Retail “Productivity Surge”: Upgrading the In-Store Fitout with Smart Screen Tech

Recent economic data from 2026 reveals a significant 64% surge in retail and office “fitout” investments. As businesses prioritize physical infrastructure, a clear trend has emerged: large firms are capturing massive productivity gains, ranging from 20% to 50%, simply by upgrading to newer, more efficient equipment. While many associate a “fitout” with furniture or floor plans, the most successful modern businesses are focusing on the technology that drives communication.

The ROI of the Smart Screen

In 2026, an upgraded fitout is no longer just about aesthetics; it is about the ROI of the smart screen. Businesses that continue to rely on traditional cable TV or outdated, manual loops are missing out on the efficiency gains driving the current market. According to recent reports on retail infrastructure, physical environment upgrades are the primary driver of operational output this quarter.

Traditional cable often exposes customers to competitor ads or controversial news, turning a potential marketing tool into a liability. It’s Relevant TV (IRTV) represents the ultimate “efficiency upgrade” for a business’s communication stack. By replacing manual processes, like managing USB loops or prone-to-error YouTube playlists, with an AI-driven, automated system, IRTV allows staff to focus on high-value tasks rather than troubleshooting TV content.

Automating Engagement and Growth

The mission of IRTV is to make TVs work for businesses, not against them. The platform combines licensed entertainment with custom business messaging into a single, cloud-based platform. This aligns with the broader movement toward how AI is changing the way businesses communicate in-store.

Automated Content Management: IRTV’s AI-driven system handles programming automatically, ensuring screens are always fresh and brand-safe.
Professional Messaging: Businesses can seamlessly integrate their own videos, promotions, and social media feeds, reaching customers at the most valuable moment—when they are already on-site.
Enhanced Customer Experience: By providing over 1,000,000 short-form video segments tailored to the audience, IRTV transforms waiting rooms and retail spaces into welcoming environments.

Don’t Leave Your TVs in the Past

You are already investing in your physical space to drive growth. Don’t leave your TVs in 2019. Upgrading your TV programming is the “smart fitout” for your communication strategy, automating your marketing and entertaining your guests with zero manual effort from your team.

For businesses looking to capitalize on the 2026 productivity surge, upgrading to a smart, automated network is the fastest way to turn a static screen into a dynamic revenue driver. Modernizing your location starts with moving away from passive distractions and moving toward active engagement.

The Private Retail Media Network: Why You Don’t Need to Be a Big Box Store to Monetize Your Screens

The advertising world in Q2 of 2026 is buzzing about Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) and Retail Media Networks (RMNs).

This raises a critical question: do you need to be a massive retailer to build a retail media network and monetize your screens? The answer is no.

Mid-market brands, franchises, and regional businesses can capture this same advertising value by transforming their existing waiting room or store TVs into a private retail media network. You do not need a multi-million dollar infrastructure; you simply need the right platform to turn a passive expense into an active, measurable marketing channel.

We actively compared the strategies of global giants launching unified retail media platforms with the capabilities currently available to regional retailers and mid-market franchises.

Outfront Media recently presented at the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference, emphasizing that in an AI-saturated digital world, DOOH remains a real, trusted, public media. While massive retailers globally, like Wickes in the UK and Visual Art in Sweden, are building vast networks to capture ad dollars at the point of purchase, smaller brands often feel left behind. However, the technology now exists to level the playing field, allowing any business to extend their digital marketing directly into their physical space.

What is a Private Retail Media Network?

A private retail media network is a business-controlled digital ecosystem that generates advertising value by turning in-store screens into monetized marketing channels, completely free from competitor interference.

For decades, businesses have relied on traditional cable television or basic looping video playlists to entertain customers. This approach is fundamentally flawed. Cable television forces your business to broadcast competitor advertisements, controversial news, and irrelevant programming to a captive audience. When you pay for cable, you are essentially paying to market other companies inside your own walls.

