI-generated ads, but also sparking backlash about creativity, authenticity, and consumer reactions. Some brands embrace AI, others push back, and a counter-movement celebrating imperfect, human creativity is emerging. Source: https://tinyurl.com/AI-Ads-Verge 2. TikTok launches new ad solutions targeting entertainment marketers TikTok is expanding its ad...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jan 26", "publishedAt": "2026-01-26 15:32:29.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/4b9f7700-511f-4ade-af0f-25c76a7bce79.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/4b9f7700-511f-4ade-af0f-25c76a7bce79.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/faba2d_a8a18db4b311406f9b9b595de91e6671~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "\n1. Get ready for the AI ad-pocalypse
\nGenerative AI is rapidly reshaping advertising, lowering production costs and flooding feeds with AI-generated ads, but also sparking backlash about creativity, authenticity, and consumer reactions. Some brands embrace AI, others push back, and a counter-movement celebrating imperfect, human creativity is emerging.\nSource: https://tinyurl.com/AI-Ads-Verge\n
\nTikTok is expanding its ad offerings with Streaming Ads and New Title Launch tools, designed to help entertainment brands deliver personalized, platform-native content and drive subscriptions and ticket sales.\nSource: https://tinyurl.com/TikTok-Entertainment-Ads\n
\nPinterest appointed new top business and marketing leads to accelerate growth as an AI-driven shopping destination. These moves signal a stronger focus on advertising, brand strategy, and Gen Z engagement as the platform evolves. \nSource: https://tinyurl.com/Pinterest-New-CMOs\n
\nA recent billboard and short film campaign has sparked criticism for leaning into outdated gender tropes and shock tactics, triggering industry conversation about when provocative advertising crosses the line and what authentic empowerment looks like.\nSource: https://tinyurl.com/David-Protein-Ad\n
\nThe blockbuster collaboration between Salesforce and YouTube megacreator MrBeast ahead of Super Bowl 60 shows how brands are partnering with cultural stars for buzzworthy big-game creative, a key trend in experiential and social-first marketing.\nSource: https://tinyurl.com/MrBeast-SF-BowlAd
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "marketing trends and news", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/4b9f7700-511f-4ade-af0f-25c76a7bce79.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "4b9f7700-511f-4ade-af0f-25c76a7bce79", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmoroom-news-insider-1-26-26", "memberId": "f6a735fd-009b-4f83-b22e-9bf36c0dbb92", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 66 } }, { "wixId": "654e7328-1cb7-4dfa-a410-f32203b1ad46", "slug": "1-9-26-cmoroom-insider", "title": "1.9.26 CMORoom Insider", "deck": "This week’s CMORoom Weekly Roundup captures the ideas, innovations, and moments shaping what comes next. From CES 2026 showstoppers and the future of autonomous mobility to major shifts in ad tech, immersive brand activations, and standout entertainment marketing, these stories reflect how technology, creativity, and strategy are colliding as we head deeper into 2026. Here’s what caught our attention—and why it matters. 1. CES 2026 showstoppers: 10 top gadgets you have to see CES 2026 was...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jan 9", "publishedAt": "2026-01-09 16:14:30.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/654e7328-1cb7-4dfa-a410-f32203b1ad46.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/654e7328-1cb7-4dfa-a410-f32203b1ad46.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_69490f4662934358ba8b96249d0143b2~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "This week’s CMORoom Weekly Roundup captures the ideas, innovations, and moments shaping what comes next. From CES 2026 showstoppers and the future of autonomous mobility to major shifts in ad tech, immersive brand activations, and standout entertainment marketing, these stories reflect how technology, creativity, and strategy are colliding as we head deeper into 2026. Here’s what caught our attention—and why it matters.
\n\n1. CES 2026 showstoppers: 10 top gadgets you have to see CES 2026 was packed with moments that made people stop and stare. Some of the tech felt practical. Some of it felt a bit wild. These are the most talked-about gadgets, robots, and concepts that stole the show in Las Vegas. (Fox News) https://www.foxnews.com/tech/ces-2026-showstoppers-10-gadgets-you-have-see
\n\n2. Lucid, Nuro and Uber debut luxury robotaxi at CES 2026 Lucid, Nuro and Uber have unveiled the production-intent vehicles for their global robotaxi program and confirmed that autonomous on-road testing began last month, marking a major step toward a planned commercial launch in 2026. (CBTNews) https://www.cbtnews.com/lucid-nuro-uber-debut-robotaxi-at-ces-2026/
\n\n3. The 6 biggest ad tech stories of the year — and what they mean for 2026 The 2025 advertising ecosystem was a year of seismic change, and 2026 will feel its effects. Media buyers, brands, publishers and everyone in between must adapt as the industry reshapes new players, new rules and new tech just in time for the new year. (The Current) https://www.thecurrent.com/culture-marketing-strategy-6-ad-tech-ai-ctv-tv-measurement-google-stories-2026
\n\n4. Why Lego turned the Sphere into the Death Star to showcase innovation Crafted in partnership with Disney and Lucasfilm, the interactive activation at CES promoted the launch of Lego’s new Smart Play sets. On Jan. 7, the Lego Group recreated an iconic moment from “Star Wars,” transforming Sphere in Las Vegas into the Death Star and letting fans relive the film’s climax via an interactive experience. (Marketing Dive) https://www.marketingdive.com/news/why-lego-turned-the-sphere-into-the-death-star-to-showcase-innovation/808943/
\n\n5. How A24 and Timothée Chalamet dreamed big for the Marty Supreme marketing campaign A24’s Marty Supreme is living up to its namesake, proving to be one of the most eagerly anticipated films of the year. The film achieved the biggest per-theater average for a limited release in 2025, grossing $875,000 from 6 theaters in one weekend. (ADWEEK) https://www.adweek.com/convergent-tv/a24-timothee-chalamet-marty-supreme-marketing-campaign-dream-big/
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/654e7328-1cb7-4dfa-a410-f32203b1ad46.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "654e7328-1cb7-4dfa-a410-f32203b1ad46", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/1-9-26-cmoroom-insider", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 67 } }, { "wixId": "4e605b10-c39a-4546-a36a-98a3cf0ffe62", "slug": "12-29-25-cmoroom-insider", "title": "12.29.25 CMORoom Weekly Insider", "deck": "A blimp, Timothée Chalamet and a Wheaties box: Behind the 'Marty Supreme' marketing blitz A24's marketing strategy for \"Marty Supreme\" included flying a blimp over Los Angeles, releasing Wheaties boxes with Timothée Chalamet on them and exclusive merch. “Marty Supreme” represents A24’s biggest production budget to date, at about $60 million. The marketing cost though is widely believed to be less expensive than a traditional campaign because of its reliance more on unconventional stunts....", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Dec 29", "publishedAt": "2025-12-29 19:33:40.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/4e605b10-c39a-4546-a36a-98a3cf0ffe62.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/4e605b10-c39a-4546-a36a-98a3cf0ffe62.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_8d6a665c85c64b8cb0f4538bb8424c0f~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "A24's marketing strategy for \"Marty Supreme\" included flying a blimp over Los Angeles, releasing Wheaties boxes with Timothée Chalamet on them and exclusive merch. “Marty Supreme” represents A24’s biggest production budget to date, at about $60 million. The marketing cost though is widely believed to be less expensive than a traditional campaign because of its reliance more on unconventional stunts.
\n\n\n\nA series of December reports highlight a surge in M&A activity within the MarTech infrastructure space, including IBM’s acquisition of HashiCorp. For CMOs, this means the backend technology powering marketing automation is becoming more integrated and AI-resilient.
\n\nAdweek: 2025 M&A Deals in Media and Advertising
\n\nThe 2025 mandate for CMOs has shifted from creative storytelling to proving measurable commercial value. Boards now expect marketing leaders to act as cross-functional integrators who drive pipeline velocity and customer lifetime value through data-backed strategies.
\n\nCMO Trends 2025: AI & Budget Strategy
\n\nEnd of year isn't just about reflections and forecasts. We also bring you some news today that adtech giant The Trade Desk cut dozens of employees on Tuesday.
\n\nThe staff cuts spanned multiple teams, including sales and client services, according to two sources with direct knowledge, who spoke with Kendra Barnett on condition of anonymity.
\n\n\n\nA critical trend for 2025 is the official decline of the \"MQL obsession.\" Executives are prioritizing high-intent, revenue-ready opportunities over sheer database volume to align more closely with sales and improve organizational credibility.
\n\n", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "A24's marketing strategy for \"Marty Supreme\" included flying a blimp over Los An", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/4e605b10-c39a-4546-a36a-98a3cf0ffe62.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "4e605b10-c39a-4546-a36a-98a3cf0ffe62", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/12-29-25-cmoroom-insider", "memberId": "f6a735fd-009b-4f83-b22e-9bf36c0dbb92", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 68 } }, { "wixId": "e0d3e351-ee41-4958-8c02-585bc2ae34a3", "slug": "recap-from-cmoroom-atlanta-lazy-betty-11-20-25", "title": "Recap from CMORoom Atlanta @ Lazy Betty (11.20.25)", "deck": "", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "Nov 24", "publishedAt": "2025-11-24 18:47:07.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/e0d3e351-ee41-4958-8c02-585bc2ae34a3.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/e0d3e351-ee41-4958-8c02-585bc2ae34a3.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_15a843d76bdf4427b7efcccc77dc0f7a~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/e0d3e351-ee41-4958-8c02-585bc2ae34a3.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "e0d3e351-ee41-4958-8c02-585bc2ae34a3", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/recap-from-cmoroom-atlanta-lazy-betty-11-20-25", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 69 } }, { "wixId": "3fc0b6dd-da1c-4d92-8864-b022ade25f87", "slug": "recap-from-cmoroom-san-francisco-epic-steak-11-18-25", "title": "Recap from CMORoom San Francisco @ EPIC Steak (11.18.25)", "deck": "", "category": "event recap", "categoryLabel": "Event Recap", "categories": [ "event recap" ], "dateLabel": "Nov 24", "publishedAt": "2025-11-24 18:08:56.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/3fc0b6dd-da1c-4d92-8864-b022ade25f87.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/3fc0b6dd-da1c-4d92-8864-b022ade25f87.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_defd1750465a4503ae081c6a9d689f4a~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/3fc0b6dd-da1c-4d92-8864-b022ade25f87.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "3fc0b6dd-da1c-4d92-8864-b022ade25f87", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/recap-from-cmoroom-san-francisco-epic-steak-11-18-25", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 70 } }, { "wixId": "ae517c94-9d4b-48e5-ba5c-8231d46f745b", "slug": "11-4-25-news", "title": "11.4.25 CMORoom Weekly Insider", "deck": "Here's a look at what's been going on. What strikes your interest? Let us know!", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Nov 4", "publishedAt": "2025-11-04 19:25:56.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/ae517c94-9d4b-48e5-ba5c-8231d46f745b.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/ae517c94-9d4b-48e5-ba5c-8231d46f745b.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/faba2d_73f6bc230c694fc6b656c38d69e1a99f~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "Here's a look at what's been going on. What strikes your interest? Let us know!
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/ae517c94-9d4b-48e5-ba5c-8231d46f745b.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "ae517c94-9d4b-48e5-ba5c-8231d46f745b", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/11-4-25-news", "memberId": "f6a735fd-009b-4f83-b22e-9bf36c0dbb92", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 71 } }, { "wixId": "51a4fc47-1e20-4248-bba5-3c9bf78cfda7", "slug": "10-20-25-weekly-insider", "title": "10.20.25 CMORoom Weekly Insider", "deck": "🛍️ Macy's to Pilot Amazon Retail Ad Service Macy's is set to become the first major retailer to pilot the Amazon Retail Ad Service, extending Amazon.com 's sponsored product ads to the Macy's Media Network. This collaboration allows Macy's to partner with brands that may not meet its ad investment thresholds, giving Amazon a percentage of sales while Macy's handles fulfillment. The move marks an evolution in retail media, merging two large commerce ecosystems. Full story:...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Oct 20", "publishedAt": "2025-10-20 20:31:03.000", "readTimeLabel": "3 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/51a4fc47-1e20-4248-bba5-3c9bf78cfda7.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/51a4fc47-1e20-4248-bba5-3c9bf78cfda7.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/faba2d_6a5360e6bbbb4ef5b2c69313ed6b22cd~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/faba2d_6a5360e6bbbb4ef5b2c69313ed6b22cd~mv2.png\")
\n 🛍️ Macy's to Pilot Amazon Retail Ad Service
\nMacy's is set to become the first major retailer to pilot the Amazon Retail Ad Service, extending Amazon.com's sponsored product ads to the Macy's Media Network. This collaboration allows Macy's to partner with brands that may not meet its ad investment thresholds, giving Amazon a percentage of sales while Macy's handles fulfillment. The move marks an evolution in retail media, merging two large commerce ecosystems.
\n\nFull story: https://www.marsunited.com/retail-media-roundup-september-2025/
\n\n🦹 Brand Mascots Make a Comeback: Pillsbury Doughboy Leads the Way
\nThe Pillsbury Doughboy, the famously giggling baking mascot, was hailed as the \"standout brand mascot of 2025\" for reaching new heights in its advertising. This highlights a growing trend of brands revitalizing familiar mascots to connect with audiences through nostalgia and character-driven campaigns. The success of the campaign emphasizes the lasting power of memorable brand figures in a crowded media landscape.
\n\nFull story: https://advertisingweek.com/
\n\n🤖 TikTok Replaces Human Moderators with AI
\nTikTok began replacing its human moderators with AI-driven technology, a significant shift in its content moderation strategy. The move is aimed at increasing efficiency and scalability, but has raised questions about the platform's ability to handle complex or nuanced content violations. This decision underscores the accelerating trend of generative AI taking over traditional tasks in the social media and technology sectors.
\n\nFull story: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sept-1st-weeks-top-marketing-news-oppizi-p0br
\n\n🗂️ Fivetran and dbt Labs Merge to Offer Open Data Infrastructure
\nMar-tech data infrastructure vendors Fivetran and dbt Labs signed an all-stock merger agreement to deliver an open data infrastructure. The new company will unify data movement, transformation, and activation, with the goal of simplifying data management for marketers and preserving choice for other tools. This merger signifies further consolidation in the marketing technology space as companies seek to offer comprehensive, integrated solutions.
\n\nFull story: https://martech.org/data-infrastructure-consolidation-continues-as-fivetran-dbt-labs-merge/
\n\n🏈 American Eagle Partners with Travis Kelce
\nAmerican Eagle announced a new capsule collection, \"AE x Tru Kolors by Travis Kelce,\" in partnership with the star tight end and his lifestyle brand. The campaign includes a full-funnel media strategy across TV, social media, podcasts, and sports takeovers. This collaboration highlights the growing effectiveness of influencer marketing with high-profile celebrities to reach broad audiences.
\n\nFull story: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sept-1st-weeks-top-marketing-news-oppizi-p0brf
\n\n🧑⚖️ SEC Indicts \"Fake AI\" Startups
\nThe U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), along with prosecutors in New York, indicted executives from several startups for falsely claiming to have AI capabilities. The crackdown revealed that one supposed AI-driven shopping app was instead powered by outsourced human labor. The incident signals a growing regulatory focus on accountability and investor protection in the AI sector, as well as a debate around what constitutes \"real AI\".
\n\nFull story: https://champaignmagazine.com/2025/09/07/ai-by-ai-weekly-top-5-september-1-7-2025/
\n\n⚖️ Google Prepares Ad Manager for Potential Antitrust Spinoff
\nWith antitrust pressure mounting, Google is reportedly preparing its Ad Manager unit for a potential divestiture by courting ad agencies and exploring direct ad-buying tools. The shift in focus from its traditional publisher-centric model comes as Google tries to ensure the unit's viability outside of its main ad tech stack. The move is a direct response to legal challenges and reflects the uncertainty around the future structure of Google's advertising business.
\nFull story:
\n\n\n☕ Starbucks Rolls Out AI-Powered Inventory Counting
\nStarbucks announced the deployment of AI-powered inventory counting across its North American coffeehouses in early September. This technological implementation is part of a broader effort to use AI for operational efficiency and to streamline store management. The initiative demonstrates the expanding application of artificial intelligence from marketing to core business operations in the retail sector.
\n\nFull story: https://vavoza.com/20-technology-news-you-missed-this-week-in-september-2025-vz5/
\n\n🚫 Google Ads Restricts Pill Press Advertisements
\nStarting September 1, Google Ads and Google Shopping updated their Dangerous products or services policies to restrict ads for pill presses, encapsulating machines, and related components. The stricter enforcement is part of a broader safety initiative to combat the illegal manufacturing of drugs. Google will issue warnings before account suspension, advising advertisers to remove any affected ads beforehand.
\n\n📝 Brand Marketing Trends of September 2025
\nAn analysis of September 2025 marketing trends highlights a shift away from traditional digital brand-building toward community engagement and physical experiences. AI personalization is becoming a baseline expectation, moving beyond basic recommendation engines. Additionally, brands are embracing \"millennial cringe\" nostalgia and experimenting with niche content that feels authentic rather than uniformly consistent.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/51a4fc47-1e20-4248-bba5-3c9bf78cfda7.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "51a4fc47-1e20-4248-bba5-3c9bf78cfda7", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/10-20-25-weekly-insider", "memberId": "f6a735fd-009b-4f83-b22e-9bf36c0dbb92", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 72 } }, { "wixId": "3c8de929-a253-40d2-8b40-58f4a4507fa7", "slug": "10-13-25-news-roundup", "title": "10.13.25 CMORoom Weekly Insider", "deck": "📊 AdWeek Spotlight: The Future of Martech Innovations AdWeek dives into how the latest martech innovations are transforming advertising. From advanced personalization engines to new cross-channel analytics tools, the publication explores how brands are leveraging emerging tech to outperform competitors. Read full story 🧑💼 C-Suite Leadership Moves Signal Industry Shifts Executives across the industry are stepping into new roles. Notable moves include the appointment of a new Chief...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Oct 13", "publishedAt": "2025-10-13 21:26:25.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/3c8de929-a253-40d2-8b40-58f4a4507fa7.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/3c8de929-a253-40d2-8b40-58f4a4507fa7.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/faba2d_812150ffb0be49a0b68083c6de7a2509~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/faba2d_812150ffb0be49a0b68083c6de7a2509~mv2.png\")
\n📊 AdWeek Spotlight: The Future of Martech InnovationsAdWeek dives into how the latest martech innovations are transforming advertising. From advanced personalization engines to new cross-channel analytics tools, the publication explores how brands are leveraging emerging tech to outperform competitors.Read full story
\n\n🧑💼 C-Suite Leadership Moves Signal Industry ShiftsExecutives across the industry are stepping into new roles. Notable moves include the appointment of a new Chief Marketing Officer at a leading global beverage brand and a CEO transition at a prominent ad agency—reflecting strategic realignments.Read full story
\n\n🛍️ Meta and Amazon Expand Retail Media PartnershipsMeta and Amazon are intensifying their focus on retail media. Amazon’s new partnership with Adobe aims to enhance audience targeting and campaign insights, while Meta continues its push into retail advertising. Additionally, American Express Ads announced a new commerce media platform to bolster brand presence.Read full story
\n\n📈 Google Launches \"Human-First\" SEO Algorithm UpdateGoogle’s latest algorithm update penalizes generic content, favoring originality and humanized storytelling. This shift emphasizes the importance of creative, context-rich content over traditional keyword stuffing, pushing brands to prioritize authentic engagement.Read full story
\n\n🎨 Brands Embrace \"Vibe Marketing\" to Engage Short Attention SpansMarketers are shifting towards \"Vibe Marketing,\" which leverages AI to craft content that captures specific moods or cultural tones—delivering authentic, resonant messages without relying solely on traditional channels. This approach aims to deepen emotional connections with audiences.Read full story
\n\n💼 Major Mergers and Acquisitions Reshape Global Brand PortfoliosSeveral high-profile M&A deals are reshaping the industry landscape. Notably, a major tech giant acquired a leading AI startup, and a top media company announced the acquisition of a specialty digital agency—highlighting ongoing consolidation trends.Read full story
\n\n🎥 New Brand Campaigns Set to Launch in Iconic MarketsGlobal brands are rolling out large-scale campaigns in key markets, emphasizing innovation and cultural relevance. Campaigns by top consumer brands focus on sustainability and social issues, aiming to connect emotionally with modern consumers.Read full story\n
\n🎯 New Marketing Tech Launches to Enhance Campaign Performance
\nInnovative martech solutions are entering the market, targeting smarter ad targeting and measurement. From AI-powered creative tools to advanced data analytics platforms, these launches are designed to boost campaign effectiveness at scale.
\n", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "marketing news update", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/3c8de929-a253-40d2-8b40-58f4a4507fa7.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "3c8de929-a253-40d2-8b40-58f4a4507fa7", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/10-13-25-news-roundup", "memberId": "f6a735fd-009b-4f83-b22e-9bf36c0dbb92", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 73 } }, { "wixId": "82f57b32-83f2-4045-ac6d-7b0b2990bb8e", "slug": "how-advertising-has-changed-pre-pandemic-vs-today", "title": "How Advertising Has Changed: Pre-Pandemic vs. Today", "deck": "The advertising world has always been shaped by social shifts, technological trends, and economic cycles. But nothing in recent memory has disrupted and redefined the industry quite like the COVID-19 pandemic. The contrast between advertising immediately before the pandemic and advertising today is stark. From tone and targeting to platforms and priorities, nearly every aspect of the field has evolved to meet the demands of a changed world. In the months leading up to 2020, advertising was...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jul 24", "publishedAt": "2025-07-24 17:17:15.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/82f57b32-83f2-4045-ac6d-7b0b2990bb8e.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/82f57b32-83f2-4045-ac6d-7b0b2990bb8e.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_3173df19c2ea47a2b5d462684dc984df~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "The advertising world has always been shaped by social shifts, technological trends, and economic cycles. But nothing in recent memory has disrupted and redefined the industry quite like the COVID-19 pandemic. The contrast between advertising immediately before the pandemic and advertising today is stark. From tone and targeting to platforms and priorities, nearly every aspect of the field has evolved to meet the demands of a changed world.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_3173df19c2ea47a2b5d462684dc984df~mv2.png\")
In the months leading up to 2020, advertising was confidently riding a digital wave. Budgets were growing, consumer data was plentiful, and performance marketing was the golden child of nearly every strategy deck. Brands spent big on influencer partnerships, high-production video shoots, and experiential events that banked on real-world interaction. In-person activations and glossy campaigns reigned supreme.
\nConsumer behavior was more predictable. Commutes, work routines, travel habits, and seasonal trends offered clear guideposts for timing and messaging. Targeting strategies relied heavily on this consistency. Marketers often spoke with a tone of aspiration and achievement, appealing to a vision of status and success.
\n\nSocial media, while powerful, had not yet fully overtaken other channels in terms of urgency and relevance. TikTok was still on the rise. Linear TV was holding on. Attention spans were longer. Messaging was cleaner. Everything, in short, was more structured.
\n\nPost-pandemic, the landscape looks entirely different. The global crisis reshaped how people shop, think, and spend. In turn, advertising has had to become more human, more responsive, and more platform-native than ever before.
\n\nTone is the most obvious change. Consumers are more emotionally attuned and more skeptical of brands that seem disconnected or opportunistic. Authenticity is now a requirement, not a buzzword. Campaigns that resonate tend to speak to values, resilience, humor, or shared struggle. Performance still matters. However, storytelling that feels real, raw, and immediate is the new currency of connection.
\n\nThe rise of TikTok accelerated during lockdowns and permanently changed how ads are made and consumed. Content is shorter, scrappier, and far more experimental. Brands now build campaigns in real time, adapting to trends, memes, and conversations that can shift by the hour. Agile creative processes and in-house teams have largely replaced the lengthy agency timelines that once dominated.
\n\nEvents and physical experiences are back. However, they are no longer the centerpiece of strategy. Instead, hybrid and digital-first experiences, often amplified through creators, are the norm. Influencer marketing has matured, moving from macro-celebrities to niche, high-trust creators with loyal followings.
\n\nPrivacy changes have also transformed targeting. With the deprecation of third-party cookies and new iOS restrictions, advertisers have turned to first-party data, contextual targeting, and AI-powered personalization. The challenge is no longer just finding your audience. It is doing so ethically and efficiently.
\n\nAdvertising has always reflected the culture it serves. Before the pandemic, that culture was marked by growth, polish, and predictability. Today, it is shaped by uncertainty, connection, and adaptation. Brands that succeed in this era are the ones that speak plainly, act quickly, and meet consumers where they are—in their values, in their feeds, and in the moment.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "Discover how advertising has evolved since the pre-pandemic era, from polished campaigns and predictable strategies to today’s agile, emotionally driven, and digital-first approach.", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/82f57b32-83f2-4045-ac6d-7b0b2990bb8e.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "82f57b32-83f2-4045-ac6d-7b0b2990bb8e", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/how-advertising-has-changed-pre-pandemic-vs-today", "memberId": "e215aade-5b80-43fc-9a13-0800fae33ef0", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 74 } }, { "wixId": "e2b1b059-60f2-43ee-891c-d0e6f86fa720", "slug": "the-evolving-impact-of-influencers-on-marketing-summer-2025-trends", "title": "The Evolving Impact of Influencers on Marketing: Summer 2025 Trends", "deck": "As we move further into 2025, the role of influencers in marketing has continued to evolve. What began as a simple tool for brand awareness has grown into a cornerstone of modern marketing strategies. Summer 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal time for influencer-driven campaigns, and brands must adapt to stay relevant in an ever-changing digital landscape. Let’s explore how influencer marketing is making waves this summer and the key trends that marketers should be paying attention to. 1 -...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jul 17", "publishedAt": "2025-07-17 17:10:02.000", "readTimeLabel": "4 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/e2b1b059-60f2-43ee-891c-d0e6f86fa720.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/e2b1b059-60f2-43ee-891c-d0e6f86fa720.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_75f0743cd45a471faa9c06389dad442b~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "As we move further into 2025, the role of influencers in marketing has continued to evolve. What began as a simple tool for brand awareness has grown into a cornerstone of modern marketing strategies. Summer 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal time for influencer-driven campaigns, and brands must adapt to stay relevant in an ever-changing digital landscape. Let’s explore how influencer marketing is making waves this summer and the key trends that marketers should be paying attention to.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_75f0743cd45a471faa9c06389dad442b~mv2.png\")
Gone are the days when influencers needed to maintain a picture-perfect image. Consumers are now more attuned to the authenticity of a brand’s message, and influencers who come across as real and relatable are gaining more traction. In the summer of 2025, authenticity is paramount. Audiences want to see influencers in real life scenarios: spending time with family, tackling everyday struggles, and embracing their imperfections.
\n\nThis shift toward authenticity is leading to a rise in micro and nano influencers; those with smaller but highly engaged followings. Brands are recognizing that these influencers, with their more intimate and personal relationships with their audience, can often yield a higher return on investment. It’s all about relatability over aspirational perfection.
\n\nThe rise of TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts has cemented short-form video content as the primary medium for influencer marketing. In summer 2025, video remains the go-to format for both influencers and brands alike. Videos allow influencers to tell stories in a more dynamic and engaging way, whether they’re showing off new products, providing tutorials, or simply sharing glimpses into their personal lives.
\n\nThe trend is clear: video marketing will continue to reign supreme. And with new innovations like augmented reality (AR) and virtual try-ons becoming more common in the influencer space, the possibilities for interactive and immersive experiences are only expanding. Influencers are no longer just promoting products—they're creating experiences that their followers can interact with.
\n\nWith increasing consumer awareness of social and environmental issues, brands are increasingly aligning themselves with purpose-driven causes. In the summer of 2025, influencer marketing campaigns that focus on social good are gaining momentum. Whether it's advocating for sustainability, championing mental health awareness, or promoting diversity and inclusion, influencers who partner with brands that stand for something meaningful are resonating deeply with their audiences.
\n\nFor example, brands like Patagonia and Allbirds, which have long been champions of sustainability, continue to team up with influencers who embody their values. These partnerships are not just about promoting products: they’re about creating a shared sense of purpose that drives authentic engagement and loyalty.
\n\nAs technology continues to advance, the rise of AI-generated influencers is becoming a hot topic in marketing circles. These digital personalities are created through AI and machine learning, and are gaining popularity, particularly within niche markets. AI influencers can be programmed to align with specific brand values, targeting audiences more precisely than ever before.
\n\nIn summer 2025, AI influencers are likely to become more sophisticated, with some even achieving a level of emotional resonance with audiences that rivals human influencers. Brands are already experimenting with these new-age virtual influencers for campaigns, particularly in sectors like beauty, fashion, and tech, where cutting-edge innovation is highly valued.
\n\nAs social commerce continues to rise, influencers are finding new ways to seamlessly integrate shopping into their content. Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are leading the way with in-app purchasing features, allowing followers to buy products directly from the influencers they trust. This summer, expect to see even more seamless integration of shopping features into influencer content, with affiliate links and shoppable tags being used strategically to drive sales.
\n\nIn fact, many influencers are creating curated product collections and collaborating with brands to offer exclusive discounts or limited-edition items to their followers. This not only creates a sense of urgency but also allows brands to tap into influencers’ loyal fanbases and drive conversions in real-time.
\n\nData analytics has long been an essential part of digital marketing, but in 2025, it is now a driving force in influencer partnerships. With the amount of data available on social media platforms, brands can now more accurately measure the effectiveness of their influencer campaigns. Engagement rates, impressions, click-throughs, and sales conversions can all be tracked, providing brands with tangible insights into their return on investment.
\n\nInfluencers themselves are becoming more data-savvy, with many now offering detailed reports on their audience demographics, engagement patterns, and previous campaign performances. This data-driven approach is allowing brands to make smarter decisions about who to partner with and which types of content will drive the most meaningful results.
\n\nWhile one-off sponsored posts are still common, there is a growing trend towards long-term brand partnerships. Influencers are becoming more than just campaign spokespeople; they are evolving into brand ambassadors who represent the brand over an extended period. This shift is part of a larger movement towards building authentic, lasting relationships between brands and influencers.
\n\nBy forging long-term collaborations, brands can leverage the trust and loyalty influencers have built with their audiences over time. This approach not only ensures consistent messaging but also increases the overall impact of influencer marketing efforts. As we head deeper into the summer of 2025, influencer marketing is poised to continue its growth, with an emphasis on authenticity, video content, social impact, and data-driven strategies. To succeed in this landscape, brands must adapt to the changing dynamics and embrace the evolution of influencer marketing. The key is to create partnerships that feel genuine, deliver value to consumers, and foster long-term relationships, whether with human influencers or their AI counterparts.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/e2b1b059-60f2-43ee-891c-d0e6f86fa720.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "e2b1b059-60f2-43ee-891c-d0e6f86fa720", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/the-evolving-impact-of-influencers-on-marketing-summer-2025-trends", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 75 } }, { "wixId": "dc84a47b-079a-4df8-9d5a-82cb11f18a83", "slug": "retail-media-is-growing-up-what-cmos-need-to-watch-in-2025", "title": "Retail Media Is Growing Up: What CMOs Need to Watch in 2025", "deck": "Retail media is no longer just an experiment—it’s a billion-dollar battleground. What started as an Amazon-dominated channel has now become a centerpiece in many CMOs’ media strategies. In 2025, nearly every major retailer has its own media network, and the lines between commerce, content, and advertising are blurring fast. Here’s what CMOs need to know now. Retail Media Spend Is Surging—With No Signs of Slowing Down Brands are shifting budgets away from traditional channels and pouring them...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jul 3", "publishedAt": "2025-07-03 00:24:35.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/dc84a47b-079a-4df8-9d5a-82cb11f18a83.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/dc84a47b-079a-4df8-9d5a-82cb11f18a83.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_853d13beb32149f5b9e45ba4ae9d89ee~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "Retail media is no longer just an experiment—it’s a billion-dollar battleground. What started as an Amazon-dominated channel has now become a centerpiece in many CMOs’ media strategies. In 2025, nearly every major retailer has its own media network, and the lines between commerce, content, and advertising are blurring fast.
\nHere’s what CMOs need to know now.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_853d13beb32149f5b9e45ba4ae9d89ee~mv2.png\")
Brands are shifting budgets away from traditional channels and pouring them into retail media, where they can target high-intent shoppers close to conversion.
\nRetail media is no longer just a trade budget line item. It’s core to full-funnel marketing.
\n\nRetail media’s reputation as a bottom-funnel performance channel is shifting. CMOs are using it to drive brand awareness, loyalty, and even product innovation.
\nThis isn’t just paid search in a new wrapper—it’s a strategic marketing layer.
\n\nOne of the biggest pain points for CMOs has been fragmentation—different formats, different metrics, different rules. That’s starting to change.
\nMeasurement parity is still evolving—but it’s improving fast.
\n\nRetailers are building capabilities that rival traditional media giants.
\nThe power dynamic is shifting: retailers aren’t just inventory partners. They’re strategic collaborators.
\n\nRetail media is evolving from a “where to spend” question to a “how to win” conversation. CMOs who treat it as a standalone channel will miss the bigger opportunity. Those who integrate it into their broader marketing, commerce, and data strategy will unlock real advantage.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/dc84a47b-079a-4df8-9d5a-82cb11f18a83.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "dc84a47b-079a-4df8-9d5a-82cb11f18a83", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/retail-media-is-growing-up-what-cmos-need-to-watch-in-2025", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 76 } }, { "wixId": "96bc9f2c-eb96-4b84-9e2b-220abbfe952d", "slug": "cross-channel-advertising-in-2025-what-cmos-need-to-know", "title": "Cross-Channel Advertising in 2025: What CMOs Need to Know", "deck": "The media landscape in 2025 is fragmented, fast-moving, and fiercely competitive. Consumers don’t think in channels—they move fluidly across them. That’s why cross-channel advertising has become essential for CMOs aiming to drive growth, efficiency, and relevance. Here’s what leaders need to know now. Siloed Campaigns Are Costing You Running isolated campaigns by channel might still be common—but it's also costing you performance. Only 8% of consumers complete their purchase journey on a...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jun 26", "publishedAt": "2025-06-26 20:52:27.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/96bc9f2c-eb96-4b84-9e2b-220abbfe952d.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/96bc9f2c-eb96-4b84-9e2b-220abbfe952d.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_7d2c57f578a14841a756e132df0278c6~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_7d2c57f578a14841a756e132df0278c6~mv2.png\")
The media landscape in 2025 is fragmented, fast-moving, and fiercely competitive. Consumers don’t think in channels—they move fluidly across them. That’s why cross-channel advertising has become essential for CMOs aiming to drive growth, efficiency, and relevance.
