Patrick Miller

Pretty big endorsement for AI ecommerce experiences! Walmart has announced they'll support the OpenAI ChatGPT Instant Checkout experience. The retailer is one of the leading ecommerce sites behind Amazon and outweighs Etsy handily. Repeating some of my expectations for AI ecommerce experiences (since I still see many skeptics and naysayers)- 1) AIs will push to become a semi-marketplace like experience. 2) Brands should think about their approach to LLMs as if they are a marketplace- you're competing on price, image, search results, and reviews. 3) Ads will come. 4) Usage of these experiences will come, especially if Google begins pushing its existing search users into them. Yes, LLM checkouts are simpler, and lacking in features. BUT based on the convenience and the expectation that you are getting a better value by using them, most people won't care.

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Allison Arling-Giorgi is the Head of Brand at Method1, a Chicago-based advertising and strategy agency focused on behavioral science-driven marketing. She's a seasoned brand strategist and behavioral-science expert with deep experience in consumer insights, particularly for Millennials and Gen Z. She harnesses human behavior research to build memorable brands, craft high-impact campaigns, and drive business results—often in CPG, spirits, and cultural trends. Her work emphasizes mental availability, habit formation, memorability over precision, and empathetic, human-centered approaches amid information overload.

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I’ll be attending Expo West this year and I’m looking forward to connecting with brands that are expanding from D2C into retail. One thing I consistently see: incredible D2C performance… and then a measurement gap once brands enter retailers. Retailers care about: • Incremental sales • Velocity • Sustainable growth • Clear proof that media is driving in-store performance The brands that scale fastest are the ones that shift their measurement mindset early. Audience and creative performance can look very different by retailer, and what works online doesn’t always drive lift on shelf. If you’ll be at Expo West and are thinking about retail expansion, send me a message or comment below. I’d love to schedule time to connect in person and talk about how Pēq helps brands measure in a way that supports retailer growth and long-term expansion. Looking forward to meeting everyone out there! #pēq #expowest #incrementalmeasurement #drivingtoshelf

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I shared this ad from Oral-B Professional with my team this week... Searching for "popcorn" on Walmart.com and seeing an ad for floss is a nice example of how CPG brands can think beyond traditional keyword targeting on retailer sites. It’s a smart move that • Expands outside of category-focused keywords • Effectively leverages complementary product moments in a way that doesn't feel forced • Surfaces white space opportunities that other brands might miss A great reminder that you should be tailoring your ad messaging to shopper intent, not just product relevance, when crafting your Walmart Connect ad strategies.

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Some brands have a following that never fades. Fractured Prune is one of them. Founded in 1976 in Ocean City, Maryland, Fractured Prune has spent nearly five decades winning over coastal communities with its made-to-order, customizable donut experience — one where guests watch their donuts dipped, glazed, and finished fresh right in front of them. There is simply nothing else like it. Now, as the brand approaches its 50th anniversary, CEO and owner Daniel Windon — who first joined the system as a franchisee back in 2005 and has operated five of his own locations in the Ocean City market — is launching a renewed franchise development initiative to bring Fractured Prune to more communities across the country. His vision is clear: "We've strengthened operations, modernized support systems, and firmly established a model designed for long-term growth. We're focused on partnering with franchisees who want to bring the Fractured Prune experience to more communities across the country with hands-on operations." Early signs of momentum are already here: ✅ A high-performing licensed location in Millville, Delaware has been converted into the brand's first full franchise unit ✅ A refined model built around smaller footprints and streamlined execution ✅ Proven performance in tourism-driven coastal markets where guests seek memorable food experiences ✅ Nearly 50 years of brand loyalty — and a concept with no real competition If you love the idea of owning a beloved, one-of-a-kind food concept with deep community roots and a differentiated customer experience, Fractured Prune deserves a serious look. Daniel W. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eFr757-B #FracturedPrune #FranchisePR #FranchisePressReleases #FranchiseeLife #FranchiseMarketing #FranchiseMediaGroup #FranchiseeAmerica #FranchiseeStories #FranchiseShoppers #DonutFranchise #FoodFranchise #FastCasual #FranchiseOpportunity #CoastalBusiness #FranchiseDevelopment #EmergingBrands #FoodAndBeverage

