Kikkoman’s Soy Sauce Makes It to the Holiday Menu

Kikkoman has embraced the festive spirit by encouraging consumers to use soy sauce to enhance everyday holiday meals. While Kikkoman is well known for its use in Asian cuisine, the brand wants to highlight its versatility in various dishes, including roasting turkey and ham. With recipes like Soy Sesame Sprouts, Kikkoman offers new ideas to bring a depth of flavor to the Christmas dinner table.

Lidl’s Toy Bank Returns for the Holidays

Lidl is bringing back its Toy Banks in partnership with Neighbourly this holiday season, encouraging shoppers to donate unopened toys and gifts. The collected items will be distributed to needy children through Lidl’s charitable partnerships. To further support the cause, Lidl’s Community Fund is donating £125,000 to help local charities provide food for those in need this Christmas.

YouTube Introduces 2024 Music Recap

YouTube has launched its 2024 Music Recap, offering music lovers a personalized overview of the year’s top artists, songs, genres, and podcasts. With new features and improved animations, this year’s recap promises a more immersive experience, including insights into podcast listening habits, allowing users to relive their favorite musical moments of 2024.

Macy’s Takes the Parade to Shoppable Streaming

Macy’s combines its iconic Thanksgiving Day Parade with a shoppable streaming experience. Hosted by Jill Martin, the “Macy’s Parade of Deals” special will showcase a range of gifts and holiday deals, all available for purchase via a QR code that links to Macy’s website. This initiative merges the brand’s longstanding holiday tradition with a modern, digital shopping experience.

Also Read: Hellmann’s Turns NFL Star’s Mayo Love into Fragrance

Target’s Hot Santa Goes Viral

In the lead-up to Christmas, Target has released a new commercial series featuring model Brent Bailey as Kris K., a reimagined, stylish Santa. Dressed in a red quarter-zip sweater and khakis, Bailey’s “Born to Be Kris” ads have gone viral, with the 15-second clip garnering over six million views on YouTube. His unconventional look has caught the attention of holiday shoppers and made Target’s Santa the talk of the season.

Hellmann’s Wants to Celebrate Leftovers  

Hellmann’s has introduced a new holiday, ‘Sick of Food Waste Day,’ to highlight the importance of reducing food waste during the Super Bowl, one of the biggest food-wasting events in the US. Thanksgiving is a quick second. The slogan “Make Taste, Not Waste” encourages consumers to repurpose leftovers with its mayonnaise, offering recipes to turn post-game meals into delicious new dishes.

The post Yule Love These Campaigns: What We Learned this Holiday Season appeared first on MartechView.

Best Buy CEO Corie Barry, in a company-wide earnings call, shared how the brand was looking to optimize its workforce, reimagine its physical presence, and make investments to provide a better, more seamless shopping experience. The competition is tougher than ever, as customers are demanding more tactile options online and more convenience in-store. 

In the previous two years, Best Buy had invested in developing virtual stores because of the rise of customers interacting via phone and chat during the pandemic. The virtual stores operate via a small in-house staff and offshore call center agents. Barry said the company was already seeing results — doubled revenue from these interactions compared to Q1 previous year. 

The company was also looking to continue reshaping its brick-and-mortar stores, looking at about 45 remodels for its store experience concept to bridge the gap between online sales and physical shopping. Online sales are responsible for 31% of domestic sales, twice as high as pre-pandemic levels.

In April 2022, GMG acquired the United Arab Emirates operations of French supermarket chain Géant from a company owned by Dubai Holding. This is GMG’s first foray into food retail, and it has big plans. 

After all, it follows in the footsteps of retail giant Carrefour, which rolled out its vision for the future of the industry in a cavernous Dubai mall in 2021. The trend in the region takes a cue from the changing face of supermarket retail in the US. 

Age of the shoppable fulfillment center

Walmart continues to ramp up its supply chain capabilities. The company is keen on its fulfilment centers following a tech-first approach. These new facilities will employ 4,000 associates focused on jobs such as control technicians, quality audit analysts and flow managers. Plans include using the latest automation technology to provide online consumers — including members of the Walmart+ customer benefits program — with access to next- or two-day shipping on “more items than ever before.” 

Blending online and in-store

In an attempt to make stores smarter, Albertsons Cos. partnered with Veeve Inc. to pilot “intelligent” AI-powered shopping carts that will enable customers to ring up items as they shop and pay without going through checkout. Inspired by Amazon? Perhaps. 

The smart carts use barcode scanning and computer vision to identify products as they’re added to or removed from the cart. It has a built-in scale that automatically captures the weight and calculates the price of unpackaged groceries, such as fresh produce. A touchscreen near the cart handle keeps a running total of the items added. When done, customers press the Checkout button on the screen and tap to pay or insert a credit/debit card using the adjacent payment device. 

