Hailing from Tappahannock, Virginia, Abby Walter recently joined the Inspira team as Art Director in our creative department. To learn more about Abby, read along in this edition of the Employee Spotlight!

When Alcohol Change UK created the Dry January campaign in 2013 to raise money for alcohol abuse and treatment, it likely had no idea of what was to come. Now a global phenomenon, Dry January invites consumers from across the globe to abstain from alcohol for the duration of the month for the sake of their health and their wallets.

There has always been a soft spot in Americans' hearts for their pets, but that bond has only grown stronger in the past year. Confined to their homes more often than ever due to the pandemic, Americans are spending more time with their animals — and adopting new ones altogether.

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!