Customer Acquisition

I once had a boss I thought was kind of ridiculous. A larger-than-life persona topped off with a pair of ludicrous luxury sneakers. You can imagine my surprise when, six months later, I bought the same pair. Those shoes, which I whimsically tried on following a small windfall at work, were comfortable and looked amazing.…

During periods of economic uncertainty, Gen Z is the most inflation-sensitive — and the most digitally savvy — generation. While they may be buying less today, when they do spend it’s most likely through social channels, making brand-building now essential. However, reaching Gen Z in 2026 requires more than showing up on social. This audience…

Even a “normal” holiday shopping season is a hectic time for both retailers and consumers; however, the added economic hurdles this year are causing chaos. Tariffs have hit the consumer goods and retail sector especially hard, with reciprocal and baseline duties compounding up to 30 percent to 70 percent depending on the supplying country. Almost…

While professional sports teams vie for championships with millions watching, a quietly intense competition is taking place now and throughout the holidays across retail media. Commercial potential and consumer intent are high, but captivating attention and driving conversions is more competitive than ever. Indeed, according to Emarketer, global retail media ad spend is projected to…

It’s official — the holiday shopping season is already here. This year, consumers are getting ahead of the traditional timelines to not only beat the rush but prioritize the best deals amidst economic uncertainty. Holiday shoppers are looking to bring more intention to gift-giving rather than just jump on trendy items as the holiday season is…

Back-to-school no longer signals just the end of summer; it sets the direction for the rest of the retail year. It has become a litmus test for consumer confidence and a preview of the behaviors that will drive the holiday season. Recent survey findings show households are making more deliberate choices, prioritizing long-term value, and…

Parents around the country have caught their breath after surviving another back-to-school frenzy, and retailers are debriefed from the summertime rush while also preparing for the upcoming holiday season. What lessons can brands learn from this year’s back-to-school period as they execute their plans for the end of the year? Back-to-school has long been the…

In a world where customers are no longer knocking on your (online) door because they already know your name, how you’re discovered is everything. For independent merchants, especially small and midsize sellers, the old rules of product discovery (search + paid ads) are being rewritten. The rise of social shopping, creator-led recommendations, and artificial intelligence-powered…

The U.S. is in for a gritty holiday season as consumers will walk a tightrope between emotion and financial restraint over the next few months. The pressure always ramps up this time of the year because it’s the bulk of how many B2C businesses make their revenue. But what if consumers don’t want to give…

The Labubu doll craze might look like another blink-and-you’ll-miss-it internet trend, but for brands and marketers paying attention, it’s something bigger. It’s a case study in how cult fandom, fear of missing out (FOMO), and hyper-specific identity signals are shaping the future of brand loyalty and predictive targeting. Labubu isn’t just a toy. It’s a…