News and Analysis
The MULO Dozen: June in Review
Let’s take a look in the rear-view mirror of June and glimpse at some of the most significant developments in the MULO (multi-location) retail, restaurant, service, c-store, and hospitality ecosystem. Of course, the most significant announcement this spring was the reveal of our first round of inspirational speakers at Street Fight LIVE 2025! Here are […]
Looking for New Growth Strategies? Look at C-Stores!
Convenience stores (C-stores) are no longer just a lowly truck stop or much-needed bathroom break along a highway. These retailers are a prime example of a category that has “blurred the lines” across MULO (multi-location) categories — retail, food, and service. They have incorporated technology and loyalty programs (and even online merch sales) into their […]
Kevel Launches AI-Powered Kevel Console to Transform Retail Media Campaigns
Retail media continues to evolve rapidly, with growing demands for automation, cross-channel efficiency, and deeper audience personalization. Last week, retail media technology provider Kevel announced the launch of the Kevel Console. This AI-powered, self-service platform is built specifically for retailers, marketplaces, and publishers seeking greater control, speed, and performance from their media networks. Kevel Console […]
Commentary
Empowering Retailers: The Imperative for Advanced Advertising Technology
In a rapidly evolving retail landscape, staying ahead requires more than just offering great products or competitive prices. As consumers increasingly shift their shopping habits online and demand personalized experiences, retailers face mounting pressure to enhance their advertising strategies. Traditional methods no longer suffice in capturing the attention of today’s discerning shoppers. To thrive in […]
3 Ways to Battle Efficiency Headwinds in 2024
You don’t have to look too deep for significance there: measurement is tough right now (even for measurement companies), and fraud is rampant and stands to get worse as AI governance lags behind AI adoption. No matter how big your brand or what industry you’re in, efficiency is going to be a challenge in 2024. […]
A Marketer’s Guide to Transitioning from Third-Party Cookies
Third-party cookies are going away. Not tomorrow, maybe not next week, but in the months to come, marketers will come face-to-face with the reality of a new world of marketing measurement. Google appears to be committed to their complete blocking of third-party cookies in Chrome by the end of 2024, so marketers need to prepare […]
Latest Posts
MULO Brands With Soul August Pick: Sheetz
C-stores are a MULO (multi-location) brand category that often doesn’t get enough attention. Also known as convenience stores, the industry encompasses roadside retailers and neighborhood chains that we frequently rely on for last-minute grocery purchases, emergency items, and snacks/beverages. Given the transactional nature of these businesses, we don’t often consider them to have a “culture.” But Sheetz […]
Getting Brand Locations in AI-Powered Search Results
AI search is here to stay. If you want to market your locations online, understanding the landscape is essential to making it work for your MuLo business.
Ad Costs and Spending are Both on the Rise, According to Skai Study
Omnichannel advertising platform Skai recently published its Q2 2024 Digital Marketing Quarterly Trends Report. It reveals topline growth numbers in retail media, paid search, and paid social were all positive, maintaining similar levels to those reported by Skai last quarter. The analysis found that advertisers paid more for clicks and impressions in Q2 2024, but […]
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like…
When Mark Ballard, Director of Research at Tinuiti, first looked at the results of a holiday shopping survey it conducted recently, he was struck by one recurring theme: “People expect to spend more on holiday gifts this year than last year,” Ballard said. “What did surprise me is the degree to which inflation is still top of […]
Keen Partners with TapClicks to Simplify Data Collection for Marketers
Keen Decision Systems, a marketing mix SaaS company, recently announced a partnership with TapClicks, to streamline data collection for marketing mix models. This collaboration aims to make it easier for marketers, particularly smaller brands, to gather, organize, and analyze their data efficiently, removing significant challenges in the marketing decision-making process. Addressing a Common Challenge for […]
Beware the Small Screen: Consumers Resist Mobile Shopping, Says Megan Hastings
A new report from Quantum Metric reveals that mobile commerce hasn’t fully bloomed. In fact, Quantum Metric calls mobile the “awkward middle schooler of digital commerce.” The report reveals that consumers have mixed emotions about leveraging mobile commerce in retail, travel, and financial services. 75% browse on a mobile device at least 2+ times a day, but just 26% buy […]
The MULO Retail (R)Evolution: 5 Keys to Success
Retail is far from dead, despite the rise of online commerce. It’s just evolving — in some cases radically. The media is often filled with stories of MULO (multi-location) retailers declaring bankruptcy and/or shuttering locations. But, at the same time, new brands and categories are emerging and expanding. Fast Company recently featured new brands, including […]
Should MULO Brands Jump Into the U.S. Political Battleground?
As we know, brands are known for newsjacking and momentjacking. But what happens when that moment is a hotly-contested U.S. election? Today’s political climate has implications for brands and MULO (multi-location) retailers, and restaurants. Seemingly Safe Encouraging consumers to vote, regardless of their political leanings, appears to be OK, provided it is well done. In […]
Spotzer and Adplorer Partner, Ad-Tech Collaborations Continue
In a recent strategic move, Spotzer announced a partnership with Adplorer, integrating Adplorer’s ad-serving technology into SpotzerAds. This collaboration will help Spotzer’s enterprise partners and agencies, by improving ad-serving capabilities, supporting platforms like Google, Microsoft, Meta, and LinkedIn. Adplorer, with over 14 years of experience and €750 million in managed ad spend, complements Spotzer’s extensive […]
Streets Ahead: FTC Reviews Ruling and Google Core Update
In this week’s Streets Ahead update, SOCi looks at the FTC’s new ruling on reviews and the Google august core update. FTC Launches New Rule to Combat Misleading Reviews and Ratings The News Fake reviews have been a longstanding issue in the digital marketplace, misleading consumers and harming reputable businesses. In response, after over a […]
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