Retail Media Therapy

The Rise of the Retail Media Ad NetworksRetail Media Therapy EP48 with Viv Craske, Colin Lewis & special guest Dean Harris, Head of Co-op Media NetworkRetail media is entering a new phase: as advertisers demand more scale, speed and simplicity, are aggregated “super RMNs” the answer to an increasingly fragmented market?In this episode, Viv and Colin are joined by Dean Harris to explore the rise of retail media aggregation, following the launch of RMX by PlanApps from SMG and the Dunnhumby Network Alliance, bringing together retailers including Tesco, B&Q, John Lewis and Waitrose.What we cover:Why aggregation is happening now: Advertisers are being asked to achieve more with fewer resources, increasing demand for media that is easier, faster and more connected to buy.Consolidation vs. curation: Rather than every RMN merging into one giant network, the future may involve curated portfolios of complementary retailers.The “rocks, pebbles and sand” model: Large-scale walled gardens could become the “rocks”; differentiated specialist networks the “pebbles”; and aggregated networks the “sand” that efficiently extends audience reach.The audience opportunity: The real value of super-networks may not simply be putting more inventory in one place, but enabling advertisers to reach valuable audiences across retailers and sectors through a single buying point.Lessons from programmatic: Aggregation can bring efficiency and scale, but it can also put pressure on CPMs, pricing control, differentiation and retailer-client relationships.The risk of the “squeezed middle”: RMNs without sufficient scale or differentiation may struggle to attract agency attention unless they find a compelling role within an aggregated ecosystem.The strategic choices for RMNs: Retailers need to decide whether to build scale, own a specialist position, participate in aggregation, or potentially become aggregators themselves.Why proposition should come before product: Dean argues that RMNs should define their proposition first and then use it to determine where to compete, lead or follow.Key takeaway:The future of retail media may not be about every retailer trying to become bigger. It could be about knowing exactly where you fit in the media plan.For Co-op Media Network, Dean sees the opportunity in being a differentiated specialist: not necessarily the biggest network, but one that can make campaigns work harder.The bigger question for the industry is whether aggregation can deliver the scale and simplicity advertisers want without triggering the same commoditisation and pricing pressures seen in programmatic media.Listen in for a lively debate on super RMNs, audience-based buying, the future of retail media consolidation, and what retailers should do next.About the podcastRetail Media Therapy is hosted by Viv and Colin and explores the challenges, opportunities and big questions shaping the world of retail media.Grace & Co | Retail Media Experts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the return of the Retail Media Therapy podcast Celebrity Deathmatch Live edition – this time, live from NRF in New York.The Retail Media Therapy podcast Celebrity Deathmatch is brought to you by Grace & Co - the marketing and commerce consultancy, alongside event sponsors QSIC and Zitcha.It's a rowdy Oxford style debate with 3 rounds, where one of our fighters will be for the motion and one will be against the motion – they have to make their point and trash their opposing fighter.Our fighters are: Colin ‘The Crusher’ LewisOf Retail Media Therapy Podcast and consultant at Grace & CoClaire ‘Whiplash’ Wyatt from The Trade DeskKiri ‘The Killer’ Masters Host of the Retail Media Breakfast ClubSarah ‘The Mauler’ Marzano from EMarketerYour judges are:Steve Biddle from ZitchaMark Walkin from QSICAnd your host is:Viv Craske host of the Retail Media Therapy Podcast and consultant at Grace & CoAre you ready to do battle?Round 1 - Colin vs ClaireUSA Vs the rest of the world. The USA sucks at Retail MediaRound 2 - Sarah vs KiriAgentic commerce: friend or foe to retail media?The Grand Final - TBC vs TBCApocalypse Now: is retail media doomed?Join the rowdiest, most debauched and most brutally honest event at NRF, and see who wins the debates and survives the insults.Grace & Co | Retail Media Experts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to EP32 of the Retail Media Therapy podcast with Viv Craske and Colin Lewis. Retail Media Therapy comes from Grace & Co - the marketing and commerce consultancy.In this special Crystal Ball Predictions for 2026 episode, Grace & Co team Michael Islip and Lucy Bugler join us to discuss:Reflecting on 2025: Realities and Surprises• Amazon DSP's integration of the connected TV world • Criteo ads in Google 360. • Slower-than-expected influx of brand budgets• Consolidation in retail mediaPredictions for 2026Colin Lewis aka "Madam Zelda" turns the crystal ball towards the future. • The myth of a singular, comprehensive AI solution. • AI's integration into agencies involves strategic application rather than mass replacement. • Creativity in retail media campaigns.