Is this the last ‘traditional’ Christmas?
The dust has barely settled on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. As we brace for the final Christmas sprint and the inevitable Boxing Day crush, take a moment to really look at your customers. You are likely witnessing the last ‘traditional’ holiday sales period in retail history. While this year we see shoppers consulting AI […]
A soft advertising market turns soggy
“The market has fallen a massive 14.7% in October, which is the advertising equivalent of hitting a pothole so deep it rearranges your dental work,” said Ben Willee, executive director – media and data at Spinach. “One more month of negative growth, and we are in a technical advertising recession. Tough times are a very […]
Kyle & Jackie O face new ACMA pressure over offensive content. Ben Willee unpacks the fallout for ARN along with AFL and NRL moves
Ben Willee, Executive Director of Media and Data at Spinach Advertising, talks to Evan Lucas on Nine Radio’s Money News about Kyle & Jackie O facing ACMA pressure, ARN fallout, AFL and NRL moves and more. Listen to Ben speak here: Check out the podcast here: Money News: Ben Willee, Executive Director of Media & […]
The true cost of loyalty: planning for profit beyond the sales peak
The Australian retail sector is bracing for its annual litmus test: the Black Friday-to-January sales period. Forecasts are bullish, and the e-commerce operational focus is squarely on website load-balancing, inventory management, and conversion rate optimisation. For a few frantic days, success will be measured in record-breaking revenue and transaction volumes. But this is a dangerous, […]
‘Immediate trust and credibility:’ Sport fronting a brand campaign
Shell Motorsports collection has utilised the new motorsport fandom with miniature car models for fans to collect. Behind the creative, Spinach executive creative director Dom Megna told AdNews that sports stars add credits around the physical benefits for product or services. “That’s body physical, not material physical. They also bring a very distinctive fan base along with […]
The government wants streamers to produce more local content, changes at 10 News+, social media bans and more
Ben Willee, Executive Director – Media and Data at Spinach Advertising, talks to Evan Lucas on Nine Radio’s Money News about Streaming quotas, changes at 10 News+, social media bans and more. Listen to Ben speak here: Check out the podcast here: Money News: Ben Willee, Executive Director of Media & Data for Spinach Advertising […]
Outsourcing entry level jobs is shipping learning overseas
While speculation on the impact of AI on junior roles is widespread, Spinach’s Ben Willee reports that outsourcing to cheap offshore outfits is costing jobs right now. With budgets shrinking and margins narrowing, every agency in town is looking for a way to cut costs. While AI and automation are hogging the headlines, there’s another […]
Agencies question Victoria’s urgent brief panel
Ben Willee, executive director of media and data at Spinach, was more blunt in his assessment. “Sounds like government has just discovered the ‘urgent brief’. Welcome to Tuesday in retail land,” Willee told AdNews. Willee warned that unless the value of the work matches the chaos it creates, good clients and teams will suffer. “Not […]
Letting AI handle customer service: Good idea or total disaster?
Customer service stands at a technological crossroads. AI-powered chatbots can now understand natural language, resolve common issues, and operate around the clock without breaks. For businesses, the appeal is obvious: reduced costs, faster response times, and scalability that human teams simply can’t match. Yet customer frustration with automated systems remains high, and the risk of […]
The seven phases of Christmas: Are you ready for the holiday shopping season?
A comprehensive new report, Holiday Shopping Unwrapped, from Intuit Mailchimp has dismantled the traditional view of a single, monolithic Christmas rush. Instead, it presents a nuanced roadmap defined by unique emotional drivers, shopping behaviours and spending patterns for each period. Critically, the research challenges the notion that holiday shopping is purely a price-driven exercise. While […]