\n\nHere’s what leaders need to know now.
\n\nRunning isolated campaigns by channel might still be common—but it's also costing you performance.
\n\nCross-channel doesn’t mean duplicating the same message everywhere—it means crafting a connected experience that travels with the consumer.
\n\nWhat’s making cross-channel work better in 2025? Smarter data, stronger creative tools, and a big assist from AI.
\n\nThis isn't just omnichannel—it's intelligent omnichannel.
\n\nEven in an era of video, audio, and immersive social, search remains the highest-intent, lowest-funnel channel—and a key glue in cross-channel strategies.
\n\nSmart CMOs aren’t running search separately—they’re using it to reinforce and convert across the journey.
\n\nAttribution in 2025 is no longer about clicks—it’s about contribution. CMOs are building measurement stacks that reflect today’s complexity.
\n\nIt’s not about who gets the credit—it’s about who’s driving the outcome.
\n\nCross-channel isn’t a buzzword—it’s a leadership imperative. In 2025, the most effective CMOs aren’t just running campaigns. They’re orchestrating brand experiences across every touchpoint with relevance, intelligence, and speed.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/96bc9f2c-eb96-4b84-9e2b-220abbfe952d.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "96bc9f2c-eb96-4b84-9e2b-220abbfe952d", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cross-channel-advertising-in-2025-what-cmos-need-to-know", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 77 } }, { "wixId": "32c6727a-4410-409b-ac84-62a06c20501e", "slug": "ai-powered-marketing-mix-modeling-a-cmo-s-competitive-edge", "title": "AI-Powered Marketing Mix Modeling: A CMO’s Competitive Edge", "deck": "In a world of shrinking attention spans and fragmented consumer journeys, CMOs are under pressure to justify every dollar. Traditional attribution models can’t keep up. Enter AI-powered Marketing Mix Modeling (MMM)—an emerging must-have for leaders looking to unlock deeper insights, reallocate budgets faster, and drive performance with precision. The Attribution Apocalypse: Why CMOs Are Ditching Old Models The decline of third-party cookies and shifts in consumer privacy have made last-click...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jun 12", "publishedAt": "2025-06-12 20:02:36.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/32c6727a-4410-409b-ac84-62a06c20501e.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/32c6727a-4410-409b-ac84-62a06c20501e.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_6b62e5cbc492458283ab239f12fbc0a9~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"AI-Powered](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_6b62e5cbc492458283ab239f12fbc0a9~mv2.png\")
In a world of shrinking attention spans and fragmented consumer journeys, CMOs are under pressure to justify every dollar. Traditional attribution models can’t keep up. Enter AI-powered Marketing Mix Modeling (MMM)—an emerging must-have for leaders looking to unlock deeper insights, reallocate budgets faster, and drive performance with precision.
\n\nThe decline of third-party cookies and shifts in consumer privacy have made last-click attribution nearly obsolete.
\n\nThat’s where AI-powered MMM steps in—using historical data, machine learning, and real-time signals to measure what’s really driving results.
\n\nCMOs are no longer waiting for quarterly reviews to shift spend. AI is bringing near-instant insight into what channels are over- or underperforming.
\n\nNo more gut-feel. No more spreadsheet roulette. This is algorithmic optimization at scale.
\n\nAI-powered MMM isn’t just backward-looking. It models forward—simulating how different spend mixes will impact KPIs.
\n\nThink of it as a forecasting engine for your budget, fueled by real market conditions and customer behavior patterns.
\n\nMost marketers still struggle to unify offline and online touchpoints. AI-powered MMM bridges that gap.
\n\nThat’s not just better insight—it’s better boardroom credibility.
\n\nAI can’t fix bad data. And without human oversight, models can misinterpret nuance.
\n\nCMOs should pair AI tools with strong internal analytics teams and transparency-first vendors.
\n\nMarketing Mix Modeling isn’t new—but AI has made it faster, smarter, and more actionable than ever. For CMOs in 2025, it’s not about proving ROI once a year. It’s about optimizing it every single day.
\n\nThe brands winning in this era aren’t just spending smarter—they’re learning faster.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/32c6727a-4410-409b-ac84-62a06c20501e.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "32c6727a-4410-409b-ac84-62a06c20501e", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/ai-powered-marketing-mix-modeling-a-cmo-s-competitive-edge", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 78 } }, { "wixId": "e440aece-0849-48c5-bbde-d940998299aa", "slug": "clicks-to-context-rethinking-performance-without-cookies", "title": "Clicks to Context: Rethinking Performance Without Cookies", "deck": "Third-party cookies are disappearing—and the clock's almost out. With Google phasing them out across Chrome by the end of 2025, marketers are being pushed to answer one urgent question: Now what? For years, cookies made targeting and tracking simple. But in a privacy-first world, the rules of performance marketing are changing. Here’s how leading brands are shifting from clicks to context—and what’s working now. Context is Back—and It’s Smarter Than Ever Contextual targeting is no longer just...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jun 6", "publishedAt": "2025-06-06 15:15:11.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/e440aece-0849-48c5-bbde-d940998299aa.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/e440aece-0849-48c5-bbde-d940998299aa.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_e6558223ef984b93b22f4f763aabb545~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_e6558223ef984b93b22f4f763aabb545~mv2.png\")
Third-party cookies are disappearing—and the clock's almost out. With Google phasing them out across Chrome by the end of 2025, marketers are being pushed to answer one urgent question: Now what?
\n\nFor years, cookies made targeting and tracking simple. But in a privacy-first world, the rules of performance marketing are changing. Here’s how leading brands are shifting from clicks to context—and what’s working now.
\n\nContextual targeting is no longer just about placing car ads next to auto articles. Today’s tools use AI to scan content for tone, theme, and sentiment—helping brands align with not just what someone is reading but why.
\n\nExample: A fitness brand running ads alongside articles about recovery and wellness—not just gym reviews—saw 32% higher engagement (DoubleVerify, 2024).
\n\nWhy it works:
\nBrands are getting serious about collecting their own data. From loyalty programs and email opt-ins to post-purchase surveys, every touchpoint is a chance to understand your audience—with their consent.
\n\nWhat top brands are doing:
\nThe goal? Get the data directly and keep it clean.
\n\nWithout cookies, tracking conversions across multiple touchpoints is more complex. But it’s pushing marketers to adopt better tools.
\n\nWhat’s working now:
\nBrands are focusing less on micro-conversions—and more on big-picture impact.
\n\nWithout cookie-fueled personalization, creative has to work harder. That means more relevance, more testing, and more adaptability.
\n\nWhat this looks like:
\nSmart creative strategy is filling the gap left by lost precision.
\n\nWe’re not going back to the old way. Cookies may have made things easy, but this shift is forcing brands to get smarter—and more respectful—about how they reach people.
\n\nIf you’re building your strategy now, focus on:
\n✅ Strong first-party data
\n✅ Smarter context and signals
\n✅ Clear, consent-based value exchange
\n✅ Creative that resonates without over-targeting
\n\nPrivacy-first doesn’t mean performance-last. It just means performance with a better playbook.
\n\nSources:DoubleVerify (2024), Google (2025), eMarketer (2024)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/e440aece-0849-48c5-bbde-d940998299aa.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "e440aece-0849-48c5-bbde-d940998299aa", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/clicks-to-context-rethinking-performance-without-cookies", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 79 } }, { "wixId": "8e373e0e-ad05-4982-ac89-240a2be77747", "slug": "the-generative-ai-era-what-it-means-for-advertisers", "title": "The Generative AI Era: What It Means for Advertisers", "deck": "Generative AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it's a present-day force reshaping the advertising landscape. From content creation to media buying, AI's influence is profound and growing. Here's a concise overview of how generative AI is impacting advertisers today. Creative Production: Efficiency Meets Innovation Generative AI is revolutionizing content creation, enabling faster production and higher levels of personalization. AI-generated content accounted for 47% of digital content in...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "May 30", "publishedAt": "2025-05-30 19:12:25.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/8e373e0e-ad05-4982-ac89-240a2be77747.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/8e373e0e-ad05-4982-ac89-240a2be77747.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_e68fef974d0e4a4c841dabbef3f51c68~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_e68fef974d0e4a4c841dabbef3f51c68~mv2.png\")
Generative AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it's a present-day force reshaping the advertising landscape. From content creation to media buying, AI's influence is profound and growing. Here's a concise overview of how generative AI is impacting advertisers today.
\n\nGenerative AI is revolutionizing content creation, enabling faster production and higher levels of personalization.
\nAI's ability to analyze data and generate personalized content is enhancing customer engagement.
\nAI is transforming media buying by enabling data-driven decisions and optimizing ad placements.
\nThe adoption of generative AI in marketing is accelerating.
\nWhile the benefits are significant, there are challenges to consider.
\nGenerative AI is reshaping advertising by enhancing creativity, personalization, and efficiency. As adoption grows, advertisers must navigate the associated risks to fully leverage AI's potential. The future of advertising is here, and it's powered by generative AI.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/8e373e0e-ad05-4982-ac89-240a2be77747.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "8e373e0e-ad05-4982-ac89-240a2be77747", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/the-generative-ai-era-what-it-means-for-advertisers", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 80 } }, { "wixId": "11d72ed3-79f9-4bf5-9b41-8265c78c3234", "slug": "earth-day-2025-how-brands-are-championing-sustainability-through-innovative-campaigns", "title": "Earth Day 2025: How Brands Are Championing Sustainability Through Innovative Campaigns", "deck": "As the world celebrates the 55th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, the urgency to address climate change has never been greater. This year’s theme, “Our Power, Our Planet”, calls for global collaboration to triple renewable energy by 2030 and accelerate the transition to a sustainable future. Brands across industries are stepping up with bold campaigns, eco-friendly product launches, and community-driven initiatives to mark the occasion. Here’s a look at how companies are celebrating...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Apr 22", "publishedAt": "2025-04-22 17:28:15.000", "readTimeLabel": "3 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/11d72ed3-79f9-4bf5-9b41-8265c78c3234.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/11d72ed3-79f9-4bf5-9b41-8265c78c3234.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_ddeaa2af94514dc1b856e6a4513483a5~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_ddeaa2af94514dc1b856e6a4513483a5~mv2.jpg\")
As the world celebrates the 55th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, the urgency to address climate change has never been greater. This year’s theme, “Our Power, Our Planet”, calls for global collaboration to triple renewable energy by 2030 and accelerate the transition to a sustainable future. Brands across industries are stepping up with bold campaigns, eco-friendly product launches, and community-driven initiatives to mark the occasion.
\n\nHere’s a look at how companies are celebrating Earth Day 2025 and driving meaningful environmental action.
\n\nMany brands are aligning their long-term sustainability goals with Earth Day, showcasing tangible progress in reducing their carbon footprints:
\n\nFashion and consumer brands are leveraging Earth Day to debut sustainable collections and circular economy models:
\n\nBrands are using storytelling and digital engagement to amplify sustainability messages:
\n\nCompanies are mobilizing teams and consumers for hands-on environmental action:
\n\nSome brands are taking a political stand, urging systemic change:
\n\nAs Kathleen Rogers of EARTHDAY.ORG notes, “This isn’t about politics—it’s about pragmatic solutions that benefit us all”. Whether through product innovation, employee activism, or bold advocacy, companies are ensuring that Earth Day is more than a date—it’s a catalyst for year-round change.
\n\nHow can you participate? Join local cleanups, support circular brands, or advocate for green policies. The power to protect our planet lies in collective action—one campaign, one product, one voice at a time.
\nFor more on corporate sustainability efforts, explore Sustainability Magazine’s Earth Day 2025 coverage or EarthDay.org’s global initiatives.
\n\nThe marketing landscape is evolving at lightning speed. Between tariff impacts, budget reallocations, and retail media’s make-or-break moment, CMOs need a space to share strategies, swap insights, and build connections that matter.
\nThat’s why we’re bringing CMO Room to four cities this spring/summer:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhy Attend?
\n\n“CMO Room is where marketing leaders cut through the noise. The connections here have directly shaped our 2025 retail media strategy.”", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/11d72ed3-79f9-4bf5-9b41-8265c78c3234.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "11d72ed3-79f9-4bf5-9b41-8265c78c3234", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/earth-day-2025-how-brands-are-championing-sustainability-through-innovative-campaigns", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 81 } }, { "wixId": "08b826e2-ae98-422b-ae6b-8176fc5c68ce", "slug": "google-ruled-a-monopoly-a-landmark-decision-reshaping-tech-and-digital-advertising", "title": "Google Ruled a Monopoly: A Landmark Decision Reshaping Tech and Digital Advertising", "deck": "In a historic ruling on April 17, 2025, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema declared that Google illegally monopolized key segments of the online advertising technology market, marking the second major antitrust defeat for the tech giant in less than a year . This decision reinforces growing global scrutiny of Big Tech’s dominance and sets the stage for potential structural changes that could redefine the digital advertising landscape. The Ruling: Google’s Illegal Monopoly in Ad Tech Judge...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Apr 21", "publishedAt": "2025-04-21 16:27:47.000", "readTimeLabel": "3 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/08b826e2-ae98-422b-ae6b-8176fc5c68ce.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/08b826e2-ae98-422b-ae6b-8176fc5c68ce.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_67f94653b7f2409dab5121055fa21708~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "
![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_67f94653b7f2409dab5121055fa21708~mv2.jpg\")
In a historic ruling on April 17, 2025, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema declared that Google illegally monopolized key segments of the online advertising technology market, marking the second major antitrust defeat for the tech giant in less than a year . This decision reinforces growing global scrutiny of Big Tech’s dominance and sets the stage for potential structural changes that could redefine the digital advertising landscape.
\n\nJudge Brinkema found Google guilty of \"willfully acquiring and maintaining monopoly power\" in two critical markets:
\n1. Publisher Ad Servers (e.g., Google’s DoubleClick for Publishers).
\n2. Ad Exchanges (e.g., Google’s AdX) .
\nThe court dismissed claims about Google’s advertiser ad networks but upheld that its anticompetitive practices—such as tying its ad server and exchange together—harmed publishers, stifled competition, and reduced revenue for content creators . The DOJ now seeks to break up Google’s ad-tech empire, potentially forcing a sale of Google Ad Manager (including AdX and DFP) .
\n\nSimultaneously, Google is now on trial in a separate DOJ case targeting its search monopoly, with prosecutors arguing:
\n- Google could use AI to extend its dominance (e.g., favoring its own AI tools like Gemini over rivals) .
\n- The DOJ wants extreme remedies, including:
\n- Forcing Google to sell Chrome (its dominant browser).
\n- Ending default search deals with Apple (worth $18B/year).
\n- Mandating data-sharing with competitors (e.g., licensing search results) .
\n- Witnesses from OpenAI and Perplexity AI will testify about Google’s stifling of AI-driven search alternatives .
\nGoogle calls these proposals \"extreme\", warning they would \"hold back American innovation\" and raise smartphone costs by cutting revenue to free browsers like Mozilla .
\n\n1. Potential Breakups Loom
\n- Ad Tech: Divestiture of Google Ad Manager could reshape the $31B ad-tech market .
\n- Search: A Chrome sale or end to Apple’s default deal would disrupt Google’s core revenue .
\n\n2. Financial and Strategic Risks
\n- Ad tech accounts for ~12% of Alphabet’s revenue; a breakup could force Google to recalibrate spending on AI and cloud ventures .
\n- Shares dipped 1.6% post-ruling, though long-term impacts may be limited .
\n\n3. Broader Tech Crackdown
\n- Meta is on trial over Instagram/WhatsApp acquisitions (FTC seeks breakup) .
\n- Amazon faces lawsuits over online retail monopoly .
\n\n- U.K.: Google faces a £5B ($6.6B) lawsuit over search ads .
\n- EU: Appealing a €4.3B fine for Android antitrust violations .
\n- Publishers are divided—some hope for fairer competition, while others fear disruption .
\n\nGoogle plans to appeal both rulings, arguing its tools are \"simple, affordable, and effective\" for publishers . The DOJ’s remedies phase for the ad-tech case begins soon, while the search trial’s outcome is expected by August 2025 .
\n\n1. U.S. Antitrust Cases
\n- Ad Tech Monopoly (April 2025 ruling; breakup possible).
\n- Search Monopoly (Trial ongoing; DOJ seeks Chrome divestiture).
\n- Google Play Store Monopoly (2023 ruling; remedies pending).
\n2. EU & U.K. Actions
\n- €4.3B EU fine (Android antitrust; under appeal).
\n- £5B U.K. lawsuit (Search ad dominance).
\n3. Other Global Cases
\n- Russia’s $78M fine (Non-compliance with local laws).
\n- AI Copyright Lawsuits (Scraping content for AI training).
\n4. U.S. Class Actions
\n- Data Privacy (Unauthorized tracking via Firebase SDK).
\n- Employment Discrimination ($28M settled; excludes Black employees).
\n\n- Google faces unprecedented regulatory pressure, with two U.S. courts now weighing breakups.
\n- The search trial could redefine AI competition, while the ad-tech ruling may dismantle Google’s ad dominance.
\n- Meta, Amazon, and Apple are also in regulators’ crosshairs, signaling a Big Tech reckoning.
\n\nFor ongoing updates, follow [DOJ filings](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-prevails-landmark-antitrust-case-against-google) and [Reuters’ trial coverage](https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/google-faces-trial-us-bid-end-search-monopoly-2025-04-21/).
\n\nThe marketing landscape is evolving at lightning speed. Between tariff impacts, budget reallocations, and retail media’s make-or-break moment, CMOs need a space to share strategies, swap insights, and build connections that matter.
\nThat’s why we’re bringing CMO Room to four cities this spring/summer:
\n\n\n\n\n\nWhy Attend?
\n\n“CMO Room is where marketing leaders cut through the noise. The connections here have directly shaped our 2025 retail media strategy.”", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/08b826e2-ae98-422b-ae6b-8176fc5c68ce.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "08b826e2-ae98-422b-ae6b-8176fc5c68ce", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/google-ruled-a-monopoly-a-landmark-decision-reshaping-tech-and-digital-advertising", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 82 } }, { "wixId": "2a9dba3c-db31-4195-8dc6-fc7272c8ad39", "slug": "advertising-in-the-eye-of-the-storm-how-marketers-are-navigating-tariffs-budget-cuts-digital-dis", "title": "Advertising in the Eye of the Storm: How Marketers Are Navigating Tariffs, Budget Cuts & Digital Disruption", "deck": "The advertising industry is facing increasing turbulence in 2025. A perfect storm of sweeping tariffs, inflationary pressures, and shifting consumer behaviors has forced marketers to fundamentally rethink their strategies. According to the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), 94% of advertisers are concerned about tariffs' impact on their budgets, with 60% expecting cuts of 6-10%. Meanwhile, digital innovation, AI-driven optimization, and the rise of retail media networks (RMNs) are...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Apr 21", "publishedAt": "2025-04-21 16:22:57.000", "readTimeLabel": "5 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/2a9dba3c-db31-4195-8dc6-fc7272c8ad39.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/2a9dba3c-db31-4195-8dc6-fc7272c8ad39.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_96c1cf23e65e450e8735e7e47d60c77f~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "
![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_96c1cf23e65e450e8735e7e47d60c77f~mv2.jpg\")
The advertising industry is facing increasing turbulence in 2025. A perfect storm of sweeping tariffs, inflationary pressures, and shifting consumer behaviors has forced marketers to fundamentally rethink their strategies. According to the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), 94% of advertisers are concerned about tariffs' impact on their budgets, with 60% expecting cuts of 6-10%. Meanwhile, digital innovation, AI-driven optimization, and the rise of retail media networks (RMNs) are reshaping where and how brands allocate their dollars.
\n\nThis overview explores the key trends, budget reallocations, and strategic adjustments advertisers are making to navigate this volatile landscape.
\n\nPresident Trump's April 2025 tariffs—a 10% universal levy plus reciprocal tariffs up to 125% on Chinese goods—have sent shockwaves through the economy. The advertising sector is feeling the pain:
\n\nBrian Wieser, CFA of Madison and Wall has revised U.S. ad growth forecasts downward to 3.6% (from 4.5%), stating: \"When margins are tight, advertising is often among the first things businesses cut. But smart marketers don't just cut—they reallocate strategically.\"\n\n
\"Successful brands won't just cut ad spend—they'll pivot to proven digital strategies,\" notes Daniel Meehan, CEO of PadSquad.\n\n
While retail media was once the golden child of advertising, it now faces serious challenges:
\n\n\"Retail media networks must innovate or risk losing dollars to search and CTV,\" warns Sarah Marzano of EMARKETER. \"Better measurement and off-site expansion are non-negotiable.\"\n\n
Success will go to those who:
\n\n\"In uncertain times, consumers gravitate toward brands that stand for something real,\" says Andre Banks, CEO of NewWorld. \"Now isn't the moment to go silent—it's time to reinforce why you're worth the price.\"\n\n
The 2025 ad landscape is defined by scarcity, scrutiny, and strategic shifts. While tariffs are forcing painful cuts, they’re also accelerating trends already underway—the rise of retail media, the decline of linear TV, and the dominance of performance marketing.
\n\nBrands that adapt quickly—reallocating budgets, refining messaging, and embracing flexibility—will not only survive but thrive. As history shows, advertising rebounds, but the winners will be those who navigate this squeeze with data-driven precision.
\n\nBrands that balance short-term ROI with long-term brand building—while demanding more transparency from partners—will emerge stronger.
\nAs Procter & Gamble's Marc S. Pritchard notes: \"The winners will be those who invest smartly, not just cut deeply. This is marketing's moment to prove its worth.\"\n\n
The marketing
\n\nlandscape is evolving at lightning speed. Between tariff impacts, budget reallocations, and retail media’s make-or-break moment, CMOs need a space to share strategies, swap insights, and build connections that matter.
\nThat’s why we’re bringing CMO Room to four cities this spring/summer:
\n\n\n\n\n\nWhy Attend?
\n\n“CMO Room is where marketing leaders cut through the noise. The connections here have directly shaped our 2025 retail media strategy.”", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/2a9dba3c-db31-4195-8dc6-fc7272c8ad39.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "2a9dba3c-db31-4195-8dc6-fc7272c8ad39", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/advertising-in-the-eye-of-the-storm-how-marketers-are-navigating-tariffs-budget-cuts-digital-dis", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 83 } }, { "wixId": "9de7fd47-afaf-4871-b3ca-1cd31d166ff1", "slug": "tiktok-global-sues-bytedance-for-58-billion-over-alleged-antitrust-violations-and-rigged-acquisit", "title": "TikTok Global Sues ByteDance for $58 Billion Over Alleged Antitrust Violations and \"Rigged\" Acquisition Deal", "deck": "A legal battle between TikTok Global LLC and ByteDance Ltd., the Chinese parent company of TikTok Inc., has erupted into a high-stakes lawsuit alleging antitrust violations, conspiracy, and fraudulent business practices. The Florida-based TikTok Global is seeking no less than $58 billion in damages, accusing ByteDance and its founder, Yiming Zhang, of sabotaging a legitimate acquisition deal to maintain control over TikTok’s U.S. operations. The Allegations: A \"Rigged\" Deal and...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Apr 10", "publishedAt": "2025-04-10 16:02:23.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/9de7fd47-afaf-4871-b3ca-1cd31d166ff1.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/9de7fd47-afaf-4871-b3ca-1cd31d166ff1.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_aed70f23b282491da05f9d6d49b9a2ca~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "
![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_aed70f23b282491da05f9d6d49b9a2ca~mv2.jpg\")
A legal battle between TikTok Global LLC and ByteDance Ltd., the Chinese parent company of TikTok Inc., has erupted into a high-stakes lawsuit alleging antitrust violations, conspiracy, and fraudulent business practices. The Florida-based TikTok Global is seeking no less than $58 billion in damages, accusing ByteDance and its founder, Yiming Zhang, of sabotaging a legitimate acquisition deal to maintain control over TikTok’s U.S. operations.
\n\nAccording to the lawsuit filed last week on April 3 (Case No. 1:24-cv-23512), TikTok Global claims it was \"tricked out of acquiring TikTok Inc.\" despite submitting two formal buyout offers—first for 33.3billion, then an updated 58 billion proposal on September 24, 2024.
\n\nThe complaint alleges that ByteDance and Zhang engaged in a \"meticulously engineered maneuver, shrouded in subterfuge\" to block TikTok Global’s acquisition while publicly appearing to comply with a 2020 U.S. executive order requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations due to national security concerns.
\n\n\"The game was rigged from the start,\" the lawsuit states, claiming ByteDance had \"other plans that circumvented proper procedures, stifled competition, and maintained ByteDance’s control over TikTok’s US operations—all under the guise of compliance with the executive order.\"\n\n
Instead of accepting TikTok Global’s offers, ByteDance allegedly \"suppressed\" the deal and pursued an agreement with Oracle, the U.S. tech giant. The lawsuit accuses both companies of \"conspiring with cold precision\" to undermine competition.
\n\n\"ByteDance and Oracle engaged in an unlawful conspiracy in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act,\" the filing claims, referring to the U.S. antitrust law prohibiting anticompetitive business practices.\n\n
TikTok Global argues that this backdoor deal allowed ByteDance to \"erect insurmountable barriers to entry\" while maintaining its monopoly over TikTok’s U.S. operations.
\n\nIn a striking accusation, TikTok Global claims ByteDance stole its intellectual property and used it to mislead the public during a live CNBC interview, where executives allegedly presented a \"sham\" version of TikTok’s corporate structure to derail the acquisition.
\n\nThe lawsuit demands:
\n\nFor CMOs and advertisers, this lawsuit introduces new uncertainty around TikTok’s U.S. operations:
\n\n\"This isn’t just a corporate dispute—it’s a fight over who controls one of the most influential ad platforms in the U.S.,\" said a digital marketing executive familiar with the case. \"If TikTok Global wins, we could see a seismic shift in how the platform operates.\"\n\n
With the U.S. government still pushing for ByteDance’s divestment, this lawsuit adds another layer of complexity. If TikTok Global prevails, advertisers may face a new era of TikTok under American ownership—or ByteDance could retain control, prolonging regulatory battles.
\n\nMarketers should monitor developments closely, as the outcome could reshape the social media advertising landscape.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/9de7fd47-afaf-4871-b3ca-1cd31d166ff1.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "9de7fd47-afaf-4871-b3ca-1cd31d166ff1", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/tiktok-global-sues-bytedance-for-58-billion-over-alleged-antitrust-violations-and-rigged-acquisit", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 84 } }, { "wixId": "f6f2620c-dfda-414f-9598-31d55230a256", "slug": "brands-rally-to-support-los-angeles-wildfire-relief-efforts", "title": "Brands Rally to Support Los Angeles Wildfire Relief Efforts", "deck": "As devastating wildfires continue to ravage Los Angeles County, major corporations and organizations are stepping up to provide crucial support to affected communities and first responders. From tech giants to sports leagues, businesses across various sectors are mobilizing resources and funds to aid in relief efforts. Tech Companies Lead the Charge Airbnb is offering free temporary housing to displaced residents through its non-profit arm, Airbnb.org. The company is partnering with 211 LA to...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jan 14", "publishedAt": "2025-01-14 17:51:56.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/f6f2620c-dfda-414f-9598-31d55230a256.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/f6f2620c-dfda-414f-9598-31d55230a256.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_eb7608d383204605a708010d2975e250~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_eb7608d383204605a708010d2975e250~mv2.jpg\")
As devastating wildfires continue to ravage Los Angeles County, major corporations and organizations are stepping up to provide crucial support to affected communities and first responders. From tech giants to sports leagues, businesses across various sectors are mobilizing resources and funds to aid in relief efforts.
\n\nAirbnb is offering free temporary housing to displaced residents through its non-profit arm, Airbnb.org. The company is partnering with 211 LA to coordinate housing efforts for those in need.
\n\nUber and Lyft are providing free rides to evacuation centers. Uber is offering free trips up to $40 until January 15 using the promo code 'WILDFIRE25', while Lyft is providing two free rides up to $25 each for evacuees
\n\nSinclair Inc. and Tennis Channel have launched \"Sinclair Cares: California Wildfires Relief,\" a fundraising initiative in partnership with the Salvation Army. The campaign aims to provide critical aid, shelter, food, and support for wildfire survivors and first responders.
\n\nThe NFL family has pledged $5 million to support affected communities, demonstrating the sports world's commitment to the relief efforts
\n\nCarrier Global Logistics has committed to donating over $2.5 million in indoor air purifiers to support wildfire relief efforts, focusing on essential service workers in impacted areas
\n\nFanDuel and its parent company Flutter Entertainment have announced a $250,000 donation to Americares and the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation
\n\nPlanet Fitness has opened its Los Angeles clubs to anyone impacted by the fires, including both residents and first responders. They're offering free use of showers, massage tools, Wi-Fi, and electrical outlets until January 15.
\nSeveral restaurants, including Joe's Pizza LA and Shake Shack, are offering free meals to firefighters and first responders at their open locations
\n\nNumerous fashion and beauty brands are contributing to relief efforts by donating proceeds from sales. While specific brand names weren't mentioned in the search results, the industry is actively participating in fundraising campaigns
\n\nFor those looking to contribute, several organizations are accepting donations:
\n\nAs the situation continues to evolve, these relief efforts demonstrate the power of collective action in times of crisis. The outpouring of support from various sectors highlights the importance of corporate social responsibility and community solidarity in the face of natural disasters.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_83a7da66c22e487c817a86340db11e26~mv2.jpg\")
The recent merger between Disney's Hulu + Live TV and Fubo marks a significant shift in the streaming landscape, with implications that extend far beyond resolving the Venu Sports lawsuit. This deal creates a streaming powerhouse that CMOs and advertisers need to pay close attention to.
\n\nThe combined entity, operating under the Fubo name, will boast 6.2 million North American subscribers, making it the second-largest all-digital TV service after YouTube TV. This consolidation creates a more robust platform for advertisers to reach a broader audience, particularly those interested in live sports and entertainment.
\n\nExpanded Reach: With Disney's vast portfolio now accessible through Fubo, advertisers gain access to a more diverse and engaged audience. The inclusion of ESPN+ in the mix is particularly noteworthy for brands targeting sports enthusiasts.
\n\nTargeted Advertising Opportunities: The merger allows for more sophisticated audience segmentation and targeting. Advertisers can leverage the combined data from both platforms to create more personalized and effective campaigns.
\n\nCross-Platform Integration: CMOs should prepare for new opportunities to create seamless cross-platform campaigns that span both traditional TV networks and digital streaming services.
\n\nThis merger is likely just the beginning of a larger trend in the streaming industry. As Matt Sweeney, Chief Investment Officer at GroupM US, notes, \"The consolidation of cable networks and the rise of new consumer bundles will take center stage in 2025\", CMOs should anticipate and prepare for further industry shake-ups.
\n\nRising Costs: As the streaming landscape becomes more fragmented, consumers may face higher aggregate costs. This could impact viewership and, consequently, advertising strategies.
\n\nContent Distribution: With popular content spread across multiple platforms, advertisers may need to diversify their ad placements to ensure comprehensive reach.
\n\nEvolving Metrics: As traditional TV and streaming continue to converge, CMOs will need to adapt to new measurement standards and performance metrics.
\n\nIn conclusion, while the Disney-Fubo deal resolves the immediate legal battle over Venu Sports, its implications for the advertising industry are far-reaching. CMOs and advertisers who can navigate this new landscape effectively will find themselves at a significant advantage in the evolving world of streaming media.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/92f83b92-ff48-4dad-96fc-77dfce0deabe.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "92f83b92-ff48-4dad-96fc-77dfce0deabe", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/disney-s-major-fubo-deal-a-game-changer-for-cmos-and-advertisers", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 86 } }, { "wixId": "641509d4-c982-41b0-948e-4a9e08fbfb6f", "slug": "beats-pill-s-star-studded-comeback-lebron-james-and-lil-wayne-lead-the-charge", "title": "Beats Pill's Star-Studded Comeback: LeBron James and Lil Wayne Lead the Charge", "deck": "In a marketing masterstroke, Beats by Dre has brought back its iconic Beats Pill speaker with a bang, enlisting the star power of National Basketball Association (NBA) legend LeBron James and rap icon Lil Wayne for a hilarious and memorable campaign. The revival of this beloved portable speaker marks a significant moment in the audio industry, blending nostalgia with cutting-edge technology. A Pill for Every Generation The Beats Pill, first introduced in 2012, quickly became a cultural...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Aug 2", "publishedAt": "2024-08-02 13:21:17.000", "readTimeLabel": "4 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/641509d4-c982-41b0-948e-4a9e08fbfb6f.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/641509d4-c982-41b0-948e-4a9e08fbfb6f.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_b8306aa1f5ea44239a59db28c986767c~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_b8306aa1f5ea44239a59db28c986767c~mv2.png\")
In a marketing masterstroke, Beats by Dre has brought back its iconic Beats Pill speaker with a bang, enlisting the star power of National Basketball Association (NBA) legend LeBron James and rap icon Lil Wayne for a hilarious and memorable campaign. The revival of this beloved portable speaker marks a significant moment in the audio industry, blending nostalgia with cutting-edge technology.
\n\nThe Beats Pill, first introduced in 2012, quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Its distinctive pill-shaped design and impressive sound quality made it a favorite among music enthusiasts and celebrities alike. However, the speaker was discontinued in early 2022, leaving fans wondering if they'd seen the last of this iconic device.
\n\nFast forward to 2024, and Beats has answered the call with a reimagined Beats Pill. Oliver Schusser, Apple's Vice President of Apple Music and Beats, explains the comeback:
\n\n\"The Beats Pill is back and better than ever — now packed with outstanding sound, all-day battery life, and convenient features. From the beloved Pill characters to cameos in the world's most watched music videos, the original Beats Pill was a pop culture phenom and we're thrilled to bring back a fan favorite updated with the latest features in an iconic design\".\n\n
The new campaign, titled \"The Predicament,\" features LeBron James hosting a lively hotel party with Lil Wayne's hit \"A Milli\" blasting from the Beats Pill. In a comedic twist, Wayne himself is trying to sleep in the next room, growing increasingly frustrated with his own track on repeat.
