Creative

Starbucks announced last week it is making its entrance into the entertainment industry by starting Starbucks Studios, a new initiative the company said will produce original entertainment and "tell stories that deepen connections and spark conversations." The coffee giant didn't say what kinds of entertainment we can expect, but revealed it is teaming up with…

Small business owners increasingly use advanced generative artificial intelligence tools to enhance digital marketing strategies and maintain a competitive edge. iStock’s VisualGPS research reveals that 42 percent of SMBs and SMEs already leverage AI-generated content to strengthen their online presence, highlighting a growing recognition of AI's potential for e-commerce success. Learning about the data that…

In November and December, U.S. retail industry sales rose 3.8 percent compared to the year before. Economists seemed surprised by retail results defying expectations throughout much of 2023. Unfortunately, 2024 didn’t start quite as well. Since then, retail sales have shrunk by 0.8 percent (worse than market forecasts of a 0.1 percent decline). U.S. retail…

Every industry, including retail, is feeling the effects of moving away from the reliance on third-party cookies. However, this shift is also bringing us back to the essence of marketing — making content that audiences really connect with emotionally. It’s not just a challenge; it’s an opportunity for retail marketing to have a total creative…

As the holiday season nears, artificial intelligence is transforming retail marketing in the beauty sector. However, responsible AI usage is crucial to maintaining trust with wary consumers. Our VisualGPS research revealed that in 2023, AI makes 63 percent of Americans very nervous, rising from 53 percent in 2022. So, as AI-generated visual content enters the…

Studies show that 90 percent of the information processed by the human brain is visual. What's more, the brain processes visual images 60,000 times faster than written messages. As the data shows, the human brain is drawn to pictures. With that in mind, it's no wonder that content creators who feature visual content increase traffic…

Specialty arts-and-crafts retailer Michaels announced earlier this week that it was launching a new brand identity "focused on helping core and new customers alike bring their creative ideas to life." The announcement comes as the Texas-based retailer, which operates over 1,290 stores, celebrates its 50th anniversary, according to a company press release. The refresh includes a…

The great French writer Alexandre Dumas famously said, “There are two distinct sorts of ideas: those that proceed from the head and those that emanate from the heart.” Although he wasn't speaking about the yin-and-yang between creativity and return on investment measurement in advertising, he could have been. The creativity behind a brand’s marketing is…

There are a lot of reasons for retailers to be super focused on deals, deals, deals. The economy is tight, inflation is up, and the first half of Q1 is typically a time for clearance pricing to make way for spring merchandise. While low prices and sales are a driver of impulse purchases, sales messages…

In this episode of Total Retail Tech Insights, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Mariam Asmar, vice president of strategic consulting at Braze, a leading comprehensive customer engagement platform that powers interactions between consumers and brands they love. Asmar discusses her professional background and the Braze business (1:00), her take on the state of the e-commerce industry…