Why a merger could be the death of Myer and David Jones
In recent years, the original value proposition of the department store – everything under one roof – has been rendered obsolete by the infinite roof of the internet. The true disruptor in this space isn’t a competitor; it’s the shift in consumer behaviour. According to Australia Post, one in five households now shop online weekly. […]
‘Grim, ugly and sluggish’ ad spend
The latest numbers from aggregated media agency bookings are ugly, according to Ben Willee, executive director at Spinach. “But they are not the apocalypse either,” he said. Australia’s advertising market ended 2025 softer, with December ad spend down 9.2%. The Guideline SMI data shows full year ad spend down 2% overall, with the 1.6% market growth […]
Nine’s new media platform goes from sofa to street
Ben Willee, executive director, media and data, at Spinach, said there’s no doubt that TV and outdoor are a natural fit. “Strategically there is enormous benefit for Nine to be able to promote their TV shows using outdoor,” he said. “Both mediums live proudly at the top of the funnel where brands are built. “The […]
Campaigns that cut through the noise in 2025 – Nicole Miranda in the Inside Retail Outlook 2026
An advertising agency managing director unpacks the winning efforts of 2025 – and the lessons retailers can learn. In 2025, the brands that succeeded in their advertising were those that found a way to communicate authentically – weaving their truth without forgetting the importance of storytelling and emotional resonance. Here, we present the campaigns that […]
The CDP reality check: Why strategy must lead software in 2026
The customer data platform (CDP) market is facing a reckoning. After the buying frenzy of recent years, Australian businesses are now reassessing their investments with tighter budgets and a sharper focus on outcomes rather than architecture. In Mi3, Andrew Birmingham breaks down the latest Gartner Magic Quadrant rankings which see Salesforce dominating and traditional leaders […]
So what has been the biggest story of 2025?
Ben Willee, Executive Director of Media and Data at Spinach Advertising, talks to Tom Storey on Nine Radio’s Money News about the year in media and marketing. Listen to Ben speak here: Check out the podcast here: Money News: Ben Willee, Executive Director of Media & Data for Spinach Advertising Or read the transcript: Tom Storey […]
Taking hits but nowhere near a knock out – Ben Willee in the Adnews 2026 Forecast
Ben Willee, Executive Director – Media and Data at Spinach, said the economy is not as strong as some would have us believe. “There’s no Advertiser Confidence Index, but if there was, I’d bet the farm it’d be parked right next to ‘used car dealer trust levels’,” Willee said. “If you thought 2025 was a lot, strap in, […]
Perspective – Predictions are like weather forecasts from people selling umbrellas
This time last year, when I sat down to ponder the year that was 2024, I landed on the view that advertising is like riding a high-speed rollercoaster, missing half the track. Twelve months on, that sentiment is still the same. I also recall thinking that predictions from advertising executives are like weather forecasts from […]
The race has been won for the 2025 best TV channel but who really came out on top?
The race has been won for the 2025 best TV channel – but why are two stations claiming the crown? Ben Willee, Executive Director of Media and Data at Spinach Advertising, talks to Brooke Corte on Nine Radio’s Money News about the latest in media and marketing. Listen to Ben speak here: Check out the […]
The great unravelling: Digital advertising at a crossroads
For AdNews Perspectives last year, I wrote about a transformative period for our industry. Today, I’d argue we’re in a state of unravelling. The neat threads of digital advertising — privacy, platform neutrality, and search — are being pulled apart by political inertia, geopolitical manoeuvres, and the monopolistic ambitions of Big Tech. What was meant […]