Picture yourself strolling into your local grocery store with a handwritten Labor Day shopping list. As you enter the store and weave through the aisles, a catchy familiar tune fills the air, infusing your shopping journey with energy. Amidst this musical backdrop, an artfully crafted audio ad takes center stage, emanating from the store’s speakers. This clever in-store promotion, perfectly tailored for the upcoming events, captivates your attention and weaves a compelling narrative.
The persuasive allure of the audio ad not only highlights a limited-time discount on an appealing product, but also provides clear directions to their location in an aisle or store department. Intrigued by the offer, you find yourself irresistibly drawn to explore this enticing deal. Although you initially planned for the items on your list, the magnetic pull of the sale convinces you to try a new brand or add an item to your list.
This scenario vividly illustrates the potent impact of sound harnessed through in-store audio. It seamlessly merges auditory engagement with in-store advertising, creating an unparalleled shopping experience.
In the ever-evolving landscape of retail media, where digital advertising tactics are in perpetual flux, a recent study by Vibenomics in June 2023 highlights the paramount importance of in-store audio as a retail media strategy and its remarkable ability to:
Despite the surge in online shopping and virtual stores, an astonishing 96% of consumers continue to explore the physical aisles of brick-and-mortar stores (P2PI Special Report, 2022). Vibenomics’ study reveals that 41% of shoppers make in-store purchases influenced by in-store audio.
The power of sound to seize attention and guide decisions is undeniably captivating. Remarkably, 46% of shoppers derive joy from these audio advertisements, while an even more substantial 54% find them informative (Vibenomics Suzy Research, June 2023). In-store audio effectively grabs attention by:
In the bustling realm of retail, where every part of the shopper journey vies for attention, Vibenomics’ study uncovers that in-store audio acts as a seamless conduit, effortlessly guiding shoppers to the products advertised on the shelves.
Notably, in-store audio boasts a 14% higher visibility rate among shoppers compared to displays (Vibenomics Suzy Research, June 2023). This statistic underscores the effectiveness of in-store audio in captivating attention amidst the sensory overload of a retail environment. Unlike displays that might struggle to influence shopper behavior due to limited exposure and engagement, in-store audio emerges as an impactful force at the point of purchase. Key factors contributing to in-store audio’s guidance include:
In the realm of shopper choice, where a myriad of brands clamor for attention, Vibenomics’ study reveals that in-store audio enables advertisers to harness brand awareness and ignite new customers as well as loyalty.
Cultivating a unique brand identity is pivotal. In-store audio becomes an invaluable ally, echoing a brand’s values and personality. Whether exuding a cheerful ambiance or a refined demeanor, in-store audio’s attention grabbing message captivates its intended audience. Through in-store audio, advertisers infuse personality and character into their brands.
Acknowledging the influence of in-store audio is crucial. The power of sound is a potent force in the realm of consumer shopping.
Vibenomics, a Mood Media Company, is the leading in-store digital advertising provider with 23,600+ shopping locations in the U.S. Our platform provides a single, all-in-one retail media network, empowering advertisers to deliver an on-premise experience and to connect with customers via display, audio and experiential channels.
Ready to learn how Vibenomics can elevate your Retail Media strategy with in-store audio? Click here to engage with Vibenomics today!
The collaboration creates national reach, alleviates fragmentation and brings consistency to buying in-store. Our diverse retailer network brings ubiquity to advertisers..
Brands demand transparency of buying and insights of the results. This collaboration aligns with the rapidly growing Retail Media investments through our extensive shopping audience spanning 25,000+ locations and 800 million monthly shopping visits to answer both of those demands. Enabling campaign activation across retailers and verticals allows agencies to make a buy that creates impact and influence.
By opening up all networks to both sales teams, we can drive demand for everyone. Alongside the retail media networks own in-store sales efforts, our teams will add national ad spending across the portfolio. This unified approach, including our top-tier turn-key production services and comprehensive reporting, ensures acceleration of how a retailer monetizes in-store audio and display.
While the entire network is ‘accessible’ today, our goal is for all networks to be on a single software platform by early-2024. Notable retail locations within this network include Kroger, Albertsons, CVS, Safeway, Southeastern Grocers, Hy-Vee, Rite Aid, Food Lion, Giant Martin and many more. This gives advertisers a broad reach across diverse retail segments, reaching over 800 million shopping visits monthly, in 25,000+ store locations and more than 10 exposures per month per shopper.
Each of advertising clients will continue to work directly with a designated account representative and their Ad Ops Lead for customer success. Regardless of which network the brand is running ads on, your single point of contact will remain the same.
