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Highlights from today's newsletter:
💬 The story of one of the “World's Most Influential CMOs”
❔ Have your ideal customers read your marketing copy and ask them: "What did your inner voice say?"
🤖 2025, a 'defining' year for AI, for marketers

EDITOR’S PICK

#REPORTS

DTC eCommerce in the Amazon Age: Navigating the Measurement Maze

Amazon dominates DTC eCommerce, but for brands, measuring success beyond the platform remains a black hole. TikTok campaigns drive engagement, Google Ads fuel curiosity—yet when sales spike on Amazon, proving attribution is a challenge.

With Amazon’s walled garden limiting cross-channel visibility, CMOs are left guessing which marketing efforts truly drive revenue. The solution? Data-driven insights, cross-platform experimentation, and collaborative measurement strategies.

As DTC brands scale, understanding the real impact of marketing beyond Amazon’s ecosystem is critical.

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE 👉

The ClickZ team has been reporting live from Las Vegas Market this week. Check out our exclusive insights from interviews with exhibitors and innovators at the event 👇

Follow us on LinkedIn for all the interview insight snippets.

How Hudson Valley Lighting Group Balances Luxury, Digital, and Design

Hudson Valley Lighting Group is blending high-end design with strong digital marketing to stay ahead in the luxury lighting space. Their strategy?

✨ Partnerships that matter – Collaborating with top designers like Mark D. Sikes to create exclusive collections.

📱 A strong digital presence – Leveraging Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and Meta to engage both B2B and B2C audiences.

🚀 Continuous innovation – Launching 500+ new products each season to stay ahead of trends.

Listen to the full interview here.

Kingsdown’s Formula for Retail & DTC Success

Kingsdown blends DTC growth with retail partnerships, supporting stores like Ethan Allen while keeping a strong direct-to-consumer presence. AI powers everything from product visuals to testing, while a focus on sustainability positions the brand as a premium alternative to disposable “bed-in-a-box” options.

A smart mix of tech, retail strategy, and eco-conscious branding keeps Kingsdown ahead in a competitive market.

Listen to the full interview here.

How Cray Home Scaled DTC to Wholesale with AI & Smart Marketing

Cray Home didn’t just expand—they built demand first. By growing a strong DTC presence, leveraging AI-driven marketing, and fine-tuning their brand positioning, they ensured their wholesale move was strategic, not rushed.

At Las Vegas Market 2025, they showcased how AI helps refine audience targeting, optimize product listings, and enhance customer engagement—a critical advantage as they scale. With a design-first approach and a deep understanding of retail trends, Cray Home is proving that growth is about precision, not just expansion.

Listen to the full interview here.

WHAT WE ARE READING

Mission 2025: Tactics and Trends for Marketing Breakthroughs Brand marketing in 2025 is about making connections. Personalization, social commerce, and omnichannel strategies are no longer optional; they’re the foundation of successful campaigns. With shoppable videos driving impulse buys, AI refining predictive models, and brand ambassadors shaping authentic engagement, marketers must rethink how they show up across platforms. The days of siloed strategies are over—winning in 2025 means seamless, data-driven storytelling that meets consumers where they already are.

Meta’s AI tools attract more advertisers as tech enters ‘defining’ year Meta’s AI-powered advertising is scaling fast—4 million advertisers are now using its generative AI tools, up from 1 million just six months ago. As ad prices rise and AI-driven Advantage+ shopping campaigns grow 70% year-over-year, Meta is betting big on AI’s ability to drive conversions. But with $60-$65 billion earmarked for AI infrastructure and mounting brand safety concerns, will advertisers stick with Meta in 2025? With Zuckerberg calling this a ‘defining’ year for AI, the stakes have never been higher.

Building Brand Awareness on a Budget Brand awareness doesn’t have to come with a big price tag. Small businesses can compete with larger brands by using cost-effective digital marketing strategies that maximize impact without breaking the bank. From local SEO that puts your business in front of nearby customers to micro-influencer collaborations that drive authentic engagement, this guide breaks down five powerful tactics to boost visibility. User-generated content, paid social ads, and email marketing round out the mix—helping businesses build trust, drive traffic, and grow sustainably.

TOP VOICE

💭INSIGHTS FROM RICHARD KING

The best marketing feels personal

Great marketing doesn’t just sell—it makes people feel something.
✅ Your audience should feel seen.
✅ They shouldn’t feel “marketed to.”
✅ Your POV should be instantly clear.

A simple test? Have customers read your copy and ask: What did your inner voice say?

💭INSIGHTS FROM KEITH BENDES

💭INSIGHTS FROM STEPHANIE MCCARTY

How Marisa Thalberg redefines what it means to be a CMO

Few CMOs successfully jump industries—but Marisa Thalberg has done it across beauty, fast food, home improvement, and now retail.

💡 At Estée Lauder, she reshaped beauty marketing.
🌮 At Taco Bell, she turned a QSR into a lifestyle brand.
🏡 At Lowe’s, she drove record sales.
🛍 Now, at Catalyst Brands, she’s transforming retail.

Her secret? Seeing the big picture. "Marketing is marketing," she says. "The fundamentals don’t change—only the context does."

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