Collage in the Press

April 8, 2025 | Forbes

How Consumers Are Preparing For Tariffs Amid Economic Uncertainty

As the stock market implodes in real time, American consumers are responding with a pragmatic acceptance of what’s coming, ready to adjust as necessary. Having already navigated a period of hyperinflation, they will apply the same shopping strategies they honed then to adapt to anticipated tariff-induced price increases.

March 12, 2025 | Business Insider

Costco is looking like the big winner after Target’s DEI rollback

“We’ve seen here, especially with Target, is that they’ve eroded that trust because they’re not doing what they say, and they don’t say what they do,” Collage Group’s chief insights officer, David Albert, recently told Business Insider.

March 12, 2025 | Forbes

Target 40-Day ‘Fast’ and The Consumer Psychology Behind Boycotts

Rev. Jamal Bryant claims Black consumers spend over $12 million a day at Target, which isn’t too hard to imagine as the Collage Group, a cultural research firm, estimates the Black community’s spending power will reach $2.1 trillion by 2026, rising from $1.7 billion in 2021.

Black-owned businesses have an essential part to play in reducing the racial wealth gap for both their entrepreneurial owners and employees.

March 11, 2025 | AOL

Target flip-flopped on diversity. Now its stock is down 57%.

David Albert, the chief insights officer at Collage Group, a consumer research firm that focuses on multicultural audiences spoke about how Target’s trust has eroded among consumers.

March 11, 2025 | Business Insider

From Woke to Joke

“That kind of seesawing back and forth and saying one thing and doing another, that’s what gets brands like Target in trouble,” said David Albert, the chief insights officer at Collage Group, a consumer research firm that focuses on multicultural audiences.

March 10, 2025 | Super Market News

Multicultural Shoppers are an Enticing Seafood Target

Multicultural shoppers are twice as likely as white shoppers to identify as pescatarian and are more likely to use the seafood counter during grocery trips, reports the Collage Group, a Bethesda, Md.-based consumer research firm. Black (30.6%), Hispanic (29.4%), and Asian (25.7%) consumers are all outpacing white shoppers (15.1%) in counter visits, Collage Group states.

“As the U.S. consumer landscape becomes increasingly diverse, cultural intelligence is no longer optional, it’s a business imperative,” said Victor Paredes, Collage Group vice president of cultural strategy. “The question is no longer whether to engage multicultural shoppers, but how strategically and effectively to do so.”

March 5, 2025 | MSN

Some Shoppers are Boycotting Target

A report from Collage Group released in February found that a third of consumers stopped shopping at their favorite store due to cuts to DEI commitments. The issue is especially pronounced for Black, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+ shoppers. Either way, the future of DEI, at least on the federal level, partially depends on the courts.

March 5, 2025 | TIME

Why Some Shoppers Are Launching a 40-Day Target Boycott

Starting Wednesday, some shoppers have decided to participate in a month-plus-long boycott of Target due to the retailer’s new shift away from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.

March 5, 2025 | MediaPost

Broken Promises: How DEI Rollbacks Are Deepening The Brand Trust Crisis

A new study reveals that consumer trust in brands is eroding, with diversity rollbacks becoming a key flashpoint in an already widening gap.

February 11, 2025 | QUIRK’S

The Real Cost of Scaling Back DEI: How Consumers are Adjusting Their Purchasing Behaviors

In recent years, brands have faced increasing scrutiny over their corporate commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). As some companies scale back their DEI programs in response to external pressures, consumer reactions are shaping up to be more than just social commentary.

February 10, 2025 | Forbes

Evaluating President’s Day Promotions: How Brands Are Adapting In 2025

As brands navigate the uncertain terrain of President’s Day 2025, they also need to consider a broader shift in marketing strategies—one that focuses on inclusivity, unity, and cultural co-creation. Jack Mackinnon, Senior Director of Cultural Insights at Collage, explains that consumers expect brands to acknowledge real-world challenges while maintaining an optimistic tone. “Given the politically polarized climate, brands are moving away from overt patriotic appeals and focusing on themes of unity, progress, and economic relief,” Mackinnon says.

February 6, 2025 | EMARKETER

Google Reverses DEI Commitments as it Expands Government Ties

One-third of all consumers have stopped or reduced purchases from brands that have pulled back on DEI, per Collage – including 45% of Black, 45% of Hispanic, and 58% of LGBTQ+ consumers.

February 6, 2025 | KCBS RADIO

How DEI Pullbacks Could Affect the Economy

As the Trump administration advocates for the rollbacks of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs nationwide, the economic impact could be staggering. New research from Collage shows scaling back on these policies could cost brands a third of their consumers. For more on this, KCBS Radio anchors Patti Reising and Bret Burkhart spoke with David Wellisch, CEO and Co-Founder of Collage, which conducted this research.