Aside from measurement supported by third-party partners, our measurement options applied to this network include:
This collaboration offers a platform for brands to connect with their target audience on a large scale through audio in-store, targeting by:
The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has included in-store digital advertising, along with onsite and offsite solutions in its 2023 Retail Media Buyer’s Guide. With U.S. retail media spend projected to increase from $31B in 2021 to $61B in 2024, accounting for over 17% of total U.S. digital ad spending, this growth highlights the vital role of in-store advertising in driving retail media and enhancing consumer engagement.
As in-store shopping continues to attract a larger audience compared to online platforms, the significance of digital retail media ad spending becomes even more apparent. Digital retail media ad spending is estimated to reach $40.81 billion in 2022 — more than triple its pre-pandemic levels — and expected to reach $61.15 billion in 2024. According to Forrester’s 2022 Retail Media Ad Sales Report, experts predict ad revenue growth across retail media networks in the U.S. market will double over the next four years.
By incorporating in-store offerings into their overall Retail Media strategy, retailers enhance the customer experience and enable effective mid-lower funnel advertising, empowering brands to target consumers at a critical point in the buying journey. This approach allows brands to deliver personalized messages that resonate with shoppers, increasing engagement and the likelihood of conversion.
Some effective mid-lower funnel strategies involve retargeting users who have previously interacted with a brand and utilizing dynamic product ads to showcase relevant products or services. These strategies aim to re-engage and remind users of their interest, increasing the chances of conversion and driving sales.
The In-Store digital advertising solutions, as described in the Buyer’s Guide, include multi-touch models and omnichannel strategies, enabling retailers to optimize and assess the effectiveness of in-store digital messaging. This definition reflects the evolving retail landscape in our dynamic “phygital” world, where physical shopping experiences meet innovative technologies to deliver an elevated and interactive consumer journey.
Mood Media’s acquisition of Vibenomics creates a single point of integration for retail media platforms to access, deliver, measure and evaluate on-premise digital impressions via multi-touch models and omnichannel strategies such as the following:
Brands can tap into the value of retailers’ first-party data to utilize the digital technologies of retail media networks (RMNs) and leverage their in-depth understanding of customer preferences and behavior. The result leads to brands effectively targeting the right customers with their ads and campaigns, maximizing the impact and relevance of their marketing efforts. These innovative in-store strategies can help retailers create a dynamic, immersive environment, captivating shoppers, encouraging interaction and driving sales and customer loyalty.
As the IAB and its members have incorporated in-store digital advertising into the retail media buying landscape, there is a growing demand for modernization from brands seeking simplified and innovative approaches aligned with modern measurement standards.
The IAB has recognized the importance of in-store digital advertising for retailers and brands who want to engage consumers more effectively at the point of sale. Unlike the traditional, segmented approach, omnichannel strategies integrate onsite, offsite and in-store channels seamlessly, providing customers with a streamlined and cohesive shopping experience.
This shift towards omnichannel strategies has benefitted retailers, with omnichannel consumers making purchases 70% more frequently. Phygital environments are an advanced iteration of omnichannel retail, combining in-store experiences and the technology of online environments. Brands and retailers must embrace digital solutions and personalized experiences to thrive in the evolving retail landscape. There are various options available for advertisers to capitalize on this trend. For instance, Kroger and Hy-vee have ventured into digital audio in-store to improve the customer experience and increase sales.
Brick-and-mortar retailers should leverage retail media teams to carry out advertising strategies, monetize their physical spaces and enhance their revenue streams. Retail media teams can:
Vibenomics is a single integration point for retail media platforms to access, deliver and measure in-store digital impressions. With Mood Media’s advanced on-premise digital solutions, Vibenomics offers a turnkey solution – simplifying ad-buying and enhancing retailers’ owners’ management of customer experiences. This strategy equips brands and retailers to maximize and measure the impact of in-store digital messaging via multi-touch models and omnichannel approaches.
Over six years, Vibenomics has helped U.S. retailers increase purchase likelihood by up to 77% using audio in-store advertising. Understanding the needs of brands and retailers, Vibenomics has worked to create a simple solution for managing their owned and operated assets while integrating smoothly with other media in their stores.
Retailers can’t deny the importance of in-store digital advertising. Vibenomics, now within IAB’s 2023 Retail Media Buyer’s Guide, is undeniably positioned to provide retailers with in-store solutions that complement and strengthen the effectiveness of Onsite and Offsite strategies.
