Stealth Price Hikes: How Tariffs Are Quietly Driving Up Car Costs (And What Dealerships Can Do About It)

While most car buyers are keeping an eye on MSRP, automakers are quietly increasing the actual cost to consumers — without changing the sticker price. These are known as stealth price hikes, and they’ve become the go-to strategy for car manufacturers adjusting to new tariffs imposed by the U.S. government.

In April 2025, a 25% tariff on foreign-built vehicles and auto parts was enacted. The result? Manufacturers like Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, and VW are seeing costs rise by thousands of dollars per vehicle — and they’re passing those costs on to consumers in subtle ways.

How Are Prices Going Up Without Changing Car Prices (MSRP)?

Stealth pricing isn’t about slapping a new number on the window. Instead, automakers are:

• Cutting cash-back incentives
• Raising destination fees
• Reducing lease support
• Offering fewer low-interest financing options

A recent Los Angeles Times article explains that Ford raised the cost of its Mexico-built models (like the Bronco Sport and Maverick) by $2,000. But instead of hiking the base MSRP, which consumers would quickly notice, the majority of the price increase came from higher delivery fees and vanishing discounts.

According to Kelley Blue Book, the average transaction price for a new vehicle is now $48,699, up 2.5% from the previous month — the sharpest increase in five years.

What This Means for Dealerships

Customers are walking into dealerships expecting one price and encountering another when it’s time to sign. The numbers on paper haven’t changed much — but the monthly payments have. That disconnect creates frustration, erodes trust, and can lead to lost sales.

It’s critical for dealerships to get ahead of the message.

That doesn’t mean blaming manufacturers or diving into political debates about tariffs. Instead, it’s about transparency and reassurance:

• Be honest and explain how new costs are affecting the industry.
• Promote vehicles not as impacted by the tariffs.
• Reinforce your commitment to providing value even if prices have to go up.

How It’s Relevant TV Helps Dealerships Deliver the Message

Here’s where It’s Relevant TV steps in as a game-changer for in-store communication.

Instead of relying solely on salespeople to explain these changes — often after sticker shock has already set in — dealers can use their existing TVs to deliver helpful, targeted content before that moment of tension.

Here’re some ways dealerships are combatting the changes with their It’s Relevant TV:

• Display brief explainer videos about how tariffs affect prices.
• Showcase special offers on U.S.-built or pre-tariff inventory.
• Blend in entertainment with their licensed TV shows, to keep the experience light and engaging.
• Reinforce your dealership’s commitment to your customers while customers wait in the showroom or service lounge.

This kind of communication reduces anxiety and builds trust. When customers understand what’s happening and feel informed rather than surprised, they’re far more likely to follow through with a purchase.

Turning a Pricing Challenge Into a Sales Opportunity

Yes, prices are rising — but dealerships that handle the messaging well can come out stronger. Smart, in-store communication can:

• Turn confusion into clarity
• Build customer confidence
• Highlight urgency around pre-tariff deals
• Drive sales with greater transparency

The key isn’t to pretend prices haven’t changed — it’s to explain why they’ve changed in a way that keeps the customer on your side. As automakers adjust to tariffs with behind-the-scenes pricing changes, dealerships need to lead with clarity, empathy, and strategy. With tools like It’s Relevant TV you’re not just selling cars — you’re building trust, educating buyers, and creating a showroom experience that will bring them back time and time again.

Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Day Frenzy: How Smart Retailers Are Winning — Even When Consoles Sell Out

The much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 officially launched today, June 5, 2025, sparking excitement and long lines at retailers worldwide. Boasting a 7.9-inch 1080p LCD screen, enhanced Joy-Con 2 controllers, and innovative features like GameChat and GameShare, the Switch 2 offers a significant upgrade over its predecessor. Priced at $449.99 for the base model and $499.99 for the Mario Kart World bundle, the console has been met with overwhelming demand, leading to sold-out preorders and eager fans queuing for hours to secure a unit .

In locations where Nintendo’s newest console was out of stock within minutes, screens across electronics departments pivoted instantly. Custom TV displays began promoting compatible accessories, best-selling games, and protective gear—all in stock and available for purchase today. According to retail staff at locations using these systems, the strategy is proving effective at turning disappointed shoppers into paying customers.

Retail Winners: Best Buy and the Midnight Launch Frenzy

Best Buy emerged as a major winner during the Switch 2 launch, with stores across the U.S. opening at midnight to accommodate the surge of customers. In Cary, North Carolina, more than 200 people lined up, some waiting over 14 hours, to be among the first to purchase the new console . Similarly, in Chicago, lines wrapped around blocks at both Best Buy and Target locations, highlighting the console’s immense popularity.

Best Buy’s strategic planning included offering limited-edition commemorative coins to early purchasers and organizing GameTruck theater experiences at select locations, allowing customers to try out new games like Mario Kart World firsthand . These initiatives not only enhanced the customer experience but also drove significant foot traffic and sales.

