This week on Five Things Friday (US Edition), we unpack the momentum shaping US retail and brand marketing right now—starting with strong sentiment coming out of NRF and rolling straight into the biggest advertising moment of the year: the Super Bowl.

After a positive “Big Show,” retailers and exhibitors are carrying unexpected optimism into 2025. AI is no longer theoretical—brands are showing how it’s actually being used. That confidence sets the stage for how companies are investing, storytelling, and showing up during the Super Bowl.

In this episode, we cover:

Retail sentiment and exhibitor confidence coming out of NRF

AI moving from theory into real, practical use

Why Super Bowl ads command nearly $10M for 30 seconds

Standout campaigns from Instacart, Xfinity, Ring, Expedia, and Adidas

Purpose-driven marketing at true scale

How brands extend Super Bowl moments beyond game day

What retailers should be doing now to prepare for the World Cup in the US

From dinosaurs saved by better connectivity to lost dogs reunited through AI-powered cameras, this episode looks at how brands turn technology into emotion—and attention into long-term value.

📌 New episodes every Friday.

Chapter Timestamps

(Drawn strictly from the transcript)

00:00 – Welcome to Five Things Friday (US Edition)

00:00 – Post-NRF “Big Show” reflections

00:56 – Holiday performance & retail momentum

01:17 – AI moves from theory into practice

01:38 – Key takeaway from show attendees

01:58 – Super Bowl as an American tradition

03:22 – Super Bowl viewership & ad scale

03:48 – Instacart Super Bowl campaign

04:50 – Xfinity & Jurassic Park concept

05:47 – $10M ads & multi-week campaign strategy

06:46 – Ring’s AI-powered lost dog initiative

07:44 – Purpose-driven marketing at scale

08:01 – Expedia’s Ken campaign

09:18 – Brand relevance & cultural longevity

10:08 – Adidas football store & World Cup readiness

11:06 – Retail opportunity around global events

11:46 – From Super Bowl to World Cup momentum

12:06 – Closing & sign-off

💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION Which trend discussed today do you think will impact the industry most? Let us know in the comments below!

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