Major retailers such as Kroger, Walmart, and Instacart are leveraging these collaborations to expand their customer loyalty programs into advertising networks, offering new ways to engage consumers and capture national brand budgets. This article explores how these partnerships are reshaping brand advertising, the rationale behind merging entertainment with retail, and the future of these networks as they scale, with a focus on Amazon's playbook in the evolving retail media space.

As the holiday season intensifies, brands are using technology to stand out in a crowded market, creating memorable and value-driven shopping experiences. In response to evolving consumer behaviors, brands are moving from traditional ads to digital-first strategies that offer seamless, personalized interactions. Social commerce enables direct purchases via social media, while retail media networks are expanding to include streaming service partnerships, reaching consumers during their leisure time.

Innovations such as InMarket's Location Conversion Index made it possible for social media, especially TikTok, to drive sales into the stores. Through this partnership, sales lift attribution tools would verify purchases with real-world transaction data, further tracking viewers of TikTok ads who later visit stores. Such an approach shows just how powerful social media is at converting online engagement into real-world customer foot traffic and sales.

Commerce media is rapidly overtaking traditional TV spend as marketers follow where consumer intent and data are strongest. Powered by first-party shopper data and proximity to the point of purchase, Retail Media Networks offer what brands want most: measurable impact. While AI is transforming how people discover products—through marketplaces, social platforms, and conversational search—media budgets are shifting more cautiously. Still, the global ad market continues to grow, with content-led advertising now dominating spend and AI acting as a catalyst for structural change across the industry. Despite unresolved challenges like offsite measurement and incrementality, commerce media’s logic is compelling. Brands are prioritizing channels that connect data, intent, and outcomes—signaling a fundamental shift in how advertising works and where dollars will continue to flow.

As the internet becomes more saturated, consumers are gravitating toward niche spaces and personalized content. This shift is particularly evident in influencer marketing, where brands are increasingly moving their dollars from macro influencers to micro influencers, and from broad-reach campaigns to hyper-local creators. In this blog, we explore why hyper-local influencers are gaining traction and how they can help brands create more meaningful, targeted connections with their audience. Learn why the future of influencer marketing is all about going local!

Struggling to determine your influencer marketing budget for a new product launch? Our comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know about Instagram and TikTok influencer rates, cost calculations, and practical strategies to maximize your ROI. Dive in to learn how to leverage micro and nano-influencers, optimize your spend, and drive sales through effective influencer campaigns tailored for retail success.

Learn the secrets behind crafting effective local and regional campaigns, creating engaging short-form videos, and driving retail purchasing through targeted efforts. Join us in exploring how Crafted's cutting-edge platform and tailored approaches can elevate your brand to new heights.