Kicking Horse Coffee Brand Platform Is an Ode to the ‘Hellbent’
Canadian roaster Kicking Horse Coffee marks its 30‑year anniversary with a new brand platform titled “Here’s to the Hellbent.” The campaign, developed with agencies OneMethod and Super Proper, rolls out a 60‑second television spot supported by social, out‑of‑home, connected TV, digital and PR. It showcases real Canadian coffee drinkers, positioning the brand as the fuel for consumers who pursue their goals relentlessly. The initiative reinforces Kicking Horse’s long‑standing identity of bold, uncompromising coffee.
Kikkoman Embraces Gen Z’s Love of Japanese Culture in New Campaign
Kikkoman has unveiled a multiyear, anime‑inspired campaign called “Unleash Legendary” aimed at Gen Z home cooks. Developed with agency BSSP, the effort features a 30‑second spot voiced by Christopher Sabat and two 15‑second videos, running across YouTube, paid social, connected TV, programmatic...
Fast Simon Instantly Tells Merchandisers What Products Are Successful, Overexposed—Or Hidden Gems
Fast Simon’s new AI platform gives e‑commerce merchandisers instant, data‑driven insight into product performance. It identifies winners, overexposed items, and hidden‑gem products within minutes, while also projecting the long‑term impact of current merchandising choices. The tool promises faster optimization of listings,...
Adjoe Names Matthew Freter U.S. Marketing Director as Global Growth Accelerates
adjoe named Matthew Freter as U.S. Marketing Director to drive its U.S. growth. The company, the largest rewarded‑ad network on iOS and Android, posted a 24% year‑over‑year revenue increase, far above the industry’s 6.7% growth. With 770 million users and over...
Five Guys Serves up Largest Integrated Brand Campaign to Date
Five Guys unveiled its "Your Burger Guy" campaign, the chain’s largest integrated brand effort to date, featuring three 30‑second spots and a multi‑channel rollout across film, social, digital, audio and in‑store media. Developed by independent agency Chemistry, the campaign leans...
Retail Media Is a $69B Opportunity. So Why Is It Still So Hard to Get Right?
Retail media is projected to reach $69.3 billion in 2026, cementing its place as one of the fastest‑growing ad channels. The surge is driven by retailers leveraging first‑party shopper data to sell ads on‑site and off‑site. However, most retailers juggle 15‑20...
Retail Media Has Reached Its Accountability Moment
Retail media, once celebrated for its closed‑loop attribution near the point of sale, is now confronting an accountability crisis. Advertisers are demanding proof that spend drives incremental lift beyond a single retailer’s ledger. In response, major networks are expanding into...
As CFOs Scrutinize CTV Spend, Incrementality Emerges as a Differentiator
CFOs are tightening scrutiny on connected‑TV (CTV) spend because traditional metrics like impressions and modeled ROAS fail to prove incremental revenue. The article argues that the trust problem stems from over‑attributed conversions and fragmented measurement infrastructure. Incrementality testing, which isolates...
Bobbie's Chief Brand Officer on the Cardi B Partnership that Sparked a Cultural Conversation
Bobbie teamed with Cardi B as its "Chief Confidence Officer," launching a bold campaign that lifted brand awareness 16% in the first week and drove a 195% surge in Net Promoter Score among Gen Z parents. The partnership sparked a cultural conversation...
Influencer Collabs Account for 50% of an Indian Soundtrack’s Promotional Budget, Says Report
Indian film soundtrack promoters are allocating roughly half of their promotional budgets to influencer collaborations, according to a recent Economic Times report. Paid YouTube advertising has slipped to about 30% of spend, while the remaining budget supports audio‑streaming discoverability. Promotion...
This One-Hour Audit That Could Save Your Product From AI Exclusion
The article warns that in 2026 consumers rely on AI assistants that deliver a single synthesized answer, making product data the new digital shelf. Brands with vague or inconsistent product pages are being filtered out, while those that publish a...
Northbeam Adds The Third Leg Of The Attribution Stool With Incrementality Testing
Northbeam has launched an incrementality testing feature, completing its promised "triad" of attribution tools alongside multitouch attribution (MTA) and marketing mix modeling (MMM). The new product adds a calibration layer that estimates cross‑platform conversion influence without tracking individual users, addressing...