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Paul Brenner
Vibenomics // Senior Vice President, Retail Media and Partnerships
With more than 25 years of experience in media & entertainment and advertising technology leadership, Paul Brenner served in several c-suite roles including division President with Emmis Operating Company [NASDAQ:EMMS]. As President of NextRadio/TagStation his work focused on global innovation through FM Chip activations in all smartphones for audience measurement, improved in-car user experiences, and data attribution platforms for all broadcast radio. In 2019, Paul joined Vibenomics as Chief Strategy Officer to help develop the go-to-market strategy for the company’s first-to-market Audio In-Store advertising solution. Following a successful launch, Brenner was promoted to President of Audio OOH to oversee all efforts surrounding revenue-generating activity and related partnerships. After the company’s recent integration with Mood Media, Paul was promoted to SVP of Retail Media and Partnerships, where he works to evangelize and innovate the In-Store segment of Retail Media.
Even amidst the haze of wildfire smoke, our time in Chicago at the Path to Purchase Institute’s (P2PI’s) Retail Media Summit was nothing short of extraordinary! P2PI’s Retail Media Summit is an annual event with the goal of breaking away from traditional patterns of thinking and encouraging attendees to tap into new strategies that fully leverage the power of Retail Media. By embracing innovative approaches and adopting effective Retail Media strategies, participants can enhance their omni-channel initiatives and drive better results for their brands.
There was a wide array of industry topics covered at this year’s P2PI’s Retail Media Summit designed to help CPG brands and retailers navigate the complicated and rapidly shifting arena of Retail Media.
A few agenda items to highlight from this year’s Retail Media Summit include:
If you missed out on this year’s Retail Media Summit or just need a refresher, fret not! Here are Vibenomics’ 3 key insights from the 2023 Retail Media Summit –
Retail Media is changing advertising’s impact and effectiveness. Keynote speaker Andrea Leigh, founder of Allume Group, stated, “Advertising is the force that opens up people’s minds to new possibilities.” Leigh’s statement highlights the influential role that advertising plays in shaping consumer behavior and perceptions. In the context of Retail Media, which refers to advertising strategies and technologies employed by retailers to monetize their digital platforms and reach their customers, there’s been notable shifts in the impact and effectiveness of advertising strategies and solutions.
One of the key advantages of Retail Media is its ability to reach and influence consumers at every stage along the shopping journey. Through targeted advertising on their digital platforms, retailers can engage with customers during the awareness stage, introducing them to new products and brands. By tailoring advertisements based on consumer preferences and browsing behavior, retailers can deliver meaningful messages that resonate with the audience, capturing their attention and encouraging them to explore new products.
Retail Media has revolutionized the way consumers interact with advertising. By leveraging their digital platforms and first-party loyalty data, retailers enable brands to deliver personalized and targeted omni-channel campaigns that open up new possibilities for consumers. This shift has not only made advertising more effective but has also allowed retailers to measure and optimize their campaigns more accurately. As a result, advertising has become a powerful force in influencing consumer perceptions and driving consumer behavior in the modern retail landscape.
Meeting shoppers in the physical store is a critical element of implementing a successful Retail Media strategy. Despite the growth of e-commerce and online shopping, 91% of sales happen in-store. In-store is also the closest proximity to the product. Therefore, it’s important for retailers to focus on enhancing the in-store experience and leverage Retail Media to engage and influence shoppers.
Brands increase their reach by 70% when they focus on in-store. Andrea Leigh (Alume Group) shared a bar chart that compared in-store US monthly audience reach to digital US monthly audience reach. The data showed an increased audience reach in-store compared to digital for well-known retailers like Lowes, Walgreens, Kroger, and Costco. This information underscores the importance of investing in strategies that optimize the in-store experience and effectively utilize Retail Media to engage and influence shoppers.
There’s no denying that technology advancements are making it easier and more efficient to put the right content in front of the right customer when propensity to spend is highest. While sometimes digital displays can limit the impact of shopper behavior due to restricted exposure and engagement, in-store audio’s ubiquitous nature has the ability to influence shoppers at the point of purchase because:
Think of the shopping journey as a funnel. Brands want to increase awareness through audio in-store, drive intent by getting the shopper to the right aisle, and enable conversion by getting the shopper to care enough to make a purchase.
ROAS (Return on Ad Spend) is a crucial metric for measuring the effectiveness of advertising campaigns in terms of generating revenue. However, when it comes to Retail Media, there are additional metrics and considerations beyond ROAS that are important to understand and leverage in determining whether or not a campaign is deemed successful. One such aspect is the focus on consumer relationships. Advertisers can gain a comprehensive understanding of the impact of their advertising efforts through the following metrics:
Consistent measurement remains a crucial aspect in assessing campaign success. Standardizing reporting and data transparency is a top priority, although it requires significant effort from both brands and retailers to establish this consistency and measure impact accurately.
