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FGF: Brew for your pooch, email commerce, holiday countdown, and more!

The A-B-T Method

Storytelling that puts customers at the heart of content is an effective way to engage audiences. Using the A-B-T method (And, But, and Therefore) allows you to create content that builds emotional connections. It makes you focus by using research and empathizing with your audience. By building your content in this manner, you can identify what your audience wants, learn how to articulate it to them clearly and concisely, and establish a deep connection that helps build trust.

The ‘And’ is your statement of agreement with the audience. This first statement helps you validate your audience by letting them know you understand what’s important to them and what’s at stake in their life or business.

The problem statement or the ‘But’ makes sure that your ‘But’ statement is succinct and specific and creates a contradiction. The greater the contrast you can create between the ‘And’ statement and the ‘But’ statement, the more your audience will lean in to listen to your solution.

The solution or ‘Therefore’ showcases how you’re there to help your audience get what they want by helping them overcome whatever is standing in their way.

Once you join each of these pieces together, your completed story looks something like this: You want [what] And [why it’s important], But [problem]. Therefore, you have to get [what] by [how].

What We’re Reading + Listening To

#FGFStory: Pour a Cold One for your Dog

Anheuser-Busch, the makers of Budweiser, Michelob, Busch, and many other beer and alcohol brands, is a market leader of innovation of the future. The company found a new way to put its customers first—by putting their ‘man’s best friend’ first with Dog Brew, an alcohol-free bone broth product made for dogs.

A Renaissance for the Inbox? Email Commerce

According to Radicati Group’s estimate, more than 4 billion people use email worldwide. Recent studies found penetration to be about 85% in Canada and a calculated user base to be nearly 29 million this year, according to Insider Intelligence.

Retailers rely on email the most, and even more so now, due to the ecommerce boom that started in 2020 and continues this year. Collecting email addresses, whether at the physical point-of-sale or during checkout online, creates a digital identifier for customers that complies with domestic privacy regulations.

Next Steps: Retailers looking to personalize email communication must turn to pinpoint targeting and segmenting lists based on purchase history, digital behaviors, stated interests, and demographic data.

Need help with email marketing? CONTACT US!

#ProTip: Say Thank You to your Audience

One good way to bring your audience closer to you is to let them know you appreciate them. For your next post, try offering a quick message expressing your gratitude for their support of your business.

Holiday Pop-Up Countdown: Halloween is 65 days away and Christmas 120 days

Nearly 40% of consumers begin their holiday shopping before Halloween, and the post-pandemic effect has conditioned shoppers to start even earlier (Source: Oracle).
Be set for success from start to finish with pop-up go! We will help you find the right space, prepare your pop-up, reach the right customers, and meet your pop-up expectations! Pop-up to take advantage of the $1.1 trillion US holiday retail season!

IF YOU WANT TO POP! CONTACT US!

#Spaces Available and Wanted: Pop-Up Perfection

SPACE WANTED! VANCOUVER: Digitally native apparel company seeking 800 sq. ft. of mall or street front space with changes rooms.

SPACE AVAILABLE! TORONTO: 800 sq. ft. of clean modern space ready for events/galleries near High Park. Includes access to a private back courtyard.

SPACE WANTED! TORONTO: eCommerce loungewear brand looking for around 300-800 sq. ft. for a pop-up event.

Interested in launching or hosting a pop-up? CONTACT US!

projeX by pop-up go

The latest offering from pop-up go, projeX by pop-up go is a virtual pop-up marketplace and online shopping destination that connects consumers to a diverse variety of small businesses, boutiques, and local retailers, allowing them to discover high-quality, exclusive, and interesting finds. Brands can sell directly to consumers, create virtual pop-up stores, or host digital experiences – all in one place. It’s a great way to launch a new product, test a new concept, or build an online presence.

Pop-Ups in Action

Read about recent and upcoming pop-ups and pop-ins that we love.

“Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.”

— Mattie Stepanek

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FGF: The Glass House pop-up, Van Gogh, solar cuisine, and more!

