The Bluebird Group

Last Thursday, in conjunction with Target and key brand partners, The Bluebird Group co-hosted a Grocery Innovation Summit focused on bringing industry altering brands to the Target guest. We spent the afternoon hearing from Target leadership, CEOs of top food brands and Bluebird executives Christopher Cummings (Partner) and Brandon Gatzke (Senior Vice President, Insights) as they discussed the state of the grocery guest and the use of macro data to unlock new sales opportunities for Target. Other highlights included: 🔵 An audience of 100+ Target merchant leaders and brand representatives 🔵 A multi-faceted day combining panel Q&A sessions, brand + merchant breakouts and opportunities to sample various new product innovations 🔵 A 60+ minute discussion by Bluebird and SPINS on the power of new-age data and its role in enhancing the product selection process 🔵 An inspiring talk by Target SVP John Conlin on the state of Grocery at Target 🔵 A post-event happy hour at the Bluebird office for engaging conversations among retail professionals, brand representatives, and the Bluebird team Bluebird remains committed to leading from the front within the Grocery ecosystem. We want to support emerging and established brands with the right analytical approaches to win at retail. We couldn’t have brought this to life without the incredible support of the Target team, including Ryan J. Pandl and Michael Maher. Your partnership is invaluable, and we appreciate you and the entire team for dedicating an full afternoon to share your insights. We look forward to our next Newness Summit!

Are you leveraging retail media to drive comprehensive business growth? This question touches the core of a retail media revolution that’s been quietly transforming the way successful brands operate over the past year. It’s no longer enough to simply optimize for ROAS or basic ad metrics. Retail media is now a strategic engine that fuels long-term business success. At Bluebird, we’ve been working closely with leading brands to redefine the purpose of retail media. It’s more than a tool for boosting short-term sales—it’s a way to achieve your most critical business goals, whether you’re competing at Walmart, Target, Amazon, or any other major retailer.

Big announcement from Target yesterday. Target is reducing prices on over 2,000 items. These reductions will cover both national brands and Target's own private label products, spanning food, beverages, everyday essentials, and holiday gifts. As guests are still price-conscious, especially during the holiday season, brands that can align with Target on pricing and promotions will have a competitive edge. Offering affordability while maintaining quality has become a key differentiator for brands aiming to capture attention and loyalty. At the Bluebird Group, we help brands take advantage of these seasonal opportunities by aligning them with Target’s calendar of celebrations. Our expertise ensures that your products are strategically positioned during high-traffic shopping times, like holiday meals and special occasions.

We know that Target guests value freshness, convenience, and the thrill of finding new products. By leveraging these insights, we position your brand to meet and exceed Target guests’ expectations, turning them into loyal guests.

What a fantastic experience at Amazon Ads' unBoxed event! It was a great opportunity to dive deep into the latest innovations from Amazon Ads, learn from the best, and—most importantly—connect in person with our incredible partners that we typically only see through a screen. There's something special about being able to exchange ideas, interact, and collaborate human-to-human. This event reminded us of the value that in-person connections bring to fostering trust, sparking innovation, and driving success for everyone involved. Let's go! Jacob Snelson Anna Bever Tony Hall Chase Arnold

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.