The CPG View

You've been recognized as a leader in Digital, with accolades like being part of The Lead Top 60 in Digital U.S. and receiving nominations from DRUM & Glossy. How do you believe your experiences and expertise have contributed to shaping the digital landscape within the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry, and what trends do you foresee shaping the future of digital strategies for CPG brands? Your career has seen a shift from data for insight to data for growth, driving enterprise-wide impact. Can you share a specific example of how leveraging consumer data strategically led to a significant business growth or transformation, and what key lessons did you extract from that experience? With your expertise spanning various digital realms, including DTC, Marketplace, and Social Selling initiatives, how do you stay ahead of emerging trends and technologies in these areas?  Can you provide insights into how your forward-thinking approach has contributed to staying competitive and innovative within the ever-evolving digital landscape? With your extensive expertise across DTC, Marketplace, Omnichannel, and Social Selling initiatives, how do you navigate the unique challenges and opportunities presented by each channel within the CPG space? Can you share insights into developing a cohesive strategy that leverages the strengths of these different channels to maximize overall brand impact?

Innovation in eCommerce and Digital Marketing: In your experience, what have been the most significant changes in the landscape of eCommerce and digital marketing in recent years, and how have you adapted these changes at Rocketbook to maintain a competitive edge?        Leadership in Organizational Change: You’ve emphasized the importance of people leadership and organizational effectiveness in your career. Could you share an instance where your leadership significantly impacted organizational change, particularly in embracing digital transformation?     Strategy Behind Rocketbook’s Success: As the General Manager at Rocketbook, you’ve been responsible for growing a new category with smart reusable notebook innovation. Can you elaborate on the strategies you implemented to make Rocketbook a global household brand, particularly in merging the physical and digital writing experience? Future Trends and Predictions: Looking forward, what emerging trends do you foresee in eCommerce and digital marketing, and how is Rocketbook preparing to adapt to these future changes? Additionally, how do you envision the role of women leaders evolving in this space?

Jeffrey Bustos from IAB and Vin Lay from Albertsons Media Collective discuss data revolutionizing CPG companies' approach to retail media. They delve into data-driven strategies, measurement transparency for Albertsons Media Collective, challenges in getting other Retail Media Networks to adopt standards, and emerging trends in CPG advertising like data clean rooms and blockchain technology.

With the rebranding to Shipt Media™ and the introduction of new media assets and analytics, what are the key changes brands like Kraft Heinz, Unilever, and Target can expect? How will these changes enhance their advertising and customer engagement strategies? What are you hearing from brands when you engage with them on the platform? What are some of the key things they’re looking for when considering how to invest their dollars?   Shipt Media has doubled its ad products in the market over the past year. Could you elaborate on some of these new ad products and how they are tailored to meet the evolving needs of your partners? The partnership with Criteo is highlighted as a significant step towards standardized analytics. Can you discuss how this collaboration has expanded campaign performance insights for your brand partners and what this means for the future of retail media analytics? Shipt boasts a uniquely loyal audience that spends significantly more annually compared to the average omnichannel shopper. What strategies have been most effective in building this loyalty, and how does Shipt Media plan to leverage this to provide value for both customers and brands?

CPG Transformation through Shopper Insights: In your current role as Global Director of Shopper & Channel Insights at Coca-Cola, you're at the intersection of consumer behavior and retail strategy. Could you share an example where your insights have led to a game-changing strategy in the CPG industry? Brand Localization in CPG: You've had the unique opportunity to manage both global and local brands across different continents. How do you adapt global CPG brands like Fanta, Sprite, and Schweppes to local markets, and what challenges have you encountered? Innovation in CPG: With your certifications as an Innovation Ignitor Black Belt and a Well-Being Champion, how do you bring innovative thinking into the CPG space? Can you share an instance where this led to a breakthrough in product development or marketing? AI applications in CPG: would love to touch base here on how we should be looking at AI application in the insights field and the importance of using the right language/setting the right expectations from design to implementation