10 Smart Approaches to Optimizing Your Facebook Ads

Facebook remains the undisputed leader among social media advertising channels. Globally, billions of people use the platform every day, and the average daily user will spend a few hours on it. To ensure your ideal buyers feel inspired to take action after seeing your ad on Facebook, here are a few tips:

  • Creating a frictiStart with a broad target and narrow it down
  • Retarget consumers who visit your website
  • Use Facebook’s tracking pixel and let their algorithm do the hard work
  • Choose a medium that suits your goals
  • Use your Google Analytics to divide ad sets
  • Break up targets with A/B creative to see what’s working
  • Create a client persona
  • Create ads that cater to specific generations
  • Use audience insights to attract competitors’ fans
  • Target by location first if you’re a small business

Need help with your social media advertising? Contact us! Microinfluencers Give Great ROI

According to MarketingHub’s Influencer Marketing Benchmark 2021 Report, influencers with follower counts under 15,000 have more than three times the engagement of those with audiences of more than a million. These rates plus microinfluencers’ lower prices means they can add great value to for businesses.

#ProTip: Clearly define your goals and cultivate ongoing relationships to truly benefit from influencer marketing.

#ClientNews Image Totale©: The Original Concept of Immersion

Zenergy is excited to announce that the company has been selected as the official public relations partner for the US tour of Image Totale’s immersive art exhibitions including Van Gogh, Picasso, and Monet. Working with the original immersive art experience creators, Annabelle Mauger and Julien Baron, Zenergy’s PR gurus will be promoting these pioneers across the US.

What We’re Reading + Listening To

#FGFStory: Europe’s First Solar-powered Restaurant

In southern France, Le Présage is harvesting the sun’s energy for cuisine solaire. The restaurant uses solar ovens and a Scheffler mirror — a large, parabolic dish that reflects and concentrates the sun’s rays to heat a stove to 400 °C. The kitchen’s water is heated by the sun, too.

Le Présage’s current incarnation serves fine food from a shipping container to guests for the time being as the owners will start building a fixed location later this year. The permanent restaurant will include a biogas installation to turn the site’s own organic waste into gas, enabling chefs to cook on cloudy days and after sunset. Biogas residues can then be used to fertilize a garden that’s meant to supply a quarter of the restaurant’s vegetables. #FuturDélicieux

#FunFacts Calgary

With retail sales growing more than 33%* in the last ten years and ranked in the Top 5 “Most Liveable Cities in North America” (The Economist Intelligence Unit, 2019), Calgary has become the hot spot of Canada.Boasted as an inclusive and entrepreneurial city connected through our community spirit, Calgary is a must for any brand wanting to pop-up.

*The Conference Board of Canada, Spring 2021

Featured Space: Vancouver The Glass House

84% of leaders in the marketing industry have adapted digital initiatives to respond to changing consumer expectations. Of those, 91% rely on digital advertising and social media, 90% use video, Brand activations, service launches, event spaces and more opportunities are now available in “The Glass House” at the newly redeveloped, mixed-use project – The Amazing Brentwood in Burnaby, Vancouver. The Glass House offers approximately 5,000 sq. ft. (over two levels) of dedicated pop-up space, available September 15, 2021, and onward. The Amazing Brentwood impressively combines shopping, living and entertainment in 28 acres – with world-class retailers including Nike, Sephora, H&M and more. Connected to Vancouver’s SkyTrain via Brentwood Town Centre.

Holiday Pop-Up Countdown: Halloween + Christmas Pop-Ups Wanted!

The holidays are fast approaching! We want to help you prepare your business for a busy period. Be set for success from start to finish with pop-up go! We will help you find the right space, prepare your pop-up, reach the right customers, and meet your pop-up expectations!

Head over to popupgo.com to check out available spaces!

500 sq. ft. of turnkey clothing store space in Rosedale fronting Yonge St.

IF YOU’RE A MATCH CONTACT US!

#ProTips Benefits of Pop-Ups

Pop-up shops provide brands with the flexibility and opportunity to experiment with less risk. Check out these other benefits of pop-ups:

  • Great way to introduce new products and concepts or demonstrate how to use a product
  • Create a fun experience for shoppers
  • Pique consumer curiosity with elements of surprise and trendiness
  • Create exclusivity and a sense of urgency for the products
  • Allow retailers to target their market better by going directly into places target exists
  • Can generate a buzz, create a memorable visual spectacle, and create a following
  • Educate customers on what makes their product unique to the market

Interested in launching a pop-up? CONTACT US!

projeX by pop-up go

The latest offering from pop-up go, projeX by pop-up go is a virtual pop-up marketplace and online shopping destination that connects consumers to a diverse variety of small businesses, boutiques, and local retailers, allowing them to discover high-quality, exclusive, and interesting finds. Brands can sell directly to consumers, create virtual pop-up stores, or host digital experiences – all in one place. It’s a great way to launch a new product, test a new concept, or simply build an online presence.

