It’s often said that anticipation is the key to responsible driving; considering what someone else might do on the road helps put you on the front foot. For Japanese automaker Mazda, putting its customers first—or the concept of “omotenashi”—has become a core tenet of the brand.

That philosophy is also a central component of the over decade-long brand overhaul for Mazda’s North American arm. Initiated in 2014, the strategy extends from the C-suite to dealerships and has helped grow sales 40%, according to Tim Manning, head of retail operations for Mazda North America. The revitalization plan focuses on three pillars: environment (the look and feel of dealerships), product (the cars), and experience (the relationship between dealers and customers.)

Keep reading here.—LI

What happens in Vegas between January 6–9 ain’t staying there.

It’s CES (the Consumer Technology Association’s annual tech trade show) all over again, and AI hyperscalers enter the forum with the sector firmly rooted in the boom-and-bust stage of discourse (it’s been there a while now). Revenue Brew knows the areas that matter to you, our readers, as you grade your own tech deployment efforts: AI use cases, personalization, centralized insights, and connected experiences are top of mind. The forum isn’t just about gadgets and glitzy keynotes; this is the Super Bowl of tech thought leadership, and we’re on the 50-yard line with an open laptop and a raised hand.

Keep reading here.—BS

Are your partnerships a predictable revenue engine or just a great idea on paper? Amanda Forth will show you the formula for building a sales motion that truly fits (see what we did there) the bottom line.

Every month, we feature you, our talented and insightful Revenue Brew readers! Want to be featured in an upcoming edition? Introduce yourself here. This interview has been lightly edited for style and clarity.

Sam McKenna is CEO at #samsales.

What’s the most ridiculous expense you’ve filed?

How much time have you got? A $1300 pizza oven, cash to give away at our booth in Vegas, and a pair of Louboutins.

Keep reading here.—Revenue Brew

Why specialized brick-and-mortar retailers struggled in 2025. (Retail Brew)

At the commanding heights of the retail industry, companies such as Amazon and Walmart had a strong 2025 despite challenges such as tariffs and cautious consumer spending. But beneath these behemoths, more specialized or category-specific retailers had a tougher time this year, with a number of well-known brands declaring bankruptcy and, as a result, shaking up their respective markets.

What dollar stores’ success says about the economy. (CFO Brew)

Much like discounters, dollar stores had a strong Q3. But good news for Dollar Tree and Dollar General might be a bad omen for the economy.

Inside Walmart’s AI strategy. (IT Brew)

The comeback is always greater than the setback, even for a retail giant like Walmart, which was once late to the world of e-commerce—and is now making strides in the retail industry with AI.

Inbound slowed down but your team doesn’t know how to build outbound?

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• Orchestrate multi-touch outbound campaigns that convert.
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