??Your Design Court Summons + Retail Media Networks + More!

As Q4 ramps up, we’re back with another round of strategic insights to help keep you ahead of the marketing game. A quick note to our Portland-area friends: Consider this your official summons to Design Court! As part of this year’s Portland Design Month, we’re hosting an event that will give you the chance to act as both judge and jury while recent design trends take the stand. On the docket:

??? The Great Minimalism Debate: Is minimalism the height of sophistication, or has it become lazy design?

??? Logo Simplification: Are streamlined logos enhancing brand identity or erasing character in favor of blandification?

??? The Reign of Vintage Typography: Does the resurgence of vintage typography add warmth and personality, or is it overused and overrated?

Court is in session at Maxwell’s office on October 23 from 6 – 7:45pm PT. Space is limited. Don’t miss this chance to connect with your fellow design enthusiasts! You can secure your spot here. ??

Retail Media Networks: The Updates You Need to Know Now

?If you’re in the CPG space, you’ve likely noticed a surge in retail media networks (RMNs). Major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Costco are offering CPG brands new ad opportunities directly on their platforms. The rise of RMNs means that retailers are now competing with traditional media channels, offering brands unprecedented access to consumer data, advanced targeting, and integrated ad placements. Here’s why it matters for your brand:

?1. First-Party Data is King Retailers have one thing that Google and Facebook don’t: deep, first-party data on shopper behavior. RMNs give CPG brands access to insights on actual purchase patterns, not just intent. This means more accurate targeting and higher conversion rates.

?2. On-Site Ad Placements with a Twist Costco, known for its membership model and fiercely loyal customer base, has quietly become a powerhouse in retail media. With a focus on Costco Next, brands can benefit from highly visible, in-store signage and online ad placements. This is a golden opportunity to get your products in front of Costco’s legions of value-focused shoppers.

3. Closing the Loop on Attribution Retail media networks are also offering improved attribution models, allowing brands to see the direct impact of their digital ads on sales. For CPG brands, this is a game-changer, finally connecting the dots between ad spend and ROI.

4. Ad Opportunities in Grocery Costco isn’t the only player. Grocers like Kroger, Albertsons and Safeway have all expanded their retail media platforms, enabling CPG brands to reach consumers right at the point of purchase. With the rise of online grocery shopping, in-store and digital placements are now more valuable than ever. Kroger Precision Marketing (KPM) is leading the charge in this space, allowing brands to integrate ads across its entire ecosystem, from mobile apps to in-store displays.

Weekend Reads

Good news for advertisers, bad news for Google: TikTok comes for Google’s ad business as it starts letting advertisers target its search results page (Aisha Malik: TechCrunch)

Meta loves to see you yappin’: Instagram Adds Broadcast Channel Replies (Andrew Hutchinson: Social Media Today)

Madeleines. Snickerdoodles. Granola. Bagels. Salsa. Cheese. Tortilla chips. Coffee. Non-Dairy Oat Beverage. Hand cream. Room spritz. Waffles. Is there nothing that can’t be pumpkin spiced? Trader Joe’s Fall Items Are Back! Here’s What to Add to Your Cart This Season (Lauren Blue: The Everygirl)

Speaking of waffles: We’ve Reached Peak Frozen Waffle. Here Are the Best. (Kat Thompson: Eater)

?To quote Andrea Hernández of Snaxshot: “let themmmm cooookkkkk” The Rumors Are True! 7UP Confirms They Are Selling Shirley Temple Soda for a Limited Time (Sabrina Weiss: People)

?“This is exactly what we’re doing with fried chicken and Champagne. You’re basically just using Champagne as a sauce.” Yes we are babe ?? Doing This One Thing Makes Wine Taste Better With Food (Karla Alindahao: Food & Wine)

?“Anything new and cool from a beverage consumption standpoint is largely in a can.” Aluminum Cans Froth Up in Shift for Beverage Industry (Connor Hart: WSJ)

?–Paging Dr. Beat,

The Maxwell Crew

?P.S. Please go here if there’s even the teeniest, tiniest whisper of a question about your registration status. Much appreciated!??