Meredith English Holder

✨ Chloe Gordon and the Dieline’s hot take on trends for 2025 in her 2025 Dieline Shelf Life Report ✨ 👉 https://lnkd.in/dH_5kQSQ --------------------- 🎨 Objects as Art Forms Packaging is transcending its functional purpose to become decor-worthy. From sculptural beauty compacts to minimalist condiment bottles, brands are designing packaging that looks as good on your shelf as it performs in use. 💪 Trad Masc Hyper-masculine branding is on the rise, blending traditional values with modern packaging design. Protein is king! 💬 Emoji-fication of Design When a picture says it all. "🍒🎱💋🔗.” The playful and approachable quality of emojis makes for and unique design tool. Anyone see the Funyuns?? 🌍 Cultural Convergence A beautiful blending of global culinary cultures is making its mark on packaging. Brands are honoring authenticity while making diverse flavors accessible to wider audiences. 🥤 The Utah Effect Driven by pop culture, mixing creamer and soda made a “Dirty sodas” splash this year. It is an unapologetically sugary trend, offering a fizzy escape from wellness culture. 🔄 Aluminum Tubes & Sustainability Aluminum tubes are leading the way in sustainable chaos packaging. Functional, recyclable, and eye-catching, they’re a win for both the planet and design enthusiasts. ✨ Vibestalgia This trend blends nostalgia with dreamlike escapism. Rich textures, soft grains, and cinematic hues evoke emotions while offering a break from digital saturation. Dieline is the best at highlighting trends and these certainly underscore the power of packaging to tell stories, drive consumer behavior, and spark joy. Let’s talk about how these insights can inspire your next project! Which trend do you think will make the biggest impact in 2025? Share your thoughts below! #PackagingTrends #Dieline2025 #DesignInnovation #Sustainability #CulturalConvergence

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LinkedIn is being weird so I'm reposting. #RetailDisrupted is back after a summer break and my first guest is GameStop and Laura Mercier Cosmetics co-founder Gary Kusin. We talk about everything from malls and makeup to meme stocks! 💄 🎮 📈 ♦ GameStop’s origins: what inspired Gary and James McCurry to launch the world’s first video game store in the early 80s? ♦ The pivot to makeup: Gary discusses how a conversation with former Macy’s Chairman Terry Lundgren sparked the idea for Laura Mercier. ♦ Continuous improvement versus continuous change. ♦ Customer centricity: why so many brands today fail to get this right. ♦ Kinko’s: Gary shares how, as Kinko’s CEO, he turned the loss-making business into to a highly profitable enterprise that was later acquired by FedEx. ♦ Meme stocks: Gary shares his views on the GameStop stock market frenzy. Full episode in comments and is available on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. As always, if you're able to leave a quick ⭐ rating, this really helps the show! 🙏 https://lnkd.in/eWFUE7Vw #gamestop #lauramercier #kinkos #fedex #retailinsights #retail #retailpodcast #leadership #retailleadership #garykusin

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As we enter Q2 of 2024, I have been asked about key trends relative to the current strength of the consumer in the U.S. Despite headlines showing endless resiliency, we have seen some softness in purchasing behavior on the consumer front, especially in January and February, with a rebound since March.   Q1 also brought dynamic changes in the consumer goods sector's M&A landscape. Key highlights include:   Health Focus: Significant deals like Medbase's acquisition of Zur Rose Group reflect a growing emphasis on health and wellness. Luxury and Efficiency: Firms like Tapestry are strategically acquiring to enhance luxury portfolios and operational efficiency. Tech Integration: Investments in AI and digital capabilities are driving better consumer engagement and operational agility. Strategic Consolidations: Companies are optimizing their portfolios by focusing on core areas and divesting non-core assets. Global Investments: Cross-border M&A remains strong, targeting regions with high growth potential.   Despite economic uncertainties, these trends show the sector's resilience and strategic focus on long-term growth.   #ConsumerGoods #MnA #BusinessStrategy #HealthAndWellness #DigitalTransformation

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It is always exciting when retailers create new categories and Walmart does it right with their newest category called Modern Soda category featuring innovative and better for you brands. Walmart's decision to modernize its soda shelves to prioritize functional beverages marks a pivotal moment in retail innovation. As this article from BeverageDaily highlights, the shift reflects evolving consumer demands for products that not only quench thirst but also enhance health and wellness. This trend resonates with what Pathformance is seeing across the industry: the integration of purpose-driven products with data-driven strategies. OLIPOP PBC Zevia poppi #CPG #Retail #media #measurement