February 3, 2025 | Adweek

Why We Should Remember that Twenty Years Ago, the Home of the Super Bowl was a Human Rights Catastrophe

Jack Mackinnon, senior director of cultural insights for Collage, points to some 2024 year-end research conducted by his firm that suggests that, even if older Americans are inclined to remember the Superdome’s role in Hurricane Katrina, many are so worn down by today’s sociopolitical tensions to reflect on it for very long.“Everybody is feeling sick and tired of being in the cycle of expecting new things, expecting change, and the government underdelivering,” Mackinnon said. “Everybody is feeling a sense of burnout.”

January 31, 2025 | QUIRk’s

The Weekly News Queue

Collage has launched its proprietary AI-enabled platform to improve how brands uncover cultural insights, identify and connect with growth segments and drive revenue. It has also appointed David Albert as chief insights officer and Jason Moore as VP, sales.

January 31, 2025 | Mediapost

From Beloved To Boycotted: Target’s DEI Retreat Ignites Consumer Fury

Target is one of many companies that have backed off diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. But because the company has been perceived to be a sincere proponent of DEI, with extensive commitments to Pride events in support of the LGBTQ community, extensive marketing to Hispanic audiences, and support of Black-owned brands, the move feels like a betrayal. While the company is welcoming Black History Month with plenty of Black-owned brands, calls for “Boycott!” are ricocheting around social media. Marketing Daily asked Zekeera Belton, vice president of Collage Group, a market research company specializing in cultural insights, for her perspective.

January 29, 2025 | ADWEEK

4 Brand Challenges Facing McDonald’s New CMO

Collage’s America Now 2024 study showed that 81% of Americans say inclusive marketing is just as or more important to them than it was four years ago, and that number rises among Gen Z, millennials, Black, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+ consumers.“Consumers have a low tolerance for what they see as performative efforts right now, and if brands look like they’re caving to political pressure rather than standing by their values, it could hurt them in the long run,” said Jack Mackinnon, Collage’s senior director of cultural insights.

January 23, 2025 | eMarketer

Gen Zers Want More Tools to Manage Their Health and Wellness

Gen Zers recognize how important it is to maintain ideal health and wellness, but they don’t feel equipped with the tools and knowledge to achieve it, according to a recently published Collage Group survey of 4,713 US consumers that was shared with eMarketer.

Just 58% of Gen Zers express confidence in managing their health wellness now and in the future. That’s lower than all other generations. Gen Zers also report the lowest levels of satisfaction with various aspects of their health.

January 17, 2025 | eMarketer

Nintendo Confirms Switch 2 but Faces a Competitive Market

Thirty-two percent of Gen Z gamers and 26% of millennial gamers play on a Nintendo Switch, per Collage Group. By comparison, only 13% of both Gen Z and millennial gamers use any other handheld console. A new era? The Switch 2 could reconfirm Nintendo’s presence in the handheld gaming market if its price tag is balanced with feature updates. The current OLED model retails for $349.99.

January 17, 2025 | The Washington Times

Study Links Obamacare to Improved Health, Reduced Costs

Collage Group, a Bethesda, Maryland, consumer research firm, reported this week that 39% of Baby Boomers responding to a recent survey named health care costs as their top financial worry. That was the second-biggest concern on their list after food, and much higher than younger generations who flagged medical care as a financial concern.

“Nearly a third of baby boomers report chronic health issues and a third say that treating chronic pain is a priority for them in their health,” said Jack Mackinnon, Collage’s senior director of cultural insights. “Chronic pain can be a nebulous ailment that requires a series of appointments, tests and specialists to identify and treat over time.”

January 16, 2025 | emarketer

Products or Activities that U.S. Adults and Teens Use to Maintain Their Health & Wellness

Data from a January 2025 report from Collage Group, titled “Pulse Check on Health & Wellness: How to Solve for Generational Health Concerns,” revealed that respondents were asked “Which of the following practices do you use to improve or maintain your health and wellbeing?”

January 7, 2025 | Quirk’s

Unlocking Opportunities in Women’s Sports: Growth, Fandom and Marketing Insights

It is evident that media representation of women in sports is increasing. Media plays a pivotal role in promoting women’s sports and reaching a broader audience. The rise in media coverage of women’s sports has resulted in a boost in viewership and advertising spend. New data from Collage highlights how multicultural consumers are driving much of this fandom.

October 31, 2024 | WASHINGTON TIMES

Most Parents Say Social Media, Polarization has Made Their Job Harder than in the Past: Survey

The Collage Group, a consumer research firm based in Bethesda, Maryland, reported this week that 78% of parents of school-aged children responding to a recent survey agreed with the statement that “being a parent in today’s world is more difficult than it used to be.”

October 28, 2024 | Forbes

Five Smart CMO Moves For Successful Multicultural Marketing

During interactions with marketing leaders across the industry, CMOs frequently ask how they can build their multicultural marketing knowledge and that of their organizations.

