The Marketing Gateway

Latest Episodes

  • Episode 153 – How Dollar Tree Broke its Brand Promise

    It ain’t $1.25 Tree!

    Maybe you shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep!

    SOURCES

    https://www.the-sun.com/money/13875778/dollar-tree-ceo-prices-hike-store-value/

    Dollar Tree is raising prices again and shoppers are not happy

    https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2026/07/22/dollar-tree-price-scanners-social-media-reactions/91013233007/

    https://financebuzz.com/news/sneaky-ways-dollar-tree-changed-prices

    https://www.the-sun.com/money/14719523/dollar-tree-sneaky-cost-change-price-increases/

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamdanziger/2026/02/27/five-below-rises-above-the-dollar-store-image-and-shoppers-are-all-in/

    https://www.the-sun.com/money/16112163/five-below-major-changes-openings-updates/

    https://www.the-sun.com/money/16077581/dollar-general-new-store-remodel/

    https://www.businessinsider.com/family-dollar-spoiled-products-reveal-a-big-challenge-for-sale-2024-6?op=1

    https://www.lawyerherald.com/articles/52431/20240227/family-dollar-stores-llc-admits-guilt-fines-total-41-675.htm

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  • Episode 152 – Interview with Savannah Westbrock

    Another great interview!

    Today, we are talking to the incredible Savannah Westbrock!

    About Savannah: Savannah Westbrock is an innovation leader with a decade of experience in digital media. She’s adapted her programmatic marketing background into product-marketing centric roles across both agency networks and AdTech companies, currently serving as the VP of Commercial Growth for Inuvo’s IntentKey AI solution. Her approach is straightforward: find the opportunity others haven’t seen yet, build something that works, and make sure the industry knows it. She’s a recognized voice in AdTech, named a Top Woman in Media & Ad Tech by AdExchanger, and is passionate about bringing clarity to spaces that move too fast for most to keep up with.

    Contact Savannah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/savannahwb/

    Also, keep up with Savannah on LinkedIn to see when she posts the extended version of her speech from the AMA conference!

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  • Episode 151 – Let’s NOT Do What LG Is Doing With Adware

    I’ll throw a montitor out so fast for pushing ads to me.

    Yeah, let’s take this as a lesson huh.

    This month, our plug is Heat Up St. Louis! If you would like to donate, please visit their site at https://heatupstlouis.org/

    SOURCES

    https://gizmodo.com/lg-monitors-fill-pcs-with-adware-and-its-not-just-recent-displays-2000787737

    https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/advice-smart-devices-data-tracking/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McAfee

    https://www.pocket-lint.com/how-to-stop-your-lg-tv-from-spying-on-you/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_copy_protection_rootkit_scandal

    (more…)

  • Episode 150 – Marketing Predictions For 2026… That Haven’t Happened

    That’s not so Sean.

    What can we say? Sometimes we get it right, and sometimes we don’t. Luckily, we have no skin in the game!

    SOURCES

    https://www.kantar.com/Campaigns/Marketing-Trends

    https://www.deloittedigital.com/nl/en/insights/perspective/marketing-trends-2026.html

    https://www.coursera.org/articles/marketing-trends

    https://www.gartner.com/en/articles/future-of-marketing

    https://www.ama.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Executive_Summary-AMA-2026-Future_Trends_in_Marketing.pdf

    https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/openai-shutting-down-browser

    https://www.vogue.com/article/you-cannot-trust-a-machine-the-ai-consumer-perception-survey

    https://www.pangram.com/blog/ai-in-your-feed?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

    (more…)

  • Episode 149 – The Truth About The Blue Ocean Strategy!

    Imagine the “Jaws” theme here.

    Are you going to be the shark fighting for other fish, or the shark that finds a new feeding ground?

