Rice Krispies Treats introduces Braille 'love notes,' recordable boxes

Special heart-shaped packaging comes as part of the marketer's partnership with the National Federation of the Blind.  

By Erica Sweeney • Aug. 8, 2018

Digiday: Amazon to consolidate disparate ad businesses into single platform

Combining branding, content, product creation, merchandising and advertising in a centralized hub could make it easier for marketers to see the traffic on their products and where it originates. 

By Erica Sweeney • Aug. 7, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Retail Marketing

Top stories that underscore the leading influences on retail marketing, including the creator economy, '90s nostalgia and Gen Z. 

By Marketing Dive staff

Cars.com plays matchmaker with new AI-powered vehicle search platform

The launch is supported by a campaign riffing on ads for dating websites and includes a partnership with Tinder, which the platform emulates. 

By Erica Sweeney • Aug. 7, 2018

KFC intros Jason Alexander as the 'Family Colonel' in surreal sitcom parody

The former "Seinfeld" star promotes the chain's $20 Fill Up meals in a campaign that starts out cheery and then turns vaguely creepy.

By Erica Sweeney • Aug. 7, 2018

Study: VR, voice assistants aren't must-haves for in-store shoppers

High-tech features in retail stores aren't important to 48% of consumers, Bazaarvoice found.

By Robert Williams • Aug. 6, 2018

Athleta bucks 'girls in sports' stereotypes with back-to-school push

The brand aims to boost girls' confidence and promote sports leadership in its first campaign targeting young teenagers.

By Natalie Black (Koltun) • Aug. 6, 2018

Jell-O teams with DreamworksTV on animated series for YouTube, Amazon Prime Video

"The Jell-O Wobz" encourages self-esteem and imagination while promoting the marketer's line of edible toys. 

By Erica Sweeney • Aug. 3, 2018

Campaign Trail: SunnyD shakes things up; Van Heusen grapples with UFC; funeral ads get banned

A sugary beverage maker looks to win back teen tastes, a fashion label suits up fighters and a funeral price comparison site goes head-to-head with the Transport of London in this week's picks. 

By Peter Adams , Natalie Black (Koltun) , Chris Kelly • Aug. 3, 2018

The North Face debuts mile-high pop-up showroom in Italian Alps

The experience, which is only reachable by foot, launches the brand's Pinnacle Project and showcases jackets and backpacks worn by its athlete ambassadors.

By Erica Sweeney • Aug. 2, 2018

Study: Amazon led Q1 programmatic ad spend with a 10% share

Three-quarters of tracked brands placed digital ads programmatically in Q1, while 42% placed native ads programmatically — a 10% increase year-over-year. 

By Erica Sweeney • Aug. 2, 2018

Kylie Jenner debuts AR lipstick filter on Instagram

The feature lets people try on the seven most popular colors from her cosmetics line.

By Robert Williams • Aug. 2, 2018

Beauty brands stand to gain from virtual advisers

The virtual tools appear to attract customers who are engaged online and shop often.

By Nicole Ault • Aug. 1, 2018

South Korean telecom KT tries on mobile AR shopping

AR Market lets shoppers view 360-degree videos of different products on smartphones and tablets.

By Robert Williams • Aug. 1, 2018

How Untuckit fine-tuned its TV advertising and cut cost-per-response by 30%

The men's apparel company collapsed its bounce rate and lifted sales using TVSquared's analytics and optimization platform.

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 1, 2018

Teens share their dreams in Best Buys' new campaign supporting tech centers initiative

The effort includes videos of teenagers who have attended the retailer's year-round program that teaches tech skills to youth in underserved areas.

By Erica Sweeney • Aug. 1, 2018

Movistar links smartphone gyroscope to anti-cyberbullying videos

A story is told from two different perspectives depending on which way viewers hold their phone.

By Robert Williams • July 31, 2018

Variety: Vivendi axes Studio+ mobile video app

The pending shutdown comes just weeks after Verizon announced it would end its similar go90 service.

By Robert Williams • July 31, 2018

Study: Facebook drops off list of most innovative tech brands

Results from a new consumer survey place Amazon, Apple and Google at the top. 

By Erica Sweeney • July 31, 2018

YouTube tweaks Premium subscription with more free, ad-supported content

While most Premium content can be streamed ad-free, YouTube is opening its paywall slightly to attract more subscribers and potentially more brands. 

By Erica Sweeney • July 31, 2018

How Big Food drives impulse buys online

Whether it's via Instagram, a manufacturer's direct-to-consumer site or a click-and-collect grocery platform, legacy snack and candy brands are fighting to spark last-minute purchases.

By Emma Liem Beckett • July 30, 2018

Aerie mimics UGC to boost authenticity on YouTube

"Cheap and cheerful" formats like tutorials, fit guides or shooting in front of simple fabric backdrops make the branded videos feel more authentic, Gartner L2 found.

By Natalie Black (Koltun) • July 30, 2018

Domino's delivers pizza with Snapchat AR

After interacting with a branded lens, users could place an order without leaving the app.

By Robert Williams • July 30, 2018

Viacom acquires Gen Z-focused digital media company AwesomenessTV

AwesomenessTV currently reaches 158 million unique users and has relationships with brands including Gatorade, Hollister and Invisalign.​

By Erica Sweeney • July 30, 2018

How the music industry can set the tempo for brand experiences

Brands can find inspiration in the direction the music industry has taken in creating memorable omnichannel experiences that keep the rhythm of retail going, writes SET strategist Stefan Tauber.

By Stefan Tauber • July 30, 2018

Amazon posts second $2B quarter for ad sales as explosive growth continues

The company is on pace to beat forecasts for how much advertising it will sell this year.

By Chantal Tode • July 27, 2018