Game Truck - Brought to Best Buy for Nintendo Switch 2 Release — Game Truck – Brought to Best Buy for Nintendo Switch 2 Release

Leveraging In-Store Media Networks for Upselling Opportunities

For retailers equipped with custom in-store TV networks, such as It’s Relevant TV, the Switch 2 launch presents a unique opportunity to drive additional sales, even amidst limited console stock.

Retailers like Target have implemented dynamic digital displays to highlight in-stock items such as the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip, and popular game titles. These displays provide real-time promotions, guiding customers toward complementary purchases even if the console is already sold out in their location.

“From exclusive launch day experiences and giveaways to a wide assortment of Nintendo-inspired merchandise starting at just $20, we’re turning our stores into a celebration of play,” said Cassandra Jones, senior vice president of merchandising at Target.

Custom TV networks like It’s Relevant TV allow retailers to go beyond the game console and upsell customers other Nintendo-related items that didn’t have the same stock limitations. Even if a customer is unable to secure a Nintendo Switch 2 today, they can still leave with a carrying case, or a few games that are in high demand to have ready to use when the next batch of consoles arrive. Industry experts note that such strategies not only enhance the shopping experience but also contribute to increased sales and customer satisfaction. No one wants to wait hours in line for something and leave empty-handed, so focusing customer attention away from the disappointment of not getting the console and towards something they can buy today is vitally important.

In-Store TV displays also played a pivotal role in the days leading up to the product’s release. For the last few weeks retailers have been promoting the upcoming Nintendo launch events and pre-orders, insuring that release day would be big. And those efforts certainly paid off. Analysts say that this strategy underscores a broader shift in retail: turning impulse buyers into engaged brand participants, even when marquee items are out of stock. By leaning into dynamic in-store messaging, stores are making the most of launch day momentum and maximizing per-visit revenue.

The Nintendo Switch 2 launch has not only reinvigorated the gaming community but also provided retailers with a significant boost in sales and customer engagement. Retailers like Best Buy have demonstrated the benefits of strategic planning and customer-focused initiatives. Meanwhile, leveraging in-store media networks offered an effective avenue for upselling and maximizing revenue during this high-demand product launch.

Sydney Sweeney’s Bathwater Soap? Inside Her Viral Dr. Squatch Giveaway and Marketing Genius

In a bold fusion of celebrity allure and inventive marketing, actress Sydney Sweeney has partnered with natural men’s personal care brand Dr. Squatch to launch a limited-edition soap infused with her own bathwater. This unconventional product, aptly named “Sydney’s Bathwater Bliss,” is set to release on June 6, 2025, with only 5,000 bars available at $8 each. The collaboration has already generated significant buzz, with tens of thousands signing up for a chance to win one of 100 bars in a pre-launch giveaway.

From Viral Ad to Viral Product Idea

The genesis of this unique product traces back to a 2024 Dr. Squatch advertisement featuring Sweeney in a bubble bath, humorously addressing “dirty little boys” and promoting natural hygiene. The ad sparked a flurry of fan comments playfully requesting her bathwater. Rather than dismissing these remarks, Sweeney and Dr. Squatch leaned into the joke, collecting water from the shoot to create a tangible product. Sweeney announced the collaboration on Instagram, stating, “You kept asking about my bathwater after the @drsquatch ad… so we kept it.”

The Product Details

“Sydney’s Bathwater Bliss” is a medium-grit exfoliating soap that combines natural ingredients like pine bark extract, shea butter, and sand, delivering a forest-inspired scent with notes of pine, Douglas fir, and earthy moss. Each bar comes with a certificate of authenticity, emphasizing the inclusion of Sweeney’s actual bathwater. The product aims to promote awareness about natural ingredients in personal care products, blending humor with educational marketing.

Anticipated Sell-Out and Resale Frenzy

Despite its modest $8 price tag, the soap’s limited availability and celebrity association have led to a surge in demand. Dr. Squatch is confident that the 5,000 bars will sell out rapidly, a belief supported by the overwhelming response to the giveaway. Notably, some individuals have already listed the yet-to-be-released soap for resale at prices exceeding $200, highlighting the product’s perceived value and the power of scarcity in marketing.

Instead of soft, floral branding or overly clinical messaging, the Dr. Squatch x Sydney Sweeney collaboration leans into humor, confidence, and pop culture appeal. By introducing a playful, almost outrageous concept—soap made with a celebrity’s bathwater—the brand creates intrigue and taps into masculine curiosity without compromising on authenticity or quality. It reframes scented soap as something bold, exclusive, and worth talking about, making it socially acceptable—and even cool—for men to be interested in.

Harnessing the Power of Video Marketing

This campaign underscores the efficacy of creative video content in driving consumer engagement and sales. The initial advertisement’s viral success laid the groundwork for the product launch, demonstrating how compelling storytelling and humor can captivate audiences. For business owners, this serves as a case study in leveraging video marketing to create buzz, foster brand loyalty, and convert interest into tangible sales. By tapping into cultural trends and embracing authenticity, brands can craft narratives that resonate and inspire action.