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I've been digging into the latest research. Meta’s Q3 gains are real, at least according to the data. Cleveland Research just dropped their latest partner survey, and the signals are clear: 1.) eComm + retail spend rebounding 2.) ROI hitting near all-time highs 3.) Gen-AI tools gaining traction (especially for copy ideation) 4.) Early wins from Value-Based Optimization + Incremental Conversion models One standout stat is that omnichannel ads are driving 10%+ ROI lift for retail brands in early testing. Meta’s automation tools aren’t just saving time, they’re driving better outcomes. Partners are seeing it in Advantage+ lead gen and improved attribution clarity. Even Gen-AI is getting smarter usage: teams using it upstream for concepts, then layering in human oversight and creative direction downstream. We've learned that’s the right balance. The catch? This is partner data, not neutral analysis. And “all-time high ROI” means different things depending on your baseline. But across the board, PortCos and their brands are reporting real traction. If it holds through Q4, Meta could regain share from platforms that haven’t evolved as quickly. Your move is to double-check if your portfolio's Meta playbook includes the new stuff... or if you’re still running last year’s strategy on this year’s CPMs. Are you seeing similar performance shifts on Meta this quarter? Let’s compare notes.

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Out-of-stock rates are trending higher*. And in CPG, we know how brutal that can be...missed sales, frustrated shoppers, and promotional plans that flop. One major reason? A lack of visibility into high-velocity promos that were meant to drive big wins. Without smart, data-driven demand forecasting, brands end up with empty shelves and negative ROI. That’s where demand planning saves the day. When done right, it helps you: ✔️ Keep inventory levels just right. AKA no more piles of excess stockouts ✔️ Boost production efficiency by syncing with what the market wants ✔️ Improve supplier coordination (because guessing doesn’t cut it anymore) ✔️ Delight shoppers with full shelves when and where it counts ✔️ Cut unnecessary costs hiding in your supply chain S&OP teams across CPG are leaning into tech and automation to make smarter decisions, faster esp with sales and finance totally in the loop. Why? Because shortages are still the #1 killer of promotional success. That’s exactly what Vividly is here to solve. We’re bringing Demand Planning and Trade Planning together to build smarter, stronger ecosystems for CPG brands. Think of it like kevlar! Tough, flexible, and built to take on any promo season. Super corny, I know. We talk about kevlar a lot at Vividly... Excited to team up with our partner who brings cutting-edge supply chain tech to the table and helps our clients plan smarter, move faster, and sell better. #CPG #TPM #Inventoryoptimization *Consumer Brands Assoc.

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This chart caught my eye: the top reason marketers invest in #RetailMedia today is to increase brand awareness—even ahead of driving product sales. That shift toward upper-funnel goals makes sense. When done right, in-store media isn’t just visible—it’s relevant, well-timed, and strategically placed to support the shopper journey. But awareness alone doesn’t move the needle. At Mediar, we focus on what happens next—when attention turns into action. We help brands and retailers measure not just impressions, but impact—by understanding how media exposure influences shopper behavior, and ultimately, sales. Relevance is the real driver. The rest follows. #RetailMedia #ShopperMarketing #InStoreAttribution #BrandAwareness #CPG #CategoryGrowth

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Move over Boomers 👉 Gen X is now driving the cart 🛒 For the first time ever, Gen X now leads all U.S. consumer spending across CPG, general merchandise, and quick-service restaurants, according to new data from Numerator. They now account for 34% of total sales, edging past Boomers for the top spot. Meanwhile, Millennials and Gen Z together make up 32% - and are climbing fast. Here’s what this shift means for the CPG world 👇 💡 Gen X = steady spenders, not flashy shoppers. They lead in both annual trips and total household spend, but they buy based on trust and consistency - not hype. They’re loyal to national brands and want credibility over cleverness. 💡 Millennials + Gen Z = digital explorers. Yes, they’re comfortable online, but they still love the in-store experience when it’s convenient and experiential. Gen Z, in particular, is spending more in clubs and convenience stores - a surprise twist few predicted. 💡 Boomers = the last bastion of deep brand loyalty. When they switch, you don’t just lose a sale - you lose a customer for good. As Numerator put it: “Brands that adapt with generation-specific strategies will win both today’s dollars and tomorrow’s loyalty.” For CPG leaders, this moment calls for nuance: ➡️ Not every message should go through TikTok. ➡️ Not every innovation should chase youth. ➡️ Not every channel strategy should ignore club or convenience. Winning now means understanding what “value” means to each generation - and showing up with authenticity where they already are. Curious to hear from others in CPG and retail: How are you adapting your brand and channel mix as Gen X takes the lead and the next generations close the gap? #cpg #consumer

