News and Analysis

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

How Can IHOP Become an International House of Profit?

Share this:

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!

Share this:

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?

Share this:

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

Ad Tech and Privacy

The Privacy Arms Race May Kill Ad Tech

Share this:

A dangerous digital advertising arms race is brewing as browser makers try to prevent cross-site tracking. The desire of digital ad companies to keep tracking users, despite browsers’ preventative privacy measures, is leading our industry down a hazardous path for users, browser makers, and ad tech. In an effort to protect user privacy, browsers are […]

fifty-five was founded in 2010 by former Google executives who understood and anticipated the potential of data in brands’ marketing strategies.

GenAI : Where Brand Marketers Need to Upskill for the Future

Share this:

Generative AI (GenAI) was one of the most talked about technologies in 2023. We saw it support Google searches, streamline A/B testing efforts, and even play center stage in last summer’s SAG-AFTRA strike. With the ability to automate repetitive tasks and streamline processes, GenAI is becoming an invaluable tool in marketing – and its potential […]

Interest in Alternative Currencies Grows, But Legacy Currency Still Reigns

Interest in Alternative Currencies Grows, But Legacy Currency Still Reigns

Share this:

The U.S. joint industry committee (JIC) granted “conditional certification” to three alternative ad currencies for cross-platform negotiations: Comscore, iSpot and VideoAmp. The certification of these alternative currencies suggests that the industry is more open to the usage of alternative currencies, and that there is room for multiple currencies to transact against. Our insights back up […]

Latest Posts

Empowering Retailers: The Imperative for Advanced Advertising Technology Kevel Street Fight

Empowering Retailers: The Imperative for Advanced Advertising Technology

Share this:

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 […]

BOOM: Shopping Malls are Back!

BOOM: Shopping Malls are Back!

Share this:

A new study by Placer.ai confirms that shoppers are returning to malls. That’s great news for legacy MULO (multi-location) brands and new concepts like pickleball, pop-ups, and eatertainment venues, which are filling spaces left vacant by department stores and other big-box retailers. The study reveals five key findings and trends: Visits to malls are getting […]

The MULO Dozen: March Brands in Review Street Fight

The MULO Dozen: March Brands in Review

Share this:

Openings, closings, leadership changes…the MULO (multi-location) beat goes on! Here are some highlights related to the people, technologies, and brands in the MULO ecosystem. Have news? Please e-mail me. And save the date — Street Fight LIVE is coming to Chicago on November 7th! The convenience store (C-store) industry is going through a major transformation and […]

Mediaocean Report: 2024 Has Optimism Written All over It Street Fight

Mediaocean Report: 2024 Has Optimism Written All over It

Share this:

The Mediaocean 2024 CPG Advertising Outlook Report implies that this year’s ad-marketing landscape calls for optimism. “Our research indicates a wave of optimism sweeping across the CPG industry for 2024,” The report said. “Marketers are gearing up for an active year, with a substantial majority expressing their intent to either maintain or increase their spending […]

The Rise and Role of Temu in Apparel Street Fight

The Rise and Role of Temu in Apparel

Share this:

Can the fast fashion apparel segment grow any faster? It is doing exactly that thanks to Chinese retailer Temu. According to various sources, Temu has spent up to $3 billion in advertising outside of Asia-Pacific since 2022, and its profile and app adoption among American consumers has been turbo-charged by online ad spending across Meta and […]

Acxiom Launches InfoBase UK Purchase Transactions Street Fight

Acxiom Launches InfoBase UK Purchase Transactions

Share this:

Understanding consumer behavior is paramount to crafting personalized and impactful customer experiences. Acxiom appears to have taken a significant step forward  in this area, with today’s launch of InfoBase UK Purchase Transactions in collaboration with Affinity Solutions. This innovative dataset promises to provided unparalleled insights into consumer spending habits, empowering brands to make informed decisions […]

The Evolving Dayparts Street Fight

The Evolving Dayparts

Share this:

Dayparts no longer apply to when your favorite TV shows are on. In fact, streaming and recording have made that concept outdated. However, dayparts are alive and well when MULO (multi-location) brands try to understand consumer behaviors better. Knowing when people shop and eat can help brands staff, add (or reduce) inventory, and even post […]

Starbucks Stirs Up Leadership Model Street Fight

Starbucks Stirs Up Leadership Model

Share this:

Starbucks, a company known for transformation the coffee shop model and introducing a wide range of seasonal beverages and products is now transforming the MULO (multi-location) leadership model. The company announced this week that it is creating a new leadership model. As innovative and unique as its current lavender beverages, the structure is designed to […]

3 Ways to Battle Efficiency Headwinds in 2024 Street Fight

3 Ways to Battle Efficiency Headwinds in 2024

Share this:

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. […]

Stepping Up Brand Protection with AI-Powered Risk Monitoring Street Fight

Stepping Up Brand Protection with AI-Powered Risk Monitoring

Share this:

Maintaining a positive online reputation is extremely important for businesses in our digital world, especially for multi-location brands. With the rise of social media and online review platforms, negative commentary and potential crises can spread rapidly, posing significant threats to a company’s reputation and profitability. In an attempt to help MULO marketers address this challenge, […]