This campaign is a masterclass in the power of video marketing to shape perception, generate buzz, and drive immediate consumer action. The viral success of the original Dr. Squatch ad featuring Sydney Sweeney demonstrates how a single well-crafted video can spark massive engagement, fuel product demand, and even create an entirely new revenue opportunity. It’s not just about celebrity appeal—it’s about tapping into humor, curiosity, and cultural relevance through strategic storytelling on screen.

Retailers with Physical Locations can Magnify Their Success

While Dr. Squatch is an e-commerce brand without its own physical storefronts, companies like LUSH Cosmetics—with dedicated retail locations—are uniquely positioned to take a campaign like this to the next level. In the world of soap and personal care products, where many offerings can feel interchangeable, creative marketing is often what transforms a basic commodity into a buzzworthy, must-have item. A clever concept alone isn’t always enough—brands need a vehicle to keep that momentum going in-store, where buying decisions happen in real time.

This is where a platform like It’s Relevant TV becomes especially powerful. By turning in-store televisions into custom marketing channels, brands can showcase campaign videos, behind-the-scenes moments, influencer clips, and even live social media engagement—all timed to coincide with product promotions. With no third-party ads to compete for attention, the content stays brand-focused and on message. For physical retailers, this creates an immersive, storytelling-driven environment that not only reinforces marketing efforts but also elevates the perceived value of their products, turning everyday items like soap into premium experiences that drive customer loyalty and sales.

MNTN (Mountain) Seeks to IPO– Understanding the Revolution in Connected TV Advertising

MNTN (pronounced “mountain”) is a leading connected TV (CTV) advertising platform that enables brands to effectively reach audiences through internet-connected televisions. By offering a self-serve platform, MNTN simplifies the process of purchasing premium CTV inventory and provides real-time performance analytics, making TV advertising both accessible and measurable for businesses of all sizes.

Ryan Reynolds and the Acquisition of Maximum Effort Marketing

In June 2021, MNTN expanded its creative capabilities by acquiring Maximum Effort Marketing, the agency co-founded by actor Ryan Reynolds and George Dewey. This acquisition allowed MNTN to integrate Maximum Effort’s innovative approach to ad creation with its advanced advertising technology. As part of the deal, Reynolds assumed the role of Chief Creative Officer at MNTN, while Dewey became Chief Brand Officer.

Democratizing CTV Advertising for Businesses of All Sizes

MNTN’s platform is designed to cater to businesses ranging from small startups to large enterprises. By providing a user-friendly interface and scalable solutions, MNTN enables advertisers to:

Maximize Return on Ad Spend (ROAS): The platform’s precision targeting and real-time analytics help advertisers optimize their campaigns for better performance.

Accelerate Campaign Deployment: With intuitive tools, businesses can launch campaigns swiftly, adapting to market trends and consumer behaviors.

Enhance Advertising Strategies: MNTN’s comprehensive reporting and insights empower advertisers to make informed decisions, refining their strategies for greater impact.

Opportunities in CTV Advertising

The CTV advertising landscape presents significant opportunities for businesses:

Expanding Audience Reach: As more consumers shift from traditional TV to streaming services, CTV offers access to a growing and diverse audience.
Advanced Targeting Capabilities: CTV platforms like MNTN allow advertisers to leverage data-driven insights for precise audience targeting, enhancing engagement and conversion rates.
Cost-Effective Advertising: Compared to traditional TV advertising, CTV provides a more affordable option with measurable results, making it accessible for businesses with varying budgets.

Financial Growth and Investment

MNTN has demonstrated robust financial growth and attracted significant investment:

Series D Funding: In 2022, MNTN secured $119 million in Series D financing, with prominent investors such as BlackRock and Fidelity participating.
Revenue Growth: The company reported a nearly 28% increase in revenue, reaching $225.6 million in the previous year. Net losses narrowed from $53.3 million to $32.9 million, indicating improved operational efficiency. Source: Reuters

Looking Ahead: IPO Plans

In February 2025, MNTN filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States, aiming to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “MNTN.” The company has engaged Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, and Evercore ISI as underwriters for the IPO, reflecting its growth trajectory and the expanding potential of the CTV advertising market.

Innovations in Advertising

MNTN’s innovative approach to CTV advertising, bolstered by strategic acquisitions and substantial investments, has positioned it as a key player in the evolving digital advertising landscape. By offering accessible and effective advertising solutions, MNTN continues to empower businesses of all sizes to engage with audiences through connected TVs, capitalizing on the shift towards streaming and digital content consumption.

Beyond MNTN there are many other tech startups creating ad monetization on televisions. Some of these other companies are focussed on screens within business locations, reaching engaged customers at the point of sale, making an even stronger bond and higher CPMS for ad sales.

Funding

MNTN has raise over $200M– using the funding to grow their team, enhancing their adtech platform, expanding the customer base, and acquiring complementary businesses – all of which set the stage for its strong revenue growth and the lofty ~$2.2B valuation achieved in 2022. These investments in growth appear to be paying off, as evidenced by MNTN’s IPO filing in 2025 and its position as a leading player in the connected TV advertising market.

