News and Analysis
Scoring Goals in the Franchise Ecosystem with Gregory Ugwi
Gregory Ugwi is back for his second year speaking at Street Fight LIVE. And what a year it’s been! The company he co-founded, Wefranch, has given both franchisors and prospective franchisees a tech-powered way to start and scale. This year, Gregory Ugwi hosted a series of events to bring major brand franchises together with individuals […]
Getting Brandy With Reilly Newman
Reilly Newman is the co-author of a book called Brandy: 101 Sips of Wisdom for Attaining a Successful Brand. Whereas in the past, MULO (multi-location) brands had significant control over how they presented themselves, both at the corporate and local levels. Social media has disrupted that model, and brand reputations are as likely to be impacted […]
Realize by Taboola Boosts Brand ROI with Generative AI
Taboola is seeing rising adoption of Realize, its outcome-driven technology suite launched earlier this year. The company announced that Realize is delivering measurable success for brand advertisers across verticals, while also being enhanced with Generative AI-powered Motion Ads that lift conversion rates by 20% for select advertisers. Advertiser Momentum Across Verticals Realize was designed to […]
Commentary
Why Q5 Signals a Shift for Ecommerce in 2025
The start of a new year always marks the end of the holiday season, and as the frenzy of Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Boxing Day subsides, many retailers shift their focus away from advertising, assuming that consumer interest and spending have peaked. But in reality, a lucrative Ecommerce opportunity remains hidden in plain sight: […]
Streets Ahead: Google Traffic Surges and AI Mode Launches
In this week’s Streets Ahead update, SOCi discusses the 2024 surge in Google search traffic and the Google launch of AI Mode as a search alternative. Google Search Traffic Surges 22% in 2024 The News A new study from Rand Fishkin at Sparktoro reveals an eye-opening trend: Google search traffic surged by 21.64% in 2024 […]
What an Ugly Burrito Can Teach Us About Local Marketing
Many companies focus the majority of their marketing energy and budgets on developing a national brand. This can often be true even for those who do business locally. Although Starbucks and Chipotle mostly behave in our lives like local businesses, we still think of them as brands like Nike or Apple, whose reputations rest on […]
Latest Posts
Adaptive Checkout Uses AI to Boost Conversion Rates
Fraud and crime are realities of the MULO (multi-location) ecosystem. Brands used to just have to worry about the checkout stage with shoplifting, dishonest employees, and fake IDs and credit cards. Now that we’re living in a phygital world (one that combines brick-and-mortar and online sales), thieves, fraudsters, and AI-powered bots have become more sophisticated. […]
A Street Fight Trend-Spotter Walked Into a Bar ….
Well, not exactly. We attended the Bar & Restaurant Expo in Las Vegas to check out trends and products for the MULO (multi-location) bar and restaurant ecosystem. The trends we spotted include: Although liquor is still popular, mocktails are having a moment. Studies indicate that Americans are choosing moderation in their drinking habits and non-alcoholic […]
Crossing the Border With Sushi and More
Edo is a 45-year-old brand that began in Calgary, crossed the Canadian border to Arizona this month, and has bold expansion plans for the U.S. About a million Canadians visit Arizona annually and contribute about $800 million to its economy, so choosing the hot state for its first U.S. location makes business sense. Among some […]
Franchise Growth in 2025: 5 Insights That Could Define Your Future
Franchise businesses represent the backbone of many local economies, contributing not only to the convenience and options we enjoy but also to significant employment growth across the country. In an economy shaped by rapid technological change, evolving consumer behavior, and rising operational costs, franchises are facing both tremendous opportunity and unprecedented complexity. At Cinch, our […]
Karla Jo Helms Preps MULO Brands for the Impact of Tariffs
Karla Jo Helms runs an agency — JOTO PR Disruptors — that describes itself as “the anti-PR agency.” What does that actually mean? They focus on facts and pragmatic guidance rather than just media hype. To that end, Helms advises brands that may be wondering how to best prepare for U.S. trade tariffs. What should […]
Uniting Marketing and Tech Teams to Unlock AI Success
The majority of marketing and tech teams have historically been siloed within organizations, with each focusing on their own goals and paths for execution. Now, as the adoption of AI to enhance customer experiences and drive greater results takes off, that separation is no longer sustainable. In fact, according to McKinsey, nearly 65% of marketers […]
Streets Ahead: Meta Heading to Court and Instagram Reposts
In this week’s Streets Ahead update, SOCi discuss Meta Heading to Court and Instagram Reposts. Meta Heads to Court as FTC Pushes Breakup of Instagram and WhatsApp The News Meta is back in court this week as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advances its long-running case to force the company to divest Instagram and WhatsApp. The […]
C-Store – Stop…Charge…Drink…Earn…Repeat
What’s new at the C-store (convenience store)? The lowly truck stop is now tech-powered, innovative, and a model for other MULO (multi-location) brands to learn from. Among the seven big trends we’ll see along the road at at the corner store in the months ahead are: EV chargers. Forecasters believe these necessary roadside amenities will […]
420 Goes Digital With the Help of Vistar Media
The cannabis industry is unique in that it was one of the first major sectors to benefit from technology from its inception. A highly-regulated space, marketing cannabis (like the financial, liquor, and pharmaceutical industries) is filled with regulations. That’s where digital media comes into play, keeping major cannabis brands from “going up in smoke.” April 20th […]
Check Out What’s New at the Grocery Store
Walk into any MULO (multi-location) grocery store today, and you’ll likely find far more than what you might have experienced 20 years ago. In fact, the most popular grocery store in the U.S. today is not even an actual grocery store. According to this recent study, 7-Eleven ranks highest, which is proof positive of the […]
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