How Seasonal Moments Reveal What Consumers Want Next | Behind the Numbers

Marcus Johnson (0:00)

As you plan for 2027, start with Roundel, Target's retail media network. Reach over 100 million Target Circle members with data-driven strategies that expand reach, strengthen brand connection and drive measurable growth. From discovery to decision, Roundel helps your brand show up in the moments that matter most, because joy is good for business.

Hey gang, it's Thursday, September 24th, Arielle, James, and listeners, welcome to Behind the Numbers, EMARKETER Podcast made possible by Roundel. I'm Marcus, and join me for today's conversation. We have two people, let's meet them. Living in New York, EMARKETER Senior Analyst, Arielle Feger.

Arielle Feger (0:41)

Hello Marcus, how are you doing?

Marcus Johnson (0:43)

Hello, I'm terrific, how are you?

Arielle Feger (0:45)

I'm doing pretty good.

Marcus Johnson (0:46)

Good, good, terrific's too much.

I should have dialed it back. It's nowhere, can't go any higher. Now, based out of Minneapolis, special guest, Senior Director of the Partner Solutions Group at Roundel, he leads the team for food and beverage. James Gourde joins the show, welcome.

James Gourde (1:01)

Hi Marcus, good to be with you.

Marcus Johnson (1:02)

Hello, thank you so much for taking some time, sir. Anytime we have a special guest from outside the company, we start with a speed intro.

So two questions, first one is just for James because we know Arielle. James, what does your company do in a sentence and what do you do for them in another sentence?

James Gourde (1:20)

Roundel is Target's retail media business. So in simplest terms, we connect our guests to the brands they already know, and brands that may be new to them through relevant media experiences.

I lead the Partner Solutions Group for food and beverage, and my team works with national brands to connect their business priorities with media strategy and ultimately help them grow.

Marcus Johnson (1:43)

Very nice. Second question for both of you, starting with James, what's the most interesting thing you've read, watched, or listened to recently?

James Gourde (1:50)

Okay, so I am a lifelong Minnesota sports fan.

And which means generally I'm perpetually disappointed. The one exception, I've been watching the WNBA more than ever before.

And the Minnesota Lynx are really good this year. Winning is far more fun. The other thing is they have a young superstar who I think is going to be a cornerstone for a long period of time. What's fascinating to me, the WNBA has changed so much in recent years. The game has evolved dramatically. It's more culturally relevant than any time before. And so to me, watching this intersection of culture and media and sports come together has been fascinating. So I'm watching the WNBA.

Marcus Johnson (2:35)

Very nice. Yeah, Miles, you're referring to, I assume.

James Gourde (2:40)

Olivia Miles, you got it. MVP race.

Marcus Johnson (2:43)

She's got it. Your teams were stacked. Nafisa Collier, Howard is infuriating.

Is it McBride? McBride?

Arielle Feger (2:52)

Kayla McBride. It sounds like you were a basketball fan, Marcus.

Marcus Johnson (2:56)

Basketball, yes. I've tried to turn this podcast into a sports podcast for years, me and Stuart. Basketball, yes. More recently, my dad's coached women's basketball for years and years and years, but in the last three or four years, WNBA, Fever fan, and I'm jealous of the Minnesota Lynx because they're an incredible team.

James Gourde (3:12)

It's been fun.

Marcus Johnson (3:14)

Good answer. Arielle.

Arielle Feger (3:17)

I just finished over the weekend the Practical Magic 2 book, which originally was called Book of Magic, but they now are renaming it because the movie is coming out, and I'm a big fan of that entire series. It's really witchy and fun and just is going to kick me off for fall and chilly season, so I'm super pumped about that. It was really good.

Marcus Johnson (3:42)

How many books in the series?

Arielle Feger (3:43)

So there's one, two, four all together. The original Practical Magic 2 prequels, and then this is the sequel.

Marcus Johnson (3:53)

Okay. I love when you find a good series.

Arielle Feger (3:56)

Al Softman is a really wonderful writer, would recommend lots of her books.

Marcus Johnson (4:00)

Very nice. Very nice indeed. They are the two folks we have joining us for the show. But today's real topic.

Reading the Signals. How Seasonal Moments Reveal What Consumers Want Next. Alright gang, holidays are getting stretched out. No one's surprised by that. Prime Day is now a week. Why are we still calling it Prime Day? Black Friday quickly turned into the Cyber 5, 6, 7, however many we have now. Halloween items appear in the summer. Summerween was a thing for a moment. That was a stretch.