Why Every Business Should Create a Loyalty Program: Unlocking the Power of Retention and Monetization

In today’s highly competitive business landscape, customer retention has become a critical factor in driving long-term growth. While acquiring new customers is important, retaining existing ones can be significantly more profitable. One of the most effective strategies for enhancing customer loyalty—and in turn, increasing revenue—is the implementation of a loyalty program.

Despite the common misconception that loyalty programs primarily offer discounts, a well-designed loyalty program can actually increase a business’s profitability. In this article, we’ll explore why businesses should create a loyalty program, how it can lead to increased revenue, and the crucial role that customer data plays in maximizing the effectiveness of these programs.

What is a Loyalty Program?

You’ve certainly heard of them, and it’s more than likely that you are a member of more than one. A loyalty program is a marketing strategy designed to reward customers for their repeat business or long-term engagement. Typically, businesses offer points, rewards, discounts, or other incentives that customers can redeem after meeting specific criteria such as making a purchase, referring friends, or engaging with the brand.

Loyalty or “Reward” programs can take various forms, including:

Points-Based Programs: Customers earn points with each purchase that can later be exchanged for discounts, products, or services.
Tiered Programs: Customers can unlock different rewards as they progress through various levels based on their spending or engagement.
Cashback Programs: Businesses offer a percentage of the purchase price back in the form of store credits or direct cashback.
Referral Programs: Customers are rewarded for bringing new customers to the business.

Why Should You Create a Loyalty Program?

Creating a loyalty program offers a multitude of benefits that can drive growth, improve customer retention, and boost your overall revenue. Here’s a deeper look at the key reasons why your business should consider implementing one.

1. Increased Customer Retention and Lifetime Value

The primary goal of any loyalty program is to increase customer retention. Retained customers are more likely to make repeat purchases, and their lifetime value is significantly higher than that of new customers.

Data shows that increasing customer retention by just 5% can increase profits by 25% to 95% (Source: Harvard Business Review). This is because loyal customers are more likely to spend more over time, make larger purchases, and are more receptive to upsells and cross-sells.

In fact, loyal customers are 50% more likely to try new products and spend 31% more than new customers (Source: Bain & Company). This means that a loyalty program isn’t just about rewarding customers; it’s about encouraging them to deepen their relationship with your brand.

2. Improved Customer Acquisition Through Referrals

Loyalty programs aren’t just about retaining existing customers—they also help businesses acquire new customers. Many loyalty programs include referral bonuses or rewards for bringing in new customers. According to a study by Nielsen, 83% of consumers trust recommendations from people they know, and 92% of consumers trust peer recommendations over advertisements.

When you reward loyal customers for referring others, you essentially turn them into brand advocates, significantly boosting your acquisition efforts without spending extra money on traditional advertising.

3. Loyalty Programs Increase Customer Spending

While it may seem counterintuitive that offering discounts or rewards could lead to higher revenues, the data consistently shows that loyalty programs lead to higher average transaction values.

A study by Bond Brand Loyalty found that 77% of consumers are more likely to make a purchase if they belong to a loyalty program. Moreover, loyal members tend to spend 12-18% more than non-members. This is because loyalty programs incentivize customers to purchase more frequently or in higher quantities to unlock more rewards.

For example, if your loyalty program is based on earning points per dollar spent, customers will naturally aim to accumulate more points by purchasing more items or opting for higher-value products. Additionally, loyalty programs can encourage customers to engage in repeat purchases (such as subscribing to auto-delivery services or making pre-scheduled orders) to maximize their rewards.

4. Gathering Data for Personalization and Targeting

One of the most powerful aspects of loyalty programs is the wealth of customer data that they generate. When customers sign up for a loyalty program, businesses can collect detailed information on their buying behaviors, preferences, frequency of purchases, and demographics.

Here’s how this data can drive monetization:

Personalized Offers: By analyzing purchase history, businesses can send personalized offers or discounts that cater to each customer’s preferences. Studies show that personalized marketing can increase transaction rates by up to 10% (Source: McKinsey & Company).
Targeted Marketing Campaigns: Loyalty data allows businesses to segment their customer base, enabling more targeted marketing campaigns. For example, you can send specific promotions to high-value customers or offer special deals to customers who have not engaged with your brand in a while.
Predictive Analytics: By analyzing trends in customer behavior, businesses can predict future purchases, stock up on popular products, and proactively offer deals on products customers are likely to buy. This reduces inventory waste and ensures that marketing efforts are timely and relevant.

Moreover, loyalty program data can inform product development. By identifying which products customers love the most, you can focus on expanding those product lines or improving similar items, increasing your chances of success in the market.

5. Cost-Effective Customer Retention vs. Acquisition

Acquiring new customers can be 5 to 25 times more expensive than retaining existing ones (Source: Harvard Business Review). Loyalty programs provide a more cost-effective way to retain customers, as they focus on rewarding and engaging existing customers rather than spending vast amounts of money on acquisition strategies like digital ads or promotions.