October 24, 2024 | Admonsters

Diverse Data Matters: Unpacking AI, Culture, and Inclusivity at BlackWeek

Despite the power of AI, Zekeera Belton, Vice President of Customer Success & Cultural Strategist at Collage Group reminded the audience that human oversight is still critical — especially when it comes to cultural representation. “AI is a tool to enhance our work, not replace it,” she explained. It’s not enough to gather surface-level insights — Belton stressed that cultural fluency should be at the heart of any AI-driven strategy.  Brands should dive deeper, examining things like multi-generational family dynamics within Hispanic communities or the nuances of Black consumer behavior. 

“You can’t just say ‘Latinos love their families’ and leave it at that,” Belton said. “It’s about understanding the layers of cultural specificity.” These are the nuances AI models can’t yet grasp without diverse, high-quality data, and that’s where human intervention still matters most.

October 3, 2024 | adweek

The Real Reasons Why So Many Brands Have Broken Their DEI Promises

David Evans, chief insights officer for consumer intelligence firm Collage Group, points to another factor he believes has prompted brands’ cool on DEI. It’s an incident known as the “Brew-haha.”

“Not only did you see largely white, largely conservative individuals backlashing,” Evans said, “but LGBT+ communities and their allies backlashed as well.” 

October 2, 2024 | emarketer

How Gen Z Engaged with Beauty Content in Q3

While 63% of LGBTQ+ adults say they don’t see their lifestyle represented enough in advertising, per April 2024 data from YouGov, the same percentage say advertising that only happens during or around Pride Month seems insincere, per July 2023 data from Collage Group.

October 1, 2024 | Adweek

From Ford To Lowe’s, These 7 Brands Reversed Their Big DEI Promises This Year

With hot-button issues like reproductive rights and affirmative action at the center of ever more heated debates on TV and online, many brands are pulling back from initiatives that didn’t feel so risky two years ago.

“We know historically that brands lockdown for major potentially polarizing events like elections,” said David Evans, chief insights officer for the Collage Group.

September 20, 2024 | emarketer

What Marketers Get Most Wrong About Consumers

There’s some data from Collage Group which shows the reasons why U.S. LGBTQ+ adults feel that LGBTQ+-focused ads seem insincere. This is from last year, the number one reason was, “Only happens during or around Pride Month.”

September 16, 2024 | ADAGE

Hispanic Heritage Month— Brands Need Engagement Strategies, Not Celebrations

Evaluate your current strategies for reaching and engaging Hispanic consumers. Are your efforts authentic, inclusive and relevant? Should you do some original research? Sure, if you have the time and money. But there are great secondary sources. Have you spoken to bespoke multicultural researchers such as Collage Group? Have you spoken to people close to your consumers in your own organization who can give you a sense of what’s working and what’s not? It’s remarkable how much is right at our fingertips.

September 15, 2024 | The Latin Times

Only 4% of Latinos Use the Term ‘Latinx’ but Awareness has Almost Doubled in the Last Five Years

A study by Collage Group provided insights into the major trends concerning how people with Latin American heritage feel about the various terms used to identify them. According to the survey, conducted exclusively with people of Spanish-speaking Latin American origin for this portion, the preferred term was “Hispanic” (35%) over “Latino” (21%).

September 10, 2024 | MediaPost

YouTube, WhatsApp Power Multicultural Media Use

Multicultural audiences engage with media somewhat differently, and new research from Collage uncovers some connection powerhouses. Black and Asian audiences spend more time on YouTube than any other channel, at 45% and 48%, respectively, and say it is gaining trust more quickly than other platforms. 

January 28, 2025 | GlobeNewswire

Cultural Intelligence Leader Collage Launches Proprietary AI Solutions to Fuel Client Brand Growth, and Announces New Chief Insights Officer and New Head of Sales

Collage, the leading provider of cultural intelligence, has launched its proprietary AI-enabled platform to revolutionize the way brands uncover cultural insights, identify and connect with growth segments, and drive revenue. In addition, the company added prominent leadership hires to accelerate transformative growth.

October 23, 2024 | YAHOO! FINANCE

Cultural Intelligence Leader Collage Releases Q3 Products to Enable Marketers to Future-Proof Their Brands

Collage, the leading provider of cultural intelligence, is pleased to announce several new innovations – officially rolled out in Q3 – across its product portfolio.

The company is also sharing its Cultural Fluency Maker Award honorees, which recognizes the world’s leading brands for applying cultural intelligence for impact.