• Will Google become a major player in retail media, via AI search?Wild and Crazy Predictions• Could Tesco purchase ITV?• The unlikely but exciting prospect of an Amazon and Walmart merger• Will retai media hasten the Dead Internet Theory and agents click on retail media ads for rewards?Grace & Co | Retail Media Experts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to EP30 of the Retail Media Therapy podcast with Viv Craske and Colin Lewis. Retail Media Therapy comes from Grace & Co - the marketing and commerce consultancy.In this episode:• Is Walmart really a retailer anymore and should your board stop thinking like a retailer?• We deep dive into the huge value of in store screens and how each screen location needs to be considered differently to give suppliers the best opportunities.• The latest from the Ascendant network event in LondonGrace & Co | Retail Media Experts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to EP28 of the Retail Media Therapy podcast with Viv Craske and Colin Lewis. Retail Media Therapy comes from Grace & Co - the marketing and commerce consultancy.In this episode:• Atlas Vs Google – Is the browser from ChatGPT a Google Ads killer?• Amazon no longer want to own shopping, they want to own advertising. That's the claim Viv makes as Colin explains what AWS RTB Fabric is• Media Upfronts are appearing more and more in the retail media world - what are they and why does every Hot Shot Retail Media Network need one?Grace & Co | Retail Media Experts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to EP26 of the Retail Media Therapy podcast with Viv Craske and Colin Lewis. Retail Media Therapy comes from Grace & Co - the marketing and commerce consultancy.It's the episode where Colin calls Viv sexy and Viv makes a £5,000 bet over Criteo and Google.There's also talk of advertisers using Amazon DSP will have direct access to Netflix’s premium ad inventory, as well as Disney, HBO, Hulu etc and why Amazon DSP is the No.1 place to buy TV now.There's an interesting UK story of Snappy Shopper - first UK quick commerce platform fully integrated with Google Shopping, giving local convenience stores the same digital shelf space as the biggest online players.And we talk about Google and Criteo, who have announced a new partnership allowing advertisers to buy Criteo powered sponsored products directly in Google's SA360 platform... and is this really a prelude to Google making an acquisition offer for Criteo.Grace & Co | Retail Media Experts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to EP24 of the Retail Media Therapy podcast with Viv Craske and Colin Lewis. Retail Media Therapy comes from Grace & Co - the marketing and commerce consultancy.Happy birthday to us! The Retail Media Therapy podcast is 1 year old.So Colin and I take a moment to reflect on the huge changes that have happened in retail media since July 2024.This episode, we talk about:Huge grows of RMNs - RM has gone from a quirky side note to the main event. Less retailers look only to Amazon and Walmart - more are looking to adtech, capability and innovation, and not just at the big bucks.Next phase of growth: Less walled gardens and more a realisation that growth comes from partners and the long tail of advertisers.Screens are everywhere and make the High Street/Main Street come aliveCreativity as a THING in retail media and a huge opportunity (and frustration for some) And finally, we look ahead into 2026 and ask, what does the retail media crystal ball see…Perplexity, OpenAI etc - at least one AI search platform will launch an ad networkCollaboration and consolidation - think about your partnership strategy with agencies, CTV, content platforms, etcReally understanding 1st Insights - the value of retailer data -> Data and tech strategyGrace & Co | Retail Media Experts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.