The beauty of loyalty programs is that, while offering discounts or rewards, businesses are fostering long-term relationships that lead to higher customer lifetime value. Essentially, by rewarding customers for continued loyalty, you’re reducing the need for costly incentives to drive one-time sales, making it a highly efficient way to grow your business.

In today’s competitive market, offering a loyalty program can differentiate your brand from others that don’t. As consumers are increasingly becoming more conscious of their purchasing decisions, they value businesses that reward their loyalty. A well-crafted loyalty program not only incentivizes repeat business but also enhances your brand’s image, turning transactional relationships into deeper emotional connections with customers.

Research from Accenture shows that 77% of consumers are more likely to stay loyal to brands that offer them personalized deals and rewards. This gives you an edge over competitors who may not offer similar benefits, especially in industries where customers have plenty of options.

The Bottom Line: Monetizing Through Loyalty Programs

Creating a loyalty program isn’t just about offering discounts; it’s about building a sustainable revenue model that focuses on retaining customers, increasing spending, and gaining valuable insights into your customers’ behaviors.

Here’s a recap of the key reasons why your business should create a loyalty program:

Increased Customer Retention: Loyal customers spend more, and increasing retention by 5% can boost profits by 25-95%.
Higher Customer Lifetime Value: Loyalty programs drive repeat purchases, leading to long-term profitability.
Improved Acquisition: Loyalty programs leverage referrals, turning existing customers into brand ambassadors.
Data Collection and Personalization: You can gather valuable data to tailor your offerings and marketing, leading to more effective campaigns and higher ROI.
Cost-Effective Retention: Retaining customers is far less expensive than acquiring new ones, making loyalty programs a cost-effective strategy for growth.
Competitive Differentiation: A great loyalty program sets you apart from competitors, helping you attract and keep customers in a crowded marketplace.

By implementing a well-structured loyalty program, you not only increase customer engagement but also enhance your monetization strategies through data-driven insights and personalized experiences. If you haven’t yet invested in a loyalty program, now is the time to consider how it could transform your business into a more profitable, sustainable, and customer-focused enterprise.

It’s easy to build your own loyalty program thanks to the many companies out there that have ready-built systems, and are able to white label the experience – matching it to your brand.Services like Bubblehouse, Smile.io and Points.com are great places to start your search.

References:

Harvard Business Review – “The Value of Keeping the Right Customers”
Bain & Company – “The Loyalty Effect: The Hidden Force Behind Growth”
Bond Brand Loyalty – “The Loyalty Report 2020”
McKinsey & Company – “The Power of Personalization”
Nielsen – “Global Trust in Advertising”

Top 5 Reasons To Keep a TV in Your Waiting Room

In today’s fast-paced world, every moment counts, especially for businesses striving to make a lasting impression. Whether you run a medical practice, dental office, automotive shop, or a retail store, the environment you create in your waiting area or lobby plays a significant role in customer satisfaction. A TV in your waiting room is more than just a screen; it’s a tool that can enhance your brand, inform your audience, and even boost your revenue.

Despite recent concerns about inappropriate or overly political content on cable, and lawsuits related to using content from streaming providers without a commercial license, the benefits of having a TV in your space far outweigh the risks. Especially when you mitigate the risks by choosing a service like Rele.tv. Here’s why you should keep your TV and make the most of it.

1. Improve Customer Experience and Reduce Perceived Wait Times

No one likes waiting, but a well-placed TV can make the time seem to fly. Research shows that engaging content can significantly reduce perceived wait times. Instead of staring at a clock or scrolling through their phones, customers are entertained, informed, and educated.

Custom TV’s tailored programming ensures that your viewers are engaged with content that’s relevant to your industry. For example:

Medical offices can feature health tips and wellness content.
Automotive shops can display car maintenance advice.
Retail stores can showcase the latest trends or products.

This not only keeps customers entertained but also positions your business as a source of valuable information.

2. Boost Brand Awareness

Your waiting room TV is a golden opportunity to promote your brand. Unlike traditional TV channels or streaming services that focus on unrelated content, It’s Relevant TV lets you control what’s displayed. This means:

Highlighting your services and special offers.
Sharing testimonials and success stories.
Promoting upcoming events or loyalty programs.

By customizing the content, you’re turning idle time into a powerful branding moment that sticks with your audience. And this time can be just as valuable, if not more, than your external advertising efforts.

3. Drive Revenue with Strategic Advertising

Every business looks for ways to increase revenue, and a TV in your waiting room can help. With It’s Relevant TV, you can integrate advertisements for your services or partner businesses seamlessly into the programming. For example:

A dental office might promote teeth-whitening specials.
An automotive shop could advertise seasonal tire discounts.
A hospitality business might showcase room upgrades or paid activities visitors can partake in.

This subtle yet effective advertising keeps your customers informed while encouraging them to make additional purchases or book services.

4. Provide a Professional and Modern Atmosphere

A blank wall or silent waiting room can feel uninviting. A TV, when used correctly, elevates the ambiance of your space. It shows that your business is modern, professional, and attentive to customer needs.

