Shopper/Retail
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Tech & AI
Walmart launches generative AI shopping chatbot
Walmart debuted an app-only generative artificial intelligence chatbot, named Sparky, that can summarize reviews, offer product recommendations based on shopper requests and create product comparisons. Walmart displays the “Ask Sparky” feature as a main button on the bottom navigation bar of its app. Sparky can answer non-product-specific questions as well, such as the weather, sporting […]
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Michaels snaps up Joann’s intellectual property, brands
Shoppers looking for fabric and yarn migrate to Michaels. The craft retail chain is deepening its assortment in these product categories. The Michaels Companies Inc. announced that it acquired the intellectual property and private label brands of its bankrupt competitor Joann. Michaels did not respond to a request for comment on how much it paid for […]
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Trendwatch
Q&A with Bombay Sapphire brand director: Let’s make gin relevant
Bombay Sapphire’s brand director Jamie Keller details the campaigns and sponsorships the brand is using to ignite sales on the under-consumed spirit. Bombay Sapphire’s brand director Jamie Keller is working to “break the taste barrier” for gin in the U.S. Although growing in market share, gin only captures 3% of the spirit market in the […]
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Tech & AI
Sonos invests in agentic AI
Speaker brand Sonos is eager to have agentic AI surface operational efficiencies and handle B2B customer requests. Speaker brand Sonos likes the sound of agentic AI so much that it is piloting an agent for its business-to-business customer portal. The B2B ordering platform, which caters to Sonos’ custom integrators and distributors was in desperate need […]
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Trendwatch
Forbes’ most influential CMO Bozoma Saint John shares her top marketing tips
Former Netflix CMO Bozoma Saint John discusses how marketers need to understand culture and infuse their authentic selves into their work. Bozoma Saint John is unapologetically herself. No matter if that’s in the C-suite or the cast of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Saint John’s executive tenure includes chief marketing officer at Netflix, chief […]
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Schmidt Brothers invests in content marketing with live cooking show for customers
Cutlery brand Schmidt Brothers knows that with a lifetime warranty for its knives, driving repeat purchases can be a challenge. So the Schmidt Brothers focuses on loyalty initiatives that engender positive brand affinity and keep its brand top-of-mind. Its most recent effort is a live, online cooking show called The Cutting Edge. In celebration […]
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Most Read
Q&A with Brooks Running CMO on its first lifestyle shoe
Editor’s Note: Brooks is known for its running shoes. And the brand hasn’t deviated from performance footwear and apparel since its launch more than 50 years ago — until now. Melanie Allen, chief marketing officer sat down with Multichannel Marketer’s sister Chief Marketer to talk about why the time was right to launch a lifestyle shoe […]
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Trendwatch
‘Era of less’ continues for CMOs
Retail chief marketing officers report a marketing budget that is 7.1% of a company’s revenue, a decrease from last year and lower than the average across industries. Gartner’s annual CMO Spend Survey finds that marketers are continuing to operate with a reduced budget post-pandemic, with a mean budget of 7.7% of a company’s revenue in 2025. […]
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Tech & AI
Google’s new AI Mode will disrupt retailers’ web traffic
Nearly 44% of a retailer’s web traffic that ends in conversion comes from paid or organic search. Google’s new AI Mode will change that. Google is rolling out AI Mode, a chatbot-style interface within search, the behemoth announced at its annual developer conference, Google I/O in May. Instead of shoppers typing in a few keywords […]
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Trendwatch
Cosmetic brand E.l.f. raises its prices $1 due to tariffs
E.l.f. takes a casual tone to its Instagram announcement of its tariff-driven price increases, which start Aug. 1. Cosmetic brand E.l.f. announced on its Instagram channel that it is raising its prices by $1 on all of its products starting Aug. 1 due to tariffs. The brand made the announcement using a casual […]