Ask any retailer and they’ll tell you it’s rough out there. Scaling profitably has become the persistent headache most brands can’t overcome. There’s not a lot of patience in the market for retailers that are losing money. Digital-native brands that went public, like Allbirds and Warby Parker, are down 70 percent to 90 percent from…
Alex Song
By all accounts, this year’s Black Friday was one of the most successful in a long time. Retail sales topped the charts at $9.8 billion, up 7.5 percent from last year. However, retailers shouldn’t pop the celebratory champagne just yet. Even with strong Black Friday and Cyber Monday showings, businesses must pull out all the…
Many retailers think of Black Friday and Cyber Monday as a sprint to the finish line. Brand teams work feverishly around the clock to attract new customers, stand out from the competition, and boost sales. And they breathe a huge sigh of relief when Nov. 28 rolls around and Black Friday and Cyber Monday are…
It's been more than a decade since the direct-to-consumer (DTC) business model forever changed the world of consumer brands. With an iconic cohort of industry disruptors, including Warby Parker, Casper, and Harry's, the model paved the way for an explosion of businesses built upon direct and authentic relationships with their customers and, in some cases,…
Advertising these days is like taking precious marketing dollars into a casino and playing them at tables where the rules are forever changing. Yet ad performance will be measured against historical expectations that are becoming harder to attain. In 2023, advertisers will need to keep most of their budget invested in proven and dependable winners,…
Since the introduction of Apple’s App tracking transparency policy changes, retailers have been searching for ways to rebuild the lucrative world of highly targeted social media advertising. When you add today’s inflationary pressure, brands are being forced to rethink their growth strategies and determine how to keep up with other shifts happening in digital advertising.…
It’s impossible to discuss retail or e-commerce these days without mentioning Amazon.com. Much has been written about Amazon being the demise of small retailers and startups, and many articles offer ideas on how to compete or work around the 800-pound gorilla. But sometimes the old adage “if you’ can’t beat them, join them” holds true.…