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𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞... A recent RetailWire discussion ponders whether Walmart can take on Trader Joe's with its latest private brand launch, bettergoods. My take was that the brand seemed more Target-esque (shades of Good & Gather) and that it was about time Walmart upped the ante with a "better" private brand in grocery. This weekend, I headed to the freezer to grab my new favorite plant-based ice cream only to find I was out of it. Keep in mind that 1. I'm plant-based but wasn't always. I know the standards analogs need to meet. 2. I've been hitting this ice cream several times per week. It's rich, not too sweet, with a perfect consistency, even after days in the home freezer. 😋 I started backtracking to remember where I bought it. Was it Whole Foods? Fresh Market? I remembered the bright green packaging...very "Target" - that must be it (my more frequent jaunts to Target for plant-based goods still surprise me). I wasn't completely sure so I headed to the recycle bin. Mystery solved. It was - Walmart's "bettergoods" plant-based ice cream. 😯 Well played, Walmart. Well played! ✅ 👏

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AI in Retail: Bridging the Gap Between Ambition & Readiness for Generative AI I recently spoke with Michelle Pacynski, Ulta Beauty & Mike Dupuis, SPARC Group LLC about this topic. Before diving in, I find it helpful to ground the conversation in recent data: 1. According to a recent Forbes estimate, the AI market size is expected to reach $407 billion by 2027. 2. A global Accenture study (July) highlights that: - Companies with strong digital capabilities (data, cloud, security, etc.) are reinventing 2x as many functions with AI & are expected to drive 2x the value creation. - 50% of executives believe they can scale generative AI across their enterprise within 6-12 months, but only 13% are confident they have the right data strategies & digital capabilities to fully leverage GenAI. Why the gap? These insights set the stage for a deeper conversation. Here are some key themes we explored: 1. AI integration frameworks they've adopted: - Assist, Augment, Automate – This framework has helped categorize the 15-20 AI pilots running at any given time. It has especially reduced the pressure to automate everything right away, allowing teams to focus on assistive & augmentative use cases first. 2. Real-world AI implementation examples that required process changes & KPI definition: - Leverage GenAI from your SMS partner to create new audiences & test custom messaging. Process changes included: new workflows for both internal & external teams. KPIs: # of new customers acquired & conversion rates. - Launch a GenAI conversational experience during peak sales to manage case loads, while ensuring real humans are available for more complex queries. Process changes included: customer query routing & escalation procedures, with KPIs focused on # of cases resolved to satisfaction, incremental revenue from case resolutions etc. 3. Keeping up with the evolving world of AI: a) Follow key professors like Ethan Mollick & Stefano Puntoni b) Stay close to the VC community to learn about emerging applications & how people are thinking about the future c) Access to product engineers & innovation through involvement on Boards (e.g., Cordial) d) Attend key tech events like CES and SXSW. 4. How AI can transform retail, from customer experience to back-end operations: - Use weather data to inform inventory buying & planning, ensuring customers get the products they want in the channel they prefer. - The retailer that best uses GenAI applications to develop personalized & on-brand communication with customer segments will create the most value. c) Empower consumers to virtually try on products & learn more about them, both online & in-store. Finally, some questions to consider: - I wish consumers knew AI… - I wish regulations did… - I hope someone develops… There’s no doubt that AI is omnipresent, but achieving meaningful impact requires strong digital strategies, partnerships, and a sharp focus on data governance. #AI #Innovation #Transformation #Leadership

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It's essential to go deeper and recognize the true benefits that the right TPM software can offer your business. As we approach 2025 planning, I strongly suggest checking out the below if you're evaluating a trade tool. Stu offers valuable insights that you should definitely be aware of. #saas #growth #cpg #tradespend

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Another consolidation event in the CPG brokerage industry... 🙄 As brands today are seeking high-value strategic broker partners who can provide significant customer expertise and more importantly the ability and the capacity to deliver on expectations, we continue to see the large national brokerage firms march down the path of consolidation - a direction that over the last decade has proven to push brands *away* from this model and towards more customer-focused, best-in-market brokers. I, for one, welcome our consolidated broker overlords.... One thing I know for certain is that brands want (and need) a broker they can trust; a partner that can help solve pain-points and remove the obstacles impeding their growth - a broker that will fight for their business everyday as if it were their own. but what do I know 🤷‍♂️