While ROAS remains an essential metric for measuring the financial performance of your advertising efforts, it’s crucial to recognize the broader benefits of Retail Media beyond immediate sales lift. By focusing on consumer relationships, you can cultivate loyalty, advocacy, and long-term value, ultimately contributing to the growth and success of your business.
P2PI’s Retail Media Summit proved to be a beneficial event, offering a deep understanding of the ever-changing landscape of Retail Media. The knowledge gained from this event will undoubtedly benefit CPGs, retailers, and solution providers in their pursuit of enhancing omni-channel initiatives and achieving superior outcomes for their brands and businesses.
By embracing the insights shared at the summit, organizations can navigate the evolving world of advertising, recognize the significance of engaging with shoppers in-store, and prioritize consumer relationships in their measurement strategies. Armed with this knowledge, they will be well-equipped to adapt to the dynamic nature of Retail Media, connect with their target audience effectively, and achieve sustainable growth in the competitive retail industry.
Onto the next one! Don’t miss out on P2PI LIVE 2023 in St. Louis this upcoming November. P2PI LIVE is a premier event that aims to provide a comprehensive and enriching experience for professionals in the commerce marketing industry. Join Vibenomics as we continue to revolutionize the next generation of Retail Media in-store!
Path to Purchase Institute (P2PI) is a global association that provides insights, knowledge, and networking opportunities to consumer goods professionals involved in the path to purchase. They focus on helping businesses understand and optimize the consumer journey from the initial consideration of a product to the final purchase decision.
P2PI offers a variety of resources, including research reports, case studies, webinars, and events, to help their members stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices. They also provide a platform for networking and collaboration among professionals in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry.
Vibenomics, a Mood Media Company, is the leading in-store digital advertising provider. Our platform provides a single, all-in-one Retail Media network, empowering retailers to digitize their on-premise experience and advertisers to connect with customers via display, audio and experiential channels.
Through a first-of-its-kind turnkey solution, this model delivers the ubiquity and revenue-generating capabilities needed to drive the next iteration of Retail Media. Ready to learn how Vibenomics can elevate your Retail Media strategy? Click here to engage with Vibenomics today!
How is it June already? It feels like it was just yesterday that we grabbed our beaded necklaces and eagerly headed down to New Orleans in May to attend Path to Purchase Institute’s (P2PI’s) Future Forward 2023 event.
P2PI’s Future Forward event is an annual conference that brings together industry leaders and professionals to discuss the latest trends, innovations, and strategies in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. The event attracts a diverse group of attendees from a variety of backgrounds, including:
At this year’s Future Forward event, attendees had the opportunity to participate in educational sessions, networking events, and keynote speeches delivered by industry experts in the CPG field.
There was a wide array of topics covered at Future Forward 2023 which included shopper behavior and trend forecasting, the future of commerce via in-store experience, social commerce, metaverse and beyond!
A few agenda items to highlight from Future Forward 2023 include:
If you weren’t able to attend this year’s Future Forward event, or just can’t read your handwriting from your notes (we’ve all been there!), we’ve got you covered.
These are the top 5 takeaways from Future Forward 2023 that stood out to us:
The event highlighted the growing importance of digital in-store experiences, emphasizing that these innovative strategies are becoming a permanent part of the retail landscape.
Ari Peralta, neuroscientist and CEO of Arigami, presented 5 ways for brands and retailers to turn to neuroscience and technology to give them a competitive edge with design:
The trends above emphasize the convergence of in-store technology to enhance consumer experiences, creating immersive, interactive, and emotionally resonant brand interactions.
In P2PI’s blog post, “Future Forward: Amplifying Consumer Experiences,” Peralta highlights that incorporating multisensory cues in a store can increase shopper’s stay by up to 51%, while also noting that 52% of consumers have abandoned e-commerce sites due to poorly curated offerings.
One of many notable findings in the P2PI’s “Shopper Engagement with Retail Media” research report identified that 48% of shoppers say in-store audio encourages them to locate products in-store and consider purchasing — the same amount as with video ads and digital screens. To capture and maintain shoppers’ attention in the crowded retail landscape, brands MUST invest in efforts designed to maximize customer interaction.
With the evolving in-store environment, it is vital that navigating the shopping experience remain simple. With consumers desiring a simplified and straightforward shopping experience, retailers must focus on creating a smooth transition between onsite, offsite and in-store channels. Brands, too, must ensure that messaging is consistent and relevant to each individual shoppers’ journey.
Paul Brenner, SVP of Retail Media Strategy and Partnerships at Vibenomics, says that for the past several years, the retail landscape has evolved to become all about the customer experience. Technology helped elevate digital ecommerce – an evolution no doubt accelerated by the global health crisis. But nearly 95% of shoppers have returned to physical stores with an expectation that their in-store experiences will deliver as well as online shopping.
