Josh Kaiser

Kroger Centralizes Retail Media Under 84.51° to Boost Advertiser Value Kroger is consolidating its retail media and data science units to unlock more value for advertisers. The company announced that Kroger Precision Marketing (KPM) will now operate entirely under its 84.51° data science division, bringing media and analytics together under one roof. What’s changing 🔸KPM, previously a standalone entity, is now fully integrated into 84.51° 🔸The move is meant to improve how advertisers access targeting, measurement, and campaign insights 🔸This consolidation aims to strengthen closed-loop performance visibility, a key selling point in retail media 🔸Kroger plans to increase investment in AI-driven audience segmentation and predictive analytics Why this matters for brands 🔹Retail media is getting more sophisticated Brands will benefit from deeper insights, more accurate targeting, and cleaner attribution when advertising on Kroger platforms 🔹Data and ad strategy are no longer separate This integration sets a standard for other retailers to follow as media networks mature and advertiser expectations rise 🔹More pressure on smaller marketplaces As giants like Kroger improve their retail media stack, emerging platforms will need to match targeting precision and measurement capabilities to stay competitive The takeaway: Retail media is moving from test and learn to scaled performance. Kroger’s play to fuse media and data into a single operation signals where the market is heading. For brands, this means better tools, clearer results, and a growing expectation to allocate more budget into retailer ecosystems that offer measurable return. ⬇️ Tap the link to read more about this update! https://lnkd.in/dQsA5s5Q

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Kroger Just Unlocked the TV and Audio Ad Market for small and medium sized brands. Generally, CPG giants with dedicated in-house programmatic teams have been able to take advantage of first-party data supported Connected TV (CTV) and streaming audio.  However, without significant resources, smaller and mid-sized brand were stuck on the outside looking in. Until Now. Kroger Precision Marketing (KPM) just unlocked the door for challenger brands of all sizes. They recognized the critical gap : Brands want to leverage streaming media but lack the expertise and / or resources for complex programmatic buying. Kroger’s solution?                                                          They’ll do the heavy lifting for you. KPM’s in-house experts will activate and manage your campaigns across premium platforms like Roku, Paramount+, Pandora, and iHeartRadio. The Secret Weapon: Selling Outcomes, Not Impressions. KPM isn't just selling ad slots; they're providing the data-powered precision that's impossible to replicate independently. -Precision Targeting: Using Kroger’s first-party loyalty card data for unrivaled accuracy. -Guaranteed Measurement: Every campaign provides closed-loop measurement, including ROAS, sales lift, and the direct impact on dollar and unit sales. -The Proof: A campaign using this data achieved a 5.5% increase in sales by targeting lapsed Neutrogena buyers on Roku. This is a strategic play that democratizes access to high-value media channels. If you've viewed CTV and streaming audio as out of reach, the door is now open. ➡️ See the full strategic analysis on how KPM is weaponizing its data for the masses and creating a lifeline for challenger brands (Link below and in the first comment!)

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Kroger just made a BILLION-dollar decision to double down on Customer Experience. Kroger just announced the closure of ~60 locations—and simultaneously doubled down on investments in Customer Experience (CX) across digital, in-store, and supply chain operations. They know what smart, growth-focused leaders already understand: CX isn't a department. It's the whole business. From advertising to doorstep delivery… loyalty is earned (or lost) at every step. Business Leaders, ask yourself these 3 questions: - Is your brand delivering a streamlined, trusted, and memorable experience? - Can your team clearly map the moments where customers feel seen, valued, and loyal? - Are there cracks in the system that leave value—and reputation—on the table? Kroger’s pivot is a huge, strategic move - and one that likely will pay dividends for them in the coming years. This isn't just for retailers, but to every business that wants to stay relevant. #CustomerExperience #MarketingStrategy #FractionalCMO #Leadership #CXSells #Kroger #GrowthMarketing

