People love novelty, which is one reason why marketing tactics like pop-up shops and mobile tours had been so successful prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. With consumers stuck indoors and craving connection, virtual events provide attendees with an opportunity to "leave" their houses, so to speak.

Inspira was recently named to the 2021 CM200, Chief Marketer's listing of the top 200 brand engagement and activation agencies across the globe. The honor was bestowed on agencies that earned top client testimonials, had outstanding case study submissions, and consistently produced innovative solutions that pushed brands and the industry forward. To learn more about the award program and how Inspira earned its listing, read along through the links below.

Stop us if you've heard this before: our team was recognized with another honor for its work with Jeep on the Champion of Adventure activation at the Winter X Games. This time, the team earned Gold at the Event Design & Technology Awards for Best Use of A/V.

Despite the challenging financial circumstances of this year, the National Retail Federation predicts that holiday sales during November and December will increase anywhere between 3.6-5.2% over 2019. Of course, how that money is spent will change; they also expect online and other non-store sales to grow by 20-30% YoY. Below, we take a look at consumer expenditures, where they’re shopping, and what they’re spending on.

A pre-pandemic article from Ad Age suggested that experiential marketing may have reached its peak, citing Instagram-worthy installations such as the Color Factory and the Museum of Ice Cream in support of the premise. Where they erred, though, was in categorizing them as examples of experiential marketing at all. Instead, they are theme parks designed to earn social media engagement.

As consumers have been relegated to their homes more often than ever in 2020, gaming has seen its popularity continue to rise. In fact, 40% of American respondents to a YouGov survey said they are playing more games in 2020, whether it be on PC, console, or mobile device. On top of the time spent at home, the year has also brought the long-anticipated releases of Playstation Series 5 and Xbox Series X/S — with demand so high that each has faced out-of-stock issues.

Camille Walfall recently joined the Inspira team as a Manager of Planning & Measurement. To learn more about Camille, read along in this edition of the Employee Spotlight!

For millions of American consumers, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought financial concerns to the forefront. At the end of 2019, about 10% of consumers in the United States expected their personal finances to get worse in the following six months. By June — three months after COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, that number grew to 21%. Even now, an additional 27% of consumers say their financial situation is tight or struggling.

Diageo North America recently announced its 10th annual Diageo Supplier Awards, which recognize the partners who drive value for the company by delivering outstanding quality, innovation, service, and performance. We are proud to announce that Inspira and its partner agency, Enthuse Marketing, have been honored with the Service Excellence Award.

Amid a year defined by social distancing and the pandemic that brought it, millions of Americans are preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving, a holiday defined by coming together with loved ones to show thanks. However, with cases on the rise across the nation, the CDC has recommended that people avoid traveling for the holiday — casting doubt on plans that were already in place. Below, we take a look at what consumers plan to do for a Thanksgiving unlike any other, where they’ll travel, and how they’ll be taking precautions along the way.