\n\nLeBron James expressed his excitement about the relaunch, stating,
\n\"The Pill has been a staple in the household from day one. It's an iconic product, so it's exciting to be part of its relaunch for a new generation.\"\n
Chris Thorne, CMO at Beats, added,
\n\"There's no better way to relaunch an iconic product than to team up with two icons that have been part of our family since Pill's inception.\"\n\n
The Beats Pill has a rich history of celebrity endorsements and high-profile marketing campaigns, which have contributed significantly to its cultural impact and commercial success.
\n\nHere's a look at some of the most notable collaborations:
\n\nThese celebrity endorsements and quick-turnaround marketing campaigns have been crucial to Beats' success. The brand's ability to tap into current trends and leverage star power has helped it maintain a strong presence in popular culture and dominate the headphone market.
\n\nBy consistently aligning with high-profile celebrities and responding rapidly to cultural moments, Beats has created a brand image that goes beyond just audio equipment. It has positioned itself as a lifestyle brand that's intimately connected with music, sports, and pop culture.
\n\nThe new Beats Pill boasts impressive upgrades, including:
\n\nPriced at $149.99, the new Beats Pill is positioned competitively in the portable speaker market. It's about $50 cheaper than its predecessor, making it an attractive option for both loyal fans and new customers.
\n\nWhile the Beats Pill offers impressive features, it's entering a crowded market. Apple's own HomePod mini, priced at $99, offers similar smart features but lacks the portability of the Pill. Other competitors like the Sonos Roam ($179) and JBL Flip 6 ($129.95) offer comparable features and sound quality.
\n\nThe Beats Pill's unique selling points are its iconic design, cultural cachet, and the backing of celebrity endorsements. These factors, combined with its improved technical specifications, position it well in the portable speaker market.
\n\nThis campaign is a masterclass in nostalgia marketing. By bringing back a beloved product with modern upgrades and pairing it with A-list celebrities, Beats has created a perfect storm of nostalgia, star power, and technological advancement.
\n\nAs marketers, we can learn from this approach. Reviving a discontinued product can be risky, but when done right – with significant improvements and a strong marketing push – it can capture both loyal fans and new customers.
\n\nThe Beats Pill comeback demonstrates the enduring power of brand equity and the importance of evolving with consumer needs while maintaining a product's core identity.
\n\nBe sure to follow the CMO Room for the latest industry news, monthly events, and subscribe to the official CMO Download newsletter so you don't miss a thing!
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/641509d4-c982-41b0-948e-4a9e08fbfb6f.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "641509d4-c982-41b0-948e-4a9e08fbfb6f", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/beats-pill-s-star-studded-comeback-lebron-james-and-lil-wayne-lead-the-charge", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 87 } }, { "wixId": "c13ef738-028f-40e0-ad60-3cbd000dbc41", "slug": "the-demise-of-oracle-s-advertising-empire-implications-for-the-ad-tech-landscape", "title": "The Demise of Oracle's Advertising Empire: Implications for the Ad Tech Landscape", "deck": "Oracle Corporation, a titan in the software industry, has announced its decision to exit the advertising business, marking the end of a decade-long experiment that ultimately fell short of its ambitious goals. This move, revealed during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call for fiscal year 2024, has significant implications for the ad tech industry, its executive ranks, and the hundreds of millions of dollars in digital marketing budgets that were once funneled through Oracle's...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Aug 1", "publishedAt": "2024-08-01 15:15:19.000", "readTimeLabel": "5 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/c13ef738-028f-40e0-ad60-3cbd000dbc41.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/c13ef738-028f-40e0-ad60-3cbd000dbc41.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_82059aa9cc724a208f92dd0e38944c92~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "Oracle Corporation, a titan in the software industry, has announced its decision to exit the advertising business, marking the end of a decade-long experiment that ultimately fell short of its ambitious goals. This move, revealed during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call for fiscal year 2024, has significant implications for the ad tech industry, its executive ranks, and the hundreds of millions of dollars in digital marketing budgets that were once funneled through Oracle's platforms.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_82059aa9cc724a208f92dd0e38944c92~mv2.jpg\")
Oracle's journey into the advertising world began over a decade ago, driven by the vision of leveraging its vast data capabilities to revolutionize digital marketing. The company spent more than $4 billion acquiring a series of ad technology firms, including notable names like BlueKai, DataLogix, and Moat. These acquisitions were intended to build a comprehensive advertising and marketing technology stack that could compete with industry giants like Salesforce and Adobe.
\n\nDespite the initial optimism, Oracle’s advertising business faced numerous challenges that hindered its growth and profitability. One of the most significant blows came in 2018 when Meta (formerly Facebook) ceased allowing third parties, including Oracle, to access its data for targeted advertising. This decision, a fallout from the Cambridge Analytica scandal, severely limited the insights Oracle could offer its clients.
\n\nThe introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe further compounded Oracle’s difficulties. The stringent privacy regulations forced Oracle to halt its third-party data targeting services across Europe, leading to the shutdown of several data products and tools that relied on such data. These regulatory changes not only affected Oracle’s operations but also eroded client trust and confidence in its advertising solutions.
\n\nIn 2023, Oracle reported that its advertising revenue had fallen dramatically from $2 billion in 2022 to just $300 million in fiscal year 2024. This decline highlights the challenges Oracle faced in the competitive advertising landscape. Despite investing heavily in building an ad tech presence, Oracle's advertising products struggled to keep pace with market demands and regulatory changes.
\n\nOracle's exit from the advertising business has sent ripples through the marketing world. Industry experts and analysts have weighed in on the implications of this move.
\nArielle Garcia, director of intelligence at ad watchdog Check My Ads, commented on the growing pressure on the surveillance advertising model:
\n\n\"Oracle has been facing a steady stream of privacy-related legal and business challenges since 2018. This includes Meta’s removal of partner categories, which hurt data brokers’ bottom line, cutting off a major part of their revenue stream\".\n
Eric Schmitt, VP analyst at consultancy Gartner, noted the changing landscape of the advertising data business:
\n\n\"Despite the latest Google delay in shutting off third-party cookies in Chrome, the writing is on the wall. Many other data privacy constraints are already substantially limiting the commercial potential of non-consented personal data\".\n\n
Adam Schenkel, executive vice president of global platform strategy and operations at contextual advertising intelligence firm GumGum, highlighted the opportunities for other players:
\n\n\"While one might assume that this revenue will simply shift to Oracle’s biggest competitors, it's important to note that this transition coincides with a period of significant innovation within the advertising industry\".\n\n
The future of Oracle's advertising-related assets remains uncertain. There are several possibilities for how these assets might be handled:
\n\nOracle’s decision to shut down its advertising business marks the end of a significant chapter in the company’s history. This move underscores the challenges that even the largest and most resource-rich companies can face when navigating the complex and rapidly evolving landscape of digital advertising. For Oracle, this decision allows the company to refocus its efforts on its core strengths in cloud computing, enterprise software, and data management.
\n\nThe exit of Oracle from the adtech space has significant implications for the industry and creates opportunities for other players
\n\nKey Implications:
\nOpportunities for Other Players:
\nAs the industry continues to evolve, companies that can provide innovative, privacy-compliant solutions that address the changing needs of advertisers and publishers are well-positioned to capitalize on the opportunities created by Oracle's exit from the adtech space.
\n\nBe sure to follow the CMO Room for the latest industry news, monthly events, and subscribe to the official CMO Download newsletter so you don't miss a thing!
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/c13ef738-028f-40e0-ad60-3cbd000dbc41.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "c13ef738-028f-40e0-ad60-3cbd000dbc41", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/the-demise-of-oracle-s-advertising-empire-implications-for-the-ad-tech-landscape", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 88 } }, { "wixId": "53b2a44c-560e-4c55-98cc-95eb1be700bc", "slug": "e-l-f-explores-immersive-commerce-within-its-e-l-f-up-experience-on-roblox-as-first-beauty-brand", "title": "e.l.f. Explores Immersive Commerce Within Its e.l.f. UP! Experience on Roblox as First Beauty Brand", "deck": "In another eyes.lips.first., E.L.F. BEAUTY (NYSE: ELF) is expanding its collaboration with Roblox (NYSE: RBLX), making e.l.f. the first beauty brand to test real-world commerce on Roblox, powered by Walmart. The initiative will further e.l.f.'s mission to bring the best of beauty to every eye, lip and face, and engage with its vibrant and growing Roblox community of over 12 million total visits and counting. e.l.f. explores immersive commerce within its e.l.f. UP! experience on Roblox,...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jul 31", "publishedAt": "2024-07-31 13:36:14.000", "readTimeLabel": "4 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/53b2a44c-560e-4c55-98cc-95eb1be700bc.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/53b2a44c-560e-4c55-98cc-95eb1be700bc.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_1e8e41a6076e4d7c90af2a17360c975d~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_1e8e41a6076e4d7c90af2a17360c975d~mv2.png\")
In another eyes.lips.first., E.L.F. BEAUTY (NYSE: ELF) is expanding its collaboration with Roblox (NYSE: RBLX), making e.l.f. the first beauty brand to test real-world commerce on Roblox, powered by Walmart.
\n\nThe initiative will further e.l.f.'s mission to bring the best of beauty to every eye, lip and face, and engage with its vibrant and growing Roblox community of over 12 million total visits and counting.
\n\ne.l.f. explores immersive commerce within its e.l.f. UP! experience on Roblox, making e.l.f. the first beauty brand to test real-world commerce on Roblox.\n\n
e.l.f. has created a virtual kiosk within its immersive e.l.f. UP! experience on Roblox, where U.S. visitors aged 13 and up can purchase a Roblox-exclusive limited-edition physical product — an e.l.f. UP! Pets Hoodie, celebrating the brand’s commitment to being cruelty free and featuring one of the beloved virtual pets from the experience.
\n\ne.l.f. is also making a separate $50,000 donation to the The Humane Society of the United States to reinforce its support of animal welfare and appealing to every eye, lip, face and paw.
\n\ne.l.f.’s Roblox e.l.f. UP! experience, which launched in November 2023, takes users on a dynamic, personalized journey to become successful entrepreneurs and cultural changemakers. Users focus on startups that represent places and causes they care most about.
\n\nSince its launch, the e.l.f. UP! experience on Roblox has garnered a 96% positivity rating and has given over one million free virtual items to Roblox users — making it one of the biggest providers of free limited-edition virtual items on the platform.
\n\n“e.l.f. UP! has been lightning in a bottle since day one and continues to surpass all expectations, especially among our Gen Z community,” said Kory Marchisotto, Chief Marketing Officer, e.l.f. Beauty. “Testing commerce on Roblox is the next evolution in our journey of merging beauty with immersive platforms. We are teaching the Roblox community – and communities in digital spaces everywhere – about social commerce with purpose. Our community deeply values our superpower of cruelty-free products. Through the e.l.f. UP! Pet Adoption Center, we’ve learned how essential this superpower is, shaping our approach in this space.”\n\n
“e.l.f. continues to break new ground on Roblox with its thoughtful iterations to the community experience and exclusive offerings tailored to our platform,” said Stephanie Latham, VP of global brand partnerships, Roblox. “We are in the early days of testing commerce on Roblox, and we are excited to continue taking steps with brands like e.l.f. towards building the future of shopping, making it immersive, 3D and social. Our vision is to ultimately enable brands and creators to turn their incredible brand affinity and user engagement on the platform into a seamless shopping experience for their new and existing audiences. The shoppable future of Roblox means that brands can immerse communities into their stories — and enable customers to complete their journey with a purchase while socializing with their friends.”
\n\nIn addition to the e.l.f. UP! Pets Hoodie, users can also purchase a selection of other physical products, including e.l.f.’s vegan and cruelty free lip and SPF products. These products were carefully selected by e.l.f. to emphasize the company’s commitment to protecting animals and its community with SPF and lip products. The curated selection includes:
\n\nEligible users who complete a purchase of these items through the e.l.f. UP! experience virtual kiosk will receive a \"virtual twin\" – a digital item, available for use on Roblox. e.l.f. is collaborating with renowned Roblox community creators to design these virtual items, enhancing each with wigs, wings and more to further elevate the experience for its community members.
\n\nThe creator behind the e.l.f. UP! Pets Hoodie virtual item, SimplyALemon ., particularly well known for her Kawaii item collection in her Roblox group The Lemon Land, adds another exciting layer of credibility and creativity to the project.
\n\"I'm thrilled to collaborate with e.l.f. and the Roblox community on this exciting project,\" said SimplyALemon. \"Designing virtual items that bring awareness to an important cause, enhance the experience and resonate with Roblox community's creativity has been incredible. The clothing and accessories embody the spirit of imagination and innovation that makes the e.l.f. universe so special. I can't wait to see people enjoy these new items on the platform—and in the physical world.\"\n\n
The physical items that can be purchased through the e.l.f. UP! experience virtual kiosk will be accessible to U.S. users on mobile and desktop. The e.l.f. UP! experience is developed by e.l.f. in partnership with eGen and Supersocial.
\n\nAbout e.l.f. Cosmetics e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE: ELF) is fueled by a belief that anything is e.l.f.ing possible. We are a different kind of company that disrupts norms, shapes culture and connects communities through positivity, inclusivity and accessibility. e.l.f. Cosmetics, our global flagship brand, makes the best of beauty accessible to every eye, lip and face by bringing together the best of beauty, culture and entertainment. Our superpower is delivering universally appealing, premium-quality products at accessible prices that are e.l.f. clean, vegan, double Cruelty Free Certified with both Leaping Bunny and PETA, and manufactured in Fair Trade Certified™ facilities. Learn more at www.elfcosmetics.com.
\n\nBe sure to follow the CMO Room for the latest industry news, monthly events, and subscribe to the official CMO Download newsletter so you don't miss a thing!
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/53b2a44c-560e-4c55-98cc-95eb1be700bc.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "53b2a44c-560e-4c55-98cc-95eb1be700bc", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/e-l-f-explores-immersive-commerce-within-its-e-l-f-up-experience-on-roblox-as-first-beauty-brand", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 89 } }, { "wixId": "244bd070-188f-4f1b-85f8-e8945dcfea55", "slug": "sizzling-independence-day-joey-chestnut-s-impossible-twist-on-american-traditions", "title": "Sizzling Independence Day: Joey Chestnut's 'Impossible' Twist on American Traditions", "deck": "Impossible's New Campaign, Brand Identity & Partnership With Joey \"The Jaws\" Chestnut Impossible Foods, the plant-based meat company founded in 2011, has launched a bold new marketing campaign and brand identity that aims to redefine how consumers perceive meat alternatives. The campaign, which debuted on May 6, 2024, during the \"Live from E!: Met Gala\" telecast, marks the company's first major marketing initiative since unveiling its refreshed brand identity earlier this year. At the heart...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jul 30", "publishedAt": "2024-07-30 18:47:50.000", "readTimeLabel": "5 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/244bd070-188f-4f1b-85f8-e8945dcfea55.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/244bd070-188f-4f1b-85f8-e8945dcfea55.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_a2c7c6787f044e7f8352e4e4c917fb1e~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_a2c7c6787f044e7f8352e4e4c917fb1e~mv2.jpg\")
Impossible Foods, the plant-based meat company founded in 2011, has launched a bold new marketing campaign and brand identity that aims to redefine how consumers perceive meat alternatives. The campaign, which debuted on May 6, 2024, during the \"Live from E!: Met Gala\" telecast, marks the company's first major marketing initiative since unveiling its refreshed brand identity earlier this year.
\n\nAt the heart of the campaign is an audacious provocation: \"We're solving the meat problem with more meat.\" Leslie Sims, Chief Marketing and Creative Officer at Impossible Foods, who joined the company in January 2023, explained the rationale behind this seemingly paradoxical message:
\n\n\"We see this campaign as a way to let meat eaters know Impossible meat is the best way to keep eating meat you love, just without a lot of the problems associated with animal meat. Whether you're a vegan, hardcore meat eater or somewhere in between, we have you covered. The more believers we bring on board, the better the planet will be\".\n\n
The campaign's centerpiece is a 30-second commercial titled \"The Walk,\" which features a stereotypical mid-century American man walking through various meat-centric scenarios, such as backyard barbecues and hot dog eating contests. As he moves through these scenes, he replaces traditional meat products with Impossible's plant-based alternatives, encouraging viewers to \"punch cholesterol in the face.\"
\n\nOn the Fourth of July Americans gear up for their traditional barbecues and hot dog eating contests. But this year, there's a notable absence in one of the nation's most iconic eating competitions.
\n\nJoey Chestnut, the reigning champion of Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, has been barred from participating due to his new partnership with Impossible Foods. This unexpected turn of events perfectly encapsulates Impossible Foods' audacious new strategy to shake up the meat industry and appeal to a broader audience.
\n\nJoey Chestnut, known for his incredible feat of consuming 76 hot dogs and buns in just 10 minutes at the 2021 Nathan's contest, expressed mixed emotions about the change.
\n\n\"I was dismayed to learn from the media that after 19 years, I've been prohibited from the competition I cherish and celebrate with my fans across the nation on Independence Day,\"\n\n
Chestnut stated on social media. However, he seems excited about his new venture with Impossible Foods, adding,
\n\n\"To my supporters, I appreciate you, and I'll be back to indulge in a feast soon!! STAY HUNGRY!\"\n\n
While Chestnut won't be at Coney Island this July 4th, he'll be showcasing his talents at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, participating in a five-minute hot dog eating competition against soldiers. This event, part of the \"Pop Goes the Fort\" celebration, is expected to draw around 15,000 spectators.
\n\nIn a significant product launch, Impossible Foods has introduced the Impossible Beef Hot Dog, made entirely from plants. This new product aims to provide the same meaty, smoky, and juicy flavor that consumers love, but with a fraction of the environmental impact. The hot dogs are fully cooked and quick to prepare, making them a convenient option for consumers.
\n\nThe Impossible Beef Hot Dog boasts 12 grams of protein per serving and contains half the saturated fat of traditional animal-based hot dogs. It also generates 84% less greenhouse gas emissions and uses 77% less water and 83% less land than animal hot dogs.
\n\nIn an exciting development, Netflix has announced a live hot dog eating competition between Joey Chestnut and his long-time rival, Takeru Kobayashi. The event, titled
\n\"Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef,\" is scheduled for Labor Day, September 2, 2024. This special will mark the first time the two competitors have faced off since 2009.
\nChestnut expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming showdown:
\n\n\"I know that fans have waited a long time for another chapter of our rivalry, and I can't wait for our massive showdown live on Netflix! It's time to give the people what they want!\"\n\n
Kobayashi, who had previously announced his retirement from competitive eating, shared his determination to compete one last time against Chestnut:
\n\n\"Retiring for me will only happen after I take him down one last time. This rivalry has been brewing for a long time. Competing against Joey live on Netflix means fans all over the world can watch me knock him out.\"\n\n
On Earth Day (April 22, 2024), Impossible Foods introduced \"Impossible Ranch,\" a 70-acre property in South Carolina where they plan to grow crops used in their plant-based products and provide a sanctuary for rescued cattle. This initiative aligns with Impossible's mission to positively impact people and the planet by making delicious, nutritious meat from plants with a fraction of the environmental footprint of meat from animals.
\n\n\"As a leader of the plant-based category, we saw both a need and an opportunity to demystify meat from plants in a way that feels more approachable for consumers,\" said Leslie Sims. \"Impossible Ranch is a living and breathing educational resource where our commitments to giving back to the planet and supporting animal welfare are front-and-center, along with the plants representing key ingredients in our products. We want to bring consumers along on this journey and help them understand how choosing meat from plants can be a better choice.\"\n\n
Impossible Foods has reported outpacing the growth rate of the rest of the US plant-based meat category in both dollar sales and unit sales. The company continues to expand its distribution network, now reaching over 30,000 retail stores and 45,000 foodservice locations. In May 2024, Impossible Foods announced a partnership with Whole Foods Market to launch its plant-based chicken products in select U.S. locations, further expanding its retail presence.
\nPeter McGuinness, President and CEO of Impossible Foods, emphasized the inclusive nature of the campaign:
\n\n\"We want to be inclusive to anyone who enjoys great food—it doesn't matter if you're a vegan, a vegetarian, an animal meat-lover, or somewhere in between. What we want to do is educate consumers that they can still enjoy meat by incorporating into their diet a version that's made from plants instead of animals.\"\n\n
Looking ahead, Impossible Foods is positioning itself for significant growth. In an exclusive interview with Reuters on April 29, 2024, CEO Peter McGuinness revealed that the company is targeting a \"liquidity event\" that could include a public offering or sale to another company in the next two to three years. However, McGuinness was quick to add, \"I don't want to be pigeonholed into an IPO.\"
\n\nAs Impossible Foods continues to navigate the challenges facing the plant-based meat industry, this new campaign and potential IPO represent strategic moves to capture a larger market share and change perceptions about meat alternatives.
\nBy embracing meat culture while promoting plant-based options, the company is betting on a more inclusive approach to drive growth and make a positive impact on both public health and the environment.
\n\nAnd who knows? With Joey Chestnut now on their team, perhaps Impossible Foods will soon be hosting their own plant-based hot dog eating contest next Fourth of July. After all, if they can make meat from plants, surely they can make competitive eating a little more impossible too.
\n\nHappy 4th y'all!!
\n\nBe sure to follow the CMO Room for the latest industry news, monthly events, and subscribe to the official CMO Download newsletter so you don't miss a thing!
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/244bd070-188f-4f1b-85f8-e8945dcfea55.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "244bd070-188f-4f1b-85f8-e8945dcfea55", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/sizzling-independence-day-joey-chestnut-s-impossible-twist-on-american-traditions", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 90 } }, { "wixId": "89a791ba-2a3d-4f7b-86d1-de4f6baa98c7", "slug": "advertising-master-to-masterchef-contender-arthur-chan-s-culinary-pivot-creativity-captivates-judg", "title": "Advertising Master to MasterChef Contender: Arthur Chan's Culinary Pivot, Creativity Captivates Judges", "deck": "Arthur Chan, the creative mastermind behind some of the most innovative advertising campaigns in Los Angeles, is making waves in an entirely new arena – the kitchen of \"MasterChef.\" At 49 years old, this Malibu-based managing partner at the cutting-edge agency FCA (Fonseca Chan + Associates) has decided to take his passion for creativity to the next level by auditioning for Season 14 of the hit culinary competition show. During the \"Gen X Auditions\" episode, which aired last night, Arthur...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Jun 20", "publishedAt": "2024-06-20 14:49:13.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/89a791ba-2a3d-4f7b-86d1-de4f6baa98c7.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/89a791ba-2a3d-4f7b-86d1-de4f6baa98c7.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_0d045d81bdb24775bfa35a19db053670~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_0d045d81bdb24775bfa35a19db053670~mv2.jpg\")
Arthur Chan, the creative mastermind behind some of the most innovative advertising campaigns in Los Angeles, is making waves in an entirely new arena – the kitchen of \"MasterChef.\"
\n\nAt 49 years old, this Malibu-based managing partner at the cutting-edge agency FCA (Fonseca Chan + Associates) has decided to take his passion for creativity to the next level by auditioning for Season 14 of the hit culinary competition show.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_1e49f813653a47e88c674b040f7eef1e~mv2.jpg\")
During the \"Gen X Auditions\" episode, which aired last night, Arthur showcased his culinary prowess by serving the judges a tantalizing dish: Olive Oil Poached Sea Bass with Crispy Bok Choy, Dashi, and Oolong Tea Foam.
\n\nThis masterful creation left the esteemed panel of judges, including the notoriously critical Gordon Ramsay, thoroughly impressed.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_87a88f2a92574d8a852bb150e3df2a0c~mv2.jpg\")
Guest judge Christine Hà also commended the dish, describing it as \"pleasant\" with \"finesse,\" and giving Arthur a resounding \"yes\" vote.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_ff02ee8a205e43f6a26f965646a226bb~mv2.jpg\")
Aarón Sánchez, another esteemed judge, expressed his love for the crispy bok choy and the perfect cook on the sea bass, adding his \"yes\" vote to the mix. Ramsay, clearly impressed, gave Arthur a \"big, resounding yes,\" while Joe Bastianich concurred, solidifying Arthur's spot in the top 20 of \"MasterChef: Generations.\"'
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_387d37020ea44cba8d120327106b1116~mv2.jpg\")
Cheering Arthur on from the sidelines were his wife and 4-year-old daughter, who watched with bated breath as the judges savored every bite of his culinary creation. As the \"yes\" votes rolled in, Arthur's family erupted in joy, celebrating his well-deserved success
\n\nArthur's journey from the boardroom to the kitchen is a testament to his unwavering pursuit of creativity and excellence. Having worked with some of the most innovative brands and entertainment studios through his agency FCA, Arthur has now set his sights on conquering the culinary world, proving that his creative genius knows no bounds.
\n\nAs Arthur continues to navigate the challenges of \"MasterChef,\" his colleagues in the advertising and marketing community are undoubtedly cheering him on, eager to witness the next chapter in his remarkable career. With his audition dish leaving the judges in awe, it's clear that Arthur Chan is a force to be reckoned with, both in the world of advertising and now, in the high-stakes realm of culinary competition.
\n\nAs the excitement of the night wound down, Arthur's 4-year-old daughter had one burning question: \"Daddy, does this mean you can bring the apron home?\"
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_a76c68711c6541c185ea7a466a670c36~mv2.jpg\")
Cheer Arthur on during MasterChef \"Generations\" airing on Wednesdays at 8/9ET on Fox Corporation.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/89a791ba-2a3d-4f7b-86d1-de4f6baa98c7.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "89a791ba-2a3d-4f7b-86d1-de4f6baa98c7", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/advertising-master-to-masterchef-contender-arthur-chan-s-culinary-pivot-creativity-captivates-judg", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 91 } }, { "wixId": "1a7bb57a-ebc3-4f7c-85f2-ad8428b49f8b", "slug": "cmoinsights-from-julia-fitzgerald-chief-marketing-officer-author-and-business-advisor", "title": "Insights from Julia Fitzgerald, Chief Marketing Officer, Author, and Business Advisor", "deck": "In this edition of CMO Insights, we are honored to learn from Julia Fitzgerald's remarkable journey as a CMO.", "category": "cmo spotlight", "categoryLabel": "CMO Spotlight", "categories": [ "cmo spotlight" ], "dateLabel": "Jun 6", "publishedAt": "2024-06-06 10:50:00.000", "readTimeLabel": "7 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/1a7bb57a-ebc3-4f7c-85f2-ad8428b49f8b.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/1a7bb57a-ebc3-4f7c-85f2-ad8428b49f8b.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_1eeb2b5ca6074e9eb9cac0045c8fc2ee~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_1eeb2b5ca6074e9eb9cac0045c8fc2ee~mv2.jpg\")
\"Let's work through it over a bowl of M&M's,\" Julia Fitzgerald, Chief Marketing Officer of the beloved Build-A-Bear brand, would often say, transforming tense boardroom discussions into collaborative brainstorming sessions.
\n\nThis simple yet effective approach perfectly encapsulates her leadership style - approachable, innovative, and deeply invested in bringing out the best in her teams.
\n\nWhen it comes to Julia Fitzgerald, the answer poses an intriguing question. She possesses innate leadership qualities - true vision, a sharp intellect, decisiveness, endless curiosity - that it's easy to overlook the talents she has honed throughout her remarkable career as a CMO. This blend of natural ability and deep expertise has allowed Julia to build high-performing teams that drive transformative growth.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_dc045c8b03254ca89a157abb33c5a3ba~mv2.jpg\")
From her early career sparking imagination through toys and games, to her current role as a trusted advisor and mentor, Julia's story is one of vision, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to leadership excellence.
\nJulia has navigated some of the most iconic brands across diverse industries from igniting children's creativity at VTech to her transformative work at Build-A-Bear Workshop.
\n\nHer ability to deftly guide retail giants like Sears and Kmart, education powerhouses such as Sylvan Learning, and mission-driven nonprofits like the American Lung Association, is a testament to her strategic mindset and customer-centric approach.
\nAs a thought leader in AI's applications for marketing, Julia embraces this technology to revolutionize personalization, customer insights, and content creation. Her ability to seamlessly blend innovation with time-honored marketing principles is a key driver of her success.
\n\nHer passion for nurturing marketing excellence extends far beyond the boardroom through initiatives like her bestselling book, Midsize: The Truths and Strategies of Marketing in Midsize Firms, and her Midsize Agency Match Up program connecting CMOs with exceptional agency partners.
\n\nGet ready to be inspired by her insights, her collaborative spirit, and who knows - you may even indulge in an M&M or two along the way.
\n\nFitzgerald: Good marketing is very transferable across business models, and it all starts with an unrelenting customer focus. Over the years, I have been able to take consumer and industry details from one environment and apply it to other business categories.
\n\nFor example, after years in the toy industry and at Learning Toy Company, Vtech, I was able to bring that knowledge to Sears/Kmart as the CMO of their Toy and Sporting Goods businesses.
\n\nFrom there I was recruited to Sylvan Learning as their CMO. For the hiring team at Sylvan, Vtech Learning Products + Retail = exactly the digital mindset they needed to grow their business. So I moved from consumer products, to retail, to private equity portfolio/franchise business model.
\n\nFitzgerald: Build-A-Bear's core value is adding more heart to life, a mission it has upheld for over 25 years. This beloved, multi-generational brand now appeals to adults who cherished it as children, while the experience of creating furry friends continues to engage their own children.
\n\nWith the rise of 'kidulting' and a nostalgic yearning for brands from their youth, Build-A-Bear faces the exciting challenge of delighting today's children and families, as well as Gen Z, who purchase for themselves and their friends
\n\nOmnichannel marketing is key to achieving this. Social media and influencers play a crucial role in inviting Gen Z into the stores for events like date nights, friendship days, and the latest Capybara drop. Additionally, the website offers \"The Bear Cave,\" a space dedicated to over-18 fans where they can find humorous and unique furry friends and accessories.
\n\nFitzgerald: The strategic insight behind the \"The Stuff You Love\" campaign was recognizing that Build-A-Bear's total addressable market had significantly expanded. No longer just a destination for young children's birthday parties and special occasions, Build-A-Bear saw the opportunity to evolve all channels to be fresh, relevant, and inclusive of teens, tweens, and adult fans.
\n\n\"The Stuff You Love\" is the perfect brand campaign because it resonates with all of the company's products, channels, and fan segments. Its fresh appeal in stores, advertising, and owned platforms reminds kids of all ages to re-engage with \"The Stuff (pun intended) You Love.\"
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_c045ba449dcd48df96b9489a51efc7bf~mv2.jpg\")
Fitzgerald: I published Midsize as a playbook for successful marketing in midsize firms. I define a midsize firm as one with revenues between $100 million and $800 million. Having worked in both midsize companies and large corporations, I recognized that the critical skill sets and mindsets vary significantly depending on the company size. I've had a great deal of success in midsize firms and I thrive on driving growth in environments that are scrappy, collaborative, and full of potential. The book was a share out, and a collection of stories from a variety of CMOs in the space.
\n\nAn unexpected and delightful surprise has been hearing from several young marketers who found that Midsize helped them understand what types of companies they want to work for as they build their careers.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_28c0692ee408435ba551ad48b33930d8~mv2.jpg\")
Midsize: The Truths and Strategies of Marketing in Midsize Firms – October 2022
\n\nFitzgerald: Following the publication of my book Midsize, I wrote an Op-Ed for Ad Age highlighting the need for a forum where CMOs of midsize companies can find great agency partners that fit their needs and budgets.
\n\nThe response was overwhelming, apparently revealing a significant gap in the marketing world. Inspired by this, I launched my own \"Midsize Agency Match Up\" campaign.
\n\nEach week, I highlight an agency that I've vetted as a \"Midsize Match Up\" and publish it in my LinkedIn Newsletter. This initiative ensures that at least 50 agencies a year gain extra visibility.
\n\nI started with creative agencies and am now expanding to digital agencies as well. It's been a joy to meet these incredibly talented individuals and grow my network of exceptional talent
\n\nI encourage everyone to subscribe to my Newsletter – it's free! As you never know when you will need an agency for a particular task. It's a great resource.
\nFitzgerald: This is a great crystal ball question. Most licensing deals for these entertainment properties are inked a year in advance. And for companies designing and manufacturing products overseas, calling the forecast number is a big risk. Based on what we saw this year, I'd be more bullish with evergreen licenses that the kids watch all year over and over. I'd also look for deals with low minimum guarantees to help share the risk uncertainty.
\n\nFitzgerald: AI will be key in so many areas – but the 3 that stand out for me are personalization within the customer journey, gleaning customer insights, and content creation.
\n\nWhile there is a lot of conversation about using AI within digital marketing, that does not seem especially new within the media world. Machine learning and algorithm optimization have been in use for the past several years. It will just continue to accelerate. We will quickly learn how much repetitive work can be handled by AI and what that means for training marketing staff to excel with these new tools.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_306746e685e3462abe7c970e9fe4383e~mv2.jpg\")
Fitzgerald: For current or prospective CMOs leading iconic, household name brands, my advice is to balance respect for the brand's heritage with the need for innovation. Here are a few key learnings from my experience:
\n\nLeading an iconic brand is a unique privilege and responsibility. Balancing tradition with innovation while staying deeply connected to your audience will help you steer the brand towards continued success.
\n\nGood luck!
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_b30b0bb04c33479bba004f50ed9e23b7~mv2.png\")
![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_93672f75cb18468bb5ec7887203c7386~mv2.png\")
In the fizzy fight for soda supremacy, a historical underdog sent shockwaves through the beverage industry: Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. has officially claimed the #2 spot in the nation's soda sales rankings.
\n\nThe soft drink, originally developed by a Texas pharmacist in 1885, has finally tied Pepsi as the second-best-selling soda in the United States, sales data compiled by Beverage Digest shows. Specifically, the site’s analysis shows Dr Pepper and Pepsi each with an 8.3% share of the carbonated soft drink market.\n\n
Both drinks, meanwhile, still trail far behind Coca-Cola in sales, which holds 19.2% of the market share, Beverage Digest’s data shows.
\n\nAfter over 130 years of mixing it up, this audacious original from Waco, Texas has proven it's more than just a novelty act.
