#212 HTE - Cracking the Code to Gen Z's Heart ♥️

August 02, 2023 • Estimated Reading Time: 14 minutes

Hey there, HTE's readers! 🎉

Today is Wednesday, and we're ready to dive into the electrifying world of DTC marketing and ecommerce brands!

Get set for a wild ride as we unveil the secrets behind crafting unforgettable customer experiences and igniting brand loyalty like never before. 💥

So, buckle up and prepare for an adventure that will leave you spellbound with insights and strategies that catapult DTC brands to the top of the ecommerce game.

Let's jump in and explore this exhilarating realm together! 🚀

Here is what we have for you today:

🔍 Google's SGE: Enhanced Search with Visuals!

🛒 Amazon Fresh Opens Up to Non-Prime Members in Select U.S. Cities, Changing the Grocery Game

🚀 Transform Your Business with Omnisend: Personalized Email and SMS Campaigns that Skyrocket ROI!

💪 Nike Studios: A DTC Fitness Revolution with Holistic Focus

📱 Smartphones Set to Dominate Ecommerce Sales as M-Commerce Booms

🎶 Meta's AudioCraft: A Groundbreaking AI Framework for Music and Sound Generation

📕 Top Reads Of The Week

⚙️ HTE JOB BOARD: Plenty Of Jobs Await You!

Google's SGE: Enhanced Search with Visuals!

Have you heard about Google's awesome AI-powered Search Generative Experiment (SGE)?

It's like a search engine on steroids! They just added some seriously cool features that take the whole search experience to a new level.

When you search for something, you get text-based results and feast your eyes on relevant images and videos. Imagine looking up "tiniest birds of prey" and seeing stunning bird pictures in the search suggestion box!

Or, if you need to know how to remove marble stains, boom!

You'll find helpful videos demonstrating the best stain-removal techniques.

But that's not all – Google cares about giving you the freshest information.

They've added publish dates to each link suggested by the SGE. So you'll know if the info is hot off the press or outdated. It's all about keeping you in the loop!

Oh, and the best part?

They've made some serious performance improvements. No more waiting around for results. Now, AI-powered answers come at you faster than ever, saving you precious time.

And hey, if you're a DTC brand, get ready to rock and roll!

Google's generative AI capabilities can transform your marketing game. You can create captivating content that hooks your audience by tapping into the SGE's insights and trends. With real-time data, you can stay ahead and tailor your strategies to match what your customers want.

And guess what?

The future just keeps getting brighter! Google Assistant also embraces generative AI, which means you can have personalized chatbots guiding your customers through delightful journeys. It's like having your AI assistant speaking in 40 different languages to connect with audiences worldwide.

So, don't miss this golden opportunity!

Sign up for Google's Search Labs and embrace the AI-powered future. You'll be revolutionizing your marketing efforts and leaving your competitors in the dust. The time is now, and the possibilities are limitless.

Amazon Fresh Opens Up to Non-Prime Members in Select U.S. Cities, Changing the Grocery Game

Amazon is spicing things up with its Fresh grocery delivery service. It was an exclusive club for Prime members only, but guess what?

They're flipping the script and making it available to non-Prime peeps too! Yep, you heard that right!

If you're living it up in one of these cool cities like Austin, Boston, Charlotte, and more, you're in for a treat.

You can order groceries online from Amazon Fresh stores and warehouses; no Prime subscription is required.

But hold your horses; there's a tiny catch. Non-Prime members will have to pay a small fee for the delivery luxury. If your order is under $50, it's a $13.95 fee. If it's between $50 and $100, you'll pay $10.95. But hey, if you go big and order over $100 worth of goodies, the fee drops to a sweet $7.95.

Not too shabby, right?

Amazon's all about making life easy, fast, and budget-friendly. Claire Peters, the big shot worldwide vice president of Amazon Fresh, said they want everyone to taste their top-notch grocery experience. And don't worry, Prime members still get their perks, like saving on delivery fees and exclusive savings on hundreds of items in-store.

But wait, there's more!

Amazon's got some seriously grand plans in the pipeline. They're getting ready to launch this service nationwide by the end of the year. But they're not stopping there, oh no!

The grapevine whispers that they're also eyeing products from Whole Foods and other grocery stores. One online cart where you can order stuff from Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh, and Amazon.com all in one fell swoop.

No more juggling between multiple orders – it's all about simplicity!

But that's not all the juicy news.

If you're in Chicago, get ready to be wowed.

Amazon's Fresh stores are getting a makeover, with an expanded selection of products and even in-store Krispy Kreme stores. Talk about a sugar rush!

So there you have it – Amazon's Fresh grocery delivery is leveling up and welcoming more peeps to the party. Get ready to fill your virtual cart and enjoy the convenience of having your groceries delivered right to your doorstep. Prime or not, Amazon's got your back!

Transform Your Business with Omnisend: Personalized Email and SMS Campaigns that Skyrocket ROI!

Reshape the online shopping experience for your customers and skyrocket your ROI. 

Don't miss out on this game-changing opportunity! 

Say goodbye to generic promotions and hello to higher conversion rates. 

With Omnisend, you'll rise above the competition, making every interaction count. 

Don't wait any longer; transform your marketing strategy and achieve better results than ever before. 

Try Omnisend today and revolutionize your business!