Brands want to shift their budgets to be more inclusive of Retail Media In-Store digital advertising strategies within their omnichannel campaigns – alongside traditional onsite and offsite tactics.
A significant majority of buying (92%) still occurs in-store, while only a small portion (8%) happens online. Brands can truly influence shoppers at the point of purchase with in-store tactics by creating compelling and interactive experiences that engage all the senses and leverage personalized promotions to drive conversion and brand loyalty.
Brands are adopting an omnichannel approach with single, unified campaign objectives. The focus is on seamless omnichannel buying experiences, integrating various channels rather than treating them separately.
The question we hear at Vibenomics is, “how do brands catch shoppers’ attention with ads and deliver a personalized experience similar to what’s available via online platforms?” Enter RMNs, providing omnichannel solutions to these challenges. Retailers can broadcast targeted audio advertisements in brick-and-mortar stores to promote products near the point of sale and in the aisles.
Data silos between onsite, offsite, and in-store channels were identified as a challenge in proving incrementality and, therefore, preventing effective omnichannel investment.
The pressure is on retailers to demonstrate the value and incrementality of Retail Media solutions by proving the effectiveness of omnichannel (onsite, offsite, and in-store) campaign strategies. The importance of breaking down these data silos to gain a comprehensive understanding of the customer journey was emphasized.
After an immersive and thought-provoking experience at Future Forward 2023, several key takeaways emerged that shed light on the evolution of the in-store experience, the importance of a simplified shopping journey, and the significance of brands transitioning to a true omnichannel approach with unified campaign objectives.
By understanding and implementing these top takeaways, retailers and brands can stay ahead of the curve, create meaningful connections with their customers, and establish a strong foundation for sustained growth in the years to come.
As one event ends, another one approaches! Don’t miss out on P2PI’s 2023 Retail Media Summit in Chicago this upcoming June. Attendees will gain invaluable insights into the latest trends, strategies, and technologies that are shaping the future of retail media. Mark your calendars and be sure to join Vibenomics at the 2023 Retail Media Summit as we explore the future of retail media together!
Path to Purchase Institute (P2PI) is a global association that provides insights, knowledge, and networking opportunities to consumer goods professionals involved in the path to purchase. They focus on helping businesses understand and optimize the consumer journey from the initial consideration of a product to the final purchase decision.
P2PI offers a variety of resources, including research reports, case studies, webinars, and events, to help their members stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices. They also provide a platform for networking and collaboration among professionals in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry.
Vibenomics, a Mood Media Company, is the leading in-store digital advertising provider. Our platform provides a single, all-in-one retail media network, empowering retailers to digitize their on-premise experience and advertisers to connect with customers via display, audio and experiential channels.
Through a first-of-its-kind turnkey solution, this model delivers the ubiquity and revenue-generating capabilities needed to drive the next iteration of retail media. Ready to learn how Vibenomics can elevate your Retail Media strategy? Click here to engage with Vibenomics today!
Transaction provides greater scope and scale for advertisers and increased revenue opportunities for brands
AUSTIN, TX – March 21, 2023 – Mood Media, the world’s premiere on-premise experiential technology and media company, has acquired Vibenomics, the leading in-store digital advertising solution provider. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Mood provides on-premise media software solutions to more than 500,000 business locations in more than 140 countries through a cloud-delivered content platform, including curated music, messaging, digital signage, content management, and scent marketing. Combining Mood Media’s breadth and scale as the leading in-store experience provider with Vibenomics’ differentiated technology position in on-premise media solutions enables deeper insights for advertisers, increased revenue opportunities for brands, and greater consumer engagement and analytics at the point of sale.
The announcement comes at a time when retail media networks are booming, with U.S. retail media spend increasing from $31B in 2021 to a projected ad spend of $61B in 2024. This spend represents 17.2% of total U.S. digital ad spending — indicating the important role of retail media in the next generation of on-premise advertising and consumer engagement.
Malcolm McRoberts, CEO of Mood Media, said “Mood Media is committed to delivering the next generation of in-store technology solutions. Vibenomics extends these efforts by strengthening our ability to deliver highly effective programmatic advertising that enhances consumer engagement, provides critical analytical insights, and helps our customers and partners super charge their business results. Put simply, our goal is to be the leading, end-to-end cloud-enabled provider of fully-integrated on-premise media experiences and the combination with Vibenomics and their outstanding management team allows us to accelerate that journey.”