\n\nWhile Coke and Pepsi were still in their infancy, Dr Pepper was branding itself as the \"King of Beverages\" in 1910 and staking an early claim to the soda throne with its unique blend of 23 flavors including prune, cherry, and a hint of pepper.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_9e8046d607d04fa4a7d677552522a2d2~mv2.jpg\")
Dr Pepper is older than Coca-Cola, having been first served in 1885 in Waco, Texas - one year before Coca-Cola hit the market in Atlanta. While Coke rapidly grew to become the dominant soda brand, Dr Pepper's sales lagged far behind for decades.
\n\nA pivotal moment came in 1963 when a court ruled that Dr Pepper was not technically a \"cola\" drink since it didn't contain kola nut.
\n\nThis decision allowed Dr Pepper to be bottled by the same companies used by Coke and Pepsi, fueling its growth and operational edge.
\n\nThe cola wars between Coke and Pepsi have raged for over a century, with both titans battling for market dominance through aggressive marketing tactics.
\n\nBefore Dr Pepper battled the beverage giants, a bold upstart from Georgia named RC Cola decided to shake things up in the 1940s with an iconic print and television ad campaign featuring stars like Bing Crosby, Joan Crawford, Shirley Temple, and Lucille Ball.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_93cd7f24ac034a32bc3f3c8ce5b22972~mv2.jpg\")
Not just a slogan, RC Cola staged public taste tests across the country pitting RC against competitors Coke and Pepsi, and declared itself the winner.
\n\nIt was the first time a beverage company had ever done such a promotion.
\n\nWhether or not the tests were rigged in some way is up for debate; what mattered was that people believed them.
\n\nFast forward to the 1980s, and RC was still chasing the market leaders as their marketing tactics, and budget, were out of this world, literally.
\n\nIn the Space Cola Wars, the major soft drink competitors Coca-Cola and Pepsi engaged in a costly marketing campaigns and product tests to get their beverages into space, in continuation of the so-called \"Cola Wars\".
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_800849e00b3a4926a184d6901aeeabee~mv2.jpg\")
RC Cola, lacking budget but not creative flair, portrayed itself as the rebellious \"third fish\" in a daring ad swimming against the currents of the two \"big fish\" Coke and Pepsi.
\nWhile risky, having used both trademarks of the beverage giants, the move generated massive attention and solidified RC Cola's reputation as a disruptive force.
\n\nThe iconic ad is still a favorite among many marketing and advertising leaders and studied in collegiate advertising courses.
\n\nAnd today, it's Dr Pepper that has assumed the mantle of the audacious \"third fish,\" zigging while Coke and Pepsi zag in their endless turf war.
\n\nFrom its inception, Dr Pepper set itself apart with bold, rebellious ad campaigns celebrating its unique flavor and individualistic spirit.
\n\nDr Pepper's iconic \"Be a Pepper\" ads of the 70s and 80s were pure genius, fostering a fierce sense of community and brand loyalty with their catchy jingle and diverse cast of
\n\"Peppers.\"
\n\nThe 'Be a Pepper' spots were lightning in a bottle, a former Pepsi SVP admitted, we just couldn't compete with that level of brand love and belonging.
\n\nAs the cola wars raged on, Pepsi struck back in the 90s with its own iconic and risky \"Pepsi Stuff\" campaign. The promotion, which promised a Harrier jet to anyone who could collect enough Pepsi points, backfired when a young entrepreneur tried to cash in. The ensuing lawsuit and Pepsi's refusal to award the \"Right Stuff\" became the stuff of marketing legend, later immortalized in the Netflix documentary \"Pepsi, Where's My Jet?\".
\n\nDecades later, another underdog brand, Liquid Death, would take a page from Pepsi's playbook with their own audacious fighter jet giveaway. The punk rock water brand's irreverent and unconventional marketing tactics have been turning heads and challenging industry norms, much like Dr Pepper and RC Cola did in their early days.
\n\nFor a deeper dive into these daring marketing stunts and their impact on the beverage industry, check out our previous article on Liquid Death's insurgent marketing strategy below.
\n\nAs for Dr Pepper, the brand's underdog spirit and willingness to take risks have clearly paid off. Stay tuned for Part 2 of our exploration into Dr Pepper's viral growth and its incredible ascent to become the second-largest soda brand in the United States.
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In the AI revolution sweeping global industries, data has emerged as the new oil. Shutterstock , the preeminent digital asset platform, has struck gold by monetizing its vast library of media files and metadata. The company's AI licensing business raked in a staggering $104 million in revenue last year, solidifying its position as a frontrunner in the data-hungry AI race.
\n\nIn a strategic move, Shutterstock has forged a partnership with Reka AI, a startup specializing in large language models. Under this collaboration, Reka AI will license Shutterstock's extensive digital asset library to develop cutting-edge multimodal AI models capable of processing and generating diverse media formats.
\n\nReciprocally, Shutterstock aims to leverage Reka AI's advanced multimodal models to enhance the metadata attached to its digital assets, further improving their discoverability and value proposition.
\n\nAI models are voracious data consumers, requiring immense datasets to power cutting-edge tools like chatbots, text generators, and image synthesizers. As user demands for these AI-driven services skyrocket, tech giants and startups alike are scrambling to feed their models with high-quality, legally licensable data.
\n\nShutterstock's trove of over 771 million images, 54 million videos, 4 million audio tracks, and 1 million 3D figures, meticulously annotated with human-created metadata, has become a coveted resource for AI companies seeking to train their models without legal entanglements.
\n\nShutterstock is not alone in capitalizing on the AI data gold rush. Rivals like Adobe and Getty Images have also inked lucrative deals with AI companies, recognizing the immense potential of their media libraries.
\n\nReddit, Inc., the online discussion forum, earns a whopping $60 million annually from licensing its data to Google and has a deal with OpenAI. Adobe leverages its image library to train its AI model, Firefly, while Getty Images has partnered with AI video startup Runway.
\n\nAs the demand for high-quality training data continues to surge, companies with extensive media repositories are poised to reap substantial rewards by monetizing their assets through AI licensing agreements.
\n\nWhile Shutterstock's AI licensing segment is expected to generate $138 million in revenue this year, in line with 2022, the company projects this figure to soar to $250 million by 2027. This anticipated growth is not due to a lack of AI customers but rather evolving contract structures that better align with the rapidly changing AI landscape.
\n\nAs AI models become more sophisticated and their applications more diverse, the need for specialized, high-quality training data will only intensify. Companies like Shutterstock, with their vast repositories of meticulously curated media assets, are well-positioned to capitalize on this burgeoning market.
\n\nHowever, the AI data gold rush is not without its challenges. The use of copyrighted materials by AI companies has come under increasing scrutiny, with firms like Midjourney, OpenAI, and Stability AI facing lawsuits for using internet-sourced content to train their models without proper licensing.
\n\nShutterstock's partnership with Reka AI addresses this legal minefield by providing a legally compliant source of training data, mitigating the risk of copyright infringement and enabling responsible AI development.
\n\nWhile Shutterstock recognizes the immense potential of AI-enhanced metadata, the company remains committed to human expertise. In addition to leveraging Reka AI's models, Shutterstock continues to invest in human-created metadata, striking a balance between machine learning and human intelligence.
\nThis hybrid approach ensures that Shutterstock's digital assets are accurately and comprehensively described, catering to the diverse needs of its customers while staying ahead of the AI curve.
\n\nAs the volume of digital media continues to proliferate, the challenge of effective discoverability becomes increasingly daunting. Shutterstock's partnership with Reka AI represents a significant stride towards harnessing the power of AI to enhance metadata quality and improve search capabilities.
\n\nBy combining human expertise with AI augmentation, Shutterstock is poised to deliver a seamless and intuitive digital asset management experience, empowering creatives, marketers, and businesses to unlock the full potential of their media libraries.
\n\nShutterstock's success in the AI licensing arena signifies a paradigm shift in the company's identity. No longer merely a provider of digital media assets, Shutterstock has evolved into a data powerhouse, capitalizing on the insatiable demand for high-quality training data in the AI revolution.
\n\nThis transformation not only unlocks new revenue streams but also solidifies Shutterstock's position as an indispensable partner for AI companies seeking to push the boundaries of what's possible with machine learning.
\n\nAs the world embraces the AI-driven future, companies like Shutterstock are at the forefront of this transformative shift. By leveraging its vast media repository and forging strategic partnerships with AI innovators, Shutterstock has unlocked a $104 million revenue stream that promises to grow exponentially.
\n\nThrough responsible data monetization, ethical AI development, and a commitment to human expertise, Shutterstock is paving the way for a future where digital asset management is seamlessly integrated with cutting-edge AI technologies, empowering businesses and creatives alike to thrive in the digital age.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "Shutterstock Unlocks AI Gold Rush with $104 Million Met", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/6d0bd50a-ed9f-45b4-9321-1aa2fcedcd6e.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "6d0bd50a-ed9f-45b4-9321-1aa2fcedcd6e", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/shutterstock-unlocks-ai-gold-rush-with-104-million-metadata-jackpot", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 94 } }, { "wixId": "85a10abf-7347-4783-bf1a-2f605294f69c", "slug": "celebrating-mary-wells-lawrence-the-campaigns-that-changed-advertising", "title": "Celebrating Mary Wells Lawrence: The Campaigns That Changed Advertising", "deck": "This month the advertising world lost of its most iconic figures, Mary Wells Lawrence. Born in 1928 in Youngstown, Ohio, Mary Wells Lawrence shattered glass ceilings and redefined the advertising landscape with her creativity, leadership, and indomitable spirit. Mary Wells Lawrence died in London on May 11, 2024, at the age of 95, two weeks shy of what would have been her 96th birthday. As we honor her legacy, let's delve into the groundbreaking campaigns that cemented her status as a...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "May 30", "publishedAt": "2024-05-30 18:22:42.000", "readTimeLabel": "4 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/85a10abf-7347-4783-bf1a-2f605294f69c.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/85a10abf-7347-4783-bf1a-2f605294f69c.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_cd809e409e214f53bdb681cdde765c40~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_cd809e409e214f53bdb681cdde765c40~mv2.png\")
This month the advertising world lost of its most iconic figures, Mary Wells Lawrence. Born in 1928 in Youngstown, Ohio, Mary Wells Lawrence shattered glass ceilings and redefined the advertising landscape with her creativity, leadership, and indomitable spirit.
\n\nMary Wells Lawrence died in London on May 11, 2024, at the age of 95, two weeks shy of what would have been her 96th birthday. As we honor her legacy, let's delve into the groundbreaking campaigns that cemented her status as a trailblazer in the industry.
\n\nMary Wells Lawrence's journey in advertising began with humble roots. After studying at the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University - Tepper School of Business), she moved to New York City and started her career as a copywriter. Her early work at McCann Erickson and later at Lennen & Newell showcased her flair for creativity and innovation. However, it was her tenure at Doyle Dane Bernbach (DDB) that truly set the stage for her future success. At DDB, she worked alongside industry legends and absorbed the agency's revolutionary approach to advertising, which emphasized creativity, simplicity, and emotional appeal.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_8b0dbb26fbb24b0993776fc51ef19aea~mv2.jpg\")
In 1966, Mary Wells Lawrence took a bold step by founding her own advertising agency, Wells Rich Greene (WRG), along with colleagues Richard Rich and Stewart Greene. At a time when it was rare for a woman to start her own agency, Mary not only founded WRG but also became the first female CEO of a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Her leadership and vision quickly propelled WRG to the forefront of the advertising industry.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_1b70a9838a4a4b2f8117bf37fa370b60~mv2.jpg\")
1. \"I ♥ NY\" Campaign
\n\nOne of the most iconic campaigns created under Mary's leadership was the \"I ♥ NY\" campaign. In the late 1970s, New York City was struggling with a negative image and declining tourism. The state of New York hired WRG to revitalize its image and attract visitors.
\n\nThe result was the simple yet powerful \"I ♥ NY\" logo, designed by graphic artist Milton Glaser, and a series of commercials that highlighted the city's attractions. The campaign's simplicity and emotional appeal resonated with audiences worldwide, transforming New York City's image and significantly boosting tourism.
\n\nThe \"I ♥ NY\" logo became an iconic symbol of the city and remains one of the most recognizable logos in the world.
\n\n2. Alka-Seltzer Campaigns
\n\nMary Wells Lawrence's work for Alka-Seltzer is another testament to her creative genius. WRG produced several memorable campaigns for the brand, including \"Plop plop, fizz fizz\" and \"I can't believe I ate the whole thing.\" These campaigns used catchy jingles and humorous scenarios to highlight the product's benefits, making Alka-Seltzer a household name.
\n\nThe \"I can't believe I ate the whole thing\" campaign, in particular, became a cultural touchstone. The phrase entered the American lexicon, and the campaign's success significantly boosted Alka-Seltzer's sales.
\n\n3. Braniff Airways \"The End of the Plain Plane\"
\nIn the mid-1960s, Braniff Airways was struggling to differentiate itself in a competitive market. Mary Wells Lawrence and her team at WRG were tasked with rebranding the airline. The result was the \"The End of the Plain Plane\" campaign, which introduced vibrant colors and stylish designs to Braniff's aircraft and uniforms.
\nThe campaign's bold and innovative approach captured the public's imagination and positioned Braniff as a modern, fashionable airline. The use of color and design in the campaign was revolutionary and set new standards for airline branding.
\n\n4. Procter & Gamble Campaigns
\nWRG also created successful campaigns for several Procter & Gamble brands, including Crest toothpaste and Pampers diapers. The campaigns emphasized the products' benefits and used emotional appeal to connect with consumers.
\nFor Crest, the campaign focused on the toothpaste's ability to fight cavities, using the tagline \"Look, Ma, no cavities!\" The campaign's effectiveness helped Crest become the leading toothpaste brand in the United States.
\n\n5. Ford Motor Company
\nMary Wells Lawrence's work for Ford Motor Company included the \"Quality is Job 1\" campaign. This campaign emphasized Ford's commitment to quality and reliability, helping to improve the brand's image and boost sales. The campaign's success demonstrated Mary's ability to create impactful advertising that resonated with consumers and reinforced brand values.
\n\n6. Sure Deodorant Campaign
\nOne of the lesser-known but equally impactful campaigns was for Sure deodorant. The campaign featured the memorable tagline \"Raise your hand if you're Sure,\" encouraging consumers to feel confident in the product's effectiveness. The ads often showed people raising their hands confidently, reinforcing the message of reliability and trust in the product.
\n\n7. Bic Pens
\nMary Wells Lawrence also worked on campaigns for Bic pens, emphasizing the product's reliability and affordability. The campaign's tagline, \"Writes first time, every time,\" highlighted the pen's consistent performance, making it a staple in households and offices.
\n\n8. Midas Muffler
\nThe Midas Muffler campaign, with the tagline \"Trust the Midas touch,\" was another example of Mary's ability to create memorable and effective advertising. The campaign emphasized the quality and reliability of Midas services, helping to establish the brand as a leader in the automotive repair industry.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_743cd13c341846ee84df8502ea4d4368~mv2.jpg\")
Mary Wells Lawrence's contributions to the advertising industry have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. She was named one of the top ten newsmakers of the 1960s by Advertising Age and was the youngest member to be inducted into the Copywriters Hall of Fame.
\n\nIn 1971, she was named Advertising Woman of the Year by the American Advertising Federation, and in 1999, she was inducted into the American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame.
\n\nIn 2020, Mary was awarded the Lion of St. Mark for her lifetime achievements at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, further cementing her legacy as one of the most influential figures in advertising history.
\n\nMary Wells Lawrence's impact on the advertising industry is immeasurable. She revolutionized the way brands communicate with consumers, introduced cinematic techniques to television commercials, and demonstrated that women could lead and excel in a male-dominated industry. Her legacy serves as an inspiration to countless women in advertising and beyond, proving that creativity, determination, and a willingness to take risks can lead to extraordinary success.
\nHer story is a testament to the power of innovation and the importance of breaking barriers, and it continues to inspire new generations of advertising professionals to dream big and achieve greatness.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_1fc85c946e23401693bb2b27e783bd8b~mv2.jpg\")
Mary Wells Lawrence's legacy lives on, and the advertising world is forever grateful for her brilliance and trailblazing spirit.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/85a10abf-7347-4783-bf1a-2f605294f69c.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "85a10abf-7347-4783-bf1a-2f605294f69c", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/celebrating-mary-wells-lawrence-the-campaigns-that-changed-advertising", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 95 } }, { "wixId": "07f155f0-0730-4743-aecc-da590a5f3028", "slug": "unmasking-ai-s-influence-fcc-s-bold-move-for-transparency-in-political-advertising", "title": "Unmasking AI's Influence: FCC's Bold Move for Transparency in Political Advertising", "deck": "Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the advertising and marketing landscape, offering unprecedented opportunities for personalization, targeting, and efficiency. However, this transformation also brings challenges related to transparency, ethics, and consumer trust. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the nation's top telecommunications regulator, is gearing up to address the burgeoning use of AI in political advertisements, a move that could redefine transparency...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "May 27", "publishedAt": "2024-05-27 22:13:33.000", "readTimeLabel": "4 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/07f155f0-0730-4743-aecc-da590a5f3028.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/07f155f0-0730-4743-aecc-da590a5f3028.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_ef67c846880a483484b43f8e52b156dc~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_ef67c846880a483484b43f8e52b156dc~mv2.png\")
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the advertising and marketing landscape, offering unprecedented opportunities for personalization, targeting, and efficiency. However, this transformation also brings challenges related to transparency, ethics, and consumer trust.
\n\nThe Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the nation's top telecommunications regulator, is gearing up to address the burgeoning use of AI in political advertisements, a move that could redefine transparency standards for the upcoming 2024 elections and beyond.
\n\nAs AI tools become increasingly accessible and sophisticated, their potential to influence public opinion and sway voters has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum. From deepfakes that can convincingly manipulate audio and visuals to generative models capable of crafting lifelike images and videos, the lines between reality and fiction are blurring at an alarming rate.
\n\nPolitical campaigns have already dipped their toes into the AI waters, experimenting with chatbots, AI-generated videos, and even dystopian scenarios depicting the consequences of a particular candidate's victory. The Republican National Committee (RNC), for instance, released an entirely AI-generated ad last year, portraying a grim future under another Biden administration, complete with realistic images of boarded-up storefronts and armored military patrols.
\n\nRecognizing the potential risks posed by AI-generated content, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has unveiled a proposal that would mandate the disclosure of AI's involvement in political ads on broadcast television and radio. If adopted by the five-person commission, this groundbreaking move would add a much-needed layer of transparency, empowering voters to make informed decisions while holding campaigns accountable for their messaging.
\n\"As AI tools become more accessible, the commission wants to make sure consumers are fully informed when the technology is used,\" Rosenworcel stated. \"Today, I've shared with my colleagues a proposal that makes clear consumers have a right to know when AI tools are being used in the political ads they see, and I hope they swiftly act on this issue.\"\n\n
AI's ability to analyze vast amounts of data in real-time allows for highly personalized and targeted advertising. This can significantly improve ad performance and customer engagement. According to a study by Solomon Partners , AI-powered dynamic outdoor advertising resulted in a 40% increase in ad recall and a 28% increase in brand awareness.
\n\nTransparency in AI usage is crucial for building consumer trust. A survey by Yahoo and Publicis Media found that AI-generated ads with clear disclosures significantly boosted brand perceptions, with a 47% lift in ad appeal, a 73% lift in ad trustworthiness, and a 96% lift in overall trust for the company. This highlights the importance of transparency in AI-driven advertising.
\n\n\"Transparency will be vital for brands to maintain long-term consumer relationships and generate positive brand equity,\" said Herbst-Brady. \"Advertisers recognize the value AI can bring beyond streamlining and optimizing processes\".\n\n
AI in advertising must be implemented ethically to avoid biases and ensure fairness. Techniques like adversarial testing and data augmentation are essential for creating balanced datasets and detecting bias in AI models. This is crucial for maintaining consumer trust and avoiding negative brand perceptions.
\n\nIt's important to note that the FCC's jurisdiction extends only to broadcast television, radio, and some cable providers. The proposed rules, if adopted, would not cover the vast and rapidly growing realm of digital and streaming platforms, where a significant portion of political advertising now takes place.
\n\nThis limitation has prompted calls for broader action from lawmakers and advocacy groups. Representative Yvette Clarke (D-NY) has introduced legislation aimed at establishing disclosure requirements for AI-generated content in online ads, underscoring the need for a comprehensive approach to tackle the challenges posed by AI in the digital age.
\n\nThe FCC's proposal represents a crucial first step in establishing transparency standards for the use of AI in political advertising. By empowering voters with knowledge about the origins of the content they consume, the commission aims to foster a more informed and engaged electorate, better equipped to navigate the complexities of modern political discourse.
\n\nHowever, as AI continues to advance at a breakneck pace, it's clear that a collaborative effort involving lawmakers, regulatory bodies, and industry stakeholders will be essential to ensure the integrity of our democratic processes. The road ahead may be fraught with challenges, but the stakes are too high to ignore the potential risks posed by unchecked AI-generated content.
\n\nWhile the FCC's proposal has garnered support from advocacy groups like Common Cause, who applaud the proactive steps taken to protect democracy from the \"serious threat posed by AI,\" others may raise concerns about stifling innovation or infringing on free speech.
\n\nIt's a delicate balancing act, one that requires careful consideration of the potential implications for both transparency and technological progress. As the commission weighs its options, it will be crucial to strike the right balance, ensuring that voters have access to accurate information while fostering an environment that encourages responsible innovation.
\n\nThe FCC's proposal is just one piece of a larger puzzle when it comes to regulating AI in the political sphere. Bipartisan efforts, such as the bill introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), aim to establish broader disclosure requirements for AI-generated or altered political ads, further underscoring the urgency of addressing this issue on a national scale.
\n\nAs the 2024 elections draw nearer, the spotlight will inevitably shine brighter on the role of AI in political campaigns. It's a rapidly evolving landscape that demands vigilance, foresight, and a willingness to adapt to the ever-changing technological landscape.
\n\nThe FCC's proposal to mandate the disclosure of AI-generated content in political ads may be just the beginning, a catalyst for broader reforms and a renewed commitment to transparency in the digital age. As we navigate the uncharted waters of AI's influence on our political discourse, it's imperative that we remain vigilant, adaptable, and unwavering in our pursuit of truth and accountability.
\n\nAI is reshaping the advertising and marketing industries, offering new opportunities for personalization, targeting, and efficiency. However, transparency, ethical considerations, and regulatory measures are essential to ensure that AI's impact is positive and sustainable. By fostering trust and maintaining ethical standards, businesses can harness the full potential of AI while safeguarding consumer interests.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/07f155f0-0730-4743-aecc-da590a5f3028.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "07f155f0-0730-4743-aecc-da590a5f3028", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/unmasking-ai-s-influence-fcc-s-bold-move-for-transparency-in-political-advertising", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 96 } }, { "wixId": "534195f5-6bb1-4107-a762-1455eb39515a", "slug": "barbie-celebrates-role-model-athletes-to-inspire-the-next-generation", "title": "Barbie Celebrates Role-Model Athletes to Inspire the Next Generation", "deck": "In celebration of its 65th anniversary, Barbie is honoring nine trailblazing women athletes from around the world by creating one-of-a-kind Role Model dolls in their likeness. This initiative aims to inspire young girls to stay in sports and recognize their full potential, highlighting the significant impact of sports in fostering self-confidence, ambition, and empowerment. Barbie Dream Gap Project and Partnerships This initiative is part of Barbie's broader commitment to leveling the playing...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "May 23", "publishedAt": "2024-05-23 18:02:16.000", "readTimeLabel": "4 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/534195f5-6bb1-4107-a762-1455eb39515a.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/534195f5-6bb1-4107-a762-1455eb39515a.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_ecf6a559f94f40e9a04733f8b1ad94b3~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_ecf6a559f94f40e9a04733f8b1ad94b3~mv2.png\")
In celebration of its 65th anniversary, Barbie is honoring nine trailblazing women athletes from around the world by creating one-of-a-kind Role Model dolls in their likeness. This initiative aims to inspire young girls to stay in sports and recognize their full potential, highlighting the significant impact of sports in fostering self-confidence, ambition, and empowerment.
\n\nThis initiative is part of Barbie's broader commitment to leveling the playing field for girls globally, both in sports and beyond. Through the Barbie Dream Gap Project, the brand aims to close the \"Dream Gap\"—the time when girls start to doubt their potential.
\n\nBarbie has partnered with VOICEINSPORT, a digital sport platform, to extend its impact through virtual mentoring sessions throughout the year. These sessions are designed to provide young girls with the guidance and support they need to pursue their interests in sports.
\n\nKrista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls at Mattel, Inc. expressed her excitement about the new Barbie Role Models, stating, \"Barbie is thrilled to continue the brand's 65th-anniversary celebration by recognizing the impact of sports in fostering self-confidence, ambition, and empowerment among the next generation.\"
\n\nBy recognizing these athletes and their accomplishments, Barbie aims to amplify their voices and inspire the next generation of women leaders in sports. The brand's commitment to empowering girls is evident through its various initiatives, partnerships, and collaborations, all designed to encourage girls to believe in their limitless possibilities.
\n\nLisa McKnight , Executive Vice President and Global Head of Barbie & Dolls at Mattel, highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating, \"Sports play a critical role in developing leadership skills, teamwork, and perseverance. By celebrating these incredible athletes, we hope to inspire young girls to stay in sports and realize their full potential.\"
\n\nAmong the celebrated athletes is American Professional Tennis Player Venus Williams, who has been a powerful advocate for breaking boundaries and staying true to oneself.
\nWilliams expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, \"I'm honored to be recognized as a sports role model and join forces with Team Barbie to continue empowering the next generation of young girls.\"
\n\nVenus Williams (United States): Tennis Player
\nOne of the most decorated Olympic athletes with four gold medals and the first woman in tennis to earn equal prize money at Wimbledon, Venus Williams has courageously persevered through countless obstacles to inspire social change within tennis and the sports industry at large.
\n\nChristine Sinclair (Canada): Soccer Player
\nAs soccer’s greatest international scorer with 190 goals to her name, Christine Sinclair has solidified her status as the most successful soccer player from Canada [of all time].
\n\nMary Fowler (Australia): Football Player
\nAt just 21 years old, Mary Fowler has become a key player for the Matildas and Manchester City football teams. She was selected for the FIFA World Cup in 2019 and became the team’s youngest player at 16 years old. Since then, she has been to two FIFA World Cups and the 2020 Olympic Games.
\n\nEstelle Mossely (France): Boxer
\nCrowned Olympic champion in 2016 and has won numerous professional and world amateur boxing titles.
\n\nAlexa Moreno (Mexico): Gymnast
\nAs Mexico’s first female world medalist in gymnastics, Alexa Moreno is recognized by Forbes Mexico as one of the 100 most powerful women in Mexico.
\n\nRebeca Andrade (Brazil): Gymnast
\nOlympic gold and silver medalist, Rebeca Andrade is regarded as one of the best gymnast of all time. The Brazilian girl is a two-time World Championship champion and has won more than ten medals in World Cups.
\n\nSusana Rodriguez (Spain): Paratriathlon Athlete
\nBorn with albinism, Susana Rodriguez began running at age 10 and has since become a barrier-breaking paratriathlon athlete. She has not only set records in her sport, but she doubled as a young doctor on the front lines amid the pandemic, earning her the cover of TIME magazine in 2021.
\n\nFederica Pellegrini (Italy): Swimmer
\nFederica Pellegrini, a former swimmer and Olympic gold medalist, is the first woman to break the 4:00 barrier in the 400m freestyle. Right after her last competitions in 2020, she got an important international recognition: election to the IOC Athletes Commission.
\n\nEwa Swoboda (Poland): Track and Field Sprinter
\nTop ranked European sprinter Ewa Swoboda’s determination, talent, and fearless nature have served as a source of inspiration for young girls across the globe. She is a three-time European Indoor Championship medalist, as well as a World Indoor Championship medalist, holding the world lead of 7.01 seconds in the 60-meter race.
\n\nTo encourage girls to stay in sports, Barbie is extending its partnership with VOICEINSPORT, a global digital platform that connects and inspires girls and women in sports through mentorship, educational content, and expert services, to help support and empower the next generation of women leaders in sports to thrive.
\nThrough this partnership, Barbie and VOICEINSPORT will host inspirational virtual mentoring sessions with Barbie Role Models on the VOICEINSPORT platform, designed to encourage girls to pursue their interest in sports.
\n\nThe sessions will be free to attend and continue into 2025. Girls in sports ages 12+ may sign up at https://voiceinsport.com/barbie to unlock free mentoring with Barbie Role Models and educational content.
\n\n\"As a young girl and now a mother of a young girl in sports, unlocking access to professional athlete mentors on the VOICEINSPORT platform with Team Barbie is a dream come true,” said Stef Strack, Founder of Voice in Sport™, VIS™. “We built VOICEINSPORT to bring more visibility to women athletes globally so that girls around the world would be inspired to dream big and build confidence to stay in the game.”
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/534195f5-6bb1-4107-a762-1455eb39515a.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "534195f5-6bb1-4107-a762-1455eb39515a", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/barbie-celebrates-role-model-athletes-to-inspire-the-next-generation", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 97 } }, { "wixId": "5d12ed20-4073-40eb-83e5-625f87c5ed82", "slug": "insights-from-allyson-witherspoon-nissan-s-global-cmo", "title": "Insights from Allyson Witherspoon, Nissan's Global CMO", "deck": "Allyson Witherspoon, recently named one of Ad Age's Leading Women of 2024, continues to break new ground in her role as Global Chief...", "category": "cmo spotlight", "categoryLabel": "CMO Spotlight", "categories": [ "cmo spotlight" ], "dateLabel": "May 23", "publishedAt": "2024-05-23 14:40:16.000", "readTimeLabel": "3 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/5d12ed20-4073-40eb-83e5-625f87c5ed82.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/5d12ed20-4073-40eb-83e5-625f87c5ed82.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_b29de65dfbe040ecb6ef308d0656ed3f~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_b29de65dfbe040ecb6ef308d0656ed3f~mv2.png\")
Allyson Witherspoon, recently named one of Ad Age's Leading Women of 2024, continues to break new ground in her role as Global Chief Marketing Officer at Nissan. Known for her innovative approach and transparent leadership style, Witherspoon has introduced several initiatives that foster open communication within the company.
\n\nAllyson Witherspoon's journey in the marketing world began with crafting innovative campaigns for prestigious car manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz USA and INFINITI Motor Company. Her creative approach and strategic thinking quickly set her apart, earning her recognition in the industry.
\n\nWitherspoon's exceptional leadership and innovative marketing strategies at Nissan U.S. paved her way to the global stage. Her promotion to Corporate Vice President, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Nissan Motor Corporation, came as a testament to her impactful contributions and visionary approach.
\n\nHer tenure at Nissan has been marked by a series of successful initiatives, including the introduction of Coffee Chats and Chat CVP sessions, aimed at fostering open dialogue and meaningful connections within the team. These initiatives not only humanized the brand but also showcased Witherspoon's commitment to transparency and approachability in leadership.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_9c2e50077ff441e3a3b307e2deead428~mv2.png\")
Notably, while serving as the U.S. CMO for Nissan, she led the brand into new marketing territories, including a groundbreaking four-hour YouTube ad for the Ariya EV.
\n\nFour-Hour YouTube Ad for the Ariya EV:
\n\nNissan's four-hour YouTube ad for the Ariya EV, which ran on the Lofi Girl channel, was a groundbreaking campaign that showcased the battery range of the Ariya. The ad captivated an audience of 18 million viewers and accumulated over 2 million hours of listening time. This innovative approach not only highlighted the vehicle's capabilities but also resonated with a younger, tech-savvy audience, significantly boosting brand awareness and engagement.
\n\nNissan's \"Road 2\" campaign for the NCAA March Madness basketball tournaments featured the all-new electric Ariya as the official vehicle. The campaign included six commercials and a unique TikTok k Now promotion, encouraging fans to share their live experiences during the tournament.
\n\nAllyson Witherspoon stated, \"The March Madness tournaments give Nissan unlimited ways to be creative and connect with our target audiences as they share their passion for this annual cultural moment.\"
\n\nThis campaign not only increased fan engagement but also positioned Nissan as an innovative and consumer-centric brand.
\n\nUnder Witherspoon's leadership, Nissan launched the Nissan@Home e-commerce platform, providing customers with a seamless online car buying experience. This platform integrates various features such as end-to-end online purchase, real-time pricing, and vehicle delivery management. The initiative was a significant step towards modernizing the car buying process and enhancing customer convenience.
\n\n\"We’ve placed a strong emphasis on leveraging popular social media platforms like TikTok to connect with consumers. Recognizing the platform's vast reach, Nissan has been actively experimenting with new TikTok features and integrating them into our marketing strategies\".
\n\n\"The evolving landscape of social media presents unique challenges, especially concerning brand safety and political scrutiny. We carefully monitor our partnerships with platforms like TikTok, ensuring that any data sharing complies with safety standards and respects consumer privacy.\"
\n\n\"The future of automotive marketing is intricately linked to electrification and sustainability. We are addressing the seismic shift in the automotive sector by adapting to evolving consumer preferences, which now prioritize sustainability, technology, and seamless mobility\"
\n\n\"Data privacy is a competitive differentiator in the crowded market, especially with connected vehicles. Our ambitious plan to launch 30 new models over the next three years aims to leverage our legacy in electric vehicles to maintain a competitive edge.\"
\n\n\"The global supply chain presents another layer of complexity. We promote consistency in purchasing activities throughout our global supply chain, aiming for sustainable growth built on mutual trust with business partners.\"
\n\n\"I’ve always been passionate about empowering women in leadership and marketing roles within the automotive industry. Drawing inspiration from early mentors, I’ve focused on mentoring and championing women, aiming to make their career journey easier and more rewarding.\"
\n\n\"My advice would be to embrace creativity as a strategic driver and not just a soft skill. Align your marketing initiatives with overarching business objectives, and always prioritize consumer trust and brand safety. Stay adaptable and responsive to cultural moments and consumer behaviors, and never shy away from experimenting with new marketing channels\".
\n\nIn a recent interview in Toronto, Allyson Witherspoon shared some exciting plans for Nissan in 2024. She highlighted the upcoming launch of several new energy concept models designed specifically for the China market, as well as the unveiling of the Ariya NISMO in Japan.
