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How to Use Cultural Insights to Develop Authentic Advertising
Authenticity in branding is not simply about values – it’s about connection. Consumers, especially younger generations, demand messaging that reflects their lived experiences with honesty, respect and depth. Authentic brands don’t speak to people – they speak with them, using shared cultural codes to build trust and emotional resonance. This is where cultural insights come […]
Tariffs Could Cost the Average American Household Nearly $5K a Year, Study Finds
The average household will lose about $4,900 yearly in the short term, followed by long-term impact from slower economic growth, higher unemployment and high inflation. Sure enough, the economy is already flashing early warning signs. A survey by Collage Group found that 72% of Americans have changed their spending habits in response to tariffs. Specifically, […]
Should You Buy an iPhone or 2 Other Apple Products Before Tariffs Take Hold?
Natalie Griffith, the director of cultural insights at Collage Group, said, “Apple has been totally aligned with what consumers told us they want to see from brands dealing with tariffs — in that they have suggested they aren’t raising prices, but are being very transparent about the situation and the moves they are making to […]
How Tariffs Could Impact Advertising Budgets
Economists and analysts have long been saying that higher consumer prices from tariffs will make consumers less likely to buy things. But what if the impact isn’t as profound on the consumer level? Forbes senior contributor Pamela Danziger writes about reports that don’t necessarily paint a picture of consumer doom. A study from research firm […]
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 […]
The AI Trailblazers Power 100 Are Building the Future
Artificial intelligence is transforming every facet of modern life, from the way we work to how we communicate. Adweek’s inaugural AI Trailblazers Power 100, curated in partnership with AI Trailblazers, highlights the people at the forefront of this technological leap. From the scientists creating the hardware on which AI runs to the digital advertising pioneers […]
How Consumers Are Preparing For Tariffs Amid Economic Uncertainty
Since 2020, Americans have been on a roller coaster where prices are concerned. The consumer price index rose from an average of 1.2% in 2020 to 8% in 2022 then dropped to a still high 4.1% in 2023. Shoppers adapted then – retail and food service receipts rose from $7.4 trillion in 2021 to $8.5 […]
Costco is looking like the big winner after Target’s DEI rollback
“We’ve seen here, especially with Target, is that they’ve eroded that trust because they’re not doing what they say, and they don’t say what they do,” Collage Group’s chief insights officer, David Albert, recently told Business Insider.
Target 40-Day ‘Fast’ and The Consumer Psychology Behind Boycotts
Rev. Jamal Bryant claims Black consumers spend over $12 million a day at Target, which isn’t too hard to imagine as the Collage Group, a cultural research firm, estimates the Black community’s spending power will reach $2.1 trillion by 2026, rising from $1.7 billion in 2021. Black-owned businesses have an essential part to play in […]
Target flip-flopped on diversity. Now its stock is down 57%.
David Albert, the chief insights officer at Collage Group, a consumer research firm that focuses on multicultural audiences spoke about how Target’s trust has eroded among consumers.