Physical retail maintains strong pull despite e-commerce growth, offering local media and agencies key targeting opportunities. Despite e-commerce growth, 76% of consumers consider in-store shopping a holiday ritual, with three-quarters saying it's essential to feeling festive and connected. Physical stores drive higher-value purchases, as 70% of shoppers feel more comfortable buying premium items in-store versus 30% online, while 72% trust in-store quality more than online options. The research challenges Black Friday's effectiveness, with 84% of consumers preferring deals spread throughout November and December rather than concentrated one-day events. For local media sales reps and agencies, the data suggests opportunities in sustained promotional campaigns, experiential retail messaging, and targeting Gen Z shoppers who show the strongest affinity for in-store discovery.

Meta’s reported decline of 20 million daily active users across its family of apps suggests that even the largest digital platforms can lose audience momentum when feeds become cluttered, repetitive or low-value. For local media sellers and agencies, the lesson is clear: advertisers do not simply need impressions; they need attention in environments people still trust, use and value. Radio, TV, cable, print, outdoor and local digital can use this moment to argue that quality content, community relevance and audience loyalty are increasingly valuable alternatives to algorithm-driven clutter.

From Charity Clothes to Global Influence: The Foundation Years
Brian Tracy transformed himself from a poverty-stricken high school dropout in Prince Edward Island into one of the world's leading success and sales authorities through systematic self-education and disciplined study of masters like Napoleon Hill and Dale Carnegie. He developed practical systems like the ABCDE priority method, the 10-goal system, and consultative selling techniques by treating real-world sales interactions as scientific experiments to refine his approach. His influence has reached millions across 58 countries through books, seminars, and audio programs that prove success comes from systematic daily habits and continuous learning rather than natural talent. Tracy's enduring legacy demonstrates that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary results by consistently applying his learnable systems for time management, goal-setting, and sales psychology.

Elevate your advertising with this week’s standout promotions!
• Browning Safes Military First Responders Rebate – Exclusive offers honoring service.
• Simplicity Rev Up Rebate – Big savings on performance equipment.
• Wrangler Back-to-School – Must-have deals for the season.
• Can-Am Ride in Style for Less – Style and performance at a value.
• Mitsubishi Travel Ready Service – Prep customers for their journeys.

Google’s shift from traditional search results to AI Overviews marks a fundamental change in how users consume information—moving from active synthesis to passive reception. This evolution raises concerns about the erosion of critical thinking and the loss of intellectual curiosity, as users increasingly rely on AI-generated summaries instead of evaluating sources themselves. For local media sales professionals and ad agency teams, this trend underscores the need to create campaigns that re-engage audiences through interaction, storytelling, and local relevance. While AI can serve as a powerful assistant, its design encourages effortless consumption, which may weaken deeper cognitive engagement over time. The challenge ahead is to use AI strategically while preserving the human capacity for questioning, discovery, and thoughtful media experiences.

When you are building a sales force or a sales team, you will hire people that have been trained by other sales organizations. The range of different sales training will go from no training to a one-day sales training to a professional level of training that included a development plan and coaching. One of the challenges of achieving your sales goals is the variation of competencies and skills across your sales force.

Local media sales teams are entering 2026 with more revenue pressure, but many are still using outdated routines that don’t match how advertisers buy today. A Local Media Association webinar highlighted three common mistakes that stall growth: weak self-promotion, overreliance on old advertiser lists instead of active prospecting, and inconsistent follow-up that fails to nurture leads long enough to win. The fix is a modern sales system—promote your expertise consistently, use AI to build smarter prospect lists and save time, and run a disciplined, value-driven nurture cadence instead of “just checking in.” Teams that modernize how they sell will build fuller pipelines and shorter sales cycles, while those that don’t will keep fighting the same churn with the same habits.

Fuel your advertising with these can’t-miss promotions this week!
• Chevy Drives America! — Celebrate American strength and style.
• Yamaha Outboards’ Cruise Into Summer Sales Event! — Power your summer on the water.
• Napoleon Fire It Up and Save Event! — Warm your home with great fireplace deals.
• Benjamin Moore Interior Paint Savings! — Brighten your space with discounted paint.
• Michelin Tires Harvest Savings! — Get ready for fall with reliable tires.
• Honda Powersports Ride Red Summer Sales Event! — Enjoy powerful rides on the trails.
• New School Year, Great Prices on Wrangler! — Get ready for school with style and comfort.

I was delighted to be asked to contribute the following article to the International Journal of Sales Transformation’s special report on “Emerging from the Pandemic”. I chose to focus on issues that I believe B2B sales leaders should be prioritising in 2022. As always, I’d welcome your comments. As we head towards 2022, sales organisations are emerging from a tumultuous two years.

As leaders, we most often look to blogs, books or boardroom meetings for guidance, and yet sometimes it’s everyday life that hands us the best leadership insights. Recently life gifted me just such a lesson: the importance of asking, “How is this different?” While preparing for work in another part of the world, I took part in a security briefing.

Kick off the week strong with these must-run co-op campaigns your customers will be excited to promote!

• Princess Cruises Spring Savings! — Inspire your customers to plan their next getaway with limited-time cruise deals and unforgettable destinations.
• Gear Up for Spring With DEWALT! — Power into the season with trusted tools, spring projects, and strong promotional offers.
• Browning Safes 2026 Tax Refund Rebate! — Encourage smart investments with secure storage solutions and timely rebate opportunities.
• Save With Seasonal Rebates From BAQUACIL! — Help customers maintain crystal-clear pools with easy care systems and seasonal savings.
• Indian Motorcycle First to the Line Event! — Ride into the season with bold performance, iconic style, and exclusive event offers.
• E-Z-GO Spring Into Savings Event! — Drive into spring with versatile vehicles and limited-time savings for work or play.
• The Spring Trane Unstoppable Event! — Keep homes comfortable with reliable HVAC solutions and powerful seasonal promotions.

How a Sickly Kid from Toronto Built a Media Empire and What Local Sales Pros Can Learn Today
Ted Rogers, born into hardship after the early death of his father, overcame health issues and financial setbacks to build one of Canada’s largest media and telecommunications empires. Starting with a struggling FM radio station, he bet on emerging technologies and turned Rogers Communications into a powerhouse spanning radio, TV, wireless, and sports. His success was driven by relentless work ethic, visionary thinking, and a willingness to take bold risks when others hesitated. Rogers believed in long-term relationships, customer value, and giving back—donating millions to education, healthcare, and civic causes. His story teaches media sales and ad professionals that resilience, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership are the keys to lasting success.

Sales meetings are a critical component of keeping your team aligned and motivated. But too often, they can feel like a chore rather than an opportunity for growth. With proper planning, these meetings can energize your media sales team and drive results.

Great sales don’t happen by accident—they’re crafted with intention and insight.
At Marketing Insights, we know that every successful campaign begins with a clear, thoughtful strategy.

Sales strategy and planning are about more than hitting targets—they’re about anticipating market shifts, understanding client needs, and positioning your approach for lasting impact. This collection of quotes offers wisdom on thinking ahead, aligning vision with action, and crafting plans that turn opportunity into success.

This collection highlights:
✨ The power of foresight and preparation
✨ How strategic thinking drives sustainable growth
✨ The importance of aligning goals with adaptable plans

Every season has its attractions and unique vibe, but the summer is particularly appealing. Nature is alive and green and the sun is warm, providing the perfect landscape and climate for endless fun, family gatherings and opportunities to relax and drain some stress and anxiety from our complex, busy lives. Some might think watching TV is the antithesis of summer compared to being physically active, enjoying the abundance...