Editor’s Note

New Year, New Stu

JESSIE DOWD, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

By the time you read this issue of Path to Purchase IQ in early February, many of you may have already forgotten about your February, many of you may have already forgotten about your New Year’s resolutions. It’s true — studies continually show that New Year’s resolutions. It’s true — studies continually show that the majority of resolution-makers abandon their well-intentioned promises within a month.

I’m not usually one for making resolutions (adding something else to my never-ending to-do list has never been appealing), but I do like to think of the new year as a good time to refresh or hit the proverbial reset button. To that tune, the editorial team is excited to kick o our rst issue of 2022 with a few new o erings that you can expect to see in each edition of the magazine.

Part of the refreshed issue lineup includes new departments that will help you keep the pulse of the industry, with a curated roundup of the latest trends in shopper behavior and consumer research, spotlights on brands and categories, a dive into in-store experience, new solutions and innovations, and plenty more.

Another new addition to each issue is our Author’s Corner (see page 12), where we’ll pick the brains of the industry’s top minds and share a glimpse with you as part of our 2022 Book Club. I encourage you to sign up for the Book Club (it’s free!) so that you’ll be the rst to know about each new author and book — plus you’ll get exclusive access to attend our “Meet the Author” virtual co ee hour events (available only to Book Club members). You can learn more about the Book Club and the 2022 featured authors and books at PathtoPurchaseIQ.com/bookclub.

Of course, each issue of Path to Purchase IQ will continue to cover the commerce marketing industry with in-depth feature stories, special reports and research. In this month’s issue, we unveil the results of our 26th annual Path to Purchase Trends Survey (page 20) — including retailer media network ratings — and take a deep dive into the challenges, tactics and opportunities we’re facing as an industry.

Once you’re done digesting the numbers from our Trends Survey, check out the 15 emerging brands making big moves in CPG (page 32) that you’ll want to keep on your radar. Then treat yourself to some fresh creativity and see how brands are engaging with shoppers via next-level immersive experiences (page 38).

Whether you’re a devoted resolution-maker or not, we hope this issue brings you the insights and inspiration to attack 2022 with vigor — or at the very least, a little extra wind in your sails.

Hover your smartphone’s camera over this link to register for the Book Club.

Editorial Director Jessie Dowd, jdowd@ensembleiq.com Executive Editor Tim Binder, tbinder@ensembleiq.com Managing Editor Charlie Menchaca, cmenchaca@ensembleiq.com Digital Editor Jacqueline Barba, jbarba@ensembleiq.com Director/Member Content Patrycja Malinowska, pmalinowska@ensembleiq.com Managing Editor/Member Content Cyndi Loza, cloza@ensembleiq.com Editor/Member Content Beth Christenson, echristenson@ensembleiq.com Director – Production Ed Ward, eward@ensembleiq.com Creative Director Colette Magliaro, cmagliaro@ensembleiq.com Art Director Michael Escobedo, mescobedo@ensembleiq.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Michael Applebaum, Ed Finkel, Erika Flynn, Chris Gelbach, Jenny Rebholz, Bill Schober

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