5WPR recently launched its 2024 Consumer Culture Report highlighting the growing consumer inclination to splurge, and emphasizing the importance of personalized connections for brands. Word of mouth proves pivotal, with 46% citing it as the primary influencer for purchases. While 71% consider traditional word of mouth, where friends or family inform about products, significant numbers include social media, with 68% deeming customer reviews and testimonials and 55% recognizing videos on social feeds as part of it. Electronics and technology remain the top splurge category, followed by health and wellness, while travel and experiences have risen in popularity. Despite online browsing preferences (51%), 39% still favor in-store shopping, with exclusive deals (46%), in-store products (40%), and store experiences (39%) enhancing brick-and-mortar appeal.
Allison Worldwide solidifies its commitment to climate change by becoming the official PR agency for The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Initiative. The global initiative aims to expedite the shift to clean energy through international collaboration. This partnership follows Allison’s recent pledge with Clean Creatives, making it the largest agency to openly reject projects from fossil fuel companies. The agency has already initiated PR efforts for the treaty group, securing media coverage during the UN COP28 Climate Talks in Dubai, where the initiative gained endorsements from Colombia, Palau, Samoa, and Nauru. Whitney Dailey, the executive VP leading the Purpose Center of Excellence, expresses the team’s enthusiasm for contributing to a crucial cause, emphasizing the importance of addressing CO2 emissions for a sustainable future.
Weber Shandwick concluded its services for the Ministry of Bahamas at the close of 2023, managing an account valued at approximately $950K for the Interpublic unit over the past year. The agency’s responsibilities included responding to media inquiries, monitoring trends impacting international travel, drafting press releases and statements, crisis management, and organizing familiarization trips for journalists and social influencers. Notably, the US State Department issued a Level 2 travel advisory on January 26, urging increased caution for travelers to The Bahamas due to concerns about violent crime and gang-related incidents. Additionally, tourists were discouraged from renting recreational watercraft, citing poor maintenance and lack of regulation for jet skis and water vessels.
Interpublic Group (IPG) has named Susan Credle as Creative Advisor, a newly established position. While continuing her role as Chair of IPG creative agency FCB until the end of 2024, Credle will report to IPG CEO Philippe Krakowsky. With a background in top creative roles at Leo Burnett and BBDO before joining FCB in 2016, Credle’s new responsibilities involve infusing creative perspectives into emerging offerings like commerce and marketing technology solutions. She will also ensure that IPG’s creative initiatives encompass innovative areas such as generative AI. Philippe Krakowsky expressed confidence in leveraging Credle’s unique expertise, industry leadership, and commitment to representing creative ideas in advancing IPG’s capabilities for building client brands and fostering business growth.