AI shopping experience, Associate experience, and Building Private Label - Weekly Snacks #88

Campaign corner

Rebel beverage. The "Liquid Death x Rebel Moon: Mandatory Beverage of the Motherworld Commercial" was a joint promotion for Liquid Death and Rebel Moon, directed by Eli Snyder, known for his work on A Child of Fire and The Scargiver. Filming took place on the Rebel Moon Veldt set, incorporating footage from A Child of Fire. Additionally, Liquid Death collaborated with Netflix to promote Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead through their short film "No Brainer.

Cookie-Stacking Technique. Kris Jenner is featured in her debut Super Bowl ad for Oreo in 2024. PEOPLE offers an exclusive sneak peek at the 15-second teaser, showing the 68-year-old Kardashian-Jenner family head skillfully placing Oreos in a jar, mimicking daughter Khloé Kardashian's renowned cookie-stacking method. The ad, a nod to 2007, celebrates the cookies and moments that have contributed to the family's 17-year fame.

Time for retail tech

AI financial forecasting. A survey by Carl Marks Advisors reveals that over half of retail and consumer packaged goods (CPG) executives plan to invest in AI for marketing (56%) and financial forecasting (52%). Additionally, about a third aim to use AI for customer service (34.4%), user experience (39.2%), and supply chain management (34.4%). To improve customer experience, investments include buy now, pay later programs (37.2%), updated storefronts (36.4%), same-day delivery (35.6%), hiring more staff (34.8%), automated services (29.6%), and self-checkout (27.2%).?

Foodservice Innovation Zone. At the National Retail Federation's annual conference in New York, food and grocery innovation was a major focus. A key highlight was the inaugural Foodservice Innovation Zone , which featured over 50 emerging tech vendors specializing in areas such as grab-and-go foods and autonomous pizza preparation. According to a NRF video, this zone was designed to exhibit advanced foodservice vendors, providing a space for retailers to see and understand how these technologies might be incorporated into their operations.

Expert advice

AI shopping experience. Have you become any more or less confident over the last year that artificial intelligence will elevate the in-store and online shopping experience? Where do you see AI exceeding as well as falling short of expectations as a shopping tool? These are the questions that various retail experts shared their opinions on a Retail Wire discussion . Here’s what Mark Ryski mentioned:?

Associate experience. How do societal and economic changes influence the shift from customer experience to associate experience, and how can these factors be leveraged for long-term success? Retail experts answered this question in one of Retail Wire’s discussions . Here’s what Neil Saunders stated:?

In other news…

Grocery e-commerce sales. In 2023, U.S. grocery e-commerce sales reached $95.8 billion, a slight decrease of 1.2% from the previous year and a 1.8% drop over two years, as reported by Brick Meets Click and Mercatus. This decline in sales was largely due to a reduction in the frequency of online grocery orders, with monthly active users placing fewer orders for the second year in a row. E-commerce's share of total grocery spending was 12.5% in 2023, a marginal decrease of 0.18% from the prior year, measured by the last week of spending each month across various retail formats.

Building private label. Retailers like Macy’s, J.C. Penney, and Kohl’s are focusing on private labels for turnaround, following Target's success with nearly 50 brands generating significant sales. Target's approach to private labels, which contribute about a third of its sales, has been emulated by others, with Macy's hiring key Target personnel for its brand development. However, this strategy is complex, involving risks like supply chain disruptions and changing consumer preferences. For instance, Bed Bath & Beyond's attempt at replicating Target's success with private labels failed, leading to bankruptcy. Private labels require a comprehensive approach, from sourcing to branding, and time to build customer trust and recognition.