\n\nThese initiatives are part of Nissan's broader strategy to strengthen its presence in key global markets and continue its push towards electrification and sustainability.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/5d12ed20-4073-40eb-83e5-625f87c5ed82.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": true, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "5d12ed20-4073-40eb-83e5-625f87c5ed82", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/insights-from-allyson-witherspoon-nissan-s-global-cmo", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 98 } }, { "wixId": "a6bfaa84-8eff-4a2b-9e5c-8e8e3e5718bb", "slug": "that-target-feeling-how-target-s-new-campaign-is-winning-hearts-and-minds", "title": "That Target Feeling: How Target's New Campaign is Winning Hearts and Minds", "deck": "In the ever-evolving landscape of retail marketing, Target has once again proven its prowess with the launch of its latest campaign, \"That Target Feeling.\" This campaign, which debuted on May 20, 2024, is a masterclass in leveraging nostalgia, user-generated content, and pop culture to create a compelling and relatable narrative. Here’s a closer look at how Target is capturing the hearts and minds of consumers and what marketing executives can learn from this innovative approach. 1. The...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "May 22", "publishedAt": "2024-05-22 15:13:39.000", "readTimeLabel": "3 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/a6bfaa84-8eff-4a2b-9e5c-8e8e3e5718bb.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/a6bfaa84-8eff-4a2b-9e5c-8e8e3e5718bb.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_3a429fef3a6e4009a3fe0d664895d1a1~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_3a429fef3a6e4009a3fe0d664895d1a1~mv2.jpg\")
In the ever-evolving landscape of retail marketing, Target has once again proven its prowess with the launch of its latest campaign, \"That Target Feeling.\" This campaign, which debuted on May 20, 2024, is a masterclass in leveraging nostalgia, user-generated content, and pop culture to create a compelling and relatable narrative.
\n\nHere’s a closer look at how Target is capturing the hearts and minds of consumers and what marketing executives can learn from this innovative approach.
\n\nTarget's new campaign taps into the early 2000s nostalgia with a reimagined version of Michelle Branch's hit song \"Everywhere.\" This choice is not just a nod to the past but a strategic move to connect with a demographic that fondly remembers the era of mall culture and retail therapy.
\n\nOne of the standout features of \"That Target Feeling\" is its reliance on user-generated content. Target is mentioned over 50,000 times a day on social media, and the campaign draws directly from these real-life experiences. This approach not only adds authenticity but also makes consumers feel seen and valued.
\n\nTarget's campaign is heavily promoted on social media, leveraging its status as the most-followed big-box retailer on TikTok. The brand collaborates with influencers and shares user-generated content to amplify the campaign's reach and engagement.
\n\nThe campaign's execution is a blend of humor, nostalgia, and modern retail experiences. It features vignettes of customers dancing and singing in the aisles about discovering products like scented candles, plant pots, and skincare items, all set to the catchy tune of \"Everywhere.\"
\n\nTarget's feel-good marketing comes at a time when the brand faces challenges such as sluggish sales and controversy surrounding its Pride merchandise. The campaign aims to reconnect with consumers by highlighting the joy and positive experiences associated with shopping at Target.
\n\nIn addition to the \"That Target Feeling\" campaign, Target has announced price cuts on approximately 5,000 frequently purchased items to help consumers save more amid inflationary pressures. This move is part of Target's broader strategy to remain competitive and support its customers financially.
\n\nTarget is not stopping with \"That Target Feeling.\" The retailer plans to launch a new series called Tiny Target on May 27, featuring a mini talk-show set hosting conversations with influencers and celebrities. This initiative aims to further engage its audience and keep the brand top-of-mind.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_8f1c19f2f8de408381df02fb1f03cca5~mv2.jpg\")
In a move that could be dubbed \"capitalizing on calorie counting,\" food giant Nestlé has unveiled a cunning strategy to cash in on the weight-loss drug craze. Facing concerns from investors about the potential impact of appetite suppressants like Ozempic and Wegovy on future sales, the company has decided to embrace the trend rather than fight it.
\n\nNestlé's latest offering, the Vital Pursuit line, is a collection of frozen meals designed specifically for consumers who are taking GLP-1 agonist medications. These appetite-quelling drugs, which have been used by a staggering 1 in 8 American adults, according to CNBC, have caused a seismic shift in consumer eating habits.
\n\nThe Vital Pursuit products, which include pint-sized pizzas and petite pastas, are tailored to meet the nutritional needs of those who are eating less due to the appetite-suppressing effects of drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. These meals come in smaller portions and are fortified with essential nutrients that consumers might be lacking if they're consuming fewer calories.
\n\nNestlé's move to cater to the Ozempic crowd is a clever strategy to \"expand and cash in\" on the weight-loss drug phenomenon, as CNN aptly puts it. By positioning itself as a solution for the nutritional challenges faced by those on these medications, the company aims to remain relevant and profitable in the face of changing consumer habits.
\n\nThe frenzy surrounding weight-loss medications has reached unprecedented heights since the introduction of Ozempic in 2017. According to Novo Nordisk, the company behind Ozempic and Wegovy, these drugs accounted for a staggering 41% of their 2023 sales, totaling around $14 billion. With 40 million users reported, the demand for these medications has led to shortages and a surge in interest from companies looking to capitalize on the trend.
\n\nOne of the key concerns for those taking GLP-1 agonists is the potential loss of lean muscle mass and aversions to protein-rich and fatty foods. Nestlé's CEO, Mark Schneider, acknowledged this challenge, stating, \"When you eat less, you have certain needs of vitamins, minerals, and supplements. You want to be sure that the weight loss gets supported. You want to be sure that you limit the loss of lean muscle mass.\"
\n\nNestlé's foray into the Ozempic market was preceded by a wave of investor anxiety that sent the company's stock tumbling to a near two-year low in October. This dip followed comments from John Furner, the CEO of Walmart's U.S. operations, who noted a \"slight pullback in overall basket\" and \"slightly less calories\" being purchased by customers using weight-loss drugs.
\n\nA report by Morgan Stanley, using data from market research firm Numerator, supported Furner's observations. The report found that Ozempic users slashed their grocery store spending by up to 9%, with snacks and sweets taking the biggest hit. Conversely, sales of vegetables and protein saw a slight uptick. This trend caused share price tumbles for companies like Lindt & Spruengli, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Unilever, and Danone.
\n\nNestlé's Vital Pursuit line will retail for $4.99 per meal, a dollar more than a DiGiorno personal pepperoni pizza at Target. This pricing strategy positions the line as a premium offering, catering to the health-conscious and weight-conscious consumer.
\n\nNestlé is not the only company adapting to the changing market dynamics brought about by weight-loss drugs. WW International, formerly WeightWatchers, has introduced a new food plan specifically for those on these medications. Luxury gyms are launching clinics with access to medical professionals who can prescribe the drugs, and struggling vitamin and supplement chain GNC has announced plans to add a dedicated section in its 2,300 stores for weight-loss drug users.
\n\nAs Steve Presley, CEO of Nestlé North America, stated, \"We're leveraging our deep understanding of consumers and nutritional science to stay ahead of the trends that are shaping consumer behaviors, and innovating across our portfolio to deliver products people will love.\"
\n\nWith its Vital Pursuit line, Nestlé appears poised to capitalize on the growing market for weight-loss drug-friendly foods and beverages.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/1212dd6c-8dd8-4c0e-af9a-3f5dac91c927.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "1212dd6c-8dd8-4c0e-af9a-3f5dac91c927", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/nestlé-pursues-profits-by-catering-to-ozempic-appetites", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 100 } }, { "wixId": "4caad41c-8bf9-4d2c-8f3a-518e868bd99c", "slug": "tech-titans-clash-samsung-roasts-apple-s-ill-fated-ipad-pro-ad", "title": "Tech Titans Clash: Samsung Roasts Apple's Ill-Fated iPad Pro Ad", "deck": "In the ever-escalating battle for tech supremacy, Samsung Electronics has unleashed a sizzling comeback targeting Apple 's controversial iPad Pro advertisement. Capitalizing on its rival's misstep, the Korean tech behemoth has crafted a sassy response that has ignited a firestorm across the digital realm. The Spark That Ignited the Flame Apple's now-infamous \"Let Loose\" event last week aimed to unveil its latest innovations, including the highly anticipated iPad Pro. However, the accompanying...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "May 22", "publishedAt": "2024-05-22 01:37:45.000", "readTimeLabel": "3 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/4caad41c-8bf9-4d2c-8f3a-518e868bd99c.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/4caad41c-8bf9-4d2c-8f3a-518e868bd99c.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_997e0a3d29b54227b2ea7e34ca8c919e~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_997e0a3d29b54227b2ea7e34ca8c919e~mv2.jpg\")
In the ever-escalating battle for tech supremacy, Samsung Electronics has unleashed a sizzling comeback targeting Apple 's controversial iPad Pro advertisement. Capitalizing on its rival's misstep, the Korean tech behemoth has crafted a sassy response that has ignited a firestorm across the digital realm.
\n\nApple's now-infamous \"Let Loose\" event last week aimed to unveil its latest innovations, including the highly anticipated iPad Pro. However, the accompanying advertisement sparked widespread backlash, depicting a hydraulic press crushing various creative instruments and objects, implying the tablet's ability to replace them all. This jarring visual metaphor struck a discordant chord with artists, creatives, and tech enthusiasts worldwide.
\n\nRecognizing the ad's failure to resonate with its intended audience, Apple's VP of Marketing Communications, Tor Myhren, issued a formal apology.
\n\n\"Creativity is in our DNA at Apple, and it's incredibly important to us to design products that empower creatives all over the world,\" Myhren stated. \"Our goal is to always celebrate the myriad of ways users express themselves and bring their ideas to life through iPad. We missed the mark with this video, and we're sorry.\"
\n\nAmid the whirlwind of criticism, Samsung swiftly seized the opportunity to strike back. The company's US mobile division took to social media, unleashing a cleverly crafted advertisement with the hashtag #UnCrush. The video depicts a woman amidst the aftermath of the crushed objects, picking up a battered guitar and strumming a tune while referencing sheet music displayed on a Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 tablet.
\n\nThe ad's tagline, \"Creativity cannot be crushed,\" resonated with many who perceived Apple's campaign as dismissive of human ingenuity and artistic expression. Samsung's jab at its rival's misstep was a deft move, capturing the sentiment of those who felt Apple had lost touch with the creative community it once championed.
\n\nWhile Samsung's ad has garnered praise for its timeliness and wit, some question the sincerity of the company's stance. Critics argue that Samsung, primarily known for its hardware prowess, has yet to establish itself as a true champion of creativity in the eyes of artists and content creators.
\n\nAdditionally, the mention of \"Galaxy AI\" in the ad's closing frame has raised eyebrows among those who view artificial intelligence as a potential threat to human creativity. However, proponents counter that technology and creativity need not be mutually exclusive, with AI serving as a tool to augment human ingenuity rather than replace it.
\n\nAs the dust settles on this latest skirmish, the broader question remains: Can Samsung truly challenge Apple's dominance in the creative sphere? While the company's hardware offerings have garnered acclaim, it has yet to cultivate the same level of loyalty and affinity among artists and creatives that Apple has long enjoyed.
\nTo truly establish itself as a viable alternative, Samsung must go beyond witty ad campaigns and deliver a tablet experience that not only matches the iPad Pro's technical prowess but also resonates with the unique needs and sensibilities of the creative community.
\n\nThis clash between tech titans serves as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance companies must strike when promoting their innovations. While technological advancements often promise to simplify and streamline our lives, they must be presented in a manner that respects and celebrates the enduring value of human creativity, ingenuity, and expression.
\n\nApple's misstep highlights the importance of empathy and emotional intelligence in marketing, lest companies risk alienating the very audiences they seek to captivate. Samsung's response, while clever, must be backed by tangible efforts to cultivate a genuine connection with the creative community.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/4caad41c-8bf9-4d2c-8f3a-518e868bd99c.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "4caad41c-8bf9-4d2c-8f3a-518e868bd99c", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/tech-titans-clash-samsung-roasts-apple-s-ill-fated-ipad-pro-ad", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [ "uncrush", "uncrush" ], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 101 } }, { "wixId": "8fece8fd-08db-46da-a75a-a546b97c3c5d", "slug": "dude-where-s-my-jet-liquid-death-s-insane-fighter-jet-giveaway", "title": "Dude, Where's My Jet? Liquid Death's Insane Fighter Jet Giveaway", "deck": "From the twisted minds that brought you canned water laced with anti-corporate sarcasm, comes a contest so delightfully deranged, it'll make your adrenaline junkie heart skip a beat. Liquid Death, the rebellious beverage brand hellbent on disrupting the mundane, is giving away either a fully functional $400,000 fighter jet or a briefcase stuffed with a cool quarter-million dollars in cold, hard cash. A Morbid Sense of Humor That Slays If you're unfamiliar with Liquid Death, let me quickly...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "May 22", "publishedAt": "2024-05-22 00:48:36.000", "readTimeLabel": "6 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/8fece8fd-08db-46da-a75a-a546b97c3c5d.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/8fece8fd-08db-46da-a75a-a546b97c3c5d.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_538db4548e454f9ca89b628005dff0db~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_538db4548e454f9ca89b628005dff0db~mv2.jpg\")
From the twisted minds that brought you canned water laced with anti-corporate sarcasm, comes a contest so delightfully deranged, it'll make your adrenaline junkie heart skip a beat. Liquid Death, the rebellious beverage brand hellbent on disrupting the mundane, is giving away either a fully functional $400,000 fighter jet or a briefcase stuffed with a cool quarter-million dollars in cold, hard cash.
\n\nIf you're unfamiliar with Liquid Death, let me quickly bring you up to speed. These mavericks took the humble H2O and repackaged it in a sleek, sinister-looking tallboy, complete with a snarling Grim Reaper emblazoned on the can. Their deliciously dark marketing schtick is equal parts brilliant and bonkers, appealing to the anti-establishment crowd who appreciate a healthy dose of irreverence with their hydration.
\n\nNow, back to this insane giveaway. Liquid Death's contest, fittingly dubbed \"The Dehydrator,\" offers two prizes that would make even the most seasoned thrill-seeker's knees wobble with anticipation.
\n\nOption A: a genuine L-39 Albatros fighter jet, originally designed for military pilot training but fully capable of leaving contrails in the sky and your buddies' jaws on the floor.
\n\nOr, if soaring through the stratosphere isn't your jam, you could opt for Option B: a nondescript briefcase brimming with $250,000 in cold, hard cash.
\n\nImagine the possibilities – you could finally quit your soul-crushing job, fund that off-the-grid tiny home you've been dreaming about, or simply stack it up and roll around in your newfound wealth like a modern-day Scrooge McDuck.
\n\nNow, the million-dollar question (or should we say the $250,000 question?): how does one throw their hat into this ring of chaos? It's delightfully simple, yet fiendishly clever.
\n\nEvery time you purchase a Liquid Death tallboy, be it online or at your local purveyor of fine canned waters, you'll automatically be entered into the contest.
\n\nLiquid Death's audacious giveaway is just the latest in a long line of marketing stunts that have solidified their reputation as the enfants terribles of the beverage industry. From their delightfully morbid social media presence to their tongue-in-cheek merchandise (ever wanted a Liquid Death-branded skate deck or a plush Grim Reaper toy?), these rebels have consistently proven that they're not afraid to color outside the lines.
\n\nAnd let's be honest, in a world where we're constantly bombarded with bland, cookie-cutter advertising, a brand that dares to be different – nay, delightfully deranged – is a breath of fresh, canned air.
\n\nOf course, no contest this outrageous would be complete without a few caveats and disclaimers.
\n\nIn a world where most brands play it safe, Liquid Death's audacious giveaway is a refreshing reminder that some companies are still willing to take risks and think outside the box. By offering prizes that are equal parts outrageous and covetable, they've managed to capture the attention of thrill-seekers and marketing aficionados alike.
\nAnd who knows? Maybe their unconventional approach will inspire other brands to follow suit, ushering in a new era of delightfully deranged marketing campaigns that keep us on the edge of our seats.
\n\nIn the annals of outrageous marketing stunts, few can rival the infamous \"Pepsi Stuff\" campaign of the mid-90s. The soda giant promised consumers they could redeem Pepsi Points for a range of prizes, from t-shirts and sunglasses to the grand prize - a military-grade Harrier jet valued at 7 million Pepsi Points (or $23 million).
\n\nWhile Pepsi likely never expected anyone to actually attempt to claim the jet, a crafty business student named John Leonard called their bluff. He painstakingly collected and redeemed 7 million points, including buying vast quantities of Pepsi products and soliciting additional points from friends, family, and even school corporations.
\n\nWhen Pepsi refused to award the jet, Leonard took them to court in a case that became known as the \"Pepsi Points Case.\" The lawsuit alleged Pepsi was guilty of fraud and breach of contract. While the court dismissed the fraud claims, they ruled that the Harrier jet constituted a legitimate offer under the rules of the contest.
\n\nUltimately, Pepsi avoided awarding the jet by claiming it was clearly marketed as a joke that no reasonable person would take literally. The case highlighted the need for clear terms and conditions in promotional contests to avoid such misunderstandings.
\n\nWhile Liquid Death's contest avoids the ambiguity of the Pepsi fiasco by explicitly offering a real fighter jet as a prize, it serves as a reminder that outrageous marketing stunts can sometimes backfire spectacularly if not executed carefully.
\n\nLet's be honest – there's something undeniably alluring about the prospect of winning big. Whether it's a life-changing sum of money or a once-in-a-lifetime experience, contests tap into our innate human desire for adventure, excitement, and the thrill of the chase.
\n\nPerhaps it's the element of chance that gets our hearts racing, or the tantalizing possibility of emerging victorious against seemingly insurmountable odds. Whatever the reason, contests have a way of capturing our imaginations and inspiring us to dream big.
\n\nBeyond the sheer audacity of the prizes on offer, Liquid Death's giveaway serves as a masterclass in fearless marketing. In an age where most brands play it safe, these rebels have dared to be different, embracing a delightfully morbid aesthetic and an irreverent tone that resonates with their target audience.
\n\nBy offering prizes that are equal parts outrageous and covetable, they've managed to capture the attention of thrill-seekers and marketing aficionados alike, proving that sometimes, the boldest risks yield the biggest rewards.
\n\nAt the end of the day, Liquid Death's giveaway is more than just a clever marketing ploy – it's a rallying cry for those of us who crave a little more excitement, a little more adventure, and a whole lot more irreverence in our lives.
\n\nSo go ahead, embrace your inner rebel. Purchase a tallboy (or ten), and throw your hat into the ring for a chance to win big. Who knows? You might just find yourself soaring through the skies in a fighter jet or swimming in a briefcase full of cash.
\nAnd even if you don't emerge victorious, you'll have played a part in supporting a brand that dares to be different, one delightfully deranged marketing stunt at a time.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_2418ff6a2efe4c91a6666bb3afc96994~mv2.png\")
These can vary significantly depending on various factors, such as the location, the condition of the aircraft, and the level of maintenance required. However, here's a rough estimate:
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_c9feb7292560411bb7899b641b2c9140~mv2.jpg\")
As the 2024 National Basketball Association (NBA) Playoffs heat up, the league has unveiled an electrifying new campaign to promote the upcoming NBA Finals. Titled \"The Toast,\" this cinematic ad celebrates the pinnacle of the basketball season with an A-list cast of stars from sports, entertainment, and music.
\n\nAt the center of \"The Toast\" is NBA legend and three-time champion Dwyane Wade , who hosts an elegant gala inviting one and all to raise a glass to the NBA Finals. The spot opens with Wade delivering a tribute that honors the iconic moments and figures that have defined the championship journey.
\n\n\"As the Playoffs near a close, we are arriving at the pinnacle of the NBA season: the NBA Finals,\" said NBA Chief Marketing Officer Tammy Henault . \"This campaign aims to capture the gravity of the moment and celebrate the season behind us while building anticipation for the excitement that lies ahead.\"
\n\nWade is joined by a star-studded roster of guests at his glamorous affair. The campaign features appearances from:
\n\nThis ensemble cast gathers to toast \"the season that was and the champions to be,\" capturing the convergence of sports, culture, and entertainment that the NBA Finals represents.
\n\nThe \"Toast\" campaign will be translated into 14 languages and air in 214 countries and territories around the world. It aims to build excitement not just domestically but on an international scale befitting the global phenomenon of the NBA Finals.
\nComplementing the flagship video will be out-of-home ads, digital activations, custom content with celebrities and creators, fan sweepstakes, and more. The league is even planning a pop-up event at the Governors Ball Music Festival in New York from June 7-9.
\n\"The campaign will be accompanied by a comprehensive print, digital, and audio rollout with high-impact placements like out-of-home ads in over ten U.S. cities and at major events,\" said Henault.
\n\nAfter the star-studded \"Toast\" builds anticipation, the 2024 NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV will tip off on June 6th on ABC.
\n\nThe Conference Finals matchups are set, with the Boston Celtics taking on the Indiana Pacers in the East and the Minnesota Timberwolves facing the Dallas Mavericks in the West.
\n\nAs the playoff journey culminates, the NBA is aiming to capture the magic and grandeur of the Finals through the lens of \"The Toast.\" With an iconic host, celebrity cameos galore, and a global marketing blitz, this campaign is setting the stage for the league to crown a new world champion.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/781342fd-3768-4f26-bcea-6e431f2929f4.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "781342fd-3768-4f26-bcea-6e431f2929f4", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/the-nba-launches-star-studded-the-toast-campaign-for-2024-finals", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 103 } }, { "wixId": "a7ba37c6-0c25-4eae-a9d1-91ebc49c7265", "slug": "tiktok-beauty-brands-pivot-to-youtube-shorts-amid-platform-s-uncertain-future", "title": "TikTok Beauty Brands Pivot to YouTube Shorts Amid Platform's Uncertain Future", "deck": "As TikTok's fate remains unclear amidst data privacy concerns and potential bans, beauty brands that found virality on the short-form video platform are diversifying their strategies. Many are now increasing investment in Youtube's Shorts feature as an alternative channel. TikTok upended the beauty industry by allowing users to democratize trends and shift marketing power toward consumer-created content. \"The 'unsexy' beauty conversation really took off organically on TikTok,\" said Sophia...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "May 20", "publishedAt": "2024-05-20 18:27:16.000", "readTimeLabel": "3 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/a7ba37c6-0c25-4eae-a9d1-91ebc49c7265.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/a7ba37c6-0c25-4eae-a9d1-91ebc49c7265.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_dbe5f000eb6941eab576f4a51e73d500~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_dbe5f000eb6941eab576f4a51e73d500~mv2.jpg\")
As TikTok's fate remains unclear amidst data privacy concerns and potential bans, beauty brands that found virality on the short-form video platform are diversifying their strategies. Many are now increasing investment in Youtube's Shorts feature as an alternative channel.
\n\nTikTok upended the beauty industry by allowing users to democratize trends and shift marketing power toward consumer-created content. \"The 'unsexy' beauty conversation really took off organically on TikTok,\" said Sophia Pauline (@sophiappauline), a creator who kickstarted the popular hashtag showcasing unglamorous but effective products like @Nizoral shampoo and Dial antibacterial soap.
\n\nAs this TikTok fixation illustrates, short-form video provided beauty companies an invaluable avenue to connect with Gen Z consumers researching skin care, makeup tutorials and product reviews. Now brands are hedging their bets on YouTube Shorts to maintain that connection.
\n\n\"While Instagram Reels is more widely adopted by beauty brands currently, our data shows YouTube Shorts is seeing quiet but significant growth in both retention rate and overall views,\" said Bailey Jacobs, an analyst at Dash Hudson.
\n\nAccording to Dash Hudson's metrics, YouTube Shorts videos generate roughly one-third the views of TikToks and Reels on average. However, Shorts views have grown 24% over the past year as more brands experiment on the platform.
\n\nKorean beauty brand LANEIGE currently ranks as the top beauty brand on YouTube Shorts by total views at 42 million.
\n\nFellow K-beauty brand Glow Recipe is also investing more in YouTube Shorts as part of its diversification strategy. \"We've seen our Shorts content organically take off, reaching a new audience segment that may not actively follow beauty videos but engages through YouTube's discovery,\" said Michelle Pongrachic, Glow Recipe's VP of Marketing.
\n\nAs TikTok's future remains tenuous, adapting short-form video strategies to thrive on YouTube and Instagram will be crucial for beauty brands seeking to retain their virality and connections to digital-native consumers. Gently Beauty, a rising skincare brand, has already begun testing both Shorts and Reels campaigns.
\n\nThe potential TikTok ban has creators and brands worried about the impacts, as Amanda Marcovitch reports for Forbes. \"If TikTok gets banned it's going to impact all of us whether we're based in Europe or Africa,\" said content creator Jade Beason. She predicts an oversaturation on Instagram and YouTube as TikTok creators flood those platforms.
\n\nAs this pivotal shift looms, beauty brands are proactively adapting. According to Marcovitch, E.L.F. BEAUTY is now investing more in Reels and Shorts after experiencing TikTok success. \"We'll take that incredible muscle that we built and develop and go with it wherever our community wants to go next,\" said Kory Marchisotto , e.l.f's Chief Marketing Officer.
\n\nMilani Cosmetics is also exploring alternatives like Flip , a shopping platform for beauty reviews. \"We can always pivot. Like any technology, there will always be something new to try,\" said Jeremy Lowenstein, Milani's CMO.
\n\nFor the beauty industry propelled by TikTok's explosive success, this preemptive pivot to alternative short-form video apps could unlock new frontiers for influencer marketing and consumer connections. However, the potential TikTok ban raises broader concerns about the creator economy.
\n\nMarcovitch notes the potential ban also raises concerns beyond just content creation. \"For many, the idea that all this could be taken away feels like a betrayal of the values that made [TikTok] such an important part of the creator economy,\" she writes, citing a petition started by August co-founder Nadya O. arguing the ban would \"stifle free speech, creative expression, and economic opportunity.\"
\n\nAs beauty creators like disability rights activist Imani Barbarin have built communities and income streams on TikTok, the risk of volatility is sparking brands and influencers alike to diversify their strategies across multiple short-form video platforms.
\n\n\"Short-form video allows us an opportunity to educate customers on our brand philosophy and product benefits in a highly consumable way,\" said Jake Williams, Head of Marketing at Gently Beauty. \"While TikTok was transformative, diversifying across multiple platforms is now essential.\"
\n\nWith the risks of platform volatility, brands and creators may need to further diversify strategies across multiple short-form video apps to protect their marketing initiatives and audience connections.
\n\nFor an industry propelled by TikTok's explosive growth, this pivot could unlock new frontiers for beauty marketing in the short-form landscape.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/a7ba37c6-0c25-4eae-a9d1-91ebc49c7265.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "a7ba37c6-0c25-4eae-a9d1-91ebc49c7265", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/tiktok-beauty-brands-pivot-to-youtube-shorts-amid-platform-s-uncertain-future", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 104 } }, { "wixId": "1c255ff3-b87c-4da9-93ce-81ca63b306d7", "slug": "duracell-doubles-down-on-partnership-with-ariana-madix-with-new-assistant-ann-ad", "title": "Duracell Doubles Down on Partnership with Ariana Madix with New \"Assistant Ann\" Ad", "deck": "The Duracell Company is doubling down on its popular ad campaign featuring Bravo TV's Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix by releasing a new ad installment referencing the \"Scandoval\" fallout from her split with Tom Sandoval and this time features fan favorite, \"Assistant Ann.\" The battery brand first teamed up with Madix last June on an ad poking fun at Sandoval's viral comments about her not restocking household items like batteries during their relationship. That initial Duracell spot...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "May 15", "publishedAt": "2024-05-15 18:38:05.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/1c255ff3-b87c-4da9-93ce-81ca63b306d7.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/1c255ff3-b87c-4da9-93ce-81ca63b306d7.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_1469bd5684d3497f8de166153f16b64e~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_1469bd5684d3497f8de166153f16b64e~mv2.jpg\")
The Duracell Company is doubling down on its popular ad campaign featuring Bravo TV's Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix by releasing a new ad installment referencing the \"Scandoval\" fallout from her split with Tom Sandoval and this time features fan favorite, \"Assistant Ann.\"
\n\nThe battery brand first teamed up with Madix last June on an ad poking fun at Sandoval's viral comments about her not restocking household items like batteries during their relationship.
\n\nThat initial Duracell spot capitalized on a memorable season 10 scene where Sandoval complained to Tom Schwartz that Madix never restocked household items like batteries. Madix's debut ad featured zingers like \"I buy my own batteries now\" and a nod to their 9-year relationship being longer than Duracell's 10-year battery life.
\n\"I buy my own batteries now.\"\n
Watch the original spot in the Madix-Duracell partnership here:
\n\nNow, Duracell has released a second installment featuring Madix's assistant, miki ann maddox, who also left her former employer, Sandoval, for a brighter future. \"Trust me, different is good,\" Ann says cheekily in the new spot.
\n\nAnn takes over the spotlight in the ad, smiling to the camera and finally setting the record straight:
\n\"I always bought the batteries. And can tell you all about them, because I didn't sign an NDA!\"\n
Watch the newest The Duracell Company below:
\n\nMaddox's quip in the ad is also a nod to her podcast, \"We Signed an NDA\" with Amanda Lifford, former producer of the The Viall Files.
\n\nFrom there, Ann helps Madix \"stock up\" her place with Duracell batteries in her new \"dream home.\"
\n\nIt's clear Duracell is, and has always been, #TeamAriana and fans are loving it.
\nHere is one fresh take from creator Emily Schwartz posting: \"Madix & Maddox living their best lives 🤭 Ariana & Ann get their own batteries 😏\"
\n\nWatch the full reaction below:
\n\nThis is a brand partnership that keeps on giving, and bringing Ann into the mix with Madix is a clear win for the Duracell marketing team.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/1c255ff3-b87c-4da9-93ce-81ca63b306d7.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "1c255ff3-b87c-4da9-93ce-81ca63b306d7", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/duracell-doubles-down-on-partnership-with-ariana-madix-with-new-assistant-ann-ad", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [ "teamariana" ], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 105 } }, { "wixId": "40ee0135-9496-462d-a808-635f9850e2ed", "slug": "ad-giants-double-down-on-tiktok-amid-white-house-ownership-mandate", "title": "Ad Giants Double Down on TikTok Amid White House Ownership Mandate", "deck": "Top agencies actively promote TikTok's ad capabilities despite forced sale order In a unanimous show of support, many of America's largest advertising agency holding companies have launched a collaborative campaign aggressively promoting TikTok as an essential ad platform for brands - just days after President Biden signed legislation giving the Chinese-owned app's parent company ByteDance one year to sell or face a potential nationwide ban. On May 3rd, TikTok unveiled a marketing video...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "May 8", "publishedAt": "2024-05-08 14:17:51.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/40ee0135-9496-462d-a808-635f9850e2ed.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/40ee0135-9496-462d-a808-635f9850e2ed.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_a539b6c3068b4aef86b628bed74cd572~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "Top agencies actively promote TikTok's ad capabilities despite forced sale order
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_a539b6c3068b4aef86b628bed74cd572~mv2.jpg\")
In a unanimous show of support, many of America's largest advertising agency holding companies have launched a collaborative campaign aggressively promoting TikTok as an essential ad platform for brands - just days after President Biden signed legislation giving the Chinese-owned app's parent company ByteDance one year to sell or face a potential nationwide ban.
\n\nOn May 3rd, TikTok unveiled a marketing video produced in partnership with executives from dentsu , Havas , IPG Mediabrands , Horizon Media , Publicis Groupe and GroupM that overtly encourages brands to advertise on the app. \"We're TikTok...telling you why your brand should be on TikTok,\" the company announced on LinkedIn.
\nThe reel features agency leaders like dentsu's Cara Lewis and Publicis' Shelby Saville enthusiastically touting TikTok's ability to reach and move audiences, with Saville claiming to be emotionally impacted by the platform's popular user-generated content. Horizon's Dave Campanelli praises how TikTok allows connecting with sports fans.
\n\nThis concerted ad world embrace arrives just ten days after Biden's RESTRICT Act cited data security risks and potential Chinese government interference in mandating ByteDance must divest its ownership of TikTok within a year or risk the app being banned in the United States. ByteDance has stated it plans to legally contest the forced sale order.
\n\nWhen asked for comment regarding their rationale for ardently promoting a platform the White House has deemed a national security threat due to its Chinese ties, the major advertising holding companies declined to provide any statement or explanation. A GroupM spokesperson did not respond to an inquiry.
\nThe ad giants' unabashed endorsement of TikTok suggests their agencies' commercial interests in capitalizing on the popular app's lucrative ad space continues taking precedence over the data privacy and security concerns raised by the Biden administration's pending crackdown.
\n\nTikTok is vowing to fight the new law in the courts, with CEO Shou Chew saying in a video posted to the service yesterday that \"the facts and the Constitution are on our side.\" He added that TikTok expects \"to prevail again,\" referring to Montana's efforts to ban the app, which was blocked by a federal judge.
\n\nThat being said, TikTok is likely to attract attention from numerous suitors, given that the social media service is used by 6 in 10 Americans under the age of 30. Its algorithm offers up constantly scrolling videos pegged to users' personal interests and habits, creating an addictive stream that keeps them glued to the app.
\nThat could prove extremely valuable to a number of suitors, as long as TikTok is sold with its \"golden jewel algorithm,\" Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives told CBS MoneyWatch.