A private network changes the paradigm. Instead of broadcasting external noise, a private retail media network combines curated, licensed entertainment with your custom business messaging. It is the missing link between your online digital marketing efforts and your physical in-person engagement. By controlling the screen, businesses can seamlessly integrate their own promotional messages, social media videos, and announcements alongside high-quality, brand-safe entertainment. This creates a cohesive narrative where the business controls the environment, the message, and ultimately, the value of the screen time.

How Do Mid-Market Brands Build a Retail Media Network?

Mid-market brands build a retail media network by deploying a white-label, cloud-managed television platform across their existing screens to centrally control content and local messaging.

The logic is straightforward: you already have the screens, and you already have the foot traffic. The only missing component is the software and content to manage it effectively. Building a network does not require hiring a team of video editors or media buyers. Modern solutions utilize AI-driven content management to streamline the process.

For enterprise brands, franchises, and large regional networks, the most effective approach is a white-label enterprise model. This allows a brand to run its own private network without seeing any third-party vendor branding. The corporate headquarters can establish national branding consistency by setting global defaults, while empowering individual franchise locations to upload their own regional videos and promotions. This ensures that a car dealership in Connecticut and a branch in California share the same high-level branding, but feature localized service specials and community involvement spotlights.

What is the ROI of In-Store TVs?

The ROI of in-store TVs averages a return value 4 to 5 times greater than the monthly service cost when tracking comparative ad rates through detailed weekly analytics.

The solution to proving the value of a private network lies in data. Mainstream business news often highlights the billions of dollars flowing into big box RMNs, but mid-market businesses need tangible proof that their screens are working for them. This requires analytics that measure screen performance and content value beyond simply knowing the TV is turned on.

To truly monetize a screen, a business must treat it like digital real estate. A robust private network platform provides detailed weekly analytics that document screen utilization, content delivery, and advertising performance. These metrics include tracking the most and least used screens, total active hours, client video plays, and network video plays. For layouts that feature right-side advertising panels or full-screen ad takeovers, the system must track total playbacks and the frequency of unique ads.

Comparing Display Technologies for Business

To understand why a private network is necessary, we must compare the available options. The transition from static signage to an intelligent network is a crucial step in modern digital signage strategies.

Feature	Traditional Cable TV	Basic Digital Signage	It’s Relevant TV (Private RMN)
Competitor Ads	High Risk	None	None (Complete Brand Safety)
Entertainment Value	High (But risky)	Low (Static/Repetitive)	High (Curated & Licensed)
AI Content Curation	No	No	Yes
White-Label Capable	No	Rare	Yes
Actionable ROI Analytics	No	Basic	Comprehensive (Comparative Ad Rates)

The Ultimate Solution for Your Business

You do not need to be a global big box store to capture the power of DOOH advertising. The strategy is to recycle, not reinvent. Businesses are already spending heavily to reach audiences online; those same social clips and promotional videos can be repurposed to engage the audience standing right in front of them.

By implementing a platform like It’s Relevant TV, businesses can seamlessly blend customized marketing with family-safe, highly engaging entertainment. The platform gives every business the power of a private TV network that informs, entertains, and markets simultaneously. Whether you are managing a single waiting room or 1,000+ franchise locations, the ability to control your screens, protect your brand, and prove your ROI is no longer a luxury reserved for retail giants. It is a necessary, accessible step in the evolution of physical retail and customer experience.

The True Cost of Free Business TV: You Get What You Pay For

If you are wondering why your free business TV service feels like a disservice to your customers, the answer is simple: you get what you pay for.

Free business TV networks like Atmosphere TV and Loop TV rely on an ad-heavy model that bombards your business, waiting room, or retail space with commercials, generic content, and uncontrollable in-channel content. Instead of enhancing your customer experience, these services hijack your screens to serve the people they care about most; their advertisers.

We analyzed the hidden costs of these platforms and found that upgrading to a premium, controlled network like It’s Relevant TV provides a significantly higher return on investment by turning your screens into a powerful customer experience tool and marketing channel.

The Problem with Ad Supported TV Networks

Ad supported business TV services cost nothing upfront but cost you more and more each day as customer loyalty can go by the wayside.

