The Bluebird Group

Ever wondered why Walmart’s homepage looks more like your social media feed? Walmart is taking retail marketing to the next level by spotlighting real customer videos, and the results are nothing short of genius.

Huge kudos to all the students that are a part of UMD LSBE Consumer Insights & Analytics Program at the University of Minnesota - Duluth, as well as Dominic McDonough & Timothy Dawson for putting together an interactive and engaging experience that gave these students some real world problems to solve! I love the opportunity to give back as part of The Bluebird Group and am looking forward to building this partnership further.

Is social selling video a part of your selling strategy? It's a part of Walmart's. Right on the home page of Walmart's site and mobile app are User Generated style videos that link directly to the Product Detail Page. As more and more consumers shop socially, here are 3 reasons why brands should leverage user-generated content (UGC) as part of their marketing strategy: - Authenticity and Trust: UGC adds an authentic layer to brand messaging, as it's created by real customers sharing their genuine experiences. When people see others like themselves enjoying a product, it helps reduce skepticism and fosters a sense of community around the brand. - Cost-Effective Content Creation: By featuring content that already exists on social media, brands can diversify their content offerings and maintain a steady flow of fresh material. - Increased Engagement and Reach: Social media algorithms tend to favor content that resonates with users, such as relatable UGC. Additionally, customers featured in UGC are likely to share it within their networks, amplifying the brand’s message to new audiences and driving organic growth.

We are wagging our tails at Walmart's latest announcement of pet services! Walmart is expanding its pet services with five new centers opening this fall, located next to its main stores. These centers offer vet and grooming services, making it easy for shoppers to grab groceries and take care of pet needs in one trip. Following the success of its initial locations, Walmart will also make its Pawp vet telehealth service a permanent benefit for Walmart+ subscribers, after it proved popular as a limited-time offer. According to Walmart's announcement, the pet category continues to be one of the most dynamic in retail, with a projected annual spending growth of 7% by 2030 and household expenses expected to reach $1,445 per pet by 2026. Veterinary services are now the second largest pet spending category after consumables and is expected to see continued growth as pet owners prioritize their pets’ wellbeing. Photo: Walmart Corporate News

Retail Media is the Swiss Army knife for your business goals. Far more than a one-dimensional tool for boosting sales—it’s a versatile strategy that can be tailored to drive a variety of business goals, depending on what matters most to your brand. Yet, many brands overlook its broader potential, seeing it only as a way to drive immediate conversions. But retail media can do so much more, and by leveraging it thoughtfully, brands can achieve a range of strategic objectives such as increasing repeat purchases, building customer loyalty, expanding market share, and attracting new customers. Here’s how.

On the road to the Amazon Ads unBoxed event next week: last year, we saw a shift in the way we view measurement in Retail Media. This year, we are eager to discover how advancements in Prime Video and DSP can help reach new audiences, drive deeper engagement, and bring customers one step closer to purchase. Our Chief Media Officer, Jacob Snelson, helps brands everyday demystify expectations of these products, "Retail media offers a quick dopamine hit: low spend for high conversion and ROAS, as consumers are ready to buy in that moment. This has falsely led brands to expect similar returns from DSP and streaming TV." See you next week in Austin!

We grow brands at all stages of their growth cycle. We are The Bluebird Group - an omnichannel retail partner that’s all-in on growth for your brand to reach your shoppers wherever they are. Ready to win at retail? Let’s work together!

Attention Food & Beverage brands on Amazon: We've noticed the Nutrition Facts image in the carousel has automatically been moved to the second position, right after the main image. To make the most of this update, we recommend enhancing the Nutrition Facts image to be more engaging. Instead of only including the standard table per Amazon’s requirements, you can: - Add a branded background to align with your product’s look and feel. - Include icons for features like gluten-free, recyclable packaging, organic, etc., to highlight important attributes (where applicable). We know these changes can be tricky, but we’re ready to help you stay ahead of the game. A special shout out to our operations team for identifying these issues quickly!

Boost your grocery sales through creative PDPs. Consumers want to visualize how they’ll use the product in their daily lives, and inspirational photos of the final dish can help spark creativity and excitement. See the work of our creative team in action! Spencer Theobald, Creative and Brand Strategist thinks differently, “Our team’s approach to PDP design isn’t just about showcasing products—it’s about creating an experience that resonates with today’s informed shoppers and drives them to make confident purchasing decisions.” A huge shoutout to Trent Daniel, Vivian Floyd, and Kourtny Bullock for their stunning design work and to Victoria S. for her incredible coordination of the photoshoots, managing the complexity of aligning photographers, stylists, and designers!

The holiday shopping season begins in a couple of weeks thanks to Amazon's October Prime event and other retailers like Walmart following suit. Here's what to expect from Walmart this holiday shopping season: - Exclusive Early Access for Walmart+ Members - Wide Range of Discounts - Inflation-Free Holiday Meals - Tech-Enhanced Shopping Experience