Ava Curtis Adcock

Yes, my friends, another relatively "stealthy" Utah-based company has made a "splash" in Utah's business ecosystem with a significant monetary / financial transaction ... a $725MM transaction to be specific. 🤯 🤯 🤯 Here's the headline ... "BREAKING NEWS: South Jordan, Utah-based GPS Capital Markets is Being Acquired for $725 Million by NYSE-Listed Corpay." I know, I know ... most of you are probably scratching your heads and thinking, "Who the crap is GPS Capital Markets?" In reality, unless you're a player in the #ForeignExchange market OR happen to be a personal friend / relative of someone who works at GPS, chances are they would have never hit your radar. But when it comes to #Forex (aka, FX), GPS Capital Markets is a decently sized #FinTech in the #FX marketplace, with ~$40B in #forex transactions in 2023 alone. Anyway ... for the rest of the skinny ... please turn to Utah Money Watch to get the details and my perspective on the matter: https://lnkd.in/gcK8WrT7. Thanks. And as always, if you find this writeup helpful / useful, please feel free to #repost and/or #share this Post to your feed. Additionally, I'd love your #comments and/or #likes as well. Thanks. Dave Politis #utah #business #monetary #financial #money #acquisition #acquire #MandA

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Costco is building its own in-house ad agency And it's powered by a treasure trove of shopper data This could be a game changer for brands looking to reach Costco's loyal members Costco has always been known for its low prices and no-frills approach But now it's leveraging its huge scale and customer data to create a new revenue stream Product sampling and promotions at Costco will increasingly be driven by its own ad platform Brands will need to adapt to this new dynamic with one of the world's largest retailers It will be fascinating to see how Costco balances monetizing its customer data With staying true to its core brand promise of always putting members first One thing is certain - Costco's entry into advertising will have major ripple effects Across the entire retail and CPG landscape Source: https://lnkd.in/gaU9H6Gg ___ I'm Lawrence, fractional CMO and founder of MarketingHero. I share daily insights and news here to help fellow marketers stay up-to-date on the latest trends. Follow me for regular updates.

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After years of no paid spend on social media, We’re back. Butt driving ZERO clicks to our website 😱 Instead we’ve chosen to pump traffic to key retailers Because we believe this is where our DUDES want to buy While the attribution isn’t an exact science like DTC You’d have a hard time convincing me the ROI isn’t better ✅Everyone prefers to buy at retailers - so conversion rate is higher 💰 ✅Customers can also stock their cart with other products - driving net new revenue to our retailers, they like that 😃 ✅ We’re pumping the flywheel at the largest marketplaces in the world. Where organic rank is worth much more than a customer’s “1st party data” 🚀 ✅ This strategy requires infinitely less costs than DTC - where you’re constantly draining cash flow into creative iteration, customer service, Ad specialists, web design, etc While this might not be for everyone, make you’re not blindly chasing a Shopify model Often times there is goldmine right under your nose. ✌️

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Are you still in **** Need copy and link **** mode? 25 Memorial Day campaigns you should check out: Memorial Day Promos roundup: → The most common discount is 20-25% off sitewide → Some brands upping the ante to 30-50% for higher ticket items → Mattress companies are making moves this Monday The next most common were: → Tiered discounts, free gifts with minimum spend, & limited coupons Brands that caught my eye this Memorial Day. Some interesting approaches across: → Abandoned cart emails → Landing pages → Popups → SMS 📌 The list for you + their Memorial Day promos 1. Dreamcloud: 50% off mattresses for first-time customers 2. Helix: 25-30% off sitewide on mattresses  3. Nectar: Up to 40% off first Nectar mattress purchase 4. Cocoon: 35% off cooling mattresses 5. Saatva: Up to $500 off mattresses based on spend 6. Casper: Up to 35% off all mattresses 7. Plank: 25% off beds with code 8. Brooklyn Bedding: 25% off mattresses with code 9. Avocado: 20% off organic mattresses 10. Tempur-Pedic: 30% off select mattresses, $500 off adjustable sets 11. Purple: Up to $800 off select mattresses and bases 12. Brooklinen: 20% off everything 13. Parachute: Rare 25% off sitewide sale 14. Burrow: Up to 60% off sitewide on home furnishings   15. Cozy Earth: Up to 25% off bamboo bedding 16. Madewell: 25% off summer apparel & extra 25% off sale with code 17. Abercrombie & Fitch: 20% off almost everything 18. J.Crew: 40% off full-price, extra 60% off sale items 19. Everlane: 25% off sitewide  20. Jenni Kayne: 20% off coastal-inspired fashion 21. Supergoop: 20% off all sun care 22. TatcTa: 20% off sitewide with code 23. Solawave: $40 off $150+ orders + free gift with code 24. Oru Kayak: 20% off kayaks, 40% off bundles 25. Monos: 20% off luggage & travel gear with code Remember: A sweet Memorial Day deal is only half the battle. It needs to be as powerful as the website behind the promo. Can your site handle the holiday surge without sacrificing speed? Promos only take you so far. Speed is how you win long-term. A 1s faster mobile load time can increase your CVR by 27% Have questions? Shoot me a DM. Sitespeed for Shopify is what we do at Nostra AI.

