The retail industry is on the cusp of a significant transformation as we approach 2024. Technology advancements are reshaping the way consumers interact with and shop for products. The following trends are set to redefine the in-store experience:
As consumer expectations continue to shift, retailers are finding innovative ways to bridge the gap between the physical and digital realms. In-store audio will be pivotal in driving a store’s digitization efforts. In-store audio ads enhance the overall shopping experience by providing relevant product information, promotions, and announcements directly to customers’ ears. This personalized approach not only improves customer engagement but influences purchase decisions.
In-store audio ads are becoming an indispensable tool for retailers looking to embrace digitization. These strategically placed advertisements within physical retail environments offer a seamless connection between the tangible and the digital. This technology harnesses the power of sound to engage customers in a more personalized and meaningful way.
Digital signage will also play a key role in driving a store’s digitization efforts. Interactive display ads will engage and inform shoppers, providing real-time product information, promotions, and even suggestions. These digital displays will serve as valuable touchpoints for brands to connect with consumers at the point of purchase.
Advertising is no longer limited to a single channel. The omnichannel approach aims to provide customers with a consistent and integrated shopping experience, whether in-store or online. According to DevPro Journals’ Consumer Product Content Benchmark Report (2022), a staggering 81% of consumers expect uniformity in a brand’s product content experience across all touchpoints.
In-store audio ads are vital in helping stores seamlessly adopt this approach. Audio ads positioned strategically within physical stores, these audio ads effectively bridge the gap between the in-store experience and onsite and offsite channels. They offer customers valuable information about products and promotions, ensuring a cohesive brand experience across all shopping avenues.
Consumers today appreciate a personalized and convenient shopping experience. In-store audio enables brands and advertisers to tailor their messages to the specific context and audience. For example, consider a Los Angeles grocery store that attracts a majority of health conscious shoppers; they can utilize in-store audio to advertise a special offer on organic produce. In contrast, a suburban Chicago grocery store, whose primary shoppers are mothers, can use in-store audio to promote discounted snack packs for children’s lunches. This personalized approach ensures that the right message reaches consumers at the right time!
In the age of data-driven marketing, personalization is critical. By analyzing a retailer’s first-party data, brands can target shoppers with ads that align with their interests and buying habits. This level of personalization increases the likelihood of making a sale and fosters a deeper connection between the customer and the brand.
However, as we move toward these exciting trends, there are some considerations to keep in mind:
2024 is poised to revolutionize the retail industry. With the digitization of in-store, an omnichannel approach, and an unwavering focus on personalization, consumers can anticipate a more convenient, engaging, and tailored shopping journey. As retailers embrace these trends, they are adapting to changing consumer needs and shaping the future of in-store 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!
Mood Media is the world’s leading experiential media company providing music, messaging, digital signage, AV systems and scent. Mood Media’s solutions make every shopping and guest experience more personal and more engaging. Their fully-integrated solutions leverage advanced digital technology, curated and original creative content, and design expertise to deliver meaningful customer experiences that drive sales. Explore Mood Media’s in-store solutions here!
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 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.
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