There is an old saying in business that remains incredibly accurate today: you get what you pay for. When a service provider offers you a free television network for your commercial space, they are not operating a charity. They are operating an advertising business. Companies like Atmosphere TV, Loop TV, Mood Media, and Rockbot often entice business owners with the promise of free screens and free programming. However, the true price of these services is paid for by your losses.

Your waiting room, retail floor, or restaurant dining area is a prime environment for building brand loyalty. When you hand over control of your screens to a free provider, you surrender that valuable real estate, and give it freely to someone else who will use it for their financial interests. The programming is frequently interrupted by advertisements from national brands and, in some cases, direct competitors. Rather than keeping your audience engaged with your own messaging, these platforms actively distract them and get them thinking about anything but.

You Are Paying with Your Audience’s Attention

We actively compared locations using generic cable or free streaming against those using custom networks. The results were clear. Businesses that relied on free, ad-supported models experienced lower customer engagement and higher frustration levels during wait times. The fundamental issue is that your captive audience is being sold to the highest bidder. If you are not paying for the product, your business and your customers are the product.

The Logic Behind In-Business Media

Controlling your in store television allows you to align your digital marketing with physical engagement, increasing customer retention which drives sales. To understand the real value of a commercial television network, you must look at your screens as an extension of your digital marketing strategy.

Businesses spend heavily to reach audiences online through social media and search engines, yet they often ignore the audience sitting or standing right in front of them in their physical location(s). A smart television strategy bridges the gap between digital reach and physical engagement.

Customer retention is a critical metric for any successful enterprise. According to research published by the Harvard Business Review, acquiring a new customer is significantly more expensive than keeping an existing one.

By creating a welcoming, informative environment, you directly impact how customers perceive your brand and how often they return. When your screens display positive, contextually relevant information alongside your own promotions, you recycle your existing marketing materials and give them new life.

Why Generic Playlists Fall Flat

Another major flaw with free TV models is the content itself. Looping video playlists or generic viral clip channels become stale very quickly. Employees who have to watch the same looping videos day after day suffer from reduced morale, and regular customers quickly tune out the repetitive noise.

A successful screen strategy requires a massive library of constantly updated, contextually appropriate entertainment that respects the intelligence and demographics of your specific audience.

The Solution: Taking Control with It’s Relevant TV

It’s Relevant TV is a human-curated, AI-powered, custom television network that replaces ad heavy competitors with brand safe entertainment and your own promotional messaging.

Rather than settling for a free service that works against your goals, the smart choice is to invest in a platform designed to serve your business. It’s Relevant TV, a company that has been providing related services for over a decade, offers a custom television and digital signage network built specifically for businesses. It completely replaces traditional cable TV and looping video playlists with a dynamic, AI-powered programming experience.

The system provides access to over 1,000,000 short form video segments from trusted creators and networks. The topics range from sports and travel to health, cooking, and local news. Every single video is curated, family friendly, and completely free of competitor promotions or controversial subjects. But the real power lies in the integration of your own business messaging.

You can effortlessly upload your own commercials, social media videos, announcements, and slides. The platform automatically mixes your local clips with the national entertainment content, requiring absolutely no video editing skills on your part. You control the frequency, ensuring your promotional messages are seen exactly when you want them to be seen.

Advanced AI Controls and Easy Management

Managing your custom network is incredibly simple thanks to easy controls. The system knows your preferences while a powerful keyword blocking system allows you to easily filter out specific topics, ensuring your screens remain perfectly aligned with your brand values. You can even interact with the control panel using natural language prompts to adjust your programming on the fly.

Analytics That Prove Value

Unlike free services that leave you in the dark, It’s Relevant TV provides detailed weekly analytics that measure screen performance and content value. These reports go beyond simply powering screens. They give you clear visibility into active hours, client video playbacks, network video plays, and estimated ad values. Many clients discover that the value of their display space on the TV is often 4-5X what they spend on the service itself. This data driven approach ensures you are always maximizing your return on investment.

