Lessons from American Eagle’s Marketing Misstep: Strategic Insights for Business Leaders
American Eagle’s recent marketing campaign, which featured actress Sydney Sweeney and a controversial double entendre on “jeans” and “genes,” has become a cautionary tale in cultural branding. While the campaign aimed to capture attention with playful wordplay, it instead ignited backlash over its perceived racial implications and narrow portrayal of beauty ideals. For experienced marketing […]
Building Bridges with Multicultural Banking Audiences
The success of modern banking lies in its ability to reach and resonate with diverse communities. Multicultural banking audiences are no longer a niche segment that financial institutions can afford to overlook, but a significant force driving growth in the retail banking sector. These audiences represent a dynamic mix of cultures, languages, and financial behaviors, […]
Why Marketers Must Lead the Charge on Inclusivity
Inclusivity is more than a trend for modern businesses; it’s a mandate. Today’s marketplace reflects a diverse patchwork of identities, backgrounds, and stories. Marketers, business leaders, and inclusion advocates must realize that the way brands show up isn’t simply about selling to more people—but about shaping the very threads that hold our society together. The […]
From Redlining to Relevance: How Inclusive Marketing Helps Banks Repair Trust and Grow Market Share
The banking industry bears a deep and unresolved legacy. For decades, redlining practices isolated entire neighborhoods from economic opportunity, undermining trust and limiting access for millions of Americans, particularly Black and Hispanic communities. While regulatory reforms and recent Department of Justice (DOJ) settlements have forced financial institutions to reckon with these wrongs, rebuilding trust requires […]
Unlock the Potential of Multicultural Audiences: A Growth Strategy for Banks
The U.S. financial landscape is evolving, driven by the growing influence of multicultural consumers. African American, Hispanic, Asian, and immigrant communities are emerging as powerful economic forces, creating both an opportunity and a clear call to action for banks. To stay competitive and thrive, financial institutions must adapt now—because ignoring these groups is no longer […]
Path to Inclusion: How to Shift Your Marketing Strategy
Inclusive marketing isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a powerful approach that drives brand growth, creates meaningful social impact, and establishes long-lasting customer loyalty. Today’s consumers want to see themselves represented in the brands they support. More importantly, they can tell the difference between genuine inclusivity and performative acts. Shifting your marketing strategy to be more inclusive […]
Beliefs, Perceptions, and Biases in Marketing
Marketing is as much about understanding human psychology as it is about creativity. Every decision we make, every ad campaign we design, every message we craft—it all stems from a set of beliefs, perceptions, and biases, both our own and those of our target audience. These unseen forces can significantly shape the effectiveness of our […]
How Banks Can Build Trust and Loyalty with Black and Hispanic Communities
Building trust and fostering loyalty are critical for financial institutions looking to serve Black and Hispanic communities. Historically, banks have faced significant challenges in earning the trust of these underserved groups due in part to discriminatory practices and systemic barriers that have persisted for centuries. However, by adopting a forward-thinking approach and committing to actionable […]
Where Are We on the Climate for DEI?
It’s no secret that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) rose to the forefront for many organizations in 2020. Companies pledged to do better, to be better—to their employees, stakeholders, and customers alike. It seemed like a new era of inclusivity and equity was dawning. But just a few years later, we find ourselves at a […]
Unlocking Women’s Powerful Buying Influence
Marketing isn’t just about selling products or services. It’s about fostering trust, loyalty, and ultimately, a genuine connection with your consumers. To build customer relationships, it is important to engage with women in a genuine way and to represent them accurately. Why? Women influence over 80% of consumer purchases globally. For far too long, disingenuous […]