It’s Relevant TV provides high-quality, curated content that’s free from the disruptive ads and unrelated programming of traditional channels. This creates a polished and enjoyable experience for your customers, making them more likely to return and recommend your business.

5. Stay Compliant and Avoid Legal Risks

Recent lawsuits against businesses for streaming content without commercial licensing highlights the importance of compliance. Streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ are designed for personal use and often prohibit commercial use in their terms of service. Violating these terms can result in hefty fines and legal trouble.

Custom TV from It’s Relevant TV and Rele.TV eliminates this risk by providing content specifically licensed for commercial settings. You can confidently display programming without worrying about copyright violations, ensuring your business stays on the right side of the law.

Don’t Turn It Off— Instead You Should Maximize Its Potential

While some businesses might be tempted to remove TVs altogether to avoid legal pitfalls or customer complaints related to content, this decision could squander a valuable opportunity to engage and connect with customers. Instead, think strategically about where you can add TVs to enhance the customer experience. Consider these ideas:

Medical and Dental Offices: In the waiting room and exam rooms
Automotive Shops: On the sales floor and in service waiting areas
Retail Stores: Promote new arrivals, sales, and loyalty programs using TVs throughout your store
Hospitality Businesses: Place TVs in lobbies, coffee areas and conference rooms

A TV in your waiting room, lobby, or sales floor is more than just a screen; it’s a dynamic tool that enhances customer satisfaction, boosts your brand, and drives revenue. Custom TV solutions will allow you to provide engaging, customized, and legally compliant content that sets your business apart. Don’t let legal risks or outdated trends discourage you. Instead, embrace the potential of your TV and turn it into a valuable asset for your business.

Top 10 Free & Low-Cost Services You Should Be Using in Your Business in 2025

In today’s ever-changing economic landscape, businesses must constantly adapt to remain competitive. With inflation driving up costs, and constantly shifting tariffs disrupting supply chains, business owners and marketing managers are rethinking their strategies. The good news? A variety of low-cost, pre-built tools can help businesses become more efficient and resilient. Here are the top 10 services that companies in the U.S. are using in 2025 to streamline operations and enhance productivity.

1. Google Workspace – Cloud-Based Collaboration

Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) provides cloud-based productivity tools, including Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, and Sheets. These tools allow for real-time collaboration and document sharing, eliminating inefficiencies caused by version control issues and email overload. Part of the service is a white-labelled Gmail, that uses your business’s own domain name but brings the power of Gmail to your email.

Price: Business Starter at $6/user/month, Business Standard at $12/user/month.
Savings: Eliminates the need for costly office software while enabling real-time collaboration, reducing time spent on document management by 40%.

2. Slack – Real-Time Communication

Slack replaces inefficient email chains with instant messaging, making it easier for teams to share files, coordinate tasks, and stay connected. It’s like have desktop and mobile text messaging dedicated to your business. Its integration with other workplace tools makes communication seamless and improves workflow.

Price: Free for small teams; Paid plans start at $7.25 per user/month.
Savings: By replacing lengthy email chains, Slack can save businesses 20-30% of their communication time, increasing efficiency and reducing costly miscommunication errors.

3. It’s Relevant TV – Smart In-Store Digital Marketing

For businesses with physical locations, It’s Relevant TV offers an affordable and engaging alternative to traditional signage and cable television. By replacing repetitive and often offensive TV programming with custom-branded content, businesses can boost customer engagement, promote their own services, and enhance the customer experience.

Price: Typically provides a cost savings over what a business is currently paying for cable. Starts at around $89/month and offers a FREE option for businesses with a sponsor.
Savings: Eliminates the cost of expensive traditional advertisements while improving customer engagement, leading to higher sales and repeat business.

4. Zapier – Automation Without Coding

Zapier automates repetitive tasks by connecting various apps and services. Businesses use it to save time and improve accuracy by streamlining workflows between platforms like Gmail, Slack, and Trello.

Price: Free for basic automation; Paid plans start at $19.99/month.
Savings: Automating repetitive tasks can save businesses 10+ hours per week per employee, leading to significant cost reductions over time.

5. QuickBooks – Easier Financial Management

Managing finances efficiently is crucial for lean operations. QuickBooks provides small and medium-sized businesses with an easy-to-use platform for tracking expenses, handling payroll, and generating reports.

Price: Starts at $30/month for Simple Start; advanced plans up to $200/month.
Savings: Automating financial processes can cut bookkeeping costs by up to 50%, reducing the need for additional accounting personnel.

6. HubSpot – All-in-One Marketing & Sales

HubSpot’s CRM and marketing automation tools help businesses attract and retain customers while optimizing marketing campaigns. By reducing the manual effort needed for lead generation and customer management, businesses can stay lean without sacrificing growth.

Price: Free CRM; Paid marketing and sales plans start at $20/month, with advanced plans over $800/month.
Savings: Businesses using HubSpot often report a 30% increase in lead conversion rates and thousands saved on separate marketing tools.