Comparing Business TV Providers

It’s Relevant TV offers ad free, AI curated content with granular controls, whereas competitors like Atmosphere TV and Loop TV force ad heavy, limited playlists.

When you place these services side by side, the contrast is stark. The recent industry updates surrounding layoffs at major ad supported networks highlight the instability of prioritizing advertisers over the businesses hosting the screens. Here is a clear breakdown of how a premium custom network compares to the free alternatives.

Feature	It’s Relevant TV	Competitors (Atmosphere TV, Loop TV, etc.)
Ad Free Experience	Yes, 100% Ad-Free.	No, Ad heavy and reliant on external advertisers
Custom Business Videos	Yes, Business uploads and controls frequency	Limited, Basic templates or zero integration
Granular Controls	Yes, Keyword blocking and precise content selection	No, Pre set channels only
AI Recommendations	Yes, Adaptive AI learns brand preferences	No, Manual channel switching required
White Label Option	Yes, franchises and outside networks commonly use	No, Rare or entirely unavailable
Family Safe Filtering	Yes, Human curation and extra AI filtering	Limited, Variable depending on the channel
Local Messaging Integration	Yes, Full control per location or global	Limited, Basic templates only

Invest in Your Customer Experience

When it comes to the technology you place in front of your customers, the cheapest option is rarely the best one. Your TV is not an area you want to “save a few bucks” in; not when the differences are so stark.

Relying on a free television service often means subjecting your visitors to a barrage of unwanted advertisements and generic content. By choosing to invest in a 100% Ad-Free custom TV network like It’s Relevant TV, you reclaim your screens, protect your brand, and turn a potential distraction into a powerful asset. Do not let external advertisers dictate the atmosphere of your business. Take control of your messaging, entertain your guests safely, and remember that when it comes to business TV, you truly get what you pay for.

Media Control Back in the Spotlight: What the Paramount Hostile Bid Reveals About the Rising Value of TV Platforms

The media world is undergoing one of its most consequential shifts in decades, and nothing illustrates that better than the recent hostile bid by Paramount Skydance to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. At first glance, the bid appears to be about content libraries, blockbuster franchises, and owning more streaming capacity. But beneath the surface lies a deeper truth shaping the entire industry:

In an era where content is everywhere, the real power lies in owning distribution and controlling the message.

As legacy media firms engage in multibillion-dollar fights for scale, a quieter but equally significant shift is happening across retail, healthcare, hospitality, and public venues. Businesses are realizing that controlling the messaging on the screens inside their own spaces—screens their customers see every day—is becoming a powerful strategic asset. And investors are increasingly turning their attention toward companies that enable these environments.

The Paramount Hostile Bid: A Battle Over Attention and Influence

When Paramount Skydance made its unsolicited offer to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, analysts quickly noted that the value of the deal extends beyond owning movies, series, and networks. Paramount’s leadership highlighted that their bid offered a “more certain and quicker path to completion,” while industry observers saw something more: a move to consolidate power over how and where media reaches audiences.

The consolidation underscores a shift occurring at the highest levels of media strategy: control over distribution channels is becoming just as important—if not more important—than the content itself.

Yet, even as media giants merge to control broadcast networks, streaming platforms, and cable channels, one area is growing almost entirely outside the traditional media ecosystem: privately controlled, branded TV networks inside real-world businesses. And platforms like It’s Relevant TV are quietly enabling this transformation.

The Rise of Real-World Message Control

Businesses today face a unique challenge. Customers are inundated with messages from every direction—social media, online ads, streaming platforms, and public signage. But the moment a customer steps inside a business’s physical space, the business has a rare advantage: it can control the environment and the messaging without letting in the outside noise.

This is where It’s Relevant TV has become an invaluable resource. Unlike ad-supported TV and digital signage tools, It’s Relevant TV allows businesses to deploy:

fully branded, white-labeled TV networks
custom programming curated from an enormous content library
their own internal messaging, promotions, and educational content
non-repetitive, non-looping content that keeps viewers engaged

The result is a controlled media environment that reflects the brand, informs the customer, and enhances the experience—all without selling a single outside advertisement. To the viewer, these networks look entirely like the business’s own private channel.

