News and Analysis
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 […]
Commentary
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. […]
Embracing AI in Media and Advertising
History changes slowly and then overnight. A mere two years ago, the early publicly-available generative AI models from OpenAI, Microsoft, Google looked like curiosities–intriguing but plagued by obvious limitations. Today these models have advanced so far and so fast that they are already well on their way to changing media and advertising forever. AI is […]
Latest Posts
Streets Ahead: 64% of Google Searches End with Google
In this week’s Streets Ahead update we learn about new Google research from Rand Fishkin and a reduction in brand spending on TikTok 64% of Google Searches End with Google The News Rand Fishkin at SparkToro has released an updated version of his “zero click” search studies, with the last one published in 2021. This […]
Do Consumers Still Care About Amazon Prime Day?
The short answer is “yes.” And so do other retailers, who either take the Amazon Prime Day concept and make it their own or jump into the deal competition with brand-centric specials and massive ad spends Megan Thee Stallion is clearly into Amazon Prime Day. She’s this year’s spokesperson, hyping all the deals that will […]
Chatmeter’s Local Pages 2.0 : SEO for Multi-Location Brands
Chatmeter, a leader in multi-location intelligence, has announced the release of Local Pages 2.0, a solution designed to help multi-location brands dominate page one search results in each of their local markets. This newly released solution creates optimized pages that integrate seamlessly with location listings, providing a potentially powerful tool for businesses looking to enhance […]
MULO Rises in Chicago on November 7th. WHY?
When Street Fight was first launched, its live gatherings in NYC and LA were (almost) as cool as the Met Gala or the Oscars. Management changes and the pandemic meant in-person experiences were on hold for a while. The digital magazine was alive and well, but our readers consumed our content from the solitude of […]
BOOM: MULO Gyms and Wellness Studios are Healthy
As the population ages and people become more concerned about their appearance and longevity, MULO (multi-location) fitness options are bulking up! According to Athletech News, Vasa Fitness just added some heavyweights to its executive team and is planning to add more locations to its brand (which already has 57 units). This gym falls into the […]
Hooters Locations Go Bust, Along With Other MULO Restaurants
Sometimes, we writers can’t resist a great pun! (Hooters…bust…get it?). But now let’s get serious. Hooters is the latest MULO (multi-location) food chain to announce the closure of many locations. The sports bar just announced that it was closing underperforming stores (although they didn’t reveal an exact number). But just because a MULO restaurant brand closes […]
57% of Consumers Want Brands to “Get Personal” on Streaming Media
Despite the often negative buzz about consumer privacy and the ubiquity of shopping and dining data, a new study revealed that most U.S. consumers (57%) prefer personalized ads to mass marketing when they’re watching streaming media. The study was done by Moloco, a machine-learning company. As advertising on streaming media has become more common, opportunities […]
The MULO Dozen: June Brands in Review
In addition to our ongoing reporting about technology, creative innovations, and openings/closings in the MULO (multi-location) brand space, we publish this monthly quick-read summary of some of the developments at retailers, restaurants, and service brands. Whether you have just a few minutes or a few hours each month to track MULO trends for brands, Street […]
Apple’s ATT Privacy Crackdown, Strategies for Success in a Privacy-first Landscape
Three years have passed since Apple introduced its App Tracking Transparency (Apple’s ATT) privacy framework. Advertisers have faced numerous challenges since then, including a major shift in consumer behaviors due to a global pandemic, lingering macroeconomic challenges, and the potential implications of Google’s ever-changing cookie deprecation deadline. These issues have forced advertisers to adapt their […]
BUST: Why Do So Many Sports Stores Declare Bankruptcy?
Among the MULO (multi-location) sporting goods stores that filed for Chapter 11 during the past decade are: Mountain Sports (50 sporting goods and apparel stores in seven states under Eastern Mountain Sports and Bob’s Stores brands) Olympic Sports (70 stores) Modell’s (153 stores) Sport Chalet (47 stores in California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah) Sports Authority […]
Intent, Context and Attention: 3 Signals Helping Brands See in the Dark