Marketing stories

Wesfarmers is deepening its AI and cloud pact with Microsoft to roll out Copilot tools, agents and data platforms across its retail brands.

Cloaking dominates PropellerAds’ 2025 safety report as stricter checks drive a 35% rise in blocked campaigns and more account suspensions.

Clarity launches Surfacd, a tool tracking how B2B brands are portrayed across AI search and assistants such as ChatGPT and Perplexity.

Infobip upgrades its WhatsApp Marketing Messages API with optimisation tools that lift delivery rates and boost ROI by over 60%.

Creative agency 30Acres will rebuild Zulu & Zephyr’s global eCommerce platform on Shopify 2.0, with a new site launching in Q2 2026.

Nium strengthens global payments push with new chiefs for risk, technology and marketing as AI, stablecoins and regulation reshape the sector.

Meadow Fresh launches a fantasy league where real New Zealand cows earn points via smart-collar data, with NZD $20,000 up for grabs.

Amazon, Temu and Shein tighten their grip on Australian eCommerce as local marketplaces retreat and shoppers chase speed and social.

Stress is surging for New Zealand’s small business owners, with nearly half considering closing as rising costs and tax shocks take their toll.

Shirofune has integrated Reddit Ads into its automation platform, letting US marketers manage Reddit alongside major digital channels.

Percona sets out its 2026 growth plan with fresh leadership, new PostgreSQL security tech and expanded support for Valkey users.

Square rolls out free AI assistant in the UK, helping SME owners query their own sales data in plain English to speed up decisions.

UK startup Sendr launches AI-personalised videos for eCommerce, claiming a 33% uplift in abandoned-cart revenue and 10x more clicks.

UK consumers are embracing AI tools but trust is splintering, with most cross-checking search, social and brand sites before deciding.

UK health and wellbeing spend is smoothing into year-round habits, with fewer shoppers spending more and January gym spikes fading.

As Kiwis increasingly ‘ask AI’ before buying, leaders must learn to shape algorithm answers or risk losing control of their brand story.

Persistent named world’s fastest-growing IT services brand as value jumps 22% to USD $989 million in Brand Finance 2026 ranking.

CFOs shift from hiring to hardware, funnelling bigger budgets into tech, AI and sales while HR, headcount and pay growth lose momentum.

LoopMe plugs 23m Australian audience profiles into Evorra’s marketplace, enabling AI-powered segment building and activation across channels.

As AI reshapes marketing, leaders say careers will depend less on tactics and more on systems thinking, judgement and commercial clarity.