White-Labeled Networks: An Invisible but Powerful Media Layer

One of the most compelling aspects of It’s Relevant TV is how businesses routinely use it to power retail and in-location TV networks that appear to be built in-house. Many shoppers today don’t realize that the branded channels playing inside the stores they visit—the channels featuring custom content, promotions, and entertainment—are actually powered by It’s Relevant TV behind the scenes.

In a media environment increasingly concerned with authenticity, brand control, and customer experience, this model delivers something traditional networks cannot: complete ownership of the message from start to finish.

Instead of inserting third-party ads or competing commercial content, It’s Relevant TV ensures the message on the screen belongs entirely to the business. It gives organizations the ability to:

Showcase their brand identity consistently
Educate and inform customers about offerings
Reduce perceived wait times in service environments
Build customer loyalty and trust
Eliminate noise and distraction from outside advertisers

For companies with dozens or even thousands of locations, this becomes a powerful, scalable media distribution channel—one that investors increasingly view as a valuable asset.

Why Investors Are Paying Attention to Message-Control Platforms

Traditional media companies face challenges that It’s Relevant TV’s model sidesteps entirely: expensive content production, volatility in advertising markets, licensing battles, regulatory scrutiny, and increasing competition from streaming giants. Meanwhile, real-world media networks—especially those controlled directly by businesses—offer:

Stable, predictable engagement
Scalable distribution without massive content costs
Consistent viewer attention in captive environments
Stronger brand alignment and loyalty
No dependence on third-party advertisers

This is why private, controlled networks are becoming more attractive to investors. They represent a future where businesses don’t have to share attention, interrupt their message with unrelated advertising, or rely on outside media companies to shape the customer experience.

In essence, It’s Relevant TV is enabling businesses to become their own media companies—without the complexity or cost of building a network from scratch.

How Industry Consolidation Benefits It’s Relevant TV

As large media giants merge and shrink in number, businesses seeking control of their in-store messaging increasingly turn to alternatives outside the traditional media ecosystem. It’s Relevant TV offers exactly what those businesses need: a platform that gives them ownership of their message without inserting third-party commercial interests.

While Paramount, Netflix, and other media giants chase billions of dollars in content and distribution consolidation, the real growth story may lie elsewhere—in the expansion of private media networks owned by businesses themselves and powered quietly by It’s Relevant TV.

This shift is accelerating, and investors are beginning to recognize the value of companies that:

Enable brand-controlled messaging across thousands of screens
Operate outside the risks of advertising-driven revenue models
Provide infrastructure powering hundreds of white-labeled networks
Scale through distribution rather than expensive content production

The Future of Media Will Be More Distributed—and More Private

While the big players fight for dominance in streaming and cable, the rise of private messaging networks inside businesses represents a quieter revolution. The future of media control will not belong only to massive studios or global streamers—but also to the retailers, hospitals, gyms, restaurants, and service providers building their own in-location media channels.

And many of those networks, whether the public realizes it or not, will be powered by It’s Relevant TV.

Toilet Paper Ads: Why Forcing People to Watch Commercials Can Backfire

Watching to Wipe? Innovation is great — but nobody wants a public restroom to make them feel like they are in an episode of Black Mirror.

A viral clip of a restroom toilet paper dispenser that makes people watch an ad before getting a few sheets has sparked global debate. While the concept may sound like a clever way to monetize attention, it misunderstands a critical truth of marketing: the associative value of ads — how people feel about your brand because of where and how they encounter your message — is as important as delivering the message itself.

The Risk of Negative Brand Association

When a brand inserts an ad as a barrier to a basic necessity like toilet paper, viewers don’t just remember the ad; they remember the emotion attached to it. In a vulnerable moment, the forced ad becomes the villain, and the advertiser inherits the blame.

