Catching up on the top marketing and advertising news has never been easier! Read up on the stories you need to know this week.

America Runs on Dunkin’

Following in the shoes of Papa Johns and Weight Watchers, Dunkin’ Donuts is the latest brand to debut a name change. Effective January 2019, the popular chain will simply become “Dunkin’” in an effort to focus more on their coffee and other breakfast foods in addition to donuts. Dunkin’ is also rolling out in-store mobile pickup areas and a drive-thru lane specifically for mobile customers, all in an attempt to appeal more to millennials. Find out more about the latest brand change here: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/dunkin-drops-donuts-from-its-name-in-new-branding/533243/

Snapchat and Amazon Partner Up

Watch out, world: two of the biggest names in tech are partnering to create a new way to experience e-commerce. Snapchat and Amazon are testing a visual search tool to help Snapchat users quickly find and purchase items online that they find in the world around them. The new feature would allow people to simply take a picture of a product or barcode, press down on the screen and launch the product’s Amazon shopping page.

Snapchat has rolled out a number of other e-commerce features this year, including Shoppable AR Lenses and shopping functions within the Discover page. Do you think this feature will help Snapchat compete with other shoppable social media like Instagram and Pinterest? Learn more about the new tool here: https://marketingland.com/snapchat-partners-with-amazon-to-let-users-shop-from-pictures-248825 

Target’s Retail Redesign

On the other side of the table, retail stores have been forced to come up with innovative solutions to keep up with e-commerce. To grab new customers and bring them back to brick-and-mortar, Target has announced a redesign of their in-store experience for 1,000 stores by 2020.

Target will create two entrances and two different experience for two different kinds of shoppers. An “ease entrance” for the on-the-go shopper will feature grab-and-go food shops and self-checkout, while the “inspiration entrance” will provide a more IKEA-esque guided tour through the entire store. The new store design offers both convenience for the time-crunched and a more leisurely experience for shoppers with more time to spend. Check out the re-imagined Target store here: https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/target-has-a-plan-to-emerge-victorious-in-a-much-needed-retail-renaissance-and-store-design-plays-a-key-role/

Instagram Founders Resign

To add to Facebook’s recent problems, Instagram founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger announced their resignation from the social media empire last week. Instagram’s former CEO and CTO did not give a formal reason for their departure, instead citing a need to take a break and explore their creativity.

Facebook acquired photo-sharing app Instagram for $1 billion in 2012, and since then Instagram’s usage and popularity has exploded. Systrom and Krieger’s departures raise questions about the future for Instagram and Facebook, especially as Facebook still deals with the consequences of user data and foreign interference scandals. How do you think the move will impact these social channels? Read the full story here: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/24/technology/instagram-cofounders-resign.html

The Continued Power of Word-of-Mouth

Even in our digitally connected world, it turns out consumers still trust personal experience and friends’ recommendations most of all. A study by research firm Audience Audit found Gen Z and Millennials were the two generations most likely to make recommendations based on the experiences of their family and friends. In addition, Americans overall ranked personal experience as their most valued source of information, while posts by brands on social media came in last. Could this trend be due to an over-prevalence of digital media in young consumers’ lives? You be the judge: https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/infographic-in-a-screen-filled-world-word-of-mouth-is-still-key/