Social Media Marketing

I grew up with a self-employed retail family. Our "family trips" to other cities always involved going to a trade show or to see a new vendor. As a child, I felt slighted and disappointed that these "family trips" were really focused on work. However, as I got older and began working in my family’s…

As Meta gears up for its “year of efficiency,” the company announced earlier this week that it’s exiting the livestream shopping business on Instagram, following a similar shutdown on Facebook. Starting on March 16, Instagram users will no longer be able to tag products while livestreaming — a capability that has been broadly available to U.S. businesses and creators since…

Not every year can be an up year for every business. When the pandemic dramatically upended consumer behavior two-and-a-half years ago, the natural result was that certain businesses suffered, while others grew in leaps and bounds by virtue of their position in the new online commerce landscape. The brands that were equipped to meet the…

Maurice Contreras is founder and CEO of Volcanica Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster that imports 150-plus exotic coffees from volcanic regions around the world. While at the National Retail Federation Big Show in New York City earlier this week, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan spoke with Contreras about the company and his career background, the online shopping…

“I know this is new for all of us,” said Melissa Garcia, a professional on-air stylist, as she led her first live selling event for women’s clothing retailer LOFT. Speaking with animated gestures, she wore a black, floral-patterned dress that matched one hanging up behind her. After greeting the audience, Garcia pulled the dress off…

Consumers and retailers alike are prepping for the holiday season. And this holiday season, retailers need to stay nimble and adjust to shoppers’ evolving preferences, especially as concerns around inflation continue. Whether it's hunting more for deals, doing more of their shopping from the convenience of their phone, or focusing on gifts for themselves, consumers’…

I’m someone who after a night out with friends is likely to fall asleep with my makeup on. And I know I’m not alone. That’s why I wanted to create makeup that acted like skincare and would improve my skin over time. After working to develop samples (and testing them myself by having me and…

Just like that, the holiday season is upon us. For brands everywhere, it's time to promote your gifting offering. This season will pose new challenges with rising media costs, shifting consumer sentiment, and declining digital measurement capabilities post Apple ATT. However, this year also presents new opportunities with consumers looking to celebrate a true post-pandemic…

Direct-to-consumer (D-to-C) businesses that previously relied heavily on Facebook as an advertising channel are now starting to realize the perils that resulted from privacy policy changes instituted by Apple. These changes have upended the digital advertising strategy for hundreds of thousands of businesses and have forced these companies to find a new path to their…

Nearly a quarter of Americans have started saving for the holidays already. At the same time, inflation concerns are real. Gartner reported that over 40 percent of consumers believe companies are hiking prices to increase profits, and 65 percent will likely pull back spending in one area they’ve traditionally purchased in. However, brands can still…