We all showed up for the big game. Some for the Eagles, some for the Chiefs, and some who wanted to see if Travis would propose to Taylor. While fans were caught up in the drama, brands were making a lot of (expensive) attempts to capture attention with 63 ads coming in at approximately $8M for a 30-second slot. Did their $500M investment pay off?

This past December, Inspira was invited to participate on the Association of National Advertisers' Marketing Futures Committee meeting, after our contributed article to their Marketing Knowledge Center became a top visited piece of content (dare we say, viral?). Because let's face it: just when you thought you understood Gen Z, there’s another emerging demographic—Gen Alpha—quickly following in its footsteps. Plus, now that we're in 2025: hellooo Beta...

Americans may have their differences, but there’s one thing that brings everyone to the table, it’s Thanksgiving. After all, who can argue with table filled with all their favorite foods? Statista reports that Thanksgiving tops the list as the most-celebrated holiday in the U.S., with almost 80% of Americans gathering to enjoy the tradition.

2025 might still feel like it’s light years away, but when it comes to your marketing strategy, it's just around the corner. With consumer behaviors evolving faster than your go-to morning coffee order, now's the perfect time to future-proof your brand. Whether you're chasing trends or redefining them, here are three things you should have on your radar to stay ahead of the game.

Coffee is our hero. We’re not kidding. From the moment we stumble out of bed to late-night espresso martinis, coffee is increasingly the beverage of choice for Americans (65% drink it every day!). And, as more brands enter the chat, there’s a growing need to innovate, stand out, and build long-term loyalty through authentic brand-consumer relationships. But, before we begin to brew an integrated marketing strategy, we first need to have a strong understanding of the coffee market and the coffee-drinking consumer. Ready to pour over the facts? (All coffee-related puns intended)

Ready or not, the most wonderful time of the year is already here for brand marketers. Research shows that by July, 34% consumers are already starting to plan their holiday shopping. So, if you haven’t already started, now’s the time to get ahead by strategically planning your integrated marketing campaigns and nurturing relationships with consumers. At Inspira, we start with a deep understanding of your consumer, their motivations, and their purchase journey. Ready to unwrap the secrets to a successful holiday campaign? Let’s go!

While in most areas of the country there’s still a few weeks before school begins, most parents have already completed their back-to-school shopping… if they did any at all. Increased costs across the board – from food to insurance – are impacting spend. While Ankura’s 2024 Back-to School Shopping Survey reports that 48% of parents say they spent, or plan to spend, the same as they did last year on back-to-school shopping they believe their dollar just won’t stretch as far. Here’s a look at what parents will, and won’t, be spending on this year.

Just when you thought you understood Gen Z, there’s another emerging demographic—Gen Alpha—following in its footsteps. Although the youngest in this cohort are still in diapers, the eldest are already brand aware and influencing what their Millennial parents buy. In fact, a recent report from DKC Analyticsfound that 95% of Millennial parents learn about new brands, products, and services from their children, and 49% say they are impacted by their child’s opinions about brands and products.

Superbowl LVIII–or “58” for those not born during the Roman Empire–is over, but the heat from the ads is still baking. Just like last year, we polled everyone at Inspira Marketing to get their takes on which commercials stuck with them and which faded into obscurity.

Spending is still climbing for Valentine’s Day 2024, but love-struck consumers are looking for deals and value more than ever. We wooed the latest data to examine what V-Day celebrants are buying, including the kind of experiences that don’t fit in a gift bag.