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Redefining convenience, quality, and community connection has come to fruition with the launch of our Daily Shop store located in Manhattan's Upper East Side. The Daily Shop is more than a smaller store; it’s a strategic response to the evolving needs of modern shoppers. As fill-in shopping trips have become more common and urban communities demand high-quality, accessible grocery solutions, this concept has reinforced our commitment to meeting customers where they are. By focusing on curated essentials, local relevance, and operational efficiency, we’re delivering a neighborhood-centric experience that’s uniquely Whole Foods Market. Looking ahead, more Daily Shop stores are on the horizon including East Village’s StuyTown development and Hell’s Kitchen locations in New York City. This growth aligns with our broader vision to integrate innovation into Whole Foods Market’s Growing with Purpose framework focused on thoughtful, sustainable, and meaningful expansion that benefits customers, team members, suppliers, and communities.  By leveraging data-driven insights, fostering community, and creating value for all our stakeholders, we’re paving the way for a future where innovation drives purpose.  #GrowingWithPurpose #DailyShop #TeamWFM https://lnkd.in/gsRFPB-U

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It's interesting and telling that this story makes no mention of digital or social at all. So much of fashion, beauty and other categories core to Macy's are recommendation driven and those conversations are all digital and social. Much of the plan here seems to be shifting from broad to curated and recommended. I love the consultative approach. Selling advice is a much better business than selling shoes. But with every influencer and media company integrating backwards into retail, it's tough to see how a retailer succeeds without integrating forwards into content. If you do only one thing (e.g. having shoes in stock) then it's crucial to be super-efficient, which neither Macy's nor their digital/social first competitors is. That inefficiency can be overcome by bundling (e.g. curation and availability). Unfortunately, it seems like the average fashion blogger with affiliate links and brand collabs gets this strategic imperative and Macy's doesn't.

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I had the great pleasure of sitting down with Dave Knox and Forbes to discuss Nori, Inc.'s growth journey to date. Here are three key learnings Annabel Love and I reference as a three person team that reached eight-figures in annual revenue in under three years: 1. Invest in Innovation! The e-commerce market is flooded with brands that have undervalued the importance of an innovative product. Product acquisition is too expensive for those that are simply rebranding a product or service that already exists. 2. Nail one channel and the rest will follow! While we always hoped Nori would be an omni-channel brand, we focused solely on making Direct-to-Consumer a success, before entertaining Amazon and Wholesale. This channel-focus allowed us to understand our DTC marketing dynamics and ensure channel profitability before our focus was placed elsewhere. Bonus: As we gained market share via DTC, wholesale buyers proactively came to us. 3. Bet on Talented Freelancers. Our team is currently comprised of three full-time employees. We have kept our G&A expenses impressively low without compromising growth, by betting on talented marketing, PR, product and brand freelancers that have the same drive and incentive to grind as an early-stage founder. Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eh2McN92

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! Functional Innovation Alert ! GURU is launching a new line of ZERO SUGAR organic energy drinks in the US starting with Amazon and Life Time Fitness. 🌱 While many claim "zero sugar," they often sneak in artificial sweeteners like sucralose and aspartame—ingredients linked to potential health risks. At GURU, we take a different path. 💯 Organic, zero sugar, zero sucralose, zero aspartame. ⚡️ Ready for an energy boost that’s as clean as it is powerful? 🌱💪 hashtag #CleanEnergy hashtag #ZeroSugar hashtag #OrganicEnergy hashtag #NoSucralose hashtag #NoAspartame hashtag

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I highly recommend attending the webinar! Not only will we be reviewing the learning, but there will be a panel discussion on how the findings can be leveraged in market!