With Mood Media’s advanced on-premise digital solutions for display and audio, this new-to-market turnkey solution creates a simplified ad-buying experience for advertisers while enhancing the management of the customer experience and the associated return-on-investment for retail owners. It’s a single point of integration for retail media platforms to access, deliver, measure and evaluate on-premise digital impressions. Retailers will be equipped to maximize and measure the impact of on-premise digital messaging via multi-touch models and omnichannel strategies, as anticipated to be outlined in the 2023 IAB’s retail media categories, definitions and buyers guide.
“As champions of innovation, we believe that retail media networks represent the future of on-premise digital experiences for brands, retailers, and consumers, and they are an important component of any marketer’s digital ad campaign,” said Brent Oakley, CEO at Vibenomics. “Joining forces with Mood is an important step toward innovating retail media. It allows Vibenomics to massively expand our reach and that of our advertising partners and media networks, while delivering a greater level of sophistication to the retail marketplace.”
About Mood Media
Mood Media is the world’s leading experiential media company that maximizes the Customer Experience and provides value for businesses and brands worldwide. Our fully integrated solutions leverage advanced digital technology, curated and original creative content, and design expertise to make every shopping and guest experience more personal and more engaging. Serving more than 500,000 customer locations in more than 140 countries, we reach over 150 million consumers each day. For more information, please visit https://www.us.moodmedia.com.
About Vibenomics
Vibenomics, a Mood Media Company, is the leading in-store digital advertising provider. Our platform provides a single, all-in-one retail media network, empowering retailers to digitize their on-premise experience and advertisers to connect with customers via display, audio and experiential channels. Through a first-of-its-kind turnkey solution, this model delivers the ubiquity and revenue-generating capabilities needed to drive the next iteration of retail media.
Acquired by Mood Media in 2023, Vibenomics works with hundreds of CPGs and more than 50 endemic and non-endemic categories today. The company plans to expand its retail locations to more than 500,000 worldwide. To learn more about Vibenomics, visit https://www.vibenomics.com.
The retail landscape has changed dramatically over the past two years with the rise of virtual shopping. But as COVID-19 cases decline and vaccination distribution increases, brick-and-mortar shopping is making its return.
The influx of brands in brick-and-mortar stores requires retailers to adopt effective marketing strategies that drive foot traffic and customer loyalty. While e-commerce will remain popular, brands interacting with customers through various media — print ads, e-commerce apps, social media ads and primarily contextual ads in-store — will keep ahead of competitors. To drive purchases, brands must reach consumers across the sales funnel, delivering a consistent buying experience online and offline.
To capture and maintain shoppers’ attention in the crowded retail landscape, brands must invest in efforts designed to maximize customer interaction. For example, 48% of shoppers say in-store audio encourages them to locate products in-store and consider purchasing — the same amount as with video ads and digital screens. One of many notable findings in the Path to Purchase Institute’s “Shopper Engagement with Retail Media” research report.
Retailers are increasingly adopting audio out-of-home (OOH) — an in-store advertising strategy sitting at the end of the marketing funnel and targeting shoppers at the point of purchase. With 89% of consumers noticing in-store audio, retailers are eager to tailor ad messages played between songs to target hyper-specific, local customers with the highest propensity to spend.
This strategy offers a dynamic — not static — advertising approach. For example, it doesn’t rely on someone to walk by a display or see a posted sign. Instead, it reaches a “captive audience” throughout a store. The report found that 59% of consumers enjoy seeing or hearing about the products available at the retailer and are open to considering purchasing them during their shopping trip, proving this is an effective advertising tactic.
Retailers can customize audio OOH campaigns based on current inventory, eliminating the accidental promotion of out-of-stock products. Customer demographic data such as gender, age and lifestyle offers insights to guide decisions about ad choice and scheduling to optimize impact.
By implementing audio in-store as an integral part of their retail media strategy, advertisers and retailers gain an additional tool to raise in-store sales through optimized customer engagement, a sentiment Vibenomics has been driving with larger retailers in the industry for years.
Despite the current economic climate, retail media has cemented itself in the advertising landscape. “Fool-proof” channels like paid search, social media ads and cookies do not offer the same access to customers they once did. Therefore, brands realize the necessity of building a more complete marketing funnel by connecting with their customers through multiple touchpoints along the buyer’s journey.
Continued investment in retail media, specifically digital in-store media — including video displays and audio advertising — demonstrates these markets’ resilience in the face of economic and industry change. Shopper first-party data will continue to drive these channels, providing a win-win for advertisers and retailers. Advertisers can maximize the value of each customer interaction. Retailers open themselves to alternative revenue streams.
In competitive environments like grocery, convenience stores or big-box retailers included in this report, audio in-store can make the difference in what items people choose. Brands need options to layer their campaigns and highlight their products. For this purpose, audio OOH is the perfect partner.