Lexus, Artist Alex Alpert to Present Custom IS 350 at EXPO Chicago
Lexus has teamed up with New York‑based illustrator Alex Alpert to create a one‑off, line‑art‑styled IS 350 sedan. The custom vehicle will be unveiled at EXPO Chicago, the city’s premier design and innovation showcase. Alpert’s distinctive sketch aesthetic is applied...
The Insightful Leader Live: AI and Advertising … This Time It’s Personal
Kellogg professors Jacob Teeny and Brett Gordon hosted a free webinar on April 7, 2026 discussing how AI will reshape advertising through hyper‑personalized content. The session covered AI‑driven customer profiling, the latest research on personalized persuasion, emerging industry trends, and the ethical...
Google Starts Showing Sponsored Ads in the Images Tab on Mobile Search
Google has begun serving sponsored ads inside the mobile Images tab, inserting full‑image creatives labeled “Sponsored” directly into the grid. The placement leverages existing image assets from Search or Performance Max campaigns, requiring no changes to keyword targeting or campaign structure....
Most Content Doesn’t Build Credibility: Let’s Fix That
Marketing teams are flooding the market with content, yet most of it fails to earn buyer trust. As AI‑driven research tools synthesize information from multiple sources, they quickly expose generic, self‑referential messaging. Surveys reveal 68% of buyers are more skeptical...
Amagi Launches New Tool to Help Stations Turn Newscasts Into Social Clips
Amagi introduced Newspulse, an AI‑driven platform that turns live and archived news broadcasts into ready‑to‑post social media clips. The system automatically identifies story segments, reformats video into multiple aspect ratios and adds captions and platform‑specific metadata. Human‑in‑the‑loop controls let editors...
McDonald’s Türkiye Introduces Video Game-Changing Promotion
McDonald’s Türkiye launched a Pro Gamer Menu that bundles a Big Mac, fries, onion rings, Coke and a new “Archie” controller accessory. The Archie device links analog sticks so in‑game characters keep moving while diners eat, preventing automatic kicks for inactivity....
Haus Survey: Half of Marketing Leaders Can’t Explain ROI Measurement
The inaugural Decision Confidence Index surveyed 500 U.S. senior marketing and finance leaders and found only half can clearly articulate how they measure marketing ROI to the board. While 90% believe marketing drives growth, 35% say more than a fifth...
Kohl’s Spotlights Tek Gear Private Label at a Tough Time for Activewear
Kohl’s has enlisted U.S. women’s soccer star Carli Lloyd to front a spring‑summer campaign for its Tek Gear activewear label. The brand, highlighted as one of Kohl’s best‑performing private labels last year, is being promoted alongside the comedic “Kohl’s Mom” character to...
Medialister Opens Editorial Media Marketplace to AI Agents with MCP Server
Medialister, a PRNEWS spin‑off, launched a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that lets AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini query its editorial media marketplace directly. The platform replaces the decades‑old email‑heavy workflow with a searchable, automated hub where...
Ex-Warburtons Boss Quits Big Food to Launch Healthier Kids’ Snacking Brand
Former Warburtons chief executive has resigned from the multinational food sector to found a new brand focused on healthier snacks for children. The venture aims to replace sugar‑laden products with nutrient‑rich alternatives, leveraging the founder’s extensive bakery and distribution experience....
AI Creative Tools in Google Ads
Google has launched Asset Studio, an AI‑powered creative suite inside Google Ads that lets advertisers generate and edit images and videos with simple text prompts. The tool can produce lifestyle product shots, turn a single photo into a 5‑second video,...
Hannaford Refreshes Private Label Packaging Across Portfolio
Hannaford Supermarkets is rolling out a refreshed private‑brand packaging design, beginning in select markets in 2026 with a full portfolio rollout slated for 2027. The new look, driven by customer feedback, aims to make products easier to spot, convey clearer...
Google Ads Testing New Layouts for Multi-Location GBP Assets?