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"We thought, ‘We can do more with a lot less,’ and that didn’t work out for us.” On the back of #TerribleHorribleNoGoodVeryBad quarterly results, it's quite refreshing to hear Kohl's (outgoing) CEO speak so openly about the current state of the business and the decisions they / he made that did not work out. The full transcript (link in the comments) is worth a read. CEO Tom Kingsbury started with ... "Over the last several quarters, we have implemented a significant amount of change across our assortment, value strategies, and in-store experience. We believe these actions will make us more competitive over the long term. However, we undervalued the short-term impact this change could have on our sales performance." And then went into details on the three areas that drove performance: "a decline in traffic, especially early in the quarter, during the back-to-school season; a reduction in receipts in our private apparel brands, which impacted our ability to drive sales in our key value items; and categories where we have lost traction that represented opportunities for us going forward such as fine jewelry, petites and intimate apparel, and legacy home products." He didn't blame the macro environment or the weather, despite both playing a factor. Frankly, the only thing not addressed -- in the narrative nor in the Q&A -- was how to overcome the challenge of operating in the department store sector as a whole (for those not following closely, department stores have been in a 30-year decline). And yes, I imagine that knowing you're no longer in charge is part of why he was able to "own" the issues, effectively "cleaning the plate" for incoming CEO Ashley Buchanan. But still a welcome change from the "corporate speak" of most quarterly calls. https://lnkd.in/ez8PJ2t7

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Statistically speaking, we're hitting it out of the park! Achieving double-digit growth in a mature business for 2024? How about a 30% increase? We’re driving the right kind of growth by balancing our portfolio and introducing innovative ideas, strategies, and tactics to some of the most recognizable brands in CPG and retail. The phrase "May you live in interesting times" is often misattributed as a Chinese curse but is actually a modern invention. It’s thought to be a blessing, suggesting exciting adventures and captivating experiences. If you’re seeking adventure in your business, contact us for a transformative approach. #NumbersCount

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Only 60 working days until the POI 2024 Fall Summit in Dallas, Texas, kicking off on November 13th! Don't miss out on the must-attend CPG event of the fall—register today: https://lnkd.in/evCipZgf Wondering why you should attend? 🤝 Engage and Expand Your Network: Experience ample networking opportunities during breaks, lunches, and dinners to connect with industry peers, solution providers, and manufacturers. 🗒️ Pre-Conference Workshop: Dive into advanced skills and strategies in this interactive workshop. Explore best practices and develop a roadmap to steer your organization through economic uncertainties, ensuring sustainable growth. 💡 Peer Manufacturer Insights: Throughout the summit, gain invaluable insights from industry peers. Learn from their experiences, best practices, and challenges in deploying capabilities, equipping you with actionable strategies to implement in your organization. 💭 ROI-Centered Deep-Dive Workshops: Get all your burning questions answered in our concurrent workshops on TPx, RGM, Retail Execution, and Omnichannel Transformation. Experts will guide you through practical steps to refine your roadmap, providing actionable takeaways to propel your organization to the next level of success.

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𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝘂𝘁𝘀, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗻𝗰𝗲.   With inflation impacting consumer spending, food and beverage companies are under pressure to rethink pricing strategies to stay competitive. General Mills recently made a bold move by cutting prices, leading to a spike in demand as more shoppers choose to eat at home.   Their CEO highlighted that eating at home is now 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳 than dining out—a key factor in their strategy. But with softer demand across the market, brands face a challenging road ahead.   𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁? Learn more about General Mills’ approach here: https://lnkd.in/gJAZs2ag

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I’m excited to announce that Doss to the VIP Sponsor line up to Founder’s Innovation Day. Focused on industry thought-leadership, retailer insights, and growth partner networking, Founders’ Day is certain to support the emerging brand ecosystem. Doss is transforming the way teams operate in the real world with our Adaptive Resource Platform (ARP) — a seamless blend of system-of-record, interface builder, and workflow editor. Whether you're an emerging or established CPG brand, Doss helps simplify the complexities of growth: more SKUs, manufacturing partners, and logistical challenges. With Doss, you get the power of a fully configured ERP without the headaches of lengthy integrations and costly implementations. We're here to help you scale smarter, not harder. CPG Founders, Emerging Brand Leaders and Start Up Nation entrepenuers and service provider organizations should all make time for Founders’ Innovation Day. https://lnkd.in/egYWkMA2 #CPG #EmergingBrands #ERP #innovation #retail ECRM Mass Market Retailers

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Good insight from Walmart: Food and beverages companies are worried that weight loss medicine like Ozempic will reduce consumption, as consumers are becoming less hungry. What a brilliant marketing challenge for a brand manager - sell more to less hungry and thirsty user :) Ozempic Is Making People Buy Less Food, Walmart Says https://lnkd.in/dBvtFDi6

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