An interesting feature includes turn-by-turn in-store directions to find items across the aisles. There is scope for more customization. Customers feed in their mobile numbers so carts can pull up past information, make recommendations and keep track of loyalty points.  

Payment made easy

Amazon is using its arsenal of solutions to target the supermarket experience from all angles. In 2022, it rolled out the Amazon One contactless payment system, which uses palm-recognition technology at Whole Foods Market. The technology uses custom-built algorithms and hardware to scan a person’s unique palm signature and speed up the checkout process. 

Conclusion

Drones are still a part of the conversation. Walmart announced plans to roll out DroneUp drone delivery for online orders in 2022. It was predicted to impact six states, enabling the retailer to serve 4 million households via the service. But the more interesting conversation is taking place behind the scenes. Ocado Group, a technology provider for grocery stores, announced the acquisition of materials-handling robotics start-up Myrmex Inc. Stores are looking to speed up intelligent asset handling systems, and advanced software can be a critical differentiator.

The post When Supermarkets Turn Super-Tech Savvy appeared first on MartechView.

WHAT’S THIS STORY ABOUT?

Personalization is a top marketing priority, but strategy execution can be challenging. We asked an expert about how to overcome the barriers to personalization.

• We don’t have the right data
• Which are the right metrics to show success?
• Managing inconsistent channel experiences
• How can we maximize ROI on marketing technology investments?

Ask any marketer, and personalization will be one of their top priorities for 2023. But are they able to deliver on this promise?

In fact, according to an Adobe report, 94% of brands want to deliver personalized experiences at scale. Yet, the same cohort admitted they’re only personalizing between 25% and 50% of marketing content versus a target of 50 to 75%.

Where does the gap lie, and how can marketers overcome barriers preventing them from offering true value to consumers? We asked Sarah Cascone, VP of Marketing at Bluecore, a retail marketing technology firm, about the best way to navigate the sticky bits;

Also Read: Don’t Worry, Links Are Here to Stay

‘We don’t have the right data’

Sarah: The data challenge that marketers face isn’t as much that they don’t have the right data – it’s that they don’t have access to it. In every industry, businesses and brands sit on mountains of data, such as consumer behavioral and product data, but it is all siloed in different places. This forces marketers to pull it together from these separate sources for every campaign, resulting in the dreaded batch and blast method – creating a single email with a single message and sending it to as many people as possible.

Doing this manually restricts brands to slow and static campaigns. To release dynamic campaigns that reach consumers wherever they are, marketers need a tech platform to pull the company’s relevant vertical-specific data directly into the campaign workflows and templates so marketers can easily create one-to-one communications.

Which are the right metrics to show success?

Many digital-specific marketers make the mistake of trying to measure success through metrics such as click and open rates. However, click and open rates can be high while conversion is still low. Marketers need to emphasize tracking how often consumers are buying and if they are increasing their Average Order Value (AOV). Those are the metrics to put weight behind since that will result in revenue gain and growth for the company.

Managing inconsistent channel experiences

Most of the time, different channels are managed on different platforms, so it can be hard to view their efficacy holistically. The best technology solution marketers can implement is a platform that allows them to consolidate the different channels for more visibility.

It’s also good for marketers to track which channels are performing best with their customers and spend more on that channel. Going in, marketers aren’t sure which channel will generate the most revenue, so it helps to implement a solution with a flexible pricing model. Instead of being locked into the amount of money spent on each channel, marketers should be able to move around their dollars to ensure their budget is placed in the most beneficial area.

Also Read: How AI and Data Analytics Are Transforming Customer Experience

How can we maximize ROI on marketing technology investments?

Any technology solution a marketer buys needs to have clear and provable outcomes. Analytics and test-and-learn systems should be built into the platform so that marketers can see incremental revenue gains. Most marketers are spending money on technology to convert more shoppers.

However, marketers need to ensure that the technology they invest in isn’t just converting shoppers who already would have converted. Efforts and money should be directed towards converting shoppers who would not have otherwise converted or, more importantly, retaining the customers the company already has.

The post Are Personalization Strategies Holding You Back? appeared first on MartechView.

How does a Grammy-nominated recording artist and multi-platinum music producer find themselves running a technology company? Founder and CEO at SuperPhone – Ryan Leslie’s journey started as a producer for Madonna, Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Beyoncé. As an avid technologist who taught himself to code, he was looking to build more authentic relationships with his followers. 

SuperPhone is an intelligent mobile messaging platform that helps enterprise retail brands acquire, and engage with mobile customers. It has raised a total of $8.3 million in funding over 8 rounds.  

Martechvibe spoke to Leslie about what brands can do to build authentic relationships with young consumers, how to use technology to get global brands local relevance, and deliver personalization through SMS.

