Business Insider: Apple urges developers to hike prices, push app subscriptions

The tech giant wants developers to make high-quality apps that can sustainably charge monthly fees instead of raising one-time download prices or selling ads.

By Robert Williams • Aug. 14, 2018

Nectar Sleep stays refreshed with big data and Trump-Putin 'grumpy brain' ads

As the bed-in-a-box space has become congested, brands are being forced to pull out all the stops to edge out the competition. For Nectar, that translates to a data-heavy strategy.

By Natalie Black (Koltun) • Aug. 14, 2018

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Retail Marketing

Top stories that underscore the leading influences on retail marketing, including Gen Z, pop culture and generative AI.

By Marketing Dive staff

Snapchat opens shoppable AR to top creators

Nicki Minaj last week became the first influencer to post an AR lens with a "buy now" button to promote her new album.

By Robert Williams • Aug. 13, 2018

Kilchoman Distillery to embed NFC in labels following bottle tag test

The distiller saw a 6.5% engagement rate among consumers for the bottle tags and a 22% engagement rate with its branded iOS app.

By Robert Williams • Aug. 13, 2018

L'Oréal brings AR makeup sampling to Facebook

The social platform's camera will let users virtually try on products from NYX, Maybelline, Lancome and Urban Decay.

By Robert Williams • Aug. 10, 2018

Wayfair unleashes mixed-reality shopping

The online furniture retailer takes home design one step further with a new program that moves furniture off the screen and virtually into consumer homes.

By Jacqueline Renfrow • Aug. 9, 2018

Impossible Foods launches first mission campaign with astronaut short film

Executive Creative Director Sasha Markova explains why the plant-based food company is focusing on its planet-saving mission and not product for the push. 

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 9, 2018

YouTube to soon overtake Facebook as second-most visited site, analysis finds

Google, which owns YouTube, remains the most visited website, though its share has declined with the rise of app use and voice search.

By Erica Sweeney • Aug. 9, 2018

Retailers and the blockchain: A brief look at location marketing

Can blockchain, coupled with location-based marketing, bridge into the real world and drive customer engagement? Director of the Location-Based Marketing Association​ Gary Schwartz weighs in.

By Gary Schwartz • Aug. 9, 2018

Pinterest opens its max width ad format to all brands

Adidas tested the format during the World Cup and saw a 12.6% lift in ad awareness.

By Robert Williams • Aug. 9, 2018

Johnson & Johnson drives purchase intent with Dabbl rewards app

Its Neutrogena skincare line saw an 82% jump in purchase intent after a two-week campaign.

By Robert Williams • Aug. 8, 2018

Royal Caribbean uses AI to transform vacation photos into music videos

The SoundSeeker tool transforms photos of cruise ship passengers into original, shareable music videos.

By Robert Williams • Aug. 8, 2018

Subway partners with Tastemade on food innovation initiative

The brand looks to tap into the publisher's creator network in order to create menus that are more modern and relevant to local communities.

By Erica Sweeney • Aug. 8, 2018

Rice Krispies Treats introduces Braille 'love notes,' recordable boxes

Special heart-shaped packaging comes as part of the marketer's partnership with the National Federation of the Blind.  

By Erica Sweeney • Aug. 8, 2018

Digiday: Amazon to consolidate disparate ad businesses into single platform

Combining branding, content, product creation, merchandising and advertising in a centralized hub could make it easier for marketers to see the traffic on their products and where it originates. 

By Erica Sweeney • Aug. 7, 2018

Cars.com plays matchmaker with new AI-powered vehicle search platform

The launch is supported by a campaign riffing on ads for dating websites and includes a partnership with Tinder, which the platform emulates. 

By Erica Sweeney • Aug. 7, 2018

KFC intros Jason Alexander as the 'Family Colonel' in surreal sitcom parody

The former "Seinfeld" star promotes the chain's $20 Fill Up meals in a campaign that starts out cheery and then turns vaguely creepy.

By Erica Sweeney • Aug. 7, 2018

Study: VR, voice assistants aren't must-haves for in-store shoppers

High-tech features in retail stores aren't important to 48% of consumers, Bazaarvoice found.

By Robert Williams • Aug. 6, 2018

Athleta bucks 'girls in sports' stereotypes with back-to-school push

The brand aims to boost girls' confidence and promote sports leadership in its first campaign targeting young teenagers.

By Natalie Black (Koltun) • Aug. 6, 2018

Jell-O teams with DreamworksTV on animated series for YouTube, Amazon Prime Video

"The Jell-O Wobz" encourages self-esteem and imagination while promoting the marketer's line of edible toys. 

By Erica Sweeney • Aug. 3, 2018

Campaign Trail: SunnyD shakes things up; Van Heusen grapples with UFC; funeral ads get banned

A sugary beverage maker looks to win back teen tastes, a fashion label suits up fighters and a funeral price comparison site goes head-to-head with the Transport of London in this week's picks. 

By Peter Adams , Natalie Black (Koltun) , Chris Kelly • Aug. 3, 2018

The North Face debuts mile-high pop-up showroom in Italian Alps

The experience, which is only reachable by foot, launches the brand's Pinnacle Project and showcases jackets and backpacks worn by its athlete ambassadors.

By Erica Sweeney • Aug. 2, 2018

Study: Amazon led Q1 programmatic ad spend with a 10% share

Three-quarters of tracked brands placed digital ads programmatically in Q1, while 42% placed native ads programmatically — a 10% increase year-over-year. 

By Erica Sweeney • Aug. 2, 2018

Kylie Jenner debuts AR lipstick filter on Instagram

The feature lets people try on the seven most popular colors from her cosmetics line.

By Robert Williams • Aug. 2, 2018

Beauty brands stand to gain from virtual advisers

The virtual tools appear to attract customers who are engaged online and shop often.

By Nicole Ault • Aug. 1, 2018