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Interesting to see Go Puff pivot from only selling small-size convenience item to bulk value in response to #tariffs. Reinforces the need for brands to use this time to revisit price pack architecture strategy. If we keep driving our #retailmedia and #SEO traffic to small sizes, we inevitably get diminishing returns and it's a lot harder to compete with #privatelabel. Finding the sweet spot between volume and average selling price makes the ROI of media look a lot better. https://lnkd.in/efT7_TRy

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The economic climate is forcing leaders to rethink how they show up, not just in spending, but in building trust where it matters most. The Harris Poll with Madison Logic conducted a new survey of 300+ B2B marketing leaders reveals some fascinating shifts happening right now. Nearly every respondent (96%) says their marketing strategy is changing due to economic headwinds, but the specific changes tell a more interesting story. Here's what's actually driving results: 1 - Events are making a comeback. Despite years of "digital-first" thinking, 61% of marketers are creating and attending more events. There's something irreplaceable about face-to-face connection when budgets get tight and every interaction needs to count. 2 - AI adoption is accelerating, but strategically. More than half (57%) are investing in AI tools for lead generation and content creation. The standout insight: 76% see more value in AI for B2B versus B2C marketing, suggesting the technology fits complex buying processes better than consumer impulse purchases. 3 - Thought leadership is becoming democratized. A striking 90% of companies now encourage all team members—not just executives—to build personal brands through LinkedIn posts and conference participation. The message is clear: expertise at every level creates trust at every touchpoint. 4 - Generational shifts are reshaping everything. Nearly all respondents (93%) acknowledge that Millennial and Gen Z marketers are fundamentally changing the B2B landscape. These digital natives bring comfort with new technologies and global perspectives. The main take-away: When economic pressure hits, successful B2B marketers don't just cut costs. They double down on relationship-building and technology that creates genuine competitive advantages. The companies thriving in this environment understand that economic uncertainty doesn't pause buying decisions. It just makes buyers more selective about who they trust. Worth a read if you’re navigating strategy shifts in today’s uncertain economy. What changes are you seeing in your B2B marketing approach this year? Read more about the study: https://lnkd.in/ev5QQpG2

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Kroger is now three layers away from their own customer. This week, Instacart launched full checkout inside ChatGPT. Not a link out. Not "shop on Instacart." You ask for apple pie ingredients. You check out. You never leave the chat. This creates a new hierarchy: Customer ↓ ChatGPT (owns the conversation) ↓ Instacart (owns the fulfillment) ↓ Kroger (owns... what, exactly?) Each layer is trying to make the one below it invisible. Instacart celebrates getting inside ChatGPT. OpenAI is already planning to make them the pipes. Here's the grocery landscape right now: Kroger, Sprouts → Using Instacart's AI. Two layers removed. Target, DoorDash → ChatGPT integrations. One layer removed. Walmart → Hedging. Sparky internally, ChatGPT externally. Amazon blocked ChatGPT entirely. They know this game. They invented it. For 20 years, Amazon turned distribution into a trap. Sellers thought they were winning reach. Amazon made them interchangeable. Faceless options in a grid. Now the same playbook is coming for grocery. Except there are more layers. And the grocers are becoming SKUs in someone else's catalog. The question every retailer should be asking: How many layers sit between you and your customer? And what happens when that layer decides you're replaceable?

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Albertsons is leaning into influencer-led retail media, and they picked a pretty great partner to do it with if you ask me 😜 Here's the skinny... 🤝 Linqia and Albertsons Media Collective teamed up to build a custom creator solution 📲 This allows Albertsons and all of their brand partners to develop retail-specific content that integrates directly into AMC's retail media ecosystems 📈 We are already seeing pretty incredible results, with a recent campaign delivering engagement rates more than four times higher on Facebook and triple on Instagram I don't think anyone is surprised to hear that creator content showing faces and telling stories outperforms typical product focused retail media content And now every brand has a dedicated offering to unleash just that as part of their retail media buys. Here's exactly how it works... 👉 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫-𝐋𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭: Linqia taps an extensive network of creators, tailored by retailer and category such as food and beverage or household essentials, to create retail-specific content 👉 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Through the partnership with AMC, Linqia runs that creator content natively within Albertsons ad ecosystems 👉 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝-𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐩 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: AMC provides attribution and sales lift data, giving brands a clear picture of ROI Retail media and influencer marketing are possibly the two hottest areas of marketing, and now they are coming together #influencermarketing #socialmedia #creatoreconomy #retailmedia

