News and Analysis

How Can IHOP Become an International House of Profit? Street Fight

How Can IHOP Become an International House of Profit?

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Fluffy pancakes are not the only thing being served at IHOP these days. Formerly known as International House of Pancakes, the MULO (multi-location) brand, run by California-based Dine Brands Global, Inc., has about 1,800 restaurants worldwide, including outposts in all 50 states, two U.S. territories, and 13 countries outside the U.S. The parent company also […]

Do Stores Need Walls? Wayfair Seems to Think So!

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While some retail brands (like Lord & Taylor and Bed Bath & Beyond) have transitioned to online-only models, others are heading in the other direction, building physical locations. The latest example is Wayfair, which will open its first store later this month in Edens Plaza in Wilmette, Illinois. The 150,000-square-foot outpost will take a page […]

What's New at The Cheesecake Factory? Street Fight

What’s New at The Cheesecake Factory?

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We’re not talking menu items (although that ahi tuna salad looks pretty amazing).  The company had a great first quarter ($891.2 million compared to $866.1 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2023). Fortune also named the Cheesecake Factory a “best company to work for” for the 11th year running. Cheesecake Factory’s performance is especially […]

Commentary

First-Party Data Alone Can’t Satisfy Many Marketing Needs

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When it comes to third-party data, the old Mark Twain quote applies: “The report of my death was an exaggeration.” The end of the cookie is not the same as the end of third-party data. There are multiple third-party data options for marketers that are inherently privacy-conscious, regulation-satisfying, and that work with the policies being implemented by big-tech.

Meeting the Heightened Demand for Timely Local Information

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With businesses closing temporarily due to government mandate, or changing their offerings or hours significantly in response to the pandemic, consumers turned to local search too with a heightened, even sometimes critical need to access the latest information. This heightened demand has not disappeared.

How Digital Marketing Can Spur Tax Refund Shopping

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Although expenses are on the rise and saving is top of mind, shoppers still want to make purchases and plan fun experiences. Well-timed emails, easy and convenient online purchases, enticing discounts, and new technology will entice careful spenders to indulge in life’s little luxuries.

Latest Posts

3 Challenges for Retail Media Networks

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Retail media is not without its challenges. Retailers need to determine how to curate advertising partners, avoid spoiling the shopping experience, and navigate the retail media tech stack.

TikTok Raises its Local Game

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TikTok continues to feel around and test features as it establishes itself as a social media powerhouse. It’s much earlier in that journey than incumbents like Instagram and Twitter, so we continue to see rapid-fire feature launches and trials. And like the above players, some of these are local in nature.

What Sephora’s CCPA Fine Means for Multi-Location Retailers

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The enforcement of the CCPA against Sephora is intended to send the message that companies need to get compliant now and that there will be very little forgiveness for the definition of “sale” when it comes to data privacy and consumer information going forward.

Amazon Dabbles in Social Commerce

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Rather than social channels increasingly morphing into shopping channels, is there opportunity for shopping channels to become more social? This is what Amazon has in mind with its latest move: a TikTok-like feed. This makes it the latest player to copy the red-hot TikTok.

The Best Marketing Tactics Can’t Be Measured

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If some marketing tactics are more measurable than others and you place all the emphasis on readily available metrics, you are just going to turn your marketing program into a click machine.

Contact Center Should Be the Marketing Engine

6 Omnichannel Loyalty Platforms for Multi-Location Retailers

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In 2022, shoppers want more. The most effective loyalty platforms are going beyond transactional rewards to create unique cross-channel experiences that keep customers coming back for more.

Location-Based Marketing Association: Meta Goes After Restaurant Sales

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In this episode of Location Weekly, the Location-Based Marketing Association covers BC Transit debuting NextRide real-time transit info, PayTile launching a geo-location payment app, Meta going after restaurant sales, and Immertia releasing an AR packaging platform.

Influencers Struggle with Measurement as Channel Evolves

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Many marketers still think of influencers as nascent affiliate partners. But as the channel evolves, influencers are seeking more sophisticated tools to assess their value and substantiate their impact as a marketing channel. 

back-to-school kids

Retailers Shift Back-to-School Strategies

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The marketing promotions most likely to win over back-to-school shoppers in 2022 differ from those of the past two years. Competitive pricing is an area where retailers can stand out.

Audigent and Epsilon Bring Custom Audiences to Private Marketplaces 

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The partnership with Epsilon is expected to give Audigent a significant boost in the data identity, curation, and activation space, where a number of platforms are currently competing to position themselves for a future without third-party cookies.