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Are Retail Media Budgets Doomed? How Brands Should Rethink Retail Media Strategies in the Face of Tariffs and Economic Uncertainty
Shaun Brown Shaun Brown

Are Retail Media Budgets Doomed? How Brands Should Rethink Retail Media Strategies in the Face of Tariffs and Economic Uncertainty

As the landscape of commerce media evolves rapidly, brands are now confronting a new wave of uncertainty: increasing tariffs, rising costs, and a macroeconomic environment full of question marks. For those selling across Amazon, Walmart, Instacart, and other top retailer marketplaces, the pressure is mounting to justify every dollar spent, all while continuing to drive growth in an increasingly competitive digital shelf.

In times like these, it's not just about spending smarter — it’s about planning with resilience, adaptability, and precision. Retail media and commerce media continue to be non-negotiable levers for visibility and sales velocity, but the way brands activate and allocate budgets must shift with the climate.

Let’s explore the strategic mindset brands should adopt right now, including five mission-critical priorities, and what lessons we can pull from past periods of disruption—like the COVID-19 pandemic—where brands managed to survive and even thrive through savvy retail media strategy.

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Unlocking the Power of Walmart Connect: A Guide to Media Types and Best Practices
Shaun Brown Shaun Brown

Unlocking the Power of Walmart Connect: A Guide to Media Types and Best Practices

Walmart Connect has rapidly evolved into one of the most influential retail media networks, offering brands unparalleled opportunities to reach and engage shoppers at every stage of the purchase journey. With a vast in-store and digital footprint, Walmart Connect provides an array of advertising solutions designed to drive brand awareness, conversions, and customer loyalty. In this guide, we’ll explore all of Walmart Connect’s media types and best practices for activation to maximize success.

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The Top Retail Media Networks Capabilities, Differences, and Best Practices
Shaun Brown Shaun Brown

The Top Retail Media Networks Capabilities, Differences, and Best Practices

Retail media has rapidly grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry, with retail media networsk (RMNs) now commanding a dominant share of digital ad spend. In 2023, U.S. retail media spending reached $45 billion and is projected to exceed $60 billion by 2025, solidifying its role as a key channel for brands looking to reach high-intent shoppers at the point of purchase. In this blog post, we will highlight the top 18 retail media networks, their capabilities, key differences, and best practices for brands looking to optimize their investments.

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Unlocking Retail Media Insights:  Understanding Amazon's AMC, Walmart's Scintilla, and Kroger's 84.51
Shaun Brown Shaun Brown

Unlocking Retail Media Insights: Understanding Amazon's AMC, Walmart's Scintilla, and Kroger's 84.51

Retail media has evolved beyond traditional advertising, and data is at the heart of this transformation. Brands now have access to highly sophisticated data platforms that provide actionable insights, enabling them to optimize advertising and drive sales more effectively. Three major players leading this charge are Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC), Walmart’s Scintilla, and Kroger’s 84.51. Each of these platforms offers unique strengths and capabilities that brands must understand to maximize their impact.

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Amazon’s Rufus: The AI Shopping Assistant Transforming Retail Media
Shaun Brown Shaun Brown

Amazon’s Rufus: The AI Shopping Assistant Transforming Retail Media

Amazon has long been at the forefront of eCommerce innovation, and its latest AI-powered shopping assistant, Rufus, is set to reshape the way consumers discover and purchase products on the platform. This new tool integrates generative AI with Amazon’s vast product catalog, offering shoppers a conversational search experience that enhances product discovery and decision-making.

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Part 4: Unlocking the Power of Retail Media - Guide to Dayparting Strategies
Shaun Brown Shaun Brown

Part 4: Unlocking the Power of Retail Media - Guide to Dayparting Strategies

Retail media has become an essential part of the eCommerce landscape, offering brands an unprecedented opportunity to connect with shoppers directly within the buying journey. With retail media spending projected to grow to $61 billion in the U.S. by 2024, competition for consumer attention has never been fiercer. To maximize ROI, brands must employ more sophisticated advertising tactics—and one of the most effective yet underutilized strategies is dayparting.