\n\nWith the algorithm, he said, \"We estimate TikTok is worth $100 billion.\"
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/40ee0135-9496-462d-a808-635f9850e2ed.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "40ee0135-9496-462d-a808-635f9850e2ed", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/ad-giants-double-down-on-tiktok-amid-white-house-ownership-mandate", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 106 } }, { "wixId": "750a3203-058f-4aaf-9aed-d2ae0d8d25b1", "slug": "snickers-launches-global-hungry-skies-campaign-targeting-air-travelers", "title": "Snickers Launches Global 'Hungry Skies' Campaign Targeting Air Travelers", "deck": "Mars flagship chocolate brand Snickers is taking flight with a major new international marketing push aimed at capturing a bigger share of the lucrative on-the-go snacking market. The quirky 'Hungry Skies' campaign centers around relatable air travel frustrations in a bid to position Snickers as an essential snack for hungry passengers. The multi-million dollar initiative comes as Snickers, known as Marathon in the UK until the 1990s, saw its global sales soar 13% last year, underscoring the...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Apr 30", "publishedAt": "2024-04-30 14:59:21.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/750a3203-058f-4aaf-9aed-d2ae0d8d25b1.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/750a3203-058f-4aaf-9aed-d2ae0d8d25b1.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_ad9a117ea1b8475488e801d1715da62d~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_ad9a117ea1b8475488e801d1715da62d~mv2.jpg\")
Mars flagship chocolate brand Snickers is taking flight with a major new international marketing push aimed at capturing a bigger share of the lucrative on-the-go snacking market. The quirky 'Hungry Skies' campaign centers around relatable air travel frustrations in a bid to position Snickers as an essential snack for hungry passengers.
\n\nThe multi-million dollar initiative comes as Snickers, known as Marathon in the UK until the 1990s, saw its global sales soar 13% last year, underscoring the brand's enduring popularity. The new advertisements poke fun at irritable flyers exhibiting \"hangry\" behavior like doing in-seat yoga, incessantly ringing the call button, and even bringing an emotional support snake on board.
\n\n\"For nearly 20 years, Snickers has been the satisfying solution when hunger makes us feel out-of-sorts,\" said Rankin Carroll, Chief Brand Officer at Mars Snacking. \"With over 6 million people flying daily and air travel expected to grow 15% in 2024, this campaign captures those relatable moments we've all encountered and reminds hungry travelers to grab a Snickers.\"
\n\nThe campaign was created in partnership with BBDO New York, part of the Omnicom advertising conglomerate. It will initially debut across TV, digital, social media, and airportactivations in the U.S. and Australia before expanding to over 30 countries through early 2025.
\n\n\"Not a day goes by without a viral video of someone losing it on a plane,\" said Kristin Clark , SVP Creative Director at BBDO Worldwide. \"When we noticed Snickers hadn't extended its iconic 'You're Not You When You're Hungry' to travel, we knew the brand could come to the rescue.\"
\n\nThe multi-million dollar global marketing blitz kicks off as Snickers' parent company Mars prepares for a major presence at the Sweets & Snacks Expo in Indianapolis from May 14-16. The annual trade show is making a return to the Indiana city after previously being held in Chicago.
\n\nIndustry analysts view the 'Hungry Skies' push as a smart strategy for Snickers to increase brand relevance among younger consumers and frequent travelers seeking portable protein-rich snacks. With air rage incidents making headlines, the campaign's humorous take could resonate while driving impulse purchases.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/750a3203-058f-4aaf-9aed-d2ae0d8d25b1.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "750a3203-058f-4aaf-9aed-d2ae0d8d25b1", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/snickers-launches-global-hungry-skies-campaign-targeting-air-travelers", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 107 } }, { "wixId": "3169bf62-ba88-45c8-99a9-e0687c41328e", "slug": "prada-makes-wnba-draft-history-dressing-caitlyn-clark", "title": "Prada Makes WNBA Draft History Dressing Caitlyn Clark", "deck": "In a historic move for both the fashion and basketball worlds, luxury brand Prada dressed Caitlyn Clark for her appearance at the 2024 WNBA draft. This marks the first time Prada has outfitted a WNBA draft prospect, breaking new ground for the high-fashion label. \"Caitlyn Clark is a trailblazer both on and off the court,\" said Miuccia Prada, creative director of Prada. \"We are honored to dress her for this momentous occasion and celebrate her journey to the WNBA.\" Clark, who is projected to...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Apr 16", "publishedAt": "2024-04-16 16:24:18.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/3169bf62-ba88-45c8-99a9-e0687c41328e.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/3169bf62-ba88-45c8-99a9-e0687c41328e.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_f8a614b41097492b91e1641dc8a96299~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "In a historic move for both the fashion and basketball worlds, luxury brand Prada dressed Caitlyn Clark for her appearance at the 2024 WNBA draft. This marks the first time Prada has outfitted a WNBA draft prospect, breaking new ground for the high-fashion label.
\n\n\"Caitlyn Clark is a trailblazer both on and off the court,\" said Miuccia Prada, creative director of Prada. \"We are honored to dress her for this momentous occasion and celebrate her journey to the WNBA.\"
\n\nClark, who is projected to be a top-5 pick in the upcoming draft, donned a sleek Prada pantsuit in a rich burgundy hue. The tailored ensemble featured clean lines and subtle details that complemented Clark's confident and poised demeanor.
\n\n\"It's a dream come true to be drafted into the WNBA, and I'm incredibly grateful to Prada for partnering with me on this moment,\" said Clark. \"Fashion has always been a passion of mine, so to be dressed by such an iconic brand is truly an honor.\"
\n\nThe move by Prada to dress Clark marks a significant shift in the brand's relationship with women's basketball. Historically, the luxury fashion world has focused primarily on dressing male athletes, leaving many female stars without the same high-profile style partnerships.
\n\n\"Caitlyn's selection by Prada is a powerful statement about the growing influence and prominence of the WNBA,\" said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. \"We're thrilled to see a brand of Prada's caliber recognize the immense talent and star power of our league's players.\"
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_f8a614b41097492b91e1641dc8a96299~mv2.jpg\")
As Clark takes the stage at the 2024 WNBA draft, her Prada-clad appearance will undoubtedly inspire young athletes and fashion enthusiasts alike, paving the way for more collaborations between the world of high fashion and women's professional sports.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/3169bf62-ba88-45c8-99a9-e0687c41328e.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "3169bf62-ba88-45c8-99a9-e0687c41328e", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/prada-makes-wnba-draft-history-dressing-caitlyn-clark", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 108 } }, { "wixId": "066e8482-2685-4818-972e-ca51afc89ccd", "slug": "ikea-embraces-household-chaos-with-adorable-pet-destruction-ad-campaign", "title": "Ikea Embraces Household Chaos with Adorable \"Pet Destruction\" Ad Campaign", "deck": "In a delightfully self-deprecating move, IKEA is celebrating the realities of home life with pets through its latest ad campaign. Rather than shying away from the inevitable chaos and damage that furry companions can cause, the Swedish furniture giant is leaning into the relatable mayhem. The campaign, created by Ikea Al-Futtaim and agency INGO Hamburg, depicts humorous scenes of pets knocking over and destroying Ikea products. From a cat perched atop a shattered KÄRLEKSGRÄS cushion to a...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Apr 5", "publishedAt": "2024-04-05 17:22:25.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/066e8482-2685-4818-972e-ca51afc89ccd.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/066e8482-2685-4818-972e-ca51afc89ccd.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_eacbd3d48d10462199414f06417fb4a8~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "In a delightfully self-deprecating move, IKEA is celebrating the realities of home life with pets through its latest ad campaign. Rather than shying away from the inevitable chaos and damage that furry companions can cause, the Swedish furniture giant is leaning into the relatable mayhem.
\n\nThe campaign, created by Ikea Al-Futtaim and agency INGO Hamburg, depicts humorous scenes of pets knocking over and destroying Ikea products. From a cat perched atop a shattered KÄRLEKSGRÄS cushion to a guilty-looking dog next to a broken STILREN vase, the ads capture the all-too-familiar pet-related home mishaps many consumers experience.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_eacbd3d48d10462199414f06417fb4a8~mv2.jpg\")
\"We are excited about this campaign, which, on one hand, brings the unskippable cuteness of pets, and on the other hand, challenges marketing conventions by showing the products damaged,\" said Tobias Ahrens ns, Global CCO at INGO. \"An honest story that refreshes the usual Ikea price communication style.\"
\n\nThis latest effort builds on Ikea's \"proudly second best\" campaign from last year, which subverted expectations by celebrating the brand's products being overlooked by children. Now, Ikea is once again embracing its position as an affordable, accessible option for furnishings - even when they fall victim to the whims of household pets.
\n\n\"For the past few years we have noticed a growth of pets in households in the region and we wanted to introduce this topic through this campaign for the first time,\" explained Carla Klumpenaar, GM of Marketing, Communication & Interior Design at Ikea Al-Futtaim. \"Over the next few days, we will also launch a collection of household products for pets.\"
\n\nBy depicting its products in a state of disrepair, Ikea is acknowledging the real-world challenges faced by many pet owners. As the campaign states, \"Don't worry, you can afford it\" - a reassuring message for those who have experienced the wrath of a four-legged interior decorator.
\n\nThe cheeky, humorous tone of the campaign stands in contrast to the typical furniture advertising that often focuses on pristine, idealized home settings. Ikea's willingness to poke fun at itself and empathize with the everyday realities of pet ownership is a refreshing approach that is likely to resonate with its target audience.
\n\nAs Ahrens noted, the campaign \"refreshes the usual Ikea price communication style,\" delivering an honest and relatable message that celebrates the chaos of life with pets. It's a smart move for a brand known for its affordable, durable furnishings - and a reminder that sometimes, a little destruction can be the cutest thing of all.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/066e8482-2685-4818-972e-ca51afc89ccd.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "066e8482-2685-4818-972e-ca51afc89ccd", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/ikea-embraces-household-chaos-with-adorable-pet-destruction-ad-campaign", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 109 } }, { "wixId": "8574998a-3844-409e-975e-d1eb3031552f", "slug": "mayo-haters-hate-notmayo-in-debut-campaign-from-kraft-heinz-and-the-not-co", "title": "Mayo Haters Hate NotMayo in Debut Campaign from Kraft Heinz and The Not Co", "deck": "Kraft Heinz and The NotCo have launched their first joint creative campaign since entering a partnership in 2022. The humorous video for their plant-based NotMayo product takes an unconventional approach - showing mayo haters' disgust for NotMayo to demonstrate its similarity to real mayonnaise.' The campaign, created by agency GUT features self-described mayo haters trying NotMayo on burgers and sandwiches while being assured it's not actually mayonnaise. After taking bites, the participants...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Apr 2", "publishedAt": "2024-04-02 17:07:55.000", "readTimeLabel": "1 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/8574998a-3844-409e-975e-d1eb3031552f.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/8574998a-3844-409e-975e-d1eb3031552f.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_33f0dc2c4d1b4dcd8d25915658f3e65e~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_33f0dc2c4d1b4dcd8d25915658f3e65e~mv2.jpg\")
Kraft Heinz and The NotCo have launched their first joint creative campaign since entering a partnership in 2022. The humorous video for their plant-based NotMayo product takes an unconventional approach - showing mayo haters' disgust for NotMayo to demonstrate its similarity to real mayonnaise.'
\n\nThe campaign, created by agency GUT features self-described mayo haters trying NotMayo on burgers and sandwiches while being assured it's not actually mayonnaise. After taking bites, the participants grimace, gag, and spit out the food, blaming the overpowering taste of mayonnaise despite being told it's a vegan alternative.
\n\n\"Why do I care if it's the exact same thing?\" one participant asks when it's revealed they ate plant-based NotMayo instead of real mayo.
\n\"Approximately 20% of Americans dislike mayonnaise; we felt showing hatred towards the condiment tapped into a consumer reality that many can relate to,\" said Dean Paradise , executive creative director at Gut. \"This campaign showcases NotMayo's striking resemblance to the traditional condiment as the deep disdain remains for the true mayo haters.\"\n
The campaign video will run online and on social media, including a call to action to tag a mayo-hating friend for a 50% off coupon to try NotMayo.
\nBy portraying mayo haters' revulsion to their vegan product, Kraft Heinz and The Not Co. aim to prove just how indistinguishable NotMayo is from the real thing.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/8574998a-3844-409e-975e-d1eb3031552f.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "8574998a-3844-409e-975e-d1eb3031552f", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/mayo-haters-hate-notmayo-in-debut-campaign-from-kraft-heinz-and-the-not-co", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 110 } }, { "wixId": "1eae6541-393e-415f-9fc6-961c364ac7f8", "slug": "genai-powers-wurl-s-new-branddiscovery-solution-for-emotion-driven-ctv-ad-targeting", "title": "GenAI Powers Wurl's New \"BrandDiscovery\" Solution for Emotion-Driven CTV Ad Targeting", "deck": "The GenAI-powered solution provides scene-level contextual targeting to help advertisers align the emotional sentiment of their campaign creatives with content closest to the ad break, improving viewer memorability and engagement Wurl, a leader in data-driven solutions for CTV, today announced BrandDiscovery – a GenAI-based CTV advertising solution that enables advertisers to align their ads with content in real time. Campaigns targeted with BrandDiscovery allow advertisers to present ads...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Mar 28", "publishedAt": "2024-03-28 11:25:08.000", "readTimeLabel": "4 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/1eae6541-393e-415f-9fc6-961c364ac7f8.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/1eae6541-393e-415f-9fc6-961c364ac7f8.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_6d186a431c7249cca53c7c5fd26a1585~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_6d186a431c7249cca53c7c5fd26a1585~mv2.png\")
The GenAI-powered solution provides scene-level contextual targeting to help advertisers align the emotional sentiment of their campaign creatives with content closest to the ad break, improving viewer memorability and engagement
\n\nWurl, a leader in data-driven solutions for CTV, today announced BrandDiscovery – a GenAI-based CTV advertising solution that enables advertisers to align their ads with content in real time. Campaigns targeted with BrandDiscovery allow advertisers to present ads within programming that contextually aligns with their creatives based on emotions, genres, and brand safety – leading to improved brand awareness and purchase intent.
\n“At Media.Monks, we’re focused on driving stellar results for our clients”\n
BrandDiscovery’s launch comes at an exciting inflection point for the CTV advertising industry. Television continues to be viewed as a highly effective channel for brand marketers and AI-driven technologies are poised to revolutionize how advertisers connect with their audiences. As the largest video screen and non-skippable environment, CTV is ideal for improving brand awareness – research shows that brand recall and purchase intent is higher for TV and CTV than for digital mobile environments. At the same time, however, media buyers face a fragmented CTV ecosystem, often resulting in a lack of control and transparency, and limiting advertisers’ ability to scale and spend effectively.
\n“The CTV advertising ecosystem is ripe for disruption,” said Peter Crofut, Vice President of Business Development for Agencies and Brands at Wurl – the company’s newest executive hire brought on to oversee BrandDiscovery’s launch and integration. “When I joined the team here, I was motivated by BrandDiscovery’s potential to lead that disruption and fundamentally change how marketers approach CTV media. We know emotional resonance drives positive attention for brand campaigns, leading to higher brand awareness, recall, and reduced cost per engagement for advertisers. Now, with BrandDiscovery, advertisers will have greater control over the context of their CTV ads, more easily earning the attention of viewers and, as a result, improving measured campaign outcomes.”\n
BrandDiscovery leverages GenAI to produce emotional resonance between CTV content and campaign creatives. By matching an ad’s emotion with the emotion of the content directly preceding it, brands can generate positive attention.
\nWith BrandDiscovery, advertisers gain:
\n“At Media.Monks, we’re focused on driving stellar results for our clients,” said Matthew Kramer, Head of Brand Investment at Media.Monks. “We’re excited to partner with Wurl to continue doing just that by introducing their technology to our advertisers, who are already reaping the benefits of BrandDiscovery. During a recent campaign for a financial services client, BrandDiscovery’s emotion targeting led to a 33% lift in aided brand awareness and a 15% lift in purchase intent – exceeding the performance of our CTV campaign strategies. What’s even more promising, the campaign saw a 200% improvement in cost per engagement – as measured by EDO – when the ad creative’s emotions matched the content right before the ad break.”\n
When compared to KPIs benchmarked for Lending studies over the past five years by Kantar, the results of when Media.Monks applied BrandDiscovery emotions-optimized targeting stood out – performing more than 7X better for aided brand awareness, 4X better for brand favorability, and 2X better for purchase intent.
\nThe Media.Monks campaign – activated through FreeWheel, a global technology platform for the television advertising industry – delivered millions of impressions within a matter of weeks. FreeWheel’s Head of Publisher Sales, Kathy Argyriou, said a critical component to the campaign’s success was being “better able to help advertisers reach their intended audience in premium television environments, fueled by the data sources that matter in today’s ecosystem.”
\n“In this complex and fast-moving media landscape, this collaboration is another step in tackling some of the most pressing industry challenges, and connecting buyers to premium, brand-safe ad inventory, with transparency and efficiency,” she said. “At FreeWheel, we take very seriously our mission to help fuel greater industry interoperability and our partnership with Wurl is the latest proof point of how we’re putting this philosophy into action.”\n
BrandDiscovery is available now in North America. Click here to learn more, and get in touch.
\nAbout Wurl
\nWurl is a leader in the CTV industry, helping connect viewers to the content they want to see with technologies for distribution, monetization, and advertising. The company supports publishers, streamers, and advertisers in growing viewership, maximizing revenue, and strengthening brand value. Wurl is owned by AppLovin (NASDAQ: APP). For more information, visit www.wurl.com.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/1eae6541-393e-415f-9fc6-961c364ac7f8.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "1eae6541-393e-415f-9fc6-961c364ac7f8", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/genai-powers-wurl-s-new-branddiscovery-solution-for-emotion-driven-ctv-ad-targeting", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 111 } }, { "wixId": "b46bb273-7d1f-4e51-b9b4-9a36a9dad8e3", "slug": "levi-s-invites-fans-to-dance-in-first-major-campaign-under-new-cmo", "title": "Levi's Invites Fans to Dance in First Major Campaign Under New CMO", "deck": "Levi Strauss & Co. is getting customers around the world moving to the beat with \"The Floor Is Yours\", the iconic denim brand's first major global marketing push under new Chief Marketing Officer Kenneth Mitchell As reported by Ad Age, the 60-second anchor film for the campaign shows a group of friends feeling inspired to break out their own dance moves after seeing a dance routine on TV. The spot aims to capture the \"doer\" spirit of the Levi's brand and use dance as a metaphor for progress...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Mar 27", "publishedAt": "2024-03-27 21:02:20.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/b46bb273-7d1f-4e51-b9b4-9a36a9dad8e3.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/b46bb273-7d1f-4e51-b9b4-9a36a9dad8e3.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_0c20dc72d30643ff9a7c7a9a2772d9d7~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_0c20dc72d30643ff9a7c7a9a2772d9d7~mv2.png\")
Levi Strauss & Co. is getting customers around the world moving to the beat with \"The Floor Is Yours\", the iconic denim brand's first major global marketing push under new Chief Marketing Officer Kenneth Mitchell
\n\nAs reported by Ad Age, the 60-second anchor film for the campaign shows a group of friends feeling inspired to break out their own dance moves after seeing a dance routine on TV. The spot aims to capture the \"doer\" spirit of the Levi's brand and use dance as a metaphor for progress and movement.
\n\"We did a fair amount of work trying to reveal the heart and spirit of the brand and we landed on the idea that Levi's is the unofficial uniform of progress,\" Mitchell told Ad Age. \"That doer mentality has long been associated with the Levi's brand.\"\n\n
The campaign marks the debut work for Levi's from new creative agency partner TBWA\\Chiat\\Day, which won the brand's creative and social media duties last year following a competitive review. TBWA is expected to produce more marketing for Levi's throughout 2024 and 2025.
\n\nIn addition to the hero film set to an unreleased track from Kaytranada featuring Channel Tres, \"The Floor Is Yours\" will invite fans to submit videos of themselves dancing on TikTok, Instagram or Levi's website for a chance to be cast in Kaytranada's official music video, which will double as long-form branded content. About half a dozen customers will be selected and flown out for the video shoot.
\n\"It gives fans a chance to express themselves and show how they live in Levi's,\" Mitchell explained to Ad Age. \"It's symbolic of current marketing as it connects with customers on whichever platforms they may be on.\"\n\n
The integrated campaign includes 30-second cut-downs of the primary video running on broadcast, streaming and online video platforms. There is also a robust social media element with creator and influencer support, out-of-home, print and other promotional extensions.
\n\nWhile the investment was not disclosed, the budget is on par with Levi's previous major brand pushes according to Mitchell. Media duties were split between UM (U.S./Americas) and OMD (Europe/Asia).
\n\nThe dance-focused direction connects to Levi's long-running \"Live in Levi's\" platform that has existed for over a decade. It represents Mitchell's first major brand reactivation since joining Levi's as CMO nine months ago from Embroidme.com.
\n\nThe new work comes on the heels of Levi's reporting a 3% rise in revenue to $1.6 billion for Q4 2023, fueled by growth in its direct-to-consumer and e-commerce businesses. Industry veteran Michelle Gass also recently took over as CEO after long-time chief Chip Bergh's departure.
\n\nWith \"The Floor Is Yours\", Levi's is aiming to inspire consumer expression and lean into the massive cultural trend of dance content flourishing across social platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. It remains to be seen if the brand can successfully ride that wave and get customers moving.
\n\nSources: \"Behind Levi's First Major Brand Campaign Under Its New CMO\" (Ad Age) \"Levi Strauss & Co. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2023 Results\" (Company Press Release)
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/b46bb273-7d1f-4e51-b9b4-9a36a9dad8e3.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "b46bb273-7d1f-4e51-b9b4-9a36a9dad8e3", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/levi-s-invites-fans-to-dance-in-first-major-campaign-under-new-cmo", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 112 } }, { "wixId": "639dd803-cfbe-449d-93fc-4021dad0d0fa", "slug": "unleashing-generative-ai-for-personalized-marketing-at-scale-accenture-and-adobe-forge-pioneering-p", "title": "Unleashing Generative AI for Personalized Marketing at Scale: Accenture and Adobe Forge Pioneering Partnership", "deck": "Through a strategic expansion of its relationship of more than 20 years, Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has been selected by Adobe (Nasdaq: ADBE) to co-develop industry-specific solutions using Adobe Firefly, Adobe’s family of creative generative AI models, to help organizations create personalized content at scale and accelerate the transformation of their content supply chains. Accenture will integrate Adobe Firefly Custom Models into marketing services offered by Accenture Song, to provide clients...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Mar 26", "publishedAt": "2024-03-26 15:18:36.000", "readTimeLabel": "4 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/639dd803-cfbe-449d-93fc-4021dad0d0fa.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/639dd803-cfbe-449d-93fc-4021dad0d0fa.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_e4695dde318a47428d9520346195d974~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_e4695dde318a47428d9520346195d974~mv2.png\")
Through a strategic expansion of its relationship of more than 20 years, Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has been selected by Adobe (Nasdaq: ADBE) to co-develop industry-specific solutions using Adobe Firefly, Adobe’s family of creative generative AI models, to help organizations create personalized content at scale and accelerate the transformation of their content supply chains.
\n\nAccenture will integrate Adobe Firefly Custom Models into marketing services offered by Accenture Song, to provide clients with the industry-specific insights required to train bespoke models on their proprietary data and brand guidelines. Firefly, which is designed to be safe for commercial use, is also accessible via APIs through Firefly Services, as well as through Adobe Creative Cloud and Experience Cloud applications. By generating content that aligns with their brand style and design language, marketers can build templatized campaigns that can be continually refined based on performance data and impact. This iterative approach streamlines the content creation process and reduces the need for manual adjustments.
\n\nWith an initial focus on the retail and consumer goods, automotive, financial services and health industries, the new solutions will leverage Accenture’s extensive data and AI engineering capabilities and systematic approach to responsible AI, coupled with its approach to driving unified brand experiences. By integrating the solutions with Adobe’s broader suite of generative AI-powered solutions and client systems, organizations can realize value faster with content that is globally consistent, locally relevant and industry specific. Additionally, Accenture engineers will be trained to be specialists in Adobe Firefly, allowing them to provide support for clients deploying generative AI campaigns.
\n\n“Brands today are looking for ways to go beyond experimenting with generative AI to achieve real impact,” said David Droga, chief executive officer, Accenture Song. “Whether it’s consumer goods companies scaling their product data and images in e-marketplaces worldwide, or healthcare providers ensuring brand standards for patient safety, the demand for scalable generative AI solutions is increasing. By bringing together Adobe technology with Accenture Song’s tech-powered creativity, we can help democratize the ability for teams to develop creative assets and accelerate content supply chain transformation.”\n\n
According to Accenture research, business leaders are positive about the potential of generative AI—97% expect generative AI to be transformative for their company and their industry, yet only 31% of organizations say they have started investing “significantly” in generative AI initiatives. Accenture is committed to providing solutions for clients that help them navigate the reinvention of work, transformation of their organization and responsible adoption of AI.
\n\n“Businesses have an unprecedented opportunity to leverage generative AI to deliver truly personalized experiences that connect with their customers,” said David Wadhwani, president, Digital Media Business, Adobe. \"Firefly is an enterprise grade solution that powers a full suite of generative capabilities - from content generation to editing to assembly - through our industry-leading applications and enterprise automation APIs. We are excited to partner with Accenture to define and implement solutions that empower organizations around the world to harness the power of AI.\"\n\n
Jim LaLonde, lead of the Accenture Adobe Business Group, added, “In recognition of our technology and industry experience and decades-long relationship, Adobe has selected Accenture to help develop and deliver industry-specific generative AI capabilities that will give organizations the tools they need to unlock new value. Together with Adobe, we’re continuing to invest in the talent and technology needed to drive next generation experiences for our clients.”
\n\nAccenture’s use of Adobe Firefly within its marketing organization
\nAs part of the collaboration, Accenture will leverage Adobe Firefly within its own marketing organization to empower its people to produce creative content faster and enhance their creativity. Using a Firefly Custom Model focused on its own brand style and design language, Accenture can customize content across each of the 19 industries it serves.
\n\n“Organizations, including Accenture, are moving from generative AI experimentation to implementation and value realization,” said Jill Kramer, chief marketing and communications officer, Accenture. “For us, that means using generative AI tools that allow our marketing professionals to generate content using our brand assets in a safe and closed environment. This will allow us to confidently accelerate the development of production-ready materials.”\n\n
Today’s announcement builds on Accenture and Adobe’s content supply chain collaboration, which is focused on helping marketers more effectively create and deliver content that provides personalized customer experiences at scale. The generative AI collaboration is part of Accenture’s broader $3 billion investment in data and AI and expands on recent activities to support the customer agenda, including its investment in Writer.com and the launch of a network of generative AI studios across the world, along with specialized services, to help clients build their own large language models that are tailored to meet their specific business needs.
\n\nAbout Accenture
\nAccenture is a leading global professional services company that helps the world’s leading businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services—creating tangible value at speed and scale. We are a talent- and innovation-led company with approximately 742,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Technology is at the core of change today, and we are one of the world’s leaders in helping drive that change, with strong ecosystem relationships. We combine our strength in technology and leadership in cloud, data and AI with unmatched industry experience, functional expertise and global delivery capability. We are uniquely able to deliver tangible outcomes because of our broad range of services, solutions and assets across Strategy & Consulting, Technology, Operations, Industry X and Song. These capabilities, together with our culture of shared success and commitment to creating 360° value, enable us to help our clients reinvent and build trusted, lasting relationships. We measure our success by the 360° value we create for our clients, each other, our shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com.
\nAccenture Song accelerates growth and value for our clients through sustained customer relevance. Our capabilities span ideation to execution: growth, product and experience design; technology and experience platforms; creative, media and marketing strategy; and campaign, commerce transformation content and channel orchestration. With strong client relationships and deep industry expertise, we help our clients operate at the speed of life through the unlimited potential of imagination, technology and intelligence.
\n\nAbout Adobe
\nAdobe is changing the world through digital experiences. For more information, visit www.adobe.com.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/639dd803-cfbe-449d-93fc-4021dad0d0fa.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "639dd803-cfbe-449d-93fc-4021dad0d0fa", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/unleashing-generative-ai-for-personalized-marketing-at-scale-accenture-and-adobe-forge-pioneering-p", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 113 } }, { "wixId": "499ffad2-ffcd-4a85-b911-52d15e2ce7ed", "slug": "elf-cosmetics-serves-up-hot-reality-tv-tea-with-love-is-blind-campaign", "title": "Elf Cosmetics Serves Up Hot Reality TV Tea with Love Is Blind Campaign", "deck": "For brand marketers looking to tap into major cultural moments, elf Cosmetics just provided a masterclass with its \"Makeup Over Makeup\" video series featuring stars from Netflix's smash hit reality show Love Is Blind. The wildly popular dating series, where singles get engaged sight unseen before meeting face-to-face, has captivated audiences and sparked endless conversation across social media. Always plugged into what's buzzing in entertainment and pop culture, elf recognized a prime...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Mar 22", "publishedAt": "2024-03-22 13:08:06.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/499ffad2-ffcd-4a85-b911-52d15e2ce7ed.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/499ffad2-ffcd-4a85-b911-52d15e2ce7ed.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BbB4t_ibVHo/maxresdefault.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "For brand marketers looking to tap into major cultural moments, elf Cosmetics just provided a masterclass with its \"Makeup Over Makeup\" video series featuring stars from Netflix's smash hit reality show Love Is Blind.
\n\nThe wildly popular dating series, where singles get engaged sight unseen before meeting face-to-face, has captivated audiences and sparked endless conversation across social media. Always plugged into what's buzzing in entertainment and pop culture, elf recognized a prime opportunity to connect with engaged fans craving even more content and behind-the-scenes access from the show's dramatic couples.
\n\nElf teamed up with Chelsea Blackwell and Jimmy Presnell, one of the most talked-about couples from Love Is Blind season 6, for a special video where the exes dish on their explosive breakup and lingering chemistry - all while doing each other's makeup using elf's affordable, playful cosmetics.
\n\nThe authentic, unfiltered conversation touching on juicy plot points like Jimmy's close female friendships and Chelsea's infamous \"Don't disrespect me like that\" confrontation is pure catnip for the show's rabid fanbase. By bringing their candid dynamic and simmering romantic tension to life through an entertaining beauty tutorial, elf creates an irresistible must-watch for Love Is Blind enthusiasts.
\n\nThis innovative campaign brilliantly merges elf's core product proposition of accessible, fun makeup with an of-the-moment cultural phenomenon that legions of consumers are fervently discussing online. The relatable personalities and captivating real-life drama provide sticky engagement, while the video seamlessly incorporates elf makeup application and branding in an organic, non-disruptive way.
\n\nWith this creative expression of its \"Eyes.Lips.Famous\" ethos, elf proves itself as a nimble, buzzworthy brand that can deftly tap into the zeitgeist around hot-button pop culture properties. The campaign is primed to resonate with elf's core younger audience, while also introducing the brand to new beauty fans drawn in by the irresistible Love Is Blind connection.
\n\nSmart brands like elf recognize the impact of offering audiences more of what they're passionate about from their favorite shows and celebrities. By leveraging an ownable intersection of beauty and reality romance, this campaign sets the bar for how to effectively court the attention of content-ravenous consumers in an entertaining, memorable way that builds brand affinity.
\n\nGET CHELSEA’S GLOWY LOOK HERE 👇
\nPower Grip Primer: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/power-gr...
\nCamo CC Cream: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/camo-cc-...
\nHalo Glow Liquid Filter: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/halo-glo...
\nHalo Glow Blush Beauty Wand: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/halo-glo...
\nHalo Glow Setting Powder: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/halo-glo...
\nPerfect 10 Eyeshadow Palette: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/perfect-...
\nBig Mood Mascara: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/big-mood...
\nGlow Reviver Lip Oil: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/glow-rev...
\nH2O Proof Eyeliner Pen: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/h2o-proo...
\n\nTools Used:
\nTotal Face Blending Sponge: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/total-fa...
\nLiquid Blush Brush: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/liquid-b...
\nConcealer & Foundation Complexion Duo Brush: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/conceale...
\nHalo Glow Powder Puff: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/halo-glo...
\nEyeshadow \"C\" Brush: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/eyeshado...
\nINTERESTED IN JIMMY’S FRESH-FACED ROUTINE? 👇
\nBlemish Breakthrough Stick It to Zits Pimple Patches: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/blemish-...
\nHoly Hydration! Eye Cream: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/holy-hyd...
\nHoly Hydration! Triple Bounce Serum: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/holy-hyd...
\nHoly Hydration! Face Cream - SPF 30: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/holy-hyd...
\nInstant Lift Brow Pencil: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/instant-...
\nSqueeze Me Lip Balm: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/squeeze-...
\nStay All Night Micro-Fine Setting Mist: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/stay-all...
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/499ffad2-ffcd-4a85-b911-52d15e2ce7ed.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "499ffad2-ffcd-4a85-b911-52d15e2ce7ed", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/elf-cosmetics-serves-up-hot-reality-tv-tea-with-love-is-blind-campaign", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 114 } }, { "wixId": "4daca4dc-a013-463c-80ff-8048beef0317", "slug": "reddit-goes-public-a-new-frontier-for-advertisers", "title": "Reddit Goes Public: A New Frontier for Advertisers", "deck": "Reddit, Inc. , the online discussion forum known for its quirky communities and viral content, made its highly anticipated debut on the New York Stock Exchange today under the ticker RDDT. After years of operating losses, Reddit finally took the leap into the public markets, pricing its IPO at $34 per share and raising over $500 million. For brands and chief marketing officers, Reddit's stock offering presents an intriguing new avenue to reach passionate, niche audiences. As Steve Huffman,...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Mar 21", "publishedAt": "2024-03-21 17:00:24.000", "readTimeLabel": "3 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/4daca4dc-a013-463c-80ff-8048beef0317.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/4daca4dc-a013-463c-80ff-8048beef0317.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_e4f0c60d40d94c31a38aaa6dd963ff7a~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "Reddit, Inc. , the online discussion forum known for its quirky communities and viral
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_e4f0c60d40d94c31a38aaa6dd963ff7a~mv2.jpg\")
content, made its highly anticipated debut on the New York Stock Exchange today under the ticker RDDT. After years of operating losses, Reddit finally took the leap into the public markets, pricing its IPO at $34 per share and raising over $500 million.
\nFor brands and chief marketing officers, Reddit's stock offering presents an intriguing new avenue to reach passionate, niche audiences.
\n\nAs Steve Huffman, Reddit's CEO, stated to Ad Age, \"On the business side, we're continuing to make progress with advertisers. I think [they] are appreciating the differentiation of Reddit. How we're different than social media, and the way they can find our customers is different than social media.\"\n\n
The \"Recommendation Engine\" for Brands At its core, Reddit bills itself as a \"recommendation engine,\" where users seek and share advice on virtually any topic imaginable across over 100,000 active communities (called subreddits).