Resentment: People feel “held hostage” and transfer that frustration to the brand.
Ridicule: Social media turns awkward experiences into viral jokes — at the advertiser’s expense.
Backlash: Instead of boosting sales, the campaign creates avoidance and distrust.

Context Is Everything in Advertising

Bathrooms are spaces where people expect privacy, dignity, and utility without conditions. Turning access to toilet paper into an attention toll signals exploitation and tone-deafness. Even a brilliantly produced spot can’t overcome the bad optics of making someone watch an ad to meet a basic need.

It reframes your brand as a gatekeeper to comfort.
It violates norms of respect and autonomy.
It invites comparisons to dystopian tech and “paywalls for essentials.”

Positive Alternatives: Ads That Respect the Viewer

Great advertising aligns with the audience’s expectations and enhances the environment. Instead of coercion, choose placements and formats that feel native, helpful, and welcome.

Natural placement: Use screens and contexts where content is expected, not resented.
Value-added messaging: Inform, entertain, or assist instead of interrupting or shaming.
Environment control: When you control the space, you control the tone — and the halo around your brand.

Custom TV: A Better Way to Advertise in Your Own Space

Systems like It’s Relevant TV lets you deliver branded messages and promotions on screens within your own business — where guests already expect to see content. That means:

No forced interruptions or awkward attention tolls.
Positive association from useful, well-matched programming and on-screen promos.
Low-cost, high-impact control of what appears on your TVs — including your own ads.

Instead of risking backlash with intrusive placements, build trust by communicating on your terms, in your environment, with content that reflects your brand’s values.

Innovation — Without the “Black Mirror” Vibes

Technology should make experiences better, not turn everyday moments into dystopian transactions. The lesson from “toilet paper ads” is clear: associative value matters. When ads respect people, they work. When they exploit people, they backfire. If you want attention that converts — and loyalty that lasts — choose positive, permissioned advertising in spaces you own.

What is Infotainment? A Growing Tool for Business Engagement

The term infotainment is a blend of two concepts—information and entertainment. The phrase, originally coined to describe media content that combines educational or informative messaging with engaging entertainment elements, has since evolved into a strategic communication tool in numerous settings. It’s particularly impactful in business environments where capturing the attention of a passive audience—like waiting customers, patrons, or visitors—is both a challenge and an opportunity. From hospitals to car dealerships, retail shops to dental offices, infotainment bridges the gap between content consumption and meaningful engagement.

In a business context, infotainment serves a critical dual function: it improves the customer experience while also delivering purposeful messaging. Whether it’s health tips in a medical waiting room, industry updates in a corporate lobby, or product highlights in a retail store, infotainment keeps audiences informed without being boring or overbearing.

Not everyone wants to learn, but everyone enjoys being entertained. Unlike traditional digital signage or basic advertising, infotainment doesn’t feel like a hard sell. Instead, it fosters a more natural and enjoyable viewing experience that subtly reinforces brand values, services, or calls to action.

Business Segments Utilizing Infotainment

Medical Offices

Medical offices, including hospitals, urgent cares, and dental clinics, are among the most common environments where infotainment shines. Patients often spend time in waiting rooms, anxious or idle. A screen that simply loops ads or silent news headlines does little to improve their experience. Infotainment offers a better alternative—engaging them with health-related facts, calming entertainment, wellness programming, and even content tailored to children or specific demographics. This thoughtful blend reduces perceived wait times and helps build trust by positioning the practice as both informative and caring.

Car Dealerships

Automotive dealerships are another business type that benefits significantly from infotainment programming. While customers wait for sales consultations, financing, or vehicle servicing, infotainment can be used to promote new models, explain service packages, or highlight limited-time offers—all while providing entertaining segments that hold viewer attention. The balance of content ensures customers aren’t bombarded with promotions but are still exposed to relevant, brand-enhancing information in a way that feels casual and engaging.