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Breaking: Instacart might be charging you *higher prices* than your neighbor – for the same products from the same stores. A new Consumer Reports, Groundwork Collaborative, and More Perfect Union investigation reveals that Instacart is running AI-enabled price experiments that could be driving up customers’ grocery bills. After analyzing live shopping data from over 400 Instacart shoppers across the U.S., our findings show that: - Some customers are charged up to 23% more for the same item from the same store at the same time; - Basket totals fluctuated by about 7% on average; - This could potentially cost a household of four about $1,200 extra per year. As Americans say that the price of groceries is a major cost concern, Instacart shouldn’t be running experiments that only makes this worse. https://lnkd.in/eECBzVBb

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Two common scenarios: 1) You're a CPG. You have 50+ RMNs chasing you for commitments. Or 2) You're an RMN, competing with 50+ others, many of whom are much larger than you. How do you allocate as a brand? How do you compete as a mid-size retailer? Angela Myers gives fantastic advice. https://lnkd.in/gCjggFd4

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If you’re feeling like retail media is getting more expensive and less differentiated, you’re not wrong. Not sure if you saw Mike Black's recent post from Profitero+ but they found in their data that more retail media spend literally does not equal more category share, especially for brands at the top. (link to post in comments) When everyone can “pay to play,” the edge comes from how well you integrate organic demand (SEO+GEO) and media. In July, we looked at a group of campaigns where brands combined creator-driven demand from ProductWind with retail media. Here’s what happened: +41K incremental product page views +60% conversion rate lift +7,000 incremental units sold +150 incremental reviews +45% improvement in paid media efficiency 320% total campaign ROI The takeaway is that organic demand + retail media work better together than either does alone.

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More good news about CourtAvenue's acquisition of BotsCrew, a leading AI firm from Ukraine, strengthening our ability to deliver next-gen AI-powered solutions for global brands. 🤖 Why does this matter? AI is rapidly transforming how brands engage, operate, and scale. With BotsCrew’s world-class conversational AI and automation expertise, we’re unlocking new ways for our clients to drive efficiency, customer engagement, and business growth—at scale. Some examples: 🔹 Retail & CPG – AI-powered shopping assistants that provide instant product recommendations, automate customer support, and boost conversion rates in eCommerce. 🔹 Healthcare & Pharma – Conversational AI that enhances patient support, automates compliance-driven communication, and simplifies provider interactions. 🔹 Automotive – AI-driven customer journeys that streamline test drives, service scheduling, and post-sale engagement. 🔹 Financial Services – Intelligent virtual agents that provide real-time financial guidance, fraud prevention alerts, and seamless customer service. 🔹 Government & Public Sector – AI solutions that enable secure, automated citizen services and improve digital accessibility. 🌎 A Global Impact This isn’t just about growth—it’s about merging the best in AI, strategy, and customer experience to drive real impact for businesses worldwide. By combining CourtAvenue’s expertise in experience transformation with BotsCrew’s AI-driven automation, we’re creating the future of how brands engage. 📢 What’s next? We’re already integrating AI solutions into our clients’ ecosystems, driving measurable results in personalization, efficiency, and automation. Curious how AI can future-proof your business? Let’s talk. 🔗 Read the full story in the Cincinnati Business Courier here (behind paywall): https://lnkd.in/gf8VSyP2 Thanks Lonny Schwartz for the connection. Thanks Kenny Tomlin for driving, and welcome Nazar Hembara Max Gladysh Oleh Pylypchak and the entire Botscrew team! Thanks to Liz Engel and the Cincinnati Business Courier for their continuing coverage of us. #AI #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #CourtAvenue #BotsCrew #ConversationalAI #Marketing #CustomerExperience #Automation #BusinessGrowth #Acquisition Dan Khabie Julie Koepsell Bourke Kelley Rosie McGuire Jeannine Wheeler, CPA, CGMA Jana Roszkowski David Dettmer Clayton Massey Anders Hopkins Brett Koetsier Kayla Brodman Scott Hamm Alyssa Chico Ravine Caleb "Barbara" Hudson Tenley Marsteller Jenny Johnson Elijah Schneider Nico Coetzee Michael Maginnis Matthew Morey Lindsey Harris Jaime Kalb Antonio García Amy Pyles Kelli Owens Andrew Solmssen Marc Blaskey