\n\nAs Jen Wong, Reddit's COO, explained, \"We have this trove of recommendations, and we are very clear that the way we drive performance is not through identity and profiles. We're going to do it through contextual advertising and be a leader in that.\"\n\n
This high-intent, community-driven approach contrasts with traditional social media's focus on individual user profiles and personalized ads. Instead, Reddit aims to leverage its wealth of conversations and recommendations to precisely target ads based on context and interest.
\n\n\"If you are a specific company, like you're a golf cart business, and you just want golfers, for example, you can find your potential customer so specifically and narrowly because we have that community on Reddit,\" said Wong.
\n\nNew Ad Formats and Opportunities To capitalize on this contextual approach, Reddit has been innovating its ad products. Last year, it launched \"conversation placement\" ads that appear above comments within relevant Reddit posts. It also rolled out keyword-based targeting and recently introduced product carousels within conversation ads.
\n\nLooking ahead, Huffman highlighted video and search advertising as major opportunities for Reddit. As the platform enhances its video player capabilities, it plans to introduce more video ad formats. Similarly, Reddit sees search ads as an untapped frontier, akin to strategies employed by Google and others.
\n\n\"Search ads is a big opportunity for Reddit,\" Huffman told Ad Age, \"but it's the same story there, making the search product on Reddit as amazing as possible and then we can start talking about putting ads on the search result pages.\"\n\n
Beyond advertising, Reddit is also exploring ways to generate revenue from the thriving e-commerce activity occurring across its communities. \"We believe that over time, we can generate revenue based on the volume of commerce that is conducted on Reddit,\" the company stated in its IPO filings.
\n\nA Quirky Past, An Intriguing Future Despite its long history of losses and management turmoil, Reddit's IPO represents a critical milestone for the internet enterprise. By tapping into public markets, the company gains resources to double down on its distinct value proposition to advertisers – precise, contextual targeting within passionate communities.
\n\nAs CMOs grapple with evolving privacy regulations and waning effectiveness of audience tracking, Reddit's approach offers a refreshing alternative anchored in authentic user interests and recommendations. While challenges undoubtedly lie ahead, Reddit's idiosyncratic journey has positioned it as an enticing new frontier for brands to explore.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/4daca4dc-a013-463c-80ff-8048beef0317.jpg", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "4daca4dc-a013-463c-80ff-8048beef0317", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/reddit-goes-public-a-new-frontier-for-advertisers", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 115 } }, { "wixId": "c39503e0-da8d-4505-8438-05e9dd45ab1f", "slug": "cmo-insights-with-erin-levzow-cmo-museum-of-ice-cream", "title": "CMO Insights with Erin Levzow, CMO, Museum of Ice Cream", "deck": "Experiential destinations have exploded in popularity, offering immersive adventures that stimulate the senses and create share-worthy...", "category": "cmo spotlight", "categoryLabel": "CMO Spotlight", "categories": [ "cmo spotlight" ], "dateLabel": "Mar 20", "publishedAt": "2024-03-20 14:47:51.000", "readTimeLabel": "3 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/c39503e0-da8d-4505-8438-05e9dd45ab1f.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/c39503e0-da8d-4505-8438-05e9dd45ab1f.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_222649ec2cdc4578940d775f862eeb8b~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_222649ec2cdc4578940d775f862eeb8b~mv2.png\")
Experiential destinations have exploded in popularity, offering immersive adventures that stimulate the senses and create share-worthy moments. At the forefront of this phenomenon is the Museum of Ice Cream, a whimsical attraction that has drawn millions of visitors worldwide with its vibrant, Instagram-worthy exhibits celebrating everyone's favorite frozen treat.
\n\nLeading the marketing charge is Erin Levzow, CMO of the Museum of Ice Cream. In this interview, Levzow shares insights into crafting strategies that break through the noise, leveraging user-generated content and influencer collaborations, tailoring messaging across demographics, and driving repeat visitation through ever-evolving exhibits and flavors.
\n\nAs an expert in the experiential space, Levzow offers a unique perspective on measuring success, rapidly ideating new concepts, and balancing brand consistency as the museum expands globally. Her advice is invaluable for CMOs looking to create immersive brand experiences that spark imagination, connection, and delight in the digital age.
\n\nExperiential destinations like the Museum of Ice Cream have exploded in popularity in recent years. How do you craft marketing strategies that break through the noise and keep the experience feeling fresh and exclusive?
\n\nLevzow: At Museum of Ice Cream we exist to unite and inspire through imagination and connection. We truly believe that connecting as humans is the most powerful thing we can do and we do this through the universal love of ice cream. One of our core values is to show not tell and we believe that when we think about marketing and really showing how you will feel and how connected we can be together.\n\n
You’ve expanded museum locations globally. How do you balance maintaining brand consistency with customizing activations and marketing efforts locally?
\n\nLevzow: Each of our Museums has a Local Sales Manager who works in Marketing and is focused on the local level as well as supporting our national initiatives.\n\n
User-generated content and influencer marketing can make or break experiential brands today. How are you leveraging social media and collaborations with influencers, photographers, etc to drive discovery?
\n\nLevzow: We are blessed that we are the most tiktok’d Museum globally and while we see a lot of UGC we don’t actually build our spaces for this. We build our experiences for human connection and when you connect and play together you build memories and when you create joyful memories you want to capture that leading to a lot of UGC from our guests.\n\n
The Museum of Ice Cream markets across demographics, from families to millennial/ Gen Z foodies. How are you segmenting your audience targeting and personalizing marketing messaging to resonate with these core segments?
\n\nLevzow: It’s not so much the specific audience type but more the psychographics. How someone engages, what content resonates with them and how we optimize it. Luckily with AI and auto optimizing we can start to see what performs for different audiences and of course we are never done testing.\n\n
Interactive exhibits and new flavors/features seem crucial to driving repeat local visitation. What internal processes do you have to rapidly brainstorm, experiment with, and launch new attractions?
\n\nLevzow: We are an equal opportunity company when it comes to ice cream, well and all things :) We are constantly bringing in new flavors and trying new cocktails at the bar. For instance in February we partnered in Chicago with Ida’s Artisanal Ice Cream and Pop Tarts to create an ice cream that was unbelievable and served in our location all month long.\n\n
How do you measure marketing success for an experiential brand - what key metrics and analytics stand out compared to traditional retail? How much emphasis do you put on driving specific actions like ticket purchases?
\n\nLevzow: The good news is all our tickets are sold above store, meaning you can only get tickets online. This allows for tracking of all sales back to where the marketing campaign originated and with multi-attribution, we can look into how all media is performing.\n\n
Last words: Any other exciting marketing campaigns on the horizon? What advice do you have for CMOs in the consumer space?
\n\nLevzow: We are always scooping up something new and exciting! For other CMO’s I would say to be yourself, and bring your creativity to the table. People will see you for you or they aren’t the right people for you. I’m a big believer that whatever brand I have worked on I will be the biggest cheerleader for that brand and always will be. We will continue to sprinkle kindness everywhere we go!", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/c39503e0-da8d-4505-8438-05e9dd45ab1f.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "c39503e0-da8d-4505-8438-05e9dd45ab1f", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmo-insights-with-erin-levzow-cmo-museum-of-ice-cream", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 116 } }, { "wixId": "d4c5517c-c0cf-451f-a136-68ae64cb6f5f", "slug": "digital-industry-moves-aggressively-to-privacy-by-design-according-to-iab-s-annual-state-of-data-re", "title": "Digital Industry Moves Aggressively to Privacy-by-Design, According to IAB's Annual State of Data Report", "deck": "Today IAB released its annual report, \"State of Data 2024: How the Digital Ad Industry is Adapting to the Privacy-by-Design Ecosystem.\"...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Mar 18", "publishedAt": "2024-03-18 11:02:09.000", "readTimeLabel": "4 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/d4c5517c-c0cf-451f-a136-68ae64cb6f5f.jpg", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/d4c5517c-c0cf-451f-a136-68ae64cb6f5f.jpg", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_de3c6f0d6de347e5ab1aabfd7c9a992e~mv2.jpg", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "
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Today IAB released its annual report, \"State of Data 2024: How the Digital Ad Industry is Adapting to the Privacy-by-Design Ecosystem.\"
\n\nThe study, conducted by IAB in partnership with BWG Strategy, surveyed over 500 advertising and data experts at brands, agencies, and publishers. It reveals the substantial operational and financial adjustments being undertaken by the digital ecosystem as it moves towards a privacy-by-design architecture.
\n\n\"The meaningful investments being made are proof positive of the industry's commitment to a privacy-first orientation,\" said David Cohen, Chief Executive Officer, IAB. \"Executives are taking notice and funding the right initiatives for the next stage of industry growth.\"
\n\nKey findings from the study include:
\n\nNearly all (95%) advertising and data decision-makers at brands, agencies, and publishers expect continued signal loss and/or privacy legislation in 2024 and beyond.
\n\nThe industry is investing in hiring new Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), updating training for their staff, creating dedicated teams, expanding their legal expertise, leveraging new technologies, and increasing first-party data efforts.
\n\nAdditionally, 82% of the respondents said the makeup and structure of their organizations have been impacted by legislation and signal loss. Nearly 80% are training or planning to train their staff directly in data/privacy-related topics, while half of companies are creating or planning to create dedicated teams/departments (49%) and hiring or planning to hire external SMEs (48%).
\n\nRespondents believe the new paradigm will challenge targeting, personalization, and measurement. More than half expect it to be harder to track conversions overall (55%), post-view conversions (52%), attribute campaign/channel performance (55%), measure ROI (55%), make optimizations (50%), and measure frequency (50%) and reach (47%). Nearly nine-in-ten ad buyers report shifts in personalization tactics, ad spend, and their mix of first, second, and third-party data. Over three-in-four cite selection changes in media channels and KPIs, along with more seller-direct deals.
\n\nTo improve data quality, brands, agencies, and publishers are turning to first-party data and data-enrichment tools. The study found that 71% of brands, agencies, and publishers are currently or planning to grow their first-party datasets, nearly twice the rate of just two years ago (41%).
\n\n\"To tackle data quality challenges, it's crucial for brands, agencies, and publishers to continue to adopt innovative analytical methods including Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, and media mix modeling that are less dependent on tracking signals and third-party cookies,\" said Angelina Eng, VP Measurement, Addressability & Data Center, IAB.\n
The shift to privacy-by-design is transforming media planning and buying.
\nAd spend that taps first-party data and engages audiences at scale are being prioritized. Nearly nine-in-ten ad buyers report a shift in message personalization strategies (89%), ad investment costs (87%), and over three-in-four cite selection changes in media channels (81%) and KPIs (79%), along with more seller-direct deals.
\n\nAd buyers are shifting budgets to Connected TV, retail media, search, and social networks which rely less on cookies, provide access to valuable first-party data and precise targeting, and contain embedded measurement.
\n\nOverhauling and reinventing data processes is a costly sea change that will hurt small and medium-sized publishers and favor giants.
\nLarge companies are investing more in identity anonymization training (79%) than small companies (64%). They are also investing more in training in privacy-preserving technologies (62%) — which can cost over $2 million annually — than small companies (44%).
\nSignal loss is already pushing advertising budgets toward closed ecosystems at a moment when independent publishers can least afford to lose revenue.
\n\n\"The industry's embrace of privacy-by-design is the right thing for the industry and consumers alike,\" Eng continued. \"But if small independent publishers aren't protected, the vibrant, independent open web that consumers love is at serious risk.\"\n
The study, State of Data 2024: How the Digital Ad Industry is Adapting to the Privacy-by-Design Ecosystem can be downloaded here.
\n\nAbout IABThe Interactive Advertising Bureau empowers the media and marketing industries to thrive in the digital economy. Its membership comprises more than 700 leading media companies, brands, agencies, and the technology firms responsible for selling, delivering, and optimizing digital ad marketing campaigns. The trade group fields critical research on interactive advertising, while also educating brands, agencies, and the wider business community on the importance of digital marketing. In affiliation with the IAB Tech Lab, IAB develops technical standards and solutions. IAB is committed to professional development and elevating the knowledge, skills, expertise, and diversity of the workforce across the industry. Through the work of its public policy office in Washington, D.C., the trade association advocates for its members and promotes the value of the interactive advertising industry to legislators and policymakers. Founded in 1996, IAB is headquartered in New York City.
\n\nAbout BWG Strategy
\n\nEstablished in 2013, BWG Strategy is a primary research firm with an unwavering commitment to data quality. Our journey began with hosting live in-person events featuring industry thought leaders in New York City. These events have established BWG as a trusted thought partner to the buyside community. As BWG's reputation for investment-grade insights grew, so did the strong client following. Today, BWG's research is leveraged by 300+ investment firms managing over $6T in assets. BWG supports multi-strategy funds, private equity and venture capital investors, as well as corporate decision makers in finding answers to their most challenging questions. BWG Custom Research, the firm's fastest growing segment, delivers meticulously tailored custom research projects to help clients in their research and decision making. BWG Custom Research team is proud to serve a diverse client portfolio that spans the top
\n\nprivate equity and management consulting firms, and Fortune 500 corporations. BWG Custom Research offers solutions for a wide array of use cases, including product marketing, mergers and acquisitions, customer and competitor studies and thought leadership. This dynamic evolution underscores BWG Strategy's commitment to providing innovative, tailored research solutions that empower its clients to excel in an ever-changing business landscape.
\nSOURCE Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB)
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Hyundai in collaboration with Culture Brands, its African American marketing agency, launched their new multicultural campaign featuring the highly anticipated 2024 Santa Fe SUV.
\n\nThe latest addition to the popular \"OKAY Hyundai\" series, the new campaign, titled \"The Drop\", seamlessly integrates the allure of sneaker culture with the dynamic, adventure-driven lifestyle of the all-new fifth-generation Santa Fe.
\nhttps://www.youtube.com/embed/VQ5AmVtcSbc\n\n\"The Drop\" immerses viewers in the electric atmosphere of a sneaker release, spotlighting Black-owned brands like Brandblack and Black talent both in front of and behind the camera. Produced by FELA, a Black-owned production company, and directed by Julien Christian Lutz (Director X), known for iconic music videos, the campaign captures the essence of sneaker culture.
\n\nCollaborating with Culture Brands, CEO Eunique Jones Gibson and Executive Producer Jessica Toscano spearheaded the vision with intention. The spot also features the soundtrack \"Big Fish\" by Vince Staples. Through each cultural nod, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe reveals itself as the true coveted \"drop\".
\n\nHyundai \"The Drop\" African American TV Ad
\n\"It's imperative to break new ground. With 'The Drop' we're driving the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe into the limelight through an intentional and fresh cultural perspective, aligning our creative ingenuity with the dynamic experiences of Hyundai's ever-evolving consumer base,\" said Angela Zepeda, CMO of Hyundai Motor America. \"This campaign isn't just about showcasing a vehicle; it's about setting the pace for a vibrant fusion of automotive innovation and culture.\"
\n\nThe spot powerfully highlights the redesigned Santa Fe's bold and distinctive design, accentuating its enhanced spaciousness with the addition of a third row and captain's seats, while also spotlighting its advanced technological features, including dual wireless charging and dual 12.3-inch displays.
\n\nPositioned competitively in the Compact SUV segment, the Santa Fe is a frontrunner among African American consumers who purchased Hyundai vehicles in 2023, consistently marking its position as a Top 3 choice for the demographic. Offering various trim levels and engine options, including a Hybrid variant, the all-new Santa Fe aligns with Hyundai's broader sustainability initiatives.
\n\nLaunching the SUV required unique storytelling to effectively communicate its revitalized energy. \"The Drop\" spot showcases the vehicle's state-of-the-art technology while capturing a cultural vibe that instills a feeling of FOMO (fear of missing out).
\n\n\"With the all-new Santa Fe, we're injecting a surge of excitement into every ride, seamlessly blending cutting-edge technology with urban flair,\" said Erik Thomas, director of experiential marketing, Hyundai Motor America. \"From city streets to off-road adventures, the new Santa Fe's sleek innovation meets the pulse of culture and redefines the journey, exceeding expectations every step of the way.\"
\n\n\"This campaign represents an ongoing exploration of the rich tapestry of culture. By pairing relatable creative and talent with cultural icons like Director X and BrandBlack, we continue to authentically capture the vibrant essence of our community through the \"OKAY Hyundai\" campaign and showcase how the new 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe integrates within it,\" expressed Eunique Jones Gibson, Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Culture Brands.
\n\n\"The Drop\" will be showcased through various channels, including, digital, and influencer engagements, branded content development with culturally relevant media partners and other digital touchpoints to further influence awareness and opinion through the storytelling of impactful and relevant narratives. There are 30-, and 60- second versions of the spot available for broadcast and digital channels.
\n\nCulture Brands
\n\nCulture Brands is an independent, minority and female-owned agency that exists to authentically celebrate, reflect and represent African Americans in media. Founded in 2017, by 15-year advertising veteran Eunique Jones Gibson, we create culturally relevant and affirming campaigns and content that engage African American audiences by ensuring they are seen, heard and valued.
\n\nAt Culture Brands, we are constantly engaged in a two-way conversation with the African American community through our owned and operated media platforms and consumer brands such as the award-winning Because of Them We Can® and #CultureTags®. The agency is headquartered right outside of the nation's capital in Lanham, MD. www.culturebrands.co
\n\nHyundai Motor America
\nHyundai Motor America offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles, while supporting Hyundai Motor Company's Progress for Humanity vision. Hyundai has significant operations in the U.S., including its North American headquarters in California, the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama assembly plant, the all-new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (in development in Georgia), and several cutting-edge R&D facilities. These operations, combined with those of Hyundai's 835 independent dealers, contribute $20.1 billion annually and 190,000 jobs to the U.S. economy, according to a recent economic impact report. For more information, visit www.hyundainews.com.
\n\nHyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok
\n\nCampaign credits
\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_31ea4a9fa39c46f7b44a0509a9f11166~mv2.jpg\")
Austin, TX - The annual South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference and Festivals celebrated cutting-edge innovation across multiple categories at the 25th Annual SXSW Innovation Awards ceremony. The awards showcase the most inventive and impactful projects driving progress in areas like AI, climate change, health technology, and more.
\n\nSome of the top honorees from this year's ceremony include:
\n\nArtificial Intelligence:
\n\nAI-enabled health research with Truveta (Bellevue, WA) Truveta's platform leverages advanced AI to accelerate medical research and drug development by providing researchers access to de-identified patient data across hundreds of hospitals.
\n\nClimate Change:
\n\nThe TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Accelerator, powered by Lonely Whale (New York, NY) This ambitious accelerator program aims to reduce plastic waste by supporting startups developing scalable alternatives to traditional petroleum-based plastics.
\n\nHealth & Biotech:
\n\nFDA Breakthrough Skin Cancer Device (Miami, FL) An innovative new medical device that improves detection and treatment of deadly melanoma skin cancers earned recognition in this prestigious category.
\n\nInterface Design:
\nLune® - your music companion (Littleton, CO) Lune's intuitive AI-powered music app creates personalized streaming experiences that adapt to your mood, activity and taste.
\n\nProduct Design:
\n\nFirst Winner - Miroka Prototype: A Robot With Character (Paris, France)
\n\nSecond Winner - Boomerang Water at ACC (Midland, NC)
\n\nSocial Impact:
\n\nBrand Safety Secured with Viral Nation (Toronto, ON) Viral Nation's brand safety platform leverages AI to detect toxic content across social media, helping brands place ads in positive environments.
\n\nAmong other notable winners were the inspiring Community Service Award honorees and the futuristic quantum technology company UbiGro Cover taking home the \"WTF (What the Future)\" category.
\n\nThe \"People's Choice\" winner voted by attendees was Kulture City for their work fostering inclusive communities for people with autism and other abilities. Dotpad, a breakthrough productivity app utilizing generative AI, earned the coveted \"Best in Show\" prize.
\n\nFrom game-changing medical advancements to sustainable innovation and boundary-pushing design, the 2024 SXSW Innovation Award winners exemplified the creative solutions needed to solve humanity's greatest challenges. Their work sets the bar for the evolving tech landscape.
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On the evening of Thursday, March 28th, Ragtrader is hosting an exclusive networking event bringing together CMOs and senior marketing leaders from New York City's biggest brands. The NYC CMO Room offers a unique opportunity for marketing executives to connect, share insights, and build valuable relationships in an intimate setting.
\n\nThe private loft at Ragtrader will provide the vibrant backdrop for this invite-only gathering from 6-9pm. Attendees can enjoy passed hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, and a curated dinner experience while mixing and mingling with their peers. The evening facilitates open and engaging conversations between innovative marketing minds across industries.
\n\nWhether you're looking to expand your professional network, gain fresh perspectives, or simply connect with like-minded peers, the NYC CMO Room presents the perfect setting. Space is extremely limited for this exclusive event, so be sure to request your invitation early
\n\nJoin NYC's elite marketing leaders for a night of networking, idea-sharing, and forging meaningful connections at the can't-miss CMO Room. This is one executive experience you won't want to miss.
\n\nRSVP today.
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As Women's History Month kicks off Molson Coors Beverage Company is using its new partnership with the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) to bring greater visibility to the league's talented players. The beer brand announced its multi-year sponsorship deal in a unique way - by obscuring its own logo on special edition PWHL Toronto jerseys to make space for players' names.
\n\nThe initiative, called \"See My Name,\" swaps Molson's branding on jerseys for the player name placement below the number on the back. Typically covered by hair, this prime real estate will now showcase each athlete's name prominently during PWHL games.
\nThe redesigned jerseys made their debut on March 8th for the International Women's Day match between the Toronto and Montreal PWHL teams. However, this is just the start for Molson's \"See My Name\" campaign to raise the profile of women's hockey stars.
\n\n\"We're huge fans of the PWHL and its incredible athletes, and launching 'See My Name' is a great way to help the stars continue to shine,\" said Kara Fitzpatrick, Molson's Marketing Director. \"Despite growing interest, awareness of individual women athletes still isn't where it should be due to lack of media coverage.\"
\n\nIndeed, a 2022 study found women's sports received only 15% of total sports media coverage. By putting PWHL players' names at the forefront, Molson hopes to bolster name recognition and fandom around these elite athletes.
\n\n\"International Women's Day is important for celebrating women who are change makers, which makes it fitting for an initiative like 'See My Name' that provides unique recognition for PWHL players,\" said Jayna Hefford, the league's Senior VP of Hockey Operations.
\n\nThe special jerseys are just the beginning of Molson's multi-year PWHL partnership aimed at elevating the league and its players. As Women's History Month celebrates the vital role of women in society, brands like Molson are using their platform to raise the profile of women making history on the ice.
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South by Southwest (SXSW), the annual conglomerate of film, music and technology festivals and conferences, returned to Austin, Texas this March for its 37th year. The event drew visitors from around the world to experience cutting-edge tech launches, preview new films and music acts, and gain valuable industry insights.
\n\nHowever, SXSW has become about much more than just the official conferences and showcases. Major brands have seized the opportunity to engage the festival's diverse attendees through innovative experiential marketing activations scattered across downtown Austin.
\n\n\"The brand activations at SXSW 2024 are largely rooted more in the here and now,\" explained Peter Lewis, SXSW's chief partnerships officer. \"Brands are focused on transporting people into unique spaces while providing useful information about their products and services.\"
\n\nBy going beyond traditional marketing, these SXSW activations allowed brands to forge memorable connections with potential customers through one-of-a-kind immersive experiences. As SXSW continues to evolve as an influential cultural event, brands are seizing the opportunity to create buzzworthy activations that transcend segmented audiences.
\n\nRead more here.
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Michaels, the major arts and crafts retail chain, is piloting an in-person program to allow vendors from its online handmade marketplace MakerPlace to sell their goods at select Michaels retail stores.
\n\nThe pilot launched on February 24th at seven Michaels locations, with one vendor per store. A second round of stores will be added to the pilot on March 23rd, with plans for a nationwide rollout soon after if successful.
\n\nMakerPlace is Michaels' online platform launched in November 2023 that allows artisans, crafters, and makers to sell their handmade products, offer classes, and share how-to guides. It was created after Michaels received customer feedback that many felt they had outgrown just buying supplies at Michaels and wanted to sell their creations as well.
\n\nThe online platform functions similar to sites like Etsy, allowing anyone to open a virtual shop. However, MakerPlace offers more flexible pricing with lower commission rates than some competitors.
\n\nBy testing an in-person retail component, Michaels hopes to merge its traditional supply business with selling handmade finished goods created by MakerPlace vendors. Michaels CEO Ashley Buchanan stated the goal is to create a \"closed-loop system\" where makers can buy supplies and then sell their products conveniently through Michaels.
\n\nThe in-store pilot currently does not take any commission from MakerPlace vendor sales, though the online platform does charge commission fees. Michaels is focused on first driving customer engagement and sales to the MakerPlace online vendors during this test phase.
\n\nIf successful, the program could upend the handmade goods market by allowing artisans to leverage Michaels' substantial physical retail footprint in addition to just selling online. It remains to be seen how the arts and crafts retail giant's move into handmade goods will impact competitors like Etsy.
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In a surprising turn of events, the once high-flying e-commerce brand Zulily is getting a second chance at life after being acquired by Beyond, the company formerly known as Overstock.com. Leading the charge for Zulily's resurrection is none other than Marcus Lemonis, the serial entrepreneur and star of CNBC's reality show \"The Profit.\"
\n\nLemonis, who was recently named Executive Chairman of Beyond, teased the Zulily acquisition on social media this week with a cryptic photo of Barney the Dinosaur and the message \"exciting news coming this week.\" The Zulily brand accounts followed suit, posting \"The only purple that saves you money. Coming soon.\"
\n\nThe acquisition caps a remarkable fall from grace for Zulily, the former e-commerce darling that went public in 2013 at a $4 billion valuation. Despite being acquired by QVC parent Qurate for $2.4 billion in 2015, Zulily struggled to maintain its competitive edge and ultimately fell into the hands of a private equity firm in 2022.
\n\nUnder that ownership, Zulily's situation deteriorated rapidly, with over 800 employees across three states laid off and vendors reporting missed payments. In a last-ditch effort, Zulily filed an antirust lawsuit against Amazon before entering liquidation proceedings by the end of 2023.
\n\nEnter Marcus Lemonis and his new venture Beyond, who saw an opportunity to revive an iconic brand with an still-devoted customer base. Lemonis made a name for himself on \"The Profit\" by attempting to turn around struggling small businesses, putting his expertise in business operations and strategy to the test.
\n\n\"Zulily has incredible brand equity, but clearly lost its way operationally in recent years,\" Lemonis stated. \"We plan to apply our resources and unique capabilities in supply chain, technology, and customer experience to rebuild Zulily as the premier value shopping destination for moms and families.\"
\n\nWhile terms of the deal were not disclosed, analysts estimate the Zulily brand assets were acquired for under $10 million - a far cry from its billion-dollar heyday, but also an exceptional value if Lemonis can work his TV magic on the business.
\n\nBeyond's acquisition of Zulily fits its broader strategy of consolidating distressed e-commerce brands and retailers under a parent ecosystem aimed at achieving $3 billion in revenue by 2025. The company had previously acquired the assets of Bed Bath & Beyond out of bankruptcy.
\n\nWith production values befitting his television personality, Lemonis has already begun teasing a summer 2024 relaunch for Zulily filled with \"thrills, incredible deals, and a few surprises.\" Zulily alumni and bargain hunters alike are no doubt watching closely to see if one of e-commerce's original disruptors can regain its purple reign.
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In the evolving landscape of commercial real estate, marketing has emerged as a vital force, shaping perceptions, forging connections, and driving growth. At the forefront of this transformation is Susan Bloomfield, Chief Marketing Officer at Stream Realty Partners, a professional whose passion for storytelling and innovation has propelled the brand's growth.
\n\nWith over 25 years of experience spanning marketing, research, and sales, Susan's journey is a testament to the power of aligning passion with purpose through leadership, learning, and connection. As Stream Realty Partners continues to expand its footprint, boasting more than 350 million square feet of office, industrial, retail, and healthcare assignments, Susan's vision and strategic approach have become pivotal in shaping the company's growth trajectory.
\n\nIn this insightful conversation, we delve into Susan's perspectives on the future of commercial real estate marketing, exploring the intersection of technology, human experiences, and the larger purpose that underpins every action in this dynamic field.
\n\nWhat are some of the biggest differences in marketing needs and strategy between serving B2B clients vs more consumer-facing residential real estate?
\n\nBloomfield: Commercial real estate is really B2B2C. But when looking at B2B clients in commercial real estate versus consumer-facing residential real estate, they differ significantly due to the nature of the clients’ business objectives, decision-making processes, and the types of transactions involved.\n\n
In an industry where relationships are critical, how do you leverage technology and digital platforms or AI to enhance client connections rather than replace them?
\n\nBloomfield: It's a common sentiment among marketing professionals that juggling proactive sales funnel management with demonstrating ROI is a challenging task.\n\n
Traditionally, marketing efforts can get bogged down in manual, time-consuming processes. However, the landscape is evolving swiftly with the adoption of technology that enhances automation and efficiency, allowing teams to redirect their focus to the most vital elements: people and culture, even amidst concerns about investments and profitability.
\n\nWe're integrating AI into our CRM system to preemptively discern client needs and automate initial outreach, which creates bandwidth for personalized, one-on-one interactions with key clients and prospects. Additionally, AI is being utilized in conjunction with business and location intelligence platforms, granting us more refined predictive insights into market behaviors.
\n\nOur digital strategy also includes interactive websites, landing pages, and digital presentations, which serve as platforms for sparking and sustaining dialogue through carefully curated and diverse content. We’ve long embraced AR/VR technologies to offer immersive experiences of spaces and places that are in the conceptual phase or require virtual visitation for informed decision-making. These advancements are pivotal in propelling our marketing strategies forward, placing a higher value on personal connections while navigating the demands of the business landscape.
\n\nHow has the virtual shift during COVID impacted marketing strategies in commercial real estate long-term? What permanent adaptations has it catalyzed?
\n\nBloomfield: One area of permanence was the daily infusion of technologies that allowed people to remain connected in more traditional industries, like commercial real estate. The inability to move around allowed us to fast-track the adoption of technologies that were previously deployed but not embraced.\n\n
Where do emerging areas like influencer partnerships, Metaverse activations (if any) and experiential marketing fit into short and long-term strategic plans for Stream?
\n\nBloomfield: We are actively engaging with influencers to diversify the narrative about our brand, offering a wide range of viewpoints on our team, our integrated services, and the diverse properties and communities we serve. The essence of commercial real estate extends beyond the physical buildings; it is a vibrant network where individuals and their unique interests converge with a shared intent.\n\n
Our partnerships with influencers are strategic; they help us forge meaningful connections by highlighting aspects of real estate that resonate with people on a personal level. Whether it’s a shared enthusiasm for specialized workspaces, the charm of a particular city or neighborhood, or a common love for aspects such as local cuisine, entertainment, architecture, or music, these collaborations aim to bridge the gap between our properties and the dynamic cultures they encompass.
\n\nThrough these alliances, we not only showcase the distinctive features of our properties but also celebrate the communities and lifestyles they embody. This approach enables us to transform the perception of commercial real estate from mere spaces to places of purpose and passion.
\n\nAmongst many technologies that are part of our strategic growth initiatives like Blockchain, the Metaverse is on our radar as it relates to creating twin experiences between the physical and virtual world. Many commercial real estate firms are recognizing the metaverse as a growing component of their industry that can provide unique experiences to customers and potentially drive value.
\n\nAs technology evolves, the potential for new services and revenue streams within the metaverse is likely to expand and will drive our interest—likely becoming standard practice in the years to come. That being said, both AR/VR experiences for commercial developments or redevelopments that are just concepts have been evolving and in heavy use for over a decade at this point.
\n\nHow is your marketing strategy adapting amidst economic uncertainty, rising rates and downturn indicators in the commercial real estate market specifically? What initiatives aim to counter sales obstacles or changing client/tenant needs in a potential downturn?
\n\nBloomfield: In even the most favorable markets, challenges can arise. Economic downturns can serve as a period of reassessment, opening doors to new opportunities. Our marketing approach is centered around a people-first philosophy that unfolds in three layers.\n\n
Firstly, we focus on talent. By recognizing and elevating the unique contributions of our team, we aim to attract and retain industry leaders. This empowerment of high-caliber professionals ensures that our clients remain ahead, regardless of market fluctuations.
\n\nSecondly, our approach is about our platform. We spotlight our team members and the innovative solutions they provide. By doing so, we demonstrate to our current and potential clients our proficiency in navigating complex markets.
\n\nLastly, from the client’s viewpoint, we share stories that resonate. Whether it be a narrative about an investment, an asset, or strategic location planning, we highlight their dedication and achievements. Celebrating successes, preemptively addressing potential hurdles, and offering strategies through compelling storytelling, we engage our audience and invite them to learn more about multiple, unique perspectives.
\n\nAny last thoughts on marketing strategy heading into the year or tip/tricks/ advice for current or aspiring CMOs in the commercial space?
\n\nBloomfield:
\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_dd43dbddc8e2449e9c1c4bde6e9749db~mv2.png\")
The iconic sports drink brand Gatorade is making waves by jumping into the ultra-competitive bottled water market with their new product line called Gatorade Hydration. This bold move puts them in direct competition with major water brands like Aquafina, Dasani, and Smartwater.
\n\nThe Sports Fuel Giant Thirsting for More While Gatorade virtually owns the sports drink category, comprising over 70% market share, the brand recognized an opportunity in the $18 billion bottled water space. As more consumers ditch sugary beverages for healthier hydration options, Gatorade saw the need to evolve.
\n\n\"Gatorade built its legacy by innovating to meet the hydration needs of athletes,\" said Shane Peirce, Head of Gatorade Strategy. \"Now we're bringing that sports fuel mentality and superior hydration to the everyday water consumer.\"
\n\nTaking on the Big Water Brands To succeed, Gatorade will have to wrestle market share away from established water titans like Aquafina (PepsiCo), Dasani (Coca-Cola), and Smartwater (Coca-Cola). These brands already have extensive production, distribution, and marketing in place.
\n\nHowever, Gatorade believes it can leverage its respected sports performance branding and proprietary hydration research to differentiate its water products. Each Hydration variety contains a unique electrolyte mix designed to enhance fluid absorption.