Excerpts from the interview:

How do you see the relationship between artists and fans changing in the future?

In recent years, the relationship between artists and fans has experienced significant evolution, driven by technological advancements and changing consumer behavior. Looking ahead, I anticipate further transformations in this relationship. 

Personalization will reach new heights as artists utilize advanced tools like SuperPhone’s intelligent texting platform to engage fans on an individualized level, delivering personalized messages and tailored experiences. Fan participation will soar as interactive experiences allow fans to actively contribute and collaborate with artists, fostering a sense of co-creation. Direct and authentic communication will strengthen the bond between artists and fans, while virtual and immersive experiences, facilitated by VR and AR technologies, will transcend physical barriers. Data-driven insights will empower artists to make informed decisions, connect with their fan base more effectively, and create memorable experiences. The future holds immense potential for artists to forge deeper connections with their fans and cultivate a vibrant and engaged community.

What do brands primarily get wrong when reaching out to Gen Z customers? What advice would you give them?

When brands reach out to Gen Z customers, they often miss the mark by not truly understanding their unique characteristics and preferences. One common mistake is trying too hard to be ‘cool’ without genuine authenticity. Brands should approach Gen Z with respect and a willingness to listen. 

Another misstep is underestimating their desire for social responsibility and authenticity. Gen Z values brands that align with their values and make a positive impact. 

Additionally, brands shouldn’t overlook the power of digital platforms and influencer marketing, as Gen Z is highly connected online. Lastly, brands should consider personalized engagement over traditional interruptive advertising. Leveraging SMS marketing, like SuperPhone, allows brands to have one-on-one conversations and deliver personalized content. 

To succeed with Gen Z, embrace authenticity, social responsibility, digital channels, and personalized connections that foster trust and shared values.

How does text messaging typically fit into the larger marketing media plan? What advice would you like to share here?

Text messaging is a crucial component of the larger marketing media plan, allowing brands to establish direct and meaningful connections with customers. It serves as a personal and immediate channel to deliver targeted messages, exclusive promotions, and time-sensitive information. As part of an integrated marketing strategy, text messaging enhances customer communication, drives engagement, and boosts conversions. 

My advice is to focus on delivering value and relevance through personalized messages, respecting customers’ privacy and preferences. Incorporate cross-channel engagement by including links to websites, social media, and mobile apps. Timing is key, so be mindful of when messages are sent. Leverage automation and scheduling features to optimize delivery. Lastly, track and analyze campaign performance to refine your strategy and achieve marketing success.

What makes SMS reliable and cost-effective for marketers?

SMS is an incredibly reliable and cost-effective tool for marketers, and here’s why. 

Firstly, it boasts an exceptional open rate, ensuring that messages are read promptly. This reliability allows marketers to effectively connect with their target audience. SMS is permission-based, meaning recipients actively opt in to receive messages, resulting in higher engagement rates and a more receptive audience. 

It’s also a cost-effective solution, with low per-message costs and the ability to reach a large audience. SMS offers personalization options, allowing marketers to deliver targeted and relevant messages. 

Furthermore, it provides instant and direct communication with customers, enabling timely responses and actions. In short, SMS delivers reliability, cost-effectiveness, personalization, and immediate impact for marketers looking to connect with their audience in a meaningful way.

What kind of insights can brands hope to gain by analyzing voice traffic?

Analyzing voice traffic offers brands a treasure trove of insights into their customers. By diving into the data, brands can uncover valuable information on customer preferences, sentiments, and behaviors. This includes identifying frequently asked questions or concerns, allowing brands to be proactive in addressing them. 

Moreover, voice analytics provide a glimpse into customer satisfaction levels, helping brands make improvements to their products, services, and overall experience. It also offers demographic data, empowering brands to understand their target audience better and customize their strategies accordingly. By embracing voice analytics, brands can make informed decisions, deepen customer engagement, and build stronger connections with their audience.

How can multinational retailers use SuperPhone to stay relevant locally?

Multinational retailers can utilize SuperPhone to maintain local relevance in an impactful way. With SuperPhone’s intelligent texting platform, retailers can establish a genuine connection with customers on a personal level. By leveraging its advanced features like tagging, segmentation, and targeting, retailers can tailor their messaging to cater to local preferences and cultural nuances. 

SuperPhone’s seamless integration with Shopify and other apps ensures that customer data is unified and up-to-date, enabling retailers to deliver targeted promotions and personalized recommendations specific to each local market. By utilizing SuperPhone’s capabilities, multinational retailers can create authentic and personalized experiences that resonate with local customers, ultimately fostering loyalty and staying relevant on a local level.

The post SuperPhone’s CEO Ryan Leslie on Winning Gen Z Customers appeared first on MartechView.