Google Ads is piloting new ad formats for Google Business Profile (GBP) location assets. The test introduces a vertical layout that displays individual location reviews alongside directions, exposing each store’s rating rather than a single brand score. A second variation...
Why CPA Firms Risk Losing Influence Before the First Conversation
CPA firms face a new competitive threat as AI‑driven answer engines now dominate how prospective clients discover accounting, tax and advisory services. Research shows nearly 60 percent of Google searches end without a click and overall search volume has dropped 20 percent,...
Dunkin’ Exits an Entire Market in 2026 After 14 Years
Dunkin' will cease operations in India when its franchise agreement expires on Dec. 31, 2026, ending a 14‑year presence. Jubilant FoodWorks, the Indian franchisee, reported that Dunkin' contributed only 0.61% of its revenue in FY2025 and posted a loss of...
Mastercard and PayPal Veteran Jill Cress Is Babylist’s First CMO
Babylist, the online baby‑registry platform, reported $750 million in revenue and 45% year‑over‑year growth, prompting the hire of veteran marketer Jill Cress as its first chief marketing officer. Cress, who previously led consumer strategy at Mastercard and marketing at National Geographic, PayPal,...
Eco-Friendly or Budget-Friendly Hotels? How To Market to Travelers Who Want Both
In 2026 sustainability has become a mainstream expectation for travelers, yet price sensitivity remains high. The TravelBoom Leisure Travel Study shows 21.8% of guests are willing to pay more for eco‑friendly hotels, while 45% are cutting back on dining and...
David Melhado of Jive Records: Brands Need to Find Artists Before Their ‘Tipping-Point’ Moment
David Melhado, co‑president of Jive Records and former UnitedMasters executive, advises brands to seek authentic partnerships with musicians before they reach a tipping‑point moment. He stresses that genuine alignment, not just financial incentives, creates campaigns that resonate with audiences. Melhado...
Can the World Cup Solve Nike’s Problems?
Nike’s third‑quarter earnings revealed an 11‑year low in its stock, underscoring a disconnect between the brand’s product slate and consumer demand. Rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions are inflating supply‑chain costs, forcing the company to consider price passes. To revive...
Assemble’s Lara Vandenberg on Rethinking Marketing Teams for a Faster, Fragmented World
Assemble CEO Lara Vandenberg told the Brave Commerce podcast that traditional marketing orgs are collapsing in favor of flexible, on‑demand talent models. She highlighted that the primary bottleneck is not a shortage of skilled marketers but fragmented systems that hinder...
KFC’s Colonel Dances in the Name of Affordable Fried Chicken in New Ads
KFC introduced a new music‑driven campaign featuring the single “Finger Lickin’ Machine,” starring Colonel Sanders dancing to promote its Value Feast menu. The ad includes an extended music‑video style spot and limited‑edition physical copies handed out in Los Angeles to...
Data Dominion: How Zeta Global Cracked the AI Code for the Next Generation of Martech
Zeta Global, led by CEO David A. Steinberg, has positioned its AI‑first data platform as a core infrastructure for marketers, now serving 51% of the Fortune 100. The company launched Athena, a voice‑enabled AI copilot built with OpenAI, after proving that...
Tenant Turner Releases AI Virtual Agent Beta to Automate Lead Conversations and Schedule Showings Faster
Tenant Turner has launched a beta version of its AI Virtual Agent, a conversational tool that automates routine prospect inquiries and pre‑qualification for rental listings. The agent operates 24/7 via a web widget and SMS, instantly answering common questions and...
Dollar Shave Club Swipes at Competition in First Women’s Grooming Push
Dollar Shave Club announced a new women’s razor and grooming line, entering a market valued at roughly $1.8 billion. The launch is backed by a dual‑track ad campaign: a traditional filmed spot and an AI‑generated video that lampoons pastel‑laden competitors. CEO...
LeadG2 Finds ‘AI Adoption Without Impact’ Gap In Revenue Teams
LeadG2’s new report reveals that while 100% of surveyed revenue leaders are using or piloting AI, only 12% have embedded it deeply into daily workflows. The study of 154 executives highlights persistent gaps in messaging consistency, training, and system integration,...
