Sherry Smith unpacks independent retailers’ January performance and gives tips for navigating the slow-growth year ahead.
Study: TV ads still effective amid digital media
Consulting company MarketShare has found that advertising on television “is still the ‘best giant megaphone’ to convey a message to a large audience of consumers.”

New York--Advertising on television consistently is more effective at impacting sales and new accounts than paid search, print or online ads, according to a recent study by consulting company MarketShare.
The company said its finding show that television “provides a direct and meaningful sales lift,” because it increases awareness and consideration and increases the effectiveness of other marketing vehicles further down the purchase funnel, meaning TV should be a relevant part of a marketing campaign that includes both online and traditional advertising mediums.
The study, “Evaluating TV Effectiveness in a Changed Media Landscape,” identified four major findings that show television advertising is the most effective and efficient way to reach consumers. They are as follows.
1. TV has the highest relative efficiency in achieving key performance indictors (KPIs) at similar spending levels when compared to other media outlets, including print, radio and online ads, both display and social.
This is true across a range of industries, including automotive, financial services, consumer packaged goods and retail, and comes despite the explosion of digital media in the past five years, MarketShare said.
“TV is a major driver of indirect outcomes such as inbound calls, organic search query volumes and website visits, which, in turn, lead to direct outcomes, such as purchases or other significant conversions,” the study states.
2. In spite of changes in consumer habits over the past few years, TV’s effectiveness at driving advertiser KPIs has not diminished.
The study found that, for all media analyzed, there was an 11.5 percent decline when comparing 2009-2011 media effectiveness to 2012-2014, “likely due to the splintering of media channels brought about by the new digital landscape.”
However, TV was the only medium that retained its relative effectiveness when compared to other channels over that time period. TV’s effectiveness dropped only 2 percent while online media’s effectiveness was down about 10 percent and offline media’s effectiveness (sans TV) declined nearly 23 percent (graph shown in gallery.)
“The value of many digital channels has been eroded by such factors as ad-blocking, click fraud and visibility issues,” MarketShare states.
Still, TV spend allocations are not a one-size-fits-all.
“Specific spending recommendations will vary by advertiser, depending, in part, on where a marketer’s media spend lies on the outcomes response curves for each advertising medium, and the interaction effects between media channels.”
3. Marketers can use advanced analytic techniques to optimize TV spend more effectively.
“Because TV advertising drives measurable actions such as inbound calls and online searches, TV advertisers can leverage these interactions as key data points to evaluate TV effectiveness,” the study states. “While online and mobile popularity have grown tremendously, TV is still the ‘best giant megaphone’ to convey a message to a large audience of consumers.”
4. Premium online video from broadcast and cable TV networks is disrupting the digital media mix.
Despite lower impression volumes, premium video content is clearly more effective than user-generated and short-form content, the study states.
“Leading media sellers … seem increasingly aware of the value of high-quality content (and of the fact that brands will always follow the audience.) For instance, in 2014, YouTube launched Google Preferred, which allows advertisers to buy ad space next to only high-quality, professionally produced content, such as The New York Times or Vice Media.”
For the study, New York-based MarketShare evaluated data from thousands of marketing optimization models across a range of industries including financial services, telecommunications, hospitality, consumer packaged goods and retail. It also examined decades of research and applied marketing science, as well as MarketShare Benchmark, the company’s planning and allocation software application.
The Latest

From how to get an invoice paid to getting merchandise returned, JVC’s Sara Yood answers some complex questions.

Amethyst, the birthstone for February, is a gemstone to watch this year with its rich purple hue and affordable price point.

Launched in 2023, the program will help the passing of knowledge between generations and alleviate the shortage of bench jewelers.

The Italian jewelry company appointed Matteo Cuelli to the newly created role.


The manufacturer said the changes are designed to improve speed, reliability, innovation, and service.

President Trump said he has reached a trade deal with India, which, when made official, will bring relief to the country’s diamond industry.

Criminals are using cell jammers to disable alarms, but new technology like JamAlert™ can stop them.

The designer’s latest collection takes inspiration from her classic designs, reimagining the motifs in new forms.

The watchmaker moved its U.S. headquarters to a space it said fosters creativity and forward-thinking solutions in Jersey City, New Jersey.

The company also announced a new partnership with GemGuide and the pending launch of an education-focused membership program.

IGI is buying the colored gemstone grading laboratory through IGI USA, and AGL will continue to operate as its own brand.

The Texas jeweler said its team is “incredibly resilient” and thanked its community for showing support.

From cool-toned metal to ring stacks, Associate Editor Natalie Francisco highlights the jewelry trends she spotted at the Grammy Awards.

The medals feature a split-texture design highlighting the fact that the 2026 Olympics are taking place in two different cities.

The “Khol” ring, our Piece of the Week, transforms the traditional Indian Khol drum into playful jewelry through hand-carved lapis.

The catalog includes more than 100 styles of stock, pre-printed, and custom tags and labels, as well as bar code technology products.

The chocolatier is bringing back its chocolate-inspired locket, offering sets of two to celebrate “perfect pairs.”

The top lot of the year was a 1930s Cartier tiara owned by Nancy, Viscountess Astor, which sold for $1.2 million in London last summer.

Any gemstones on Stuller.com that were sourced by an AGTA vendor member will now bear the association’s logo.

The Swiss watchmaker has brought its latest immersive boutique to Atlanta, a city it described as “an epicenter of music and storytelling.”

The new addition will feature finished jewelry created using “consciously sourced” gemstones.

In his new column, Smith advises playing to your successor's strengths and resisting the urge to become a backseat driver.

The new store in Aspen, Colorado, takes inspiration from a stately library for its intimate yet elevated interior design.

The brands’ high jewelry collections performed especially well last year despite a challenging environment.

The collection marks the first time GemFair’s artisanal diamonds will be brought directly to consumers.

The initial charts are for blue, teal, and green material, each grouped into three charts categorized as good, fine, and extra fine.


























