A recent survey of 296 global senior business executives, conducted in September-October 2014 by Forbes Insights in association with Rocket Fuel and SpencerStuart, has revealed that while most of the respondents (62%) think that their marketing initiatives meet expectations, a deeper look shows that more than a half believe their companies waste money on marketing and lack understanding of their consumers.

As Mintel European retail analysts foresee, this year’s Black Friday will generate sales growth of 80-100% comparing to the last year’s sales of around £100 million. However, shopper engagement in this pre-Christmas season in the UK will remain relatively low as it was lat year. Just 15% of the surveyed consumers said they made major pre-holiday purchases during Black Friday in 2013.

Consumer brands are known for tapping bands or popular solo musicians to front their yet another short-term marketing stunt or to become their «brand ambassadors» as part of a longer term content marketing strategy. But does this yield some non-material benefits for brands beyond immediate sales figures? And does it influence artists’ musical careers beyond pouring some hard cold cash into their creative endeavors? 

There used to be a belief in the marketing circles, that millenials (consumer group aged 18-34 years old) don’t care much about personal finance and are rather unclear on their investment goals. Moreover, according to the recently unveiled Millennial Disruption Index, 33% of millenials don’t think that consumer banks, as we know them, will survive in the future.