Read about recent and upcoming pop-ups and pop-ins that we love.

“Society is unity in diversity”

George Herbert Mead

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FGF: Willy Wonka hotel, meet Scarlet, reptile TikTok success, and more!

Four Ways to Improve the Quality of your B2B Engagement

Last year’s lockdowns prompted brands to rethink how to improve engagement with customers. Depending on your goals, this could mean:

  • Creating a frictionless pathway for communication.
  • Delivering strong content to customers.
  • Providing a seamless experience from one digital touchpoint to another.

#FunFact: 96% of enterprise leaders agree that the pandemic has increased the need for digital transformation with the common purpose of adding value to the lives of their audiences through products, services, or content. (Source: Econsultancy)

Here are four ways to optimize the quality of your B2B engagement:

  • Elevate your conversational marketing. It’s a mobile-first, fast-moving world, and people want their questions answered in real time. Brands must recognize the importance of seizing the moment and engaging with customers as soon as it happens.
  • Diversify educational content. Integrate live streaming content and videos that can further customers’ knowledge about your respective industry while building and growing your audience.
  • Consider micro-influencers. Use a focused approach through thoughtful, authentic posts with a smaller, more engaged audience, consider a micro-influencer.
  • Humanize your brand. Elevate trust and improve engagement by focusing on putting faces to names.

NFTs Could Go Even More Mainstream with Shopify’s Latest Move

NFTs have shot up in popularity over the past year. NFTs have become popular in industries from sports memorabilia to fashion and art, where their ability to provide authentication and uniqueness is prized. Last week, Shopify started allowing merchants on its platform to sell NFTs directly, betting that there’s demand for an alternative to third-party crypto marketplace. The company aims to win over merchants by giving them more control over the sale and customer relationship.

What We’re Reading + Listening To

#ClientNews: Curious Scarlet

Looking to add some excitement to your life? We’re extremely thrilled to be working with Curious Scarlet, a luxury designer cannabis and smoking accessories brand as they launch their unique line of products that are sure to you bring joy, relaxation and hint of zest. Zenergy’s team has been contracted as Agency of Record for all MARCOM activities – including media relations, social media, website design and content development – for the digitally native brand that is set to launch this fall.

Check out and follow Curious Scarlet on their Instagram page, and sign up on their website to be the first to know what’s coming… are you curious?

#PollResults: Split down the center!

Our FGF readers are nearly equally divided amongst their use of either debit or credit. 49.5% opted for credit and 50.5% turned to debit.

#FGFStory: California Zoo a TikTok Hit!

The Reptile Zoo in California has more than 10 million TikTok followers and has produced many viral videos, one of which proved particularly popular with 85 million views and 5.2 million likes. The clip shows one alligator being so eager at feeding time that he escapes his enclosure.

Six Effective Influencer Marketing Strategies

Influencer marketing can have tremendous results for your business, but you should be aware of some proven practices to achieve the highest ROI for your campaigns. It has been found that spending $1 on influencer marketing results in $6.50 in earned media. Here are six tips to run your influencer marketing campaigns:

  • Focus on the right platform
  • Identify the influencers who you want to work with
  • Find the right communication approach
  • Trust the influencer to tell your brand story
  • Make a proper disclosure
  • Launch the product involving the influencer

Take advantage of influencer marketing opportunities. Contact us!

#FunFacts

84% of leaders in the marketing industry have adapted digital initiatives to respond to changing consumer expectations. Of those, 91% rely on digital advertising and social media, 90% use video, and 60% have implemented artificial intelligence strategies. Source: Salesforce

Featured Brands Looking for Spaces

Toronto

2,000-5,000 sq. ft. of unique retail space is needed in trendy downtown Toronto neighbourhoods (Queen, Ossington) for a popular DTC swimwear company.

Seeking 500-1,000 sq. ft. in downtown Oakville for bath, body, and accessory brand activation.

Shopping Centers Across the US

Seeking outdoor and parking lot spaces at shopping centers for clothing donation boxes (+/- 100 sq. ft.).

IF YOU’RE A MATCH CONTACT US!

pop-up go Launches New Website!

We’re excited to introduce you to our new website, designed to make your pop-up needs easier to realize. Here’s what’s new:

  • Effortless navigation
  • Quicker access to information
  • Easier communication

Head over to popupgo.com to check out the new site!

Featured Spaces Looking for Brands

Whether it is for a few hours or a few months, pop-up go connects diverse brands and businesses across North America with a range of available spaces for pop-up activations.

