Welcome to the December edition of The Brave Bulletin

Welcome to the December edition of the Brave Bulletin, your quick-read monthly roundup of the latest and greatest news, views and insights from across the Brave Bison Herd.?

Herd the News? We’re excited to announce the acquisition of global sports marketing powerhouse Engage Digital Partners, in a merger set to position us as the UK’s largest independent sports marketing agency.

Hot off the Press: From bold 2025 predictions to expert takes on the future of AI in marketing, search innovation, and B2B strategies, discover our herd's take on the trends set to shape marketing in 2025 and beyond.

...all of this and more awaits you in our final newsletter of the year. Curious??Dive in below.

Brave Bison buys Engage Digital Partners to create the UK’s largest independent sports marketing agency ????

We're thrilled to announce the acquisition of global sports marketing business Engage Digital Partners in a deal set to create a sports and entertainment division for Brave Bison that is unrivalled in scale and capability; working with the biggest federations across football, cricket, rugby, motorsports, tennis, golf and e-sports.

With offices in London, Australia, India and Dubai, and over 130 staff worldwide, Engage’s clients benefit from 24/7 ‘follow the sun’ delivery and a global strategic perspective—benefits that will be passed on to Brave Bison and SocialChain’s rapidly expanding global client roster.

Read more here.

Brave Bison Commerce Takes Centre Stage at SAP CX Live ??

Last month, AI might have dominated the broader conversation, but composable commerce stole the show at SAP CX Live in Amsterdam.

Our commerce team, Ben Field-Johnson and Carole Breetzke, joined forces with Patrick Friday from Alokai to share the spotlight. Together, they delivered an inspiring session featuring our work with Winparts, showcasing how tailored composable strategies can deeply connect with customers and drive meaningful results.

The takeaway? Composable commerce isn’t just a trend—it’s shaping the future of customer experience.

Stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of composable commerce with What's new in composable—your go-to guide for trends, insights, and expert learnings.?Dive in?and explore the future of retail!

??? Want to understand what the future holds for AI-powered brands? Vote for our session at SXSW London ??

What if brands didn’t just market but became the marketing? Matt Garbutt, our director of AI and creative is on the long list to speak at SXSW London about?Brand World Models—a new era of marketing where AI-powered brand expression takes centre stage.

Our talk,?“Brands That Think, Act, and Express Themselves: Enter Brand World Models”, will explore how brands can self-articulate through AI, leveraging untapped data to create tailored, brand-safe content that speaks directly to their audiences.???

The near future is a place where AI doesn’t just assist marketing—it becomes marketing. Are you ready to embrace it?

Vote now:?

?? Click here

???Register your email

?? Vote for our talk (thank you!)

Feel-Good Festivities: 12 Days of Wellness with SocialChain and Holland & Barrett ???

We’re bringing a little calm to the chaotic holiday period on Instagram and TikTok for our client Holland & Barrett. Whether it’s Christmas shopping, family get-togethers or a big night out, our busy schedules mean it’s easy to overlook wellness and immunity. ??

So we ideated and produced a social-first content series packed with accessible health advice tailored to the season. Our go-to guide includes easy ways to stay active in cold weather, healthy festive treat recipes, all the Holland & Barrett products you need for a good night’s sleep, and more. Check it out. ??

In our latest Under The Lid, Rajeev Aravindakshan Nair from Lifesight and Fahmi Mohammed explore how causal insights are transforming marketing strategies. Learn how to make data-driven decisions, optimise budgets, and scale campaigns with precision here.

Search is evolving! Brave Bison Performance's Mark Byrne reveals how fragmented search is reshaping retail, with 60% of UK shoppers now starting on Amazon and platforms like Reddit gaining traction. Discover his top tips for staying ahead in this shifting landscape here.

B2B marketing is the new black! Brave Bison's Brenda Imeson shares with The Drum how agencies can stand out in an ultra-competitive space. From AI-driven personalisation to tailored strategies, dive into her tips for turning prospects into customers here.

2025 trend alert: performance planning is getting a major upgrade! Brave Bison's Andy Platt shares how AI is redefining full-funnel marketing, unlocking high-potential audience segments to drive future growth. Watch Andy's full prediction here.

Is Google’s grip on search slipping? Brave Bison's Chris Alderman explores how OpenAI's SearchGPT could reshape the search landscape. Is this the dawn of a new era, or will Google stay on top? Find out here.?

Get ready to be inspired and entertained! SURREAL’s senior creative John Thornton shares what brands should focus on in 2025, why flexibility beats rigid planning, and the secret behind Surreal’s success. Dive into the full interview here.

B2B and B2C—closer than you think! Brave Bison’s Andrew Platt and Brenda Imeson break down six key shifts reshaping the marketing playbook. From personalised strategies to content-driven approaches, discover how brands can thrive in a hybrid world here.

An award win is more than a trophy – it’s a chance to spotlight great work and the doors it opens. Brave Bison’s Ro Bocking shared with The Drum how awards spark new conversations, showcase talent, and attract future stars. Discover here why winning means more than celebration.

Australia’s social media ban for under-16s sparks debate. Brave Bison’s Beth Blance tells MediaCat Magazine why the ban might push young users toward less regulated platforms, increasing the risks it aims to reduce. Read her full take here.

eCommerce retailers are taking back control in 2025. Brave Bison’s Carole Breetzke shares insights in Alokai’s Composable Commerce 2025 Trends Report. With plug-and-play tech making platform switching seamless, retailers can ditch cookie-cutter deals and demand better here.

Boomers and Gen X hold the lion's share of wealth, yet many brands remain fixated on millennials and Gen Z. SocialChain’s Kieran Hughes explains why overlooking older generations could cost billions—and shares how to connect with them on social.

Search fragmentation = your next retail opportunity ??

Adapting to search fragmentation is key for retailers to thrive in 2025. With shoppers researching across Amazon, Google, and platforms like Reddit, brands must stay agile to capture attention.

Automation, optimised product feeds, and multi-platform testing can help retailers navigate this dynamic landscape. Mark Byrne, director of paid media at Brave Bison Performance, shares actionable insights to keep your strategies ahead of the curve.

Ditch the legacy and embrace composable commerce for future-ready growth ???

Traditional IT setups often prioritise backend systems over customer experience, leaving enterprise retailers struggling to adapt.

Composable commerce changes the game by enabling seamless integration of tools, streamlining operations, and driving innovation.

Our latest whitepaper dives into how shifting from rigid legacy systems to flexible architectures empowers growth without the hassle of re-platforming.

Duolingo: How Social Creates Word of Mouth Buzz | Rebeca Ricoy ??

When Duolingo's owl mascot, Duo, first graced TikTok, its unhinged comedy and hilarious community engagement captured everyone's attention. Now, as the brand evolves, we chat with Rebeca Ricoy, Regional Marketing Director for Europe & LATAM, about Duo's future, balancing local and global social strategies, and how social fits into a larger marketing plan. Listen now.

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