    This month, our plug is Heat Up St. Louis! If you would like to donate, please visit their site at https://heatupstlouis.org/

    SOURCES

    https://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/blog/7-powerful-blue-ocean-strategy-examples/

    https://voodoodoughnut.com/weddings/

    https://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/tools/six-paths-framework

    (more…)

  • Episode 148 – When All You Can Eat Is More Than Businesses Can Afford

    I love a crab leg from a casino buffet.

    Who doesn’t love a good buffet?! Apperently a lot of people!

    SOURCES

    https://www.mashed.com/1344919/untold-history-all-you-can-eat-buffets/

    A Definite History Of All-You-Can-Eat-Buffets

    https://www.cookist.com/a-palates-journey-the-rich-history-of-all-you-can-eat-buffets/

    https://www.thetakeout.com/1714460/origin-buffets-history-explained/

    https://www.nrn.com/fast-casual/panera-s-unlimited-sip-club-will-no-longer-be-unlimited

    https://www.tastingtable.com/1943624/all-you-can-eat-buffets-city-las-vegas/

    (more…)

  • Episode 147 – Should Disney Shut Down Disney+?

    Look, that is where I have to watch SVU and X-Files now so hang on…

    Disney jumped on the streaming service bandwagon, but is worth it to keep it going?

    This month, our plug is Heat Up St. Louis! If you would like to donate, please visit their site at https://heatupstlouis.org/

    SOURCES

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/disneys-move-to-merge-hulu-into-disney-could-save-company-billions-of-dollars/ar-AA1KaDKP

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2025/11/18/disneys-200-billion-plot-twist-streaming-the-real-magic/

    https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/ditching-streaming-could-boost-disney-121346478.html

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/dbloom/2026/07/13/should-disney-get-out-of-streaming-or-double-down-on-distribution/

    https://www.cleveland.com/news/2026/07/major-streaming-service-considers-free-ad-supported-plan.html

    https://collider.com/disney-plus-free-streaming-tier-update/

    https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/most-popular-streaming-services-by-subscribers/

    (more…)

  • Episode 146 – Lessons I Learned From My Lemonade Stand

    ICE COLD LEMONADE HERE!

    Get your lemonade here!

    This month, our plug is Heat Up St. Louis! If you would like to donate, please visit their site at https://heatupstlouis.org/

    (more…)

  • Episode 145 – No (Noticable) Substitutions, Please!

    Please hold the pickles though.

    Susbtitutions for my products are not equal to the substitutions on my burger!

    This month, our plug is Heat Up St. Louis! If you would like to donate, please visit their site at https://heatupstlouis.org/

    SOURCES

    Uncovering the Makers of the Iconic Girl Scout Cookies

    https://www.thedailymeal.com/eat/girl-scout-cookie-taste-comparison-abc-little-brownie-bakers/

    https://www.newsobserver.com/living/food-drink/article272510488.html

    10 Iconic Food Brands That Changed Their Recipe and People Lost Their Minds

    Picture sources:

    https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/07/08/assassins-creed-black-flag-resynced-returns/

    https://movies.disney.com/moana-2026

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  • Episode 144 – Why Marketers Need Good Guardrails

    Or like the bumpers at the bowling alley. Just me? Okay…

    Just like you need guardrails on the road, you need them for marketing too!

    This month, our plug is Heat Up St. Louis! If you would like to donate, please visit their site at https://heatupstlouis.org/

    SOURCES

    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c33y1ynvjzjo

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/07/i-felt-my-spine-and-body-split-the-woman-who-was-hit-by-a-child-on-a-lime-bike-and-denied-compensation

    https://www.thestreet.com/automotive/automotive-cannibalism-failed-deals-a-youtubers-grilling-and-the-perfect-car-fiskers-fall-from-grace-explained

    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2025/11/15/baby-formula-botulism-lawsuits-byheart-recall/87292818007/

    https://www.thestreet.com/technology/waymo-exec-admits-harsh-truth-about-companys-safety-record

    https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/waymo-stops-ride-delivers-disorderly-190140307.html

    (more…)

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