Drumstick Teams with WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes for New Creative Platform
Drumstick has teamed with WWE superstar Cody Rhodes to launch a new creative platform, "Lick it. Flip it. Drumstick it." The campaign, timed for WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, combines a national TV spot, social media content, and the return of the...
fullthrottle.ai® Expands Into Audio With Premium Inventory, Streamlined Activation, and Unified Measurement
fullthrottle.ai has added audio advertising to its platform, giving marketers direct access to premium streaming and podcast inventory, including iHeartMedia. The new capability lets brands plan, activate, and optimize audio campaigns within the same workflow used for CTV and display,...
Trustpilot Launches New Features to Help Brands Get Found and Chosen in the Age of AI
Trustpilot unveiled a new AI‑focused product suite designed to keep brands visible and credible as generative AI drives the buyer journey. The offering, built around the “3Rs” of Recency, Relevance and Ranking, adds real‑time review collection, an invitation optimizer and...
In-Store Marketplace Launches New Framework for In-Store Media Success
In-Store Marketplace (ISM) partnered with Catalyst Media Consulting to publish research exposing a critical measurement gap in in‑store media, where brands, retailers, agencies, and retail media networks (RMNs) use divergent metrics. The study argues that applying digital‑style attribution to physical...
Evangelion Sapporo Beer Features Eva 01 and 13 on the Cans
Sapporo Breweries has launched a limited‑edition Kuro Label beer line featuring Evangelion Units 01 and 13, with the 350 ml cans showcasing Unit 01 and the 500 ml cans displaying Unit 13. The partnership also includes a range of merchandise—coasters, tote bags, T‑shirts, and a bar glass—priced...
Video Innovation Drives 2x Higher Purchase Intent, Study Finds
A new "State of Video Technology" study of 2,500 U.S. and U.K. adults finds 80% of consumers want more brand video, yet 46% say they never receive it. Personalized video content makes shoppers twice as likely to buy, and AI‑generated...
6 A/B Tests Every App Growth Team Should Run
App growth teams often launch acquisition campaigns without knowing which funnel elements actually drive quality users. The article outlines six critical A/B tests—from routing paid traffic to mobile web smart banners versus direct app‑store links, to customizing app‑store pages and...
Building Business: A Strategic Approach to Referrals and COIs
Brian Shapiro argues that referrals and centers of influence (COIs) remain the most cost‑effective lead sources for wealth‑management advisors. He outlines a four‑step referral process—identifying ideal referrers, simplifying the ask, timing requests, and acknowledging contributors. The article also details a...
Why Brand Size No Longer Determines Visibility in AI Answers
The rise of AI answer engines is reshaping how brand visibility is earned, shifting focus from sheer scale to the clarity, credibility, and structure of content. Traditional PR tactics that rely on reach and long‑standing narratives no longer guarantee inclusion...
AI Digital Relaunches Elevate: The AI-Powered Intelligence Platform Built to Break Open the Black Box
AI Digital has relaunched Elevate, an AI‑powered marketing intelligence platform that unifies research, planning, optimization and reporting across the digital ecosystem. The tool promises up to 90% reduction in manual research and planning time and 70% faster reporting, while remaining...
Inside Walmart’s Creator-Driven Social Commerce Playbook
Walmart is building a creator‑driven social commerce engine that blends shoppable ads, influencer networks, and AI‑powered trend tools. The retailer treats social platforms as search venues, targeting Gen Z and millennial users who spend hours daily online. Its Walmart Creator program,...
Cold Email Sequence: 5 Sequences with Ready-to-Use Examples
The guide reveals that a single cold email typically nets only 1‑2% replies, while a structured 4‑5‑email sequence can lift response rates to 8‑15%. It outlines optimal cadence—starting with a two‑day gap and widening to up to ten days—plus the...
Happydemics Launches ‘In-Flight Mode’ to Optimise Brand Outcomes While Campaigns Are Still Airborne
Happydemics has introduced “In‑Flight Mode,” a real‑time brand‑lift measurement tool that embeds outcome tracking directly into live campaigns. Marketers can now monitor consideration, purchase intent and other brand KPIs as ads run, and instantly tweak creative, targeting or media mix....