Retailers

Retail and specialty stores, including boutique shops and sports card stores, use infotainment to enhance the in-store experience and reinforce brand identity. Rather than showing generic cable channels or looping product videos, curated infotainment content can showcase lifestyle segments, hobby-specific features, and even customer-generated social media highlights. This approach helps connect shoppers more deeply with the brand while creating a vibrant, personalized shopping environment that encourages longer stays and higher spending.

Restaurants & More

Even hospitality environments—such as cafes, salons, gyms, and family entertainment centers—are embracing infotainment as a way to keep customers engaged and informed. A salon might include beauty tips and fashion trends mixed with entertainment clips, while a family fun center might feature trivia, cartoon shorts, and safety information. In these settings, infotainment isn’t just background noise; it becomes a functional part of the customer experience, reflecting the business’s personality and values while subtly promoting services or products.

Infotainment has become a vital component of modern business communication strategies. It transforms passive screen time into an active brand experience, creating an atmosphere where customers are entertained, educated, and influenced—all without feeling like they’re watching an ad.

Whether used in healthcare, retail, automotive, hospitality, or other customer-facing industries, infotainment is a powerful way to engage audiences. It has been found to reduce perceived wait times and reinforce brand identity in a smart sophisticated manner. Sell less… INFOTAIN more!

Crumbl Cookies and the Power of Visual Hype: What Retailers Can Learn

In just a few short years, Crumbl Cookies has gone from a single location in Utah to a nationwide empire boasting over 1,000 storefronts and more than $1.2 billion in annual revenue.

Their secret? It Comes Down to 3 Things:

A highly visual brand experience powered by social media
A rotating weekly menu that drives urgency
A deep understanding of how to turn content into conversion.As Crumbl flirts with a potential $2 billion valuation and a future IPO, marketers across industries—especially those focused on in-location retail media—should take note.

At the heart of Crumbl’s growth is a savvy approach to digital content. Their 30-person in-house creative team produces high-end video, photos, and content drops every week, timed perfectly with their Sunday night menu reveals. This consistency has made Crumbl one of the most followed food brands online, with millions of followers on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

They understand that a product designed to be photographed and shared can drive not just engagement, but physical foot traffic.

And in the case of their cookies, the more visually outrageous the flavor or topping, the more likely it is to trend, and in turn get people through their doors.

This attention to the visual experience doesn’t stop online. In-store, Crumbl stores are intentionally minimalist—open kitchens, streamlined counters, and most importantly, digital screens that reflect the week’s lineup and real-time volume discount offers. These in-location displays do more than just inform—they influence purchasing behavior. Limited-time add-ons, featured flavors, and upsells are highlighted through digital signage that reinforces the same design language customers have already seen on their feeds. It creates a seamless transition from the online hype to the in-store checkout.

This model offers a blueprint for other retailers and food brands, especially those with visually-driven products. The ability to coordinate digital marketing with on-location screen content is one of the most powerful tools in the modern marketing stack.

Businesses that embrace custom in-store TV networks—especially those that can update dynamically and mirror current social campaigns—create immersive brand environments.

Whether it’s showcasing a product drop, cross-promoting accessories, or driving loyalty program signups, in-location media can reinforce urgency, elevate perception, and drive higher transaction values.

crumbl-cookie-marketing-brilliance — Crumbl Chocolate Toffee Cake ft. HEATH

Crumbl’s success also reflects a shift in consumer behavior. People aren’t just buying cookies—they’re buying the moment, the reveal, the exclusivity, and the shareability. The customer becomes part of the marketing. Retailers who want to replicate this effect must think beyond static signage or passive background TV. Instead, they should be leveraging tools like custom business TV platforms that allow them to tailor content to their own promotions, seasonal campaigns, or limited-time offers—just as Crumbl does with its rotating menu.

As Crumbl positions itself for Wall Street, it’s clear the brand was built as much on visual media strategy as it was on frosting and flour. Their ability to connect with customers at multiple touchpoints—online and in-store—has redefined what a modern retail experience can look like. For marketers, it’s a clear sign: visual storytelling and strategic screen usage aren’t just add-ons—they’re now essential ingredients in building the next billion-dollar brand.

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.