About the Author
Paul Brenner joined Vibenomics in 2019 as Chief Strategy Officer to help develop the go-to-market strategy for the company’s first-to-market Audio Out-of-Home advertising solution. After a successful launch, Brenner was promoted to President of Audio OOH to oversee all efforts surrounding revenue-generating activity and related partnerships, and recently joined the DPAA Research Committee and new IAB Retail Media Committee. He has more than 25 years of experience in media and entertainment and technology leadership.
We live in a world where we’re constantly bombarded by messaging. It’s on our televisions. Digital billboards light up our roads. Even gas pumps play video ads. In fact, some experts estimate the average person encounters anywhere between 6,000 and 10,000 ads every single day.
Yet there are times — and environments — where ads really do deliver messages we hear or see and process. Take, for example, the grocery store. And let’s face it. We’re far more likely to pay attention to an ad we hear while we’re perusing the aisles.
Considering the frustration many of us continue to experience with out-of-stocks, price increases, and down-counts, maybe grocery shopping isn’t as enjoyable as it’s been. Stores understand our frustration. But they’ve got a good tool to help alleviate it: Audio Out of Home (AOOH).
You might be wondering how AOOH connects to out-of-stocks. It’s really not a stretch! The supply chain includes a myriad of variables. Supply chain issues, labor shortages and fuel increases all play a part in the challenges we’ve seen since early 2020.
Consumers want to interact with advertisements for products they can actually purchase instantaneously and avoid the frustration of supply-chain issues leading to out-of-stocks. Grocery stores leveraging retail media networks — particularly with programmatic in-store offerings like audio — become listening halls used to reinforce a retail media campaign’s messaging. Here’s why:
EMarketer said 2022 is “The year of retail media networks.” US spending has grown another $10B to over $41B and represents 17.2% of total US digital ad spending. It’s proof positive that retail media has a solid place in the current economic climate.
Paired with the inflation we’re experiencing — and not just in grocery — we’re seeing a significant shift in shopper behavior and expectations, and predict this shift will translate into a demand for stronger brand awareness and retailer accountability.
How does AOOH fit in? It enables brands and retailers with products in stock to capitalize on letting in-store shoppers know what’s in stock — and on special. It’s a great way to cultivate future loyal customers and reinforce positive relationships with current brand-lovers. These in-store marketing and retail media tactics like AOOH tells shoppers what you’re doing well.
We know that over 70% of consumers prefer in-store, brick-and-mortar shopping. We also know over 50% of grocery shoppers are inclined to make impulse buys. Activating audio advertising with Vibenomics is a great way to encourage and influence purchases — including those made impulsively. It’s a simple and effective layer to any brand or product awareness effort and messages multiple shoppers in the environment where they can access and purchase your items.
We’ve certainly seen supply chain ebbs and flows before. Brands, suppliers and manufacturers focus on its many nuances:
It all matters, and believe me, manufacturers of items on our lists are keenly aware of shifts in these areas. We know inflation impacts shoppers and that repeated disappointment about out-of-stock items may drive shoppers to a different store. It only underscores your need to work more diligently with your brands and suppliers to create non-negotiable key items you’ll always have in stock.
Have backup suppliers ready just in case your go-to suppliers can’t deliver. Create bundle offers at a deal price, buying deep from your suppliers and passing the savings to shoppers purchasing a complete bundle.
Finally, don’t neglect your retail media. Don’t make the mistake of relying solely on printed store flyers, ecommerce, mobile or onsite/offsite approaches. In-store audio elevates marketing campaigns by providing another strategy for stores to:
And don’t discount the equally important value: creating a pleasant atmosphere that enhances shopping experiences and transforms occasional customers into repeat, loyal customers. It’s time for brands and retailers to be better. Engage Vibenomics today to look at how to effectively message shoppers at point of sale.
Funds will support programmatic audio advertising expansion, tripling locations in next 18 months
Fueled by rising momentum in programmatic technology, national premier retail audio advertising provider Vibenomics has raised $12.3 million in Series B funding to support the launch of additional national networks in grocery stores, pharmacies, and convenience stores. The round is led by Panoramic Ventures, one of the largest and most active tech venture funds in the Southeast.
Vibenomics established itself as a formidable player in the Audio-Out-of-Home (AOOH) market after partnering with Kroger in May 2020. Last year, the company experienced its most significant growth, launching its first proprietary media player to deliver music, messaging and programmatic advertisements to each of its network partners’ individual locations. By mid-2021, Vibenomics introduced multiple Demand Side Platforms (DSPs) to become the first — and only — programmatic digital AOOH solution for advertisers.