Toronto

GTA space seeking pet product retailers, bookstores, or gift and wrapping services for pop-up activations.

Calgary

Retail center seeking women’s fashion, home goods, and health & wellness brands.

Vancouver (Burnaby)

Mixed-use center seeking unique retail concepts, brand showcasing, service launches, and galleries.

IF YOU’RE A MATCH CONTACT US!

projeX by pop-up go

The latest offering from pop-up go, projeX by pop-up go is a virtual pop-up marketplace and online shopping destination that connects consumers to a diverse variety of small businesses, boutiques, and local retailers, allowing them to discover high-quality, exclusive, and interesting finds. Brands can sell directly to consumers, create virtual pop-up stores, or host digital experiences – all in one place. It’s a great way to launch a new product, test a new concept, or simply build an online presence.

#Featured Pop-Up The Scottish & Irish Store Pop-Up

pop-up go is excited to work with The Scottish and Irish Store to launch a truly unique pop-up in downtown Toronto. From September 1 to December 31, find The Scottish and Irish store located at 501 Queen Street West and shop from their line of Scottish and Irish snacks, clothing, jewellery, and more! While it may be hard to travel right now, this pop-up will make you feel like you are euro bound!

Want to launch a pop-up? CONTACT US!

Pop-Ups in Action

Read about recent and upcoming pop-ups and pop-ins that we love.

Fear of Friday the 13th one of the most popular myths in science is called paraskavedekatriaphobia as well as friggatriskaidekaphobia.

Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number 13.

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FGF: Mom jeans, dog gamers, liquid billboards, and more!

B2B Video Marketing Tips

Business-to-business marketers can find success by:

  • Keeping video clips short.
  • Using them to address potential barriers to purchase.
  • Fostering trust with product tutorials and how-to videos.
  • Creating onboarding videos to improve customer retention.

Zenergy offers end-to-end video production services. Contact us!

#FunFact: 70% of viewers tend to engage with videos that are under two minutes long. Videos longer than two minutes have a dramatic drop in engagement rates. (Source: Wistia.com)

A recent study by Wyzowl found that video has a vast range of benefits including:

  • Above-average ROI.
  • Significantly higher engagement rate than that of other content types.
  • Increased website traffic.
  • Improved sales numbers.
  • Additional lead generation.

Adidas Liquid Billboard is Straight Out of The Future

Adidas has caused a splash with their billboard on a beach in Dubai, literally! The billboard is a box full of water – 11,500 gallons of water to be precise – intended to inspire women in Dubai to swim. The billboard showcases actual women swimming and was built to support the launch of Adidas’s range of accessible women’s swimwear.

What We’re Reading + Listening To

Debit or Credit?

More than 42% of US credit card owners prefer using debit cards for most transactions. Credit cards hold only a slim edge, with over 45% favoring that payment method. It’s no surprise that just about 12% like to use cash, because, really, who still carries cash? Source: InsiderIntelligence

#FGFStory: Flavor Confirmer Wanted

Doritos is offering TikTok users the chance to become its first Flavor Confirmer and be paid $100 per day for a month to ensure the flavor consistency of its Nacho Cheese chips. A TikTok starring influencer AdamW explaining the position has attracted more than 8 million views and more than 154,000 likes. Users can help to pick the winner from five finalists by liking their entry videos.

Digital

Mobile B2B Ad Spend Poised to be More than Nonmobile

Mobile is expected to overtake nonmobile in spending share by the end of 2023 and generate $7.43 billion in ad outlays. This comes after mobile’s slight loss of share last year, when B2Bs focused on nonmobile ads to target audiences working from home and spent $5.16 billion on those placements.

Take advantage of mobile ad opportunities. Contact us!

New Role for Marketers: Talent Acquisition: Brands Get Social to Recruit Staffers

Companies are employing creative social strategies to stand out amid a highly competitive job market to entice applicants who seek brand purpose and quality of life benefits, in addition to salary. An example is global toymaker Spin Master who launched a meme campaign to boost its game division marketing team. Meanwhile, Chipotle is attracting Generation Z candidates with TikTok resumes and a virtual job fair that yielded 24,000 applications.

Need help with your marcom activities? Consider outsourcing. Contact us!

New Role for Marketers: Talent Acquisition: Brands Get Social to Recruit Staffers

Companies are employing creative social strategies to stand out amid a highly competitive job market to entice applicants who seek brand purpose and quality of life benefits, in addition to salary. An example is global toymaker Spin Master who launched a meme campaign to boost its game division marketing team. Meanwhile, Chipotle is attracting Generation Z candidates with TikTok resumes and a virtual job fair that yielded 24,000 applications.