Nike Studios: A DTC Fitness Revolution with Holistic Focus

Nike is making some seriously exciting moves that you'll want to take notes on. They're shaking things up with their brand-new boutique fitness concept Nike Studios. And guess what? It's open to everyone, including non-Prime members!

Imagine having access to live classes at these sleek studios, starting with their first location in Los Angeles.

But don't worry; they've got big plans to expand across the U.S., bringing their fitness prowess to more cities.

Now, here's where it gets interesting for DTC brands. Nike Studios offers consumers premium services, experiences, and products.

They're diving headfirst into holistic fitness, focusing on movement, mindfulness, nutrition, rest, and connection.

And it's specifically geared toward women, making it a prime opportunity for DTC brands with a female audience.

So, what does this mean for you, DTC trailblazers?

Well, it's time to level up your marketing game!

Nike Studios' fitness studios are all about neighborhood locations and small class sizes.

This means a chance to connect with local communities and create personalized experiences that resonate with your audience.

And don't forget about the app they're launching for at-home workouts and social fitness events. It's a perfect channel for engaging customers and building lasting relationships.

Plus, they're offering month-to-month memberships and an All Access membership tier for workouts at any of their studios.

It's all about giving customers the flexibility they crave – a valuable lesson for DTC brands looking to build loyalty.

But that's not all! Nike Studios plans to sell merchandise at their locations, creating opportunities for DTC brands to collaborate and showcase their products in a fresh and exciting space.

So, for DTC brands, the message is clear – Nike Studios is a fitness revolution with a DTC focus.

It's time to harness this momentum, connect with consumers through premium experiences, and seize the chance to shine in this dynamic and inclusive fitness landscape.

Prepare to make your mark and show the world what DTC excellence is all about!

Smartphones Set to Dominate Ecommerce Sales as M-Commerce Booms

Smartphones are about to take center stage as digital sales shift away from computers and tablets. The world of m-commerce (sales made on mobile devices) is on the rise, and by 2027, it's expected to make up almost half of all ecommerce sales.

Hold onto your hats because the future of shopping is going mobile-first!

This means that online sales growth will be fueled by our trusty pocket pals – smartphones!

They're the real champions, accounting for nearly 90% of m-commerce sales.

And guess what?

Their reign is far from over! Smartphone sales are projected to grow by a whopping 16.7% in 2023.

But that's not all – the future of digital shopping is in the hands of Gen Z, the mobile-native generation.

They're the driving force behind the growth of digital buyers, and their numbers are set to skyrocket from 45.5 million in 2023 to a staggering 61.1 million in 2027.

As more Gen Zers join the workforce, their spending power will only get stronger!

So, here's the deal for brands and retailers – if you want to succeed in the ecommerce game, you better get cozy with Gen Z and their mobile preferences.

They're the key to future growth, and understanding what makes them tick when it comes to online shopping is crucial for winning their loyalty.

It's a mobile revolution!

So, gear up your ecommerce efforts and make sure you're reaching Gen Z where they live – on their smartphones. The future is mobile, and Gen Z is leading the charge. Embrace this digital shift, and you'll be well on your way to capturing the hearts and wallets of the next generation of shoppers!

Meta's AudioCraft: A Groundbreaking AI Framework for Music and Sound Generation

Generative AI is about to take the music world by storm! Meta, the tech giant, just announced their latest creation called AudioCraft, and it's a game-changer. This framework can generate high-quality, realistic audio and music from simple text descriptions or prompts.

Yep, you heard that right – it's like having an AI composer at your fingertips!

AudioCraft is a leap forward in AI-generated sounds, producing everything from barking dogs and honking cars to the sound of footsteps on a wooden floor.

And guess what?

It's all open source, so anyone can dive in and create their masterpieces. If you're into music, you'll love their three generative AI models: MusicGen, AudioGen, and EnCodec.

MusicGen is their star player; you can even train it on your own music dataset. But hold on; this is where things get interesting. MusicGen learns from existing music to produce similar effects.

While it's super cool, it raised some ethical and legal concerns. Some artists and AI users worry about how it could impact copyright issues, especially when AI-generated tracks start going viral and getting streamed online.

But wait, there's more! Imagine the possibilities for DTC marketers and brands. With AudioCraft, they can create unique and authentic soundtracks for their marketing campaigns. Now they have the power to produce original, attention-grabbing tunes that perfectly match their brand's vibe.

It's like having an AI-driven DJ who can spin custom tracks that resonate with the target audience. These tracks can add a whole new level of excitement and creativity to ads, videos, and social media content.

Plus, they can tailor the music to evoke specific emotions and enhance the overall brand experience.

But of course, challenges are ahead, like navigating copyright and intellectual property concerns in this brave new world of AI-generated music. Regardless, the future is bright for DTC marketers and brands as they embrace generative AI in their audio adventures.

So, prepare for a symphony of innovation and creativity as AI and music collide in this thrilling new era!

📕 Top Reads Of The Week

⚙️ HTE JOB BOARD: Plenty Of Jobs Await You!

➡️ Management Accountant - Clear Course

➡️ Wholesale Channel Lead - Driftaway Coffee

➡️ Associate Consultant (Global Benefits) - Lockton

➡️ Senior Customer Marketing Officer - SQA

➡️ Senior Marketing Executive - The British Red Cross

CHOOSE SUCCESS below, and have a great Wednesday! Get that D2C business runnin’.