7. Shopify – Hassle-Free E-Commerce

Shopify simplifies the process of selling products online. With built-in inventory management, payment processing, and marketing tools, it allows businesses to scale while also supporting traditional brick-and-mortar operations.

Price: Basic plan starts at $39/month, Advanced plan up to $399/month.
Savings: Businesses save thousands annually in web development costs, with an estimated 20-30% time savings on managing online sales.

8. Asana – Workflows Made Simple

Asana helps teams manage tasks and projects with clarity. Businesses use it to assign responsibilities, track progress, and set deadlines, making collaboration more efficient and reducing wasted effort. 85% of the Fortune 100 companies use Asana.

Price: Free for basic plans; Premium plans start at $10.99 per user/month.
Savings: Teams using Asana report a 45% increase in efficiency by reducing time spent on status meetings and tracking work manually.

9. Trello – Project Management Simplified

Trello is an intuitive project management tool that helps teams collaborate effortlessly. By using customizable boards, lists, and cards, businesses can keep projects on track while reducing wasted time and miscommunication.

Price: Free for basic use; Business Class at $10 per user/month; Enterprise pricing available.
Savings: Trello helps reduce project mismanagement, saving teams an estimated 10+ hours per week by streamlining workflows and improving communication.

10. Hootsuite – Social Media Management Made Easy

Hootsuite helps businesses streamline their social media marketing by scheduling posts, tracking engagement, and analyzing performance across multiple platforms. This saves time and ensures a consistent online presence without requiring a full-time social media team.

Price: Free for one user; Paid plans start at $99/month.
Savings: Automating social media scheduling can save marketing teams up to 15 hours per week, freeing up time for higher-value tasks.

Implementation Leads to Success

As economic pressures mount, businesses must find innovative ways to stay competitive while cutting unnecessary costs. The Top 10 tools above provide powerful, cost-effective solutions to help companies become lean and efficient. Whether it’s through automation, improved communication, or smarter marketing, these services help businesses navigate today’s challenges with confidence.

By embracing technology and leveraging pre-built solutions, companies can streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive sustainable growth—no matter what economic shifts lie ahead. Try one, or try them all. The more you can go with less, the better your business can become in 2025!

Branded TV Like Gas Stations Have

Have you seen the TVs above the pump at your local gas station? Wonder how that unique quick-hitting network came to be?

Digital Signage at The Pump

Gas stations utilize custom TV software to deliver programming and digital signage to customers as they wait. Whether you have a gas station, retail store, restaurant, car dealership or office, you too can benefit from having a customized TV network in your business.

While most of the gas station tv networks are owned by closed groups and ad-supported, you can create your own TV network and generate additional revenue for your own business by using custom tv platforms like It’s Relevant TV.

Longer Short-Form Content

If your customers are in your business for more than a minute or two, you’re going to want content that’s longer than what you typically see on Gas Station TV Platforms. Most gas stations have content ranging from 10-30 seconds in length, and often repeat their content every few minutes. Businesses benefit more from displaying content that is longer, and that doesn’t repeat so often.

Create Your Own Ad Network

Once you have a custom TV network in place at your business you can take full advantage of it by forming your own ad network. TV networks, billboard companies, newspapers and more have made a fortune off of ads they’ve sold over the years. So why not you? You can use the same principles that television networks have used for years to generate additional revenue for your business regardless of what industry you are in. With something like It’s Relevant TV or Rele.TV you can make your own Ad Network and keep all of the profits!

Best Ways to Get Positive Reviews for Your Business

In the age of the internet many people like to “Google” a business, medical office, or restaurant before they visit it. It’s human nature to want to get an idea of what you’re “in for” before you visit somewhere you’ve never been. And the internet has made it easier than ever before to find out just what to expect.

Your potential customers will find two things as they search for you:
1. The stuff you are promoting about your own business
(What you want them to know)
2. Reviews that others have left about your business
(Some things you may fear them hearing about)

What You Want Visitors To Know

Every business owner wants their visitors to know the “good stuff” about the business. You want to share why the business is preferred by so many, how many honors, records, or awards you may have, and how much recognizable members of your community love what you do. A lot of this can be achieved through carefully crafted media. Media takes many forms, but most businesses these days start with a website.

Your Website
Your website is a place you can share all of the above, all while keeping within your brand identity. You can share photos, videos, testimonials, product details, hours and information all on a website designed to look and feel like your business. Not only can a great website promote the business itself, but it can add to it. Examples of this can be found in restaurants, retailers and medical offices that have added online ordering, curbside pickup, and appointment setting. All of these conveniences can make customer experience more positive.

Your Business Environment
How to people feel when they walk in? What kind of conveniences are in place for your visitors? If they have to wait, what are you doing to make their waiting experience b? All of these questions look at your business environment. The physical space in which your visitors see and feel. There are many things you can do to create a more positive environment, but we suggest starting with the simple things like putting in comfortable seating and making conscious choices about what to put on your TV.

Your Advertising
How you portray yourself in the public eye will inform how people think of you. Advertising has long been a way to shape public perception. That’s why it’s so often used in politics and branding. Whether you are creating a billboard for the highway, or a TV commercial to air, there is great power in advertising. The more times people hear something the more they embrace it, so think of advertising as the way to get your controlled messaging across.