Need help with your marcom activities? Consider outsourcing. Contact us!

Spaces Wanted!

Montreal

Seeking 1,000 sq. ft. in downtown Montreal with kitchen for an ice cream shop pop-up.

Washington Metro Area

1,000-2,000 sq. ft. in DMV for a fashion brand.

South Florida

A fashion brand is looking for 1,000-2,000 sq. ft. in South Florida for a series of activations.

Toronto

A luxury home goods brand seeking 600-1,000 sq. ft. on Queen St W, College St, Ossington Ave, Dundas St W, or Bloor St W, or in The Junction, Roncesvalles.

Housewares company seeking 3,000 sq. ft. on Dundas St West or near Trinity Bellwoods Park.

A DTC women’s fashion brand seeking 500 sq. ft. on Ossington Ave for a sample sale.

100 sq. ft. in the GTA for a custom art showcase and sale; seeking kiosk or ground floor condo retail space.

350-500 sq. ft. near Union Station for a juice concept.

250 sq. ft. on Bloor St. West near Christie Pits or High Park for an artisanal food brand.

1,000-5,000 sq. ft. of event space in West Toronto neighbourhoods for a cultural event.

IF YOU’RE A MATCH CONTACT US!

Are you Living Up to Consumer Expectations?

American Eagle Outfitters is building on earlier digital efforts for back-to-school with the expansion of its virtual shopping experience on Snapchat and the launch of its ‘Future Together, Jeans Are F

According to new research from Bold Commerce, more than half (58%) of leading retailers admit that they’re not living up to consumer expectations when it comes to bringing together digital and physical experiences.

Highlights from the report include:

  • Retailers cannot innovate as fast as they want to: While 90% of retailers want to continuously innovate and rapidly test new customer experiences, 43% say they lack the resources to do so.
  • Retailers are doubling down on their efforts to improve omnichannel experiences: The top two areas where retailers see opportunities to improve the online shopping experience are having a unified view of inventory availability (49%) and applying the same business rules such as pricing and promotions across all customer touchpoints (44%).
  • Tech investments are mixed: There is a relatively even split among retailers leaning towards investing in existing technologies (40%), or adding additional solutions (31%), versus fully replacing their commerce platform (29%).

Brands Wanted!

Whether it is for a few hours or a few months, pop-up go connects diverse brands and businesses across North America with a range of available spaces for pop-up activations.

Toronto

Mixed space property (residential/commercial) in Liberty Village area is looking to host local businesses for a new pop-up initiative.

2,500 sq. ft. of turnkey space in Toronto’s historic Distillery District. Move-in-ready for events or retail!

Beautiful 3,000 sq. ft. move-in-ready space in the heart of downtown located adjacent to Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas Square at one of the city’s busiest intersections.

Storefront with large windows and exposed brick. 4,400 sq. ft. over two storeys located on Queen and Bathurst Streets.

GTA space seeking pet product retailers, bookstores, or gift and wrapping services for pop-up activations.

Calgary

Retail center seeking women’s fashion, home goods, and health & wellness brands.

New! Vancouver (Burnaby)

Mixed-use center seeking unique retail concepts, brand showcasing, service launches, and galleries.

IF YOU’RE A MATCH CONTACT US!

projeX by pop-up go

The latest offering from pop-up go, projeX by pop-up go is a virtual pop-up marketplace and online shopping destination that connects consumers to a diverse variety of small businesses, boutiques, and local retailers, allowing them to discover high-quality, exclusive, and interesting finds. Brands can sell directly to consumers, create virtual pop-up stores, or host digital experiences – all in one place. It’s a great way to launch a new product, test a new concept, or simply build an online presence.

#TrendAlert Jeans are Staging a Comeback

People are (temporarily) putting down athleisure and picking up hard pants again. According to The State of Denim report by Trendalytics, 2 million people are searching the word ‘jeans’ online on a weekly basis — up 33% year-over-year. Comparatively, there are 940,000 weekly searches for work-from-home (WFH) bottoms, defined as leggings, sweatpants, and joggers. Additionally, about 40% of the population is wearing a different size compared to a year ago, according to Maria Rugolo, Director and industry analyst of apparel at The NPD Group.

What’s next? The data shows that people need new apparel, including new denim options.

Pop-Ups in Action

Read about recent and upcoming pop-ups and pop-ins that we love.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” – Pablo Picasso