Social Media
Doing More to Support Creators on Instagram
Instagram has announced more ways for its creators to make money through the platform. The first way it is doing that is by introducing badges, which viewers on Instagram Live can purchase to give their favorite creators money. The badges will appear next to the purchaser’s name in the comments, allowing them to stand out, as well as unlock other features, such as placement on a creator’s list of badge holders and access to a special heart. Then the brand is also introducing ads on IGTV.
The brand also said on its website, “IGTV ads will initially appear when people click to watch IGTV videos from previews in their feed. The video ads will be built for mobile and up to 15 seconds long. We’ll test various experiences within IGTV ads throughout the year - such as the ability to skip an ad - to make sure the final result works well for people, creators, and advertisers.”
Customer Experience
Cumberland Farms Launches Curbside Pickup at Select Stores
Cumberland Farms has announced it has launched curbside pickup through its SmartPay Rewards app. Available at the brand’s New Concept stores in Massachusetts, it lets customers order their items at the curb or the pump. This service will be available from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.
"Curbside pickup provides our guests a convenient, seamless, and contactless way to shop for their everyday needs," said George Fournier, president of EG America. "We hope that this service helps make life a little bit easier for our guests as we all return to a new normal."
Kum & Go's First Walk-Up Store Opens in Downtown Des Moines
Kum & Go has announced it opened its first walk-up store in Des Moines, Iowa, on May 28, 2020. According to the press release, this is a new concept for the 60-year old brand.
“Kum & Go is a brand built on convenience,” said Kum & Go President, Tanner Krause, in a press release. “How do we make it easier and easier for customers to interact with us? With more and more customers living and working downtown, putting a store in the heart of Des Moines allows Kum & Go to be even more convenient for our community.”
Restaurants
Domino's is Thriving During Uncertain Times
The pizza brand Domino’s has announced it has seen a “material increase in same-store U.S. sales” after showing the first eight weeks of Q2 through a press release
“Our U.S. sales results accelerated materially over weeks five through eight of the second quarter when compared to weeks one through four,” Ritch Allison, Domino's Chief Executive Officer, said in a press release.
“We are seeing a tailwind as consumer behavior across the restaurant industry has shifted toward delivery and carryout, though we are not sure whether this trend will continue for the remainder of the second quarter or how long this tailwind may last. I am proud of the way the Domino's system has responded rapidly to the COVID-19 environment, innovating across all aspects of our operations and our digital platforms to provide a contactless delivery and carryout experience, which is just one aspect of the unwavering commitment that we and our franchisees have to the safety of our customers and team members. We will continue to focus on providing our franchisees and stores with tools to remain operationally and financially healthy, and to provide a trusted, safe and affordable option for customers at a time when they need it most.”
Cook-It-Yourself? Restaurants See Future for Meal Kits Postpandemic
With the ability to go to restaurants still in flux, some brands are going to a different route by creating meal kits and allowing customers to make the meal themselves. One of the brands doing that is Pizza Pilgrim Ltd.
“The idea was basically: if we can break even and have something to talk about on social [media], then it’d be worth doing,” co-founder Thom Elliot said in the above Wall Street Journal article.