Now advertising has come a long way in the past few years, and it’s not all about paid slots anymore. Airing a TV commercial on local cable can be really expensive, especially if you want to replay it a bunch of times. We’ve found that creating your own TV network within your business is a much more cost effective way to take advantage of the TV medium, without having to spend money every time you want to air the commercial. Platforms like It’s Relevant TV offer businesses an unlimited number of playbacks of their own ads within their businesses– while mixing them with TV content matched to their audiences. It’s a great way to create a comfortable and controlled environment for your visitors.

Improving Online Reviews

Every business owner wants their visitors to know the “good stuff” about the business, yet so many review sites seem to be filled with more bad than good. It’s unfortunate, but human nature favors something psychologists call the negative bias. It’s the notion that we are drawn more to the negative than the positive in many situations. Simply put, one negative review can do more to hurt you than 1 positive review can to help. You may even feel that 1 negative review does more harm than 5 positives do to provide good, because negativity is so much more powerful in society.

So how can you avoid these hurtful negative reviews? The best way to do this is to provide your visitors with positive experiences. Easier said than done right? It is, but it can be easier if you follow a few best practices:

Do the Best You Can To Start
Always put your best foot forward. Do what you can to make people comfortable in your space and address things you feel might be problems before they become them.

Communicate to Your Visitors
You want to let your visitors know that you care about them. Let them know what you are doing to make their visit a great one. We recommend highlighting things they may not know about on your TV or through another display. “Skip the line next time with our new mobile app”.

Get Timely Feedback
Don’t assume that you’ve done everything right. No one is perfect, and every business can improve. But it shouldn’t be a guessing game. The way we can all best improve is to solicit feedback from our visitors.Getting feedback from people while their experiences are freshest in their minds is vitally important.

There are a few ways you can do this. Send an email or text message immediately after someone visits if you have that info. If you don’t it’s even easier to post a message on your TV with a QR code that visitors can scan while they are there. Once they scan it they can answer a brief survey and you can get direct feedback, while they are still in the building.

Review Their Feedback
Getting great feedback is the first step, reading the feedback and understanding it is the next step. It’s best to have a member of your staff assigned to this role so that it is done regularly. This is not an old fashioned “comment box” mentality, opening the box up once a month and looking at some anonymous notes that you can choose whether or not to act upon. In today’s society people expect you to act quickly.

Act Upon Feedback & Communicate Back
After you have reviewed the feedback, and whether or not you intend to act upon it, you should communicate back with your visitor. Don’t wait more than 24-48 hours to get back to people that have left you feedback. You want to show your visitors that you value their opinions and they time they took to message you. If you do intend to make a change or if you have a solution for them personally let them know so that they feel that you have solved their issue.

Why it is So Important to Ask for Feedback

There is also an added advantage to soliciting this feedback. Often times when someone has a bad experience they want to tell someone. If they tell a friend it may cause their friend to not visit you in the future. And worse, if they go online and write a review it may cause a whole group of people that don’t even know them to not visit you. By focusing their feedback back to you not only can you address it directly and do your best to help, but you are also diverting the negative review away from the public eye, and keeping it private.

Do I Have the Licensing Rights for Using TV in My Waiting Room?

This question is becoming much more common these days as motion picture companies, television studios and others are sending threatening letters to business owners. It doesn’t matter what industry you are in– if you operate a medical office, restaurant, retail establishment or car dealership, you can be held liable for showing television content that you don’t have adequate permission to display.

And it doesn’t matter how you are playing this content, whether it’s on a DVD, or through a popular streaming provider like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ or YouTube. Showing that content inside a business is likely against copyright terms, and could put you in legal jeopardy. Hulu’s Terms & Conditions for instance clearly state that their service is NOT for commercial use. Therefore, you cannot use it in a public or business setting- even in a waiting room.

Did you receive a threatening letter from a licensing company?

While there may be many valid points in a letter you’ve received in the mail from a content licensing organization, you should read it carefully, and realize that there is not one licensing body for all content. In a lot of cases these letters are designed to scare you into using a service that they are selling. Many of these services will offer a solution that shows a limited library of uninteresting content, looped on your TV day in and day out. You don’t need to trade away interesting television for “safe” TV when there are options out there that are both safe and interesting.

Just know, you are not obligated to use any specific licensing service in your business or waiting room. You just need to be sure that whatever service you are using has secured commercial playback rights for the content you are showing.

There are TV Providers that Include Business Display Licensing as Part of the Service

While Hulu, Netflix, Sling, Pluto and other streamers do NOT provide commercial licensing at the time of this article, there are other providers who do. And that’s what you want to utilize in order to keep your in the copyright-clear. It’s Relevant TV is one service provider that was built with integrated commercial licensing from day one. It’s cost-effective, easy-to-use, and features a growing library of over half-a-million videos. In addition to being the best streaming option for businesses, it’s also the best cable replacement on the market.