A recent report, the Australian Unified Commerce Benchmark, reveals that only 42% of Australian retailers currently adopt unified commerce, despite its potential to boost revenue by $19m per billion annually. The study, a collaboration between Manhattan Associates, Google Cloud, Zebra Technologies, and conducted by Incisiv, evaluated 29 leading retailers across 290+ attributes. Top performers included Bunnings, Cotton On, Harvey Norman, and JB Hi-Fi.
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Flipping FMCG research: Ex-Edelman chief, Les Mills CMO bid to scale $500, 60-second consumer testing platform, take on SurveyMonkey, Kantar, save squeezed marketers, out-human synthetic audiences
Auckland-based B2B SaaS platform Stickybeak is bidding to disrupt FMCG consumer testing – saving crunched marketers and exasperated agencies from product and creative fails in the process. Giants like Unilever, Dole and Fonterra are customers. But the mid-market is where Les Mills CMO turned Stickybeak CEO Anna Henwood sees greatest need and fastest growth – because their marketing teams have neither testing resource nor know-how. Which is why so many FMCG product launches and market expansions fail. The platform recruits from TikTok, Meta and YouTube to fill the demo gaps that panels fail to reach – and has learnt which performs best, where. Co-founder and former Edelman chief David Brain claims it makes consumer research “drag and drop … as easy as ordering an Uber Eats”. Henwood says it can be “done in 60-seconds” with results in 48 hours max – and she isn’t unduly concerned by the rise of AI-powered synthetic audience platforms promising similar capability.
Adventure World appoints Elizabeth Glover as new head of marketing
Adventure World, a company known for crafting sustainable travel experiences, has announced the appointment of Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Glover as its new Head of Marketing. Glover brings with her a wealth of experience from the travel industry, having led successful marketing campaigns over the past two decades.
True Alliance shuts down Gap, Banana Republic online stores two years after Australian debut
Just two years after bringing both Gap and Banana Republic into the Australian market, clothing and apparel distributor, True Alliance, has shutdown both online stores and exited its partnership with Gap Inc.
Google highlights untapped potential for brands in Australia’s diverse sports landscape
New research from Google Australia has unveiled a significant opportunity for brands to connect with Australian consumers through their deep-seated love for a diverse range of sports beyond the traditional favourites like footy and cricket.
Frank Body CMO, other co-founders step back from executive team, focus on advising roles as brand hits its tween years
Frank Body CMO Jess Hatzis has stepped down from the marketing job 11 years after helping found the skin products business with four mates in Melbourne. More than 30 million product sales and 179 countries on from first launching with a coffee scrub, she’s one of three co-founders pulling back from day-to-day and moving into advisory and board-only roles. It’s a decision that comes three years after Frank Body sold a stake to Chinese equity firm, EverYi Capital which reportedly pegged its market value at $100m. It also comes amidst one of the bleakest times for retail – but Hatzis insists a purpose-led brand can navigate the storm even without its co-founders running the ship.
Australia plays catch-up on ad emissions – but IAB chief claims late mover advantage ahead of local Ad Net Zero launch
World Economic Forum-backed GARM and Ad Net Zero last month launched a Global Media Sustainability Framework that’s poised to align global ad industry players in measuring carbon emissions. Per Scope3 founder Brian O’Kelley, it’s “the most important piece of progress” towards decarbonising advertising to date – but adds to the to do list for IAB Australia, which along with AANA and the MFA, is gearing up for an October launch for a local Ad Net Zero initiative. CEO Gai Le Roy is talking up late mover advantage, following the UK, US, Europe and New Zealand, but urgency is amping as AI threatens to wreak havoc on carbon-curbing efforts.
Household spending on the rise, but not for renters: Commbank
The CommBank Household Spending Insights (HSI) Index has lifted ever so slightly for the month of June, thanks to increased spending on recreation (+3.2 per cent) and hospitality (+2.1 per cent), however there is a growing disparity in spending habits between renters and home owners.
Not so good: ACCC takes The Good Guys to court over allegedly misleading promotions
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has initiated proceedings in the Federal Court against prominent Australian household appliance chain, The Good Guys. The business is accused of making false or misleading representations about their store credit and ‘Store Cash’ promotions, in violation of the Australian Consumer Law.
Amazon’s ad tier delivering on scale while Paramount+ builds for 2025 – but four streamers spells trouble for Meta and Google as well as TV
In market with Prime ads, Amazon is so far delivering on a promise to convert its 5m subscriber base, according to buyers. Paramount+ is likewise live but is building from scratch – and it’s not yet sharing ads audience numbers. Alongside Netflix and Binge, the four streamers come with “very different” strategies per OMG investment chief Kristiaan Kroon. Ampere Analysis boss Guy Bisson said it’s too soon to say who will come out on top – though Amazon’s ecom through-line could swing full-funnel bucks. Either way SVOD is quickly coming for TV’s ad spoils. But Bisson predicts Meta and Google will also take a hit.