TikTok Shop has announced the launch of a new AI-powered campaign management solution in the UK. GMV Max, which was first rolled out in the US last year, aims to maximise gross merchandise value (GMV) for brands and small businesses. The solution, available for products and Live shopping sessions on TikTok Shop, automates campaign creation – including audience targeting, bidding, and creative selection. Features of GMV Max include sourcing and deploying all available TikTok Shop content in the form of a single, automated paid ad campaign; automating end-to-end campaign creation and optimisation for paid ad campaigns; and maximising total sales with incremental GMV.
New research finds that a 10% lift in onsite search activity can generate a 5% increase in sales for FMCG brands. ‘The Search-to-Sales Connection,’ published by Captify and Circana identifies a direct correlation between search volume and sales trends. The report is based on 12 months of onsite search data and sales data covering the whole of 2023 for the UK’s pet food category.
Auto Trader and Manchester Digital have launched a Digital & Technology Carbon Literacy Toolkit, in partnership with The Carbon Literacy Project. The toolkit is designed to address the environmental challenges facing the technology industry, supporting in-house carbon literacy training. It contains tools and materials to help organisations educate and accredit employees in carbon literacy, including tailored training content, a trainer guide, detailed resources, and dedicated support from a member of the Carbon Literacy Project team. It has been created in close collaboration with businesses including Mony Group, Nexer Digital, Littlefish, and GlobalLogic UK&I.
The IPA, in partnership with TikTok, has launched its ‘Step Into Adland 2025’ ad campaign to attract a more diverse audience of talented young people across the UK into the advertising industry. Advertising agencies in Edinburgh, Leeds and London (Story, Billion Dollar Boy, IMA Global, Trunk BBI and Leo Burnett) welcomed TikTok creators Abie, Benjy, Hannah, James, and Kimberley to showcase the opportunity that a job in adland can offer with the aim of engaging and inspiring young people from all backgrounds. The videos, which are running across TikTok, put a spotlight on the types of agencies that exist and their cultures, as well interviewing staff about their career highlights and journeys. They also signpost people to register for ‘Step into Adland’ open days in March.
Youth technology and insights provider SuperAwesome has launched a study into the passions and fandoms that enable brands and IP owners to forge deeper connections with young audiences. Conducted among 3,750 under-18s and their parents across the US, UK and Germany, ‘Fandoms & Passions: The Antidotes to Hyper-Fragmented Youth Audiences’ reveals that meaningful and lasting relationships are developed throughout childhood and teenhood that impact brand loyalty in this timespan and beyond. The research found that 60% of kids engage with their passions daily, while 56% engage with their fandoms daily. On average, young people have four passions and two fandoms at any given time. 55% said their top fandom had an enormous influence on their daily lives. Moreover, 47% of respondents watch content (like on YouTube) and shows (on streaming platforms) related to their fandoms, plus 22% also play games, use apps or buy merchandise related to the fandoms too.Young audiences are naturally drawn to brands that reflect their values: 74% say they feel more connected to brands that share their passions, while 73% feel more positive about brands that collaborate with something or someone they’re a fan of, and 67% think brands could do more to connect with them.
Medallia, an experience management software platform, and Higher Oak, an experience management consultancy, have announced that they are working with New Look to improve customer experience (CX) across its UK and Republic of Ireland operations. Powered by Medallia’s technology and delivered by Higher Oak, the new CX programme has been designed to capture customer feedback across New Look’s stores, website, app, and contact centre.
Whale TV has selected OneTrust to power privacy-first, personalised experiences across its streaming operations. Whale TV will replace its existing consent management solutions with OneTrust’s Consent Management Platform to centralise consumer consent and preferences on its Whale TV operating system and owned and operated streaming apps, such as Whale TV+.
Modash has acquired fellow influencer marketing platform Promoty, following a $12 million Series A funding round. Promoty, founded by Aleks Koha and Leonardo Romanello, offers a Trello-like CRM system for managing connections between brands and creators.