\n\n\"Our products are water, elevated,\" stated Peirce. \"We're delivering hydration to consumers in a way no other water brand can.\"
\n\nGatorade Water is alkaline with a pH of 7.5 or higher, electrolyte infused for a refreshing, crisp taste, and the bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic. The premium water was developed for active people looking for an all-day hydration option.
\n\nIt's meant for those who are out there making moves, who understand that staying hydrated isn't just a benefit, it's a fundamental human need.
\n\n\"Today's athletes are more wellness-minded than ever, and they expect Gatorade to meet all of their hydration needs, 24/7,\" said Anuj Bhasin, chief brand officer at Gatorade. \"Gatorade Water is an all-day hydration option for all active people, no matter who they are or how they move, from the leader in sports fuel that they know and trust.\"
\n\nGatorade Water is launching with a surround-sound 360-marketing campaign titled \"Always in Motion,\" which captures the spirit of the athlete who's making moves and making progress every day.
\n\nThe \"Always in Motion\" campaign includes a robust digital out-of-home execution across the U.S., premium online video and digital and social platform support. The linear spots will run across tentpole sport moments throughout the spring, including college basketball in March, NBA regular season and playoffs, and WNBA tip-off.
\n\nGatorade Water will also be inspiring those following the Gatorade social handles to keep making moves through hype content and more. And those based in cities known for always being on-the-go -- New York City, Los Angeles, Miami and Chicago -- can keep an eye out for ways to get moving with the brand.
\n\nCan Gatorade Make a Big Splash?
\nWhile Gatorade has deep pockets and brand equity from PepsiCo, pivoting into water won't be easy. Health trends bode well, but many predict steep competition will lead to a bloody pricing war.
\n\nRobert Eckert, former Gatorade President, thinks the move makes sense: \"Entering water gives Gatorade a presence in the biggest non-alcoholic beverage category. But they'll have to invest heavily to take share.\"
\n\nWhether Gatorade's hydration play sinks or swims may ultimately come down to clever marketing and product differentiation. The water wars are only getting more turbulent from here.
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Brands are increasingly tapping into the power of influencers and content creators to reach and engage with their target audiences authentically. As a CMO, understanding this rapidly evolving landscape is crucial for crafting an effective marketing strategy.
\n\nThe Creator Economy Landscape
\nThe creator economy encompasses a broad range of individuals who create content and build audiences across various platforms. It includes:
\n\nInfluencers:
\nContent Creators:
\nUser-Generated Content (UGC) and Influencers: What's the Difference?
\n\nWhile influencers and UGC both involve content created by individuals outside of your brand, there are some key distinctions:
\n\nInfluential Campaigns to Learn From:
\nBest Practices for Influencer Marketing
\nAs you explore influencer marketing opportunities, keep these best practices in mind:
\n\nAs the creator economy continues to grow, it's essential for CMOs to stay ahead of the curve and leverage the power of influencers and content creators. By following best practices and fostering authentic partnerships, you can tap into this dynamic space to drive brand awareness, engagement, and ultimately, business growth. Strategically leveraging influencers and user-created content in a forward-thinking way empowers brands of all sizes can build powerful connections with consumers in an authentic, impactful way.
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Many professionals get jazzed up after reading a social media article, but the excitement and strategy escape as soon as the page is minimized and they move on to the next enticing link in their Twitter feed. I see it all too often: a quick high followed by complete memory loss on what they have just read. How can you put these tidbits of social media advice to work in the real world?
\n\nYes, your brand is interesting. Now keep them interested. Content marketing isn’t just for the Fortune 500. Effective social media isn’t reserved for the companies with 20-plus staffers in their communications department. But your social strategy isn’t going to be served to you on a silver platter. Social media is fun to talk about, tough to implement and an even bigger challenge for companies to be creative and stay consistent. If you don’t change your actions, you are destined to get the same results.
\nGetting started is often the hardest part of any task, and social media is no different. Having a better understanding of your brand will help you navigate and create a social media presence that truly makes an impact. Get in touch with your brand. Only then can you begin to create fresh content and a strategy that you can rely on.
\n\nRethink your role. First, we must look at ourselves. If you are a business owner or a professional eager to make big changes to your company’s online strategy, own it. You are now a social media ambassador. You don’t have to be a PR professional or in your 20s to understand the social media game. Thinking different is almost always a catalyst to act different. Don’t be afraid to jump in with both feet and explore ways to discover and redefine your brand and communication. Mental blocks are your fabricated obstructions, drop them.
\n\nRethink with your brand.
\n\nSocial media success requires more than just reading tips and getting a fleeting burst of inspiration. To truly leverage these platforms and keep your audience engaged, you need to put the advice into consistent, strategic action tailored to your brand.
\nStart by getting intimately in touch with your brand's identity - the voice, goals, and audience you want to connect with. Use this clarity to guide the content you create and the channels you inhabit. Commit to showing up regularly with a thoughtful, authentic presence that provides value to your followers.
\n\nWhile the basics can be simple, executing an effective social media strategy long-term is no easy feat. It requires an ongoing investment of time, creativity, and patience. But stay the course, and you'll build a vibrant online community around your brand.
\n\nThe most impactful social media marketers aren't just reading about best practices - they're living them day after day. By rethinking your role as an ambassador, deeply understanding your brand, and taking purposeful action, you too can craft a social presence that keeps your audience hooked. The initial excitement may fade, but your consistent efforts will pay dividends in terms of engagement, leads, and business growth.
\n\n\nChief Marketing Officer
\nCMO Room
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/217621da-b7a1-4326-b272-358d10221e60.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "217621da-b7a1-4326-b272-358d10221e60", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/the-guide-to-taking-on-big-brand-s-best-social-media-ideas-part-1-get-to-know-your-brand", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 128 } }, { "wixId": "161560c7-4fbd-448d-8141-fd4c408e1e3b", "slug": "google-offers-more-transparency-and-control-after-ad-placement-controversy", "title": "Google Offers More Transparency and Control After Ad Placement Controversy", "deck": "After a scathing report last year revealed that Google search ads were appearing on pornographic and sanctioned websites, the tech giant...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Mar 1", "publishedAt": "2024-03-01 14:55:32.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/161560c7-4fbd-448d-8141-fd4c408e1e3b.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/161560c7-4fbd-448d-8141-fd4c408e1e3b.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_5c4703fd2149435780d8742a519c068f~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_5c4703fd2149435780d8742a519c068f~mv2.png\")
After a scathing report last year revealed that Google search ads were appearing on pornographic and sanctioned websites, the tech giant is giving advertisers more visibility and control over ad placements. The changes come following an Adalytics study which found that ads from major brands were showing up on sites like Pornhub and Russian propaganda outlets.
\n\nThe report was an embarrassment for Google and threatened advertiser trust in the search advertising ecosystem. Now Google is trying to rebuild that trust.
\n\n\"We take where ads appear seriously and have strict policies that define where ads should and should not serve,\" said Jerry Dischler, VP of Ads Product Management at Google. \"While we have an extremely high bar when it comes to ad placement, we believe there’s always opportunity for improvement.\"
\n\nThe key change gives advertisers impression-level reporting to see exactly where their ads appeared across Google's vast search partner network. This unprecedented peek behind the curtain provides more transparency into the $175 billion search advertising machine.
\n\nThis has major implications for advertisers and brands who rely on Google search ads. For the first time, they can audit ad placements to ensure their ads do not show up in unwanted or brand-unsafe content. Rather than relying on Google's word, brands can verify appropriate ad placement for themselves.
\n\nGoogle is also expanding its sensitive categories exclusion tool to block ads from appearing in broader content categories like tragedy, sensitive social issues, and sexually suggestive content.
\n\nThis gives advertisers more direct control over what types of content their ads can appear around. Brands can implement tighter guardrails to prevent any chance of adjacency to inappropriate or controversial topics.
\n\nWhile advertisers generally trust Google to place their search ads appropriately, the additional controls should help ease any lingering doubts after last year's Adalytics revelations. Brand safety is crucial, and advertisers require greater say in protecting their brands from potentially damaging ad placements.
\n\nDischler said Google will continue refining its systems and tools to provide brands more control over where ads show up. The search giant sees improving transparency and control as an ongoing process.
\n\n\"We want to provide complete confidence to our partners with regard to ad placements,\" said Dischler. \"These latest steps move us closer to that goal.\"
\n\nThe expanded transparency and controls address advertisers' growing concerns over brand safety and appropriate ad placements. While Google search advertising remains an efficient and powerful platform, brands require more visibility into and authority over where their ads ultimately show up. These latest updates give advertisers the auditability and safeguards to protect their brands in Google search.
\n\nGoing forward, scrutiny over tech platforms will likely continue intensifying. By preemptively addressing brand safety concerns with added transparency and advertiser control, Google aims to rebuild trusting partnerships with advertisers. As brand integrity takes on greater importance, expect tech giants to shift more control into the hands of their advertising partners.
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As Chief Marketing Officer of RCN Capital, Erica LaCentra brings over a decade of marketing leadership experience in the real estate lending space. We sat down with her to uncover optimal strategies for alternative financing companies looking to expand their reach and trust with motivated real estate investors.
\n\nErica shares keen insights on the power of educational content marketing to position lenders as trusted advisors rather than strictly transactional partners. She also explores the significance of targeted, automated journeys to deliver personalized value at scale as well as always scouting the next big marketing trend, no matter the industry, to continually elevate competitive positioning.
\n\nFor alternative lenders seeking to thrive in a crowded marketplace by forging genuine investor connections, Erica lays out an inspirational blueprint covering everything from reliable lead gen tactics to crafting lifecycle campaigns that resonate.
\n\nWhich marketing channels and platforms should alternative lenders be focused on to reach motivated real estate investors?
\n\nLaCentra: The real estate investing space is honestly smaller than one might think, but also very tight-knit. For lenders looking to find motivated investors, it can be a great strategy to look for investing associations, real estate meet-ups, and other educationally motivated groups. Throughout the country, there are no shortages of educational communities where real estate investors look to share resources, provide insight to newbies, and simply connect. Whether these groups meet in person, think Real Estate Investing Associations, or REIAs, or local meetups, or converse online in Facebook groups, LinkedIn groups, or more targeted mastermind groups, being able to get tapped into these opportunities can be a game changer to find motivated real estate investors. One thing to keep in mind is that the experience you provide to potential clients when entering these groups can make or break your opportunity to gain traction. Word of mouth is critical in these groups and if you don’t make a great impression, it could permanently sour your reputation.
\n\nHow important is content and thought leadership marketing for establishing RCN Capital's expertise and trust in the market? What types of content best connects with your clients?
\n\nLaCentra: Content creation and thought leadership marketing have been critical to RCN’s strategy for establishing our brand and reputation in the industry. In a highly competitive space like ours, loan programs alone often aren’t enough to help you stand out. Being able to provide greater value for our clients through the content and education that we circulate has become our differentiating factor. If you can provide meaningful content in the industry, you can position yourself as a trusted resource beyond just the products you offer which can be invaluable for retaining customers.
\n\nIn terms of what content best connects with our clients, it's hard to point to just one format because people consume content in so many different ways. My best suggestion would be to think about how content can be repurposed into multiple formats as you are developing it to get the greatest potential reach with your customer base. For example, creating an article can be a great initial piece of content, but what would be better would be taking content from that article and turning it into a short video that could be used on social media and a white paper offering that could be sent out via email. The more formats and repurposing you can do with the content you are developing, the greater the likelihood you have of clients seeing it and digesting it in a preferred format.
\n\nHow much are marketing automation, CRM, and digital account management platforms playing into your current strategy and process efficiencies?
\n\nLaCentra: While we do rely heavily on our CRM to more efficiently segment our client base for marketing purposes, and we have more automated workflows than I can probably count, I do often feel like we are just scratching the surface for what we are doing from a marketing technology standpoint. This thought excites me more than anything though because I do feel like even what we are accomplishing to date through our current marketing automation strategy is miles ahead of where we were a decade ago. We can do so much more marketing overall but not just marketing for the sake of marketing. We are creating extremely pointed marketing targeted to highly specific client segments.
\n\nBeing able to create a more tailored customer journey from the time someone submits a contact form on our website and beyond can be so powerful for conversion rates and customer retention over time. With every touch point we record in our CRM, we can serve more relevant content to our clients, and most importantly, we can get that content in front of clients at the right times to encourage business from them. That also makes for a better customer experience because clients feel like we understand their wants and needs rather than sending them generic, catch-all content.
\n\nWhat are some key performance indicators, metrics and analytics you closely track to gauge marketing success?
\n\nLaCentra: The biggest things we track closely to gauge success are first, ROI on campaigns that we are running. It seems like a no-brainer because if a campaign isn’t showing a positive return then it should be terminated. No one likes spending simply for the sake of wasting money. However, it is important to look at successful marketing campaigns and find their diminishing point of return or the point where no matter how much more you put into that campaign, you simply won’t get additional returns. Finding that sweet spot is critical to knowing where we can allocate more money or resources, where we need to pull back, or where we need to stop altogether.
\n\nThe other metrics we look at are most of the standard engagement data points across our various marketing channels/platforms. So, for example, for our website, we look at overall traffic, what sources are directing the most traffic, new visitors vs returning visitors, page views per session, time on site, engagement onsite, visitor locations, conversion rates for forms, and keyword performance just to name a few. For email marketing, we look at delivery rates, open rates, click-through rates, what people are clicking on, unsubscribes and bounces and we also look at commonalities between content that clients are viewing regularly to refine the emails we are serving them. The list goes on and on for each marketing channel because we really are looking at how our customers engage with us regularly to create a better understanding of the paths clients take before ultimately submitting and closing a loan with us. Then we look at what touchpoints encourage repeat business and customer retention. One data point on its own doesn’t really tell us much, but looking at engagement across marketing efforts is where we start to see trends which allows us to be more thoughtful in our campaigns.
\n\nLooking ahead, what emerging technologies or approaches are you focused on to enhance RCN Capital's competitive positioning and client experience?
\n\nLaCentra: I think looking ahead, we are focused on how we can improve our marketing automation efforts and create multifaceted marketing journeys for clients that serve them with content that is highly specific to their needs. Again, I think we are just scratching the surface with what we are doing now, so my focus is to continue to improve upon what we are doing so we can create a highly personalized experience with our clients. I want our clients to really feel like RCN understands the problems they have and that we are providing catered solutions to fix those problems. I think the nature of marketing in general is always changing so I’m always looking to see what the next exciting way will be to reach our customers so that we can incorporate that into our strategy.
\n\nAny last thoughts on marketing strategy heading into the year or tip/tricks or advice for current or aspiring CMOs?
\nI think especially if you are a marketer in the real estate lending space, it is so important to stay on top of marketing trends and emerging marketing opportunities that are gaining traction in other industries. I have found that this industry can often lag behind what other industries are doing in terms of marketing so being able to recognize and implement new marketing technology or strategies ahead of the competition can give you a significant advantage. It probably sounds cliché but I would encourage current or aspiring CMOs to always be looking for the next big trend or the next big thing. Marketing and marketing techniques are always evolving so in order to be at your best you always have to be looking for what’s next.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/df3bfb14-433e-47cc-8587-b54395dd6d95.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "df3bfb14-433e-47cc-8587-b54395dd6d95", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/cmo-insights-with-erica-lacentra-cmo-rcn-capital", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 130 } }, { "wixId": "df0c3a3c-0984-4ad4-b23d-dad0171f07cf", "slug": "amazon-s-next-gen-ad-tech-initiative-inside-project-id", "title": "Amazon's Next-Gen Ad Tech Initiative: Inside Project ID++", "deck": "As third-party cookies continue their descent into obscurity thanks to privacy regulations and browser restrictions, the entire digital...", "category": "newsroom", "categoryLabel": "Newsroom", "categories": [ "newsroom" ], "dateLabel": "Feb 28", "publishedAt": "2024-02-28 13:15:08.000", "readTimeLabel": "2 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/df0c3a3c-0984-4ad4-b23d-dad0171f07cf.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/df0c3a3c-0984-4ad4-b23d-dad0171f07cf.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_2863b155eca24cef8ced0025d375c453~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c10907_2863b155eca24cef8ced0025d375c453~mv2.png\")
As third-party cookies continue their descent into obscurity thanks to privacy regulations and browser restrictions, the entire digital advertising industry is bracing for impact. Marketers face growing challenges in targeting and measuring ads without the long-relied-upon cookies to track users across the web.
\n\nHowever, Amazon is busily working on the future of post-cookie ad tech. The ecommerce giant's advertising arm has revealed early plans for a new identifier initiative dubbed ID++. Though details remain sparse, ID++ offers a lens into Amazon's strategy to gain an edge on rivals in the impending cookieless landscape.
\n\nGlimpse Behind the ID++ Curtain
\nID++ briefly appeared on Amazon Advertising's site in a product roadmap for its self-serve DSP before getting pulled. However, the blueprint sheds light on the ID++ objectives and current development status.
\n\nPer the roadmap, ID++ aims to help advertisers \"reach customers\" and \"measure campaign performance\" amidst the cookie crumble.
\n\nSpecific ID++ features for marketers include:
\nThese capabilities point to ID++ as a unifying data solution to connect user identity, ads exposure, site/store visits, and purchases across channels.
\n\nThe roadmap also notably stated \"partner identity integration\" as an ID++ feature. This indicates Amazon may plan some collaboration with other parties on ID++, though who exactly remains a mystery.
\n\nRace to Replace Cookies
\nAmazon building its own alternative to cookie tracking makes complete sense aligned to its vertically integrated strategy. The company has already proven its internal user data can enhance ad targeting within its walled garden.
\n\nHowever, the scraps of information on ID++ signal potential grander ambitions to become the pick axe and shovels provider in the next era of digital advertising, not just the gold mine. If ID++ can track and measure ads performance across non-Amazon media, the company could license the identifier to other ad tech vendors hungry for reliable cross-channel attribution.
\n\nOf course, Amazon will face deeply entrenched competition as the industry races towards alternatives to shore up advertising without third-party cookies. Google is pushing its Privacy Sandbox initiative featuring concepts like Topics API and FLoC identifiers. Meanwhile, independent solutions like The Trade Desk's Unified ID 2.0 allow cross-publisher people-based marketing.
\n\nIt's still anyone game in terms of what ultimately replaces cookies for marketers. But with ID++, Amazon is signaling its prepared to come out swinging to lead the post-cookie ad world rather than follow in it. The heavyweight's vast ecommerce and cloud data troves could give ID++ an unrivaled advantage in connecting identity across consumer touchpoints - if marketers buy into yet another platform-owned tracking system.
\n\nThe Clock is Ticking
\nWith Chrome phasing out third-party cookies by 2024, time is ticking for the ad industry to adopt replacement targeting mechanisms. Though in early phases, ID++ demonstrates the post-cookie writing is already on the wall - and Amazon seeks to be holding the pen. Expect more light soon shed on Amazon's murky but monumental ID++ ambitions.
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TikTok creator Reessa Teesa has captivated millions with her 50-part video series \"Who TF Did I Marry,\" a memoir chronicling her tumultuous marriage and divorce. At nearly 500 minutes in total length, the series is an unconventional format for TikTok's notoriously short videos. However, Reesa's ingenious use of TikTok's playlist feature to string the videos together into chapter-like installments has transformed the series into a bingeable \"audiobook\" experience.
\n\nThe series has blown up into a viral sensation, catalyzing Reesa's follower count from 50,000 to nearly 2 million in under a week. Moreover, Google Trends data shows \"Who TF Did I Marry\" has become the most searched for marriage-related term this week. Reesa's memoir signifies an evolution of the popular \"story time\" genre on TikTok into longer-form confessional content.
\n\nSo what are the key implications of the RessaTeesa phenomenon for brands and influencer marketing?
\n\nWhat crucial lessons can brands take away from the ReesaTeesa craze to boost audience engagement?
\n\nThe Bite-Sized Isn't Always Best
\nTikTok has become synonymous with hyper-short videos that seize fragmented attention spans. But the 6+ hours of Reesa’s serialized story proves that a compelling, confession-style narrative expanded over multiple installments can be utterly addictive. Brands should leverage TikTok's playlist feature to stretch stories across episodic content.
\n\nFor example, an athleisure brand could team up with an influencer fitness guru to chronicle their journey to run a marathon. The brand could integrate their athletic wear into videos that provide training tips, document fitness highs and lows, and ultimately capture the emotion of crossing the finish line.
\n\nBingeable Brand Storytelling
\nReesa's memoirs tap into the mass appeal of bingeable, confessional content - much like reality TV indulged in on Netflix. Brands that frame episodic content to tap into this guilty pleasure of immersive storytelling are primed for loyalty.
\nA DTC startup could recruit an influencer entrepreneur to relay the thrills and spills of getting their business off the ground. Mini-cliffhangers at the end of each video will have audiences hitting replay.
\n\nInfuse Authenticity with Relatability
\nRaw, authentic narratives that audiences emotionally bond with can trump polished content from influencers. Reesa's unfiltered airing of her personal laundry, flaws and all, broke through the manicured Instagram aesthetic pervasive across channels.
\nBrands should scout out influencers who exude genuine relatability to be the face of episodic content. For instance, a home goods company could discover a fledgling influencer mom tackling DIY projects battling comical parenting fails. Her messups will endear her to mothers everywhere.
\n\nThe Takeaway: Let Creativity Binge
\nAt its core, the cultural moment sparked by ReesaTeesa shows that crowds can't get enough of creative, character-driven storylines on TikTok. Brands willing to move beyond short clips toward serialized narratives are tapping into a proven formula for engagement riches.
\n\nRessaTeesa shows the power of creative long-form storytelling on TikTok to enthrall millions when done in an relatable, audiobook-style format. Brands that leverage episodic content and relatable influencers have much to gain on TikTok. Reesa's memoir is just the beginning of a new wave of bingeable content on the platform.
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This week the CMO Room is pleased to highlight Krystle Rocci, Integrated Strategy Director at Pernod Ricard, to discuss key advertising and marketing trends shaping the spirits industry in 2024.
\n\nWith over 15 years of experience driving innovation for iconic brands, like Coca-Cola, Krystle brings a wealth of knowledge on how to engage consumers in authentic, culturally-relevant ways including:
\n\nLet's dive in to our timely conversation on the consumer-centric advertising and marketing strategies that will define brand success this year and beyond.
\n\nCMO Room: What specific trends do you foresee dominating the advertising landscape in 2024? How might these trends redefine the way brands connect with
\nconsumers? Any new tools you are embracing?
\n\nRocci: I think we will continue to see AI dominating advertising conversations in 2024.
\nOver my 15+ year career in the industry, I have seen marketing technology play
\na pivotal role in driving both innovation and helping brands drive efficiency. We
\nhave seen machine learning drive advances in the ways brand connect with the
\ncore consumer segments for many years now, from a media targeting standpoint
\nbut with the introduction of open AI, Chat GPT 4, and now evolutions like
\nGoogle’s AI Gemini and many other similar products touted by all the major
\nplatform partners like Microsoft, Meta, etc. 2024 is poised to only further
\naccelerate the trends we saw in 2023. AI will continue being utilized to accelerate
\nand refine content production. As a Digital Marketer, I think it is critical to remain
\nabreast of all these developments and create test and learn frameworks to
\nembrace, as our industry and many others continue to evolve with the growth of
\nAI.
\n\nCMO Room: How does your company adapt its advertising strategies to embrace emerging trends, new platforms, and changing consumer behaviors while ensuring relevance and impact?
\n\nRocci: As a spirit’s company, being entrenched in culture and driving innovation in our
\ncategory are critical guiding principles for us. When embracing new
\ntechnologies, trends, and platforms, we develop our strategies with our target
\naudience segments in mind. For example, if an emerging platform is an
\nenvironment where we see a high volume of our target spending an abundance
\nof their time and reaching them in said environment would ring authentic and
\nhelp achieve on our business objectives, then we would certainly embrace it to
\naid in accomplish our overall goals.
\n\nCMO Room: How does your advertising strategy prioritize personalization and resonance with consumers in 2024? What steps are taken to ensure advertisements resonate with the increasingly discerning audience?
\n\nRocci: Being consumer centric is central to our audience strategy at Pernod Ricard. We
\nhave a vast portfolio of spirits brands of various varietals and price points. Why
\nsomeone chooses one of our products versus another is very much driven by the
\nusage occasion. For example, what I may choose to drink at a business dinner or
\non a weeknight may be very different than what I choose on vacation or at a
\nweekend celebration. As such, marrying our messaging strategy to effective
\ncontent is key. This approach is crucial to driving message breakthrough and in
\nturn resonance.
\n\nCMO Room: What initiatives or investments is your company making to future-proof its advertising strategies in the face of technological advancements and shifts in consumer preferences anticipated in 2024?
\n\nRocci: As I already mentioned, innovation is core to Pernod as a company, as such we
\nembrace technologies, strategies, and tactics that are in-line with those that our
\nvarious consumer targets are also embracing. In general, for 2024 and really for
\nall years that proceeded it and those that will follow, having strategies that are
\ngrounded in audience insights will aid in ensuring that our advertising initiatives
\nare futureproof.
\n\nCMO Room: Any other takeaways or advice for marketing professionals in this upcoming year?
\n\nRocci: Always embrace learning to maintain your individual and team’s relevance to an
\norganization. Throughout my career, I have seen a constant evolution of new
\nplatforms, publishers, and technologies constantly reshaping our
\ncommunications approach. 2024 may be a continuation of the explosion of AI,
\n2025 may be something new entirely, in any event, attend conferences, talk to
\nyour peers, take a meeting with a new or emerging platform. By embracing
\nconstant education, you will in turn always be best equipped to message
\neffectively to your core audience and thus maximize the value that you as an
\nindividual contribute to your company.
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The marketing landscape grows more complex by the day. Customer behaviors and technology advance at breakneck speeds. This forces CMOs to continually adapt strategies to avoid falling behind. 2024 promises more turbulence without proactive preparation.
\n\nBy following this growth compass — focusing on privacy, customer insights, content, and AI proficiency — CMOs can transform obstacles into opportunities for their brands to thrive.
\n\nPrivacy Forms the Foundation of Trust
\nAs data privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA mature, compliance cannot be an afterthought. 61% of customers will abandon brands after just one violation of trust according to Capgemini Research Institute.
\n\nImplementing privacy by design principles builds customer faith and legal reassurance. Regular privacy audits further validate policies and data practices live up to promised standards. Make privacy the cornerstone which all other efforts stand upon.
\n\nStitch Together The Total Customer Picture
\nUnified views of the customer grow more challenging but increasingly important. With an average of 15 different touchpoints, brands struggle to connect insights across channels according to McKinsey. Investments in customer data platforms (CDPs) now represent table stakes — merging siloed data sources to reveal complete user histories, needs and future potential. Adding zero-party data like preference centers atop existing behavioral and transactional data illuminates the all-important “why’s” behind purchases.
\n\nContent Must Match Customers’ Needs and Contexts
\nIn a world overflowing with digital noise, relevant content is oxygen for user engagement. Forrester predicts 50% of search queries will happen via voice assistance in 2024, completely altering how brands attract eyeballs. Creative leveraging of intent data across video, audio and text-based content unlocks smarter distribution and personalization at the right moments. Testing content experiences via ML further optimizes engagement. The race goes to those connecting contextual insights to creative campaigns.
\n\nEmbrace the Age of Artificial Intelligence
\nThe importance of AI proficiency cannot be overstated looking towards 2024, with IDC forecasting over 75% of enterprise applications leveraging AI. Across everything from martech stack coordination, predicting customer behavior, personalizing recommendations, or generating new content formats, AI promises immense capability gains for brands. But technology alone is not enough. Investing equally in developing an AI-ready culture across data, trust, skills and governance also proves critical to deftly navigating what lies ahead.
\n\nTrue North Ahead
\nWith the CMO growth compass aligned to privacy, customer insight, content, and AI, the year 2024 — despite its swells and storms — offers moments of triumph for brands ready to embark. Having weathered relentless change over recent years, CMOs know better than most — adapting strategy while keeping ethics firmly at the helm allows any fleet to sail smoothly towards the future.
\n\nThe key is setting a course ahead of time, backed by technology and talent ready to execute. Smooth seas never made an adept captain. But mastery over turbulence? That forever sets market leaders apart.
", "authorName": "CMORoom", "metaTitle": "", "metaDescription": "", "metaKeywords": "", "socialImageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/3224ca7e-1aa3-4bcc-a000-9ff5e9c444ad.png", "isVisible": true, "sortOrder": 0, "featured": false, "pinned": false, "config": { "wixId": "3224ca7e-1aa3-4bcc-a000-9ff5e9c444ad", "wixUrl": "https://www.cmoroom.com/post/the-cmo-growth-compass", "memberId": "90affb37-4795-4069-8d4b-4f27ecd5604d", "hashtags": [], "source": "wix-blog", "importIndex": 134 } }, { "wixId": "f580fa2b-a51c-48c5-a1e4-9829582c7a8b", "slug": "aaron-zagha", "title": "Exclusive Interview with Newton Baby's CMO, Aaron Zagha", "deck": "Aaron Zagha is currently the CMO at Newton Baby, the direct-to-consumer brand behind the safest baby crib mattress on the market and...", "category": "cmo spotlight", "categoryLabel": "CMO Spotlight", "categories": [ "cmo spotlight" ], "dateLabel": "Dec 4", "publishedAt": "2023-12-04 19:04:57.000", "readTimeLabel": "3 min read", "imageUrl": "https://cmocdn.admedia.com/assets/img/insights/wix/f580fa2b-a51c-48c5-a1e4-9829582c7a8b.png", "imageKey": "assets/img/insights/wix/f580fa2b-a51c-48c5-a1e4-9829582c7a8b.png", "sourceImageUrl": "https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_376849970e1543bc9f4a7ac62730e168~mv2.png", "heroAlt": "", "bodyHtml": "![\"Aaron](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_376849970e1543bc9f4a7ac62730e168~mv2.png\")
Aaron Zagha is currently the CMO at Newton Baby, the direct-to-consumer brand behind the safest baby crib mattress on the market and other top-rated sleep products. Newton was founded eight years ago to commercialize the first breathable and washable crib mattress. It has since become one of the largest and fastest-growing D2C companies in the baby durable goods category.
\n\nIn addition to overseeing all marketing efforts, from search and social to Amazon and influencer marketing, Aaron also runs strategy and M&A for Newton Baby. He was previously the head of eCommerce for Teleflora's international business. Prior to Newton and Teleflora, Aaron was a co-founder and COO of Ownza.com, the social shopping and rebate site. Aaron began his career in investment banking at Deutsche Bank.
\n\nI think we're going to continue the debate about how much control to hand over to Facebook, Google, and TikTok's ad creation and targeting campaign types. As both Facebook ASC and Google PMax campaigns continue to gain traction and outperform, we'll need to ask ourselves what we're paying agencies for and how much brand control we're willing to hand over to the platforms. Your average brand can probably get away with very little control, but the more upscale or lifestyle brands need to keep paying attention to the kinds of ads the platforms are generating and where these ads are showing up. We've definitely seen an uptick in brand safety concerns with some of the recent developments and placements.
\n\nWe've built a culture of continuous testing and learning. At any given time, we are testing at least 5 to 10 new and emerging channels and revisiting channels we might have tested previously. Still, there were at least hearing anecdotally of improved performance. We're also constantly staying on top of industry trends and developments concerning technology upgrades and AI to ensure we're leveraging our time as efficiently as possible. This testing extends to the platforms and the creative we're running in any given platform. The targeting also has to be continuously tested as the platforms are constantly improving algorithms and or breaking them.
\n\nWe're finding that some generative AI platforms are now producing ad creative at a quality level that justifies their testing for static lifestyle ads. To the extent this continues to improve at recent rates, we're not likely to need many photo shoots going forward. Whereas 2023 was the year for incorporating LLMs into our marketing flow for copy and idea generation, 2024 will be the year we start incorporating generative AI for creativity. Probably not for video ads, but definitely for static. AI photo editing and retouching should also lighten the load on our designers, hopefully freeing them up to spend more time improving the quality of overall creativity.
\n\nIt really depends on the audience, product, and category. Some audiences don't need personalization. Maybe it's just a well-thought-out product shot. But others require complete personalization, which truly allows the potential customer to envision the life they would be leading with your product. The only way to know if anything is working is to test and learn, test and learn, test and learn....\n
\nWe make sure everyone subscribes to at least a few industry newsletters to stay on top of new tools and trends. Whenever an interesting webinar comes, we'll also have someone attend and summarize for the team at large. We've also assigned a couple team members to stay on the vanguard of AI trends, both with respect to learning and experimentation. But I think the most impactful strategy for us in 2024 will be upgrading our incrementality testing and marketing mix modeling. Now that we're at scale, the efficacy and profitability of our advertising ecosystem are more important than just adding eyeballs and expanding reach at reasonable costs.
\n\n![\"\"](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/90affb_388c197d59fa480280fb12b8a02188a1~mv2.png\")
![\"CMO](\"https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ab08cf_e8e41d71190f4d11a99415ce0dc17e80~mv2.png\")
CMO Room, a new community designed for Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) and Senior Level Marketing Executives to collaborate, share insights, and inspire, announces its launch event at the private club Fasano Caffè Fifth Avenue on December 20, 2023.
\n\nThe event marks the beginning of a community dedicated to fostering connections and sparking innovation within the marketing realm.
\n\nGuests are required to request their invite by visiting CMOroom.com. The evening promises an exclusive yet relaxed environment where industry leaders can engage, exchange ideas, and forge lasting connections.
\n\nLauren Hampton, Director of Event Operations at CMO Room, expressed her vision for CMO Room, stating, \"My vision for CMO Room is that it will build a community of CMOs and Senior Marketing Executives where they can come together, share ideas, and be inspired in an exclusive, yet relaxed environment.\"
\n\nCMO Room is set to be the go-to destination for CMOs seeking a collaborative space to network and be part of a vibrant community of marketing leaders. For more information and inquiries, visit cmoroom.com or contact info@cmoroom.com.
\n\nConnect with CMO Room on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/cmoroom/
\n\nRequest your invitation to our first event at Fasano Caffè Fifth Avenue on December 20th for an evening of networking, inspiration, and the launch of an exclusive community poised to shape the future of marketing leadership.
\n\nFor media inquiries, please contact:
\nLauren Hampton
\nDirector of Special Events
\nlauren@cmoroom.com
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