Author:
Reflections on Women’s Aging Journey: A 2025 AARP Mirror/Mirror Study on Authenticity and Menopause
Though women experience personal growth, media representation does not always reflect their reality. A notable two-thirds (64 percent) of women age 50 and over report rarely or never seeing themselves represented in today’s media. Women say this inauthentic representation is due to older women being portrayed unrealistically, such as by celebrities who have altered their […]
From Woke to Joke
“That kind of seesawing back and forth and saying one thing and doing another, that’s what gets brands like Target in trouble,” said David Albert, the chief insights officer at Collage Group, a consumer research firm that focuses on multicultural audiences.
Some Shoppers are Boycotting Target
A report from Collage Group released in February found that a third of consumers stopped shopping at their favorite store due to cuts to DEI commitments. The issue is especially pronounced for Black, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+ shoppers. Either way, the future of DEI, at least on the federal level, partially depends on the courts.
How DEI Pullbacks Could Affect the Economy
As the Trump administration advocates for the rollbacks of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs nationwide, the economic impact could be staggering. New research from Collage shows scaling back on these policies could cost brands a third of their consumers. For more on this, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with David Wellisch, […]
The Weekly News Queue
Collage has launched its proprietary AI-enabled platform to improve how brands uncover cultural insights, identify and connect with growth segments and drive revenue. It has also appointed David Albert as chief insights officer and Jason Moore as VP, sales.
4 Brand Challenges Facing McDonald’s New CMO
Collage’s America Now 2024 study showed that 81% of Americans say inclusive marketing is just as or more important to them than it was four years ago, and that number rises among Gen Z, millennials, Black, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+ consumers.“Consumers have a low tolerance for what they see as performative efforts right now, and if […]
Most Parents Say Social Media, Polarization has Made Their Job Harder than in the Past: Survey
The Collage Group, a consumer research firm based in Bethesda, Maryland, reported this week that 78% of parents of school-aged children responding to a recent survey agreed with the statement that “being a parent in today’s world is more difficult than it used to be.”
Five Smart CMO Moves For Successful Multicultural Marketing
During interactions with marketing leaders across the industry, CMOs frequently ask how they can build their multicultural marketing knowledge and that of their organizations.
Diverse Data Matters: Unpacking AI, Culture, and Inclusivity at BlackWeek
Despite the power of AI, Zekeera Belton, Vice President of Customer Success & Cultural Strategist at Collage Group reminded the audience that human oversight is still critical — especially when it comes to cultural representation. “AI is a tool to enhance our work, not replace it,” she explained. It’s not enough to gather surface-level insights […]
The Real Reasons Why So Many Brands Have Broken Their DEI Promises
David Evans, chief insights officer for consumer intelligence firm Collage Group, points to another factor he believes has prompted brands’ cool on DEI. It’s an incident known as the “Brew-haha.” “Not only did you see largely white, largely conservative individuals backlashing,” Evans said, “but LGBT+ communities and their allies backlashed as well.”