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As markets change, marketers have to adapt & sometimes change strategies. Box stores share of ACV means consumers have been loading home inventory. This presents an opportunity that advertisers could address with a strategy change to promote more frequent in-home use. https://lnkd.in/esu6rNiQ

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Bottom line, not everyone can be USA TODAY. There are plenty of smaller content owners taking advantage of the #AVOD surge that need help from experienced solutions providers like VideoElephant to get set up, attract eyeballs and make money.

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Agency Perspective: We are seeing retailers going all in on their own retail media networks, and they’re not subtle about it. Amazon Ads, Walmart Connect, Target’s Roundel, Kroger Precision Marketing have become serious media businesses, fueled by first-party data, loyalty programs, closed-loop attribution, and increasingly sophisticated AI and programmatic tech. For retailers, this isn't just experimentation within their 4 walls, its a massive margin game. Brands need to know this... For brands, this is where mistakes get made as of late. Although retail media is incredibly powerful inside the four walls for: -Capturing demand -Winning the moment of purchase -Proving ROI in a way CMOs and CFOs both like It does not create brands, it extracts value from them. If your strategy is overly weighted to RMNs, you’re betting that consumers already know you, trust you, and prefer you. Most brands don’t earn that luxury. What’s happening now for brands is dangerous: Brands are optimizing for conversion while starving the very things that create demand. The strongest brands are doing both of these things, and doing so deliberately: -Using retail media to harvest intent, and -Investing outside the retailer to build it: brand platforms, storytelling, cultural relevance, PR, creators, and experiences that exist long before a shopper hits the shelf or the search bar. Retail media decides where the sale happens. Brand building decides whether the sale happens at all. The next wave of winners won’t be the brands with the biggest RMN budgets. They’ll be the ones that understand the difference between performance efficiency and brand power....and fund both accordingly. Written by a human, not AI. LFG ⚡

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Regulated CPG rarely has access to creative leadership at this level. Really excited about what Elizabeth Murphy brings to the Pillar team and this industry.

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We're taking a closer look at the biggest challenges facing the c-store industry right now and exactly how marketing can help operators come out ahead.

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Elizabeth Marsten & Jack Johnston shared powerful insights Cleveland Research Company Annual eCommerce Summit this year on why the future of commerce is being shaped by social, measurement, and omnichannel strategies. That perspective and the proof that Tinuiti is uniquely positioned to help brands achieve both velocity and efficiency, was front and center. The key takeaways are clear: Social Commerce is Now Central to Retail Media: Social platforms aren’t just for awareness anymore. TikTok, Meta, and Pinterest are now key performance drivers, fueling growth not just for DTC but across Amazon, Walmart, and Target. The real opportunity is building strategies that serve both, not treating them as competitors. Measurement is Revealing Hidden Impact: Traditional attribution has been selling social short. New tools like Amazon Attribution, GeoMMM, and TikTok Geo Lift tests show that social often drives 2–3x the impact once lag and halo effects are factored in. Brands need always-on incrementality testing to truly understand where growth is coming from. Prime Day Reinforced Social-First Strategies: Discounts alone no longer win the day. Brands that leaned into UGC, short-form video, and influencer activations saw outsized success. Social-first creative is now essential for maximizing major retail events. Big thanks to Ross Walthall, CFA & the Cleveland Research Company for hosting the conversations around shaping the future of commerce hand and giving Tinuiti a chance to share how we are helping brands grow smarter, faster, and more efficiently.

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It’s important to stay in your lane on the Turnpike. It’s equally important to NEVER stay in your lane when it comes to marketing strategy. Check out this smart piece by 9Rooftops' Group Strategy Director, Elena Freed.

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🎙️ Nick Stamoulis & the Brick Marketing team joined the American Marketing Association (AMA) Boston podcast to talk data, AI, & building marketing strategies that actually drive revenue. 🔥 From evaluating AI tools to the future of marketing measurement, check out the podcast: https://lnkd.in/e_CeNCtH​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ #brickmarketing #amaboston #bostonama #bostonmarketing

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