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Why the Kiehl's Since 1851 SMS in response to the Equinox shake-up is a lesson in timely marketing. I absolutely LOVE a cleverly timed marketing campaign and as a Product Marketer, I am always thinking about how you can reach the right customer at the right time. Background: Equinox gyms replaced Kiehl’s products after a 13 year partnership(!!) and members were quick to voice their displeasure online. Amid this wave of member discontent, Kiehl’s saw not just a challenge but a golden opportunity. Recognizing the emotional connection their customers had with their products, Kiehl’s launched a clever SMS campaign to reconnect with their customers, offering a special discount on their products. They cleverly tapped into the ongoing conversation with a wink and a nod, inviting customers to continue their Kiehl’s routine by offering a special discount for their post-gym essentials. This masterful use of real-time social listening and swift marketing response showcases how brands can turn a potential setback into a strategic win. Kiehl’s didn’t just react; they engaged with a perfectly timed message that reinforced customer loyalty and capitalized on a trending conversation. They reminded us that effective marketing isn't just about reaching out; it's about reaching out with the right message at the right time. Have you seen similar strategies where brands have successfully turned a challenge into an opportunity? Share your thoughts and let’s discuss how timely marketing can make all the difference! #MarketingStrategy #ProductMarketing #BrandStrategy #CustomerEngagement #SocialListening

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I'm a 10-footer. I haven't always been. There were some really awkward years. What do I mean by 10-footer? I mean, I look pretty good until you get about 10 feet away. 😂 But seriously, keeping it real, I knew I wasn't going to be a model and that's ok. I focused on academics and athletics, finding another path in life. I still haven't gotten over not being a professional singer or musician and my family and friends suffer every day. 😲 I'm fortunate to have enough physical qualities and personality valued by mainstream to keep me in the consideration set for dating, job interviews, etc. [research-based, sad but remains true] Then in my career, I've focused on business results driven by expertise, leadership, and teamwork to advance. My definition for advance and the equation for business results continues to evolve with my career and technology advancements. Speaking of tech advancements, let's use AI for example. AI has been a part of our lives for a very long time, but it was integrated more subtly, more behind the scenes. Now there are an expanding # of AI tools readily available to the masses. Like any tool, some AI tools are simply superior to others and some people are able to leverage the tools more effectively than others. I leverage a range of AI tools daily. They've complemented and accelerated by work in many ways. As with all experimentation, there will surely be failures. Let's say, learning opportunities. Recently I shared with you a few headshots for my LinkedIn profile pic. Appreciated your feedback! I used these profile pics as inputs into an AI headshot generator app. This was a paid app. Insert higher expectations. See the images created in the carousel below. Like I mentioned the inputs were OK (10-footer certified), but wow, just wow to the AI photos. Such a giant head! Alien-like eye reflections. Why does my hair change lengths. Back to the head looking like a cake-pop on a tiny body... Needless to say, but I confirm, I won't be using any of these AI photos. In the end, what are we trying to communicate when we use AI generated photos of ourselves, especially if we're trying to be "authentic?" When the AI photos are more caricature-like, it communicates creativity, technology awareness, and can even stand out in a scroll of profile pics. But when it's tough to tell what's real, sometimes I wonder if it will be tough to tell if the experience with that person or company is real, is transparent, is believable, etc. In the spirit of all the potential of AI, what AI programs/applications are you using for business or personal that you love? I'm being purposely broad because I want to open up my AI world through your experiences. I want to avoid defining to narrowly and limiting. Leave your AI recommendations below in the comments. I can't wait to read them. --- Would love your follow (Heather Maxwell, PhD) if you enjoy posts on #insights, #brandbuilding, and living a #wellplayedlife

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Has the Linkedin algorithm gone crazy? I'm seeing many real old posts in my feed. 3 weeks to even 10 months ago. And they aren't better, more popular or more relevant. That, plus the plunge in reach of "new" posts is concerning. Should we count on our old content for impressions? Are you seeing this too? Or is it just me? #linkedin

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Did you know about the Choice Paradox? 🤔 In his TED talk, Barry Schwartz explains the Choice Paradox = more choices can make us less happy. Schwartz uses the famous jam study by Sheena Iyengar to show this. ❌ When offered 24 types of jam, only 3% of people bought one. ✅ When offered 6 types, 30% made a purchase. ► This data shows that fewer choices can lead to more sales and happier buyers. With too many choices, people struggle to decide and feel less satisfied with their decisions. Well... Turns out fewer choices can make us happier and more satisfied! 🚀 Offering fewer options can lead to better sales and happier customers. The less-is-more approach helps people decide quickly AND confidently.