July 15, 2024 | Yahoo! Finance

Cultural Intelligence Leader Collage Unveils Latest Innovations: Brand Love Dashboard, Competitive Comparisons, Sports Intel & More

Collage, the leading provider of cultural intelligence, announced several new innovations, deepening the company’s unmatched cultural insights about today’s diverse consumers to enable brands to drive revenue growth. Collage’s brand redesign and website relaunch (collagegroup.com) both signify the company’s transformation into the cultural intelligence engine that fuses consumer, brand, and industry insights to empower brands to attract the fastest growing incremental segments. The Q2 releases offer deeper, more meaningful cultural data and enhanced capabilities, accelerating the time to business impact.

April 3, 2024 | Yahoo! Finance

Tech Innovator Collage Group Launches New Industry, Audience, and Head-to-Head Insights to SaaS Cultural Intelligence Engine

Collage Group, the cultural intelligence leader, announced today several new innovative features to its fluen.ci SaaS application. The enhancements will enable brand marketers to improve brand health, benchmark brand performance against competitors within industry, optimize ad reach and effectiveness, and expand into new segments and markets.

March 20, 2024 | Yahoo! Finance

Cultural Intelligence Leader Collage Group Announces First Chief Marketing Officer, Elizabeth Jackson, as Company Accelerates Growth

Today Collage Group, a leading provider of Cultural Intelligence, announced Elizabeth Jackson as the company’s first Chief Marketing Officer – a pillar in fueling the organization’s growth. As a seasoned CMO, she possesses more than 30 years of experience in marketing, strategy, insights, and new product innovation.

January 26, 2024 | Hispanic Marketing Council

2024 HMC Strategic Excellence Awards Open with Expanded Jury of Senior Leaders from Brands, Media Houses, Agencies & Market Intelligence Firms

Over the course of three years, the Hispanic Marketing Council (HMC) has experienced explosive year-to-year growth in entries for the HMC Strategic Excellence Awards, the only award competition of its kind recognizing strategic excellence in Hispanic marketing and advertising and cultural fluency. As a testament to this award’s singular position in the marketplace, HMC welcomes cultural intelligence leader Collage Group as an exclusive partner of the awards.

October 31, 2023 | Yahoo! Finance

Collage Group Launches New Software Solution, fluen.ci, Offering Instant Access to Brand-Specific Cultural Insights

Cultural intelligence powerhouse Collage Group unveiled a new, AI-powered software solution, fluen.ci, providing instant access to culture-centric, brand-specific insights for marketing and insights leaders at America’s iconic brands. Grounded in more than 12 years of rich, cultural research, fluen.ci promises to unlock the consumer insights needed to provide direction and validation for brand growth and the competitor and industry comparisons necessary to win diverse American consumers, our country’s growth driver. 

May 4, 2023 | GlobalNewswire

David Wellisch, CEO of Cultural Intelligence Leader Collage Group, Honored as Entrepreneur of The Year® 2023 Mid-Atlantic Award Finalist

Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) has announced that David Wellisch, CEO and Co-Founder of Collage Group has been named an Entrepreneur of The Year® 2023 Mid-Atlantic Award finalist. Now in its 37th year, Entrepreneur of The Year is a preeminent competitive business award for transformative entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who are building a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous world for all.

December 13, 2022 | Yahoo! Finance

Revealed: Top Ads Resonating Among Younger Black Consumers

A recent study examining more than 80 commercials determined which advertisements resonated the best among younger Black consumers aged 18-42.

The analysis, conducted by cultural intelligence leader, Collage Group, assesses ad performance using the Ad Cultural Fluency Quotient (A-CFQ) which measures consumer sentiment across four key dimensions. These include Brand Fit (the ad fits the brand), Relevance (the ad is for people like me), Message (the ad has an important message) and Enjoyment (the ad is enjoyable to watch).

November 17, 2022

The Impact of Culture on American Holiday Celebrations: Collage Group Explains

In anticipation of the coming holiday season, cultural intelligence company, Collage Group, explored how American consumers prepare for and celebrate the winter holiday season. Calling on findings from its multicultural Holidays & Occasions research, experts examined how culture impacts several end-of-the-year holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Kwanzaa.

November 10, 2022

Multicultural Americans Believe the American Dream is Still Reachable, Says Collage Group

Findings from a new study reveal that multicultural Americans have strong faith in the “American Dream.” In fact, 78% of Black, Asian, and Hispanic American consumers say they have achieved or believe they can achieve the American Dream, as compared to 69% of White consumers. This is according to the just-released annual report titled “America Now 2022: Harnessing American Identity to Navigate Social Issues,” produced by cultural intelligence company, Collage Group.

October 12, 2022

Collage Group Appoints Gregory Cypes as Chief Product and Technology Officer

The leading source of cultural intelligence, Collage Group, announced today that Gregory Cypes has joined the team as Chief Product and Technology Officer, a new leadership role. With more than 20 years of experience in the tech sector, Cypes is expected to shape the future of the company’s cultural intelligence platform, and data & technology offerings, which are currently used to guide over 300 of America’s iconic brands partnered with Collage Group.