    Digital Transition & Target Partnership:  Your recent venture with Flywheel Digital on Target.com seems to be a pioneering effort in offering a comprehensive suite of full-service digital offerings. Can you share the journey behind this initiative and how it’s set to redefine the digital marketplace for brands?           SOV Measurement & Optimization:      In the context of Share of Voice (SOV) Measurement and Search Optimization mentioned in your post, could you explain how these elements intertwine to boost a brand’s performance on digital retail platforms like Target.com? Walmart’s Omni 5.0 Specifications:      You highlighted Walmart’s new Omni 5.0 specifications and its impact on content quality scores. Could you shed some light on the key changes under these specifications, and how brands can adeptly navigate them to maintain a competitive edge? Retail Enablement Strategy: With your mention of Corey Hammond, VP of Retail Enablement, it seems there’s a substantial emphasis on retail enablement strategies. Can you elaborate on the principles of retail enablement and how it’s evolving in the digital landscape, especially in the context of Flywheel Digital’s approach?

CEO David Pollet discusses the growing importance of retail media for CPG companies. He highlights key metrics for success and how their platform helps make data-driven decisions. The podcast also covers predictive analytics, a 'Test and Learn' approach, and the ability to plan different investment scenarios at channel and campaign levels.

With your extensive experience in the eCommerce space across various CPG companies, can you discuss the main challenges and opportunities in the sector as it continues to evolve and grow? As a leader in the CPG industry, you have witnessed the rise of direct-to-consumer (D2C) business models. Can you share your thoughts on the impact of D2C on traditional retail channels, and how CPG brands can adapt to this shift? You have experience in developing eCommerce capabilities and strategies for different organizations. What are the key factors to consider when implementing a successful eCommerce strategy, and how do these factors vary across different CPG sectors? As the global eCommerce landscape continues to evolve, what emerging technologies or trends do you believe will have the most significant impact on the CPG industry, and how can companies leverage these advancements to stay competitive?

Can you elaborate on how the pandemic pushed marketplace control issues to the backburner for many brands? What were the primary challenges faced by these companies, and how did this affect their operations and sales strategy? Some brands have been reluctant to cut off any distribution even if the distributors might be reselling their products on the marketplace due to post-pandemic sales slumps. Can you speak to the risks and rewards of this strategy, and what you believe a healthier approach might be? One of the reasons that brands struggle with implementing marketplace control solutions is the difficulty of measuring the negative impact of practices like price matching and loss of brand control. Could you share some insights or potential methods to quantify these impacts and convince internal skeptics? How do marketplace control measures affect internal sales teams, particularly when it comes to their compensation and future opportunities? How can brands mitigate these negative impacts while still maintaining control over their marketplace distribution?      

Retail Media Ecosystem -- "Given your expertise in the CPG sector, how do you see the role of retail media evolving? Can you share an example where leveraging retail media has significantly impacted your brand's performance?"   Data Utilization in Retail Media -- "Retail media offers a wealth of data for advertisers. How have you successfully integrated this data into your marketing strategies to drive ROI, and what challenges have you encountered?"   Investment Strategies in Retail Media -- "With Retail Media being an approx. $50 billion category and 63% of retailers expecting increased brand investments, how are you adjusting your investments in this space? How are you working with brands to enable/guide them….as 44% who have created an entirely new marketing budget for it?"   Budget Allocation Trends -- "The data shows various ways brands are shifting their budgets towards retail media. Which of these resonates most with your strategy? Are you among the 42% who have shifted from non-retail media specific digital marketing budgets, or perhaps among the 23% who are not investing in new retailer media networks?"   Consumer Behavior -- "The pandemic has led to significant shifts in consumer behavior. How have these changes influenced your product development and marketing strategies, particularly in the digital space?"   Leadership in CPG -- "Leading in the CPG industry comes with its unique set of challenges and opportunities. Could you share a pivotal leadership moment in your career that had a lasting impact on your approach to business?"   Nerdy retail media information can be found here….