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Why TikTok Might Be Your Next Big Sales Secret Six days ago, I was accepted into TikTok’s affiliate program. In that short time, I’ve already generated around $250 in sales. It’s not a massive amount, but it’s a start—and I haven’t even put much effort into it yet. Here’s what I’ve learned from this experience: 1. Effort vs. Reward: Even with minimal time invested, the returns have been promising. This shows how powerful social selling can be with the right platform. 2. Engagement and Reach: TikTok offers a unique way to connect with a large audience, making it an excellent tool for affiliate marketing. 3. Monetization Innovation: Diversifying income streams through various affiliate programs not only boosts revenue but also inspires creative content. This experience has motivated me to brainstorm new ideas and consistently post valuable content. If a few days can yield $250, imagine what a month or a year could achieve! If you’re considering diving into social selling, especially with TikTok, my advice is simple: start now, experiment, and see the results for yourself. Here’s a quick video I posted this morning making my coffee and of course I had to show some love for Willa's Oat Milk. #socialselling #coffee #tiktokshop #tiktok

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Lean and scrappy gets a bad reputation. But, Verdan will disagree, here are the 7 lessons from scaling his startup to $25k mrr. After over a decade of trial and error, whatever gets the spack, you stick with it. That is my one liner take from Verdan Rasic, founder of LeadDelta. After selling his previous startup for 7 figures, Verdan launched LeadDelta. Here the 7 lessons from scaling the startup to $25k/mo. 1/ Community is everything You can start with social media or build your own community 2/ Don't sleep on launch marketplaces like Product Hunt, Appsumo or Indie Hacker 3/ Keep cold outreach among the acquisition channels, it's cheap and effective. 4/ Penetrate communities, podcasts etc. It's cheaper for you to be a guest than a host. 5/ Leverage affiliates. With a Stripe link and a spreadsheet, you can get started easily. 6/ Do product-led growth Build hype around releases and referrals 7/ Don't sleep on SEO early on. Invest in keyword research and link building. The last lesson reminds me of Vfairs which scaled it MVP to $1m arr using keywords research and running competitive search ads. In today's newsletters: Product Weekly am sharing 5 more such nuggets on building your saas. p.s: Get proven product marketing Here: productletter.beehiiv.com

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The $144,000 cold email that shouldn't have worked (according to my mom): Template below Angle: Observation Why it works: 1. Sounds super natural 2. Calls out the problem 3. Gives a strong offer + guarantee solution 4. Doesn't hard sell Want to know the exact system I used to sign 540 B2B customers in 3 months? Comment "B2B" and I'll send you access to my 6-day cold email course. It shows you everything step-by-step. And is free for now.

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You know that one slide that you show in your demo... The one that has all the cool logos you closed The one where we are hoping that the buyers will be so impressed with our customers that they will want to buy instantly? Doesn't really have that same affect you might hope. Going through your process and not engaging your buyer aint it. Active listening is key. I was guilty of assuming what my buyer might say next, and not clarifying what they meant. The result was never good. Buyers want to feel seen, heard and understood. Don't talk at your buyers. Seek to understand before being understood. Sell the way your buyers want to buy. #BadSalesDate

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Meta is saying ROAS is 1.70. Triple Whale says 1.39. Then iROAS is saying 1.45 for Meta ads… now what do you do? 🤷🏻‍♂️ What do incremental metrics really even mean? “Okay, my ads aren’t performing as well as the platform says.. do I email Mark Zuckerberg or something?” No, here’s what you do instead 👇 Once you achieve statistically significant results for incremental metrics like iROAS and iCPO, incorporate them into your daily reporting dashboards. Then work out a blended metric between what the platform is reporting and what your incremental metric is from an incrementality test. This will allow you to make better decisions on where to put your next dollar. The other thing is you need to constantly test. 1 geo-holdout or inverse-holdout test won’t suffice. You can use statistical models like causal impact from R to do a constant incrementality test of sorts to calculate incremental impact of each channel or campaign during each season. This data becomes useful for many reasons, including MMM analysis. Maybe I’m using too much jargon here. Incrementality tools like Stella | Growth Intelligence make this all very simple and help you calculate true impact of your marketing channels. I would love to know your thoughts on this marketing measurement tactic. #incrementality #measurement #marketing

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There's a big misconception I need to clear up (and it's costing DTC brands). ❌ Package protection isn't an "added cost" ✅ Package protection is an added benefit Here are three arguments I see against package protection that feed this misconception: 1. "Isn't it just another fee for the customer?" Package protection is additional, keyword "additional" here. Fees are usually uncompromised and forced. Package protection is a choice, and unlike fees, there's a breakdown on "what" is being covered when the box is checked to add it. 2. "This is going to hurt my conversion rate." We've yet to have a brand tell us that adding package protection hurt their conversion rate. In fact, one brand saw a 9% increase in CVR after adding SavedBy Package Protection. It's been proven across ecommerce — customers aren't bothered by package protection, and most even see it as a value add (it is). 3. "We'll just protect our own packages." Enjoy the costs and time that goes into that. Every refund and replacement comes straight out of your bottom line. Service teams spend excessive time handling claims (which doesn't generate revenue). Meanwhile, you'll miss added revenue (from full price reorders), and we reduce customer service time spent on package issues by 93% on average. Package protection is offloading liability, giving your package claims process to a team that focuses on it all day, every day. It's a win for your customers and you. The best part? It's free for you. Doesn't sound like an "added cost" to me.

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