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What opportunities does independent retail media have compared to Big Tech? 1. Measurability "We'll see money moving: If I can spend my Meta money through a retailer and get the ability to see transaction or SKU-level transactions off the back of that spend" Zitcha 2. Co-opetition e.g. use social for reach extension/ use Amazon's RMN capabilities "Retailers, big tech, holdcos, media owners and much of the digital ad supply chain are plotting defensive and offensive plays as the money moves faster" MiQ 3. Empower differentiation, Fast-track innovation, Bridge the gap between online and offline. Democratize retail media. Kevel 4. Integration will become the north star for advertisers as retail media goes mainstream in the brand strategy SMG Follow this fascinating interplay in the Trillion Dollar Ads Podcast with Prashant Kala #adtech #retailmedia #spectraglobal #trilliondollarads

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Josh Brown reveals that local retail advertisers are turning away from social media because it has "become crowded, chaotic," packed with so many ads that consumers don't notice and pay attention. New research from Adelaide, the attentiveness measurement firm, finds that $1,000 of AM/FM Radio ads requires $2,635 worth of Facebook ads to achieve the same level of attention. Adelaide also found that audio platforms generate nearly the same attentiveness as TV.

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I have been seeing many LinkedIn/X gurus encouraging DTC operators to just "raise their prices" to counteract tariffs. Here's why that could be a critical mistake ⬇️ 1️⃣ The Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (MCSI), a leading indicator of future consumer spending, is down 11% from March with a prelim reading of 50.8. Possibly the second-lowest reading on record since 1952. 2️⃣ The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI), a lagging indicator that reflects the job market/security, is at its lowest point in 12 years. The relationship between sentiment and spending is nuanced, but one thing is for certain... Implementing sweeping price hikes will push consumer spending downward. 📉 Instead of passing increased costs to already price-sensitive consumers, here's what you can do instead: 1️⃣ Re-evaluate your discount strategy 💰 Instead of offering 20% sitewide discounts that eat into your margins, try scaling back to 10%. Monitor conversion rates closely, and if they begin to drop, focus on adding value beyond discounts. 2️⃣ Or, eliminate your discounts altogether with Vestee ‼️ Vestee enables advertisers to offer your shoppers cash back while they shop with you. This creates a win-win where advertisers effectively subsidize discounts on your behalf, preserving your margins. ‼️ 3️⃣ Implement transparent tariff surchages 💲 Don't just hide increased costs in your base pricing... consider adding a separate tariff surcharge. Communicate this additional charge early in the shopping journey, and your consumers will appreciate the transparency, and you'll build trust. It's true what they say that challenging times create stronger businesses. The DTC brands that thrive during uncertainty will be those that view it as an opportunity to experiment with different strategies. -------- 🙋‍♀️ I'm Julie – founder at Vestee, where we offer a different approach to profitability, acquisition and brand partnerships. If you're weighing pricing and discounting options, let's chat about how Vestee fits into your strategy.

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