News and Analysis
Shane Lukas Helps Solve “The People Problem”
In the weeks leading up to Street Fight LIVE 2025, we’ll be getting up close and personal with some of our speakers, encouraging them to share stories of how they found themselves in the MULO (multi-location) ecosystem. Such as Shane Lukas of A Great Idea. Meet Shane Lukas, who will be on stage discussing how […]
Michael Farmer: Mad Men are Now Mad Robots
In the weeks leading up to Street Fight LIVE 2025, we’ll be getting up close and personal with some of our speakers, encouraging them to share stories of how they found themselves in the MULO (multi-location) ecosystem. Michael Farmer has had a long and rich career in the advertising industry and is the author of “Madison […]
Commentary
Streets Ahead: Google’s AI Mode and New Full-Width Knowledge Panels
In this week’s Streets Ahead update, SOCi discusses Google CEO, Sundar Pichai’s comments on AI Mode & the future of Google Search as well as the Knowledge Panel /Business Profile redesign. The Future of Google Search – AI Mode The News In a wide-ranging conversation on the Lex Fridman Podcast, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai explored […]
Streets Ahead: Microsoft New Agentic Tools, Apple Maps Recommendations
In this week’s Streets Ahead update, SOCi discusses Microsoft unveiling over 50 new AI agentic web tools and Apple Maps adding curated recommendations. Microsoft Adds New AI Agentic Web Tools The News At its Build 2025 conference, Microsoft outlined a sweeping strategy to lead the evolution of the “open agentic web,” unveiling more than 50 […]
Scalable Reviews and Reputation Management for Multi-Location Brands
It’s no secret that customer reviews makes or breaks a brand. Reputation management influences buying decisions, impacts local search rankings, and—let’s be honest—shapes how people feel about doing business with you. For multi-location brands, though, reputation management isn’t just about responding to a few Google reviews. It’s about scaling trust across dozens, hundreds, or even […]
Latest Posts
OOH into Action: Travel Surges, Consumer Habits Shift, and Brands Respond
How disruptive was the Covid-19 pandemic? So much so that it is still being used barometer to measure everything from travel to consumer sales. “COVID was a major inflection point that reshaped routines, mobility patterns, and media consumption,” said Anna Bager, President and CEO of the OAAA (Out of Home Advertising Association of America). “Using […]
The Subscription Economy: MULO Businesses and Recurring Revenue Models
As the CEO of Cinch and someone who partners closely with leading multi-location brands, I’ve seen firsthand how rapidly the business landscape is changing. Lately, one trend stands out above the rest: the rise of the subscription economy. More than a passing fad, subscriptions are reshaping how brands engage customers and drive sustainable growth. In […]
Yext Report Confirms AI Search Is Reshaping Brand Discovery
AI tools are no longer experimental — they’re mainstream. According to Yext’s new 2025 AI Search Archetypes report, 62% of consumers globally now trust AI tools to guide their brand decisions, signaling a major behavioral shift in how people search, compare, and commit to brands. The study, conducted in partnership with Researchscape, surveyed over 2,200 […]
Summer Foods: Burger, Pizza, and Ice Cream BOOMs & BUSTs
As the temperatures heat up, so does the popularity of the “foods of summer.” Families gather, and people take road trips. This year domestic vacations are on the upswing. Along with those adventures come spending at c-stores, roadside restaurants including MULO (multi-location) brands, and retailers. According to Statista, French fries, fried chicken, and hamburgers are […]
MULO Brands With Soul June Pick: Patagonia
Small but mighty, this MULO (multi-location) brand has about 100 stores globally. However, their heart is far bigger than their physical footprint. We’re talking about Patagonia, a brand founded in 1953 and has a long and rich history, proving that soul and scale can go together. Founder Yvon Choinard was so passionate about his environmental […]
Captify and Adalyser Partner to Bring Search Intent Data into TV Ad Targeting
In a move that reflects broader shifts in how advertisers approach TV media buying, Captify and Adalyser have announced a partnership designed to integrate search intent data into premium TV advertising campaigns. The collaboration brings together Captify’s real-time search behavior signals and Adalyser’s ActiveVoice Store, a self-serve platform offering access to major broadcaster inventory such […]
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 […]
Beyond Likes: Win Hearts with Emotional Marketing