In a world of Big Data, AI and machine learning, we have all the data and tools we need to make decisions about what’s good for consumers and even the direction of our economy, right? Nope, Karen Webster says. What’s worse is that we’re not only drowning in data, but the ways in which we’ve always measured and used it for decision-making are no longer relevant. Instead of more data, here’s what she says we need, desperately, instead.  Read More...

Fill in the blank: “There are some things money can’t buy. For everything else, there’s ___.” It’s not a hard guess — the Priceless campaign has been at the heart of Mastercard’s branding for 20 years. Now, however, the card network is shifting its focus from celebrating experiences and connections to making them happen. As Mastercard and Pebble Beach Resorts link up here’s what the company is aiming to accomplish and why it was time to go beyond “Priceless.”  Read More...

Quick service restaurants (QSRs) like McDonald’s and Chopt Creative Salad Co. have turned to in-store events and promotions to innovate. Customers have to be drawn into the store with special deals and prizes, but one can’t simply introduce a promotion like McDonald’s Monopoly and let it run for years without any changes. Even a good promotion has to constantly be tweaked to consumers’ changing tastes. Here are five in-store features that can bring customers through the door and drive innovation.  Read More...