“This funding validates our investors’ belief in the future of Vibenomics and what we’re building,” said Brent Oakley, CEO of Vibenomics. “AOOH’s value, impact and ability to scale allows retailers to provide a positive, in-store customer experience. We’re anticipating another record-breaking year in 2022 and these funds will enable us to continue innovating and accelerating product developments, building on our momentum.”
Vibenomics continues to expand its national footprint in programmatic retail advertising. Earlier this year, the company partnered with Hy-Vee, adding an additional 400 locations across the Midwest. In the coming months, Vibenomics has a line of sight to expand to over 20,000 locations by the end of 2023.
“Vibenomics directs the majority of its efforts toward consumer packaged goods (CPGs), a massive and highly competitive advertising sector eager to invest in innovative marketing strategies, particularly within retail locations,” said Paul Iaffaldano, general partner for Panoramic Ventures. “We believe that Vibenomics’s innovative approach to in-store audio advertisements in that industry gives us significant leverage to capitalize on a growing market.”
Vibenomics has nearly 40 employees, about 90% of whom live in the Indianapolis area and 10% work remotely. The company expects to increase its workforce by 25%, specifically in its sales and marketing departments, by the end of 2022.
To learn more about Vibenomics, visit https://www.vibenomics.com.
Vibenomics, Inc. is a location-based Audio Out-of-Home™ advertising and experience company that powers audio channels for retailers, giving brands the ability to talk to shoppers directly at the point of sale. With its powerful cloud-based technology, licensed background music library, data integration capabilities, full-service team of audio experience experts, and network of on-demand professional voice talent, the company provides the right revenue-enhancing vibe for over 180 advertisers in more than 15,000 locations across 49 states, reaching more than 250 million unique monthly listeners.
Vibenomics dynamically broadcasts hyper-targeted, on-demand audio advertisements within any combination of locations across its swiftly growing national footprint, unlocking a powerful new shopper marketing channel for reaching consumers during the critical final footsteps along the path to purchase. Through a first-of-its-kind partner program, retailers can receive a portion of revenue for advertisements sold by Vibenomics that play within their locations, giving them the ability to monetize their private airwaves and transform a legacy expense into a new profit center.
Panoramic Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Atlanta that takes a “wider-view” approach to investing by targeting the Southeast and Midwest and placing a focus on diverse founders and university startups. Panoramic opens new doors for overlooked founders, giving more entrepreneurs access to capital to build leading tech companies. For more information, visit www.panoramic.vc or follow Panoramic Ventures on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter @panoramicvc.
Vibenomics is proud to announce that it has been named to the Great Employers to Work for in Indiana 2022 list by Best Companies Group. Vibenomics ranked seventh in the small company category. The awarded companies were selected based on a detailed, anonymous survey of its employees, as well as an analysis of the company’s workplace policies, practices, and demographics.
“Vibenomics strives to be an employer of choice,” said Jessica Largent, Senior Director of Operations at Vibenomics. “ We take pride in our company culture and the fact that Vibenomics employees can thrive in an environment that promotes a shared commitment to personal and professional growth.”
Best Companies Group’s annual award program identifies and honors the best places of employment in Indiana. The ranking is based on an anonymous employee survey and an analysis of their responses about corporate culture, training and development, salary and benefits, and overall employee satisfaction. Indiana companies that meet certain criteria are highlighted as Great Employers to Work for in Indiana.
“The data is clear: these companies are treating people with respect and care, and in return their people are giving their best at work,” said Jaime Raul Zepeda, Executive Vice President of Best Companies Group. “Best Companies Group is proud to recognize all companies on our 2022 Great Employers to Work For in Indiana list. Congratulations to all of our winners for building a people-first organization and being an employer of choice.”
Vibenomics, Inc. is a location-based Audio Out-of-Home™ advertising and experience company that powers audio channels for retailers, giving brands the ability to talk to shoppers directly at the point of sale. With its powerful cloud-based technology, licensed background music library, data integration capabilities, full-service team of audio experience experts, and network of on-demand professional voice talent, the company provides the right revenue-enhancing vibe for over 180 advertisers in more than 6,000 locations across 49 states, reaching over 200 million people.
Delivered through flexible plug-and-play, proprietary, IoT enabled media players, Vibenomics dynamically broadcasts hyper-targeted, on-demand audio advertisements and curated playlists within any combination of locations across its swiftly growing national footprint, unlocking a powerful new shopper marketing channel for reaching consumers during the critical final footsteps along the path to purchase. Through a first-of-its-kind partner program, retailers can receive a portion of revenue for all advertisements sold by Vibenomics that play within their locations, giving them the ability to monetize their private airwaves and transform a legacy expense into a new profit center.
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