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Part 1:  Maximizing ROI with Sponsored Brands Destinations: A Strategic Guide
Shaun Brown Shaun Brown

Part 1: Maximizing ROI with Sponsored Brands Destinations: A Strategic Guide

Sponsored Brands campaigns are a cornerstone of retail media, offering unparalleled opportunities to elevate brand awareness, drive traffic, and boost sales. However, the effectiveness of these campaigns largely depends on selecting the right destination for your ads. With options ranging from brand stores to product detail pages and custom landing pages, it’s crucial to align your destination choice with your campaign goals.

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Walmart eCommerce and Retail Media Performance: 2024 Recap
Shaun Brown Shaun Brown

Walmart eCommerce and Retail Media Performance: 2024 Recap

Walmart’s digital transformation continues to reshape the retail landscape, with significant advancements in eCommerce and retail media throughout 2024. As the retail giant strengthens its position against competitors like Amazon and Target, understanding key performance metrics in search visibility, sales share, and retail media investments provides valuable insights for brands looking to maximize their impact on Walmart’s platform.

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Leveraging Influencers and Affiliates for Brands Selling on Marketplaces Like Amazon and Walmart
Shaun Brown Shaun Brown

Leveraging Influencers and Affiliates for Brands Selling on Marketplaces Like Amazon and Walmart

In today’s competitive eCommerce landscape, brands selling on marketplaces like Amazon and Walmart must find innovative ways to stand out. One of the most effective strategies is leveraging influencers and affiliate marketing to drive brand awareness, increase sales, and improve customer trust. According to a study by Influencer Marketing Hub, the influencer marketing industry is expected to be worth $21.1 billion in 2023, demonstrating its growing impact on consumer purchasing decisions.

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Mastering Annual Vendor Negotiations with Amazon for Mutual Success
Shaun Brown Shaun Brown

Mastering Annual Vendor Negotiations with Amazon for Mutual Success

Annual vendor negotiations with Amazon can be a pivotal moment for brands. These discussions set the tone for your partnership with one of the world’s largest online retailers, impacting everything from margins and operational costs to marketing support. Navigating this process requires preparation, strategy, and a clear understanding of Amazon’s priorities and practices.

In this blog post, we’ll explore essential do’s and don’ts, provide actionable recommendations, and share best practices to help your brand succeed in its vendor negotiations with Amazon.

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Top 5 Predictions and Forecasts for Retail Media in 2025
Shaun Brown Shaun Brown

Top 5 Predictions and Forecasts for Retail Media in 2025

Retail media continues to evolve at a breathtaking pace, reshaping how brands connect with consumers and how retailers monetize their platforms. As we look ahead to 2025, several key trends and innovations are poised to define the retail media landscape. Here are the top five predictions for retail media in the coming year.

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How Generative AI is Revolutionizing Retail Marketplaces and Media Networks
BirdDog Agency BirdDog Agency

How Generative AI is Revolutionizing Retail Marketplaces and Media Networks

Generative AI is reshaping the retail landscape, from online marketplaces to media networks, creating new opportunities for personalization, content creation, and customer engagement. As retail increasingly shifts to digital, the potential of generative AI to drive efficiency and enhance customer experience is significant.

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Amazon Accelerate 2024: Key Highlights & Recommendations for Sellers
BirdDog Agency BirdDog Agency

Amazon Accelerate 2024: Key Highlights & Recommendations for Sellers

The Amazon Accelerate 2024 event in Seattle left no stone unturned, delivering announcements and innovations aimed at optimizing seller tools, improving customer shopping experiences, refining supply chain operations, data transparency, seamless shopping experiences, and AI integration. For Amazon sellers, this presents a wealth of opportunities to enhance their business operations and scale their reach.

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